intestinal issues.

[Dancing]

I Hzve berm suffering g with intestinal issues… that I am confined to house unless I take Imodium.. I had a bout of diverticulitis in June put on nasty antibiotics n have not been normal since … July 17 I had stool tests done no one called me i till k was having an ear issue n the pcp NP called me n told me I have a Nerovirus. N I was highly contagious.. I was freaking out. Anyway they told me nothing to take it must take its course. So o did BRAT diet. My stools bulked up alittle n my pcp called me n told me to go on a probiotic n no dairy this was 8/6. I am still afraid to leave the house as I have 4 to 5 a day BMs.n when I get that pain I Hzve to run. I just had my labs checked at oncology office. Wbc low red blood count low and I am anemic. I been eating rice with boiled chicken rice with baked chicken scrambled eggs with dry toast. This has been my summer. I had my ovaries removed may 16 healed nicely from that n woke up 5 weeks later with ungodly left lower pain called my surgeon thought maybe an infection they just said take Tylenol. After 3 days I went to ER n thru did a CTSczn it was diverticulitis. Nothing helps but Imodium. I read Ibrance n Exemestane both cause diarrhea and or constipation n mentioned all this to my oncologist n she said follow up with it PCP. I sm at my wits end n o lost 12 pounds.

[13plus]

Hi Dancing, I am so sorry to hear you've been going through a rough time with all this. I don't have anywhere near your issue but I did have a period of several weeks where I found I was making a BM nearly every single time I went to the toilet (which was driving me crazy), plus it was constantly in a different state, so it was really bothering me too. My doc orderd a stool test too but fortunately mine came back negative for any infection. It did not, however, explain the abdominal pain episode I had around when it all started though!

I think looking for as many ways to boost your gut flora as possible is a great way to try to return to normal function. I cant eat dairy anyway so I found that the brand Oatly makes a oat-based "yoghurt" with probiotics. That actually seems to have helped, (or it is a coincidence!) You could also try getting some chia seeds, mix a couple of teaspoons with a little dairy-free milk and mashed banana and cinnamon, and you will end up with like a pudding (chia seeds go gelatinous in liquid). This definitely helped get me out of the too-sloppy state I was constantly in. Bragg's Apple cider vinegar (organic) is also another naturally probiotic type of food. None of these things should make you worse anyway! Hope it helps.

As for your bloodwork, is your oncolgist looking out for you? Have they suggested ways to get you out of being anemic?

[Dancing in reply to 13plus]

Thank you for your feedback…. She didn’t mention anything for my anemia n all my counts this month were low. I forgot to mention I go to foot Dr to have my toe nails cut n my right foot was hurting k limped around for 2 weeks. She looked at it n asked if I had good insurance n did 4 X-rays. I had the gout. I had the gout a month prior to my May 16 ovarian surgery. She said to have pcp check my uric acid. Do I was at oncology office having my monthly labs snd ask if the can draw the uric acid n it came back high. My pcp is on vaca. M my oncologist rushed me this appointment n didn’t seem to wanna hear. About the intestinal issues.

I may go to a GI n I Hzve an appointment I made myself with a dietitian in October..

[13plus in reply to Dancing]

I am hoping your PCP can communicate with your oncologist if they think the red cell count needs attention! You can also eat certian foods to try to boost your red cell count, if you google it you should find it pretty easily. Sounds like seeing a dietician would be a great help so that is great that you got that lined up for yourself. I would try calling their office and checking if you can go on a waistlist in case any cancellations come up so you could try to see them even sooner. I hope things start to improve soon for you.

[Dancing in reply to 13plus]

thank you for feedback . I will try anything at this point I haven’t been out all summer except for a happy hour at our development. But I didn’t eat anything it was nice getting out for a few hours n meeting new neighbors. I don’t talk about my issues. I was out to enjoy a change of scenery. We just moved here in March n everything happened after. My oncologist never said anything about what to do for anemia n told me to see my pcp. But I feel Ibrance may be causing this. After I started we were going out to dinner all the time. Then I barely made it home s few times cause we lived in NC n lived far from all the good restaurants.

now I just ate dinner cleaned up my kitchen n had to run to the bathroom. I feel weary .

[Andersl]

Oh you poor soul. I feel for you but have no suggestions other than to keep trying to get the help you desperately need.I hope others on here can provide better advice.

Take care xx

[Figletf]

Wow🙄,So sorry you are experiencing all the trauma along with metastatic disease .

