Hi all:
I've been lingering on here for a few weeks now. From what I can see, this is the single best resource I've seen online for colorectal cancers. The forums on this board have provided me with a wealth of information and a couple of really good laughs as well. I'm full of questions and apologize if anything I ask has already been covered on the board.
By way of introduction, I'm a 43 year old woman who recently (July 1, 2010) had a total abdominal colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis. The surgery went well and I'm fortunate that none of my lymphnodes were infected. At age 41 in 2008, I had endometrial cancer (Stage IIIc) and underwent a total hysterectomy, pelvic radiation and 3 months of chemotherapy. Soon after my hysterectomy, I had genetic testing and learned that I have Lynch Syndrome (HNPCC), so the colon cancer was not completely out of the blue. I just didn't think it would come as fast as it did.
The recupertion for the colectomy has been hard. Draining -- and I mean that quite literally as well as emotionally. I have anywhere from 12 to 25 bowel movements a day. Everything I eat passes right through. I also have a weird sensation in my rectum after a bm (which are always watery) that there is something else there, something more that wants to come out. But there is nothing there. The pain is excrutiating when this happens. I've been checked and there is not any type of blockage and the surgeon says I'm healing well. Has anyone else out there experienced this? Also, in terms of nutrition, I'd love to hear your thoughts, tips, etc. I'm a relatively healthy eater. I was recently given the green light to start to re-incorporate vegetables and fiber back into my diet, which I've been doing slowly. Truthfully, everything has the same effect on me. I can eat a piece of white toast or a piece of broccoli and, regardless, I'm back in the loo 20 minutes later.
For those of you who've had colectomies, how long before your bm's were back to normal and / or had some type of formation? What are your energies level like? I will return to work in mid-September, 2 1/2 months after my surgery and I'm already filled with an enormous amount of anxiety about how my bowel management will be.