Severe Constipation After Colectomy Please Help

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mostlysunny77
Posts: 47
Joined: Fri Feb 12, 2016 5:14 pm

Severe Constipation After Colectomy Please Help

Postby mostlysunny77 » Fri Mar 25, 2016 3:47 pm

I am 3 1/2 weeks post surgery for a tumor in my sigmoid colon. I had been feeling great, even went out to dinner and had been up and about. Then this week I have been hit with severe constipation. I have severe pain in my front and back left side, feel horrible, very bloated, nauseous, generally miserable. In fact I felt so lousy that I was concerned I had a blockage so went back to the dr. today. They did a complete work up including blood test, urine test for UTI and xray. All came back fine but was told that it is the constipation making me feel bad. My question is does anyone have any great suggestions on how to get things moving. I took some Dulcolax a laxitive but I had taken some the other day and that didn't seem to do anything. I also have increased my water intake. Any other great suggestions???? I haven't eaten too much because of the nausea but I'll try anything!!!! Please help!!!!
"Scars are badges of courage and make you look like a pirate or a superhero." - quote from a 5 year old cancer patient.

5cm Tumor in Sigmoid Colon
Laparoscopic Sigmoid Colectomy - March 2016
Stage II Colon Cancer

turtle
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Re: Severe Constipation After Colectomy Please Help

Postby turtle » Fri Mar 25, 2016 3:56 pm

Try magnesium, over the counter. I've heard that 1000 mg of magnesium should work for constipation; I usually take less that that. I take magnesium oxide pills; each pill has 250 mg Mg. I think liquid forms of magnesium (citrate clear liquid or milk of magnesia) work more quickly. You can also try anal glycerin suppositories or enemas.
Feb. 2015 at age 39: Dx stage IIIb cecal cancer extending into appendix
March 2015 at age 40: Began FOLFOX, discontinuing early after 10 cycles due to suicidal ideation and difficulty moving
Oct. 2016 at age 41: Dx stage IV with 3 metastases to lungs (one 3.7 cm x 2.2 cm) and 1 to liver
KRAS-mutation positive

Sams wife
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Re: Severe Constipation After Colectomy Please Help

Postby Sams wife » Fri Mar 25, 2016 4:00 pm

Try some apple juice. Then maybe keep eating stuff on the BRAT diet a little longer? Good luck
Husband dx 1/13/15 St.2 CEA 7.1
Chemo/25rad 2/15 till 4/24/15
5FU/leucovorin
Surgery 6/8/2015 Stage IIa T3N0MX microscopic cancer left
Watching 4 lung spots
0/5 lymph nodes. Lap. APR
25% less 5FU/leucovorin 7/14/2015 x 26 CEA 3.4
25% more 5fu 9/2015
9/16/15 CEA 7.7
1/16/16 @ 9.2 during allergy?
3/16 New lung spot 4x4 mm
6/16 CEA 6.9 spot 5x5

midlifemom
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Location: NJ

Re: Severe Constipation After Colectomy Please Help

Postby midlifemom » Fri Mar 25, 2016 4:40 pm

BRAT diet is for diarrhea.

Everyone finds different solutions to constipation.
Some suggestions are - lots of fluid, fiber, stool softener, squatty potty, prune juice.

Personally, I find a couple cups of hot tea gets me going.

What did the doctor recommend?
Stage 3 cc - dx Jan '14 age 53, cea 2.9
t2n2m0, KRAS mutant, MSS
Folfox Feb - Aug '14
Nov '14 cea 27.7 -2 liver masses
Dec '14 left lobectomy and HAI
Jan '15 FUDR and FOLFIRI
Aug '15 fudr done, liver clear, add avastin for lungs. Cea 4.3
Feb '16 CEA rising
May '16 2 wk break then drop Iri for 6 weeks.
Jul '16 cancer grew, constricted main bile duct. Stent inserted. On break till jaundice clears. CEA climbing. Doing reduced Folfox. Allergic to Oxali.
Sep'16 chemo failed. Trial or hospice?

Jachut
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Re: Severe Constipation After Colectomy Please Help

Postby Jachut » Fri Mar 25, 2016 5:05 pm

For me, the osmotic laxatives have always worked better - you can stimulate your bowel with a laxative like Dulcolax but if its full of concrete, it may only cause pain and cramping. Try a big dose of lactulose (sorry, I don't know what names it goes by in the States, but any pharmacy will know what you're talking about as lactulose is the sugar in the mix that is the active ingredient). This will draw water into your bowel and really get things moving.

If all else fails, try a bowel prep (which works the same way anyway) - if you can buy them over the counter like you can here.

nkoske
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Joined: Fri Feb 22, 2013 2:00 pm
Location: California

Re: Severe Constipation After Colectomy Please Help

Postby nkoske » Fri Mar 25, 2016 5:14 pm

Miralax (over the counter) was my friend during Chemo, which stopped me up good. My BM the day after chemo was like giving birth to a telephone pole :wink: . I also used docusate sodium (aka colace). I was pretty much on max dosage the first week or so of each chemo cycle and I would do miralax the day before each cycle start and about 3 days after.