Prayers for a gentler Fall for you❤️👍

[PJBinMI]

I've had digestive "issues" for several months, after an intestinal blockage in October landed me in the hospital and required surgery that removed the valve between stomach and small intestine. I don't know if it would help you, but eating granola and cantaloupe (sp?) at breakfast helps me alot. I sure sympathize with you! Having uncontrolled BMs ruins normal life! I don't go anywhere besides medical appts now and hate this! Oh, the gastroenterologist I see recommended cauliflower, broccoli and brussels sprouts. I love all those....coat them with a little olive oil, sprinkle with parmesan cheese and bake them. Yummy! Those help me, too! I hope you manage to get control over your gut!

[Dancing]

I made my own appointment with dietitian for October was first available n I think I will be making appointment with GI Dr at Penn. I worked at Jefferson hosp 32 years. N all my drs were there. But after my first bout with breast cancer in 2016 lumpectomy n radiation and was told I caught it early n all my mammograms came back negative n when I moved to NC they found it came back and metastasized to my lungs. I was angry someone missed it. So Pennsylvania in center city is where all my new drs are.

[Oklahom]

Hi Dancing, I’ve had the opposite problem. I stay constipated most of the time, I fight it all the time. When I go out I wear a diaper if I feel unsafe. Take pro biotic and lots of fiber. Don’t be discouraged about your Dr tunnel vision focusing only on what their specialty is, most of us have same problem. After 3 years I’ve learned I have to be my own advocate. Never missed appointment with oncologist and they still missed when it metastasized. Right now I’m having spine issues. Good luck on your journey, hang in there.

[Dancing in reply to Oklahom]

Hi Okla, I am so sorry to hear about your Dr missing your metastasized… that is a major miss . I sm at oncologist office now I was here Monday n today fir hydration. My kidney eGFR was very low n I was anemic n they brought me navk for more hydration. Cause Monday’s only brought my labs up alittle. I will keep u in my prayers.

[Widdershins3]

You have my sincere sympathy--I too have to take an Imodium an hour before I leave the house after being given that horrid liquid they used to make us drink before a routine sigmoidoscopy years ago. It destroyed the inner "flora & fauna" in my digestive tract and, after a lifetime of excellent digestion, changed my life in a terrible way.

I tried every probiotic on the market with no luck. So I do pray yours will heal, but I can tell you that it IS possible to cope with it, given a supply of Imodium--I use the tiny gel capsule ones for quick results--and careful planning/research about the availability of rest rooms where you're going.

I think I was around 60 when it happened and I spent almost a year inside at home before I resorted to Imodium and was able to venture out on short trips. I'm now 76 and experienced with how often to take Imodium and with finding public restrooms and can be out for a whole day without worry. I hope yours can be healed completely, but if not, you've got Imodium--I honestly do not know what I'd do without it!

[Bestbird]

I am sorry to hear about your GI issues, and definitely feel for you because I have them too. I have lobular MBC which tends to go to the GI tract, which is at least partially causing my issues. It has also caused a partial bowel blockage so I cannot take anything that may constipate me (such as anti-diarrhea medication). Lobular can be a bit difficult to detect in scans because it is a bit filmy instead of solid. You may want to speak with your oncologist about the nature of your cancer (ductal vs. lobular) along with the anemia and weight loss. I hope you receive good answers and begin to feel better soon!

[Dancing in reply to Bestbird]

Thank you for your feedback … I had my ear surgery today. June 30 a little over s month after I had my ovaries n tubes removed my left ear felt clogged so k went to my ent n had fluid n he put in a tube. In august my right ear had fluid I czn hear it n I went back yo ent. I wear hearing aids but can’t hear just sounds echo… cznt hear voices that well I fear I am going deaf. I have had hearing loss all my life born with it. N when I started grade school n the nurse would do hearing test once a year I failed every one even in highschool. It changed my life .. I always wanted to be a nurse but with my moderate hearing loss I knew I would not be able to … the ent drs always told my mother there is nothing we can do she has nerve damage in left ear. N I never wore hearing aides just always had to sit in front of class. So after graduation o got a job n saved to get a hearing aid for my one ear. Then I had saved n got them for both. But now they are t helping. So fir my right ear surgery o asked my ent to look into my left ear I am not hearing. I was told that the June 30th tube fell out. N he placed a. adult tube. I can’t be around a lot of people with music n conversation n o haven’t been out all summer. I had to cancel a few parties n bbqs. I can’t eat n I cznt hear. So we have a party end of September n my childhood friend 50 th wedding anniversary I will not miss that .,, I won’t eat but I need to get the heck outta of this house. So we are going n I lost some weight n I am going to dance at their party… n I will take an Imodium, I m a people person n need to see old friends n kick up my heels.