Question
What will happen to your body if you lose your colon? Can bowel movements be normal like those of a healthy person?
Answer
Total colectomy due to megacolon may affect future bowel movements, as the colon is responsible for absorbing intestinal fluids. With the loss of this function, other intestinal segments may need to be used as replacements. It’s possible that bowel movements might become more loose in the future. However, nutrient absorption in the small intestine should not be affected. At least, the impact on digestion and absorption is significant, so it’s advisable to eat smaller, more frequent meals, and complement this with digestive enzymes to enhance digestion. Abdominal clockwise massage can also be helpful. It’s easy to suffer from malnutrition, which in turn can affect the need for trace elements for growth and development.