Hi
I'm new here. My entire life, I have had severe constipation. Recently however, it had gotten to the point that I was in such pain that I was prescribed vicadin and given several days off work. (After several trips to the walk in and ER). I finally had a colonoscopy two weeks ago, where it was discovered that the ascending portion of my colon (right side), has no peristalsis. Everything looked healthy, other then no movement in that segment. My questions are:
Have any of you heard of the Colonic Inertia affecting only one segment of the colon?
Have you had vitamin or mineral deficiencies as a result of this "affliction"?
Are there any medications that you took that truly helped get things moving?
Thank you so much for your time reading and answering these. I certainly appreciate it.
Hi Shellee...
well i cant relate to your problem, i had ulcerative colitis and am awaiting surgery #2 to get rid of my ostomy and get reconnected...but i wanted to tell you i am so sorry to hear about your diagnosis. i know there are some on this board that have suffered through colonic inertia, and im sure they will respond soon. As to minerals and vitamins, nothing is absorbed in the colon but water. Everything is in the small intestine. So you should be fine, but maybe need to watch your water intake to stay hydrated if its not absorbing the water...it sucks up 90% of the water you absorb in your whole body...not sure how the one segment ties in...i hope you find something to help you...
Good Luck.
~Eileen
It will always get better...always
J-Poucher; 1st step 11/16/04, 2nd step scheduled for 05/23/05...pouch-vaginal fistula...healed?!
I finally feel FREE!!!!
Please donate to keep Healingwell growing!
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well i cant relate to your problem, i had ulcerative colitis and am awaiting surgery #2 to get rid of my ostomy and get reconnected...but i wanted to tell you i am so sorry to hear about your diagnosis. i know there are some on this board that have suffered through colonic inertia, and im sure they will respond soon. As to minerals and vitamins, nothing is absorbed in the colon but water. Everything is in the small intestine. So you should be fine, but maybe need to watch your water intake to stay hydrated if its not absorbing the water...it sucks up 90% of the water you absorb in your whole body...not sure how the one segment ties in...i hope you find something to help you...
Good Luck.
~Eileen
It will always get better...always
J-Poucher; 1st step 11/16/04, 2nd step scheduled for 05/23/05...pouch-vaginal fistula...healed?!
I finally feel FREE!!!!
Please donate to keep Healingwell growing!
http://www.healingwell.com/donate/
Hi. I just had a subtotal colectomy on May 9th and it has been a slow healing process...I just joined this chat support system today. I think it is great! Anyway does anyone know the difference between a subtotal coloectomy and a cololectomy..thanks!
Colleens, I believe the difference in the surgeries is: subtotal colectomy, the leave the rectum, and a total colectomy the take the whole colon, including rectum, so you end up with some sort of ostomy. I had a subtotal colectomy the end of February this year for colonic inertia. It was the best thing I ever could have done. I have never felt this well in my entire life.
Hi. I found out today that I will be having a subtotal colectomy. I have suffered with chronic constipation my entire life. Although I am nervous about the surgery I am excited to think after years of enduring pain and discomfort relief may be in sight. I just have a few questions im hoping those with experience can answer....I am hoping to have the surgery done laparscopic. If this is not possible can someone tell me how the incision is done and where? Also is it a fairly bloodless surgery? Also what is the general recovery time? I appreciate any input. Thanks.
Hi Gingy....I had a subtotal colectomy back in sept.05 I know that lap surgury is possible but sometimes they will open you up after they get in there. I opted for the open surgury because it gives them a better feild of view to see everything. Yes I have a longer scar but it is almost the same color of my skin now in such a short time. I am not sure about where the incisions are made in the lap surgury....Im sure there are alot of folks that can tell you in here this place is a wealth of info!! I tthink the recovery time for this surgury is 7-10 days depending on the type of surgury. It takes a while to feel to get back on your feet but dont lose heart. It is so worth it!!! although I have probably got to have another surgury I still had a great improvement for a while and now that i have had a taste of the good life i will never suffer from colonic inertia agian....not when i know I dont have to. how your body reacts to it depends on you. I think we all have different stories............good luck!!!Heather
7-10 days in the hospital I mean
they told me back to work in 4-6 weeks if all goes well.....just thought i would clarify that statement....sorry......heather
they told me back to work in 4-6 weeks if all goes well.....just thought i would clarify that statement....sorry......heather
Thank you, Buggnyou69. That helps with that question. Appreciate your quick response!!
I have the scars for the laparscopic surgery for Colonic Inertia. I have 4 small scars less than 1" long 1 below belly above hair line, 1 above 4" above belly button and 1 to left and right of belly button. The largest scare 3" long top of belly button. The bleeding was limited and I was in the hospital for three days. My surgery was done in June of this year.Good Luck to you all. Cathy
a colonoscopy can tell where there is or isn't peristalsis?
as far as i know, a colonoscopy can't reveal functional prob. it can only reveal things like polyps, tumor, sorces of infection - things you can see in the eye.
a functional prob. can't be revealed just by looking.
Hodaya
a functional prob. can't be revealed just by looking.
Hodaya
06/05/2007 - STARR procedure
colonic inertia w/ pelvic floor dysfunction
I agree - even though the original post is old thought i would give my input.
