Gastrointestinal issues post-radiation

[cfrees1]

I had adjuvant radiation in August of 2016 across my pelvic region. In the last month or so, I have had pretty much daily diarrhea. I have read that it often happens as a late occurring side effect of radiation. My question is, does it ever go away or is this my new reality?

[pjoshea13]

I know it well.

Feels like it will be forever, but things do improve.

I can tell you the location of every accessible toilet in Asheville. I have not had to use one of them in years.

In my case, radiation proctitis began during the 2nd week of treatment. It's odd that you had nothing for about a year after treatment ended.

About 6 years ago, I had a return of the problem, but I figured out it was something new. My doctor suspected Clostridium difficile (C-diff). I tested positive (probably picked it up in hospital when I had the RP). An antibiotic stopped it, but it came back in weeks. Doctor sent me to a specialist, who insisted on a colonoscopy. He told me "Everyone has C-diff", as though it couldn't be the root cause.

The pictures from the colonoscopy looked very healthy, but a biopsy revealed lymphocytic colitis, a form of microscopic colitis. The only type of colitis that does not affect survival, etc.

The treatment was a particular antibiotic that cleared it up quickly, but again the symptoms were back within weeks. The next treatment was to be the same antibiotic for almost 2 months. I discovered that it was a powerful methyl donor, so opted for Plan B, which was handfuls of Pepto Bismol tablets each day (You can't buy a large economy pack, unfortunately.)

A few years went by & I was given Cipro (Ciprofloxacin) for a bladder infection. I knew right away that there was an improvement in bowel movements. It has been at least four years now since I stopped the Pepto Bismol - it's bad stuff: inhibits iodine uptake.

I don't think that you should accept your situation as being a normal consequence of radiation. See a specialist.

Best, -Patrick

[cfrees1 in reply to pjoshea13]

Thanks Patrick. I have some Cipro I can try on my own. I'll do that. I won't say that I didn't have any diarrhea for over a year, but it was different. Without getting too graphic, it was kind of like wet cement coming out but not super watery. Only super watery in the last few weeks. Thanks for the suggestions.

[Jetlagged in reply to cfrees1]

I would check with a doctor before starting Cipro on your own, and discuss with your doctor a probiotic that can survive the stomach and make it to your intestine (like Saccharomyces Boulardii + MOS). Cipro is a powerful drug and can wipe out everything including the friendly bacteria that you need. If that sleeping C-diff wakes up without any friendly bacteria to keep it from getting hold, you can get yourself into trouble.

BTW, I had 44 sessions of proton radiation therapy ending July 2016. I haven't had any BM problems to speak of, but I started rectal bleeding May of 2017. I had a colonoscopy that reveled some radiation damage, and was told that it was not that uncommon to start to bleed a whole year after treatment, and that it will most likely resolve itself in time. I'm on Plavex and aspirin, so my blood is thin. As long as I limit any other NSAIDS like Advil or Aleve, I am fine... but a couple Advils and I'll bleed again.

Good luck!!

[Hidden in reply to Jetlagged]

I was told by a neauphologist to never take Advil or alleve.. all of your advice is good. Thanks

[Tjc1]

Hi i had 39 treatments 7 years ago and still have soft stools to this day. For many years as soon as i got vertical i had to go and many times at that 4-5.

I went on a diet a couple of months ago where i had oatmeal wth bananas and blueberrys. Afternoon and night i eat salads with grilled chicken in it. It didnt change the stool itself but i didnt have tok run to the bathroom right away when i get up. And i went less each day. You will come around in a couple years. Good luck!

[Tall_Allen]

Yes, late side effects are usually transient. Daily diarrhea can be serious because of loss of fluids and electrolytes. I suggest going to a proctologist or a gastroenterologist. There are medicines (pill, enema or suppository) containing mesalamine that is very specific for bowel inflammation. If that doesn't work, there are more intrusive measures, like laser or argon plasma resurfacing they can do. And if that doesn't work, hyperbaric oxygen therapy often does.

[Robertleeb]

I had 40 sessions of radiation and I did have diarrhea, the radiation doctor told me to take Imodium, I did and it worked, I noticed the radiation does accumulate from doing it 5 days a week, and I had to quit eating late in the evening because I would get stomach cramps. Dr. Colbert's Keto Zone Diet: Burn Fat, Balance Appetite Hormones, I didn't get the book but saw him on a Christian TV show, he mentioned that if we stop eating after dinner and didn't eat nothing till next day we would be a lot healthier so I have been doing that plus Thomas Seyfried wrote a book called Cancer a Metabolic disease. I saw a video where he talked about fasting and it would stop feeding the cancer. I think it can only help cancer survivors dealing with their doctors protocols. Thomas said 24 to 48 hrs fasting but I am a diabetic so I won't try the 48 hrs, also my A1C is normal because of my diet. so I will do 20 hrs only after dinner then part of it is sleeping so its really not that hard to do. I eat breakfast at noon. My stomach aches are gone and no diarrhea. Hopefully making the cancer weaker too.

you can find Thomas Seyfried on youtube and

Dr. Colbert's Keto Zone Diet online too.

hope this will be helpful.

God Bless

Robert

[petercraig2]

I had 17 days of radiation. I did some research and discovered that radiation can kill the gut flora and fauna in same way antibiotics do. So I started on a quality probiotic twice daily as recommended by my ever helpful pharmacist.

Continued the probiotic for a month after radiation and with any signs of diarrhea took several tablespoons of Kaopectate. Seemed to do the trick and very limited discomfort or distress.

I did however start to get incontinence again, had to use a pad once a day and was getting pretty upset about that. Started aggressively doing the Kegal exercises again and within a few days regained control and all seems to be well.

Hope this helps.

Best of luck.

Peter

[petercraig2 in reply to petercraig2]

Oh yes I also got some real pain peeing like I had some sort or urinary tract infection.

I got some straight up pure cranberry juice and had half glass daily and problem cleared up completely. It's very tart but seemed to do the trick.

Peter

[nereabg]

Hi! That´s what my 81 year old dad went through in April 2017. He had undergone low-dose-rate brachytherapy in April 2015. Two years later he started, suddenly, suffering from continuous diarrhoea (2-3 times a day but having loose-liquid stools). Changes in his diet didn´t solve his problem. He was examined by a colonoscopy at the end of May with negative result (luckily).

He was referred to a gastroenterologist, who prescribed him rifaximin: 4 pills every day during a week for 4 months. The first pill cut the diarrhoea.

Today, February 2018, he is not taking the pills which apparently is no longer necessary.

Good luck,

[cfrees1]

Thanks everyone for your feedback. I started on a regimen of Cipro on Saturday and so I still have half a week to go, but that does seem to have had a positive impact. Things are getting back to normal. Thanks for the idea PJ.

[Hidden]

Good for you..

[cfrees1]

Ok, i have something to confess now to you all, as embarrassing as it is. But here goes. I was reading on this forum a week or so ago about the different types of Magnesium supplements and happened to notice that Magnesium Oxide was listed as having laxative properties. So when I got home that night I looked to see what form the Magnesium supplement I was taking to help with my hot flashes--yep, Magnesium Oxide. So for the last two years I was taking a laxative every night and then thinking that my loose stools were due to my cancer treatments! I switched the forms of magnesium and have been significantly better. I have noticed that I have more pain in my hands than I had with the oxide version, but my BMs are better. Criminey.