Colon Re-Section: No gas, bowel movement

01-05-2011, 10:05 AM

Hi all,

My mom had colon resection surgery last Thursday morning due to ruptured diverticulitis. Recovery seems to be very slow, and I'm trying to determine if it's anything to be concerned about.

At what point should she have resumed gas and bowel movements?

Catheter was removed Sunday morning, then tube down her throat removed Sunday night. She "ate" liquids for about a day after both tubes were removed, then began eating solids about 24 hours ago. So far she has had no gas, rumblings or bowel movements.

The doctors and nurses seem to give conflicting information about what should happen when. First they said they would not remove the tubes until she had passed gas, but then they did remove the tubes. Then they said they wouldn't give her solid food til she had passed gas, then they did give her solid food. They said they wouldn't send her home without a bowel movement, but told her yesterday she could go home in 24-48 hours even though she's had no gas or bowel movement. This is very disconcerting.

Is it normal to go this long with no tubes, eating liquids and solids, but no reaction from the colon?

As a sort of side note, she is EXTREMELY tired still, and still has moments of confusion (she is 66 but had no signs of mental/memory issues prior to this) more than six full days after the procedure.

Any help is appreciated.

~Erin

01-05-2011, 05:53 PM

She must have bowel sounds or they would not let her eat or drink, so the gut is working.

I was in for 7 days at age 38 & didn't have bowel sounds for the first 6 of those days. It is a hard surgery so it is normal she is weak. As for confusion if she is still on pain meds it's normal-Also in the hospital you don't get good sleep wheich leads to more confusion.

I hope things get better for her

Pup

01-06-2011, 07:22 AM

Thanks for the reply!

She had a specialist come in who said she had no "sounds". This was AFTER the hospital staff had already started giving her liquids, and I believe after the solids had started. I guess the sounds could come and go? I unfortunately don't have a ton of confidence in how the food is delivered since when she was in previously, they repeatedly brought her high-sugar meals even though she's diabetic. And even now she's supposed to be only eating chicken and fish, and the past two nights they've brought her pasta with beef sauce.

Just found out they're discharging her this afternoon. Seems unbelievable to me that she's ready to go home but they say she's had "the hospital's definition of colon activity". Not sure what that is. Oh well.

Thanks again for the response. I hope you're feeling better yourself!

Colon Re-Section: No gas, bowel movement

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