6 Weeks Post-Surgery: Still Experiencing Pain, Need Advice

Hi All,  

It’s been six weeks since I had a colostomy w a permanent bag.  I had to go back into the hospital a week later with 104 fever, elevated heart rate, and blood clots around my liver.  They never did figure out specifically what was wrong, I responded well to antibiotics so they assumed a bacterial infection which cleared up.  I have since then recovered from all that. I was told because of the blood clots a recurrence of colitis was possible due to lack of oxygen to my colon. Here’s my question: it’s been 6 weeks since my surgery and I’m still experiencing mild pain beneath my stoma when I poop.  My doc says we have to wait and see if it’s colitis.  Was anyone on here still experiencing pain 6 weeks after surgery?  Please be gentle - I’m really worried as this could require a second surgery.  Thanks, Ed 

I have a ileostomy not a colostomy but I had pain for about 2 months after my surgery. There is a lot of healing going on around your stoma, and where the incision is for your surgery. It does take time to heal and strengthen your muscles back up. Give yourself that time to heal and listen to your doctor. I am sorry you had an infection after your surgery. That is really scary. I am glad you are ok now as far as that goes. Good on you getting help right away when you had the fever and elevated heart rate. That could have been very very serious if you hadn't gotten that seen to. So good for you getting checked out. Give yourself a little more time to heal and if you are still having issues that are causing you a lot of discomfort then tell your doctor. That way it can be looked at. 

Thanks it helps to hear that.  I’m 52 so no spring chicken hoping it’s just taking me extra time.  🙂

I've had a permanent colostomy for 19 months. The first few months, I had some gas pains, and I felt discomfort when poop was coming out. At 6 weeks, you're still healing. I had various aches and pains for about 4 months.

Be careful. It's easy to develop a parastomal hernia under or near your colostomy. A sneeze or cough could do it. Or... nothing at all; it just happens. You should be wearing a support belt all the time for at least 6 months. No one told me about this. And I developed a mild parastomal hernia. I wear a support belt all the time now... Hopefully, so it does not get worse.