Hello Krenny

I'm sorry to hear that you've been struggling with constipation since your surgery last year. It's good to hear that your recent colonoscopy didn't give any cause for concern but it's understandable with everything that you've shared that you may be feeling anxious. 

Although you already have an appointment with your clinical specialist nurse planned, don't be afraid to give them a call to ask for advice and support about managing constipation. It may be that there are other medications they can ask your GP to prescribe before you see them to try and improve things for you. We have some general information about coping with constipation on our website but certainly talking with your team about this should give you more answers and hopefully set you on a path to improving things. 

If you think it would help to talk with one of our nurses you're welcome to call them on 0808 800 4040, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. I know they will be happy to listen and offer any advice, information and support they can. 

I hope that your appointments next month bring some reassurance Krenny. Do let us know how you get on.

Best wishes, 
Jenn
Cancer Chat moderator 

Hello Krenny,

                       l had a colon resection some 8 years back and have run a gambit of changes with my bowel,as my surgeon said when he rejoined after removing the stoma, thats the new you.l have spent these years learning exactly what he meant.

My stools veer towards the squidgy and are of narrow circunfirence, and its rare for me to clear my bowel in one visit. l put this down to to a less active area around the rejoin, and a narrowing there due to scar tissue.

One of the joys is that l can suffer from inflammation in that area, leading bto even more restriction, l have also had now 5 instances of the bowel blocking, weirdly never in a period of inflammation but just the opposite.

All of which leads me to conclude that you are very lucky if you can revert to a previously normal function following sugery intervention of the bowel, it just not like being chopped about.

Diet makes little difference tomy fiunction l have discovered over the years, but stress or change can have an impact, but l suspect we will all be different once we get to the more focosed nuances of our new companion.l called mine versuviarse so that should give you some idea of our first years of living together, and although it has become more dormant, the regular flares are still there to remind me not to take anything for granted.

So no surprise reading you have some issues but great to read that.s not with cancer, just a result of having had it,

Crack on with life and enjoy your second chance,

 David

Thank you for your reply and words of reassurance, I know that is been such a short time since my op, and I was told by one of the surgeons, this may be how your bowels operate going forward, which I do understand and accept. But thanks again for your comment.

Hi Krenny hope you don’t mind me joining your thread  just wanted to know  I have been diagnosed with colon cancer stage 2  it’s in my defending colon  my surgeon says he can get my tumour out with key hole surgery then rejoin my colon to the bowel  I’m very constipated and was hoping after my operation my bowels would be a lot better  but my surgeon says some times the bowel can go to sleep and doesn’t wake up   I’m hoping also after surgery I don’t need chemo as of now my tumour hasn’t gone behond the bowel  how was your experience regarding the op and preparation for the op. Do you have bowel prep like for a colonoscopy   Hope your doing ok.