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Bowel movement and stool size change after RP

Posted , 4 users are following.

ayman78787
ayman78787

Hello All,

I had RP surgery on March 24th.  A month later, I had a major infection complication that has now been resolved.

I am now experiencing smaller size stools, all the time, with a feeling of bloating after lunch/dinner, gas, and some infrequent colon area pains.

My doctor tells me this is most likely related to the PR and the infection following, scared tissues (which can happen upto 6 months after surgery).

I also heard that RP can cause bowel movement disturbances, but most radiation does this.

I am of course worried about colon cancer.  I have no other of the symptoms (fatigue, loss of appetite, bleeding, anal pains, weight loss, ...etc).

Any experience/feedback much appreciated.

Thanks

Ayman

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • Pepasan
    Pepasan ayman78787

    Posted

    Presumably your infection was treated with anti-biotics? I imagine the good bacteria in your body are affected by that as well as the bad. Maybe it takes a while for your gut flora to settle. I'm presuming the RP was necessary because you had been diagnosed with PCa - so I can understand how colon cancer could be a concern for you. However, you say you do not have the symptoms for this, and anyway there are surely tests that could put your mind at rest? If in the UK and over a certain age, postal bowel cancer test kits are sent out to all. I've had two which were both clear and so very reassuring.

    • ayman78787
      ayman78787 Pepasan

      Posted

      Yes, I have been given an enormous amount of antibiotics over a 3 weeks period, min 3500 mg/day on a good day.

      I am planning to have a colonoscopy later this year. Doctor said it's too soon after RP, probably by Sept will be possible.

      I heard antibiotics as well as infection could be a cause for intestinal parasites which might be a reason for these bowel and stool changes I am experiencing.

      You are right, after RP, cancer becomes always a worry, however I have no other symptoms at all. I am hoping that some intestine/colon inflamation are the cause of the stool size change.

      Thanks for your reply. It made me feel better and less worried.

  • romneyj
    romneyj ayman78787

    Posted

    Hi Ayman!

    Yes I agree with Pepasan. Actually I had significant changes in faecal consistancy and shape post RP (Jan 27th of this yr) but I think or thought it was related to an earlier pre-op food poisoning episode...

    Stangely summer 2015 I had my routine test for occult feacal blood (the colo-rectal cancer test) and it was negative but in Feb 2016 I had visible blood in my faces and underpants. It turned out I had a polyp (the normal stage pre-cancer) which was then removed. It was because the doctor felt my rectal area that she decided to do a PSA test as she thought the prostate was not quite right and my PCa was diagnosed (finally) as a result of this.

    If you are worried you can request a test for occult blood (ie when bleeding is further up the colon it is partially digested and invisible and seen only microscopically). Not an expensive test if you are getting it done privately.

    Good luck with that and with your continued recovery from the RP.

    Romney

  • ayman78787
    ayman78787

    Posted

    Roll of the dice I guess
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