I have a question for those who have had their rectum removed and sewn shut.
I've dealt with chronic constipation my whole life and a feeling of pressure down there like I really need to go. I'm afraid that if I'm sewn shut permanently, I'll have a chronic feeling of pressure that can't get out.
Probably silly to think. Do the feelings just go away?
Thank you
Short answer? Yep. They go away.
You might have phantom feelings. I had only one, but that was in 2016 when the colon was removed.
With Ken, but 2 years ago. I have no urge or feelings "to go."
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In both of my cases, I had no choice. It was surgery or be put 6 feet under! I thank God that He has been with me all these times. Without Him, I never would have known what to do and might not have gone to the hospital when I did. I don't know if you have had your surgery or not yet but I hope you will hang out on this website when you are done. I have learned a great deal through the people here and it is so great having others who have had the same thing done and been through what you are about to or have gone through. The only thing I have turned down is a reversal of the ileostomy. When the doctors did the emergency rebuilding of my original ileostomy this last February, I told them I did not want to go through this again. My doctor told me at that time that I was no longer a candidate for the reversal. In a way, I was very relieved. The last three years of my life have been a nightmare for me. I do not want to go through any of it again. If you wish to be rehooked up and they say you are a good choice for that, research it carefully. Every surgery I have ever had except for Old and New Maxine and the emergency surgery on my broken foot, I have spent weeks researching. I recently had my C5 C6 disk in my neck replaced with an artificial one. I went to my pre-op with 2 pages of questions for the doctor. I knew everything that they were going to do and could talk intelligently with them. I always try to research my adversaries! Don't cancel your surgery. It is nice not to have to suffer any longer with horrible pain. We all had to change a few things around when we had our surgeries but in the long run, most of us are glad we did it. I know I am. Good luck to you!
G-Day Milhouse04,
I had my Ken Butt over 3 years ago, and only a couple of times did I get a mild phantom feeling, as they call it, while urinating. But after that short moment in time, I have no feeling of wanting to go at all. You will love the feeling of freedom.
Regards, IGGIE
I'm in the same boat at some point this year; I will be having a pan total colectomy.
Around 30 years ago I was sewn up. I still get phantom pain at times; don't take that literally. I'm not rolling around in agony; it's mild, and with me, it's usually the first sign of my ileostomy being clogged up.
Hi, I had Barbie butt surgery on the 19th of March. So far, so good; obviously, I am still healing, etc., but no way was it as bad as I thought the surgery would be. The wound itself doesn't hurt really at all; it has little niggle bits of pain, but so far, so good. I didn't want the surgery and was really worried about it, but the pain, etc., I was in needed to stop, so I had it done. Good luck and all the best.
Hi Milhouse, that feeling went away when I had my total colectomy fifteen years ago. It didn't change when I had my Barbie butt surgery ten years ago. After experiencing the pain and pressure of ulcerative colitis, it's a welcome relief.
Oh, that is so true; my UC was hell. I lost 4 stone in like 2 months. All I wanted to do was sleep; it got that bad. Most nights, I just curled into a ball on the bed.
The ileostomy has given me so much back in terms of my physical health. I'm just waiting for my action man bum surgery sometime in the next 2 to 3 months because even if there is phantom pain, it's nothing compared to what I was experiencing.
When you first have it done, it does feel like you want to open your bowels, but like others have said, it doesn't last.
I had my operation in August 2024, and I very rarely feel that way now. I was incontinent before the operation due to other cancer treatment I had, and although I would have preferred not to have had such drastic treatment, I realize that I didn't have any other options.
Wishing you luck 😊
So in 2016, you had the rectum removed but still had your anus? That didn't work out? What issue were you having?
Iggie, I'm scheduled to have my large colon and rectum removed, but I asked to keep my anus, thinking it might speed up my recovery and reduce my risk of erectile dysfunction.
However, I'm thinking of changing this. I don't want to have any more discharge or feelings of "having to go."
Hi. I probably was not clear explaining.
2016 large intestine removed. A stump was left in hope to reconnect later, but for several years I bled. Yup, years of orals to stop or control bleeding from the rectum went fruitless.
So after that, they found Crohn's developed in whatever was left: the stump, rectum, and anus. All removed in 2023. Sewn up. Kenn butt.
No plumbing down there at all. Permanent ileostomy. Now 8 years, my history since age 25 was inflammatory bowel disease - IBD.
Moments later... you are a young guy and should be aware that a Kenn butt surgery could very much have an E.D. side effect, so keeping the anus? Dunno how to advise. I think they cut you up way too much down there. Likely stump and rectum removal will cause E.D.
You should discuss it more on here and with the surgeon.
Mine never told me the side effects. And urination could also be an issue fixed by a pill.
It's a very complex and complicated surgery.