Mother in Law with extensive colon scarring and poor quality of life

hello all

I've come to this forum as we are at our wits end as a family. 

I'm trying to find some advice/guidance on what i can do to help my mother in law who is suffering more and more from the effects of colon scarring due to radiotherapy.  She has extensive nerve and muscle damage meaning she can't really keep anything in her colon and frequently loses control over her ablutions. She is 80 years old and spends these days up to 70% of her day on loo and is rapidly losing eight as she just can't keep anything in. Her quality of life has been hugely compromised as she just doesn't want to leave the house these days.

A huge portion of her colon is heavily scarred meaning that partial removal is not an option and for some reason the consultants she has met with will not fit an ostomy bag to bypass this issue.

Does anyone have any experience of a similar issue and insight into any suggestions of what to do? Additionally, if anyone has had any experience with a particular consultant and has great things to say that would be amazing too. We are prepared to anywhere in the world if presented with a potential solution, so any suggestions greatly welcomed.

I appreciate anyone's efforts and responses a great deal, and thank you all in advance.

Parents
  • Hello and thanks for your enquiry,

    I am sorry to hear of this difficult ongoing situation.

    St Marks Hospital in Harrow is the UK leading national bowel hospital. They have bowel specialists for many issues. You can asked to be referred there for assessment. They have an intestinal failure unit which sees patients with radiation enteritis, which is radiotherapy damaged bowel.

    Details about intestinal failure unit referral can be shown to a GP or hospital consultant.

    I hope this helps,

    Best wishes,

    Vanda

Reply
  • Hello and thanks for your enquiry,

    I am sorry to hear of this difficult ongoing situation.

    St Marks Hospital in Harrow is the UK leading national bowel hospital. They have bowel specialists for many issues. You can asked to be referred there for assessment. They have an intestinal failure unit which sees patients with radiation enteritis, which is radiotherapy damaged bowel.

    Details about intestinal failure unit referral can be shown to a GP or hospital consultant.

    I hope this helps,

    Best wishes,

    Vanda

Children