Small Bowel Resection

[carpra]

I have been fighting crohns since 2009, i have had two surgeries both to remove strictures in the small bowel, i am wondering if anyone had to deal with small bowel resection and looking for any tips for after care. My first surgery had about 18 inches of small bowel removed and the second one about 12 inches. I am currently recovering from the second resection. I have been told that i have about 2 meters of small bowel left, i would like to know if 2 meters of small bowel is too short short, will that result in short bowel syndrome ? and what issues to watch-out for after this surgery.

Appreciate any help or if you could share your thoughts.

 

[my little penguin]

https://badgut.org/information-centre/a-z-digestive-topics/short-bowel-syndrome/

 

[my little penguin]

If your intestine is 6 meters long then having only 2 meters means 2/3 (66% ) is no longer there .
Talk with your Gi about the length of your specific small intestine
And how much was removed from where and what will be left .

 

[Delta_hippo]

Watch out for malnutrition especially anaemia and b12 deficiency. Prevent with supplements you can digest easily- Better You in the UK do an iron oral spray, floradix do a liquid iron supplement. Garden of life do a B12 spray.

 

[carpra]

Thanks for your messages. I was advised that the length of small bowel can vary, being a small person i might have started with a shorter than average but it is a good point i will have to talk to the GI/Surgeon.

Update -
Having done some research, it appears the average 6 meters is not applicable for every one, it can change from person to person widely. Here is some research paper on the length of small bowel. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11695-019-04238-z.

Update October 2024.
The removal of small bowel has caused malabsorption as i was expecting, the doctors do not agree yet. I am having trouble absorb Iron, Magnesium, Calcium etc. Started having supplements and iron infusions to compensate the malabsorption. Still struggling to put on any weight due to this issue. Combination of Omeprazole and Ferinject infusion has given me phosphate deficiency and weakened my bones, now on treatment of osteoporosis as well as Crohns. I am off Omeprazole and now switched to Monofer infusions now and i think i am stable, so i hope.

 

[Anna's Bandit]

I know this original post is old, but my Gastroenterologist / Gastroenterologist Nurse Practitioner have mentioned surgery to me. I believe my terminal Ilieum would be removed. My terminal ileum has stricture and inflammation. Diagnosed with Crohn's 6 years ago. Currently taking Stelara, Budesonide, Methotrexate and Folic Acid ( and have been taking Cholestyramine for 20 years. ) Nurse Practitioner said I would have a colonoscopy next year. Has anyone had this surgery and how dangerous is it and what is the recovery time.

Right now I am sitting here at home waiting to have a bowel movement . Had to go to the ER last year to have an enema to clean me out so I get worried when I can't go.

 

[carpra]

I had small bowel removed had the surgery twice, but i still have my terminal ileum, the strictures were further up. Having lost large sections of my small bowel, i have had several side effects mainly malabsorption, Iron, Magnesium, Calcium etc and general imability to put any weight on. I was not advised of these side effects or i did not understand it clearly, as the last one was due to a mistake made by the hospital(Capsule endoscope got stuck in the small bowel due to a stricture).

In general (my own personal opinion ) if you have had a stricture and it is better to have the stricture addressed, to avoid any emergency surgeries which could be complicated.

I have recovered from my surgeries twice and still surviving, there you go. Hope you feel better soon.


Medications
Adalimumab Injections, B12 Injections, Monofer Infusion, Calcium, D3, Magnesium, Zinc, Zolendronic Acid Infusions, Vitamin K2

 

[Roxymusic]

Crohns since 1970, multiple surgeries at terminal ileum. On Skyrizi now but have to have b-12 injection monthly since 1993. I was able to play basketball after 6 weeks on a couple surgeries there. Although i had an mri yesterday which messed up pickelball, ill play thursday. Surgery recovery is way different for each person.