I'm about 4.5 years post chemo-radio treatment for cervical cancer and have become used to occasional episodes of slight/moderate bleeding alongside bowel motions.
Yesterday afternoon I had sudden bowel urgency (luckily a loo was nearby); very soft stools and much to my alarm a lot more blood than normal!
I had a colonoscopy a few months ago; just 2 tiny benign polyps found. I'll see how things go before deciding to seek professional advice.
I'm feeling OK at the moment but my confidence has taken a dive - nervous to go too far from home. Just wanted to share with people who can understand - thanks for reading.
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Perido
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I had quite a lot of bleeding after the radiation for anal cancer, became anemic, dizzy and weak. I had an ulcer in the anal area. I was prescribed 60 sessions of hyperbaric chamber oxygen treatment, about 2 hrs each, 5 days a week. At first I thought that it didn't help, but 3-4 months after the end, it worked. I have much less bleeding, about 90% less. I'm in the US. The side effect of the hyperbaric chamber was my eyesight deteriorated. I had to get new stronger glasses.
Interesting that it took a while before you got an improvement but 90% is quite a result. I'm guessing your treatment triggered a healing process which can often take a while.
Thanks for the heads up about the effect on eyesight. It's good to be able to make an informed decision before embarking on any treatment.
Imodium Instants are now my best friend! My journeys are plotted such that I know where the nearest available loos are. I’ve had so many ‘accidents’ even at home and ‘nearly accidents’ outside home. No wonder I’m agoraphobic and avoid leaving home.
My recent incident was beyond my usual experience so I might put a couple of plans on hold for now.
I'm with you on needing to know there is a loo on hand at all times because I have urinary frequency and urgency as well as my bowel issues. And I'm rarely far from home.
Hi, I forgot to let you know that the eye problem is supposed to be temporary, not in my case. Regarding the loo location, I avoid going out after a meal. I am on a low residue eating pattern and I still get the urge. It's in my medical chart: fecal incontinence. This started 25 years ago after radiation in the pelvic area. On top of all I discovered that I am lactose intolerant just a year ago.
Wow! It's always something. I can identify with all of you. I had terrible bleeding after cancer treatment. I also had to have 40 hyperbaric treatments but after that my bleeding eventually stopped. I was told by my GI Dr that there were small sensitive areas down there and there will always be a chance that they can bleed again. Radiation does a number on your bowels! Compounded with the fact that I'm on blood thinners now because the treatment caused me to have numerous blood clots. So when I occasionally bleed now it doesn't stop right away. The problem comes and goes and I have learned to live with it. I'm praying for you that yours is nothing serious.
Like you my problem comes and goes; I've never been able to identify a trigger for my episodes of bleeding. I'm wondering if my latest bleed was particuarly heavy because it was accompanied with very soft stools (actually diarrhoea) and although there was a loo nearby I had to hold it for several minutes. Maybe diarrhoea is particularly irritating to the delicate blood vessels in the bowel/rectum - and even more so for holding it?
It's 5 days since my incident and so far so good.
It's good to hear that hyperbaric treatment was effective for you.
My bowels generally complain if I do too much (that's not much at all compared to what I used to do). I have to pace myself - do a bit then rest a bit.......
I worried when I went in for eye surgery for similar reasons. They let me wear pants and a pad to theatre but I had big problems passing urine (peeing) post op. I had to stand up and hover to empty my bladder and had to explain to every nurse on day and night duty that this was the only way I could go! I was double padded over night (my eyes) and totally dependent on the staff to help me with everything.
I don't know how soon they get you out of bed these days after knee ops but its worth discussing it with the ward staff when you go in . Bowel function was not a problem really till I got home.
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