Surgery for Colonic Inertia
Hi I am in the uk and found this on a google search. I have ME/CFS and have also been diagnosed with colonic inertia and wondered if the two were connected. Bascially the bowel has given up and the surgeons here have suggested I have it removed..a subtotal colectomy, where the large intestine is taken out and the small intestine and rectum will be attached together. Obviously I am scared about this and wonder what affect it will have on my CFS but am tired of my stomach problems too.
Hi Viks,
First of all, welcome to the forum. Second of all, Nielk has given you some very good advice as far as I'm concerned. DO NOT HAVE THIS SURGERY!!!!!!!!!
I've also had a lot of GI tract problems, often severe. For years when I was even more chemically sensitive than I am now, any kind of environmental exposure could completely eviscerate my peristalsis function (as in total paralysis). This could last for days, and sometimes weeks. And when it did start to come back on line, it was very sluggish and inefficient.
Obviously, this is a dangerous situation. But I sought out natural remedies, and have found a variety of gentle, supportive therapies that has allowed me to essentially keep my GI health in reasonably good shape. This included daily coffee enemas for a number of years, and these days I do aloe vera daily retention enemas. I also drink kefir daily and do a number of other things. And my colon health is far better than it was 20 years ago.
I always look forward to the day when my health improves, and I do not require these kinds of therapies. But in the mean time, they work, and they are far less of a burden in my daily life than if I were to have had surgical intervention. Surgeons do what they do best; surgery. They're generally unaware of alternative therapies that can alleviate the need for such a radical approach.
I would strongly urge you to explore the many different options that are available to you before giving serious consideration to having this surgery done. You've not written anything which makes me think this is an urgent emergency situation. Also, the amino acid l-gluatamine can do wonders for some of the most intractable GI problems. So much to explore and experiment with. All the best in whatever you decide to do.
Wayne
ETA I notice you say you're tired of stomach problems. Just want to mention that having this kind of surgery could very well add to the problems you're experiencing. And once it's done, there's no going back. It just seems so advisable to try other things first.