I have posted numerous pieces on my incontinence issues, and I 'may' have stumbled onto something interesting.
I have been dealing with constipation for some time now, and finally decided to see a gastroenterologist at a great hospital here in Thailand. Because of my age, PCa history, and not having had one for about five years, he recommended a colonoscopy. During the procedure (which took place about two weeks ago) the only thing that he found was a slight 'kink' in my rectum in the vicinity of where my prostate 'used' to be. He speculated that it may have been caused by my robotic prostatectomy.
I started drinking some natural detox 'supplements', which have pretty much made my bowel movements normal. In addition to the normal bowel movements, I am finding that my incontinence issues have decreased significantly. Not sure if there is a correlation, or just a fluke?
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E2-Guy
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My husband also experiences constipation and had a laparascopic RP. Can you recommend the products that you are using?
He is currently drinking 3 times a day 1 tsp psyllium seed drink, 3 stool softeners and one laxative pill at night. Daily prunes. He still struggles to go. We will mention this on our next gastro visit in a couple of weeks.
Just read some more of your posts regarding John's nightmare. You are undeniably his angel! I fully understand why he can be "grumpy"! He and I are the same age; however, he has been in this battle a bit longer than I have...18 years for me.
Regarding what I'm taking for my constipation, Natalie (my significant other) has been in school in Bangkok for the last week and will be back tomorrow so I can get the full scoop from her then and get back to you. She has a little business selling natural Thai supplements which I know little about. She just tells me to take the stuff and shut up! We have been together for 17 years and I can't read a word of Thai...I'm ashamed of myself. She spoke very little English when we met; however, is now quite fluent in Thai (obviously), English, and Korean. Like so many Thai women, she has become the 'boss' of our household and 'knows everything', especially now since she is in law school! She can be kind of a PITA at times, but is my 'confidant, caregiver', and I know she will be here for me until the moment I expire. She already has plans to have me 'barbecued' in the temple and toss my ashes from our balcony into the sea below. Shortly after I met her she asked me to accompany her to a relative's funeral to experience a Thai cremation. Not being familiar with the term 'cremate', she referred to the occasion as a "barbecue"...I initially thought that it was going to be some kinda outdoor dining celebration!
This is the only thing that I am drinking (about 4 oz/day, and it totally cleans me out a few hours later. I think she will cut down on the frequency as I become more regular. I don't think it is very expensive, and if John would like to try it, I can send some stuff to my daughter in Illinois who can then get it to you.
Had you already move to Thailand when you met that special woman? wow, she is a go-getter.....imagine that can be a PITA sometimes...obviously outweighed by all the good!!
Yes, I met her shortly after moving here (a few months post prostatectomy!). She was a Korean tour guide at that time. When I first approached her I asked her if she speaks English, in addition to the following questions: Are you married?...No. Do you have a boyfriend?...No. Do you have any children?...No. Do you smoke?...No. Do you drink?...No. Any tattoos?...No. What obligations do you have?...I help my mom & dad. Do you have any gold?...No. (That is a question to which a "yes" may mean that she is/was a 'working girl'! Anyway, she passed my test with flying colors, so I asked her for her phone number...the rest is history.
It is generally not advised to take daily stimulant laxatives,,,eventually worsens the problem !!Does he drnk at least 10 cups/day of water, and especially at least 2 cups at each meal? Extra fiber did not help me as much as did way upping my liquid consumption..... Dr. Wife gave that advice, not any Doc!! fiber without sufficient hydration can worsen the problem!!
Natalie said that this powder is made from a number of things such as green apple, oat rice, ginger, lemon, aloe vera, and some other natural ingredients. She has me taking one pack/day mixed with about 4 oz of water, followed up a few minutes later with a glass of water. It's actually kinda tasty! The average time that it takes to begin its job is about 8 hours. I have been using the toilet a few times for about an hour until I'm flushed out. As I had previously mentioned, my incontinence appears to be getting better along with the use of this supplement.
She wants me to continue drinking this "stuff" until I (hopefully) develop normal bowel movements which 'may' take a few weeks.
The cost is about $3/packet.
Hope this answers your questions; if not, feel free to message me anytime.