A total colectomy is where they remove the entire large bowel and attach the small bowel to the rectum. A subtotal is where they leave a portion (to be decided by the surgeon) of the large bowel and attach the small bowel to that part of the large bowel left intact. that is what my surgeon told me. it is confusing as it seems surgeons may differ. my surgeon told me that a colectomy with removal of the rectum is called something else but i cant remember.
Karen 46 yrs
1997: Diagnosed IBS
2003: Pelvic floor repair surgery (rectocele/cystocele)
2006: STARR surgery for mucosal prolapse/Obstruction
2006: Diagnosed with slow transit constipation
2007: Sigmoid resection because of partial volvulus resulting in immediate colonic inertia
15 JAN 2009: scheduled for T/C
hi,
I had a test called the sitz marker test, where you swallow a clear pill that has 24 markers in it and get an x-ray for 5 days in a row. The x-ray follows and shows where the markers are to determine if the colon is moving. All 24 markers were stuck in the beggining of my colon and my doctor told me my colon died, so I had to get a total colectomy, which I did in aug. 2008. When I got my colectomy, my doctor removed my entire colon and attached my small intestine to my rectum. After that I was having BM's again. For a while I was having watery, frequent bMs at least 20+ times a day, but recently I started taking metamucil and now I have 5-6 BM's a day. My sergeon did not want me to take metamucil at first because he wanted to make sure that eveything was moving and than after a few months he told me to take it. I take the powdered form because it helps me alot. i hope this helps you somewhat and good luck with everything.
I had a test called the sitz marker test, where you swallow a clear pill that has 24 markers in it and get an x-ray for 5 days in a row. The x-ray follows and shows where the markers are to determine if the colon is moving. All 24 markers were stuck in the beggining of my colon and my doctor told me my colon died, so I had to get a total colectomy, which I did in aug. 2008. When I got my colectomy, my doctor removed my entire colon and attached my small intestine to my rectum. After that I was having BM's again. For a while I was having watery, frequent bMs at least 20+ times a day, but recently I started taking metamucil and now I have 5-6 BM's a day. My sergeon did not want me to take metamucil at first because he wanted to make sure that eveything was moving and than after a few months he told me to take it. I take the powdered form because it helps me alot. i hope this helps you somewhat and good luck with everything.
2b ColonFree said...
as far as i know, a colonoscopy can't reveal functional prob. it can only reveal things like polyps, tumor, sorces of infection - things you can see in the eye.
a functional prob. can't be revealed just by looking.
as far as i know, a colonoscopy can't reveal functional prob. it can only reveal things like polyps, tumor, sorces of infection - things you can see in the eye.
a functional prob. can't be revealed just by looking.
oh sorry im sorta confused then... so how did the original poster know that the ascending part of her colon had no peristalsis?
hi ih8u
i know, she said they discovered that in the er with colonoscopy - it seem very odd to me.
look, all i know is that any doc. would tell you what i did.
maybe in very extreme situations it is so obvious that they can tell even just by looking....??? well, i don't have a slight :o)
Hodaya
i know, she said they discovered that in the er with colonoscopy - it seem very odd to me.
look, all i know is that any doc. would tell you what i did.
maybe in very extreme situations it is so obvious that they can tell even just by looking....??? well, i don't have a slight :o)
Hodaya
06/05/2007 - STARR procedure
colonic inertia w/ pelvic floor dysfunction
thanks for your response :)
Ref: Colonoscopy
I was scheduled for my own colonoscopy which had to be delayed FOUR times due to my system not cleaning out. Once they believed that we could proceed, (I laugh now!!) the camera became stuck and I had three nurses pushing on my stomach to unstick it. My doctor told me right then she was 99% sure that I had colonic inertia. To verify, I took the Stitz Marker test, which confirmed. So I guess what I am trying to say is that maybe sometimes the colonoscopy is a tool to bring up the question of this gastric problem. I hope this helps. . . .at least maybe a few laughs!!
your story is very interesting. what an ordeal!!! well, i'm assuming that in most cases it can't be revealed with a colonoscopy, but you're a proof that there are exceptionals.
how are you today? did you have surgery yet?
best wishes to you.
and, yes, the information was helpful and interesting too - thanks.
Hodaya
how are you today? did you have surgery yet?
best wishes to you.
and, yes, the information was helpful and interesting too - thanks.
Hodaya
06/05/2007 - STARR procedure
colonic inertia w/ pelvic floor dysfunction
I know that the colonoscopy can be a tool but NOT a diagnosis only tool. That I need to make clear.
I am scheduled to have the surgery in early January. Didn't want to mess up the holidays. I am looking forward to it, but also abit aprehensive at the same time. I am praying that this will help reduce the amount of medicine I am on (for this and other problems). But, I know it may not. 
Heddie,
i wish you the best of luck with your upcoming surgery. i hope it goes well and you won't have comlications and you'll find great relief from it and won't need to take ANY medication ANYMORE!!
please join us on the "TOTAL COLECTOMY PART 20" thread - that's where all the girls with colonic inertia are posting, and please keep us updated there with you progress.
G-D bless you.
Hodaya
i wish you the best of luck with your upcoming surgery. i hope it goes well and you won't have comlications and you'll find great relief from it and won't need to take ANY medication ANYMORE!!
please join us on the "TOTAL COLECTOMY PART 20" thread - that's where all the girls with colonic inertia are posting, and please keep us updated there with you progress.
G-D bless you.
Hodaya
06/05/2007 - STARR procedure
colonic inertia w/ pelvic floor dysfunction