Hello and thanks for posting,

I can appreciate your concern about your dad. However, it is not uncommon for the bowel to take a while to begin to move normally again, after surgery, and this can vary, patient to patient.

Hopefully, you will be able to find out more soon.

Wishing you the best,

Vanda

Hi

My dad is still in hospital two weeks after his op and he now has to have a dye scan as his bowel has not gone back to even nearly normal and he has no control and has constant diarrhoea. Do we need to be really worried or can this happen in some cases. What can cause this? He seems to take one step forward and 3 back 

As it turns out the scan has shown a blockage so they are deciding weather to try and flush it out or give him another op so not great news 

Hello Paisley,

                      sorry to hear of your dads problem,but to give you more understanding l was going to the loo up to 25 times in a sitting ,maybe three/four times a day,just small amounts but the bowel becomes so irritated by a movement it triggers another immediatly.l also experienced three episodes where the bowel shutdown and stopped working,which can be be extremely painful,l was 60 at the time so l can well imagine how it will be forsomeone who is that bit older.The plus side is once you can get through the this,the second chance you are handed is amazing.l liken it to like being a baby again,nappies until the bowel matures and you gain control.l am told that l seem to be getting younger and fitter whilst my contempories are aging a sight more.,so l look forward to hearing in due course that your Dad is turning a very positive corner,

                                                                          take care, David

Thank you. I can't say the thought of him having another op if they decide is the best course of action for the blockage isn't worrying but if that is what it takes then so be it. I'm more worried about his mental health at the moment. He went into such a black hole which with a good talking to from me he started to come out of but after talking to him tonight I am worried he is slipping back. I've told him he has to stay mentally well otherwise his body won't follow but he is an ex solider and a strong stubborn man and doesn't always listen but I'm hoping he finds that strength and stubbornness again. Your comments throughout have helped greatly in helping me understand so I can be strong for him and my mum because I have a slightly better understanding and to know someone has been through similar and come out the other side means I can push them on and say the right things to keep them going so thank you. Hopefully my next post will be a more positive one. 

Hello Paisley,

                     good to read your Dad is stubborn,because thats exactly what you need to see you through.It does take time outs and the doubts creep in,but that old stubborness refuses to be shut out for too long and will always drag you back up to the surface when you feel you are drowning,Its good to read that his stubborness has been passed on to his daughter,in my case l inherited from my Mum,who l remain constantly in awe of,she never knew defeat ,even at her end it was her who invited death to accompany her on the journey,not the other way round,and being the strong lady she was,she kept him waiting for more years than was written up on the charts.So its good to hear that you and your Dad are working together to do exactly the same.The possibilities are always there,you just have to stick around until you bump into them,

                                                                                    take care,

                                                                                                       David

Hello and thanks for getting back in touch

I am sorry your dad is still unwell and is needing another scan to find out more.

Unfortunately there sometimes can be complications and hopefully the scan will give more information about what the issue may be.

As many people have also said on here everyone is different and it can take a while for the bowel movements to return to a normal pattern and this can take time.

I hope your know more and your dad starts to improve soon.

All the best

Naomi

Thank you yes I am a lot like my dad. He has to have another op today and unfortunately they have made the decision to now remove his bowel and give him a stoma. I think this has actually had a positive effect on him as he just wants the bowel gone so all the issues he has been having will stop. Once he has healed from this op and he has got used to it he will be home which is where he wants to be so it's sort of a relief for him. It's upsetting that the original op didn't work but his bowel just does not want to work now so this is the best for him and he actually sounded the most positive I've heard him today.'they have said it could be reversed at a later date but he has said no at his age just take it away and let him get on. 

Hello Paisley,

                     sorry to hear the original op did not work.l live in scotland and the policy was to always go to a stoma rather than resecting the tumour and joining up the bowel straight away.l chose a reversal at a later date but that has come with a five year journey to get to relatively managable position that l am in today.The overriding lesson l have learnt is that the the bowel does not take kindly to being interfered with and only ever returns to a "new normal".

l hope the op goes well,and that he copes well with his stoma,lots do and at his age it would be my choice.Unfortunately for me l rejected the sealing rings on my skin and it just would not heal, but l have never been able to wear watches rings or necklaces of any type without triggering an allergic reaction,thank goodness l am not the same with clothes.Please post in the future when he is recovering well since positive messages will help those following in his footsteps,

                                                                                                                                  David

Thank you David your messages have really been a great help to me and my understanding of what's going on with my dad. He sounds like he is in good spirits and we are all hopeful that this will be what he needs to start feeling a bit better. His stubbornness has kicked in and he won't be beaten so hopefully that will stay with him. He has never been allergic to anything apart from bees so hopefully he will be fine with this. I will 100% update when he is feeling better and they have let him home. His birthday is coming up so we are all hoping he will be home for that. Thank you again your advice has been invaluable.

Anne-Marie

Hello David

Jiust to let you know my dad came home on Friday. He has an open wound and is very week but I've brought him a walking frame until he builds up his strength. He is doing well just keep having to remind him small steps. But mentally he is a lot better and the physical will follow. Just thought I'd give a more positive post. 
 

Anne-Marie 

Hello  Anne-Marie

                               indeed this is much better news and another small forward step for both your Dad and yourself. He has been through a lot and it will as you say ,take time now to recover. From memory this period is where the days seem forever and progress seems so limited,but of course the reality is that your mind is just moving at a faster pace than your body, the trick is to get your mind to slow down a little,rather than allowing it to fret over getting your body to move faster, 

Thank you for sharing your good news that he is once again restored to his home and family where he can continue to make progress, and you can have a little easing of the pressure you have recently been under. 

        l hope this continues to be the case,take good care,

                                                                                          David

Hello  Anne-Marie

                               indeed this is much better news and another small forward step for both your Dad and yourself. He has been through a lot and it will as you say ,take time now to recover. From memory this period is where the days seem forever and progress seems so limited,but of course the reality is that your mind is just moving at a faster pace than your body, the trick is to get your mind to slow down a little,rather than allowing it to fret over getting your body to move faster, 

Thank you for sharing your good news that he is once again restored to his home and family where he can continue to make progress, and you can have a little easing of the pressure you have recently been under. 

        l hope this continues to be the case,take good care,

                                                                                          David