Full disclosure, I was lucky to not have to deal with an ostomy, so my data may not be valid in those circumstances.
Nick, DX @ age 34, IIIB Rectal Cancer 10/2012
ChemoRad IMRT 11/2012
Laparoscopic LAR 1/2013 (No Ileo)
Post Surgery Path IIIB (2/15 LN)
Chemo 2/2013 (XelOx)
Currently NED, Graduated from Med Onc 10/2017

Nik Colon

Re: Severe Constipation After Colectomy Please Help

Postby Nik Colon » Fri Mar 25, 2016 7:39 pm

I have had constipation issues for a long time. I have done it all. One suggestion, take miralax daily, even a couple doses til you find what works. For imidate, magnesium citrate or enema. Best wishes

jhocno197
Posts: 817
Joined: Mon May 11, 2015 9:33 pm

Re: Severe Constipation After Colectomy Please Help

Postby jhocno197 » Fri Mar 25, 2016 7:41 pm

3 doses of miralax a day until you get relief, then 1 or 2 a day to maintain.
DH - dx Dec 2014, stage IV with bladder & peritoneal involvement - non-resectable
Colostomy
FOLFOX failed
FOLFIRI failed
Tumor actually distending pelvic skin
Not a candidate for last-ditch pelvic exenteration
Stivarga finally begun 2/19/16
Tumor growing/fungating
Lonsurf started 11/18/16
Died 3/10/17

Tanya
Posts: 116
Joined: Fri Jul 03, 2015 10:34 am
Location: Kings park NY

Re: Severe Constipation After Colectomy Please Help

Postby Tanya » Fri Mar 25, 2016 8:11 pm

I had a same thing, prune juice ( but make juice warm) it is help me and orange juice.
Dx-32y.o. Anal cancer-stage 3.
Aug-Sep xeloda & radiation-30
November 12-MRI-bones clear
November 30-NED
Moms of two (3 & 12 y.o.)
Recurrence -01.19.2016
Colostomy and APR surgery - 01.27.2016
Possibly chemo - June

Sams wife
Posts: 753
Joined: Sun Jan 11, 2015 2:49 pm

Re: Severe Constipation After Colectomy Please Help

Postby Sams wife » Fri Mar 25, 2016 8:40 pm

midlifemom wrote:BRAT diet is for diarrhea.


Sure is. I didn't even think of that.
When hubby slows down lately, the first thing the nurse will ask, have you tried applejuice? I just figured brat would help stuff move through.
Last edited by Sams wife on Wed Mar 30, 2016 9:23 am, edited 1 time in total.
Husband dx 1/13/15 St.2 CEA 7.1
Chemo/25rad 2/15 till 4/24/15
5FU/leucovorin
Surgery 6/8/2015 Stage IIa T3N0MX microscopic cancer left
Watching 4 lung spots
0/5 lymph nodes. Lap. APR
25% less 5FU/leucovorin 7/14/2015 x 26 CEA 3.4
25% more 5fu 9/2015
9/16/15 CEA 7.7
1/16/16 @ 9.2 during allergy?
3/16 New lung spot 4x4 mm
6/16 CEA 6.9 spot 5x5

mostlysunny77
Posts: 47
Joined: Fri Feb 12, 2016 5:14 pm

Re: Severe Constipation After Colectomy Please Help

Postby mostlysunny77 » Sat Mar 26, 2016 8:30 am

Thanks for the responses. I am going to give them a try. I am miserable. I was up all night, stomach hurts, and there is no action in my bowel movements. Instead I have started to throw up. I do not have a fever so I assume I still just have to try to go to the bathroom but this is horrible.
"Scars are badges of courage and make you look like a pirate or a superhero." - quote from a 5 year old cancer patient.

5cm Tumor in Sigmoid Colon
Laparoscopic Sigmoid Colectomy - March 2016
Stage II Colon Cancer

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Mastan
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Joined: Sat Feb 19, 2011 11:12 am
Location: Albuquerque, NM

Re: Severe Constipation After Colectomy Please Help

Postby Mastan » Sat Mar 26, 2016 10:22 am

mostlysunny77 wrote:Thanks for the responses. I am going to give them a try. I am miserable. I was up all night, stomach hurts, and there is no action in my bowel movements. Instead I have started to throw up. I do not have a fever so I assume I still just have to try to go to the bathroom but this is horrible.


I think that you have entered dangerous territory now that you have begun to throw up. Maybe time to head to the ER.
Dx 6/2010 rectal CA

Bob_Weiss
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Joined: Sun Apr 11, 2010 11:23 am
Location: Brooklyn, NY

Re: Severe Constipation After Colectomy Please Help

Postby Bob_Weiss » Sat Mar 26, 2016 1:43 pm

If I haven't been able to 'go' after 5 days, I take either a Ducolax suppository or a Fleet enema. Either of these will work with me within 20-40 minutes. However, if you currently have a colectomy, you should check with your doctor.

If the constipation has lasted only 1-2days, I try to stop it with magnesium, garlic powder, increased raw vegetables, oatmeal, and I temporarily stop my calcium tablet. This sometimes seems to work.
Stage 3 R/C -1 node+ ( 7/09)
5 wks radiation, 2 wks chemo: 5FU (8-9/09)
Rectal surgery: tumor removal (11/09)
10 rounds Xeloda: 3000mg/daily 1 wk on/1 wk off (1/10-6/10)
Supplements: Aspirin, Calcium, Vit. D3
03/27/17: 7+ yrs. since surgery--still NED

Jachut
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Facebook Username: hutchinson@aanet.com.au

Re: Severe Constipation After Colectomy Please Help

Postby Jachut » Sat Mar 26, 2016 7:10 pm

Yep, its sounding like a bowel obstruction now. I'd say its time to go to the hospital.

jhocno197
Posts: 817
Joined: Mon May 11, 2015 9:33 pm

Re: Severe Constipation After Colectomy Please Help

Postby jhocno197 » Sat Mar 26, 2016 7:20 pm

Please go to the hospital if you haven't already!
DH - dx Dec 2014, stage IV with bladder & peritoneal involvement - non-resectable
Colostomy
FOLFOX failed
FOLFIRI failed
Tumor actually distending pelvic skin
Not a candidate for last-ditch pelvic exenteration
Stivarga finally begun 2/19/16
Tumor growing/fungating
Lonsurf started 11/18/16
Died 3/10/17


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