A month after surgery and still feel awful

[ACNewt]

So it's been a month since my resection.

I would love to say I am symptom free but sadly... no. In many ways I am just as bad. The abdominal pain and lower pain is gone, yes. But I am still having CONSTANT diarrhea and I think I have a fissure (sexy, I know) from all the diarrhea because going to the bathroom is a painful experience. It's like I am pooping razors. And sometimes the food isn't digested. I also have horrible aches and a slight fever that comes and goes. I wake up and I feel like I have been hit by a truck. And I am always so tired. I have zero energy. I don't feel like doing anything.

I am miserable and depressed and I thought the surgery would help me.

I went to my gastro on Friday and told him all this. He gave me a script for Pentasa and barely seemed to listen. Seriously???

Why do I still feel like crap?

 

[krbsmom]

I am 6 months post surgery and I am just now starting to feel half human again. My surgeon says the gut doesn't like to be messed with ,it takes time, I believe him now. For the first couple of months I was totally out of it, and even now barely remember stuff that went on then. I had some major nutritional issues though after wards, i was in hosp for 32 days total within a mth and half.
The one thing I did to stop the diarrhea was to switch to a gluten free diet, within two wks of switching over slowly the diarrhea stopped for me. I hope you get to feeling better soon!

 

[ACNewt]

I am glad you are finally starting to feel better!

I think you're right, a gluten free diet might help. I have only heard positives about it. I admit my diet has not been good at all... I have no self control with food at all, I definitely need to be eating gut friendlier fare.

 

[Jennifer]

Some foods in general are hard to digest so if your guts aren't feeling right to begin with, then ya, your symptoms will continue. More bland diets may help like not eating any raw fruits or veggies (especially with peels), eating white rice and light colored meats like chicken breast and white fish (both easier to digest than darker meats). I'd also talk to your doctor about what to take for your diarrhea (I was given Lomotil and it works fine as needed). Having diarrhea doesn't mean that you're not in remission. I had diarrhea when I went off my maintenance meds for a few years. Now I'm back on 50mg of 6MP and hardly ever have diarrhea anymore and feel perfectly fine (granted my resection was many years ago ). Give it some more time and you'll notice a change for the better.