Chris- those are symptoms that I would never consider to be the flu first. 
First, always assume it's your intestinal issues because if it's not, it's only egg on your face, but if it is you've saved valuable time. 
By now, you're surely dehydrated and are in need of IV fluids. You probably need a CT scan to make sure there isn't a blockage or narrowing of the anastamosis site. GO TO THE ER!!!!
Let us know what happens.
Cathy
Thanks for all the useful information. What was wrong that you had to go in for this? I have colonic innertia. I had the flu over the weekend.UGH!!!! Its been pretty nasty. The pains are getting unbearable as it is and now this....I am nervous about the surgery. I wont go in until April. I wanted to get things done before hand. Did you have abdominal bloating before surgery, nausea, vomiting of bile. ?????Please write back
I too, had colonic inertia. I was getting pretty sick before surgery. Bloating, nausea, vomiting etc.
I was nervous about surgery too, mainly because I didn't know what to expect, and most of my colleagues had never heard of this dramatic of a surgery for our problem. But, that God for this forum. Talking to people who understand, and know what we're talking about is a real help. There is no way that my husband can understand what I was/am going through. He does his morning ritual everyday, rain or shine. Even doctors think we're nuts.
My subtotal surgery went fine until postop when I herniated and perforated at the anastamosis site. That went undiagnosed for 2 1/2, meanwhile I was getting very sick. I ended up in total organ failure/peritonitis before a third doctor looked at my CT scan and saw the leak. As we say in the business, I had one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel. Once the diagnosis was made, I was back into surgery within hours. I came out of surgery having been given 2 units of blood and an ileostomy. I stayed in the ICU another 2 1/2 weeks then out to the floor and then home to recover. 4 months later we did an ileo pull down where they reconnected everything again. So, right now I'm 6 weeks out and where I should have been in mid Oct.
My story is not the usual. I'm the only perforator amongst the group. That's pretty good numbers. 6 weeks has been the standard for recovery time. If it goes faster for you then great, but don't be surprised if it takes the whole 6 weeks.
Let me know if I can answer any questions.
Cathy
Cathy
Thanks for all your support and information. Before I found this site I was really scared. Don't get me wrong I m still scared. But it helps to know I am not the only person in the world going thru this. And of course I' m not nuts. Yeah the bloating has gotten alot worse in the last week, I had the flu last weekend. And now I am bloating every single time I try to eat. I can't get very much food down and then the bloating and nausea starts. Its a nightmare. I am hoping this surgery takes care of all of that. Not a lot of people know about this stuff. Is it hereditary? Do you know. I have alot of family members that take laxatives on a regular basis and I try to tell them they don't have to continue doing so if they see a doctor. I am sorry to hear that you had such a hard time, I hope I don't have those. They are going to try to start lap and hopefully not have to open. I have had a lot of other surgeries abdominally so, he said it is a possibility that it could go to open. I had a hysterectomy at 24 , and two bladder suspensions , gall bladder removal, and appendictomy. I have had endometriosis quite a few times since the hysterectomy. So I have had a few to say the least. But this one seems a whole lot worse. I don't know if its because they are removing so much of the colon or what but it does seem a little more scary than the rest. Thanks for giving me so much input , Please let me know more if you can think of anything. Thanks , by the way I am 37 now. 
Mom23,
Hi, welcome to the forum. I have only been posting for just a few days but go back and read some of the other forums. Total Colectomy Part 6,7,8,9. They are all very interesting and alot of the same problems and complaints. I am 37, I have colonic inertia, and I am going in for a subtotal colectomy on April 10, I am very scared. I have been speaking alot to Cathy she has helped me alot . I have 3 kids and this makes me very nervous. When do you go for your test. I finally found a good doc to help me with this , most of the others have said to use laxatives, over the counter meds, and left it at that. I've done all of that for years and nothing seems to work including the enemas. Most of the people on here sound like they have been going thru the same exact thing. Take some time and read the posts . Thanks
An ileostomy isn't normal after a subtotal colectomy, I had herniated and perforated after surgery, which is some of the potential risk factors, and needed a second surgery. Once they diagnosed my problem and reopened me, they knew right away that I needed an ileo.
The sitz marker test is diagnostic of colonic inertia, the manometry tests let them know if you can push the stool out properly if the motility thing is not an issue. The biofeedback is to help you "will" the stool out, lol.
I'm 39 and I have 4 kids, so I know that this is scary. When I started to wake up after my second surgery, I knew that I had died. I saw someone unfamiliar and asked "is this where we go when we die?" I'm sure she thought I was nuts. I had been in a state of mental confusion for a couple of weeks due to the infection that I had, so I was nuts, but I really did think that I had died. I remember rationalizing in my mind that my husband would be okay raising the kids and that they could handle this. How sad is that!
I'll be checking back if you guys have any questions.
Cathy
Hi Cathy,
Thanks, that is the part that runs thru your mind. Nobody wants to talk about that. But I keep telling myself that I will feel much better in the long run. I've been feeling sicker and sicker these days., every once in a while I have a good day
far and few in between. I appreciate you being honest with everything, it does help quite a bit. You have actually let me see the better side of the end of this. 
Thanks for the input.
I too had a hard time after my surgery. I had surgery twice. The first time I had the subtotal colectomy as a lap. The second time I had adhesions and my small intestine was a in a ball with webbed like adhesions. I had to have the open surgery and I developed an infection too like Kathy. I ended up having to have two units of blood because of my hemoglobin count. I am not telling you this to scare you. I want you to be aware of what could happen. I had a lot of surgeries too. My adhesions could of been there or grew fast after the first surgery. The doctor says they were fast growing adhesions. I don't know what to believe. I am just thankful to be alive and almost fully recouperated. They say the magic number is six weeks. It has been about twelve weeks since my first surgery. Just keep the faith is all I can say to you about being scared. I am a believer and I was at peace with both of my surgeries. I will be praying for you to feel peace,and for a successful surgery.
Blessings,
Sasha
I have been busy, and still checking in once in awhile.
Chris- How are you doing? Are you feeling much better?
Cathy- How is it going for you? Are you taking it easy?
Blessings,
Sasha
Hey Everyone,
I posted back in part 9 for the first time. I am 8 weeks post op a open lap-assisted subtotal colectomy. I returned to work last week and I am doing good. My recovery after the hospital stay was uneventful THANK GOD! I followed up with my surgeon and my GI doc last week. I found out from my pathology report that my colon showed idiopathic colonic neuropathy consistent with colonic dysmotility. Does anyone have any info on this? I was told that I would probably lose the rest of my colon due to this and given a timeframe of 10-15 years. I would then have a J-pouch?. Can anyone offer some information about this? I hope everyone is doing well. Thank you. Tammy
SaShayc,
ThankS , sorry my s wasn't working. I am scared , believe me. I am sorry to hear you had all those problems. I hope I don't. How did you know you were having this happen and how soon after the first surgery did you have to go in for the second??? I am worried about all of the previous surgeries causing problems now. Was yours open or lap? And how is everything working now ? Hope your recovery gets better for you .. My thoughts are with you.....
I had a my surgeries within 2 weeks of each other. The first one was on Jan3
and second was on Jan 28 th. I was released from the hospital on Jan 16th for the first surgery. The second one I was released on Feb 10 th. Off and on I spent a month in the hospital. I started throwing up and having doubled over cramps on Jan26 th. The doctor admitted me and started me on iv fluids. They did a gastrographin enema and notice that my anasmosis was getting smaller. That is the connection to the small intestine I think? The doctor wanted to go ahead and do an laproscope and it ended up as an open procedure. I had developed adhesions in a matter of weeks. If you have anymore questions let me know.
Blessings,
Sasha
I too had colonic inertia. I had the transit test done twice. My GI doctor told me since I had this going on for such a long time, I needed to see a surgeon. My colon surgeon requested I have the transit test first. My doctors knew it wasn't in my head. That would really tick me off if they had said that. If you arent happy with your surgeon get another one before you let him or her operate. I will be praying for you.
Blessings,
Sasha
Are you feeling much better now? Is is worth the risks? I just wondered how your recovery is going and what can I expect? I appreciate you guys soooo much for sharing this information..
Post Edited (tweety110968) : 3/23/2006 5:47:31 AM (GMT-7)
Tammy- colonic neuropathy implies that the nerves weren't firing like they are supposed to, that's why you had the colonic inertia. If they did not take enough of the large intestine out the first time, there is a chance that you may need the rest removed. They leave a short part of sigmoid colon and the rectum, so no j-pouch is needed. J-pouches are for people who need the rectum removed due to ulcerative colitis. It sounds to me that you have colonic inertia and not ulcerative colitis.
Sasha- I'm so glad that you're improving and doing well. It's been a long haul.
Tina- Relax, don't worry so much. If you have a complication, you'll know it. Usually, diarrhea and vomiting sets in. Pain is a pretty good warning sign, too.
I am back at work fulltime now so I'll check back between patients.
Cathy
Hi Cathy,
Glad to hear you're back to work full time. Is everything working good now? Thanks for all the input , I know I am starting to relax alittle bit now. It sounds like there has been a lot of success with this procedure for colonic inertia. I was just trying to get a grasp on everything. But I definately look forward to feeling better !
Thanks
Tweety