Ask general practitioner Maarten: Colon removed and loose stools
Maarten Vasbinder lives in Isaan. His profession is general practitioner, a profession that he mainly practiced in Spain. On Thailandblog he answers questions from readers who live in Thailand and writes about medical facts.
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Dear Martin,
I am 71 years old and had surgery for colon cancer 8 months ago. They completely removed my colon. I smoke 1 cigarette a day and drink 2 beers before the evening meal which is warm and copious. I currently weigh 63 kg from 71 kg. Blood pressure: 130/90, heart rate 60 average.
My problem is that so far I have to go to the toilet 5 times during the day and the same problem at night. Besides Imodium, is there another natural product I can buy at the local pharmacy? The stool remains very thin.
Thanks in advance for answer.
Regards,
R.
*****
Dear R,
Without a colon, your stool will remain thin.
Eating copious meals is not beneficial. It is better to have many small meals a day and certainly not too many in the evening.
Natural remedies will not help much. (Pure) chocolate sometimes relieves the complaints. Cinnamon too. Beer doesn't really help either because of the carbon dioxide. A drink, on the other hand, maybe.
Do not eat stimulant food, as is normal in Thailand.
Here is a list of constipation-promoting foods: www.ahealthylife.nl/8-foods-die-constipation-can-cause/
Continue to take Imodium (loperamide). Maybe double the dose. Possibly switch to codeine or fast-acting morphine (only available through the doctor).
Unfortunately there is not much more that can be done.
Courage,
Yours faithfully,
Dr. Maarten