Hey AussieMumma,
I looked back at your thread when you were having your resection and see that you had the same surgery my kids have.
Everyone is a little different in how they go with their bowels following this type of surgery. The problem with having the terminal ileum removed is that the reabsorption of bile salts is affected. Instead of being absorbed back into the body they stay in the bowel and move unhindered into the large bowel. The presence of bile salts in the large bowel then affects the osmotic effect. In the large bowel water is normally drawn back into the body and so creating formed stools. However when there are bile salts present it has the opposite effect and actually draws water out of the body and into the bowel, causing loose watery stools.
Some people seem to be unaffected by removal of the terminal ileum from the outset, for some it takes a few weeks to go back to normal and still for others it is either a settling down but not back to normal or they never get back to normal.
My kids have never been back to normal. My son has had a similar amount of bowel removed as you have. I do believe they have both had some natural take up over the years but nothing approaching normal if left untreated.
You can get your doctor to prescribe a medication called Questran (powder). It absorbs excess bile salts in the bowel and in doing so it reduces the amount of times you go a day and will also help ‘bulk up’ your stool. There are also tablets called Welchol that do the same thing. These medications are generally used to lower peoples cholesterol but are also used for this specific in Crohn’s.
Alternatively you could try psyllium husks, this is what my kids use. They each go once or twice a day and their stool is something between mushy and firm. It has the same action as Questran, it absorbs excess bile salts in the small bowel, and it has been a godsend for us.
If you do decide to go with either Questran or psyllium be aware not to take medication and supplements within 1 hour before and two after the Questran/psyllium. There is no literature stating that Crohn’s meds or supplements absorption will be affected but it is better to err to caution, and the time factor is generally the recommendation given.
Since you have had a right hemicolectomy ensure you continue to have the following levels done at regular intervals even if normal as you may have the potential to become deficient any one of them over time.
Iron Stores
Folate
B12
Vit D
Magnesium
Zinc
And lastly, the one thing my kids finds send them bolting to the loo is oily/fatty foods.
Good luck and sending well wishes for a speedy and uneventful recovery!
Dusty. xxx
