CancerCompass message board discussion started by Mareya on 7/2/2006 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,5872,0.htm Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ My brother age 51 had sphincter-sparing surgery on 5/1/06 for resection of a Stage 2 rectal cancer, his nodes are negative, all margins clear thankfully. The board certified colo-rectal surgeons were unable to do a J-pouch because of his narrow pelvis, they did a colo-anal anastomosis. He developed a high fever and severe rectal pain 2 weeks after the surgery- back to the university hospital, they did not appreciate an abcess at this time. 2 weeks later he was again back to the hospital, this time the abcess was clearly present and he was admitted for one week of incision & drainage, antibiotics etc. He left the hospital with a rectal drain, now 3 weeks later the drain is out, fever is gone but he is having almost constant small formed stools. His surgeon does not want him to start a bowel training program that includes Metamucil or Benefiber at present, just use Lomotil and a low fiber diet. The very frequent bowel movements are restricting his life, not to mention that sometimes he can not make it to a bathroom. It is becoming very difficult for him to deal with, and also very socially isolating, his line of work involves meeting and talking with people, so he has not been able to work. Does anyone have experience with this kind of sphincter-sparing surgery and the side-effects? I am trying very hard to find someone that may have gone through this and how they managed their recovery, so that I can give my brother some hope that things will get better. Thanks for reading this and any help is greatly appreciated. Mareya Sun, 02 Jul 2006 00:00:00 GMT Hi Mary, Although I did not have the same surgery as your brother, I did have my rectum removed and had to train my colon (which was brought down to act as a rectum). I had many of the same problems after my reversal. I also had accidents and could not return to work due to the excessive bowel movements and gas over which I did not have in control. However, 2 years later I am doing much, much better. I did survive on Lomotil. At one point I took 13 per day. Happily, I don't take any more medication. I was going approx. 15-20 times per day for about 9 months after that surgery. Now, I average 3-9. Depends on what I eat. Mostly, the bms come in flurries. After dinner, depending on what I eat. If I have to go out, I just take a Lomotil. For me, Lomotil did the trick. I wish your brother good luck and please tell him things get better. I never believed they would and thought I would be housebound forever. But honest, I am a very active person and I am almost back to normal. Thank God. Please feel free to email me with any questions you may have. --- Message edited by CancerCompass staff: for personal protection, email address removed. Please review CancerCompass Member Guidelines at http://www.cancercompass.com/common/guidelines.html ----Peace, Annette Drmrgirl47 Tue, 04 Jul 2006 00:00:00 GMT I have  had the same problem.  Metamucil made things worse because it caused gas and the gas set off the movements.  I tried Citrocil 3 time per day and it made a big difference.  When I go to work I found that immodium didn't help too much.  I take Hydromet which is used for other things, but it does usually stop the bowel movements until I get home at 5.Did you find that the bowel movements are very painful on the skin?  I did and  I don't try to wash my rear end aftter each time, but clean it and keep it dry.  Diet helps too. I avoid food that produce gas and it seems to work.  All in all though, I still have periods of excessive bowel movements and hope someone else may have an idea. Dabblerz Fri, 02 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT  On 3/2/2007 Dabblerz wrote:I have  had the same problem.  Metamucil made things worse because it caused gas and the gas set off the movements.  I tried Citrocil 3 time per day and it made a big difference.  When I go to work I found that immodium didn't help too much.  I take Hydromet which is used for other things, but it does usually stop the bowel movements until I get home at 5.Did you find that the bowel movements are very painful on the skin?  I did and  I don't try to wash my rear end aftter each time, but clean it and keep it dry.  Diet helps too. I avoid food that produce gas and it seems to work.  All in all though, I still have periods of excessive bowel movements and hope someone else may have an idea.   cgerv0000 Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hi. I had a similar operation. A coloanal anatomosis. I noticed in your email that your condition improved with cirtucel. How do you take it? After meals? With water? I am still trying to impove bowel movements. Had my operation in 2005. Hope to hear from you. Charles cgerv0000 Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT