mt1971

I have just started using this webseite and have found it really helpful. It is great to know that you are not alone.....

18 months ago I had bowel a resection as I had a fistula between bowel and bladder and prostate. It was a pretty messy and involved surgery and resulted in the surgeon removing my whole sigmoid section and all but last few centimeters of my rectum. I also had an iliostomy for six months until it was reversed a year ago.

I was told following the reversal that the part of bowel joined to the tail of my rectum would start behaving like a rectum and that things wold soon go back to normal.

I have come to the decision that things will never be quite "normal". Most of the time I feel ok, but between 4 - 8 times a day I have a very strong urge to have a BM and it usually hurts. I then normally produce a smallish movement, but have to rusk to the toilet. Every few days i produce great quantities in one sitting.

I try to eat loads of fruit and veg and also go for at least one walk a day (I am not very good at the walking part)

I am wondering if there are supliments that I should take particularly fibrious ones to help keep everything moving and maybe help me to feel more confortable more of the time. I was thinking of getting my GP to prescribe some fibrogel.

I do take milk of magnesia when my stools feel very hard, and I also regulary take probiotics.

Has anyone else had a similar surgical experience? Does anyone have any views on what might help? I am particulary keeen to hear from you guys that have clearly been around for a while like Harry and Goody2shuz.

Thanks

Mischa