Your findings are not surprising. I had PCa treated with IGRT focused radiation some 18 years ago. But I have serious spine problems that have been through two major surgeries. Over the years I've had lower back pain and pain radiating to the hips and beyond. Bowel issues and urinary issues come and just like the back pain does. I have mentioned them all to all my doctors, they all tell me the same answer "everything is so close together down there, if one is unhappy the surrounding functions will know it and react". As I see it each procedure may heal within it's specified few weeks or months, but the body keeps readjusting and compensating from the changes for much longer. I did the extra fiber drinks for several years but eventually found that what I thought I was treating had gone away.
You are 78, I'm 81. At our ages we have to remember that we will never get fixed or cured back to what our memories believe we once were.
Thank you 'BB' for a most interesting reply! Do you live in the Chicago area? I just went back to read your previous posts, and saw a post from 4 years ago asking about a competent practice for your buddy.
You are absolutely correct regarding "getting fixed or cured" at our ripe old ages. I feel that you and I (even though we have issues) are fortunate to still be here!
I have been floating (aprox the diameter of a quarter) a few chia seeds (Organic from Trader Joe's) on top of my juice in the AM. Result = most regular, best consistency BM's ever ...
That's a great pic!I was just prescribed Linzess to take a couple months before colonoscopy. I hope it's safe. It works better than anything I've tried.
Natalie and I thank you! If you can't find it there, I can have my daughter send John some. Natalie will be home later today and I will get all the details for you.
constipation definitely has an effect on continence with me; I have to be careful to drink enough liquids to stay more regular without drinking too many liquids late in the day--a balancing ct
I use a teaspoon of it and a tiny bit of stevia using 6 oz of water. If I drink a large glass of it I get diarrhea. Somehow it lets water flood through your intestines so I avoid liquids for 2-1/2 hours. I drink it for the antihistamine effect as I live in a forest. It also does cause you to be more vigorous throughout the day. No caffeine in moringa but it feels like it. Crazy stuff.
While on darolutamide for nearly a year I have experienced nearly constants headaches and nausea along with severe constipation. 250 mg magnesium citrate (Nature made brand) have taken care of both. Drinking 80 Oz water with fiber supplements or even Miralax did very little to help with constipation. I was so constipated I couldn’t urinate at all. Stay well friend.
RonronHU, I used to have a constant problem with constipation, until the doctor at my last colonoscopy, about 5 years ago, recommended me taking a capful (17gm) of Miralax (Polyethylene glycol 3350) in a small glass of warm water every morning.
The colonoscopy did find a small internal hemorrhoid near my rectum; but no polyps.
Since then I have had very few problems with constipation, even with various prostate cancer medicines and radiologicaltreatments.
I do put a teaspoon of powdered coffee in it for better flavor. Use 16 or more oz of water for the effect. It takes 1/2 - 2 hours. If your turds are green, you know it blasted through.
Very interesting. I do not have problems with constipation, probably because of my high fiber diet (fruits, vegetable, whole oats, rye, nuts, etc). I still have incontinence issues which are aggravated by coffee and tea as well as stress. I will give this more thought. Cheers, Phil
I was diagnosed with a hernia shortly after my RP, which I had never had before. I have often wondered if it might have been caused by something involved with my surgery. The URO told me not to worry about it, but then he may have caused it .
Hi JP---, you are quite right to be suspicious. It is definitely a complication of a RP and is often caused by negligence on the part of the surgeon. After my RP, I developed both a lymphocele requiring a 10-week abdominal drain and a hernia. The doctor who repaired the hernia said that while he couldn't say whether the surgeon was in any way responsible for the lymphocele, he was definitely responsible for the hernia. Mine was located at the umbilicus, at the site where the prostate is removed from the body.
Hmmm....I had lymphoceles as well. I spent 3 days in a row returning to the emergency room (on a labor day weekend) after he removed my active drains early (I told him the liquid volume was still significant...but what did I know). I finally convinced a resident to do the CT scan to detect it...and they rushed me to area for x-ray reinsertion of the active drains....3 more days in the hospital. The URO showed up to say I was ruining his surgery record. My response started with F...ended with U! Needless to say I switched UROs at that point.
Labor Deay? Ha! My surgery was the URO's last one on the Friday before Labor Day 2020! He is a well-known Johns Hopkins surgeon, but my surgery had enough complications that I can only figure he left early for the weekend and it was the resident standing next to him who botched the job. And while my URO never said that I was botching his record, he must have thought that, because that is how he acted. Once the complications began, he went AWOL.
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Recurrent prostate cancer at 5 months after radical prostatectomy, with psa up to 0.2. PSMA and MRI negative. Now on Leuprolide and Nubeqa.
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