Bowel problems

[Kempyhillbilly]

I am starting my third round of chemo as I have had bowel changes and it was found the cancer had grown around the bowel which my oncologist says it could make it sluggish. But my problem is that I’m emptying my bowels up to 8 times a day and I’m very loose which stops me going anywhere for fear or soiling myself. Has anyone got any tips on the best way to manage this as it’s really starting to get me down. I have just spent a week in hospital due to a uti which caused high temperature so I’m not sure if it’s the combination of my condition and the strong antibiotics taken that’s made it worse. The dr’s prescribed Imodium for the diarrhoea but I’m constantly aware that I’m not to get constipated. I feel between the devil and a hard place with this. Sorry for a bit of a crude post 😕

[Slipper1]

I would ask to see a dietitian quickly, so they can advise and support you xx

[Kempyhillbilly in reply to Slipper1]

Thank you, I didn’t think of that xx

[Davonian]

I was going to suggest Imodium and changes to your diet to see if it relieves it even for a short while. If not, back to the gp and your cns for advice and support.

I have the opposite problem of being up to my eyeballs with laxatives. 🙄

[Kempyhillbilly in reply to Davonian]

Thank you xx

[Cheryl4677]

I sympathise as I know just you mean! I have had partial obstruction so try not to get constipated but do take Immodium occasionally. I also have a large incisional hernia and don’t know if this is adding to my bowel issues. I have regular heartburn and gas too. Sometimes my abdomen sounds like Vesuvius about to erupt! Usually when everything around is very quiet!! I’m due a CT scan tomorrow but that doesn’t help much. Different foods seem to upset me but it is so variable. Do I eat more or less fibre? Avoid spicy and acid foods? I’m eating poorly as I find I need to rush to the toilet just after I’ve eaten. It’s a minefield. Don’t avoid posting on this forum. It’s good to share information.

Good luck

Cheryl

[January-2016-UK]

I had a similar problem with my bowel due to growth on the outside of the sigmoid colon. I was told to follow a low-fibre / low residue diet but to avoid Imodium for fear of causing a bowel obstruction - which would have meant I couldn't join my trial (I would be unable to absorb the medication which is tablet based rather than intravenous). The diet is boring and consists mainly of less than the usual healthy-type foods, i.e. white bread, white rice, mashed potato, no nuts, pits from tomatoes, tomato skins, no peas, beans, pulses, etc. However, it worked for me and I've slowly reintroduced the forbidden foods. While you're waiting for a dietician's advice, maybe have a look on line for low-fibre / low residue diets and see if it helps you.

I guess the antibiotics probably have made it worse. My episode happened during lockdown and since I wasn't supposed to go out, I was almost always close to a loo.

Hope you get it sorted.

[OvacomeSupport Partner My Ovacome Team]

Hello Kempyhillbilly

I'm very sorry to hear that your diarrhoea is getting you down. As it's not resolving and is affecting your daily life and ability to go out, we would recommend contacting your team. They may be able to offer further advice and/or prescribe other medication to help to manage it.

I hope that you can get some helpful advice soon.

Best wishes

Julia (Ovacome Support Services Officer)

[Alifit]

I have had a similar problem this week with bowel cramps, constipation and an episode of vomiting (my first since diagnosis!). This has now turned into very loose and rather sudden stools but only a couple of time a day. I’m on holiday which makes this a bit inconvenient, so I’ve resorted to a low residue diet - poached egg on toast, mashed potato with a bit of cheese and today a tuna sandwich - white bread of course. This seems to be working - I’ve stopped my laxatives too. I did take advice from my team who advised me it may be breakthrough diarrhoea - they have told me not to take Imodium but to listen to how I feel, drink plenty of fluids and eat the low residue diet. Obviously they’ve advised I get to the local A and E if I need too!

All you can do to conquer the fear is to go out prepared and to know where the facilities are - a Scottish hillside is not the best place to be caught short - I know!! Do remember too, that nothing is too much information on here - we’ll never get answers if we aren’t honest and if that seems a bit indelicate at times, we can all handle it! I hope you find a solution to your problem and that it you feel better soon. Best wishes, Ali x

[Yorkiepudd]

Oh dear that must be very draining on you as diarrhoea is no fun. Appreciate totally where you’re coming from on not wanting to get constipated too!

I’ve not had bowel issues directly through cancer being active there (yet 🤞) but did have diarrhoea when having radiotherapy. I was given Fybogel to bulk it up but I found my magic formula was an Imodium in the morning and Fybogel in the evening. This meant I could at least go out and also wasn’t panicking driving to radiotherapy! Speak to your team though as I’m sure they won’t want you to be suffering like this x

[Porschadarling]

I had that problem ..the D word after debulking. I too did not want constipation. I tried a half a pill to start with . The cause of mine was different than yours....upset bowels from surgery so I found the Imodium worked well for me. I still had a couple of episodes with diarrhea because of the low dose but it eventually stopped the problem. I weaned myself off by eventually using a quarter pill every couple of days. I would speak to your team to get their recommendations for dosage as it did solve my issue ...it was as I said not caused by the cancer though. Good luck..I know how much this can affect your confidence

[msuspartan]

Try Kefir, a fermented milk drink which is lot powerful probiotic than Yogurt. My mom took it during her chemotherapy and she was able to keep her GI issues away. Kefir is also known to have anticancer and tumor receding properties.

unco.edu/news/articles/gran...

Your gut health is super important during this treatment unfortunately no one is talking about whole 360 approach, Docs just focused on their treatment. Hope you feel better soon.

[win_56 in reply to msuspartan]

That's very interesting. I may try thud as I have hit inflamed bowel/mesentery caused by chemo in currently having. Thank you for the post.👍

[Iwillbeatit]

I sympathize my bowels are the same I go a dozen times a day and when I have to go I have to go immediately it's very restricting going out have to know where the toilet is. The only way I can keep any sort of control is on a very low fibre low residue diet. No fruit no veg no nuts no pips or seeds or skins. White bread white rice white bread soft food chicken and fish. But at least I can now leave the house. Good luck

[Kempyhillbilly]

Thank you everyone for your support and comments - you have all made me feel so much better about myself with this problem. Xx

[tutti]

Sometimes diarrhoea is a symptom of a blockage further back caused by obstruction in the colon. Having had several years of this problem with my Stoma and adhesions in my colon I was advised on a low residue diet and Laxido to soften stools.I often have diarrhoea followed by hard to pass little bits but I do think the Laxido helps.Avoiding meat,mushrooms,sweet corn peas beans etc seems to help.

Vivxx

[Kempyhillbilly in reply to tutti]

Thank you, it's enough just having to deal with treatment but these added problems make things a whole lot worse don't they. xx

[Maryof]

Part of my bowel was removed during my debunking surgery and I have had problems ever since. Stool

softeners work best as opposed to laxatives. I do however alternate between 10 times a day bowel motions and nothing at all. But little or no diarrhea which is better.