I was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer July last year, and I had four rounds of chemo, the last one in January and given the all clear. I was doing okay, but the last few weeks I have been feeling out of sorts. I was on 3 thyroid S tablets a day, but I had to add another quarter as I was getting symptoms, heavy legs, pains in my arms and feeling really cold, I feel okay with the added quarter but I am only 3 weeks in.
I also want to know that due to having 1/2 by bowel taken away, does it effect my ability to absorb all my nutrients and vitamins & minerals I am taking ,I also take 6 soleray adrenal caps per day, the doctor would not test my adrenals.
He doesn't like that I treat myself for thyroid and inject B12, the reason I ask why is the last few weeks I have been very constipated and very windy and the wind in vile, sorry to be crude about it. I am also bloated all the time it seems everything I eat is s making me bloated. I take apple cider vinegar, which is a dream for me, I am sure if I didn't take it my bloating and constipation would be worse and also 1 probiotic drink daily.
I had a look into B12 to see if it could be a lack of of it, I am displaying some of the symptoms, I do inject hydroxacobalin 1mg every 2 weeks and take methylcobalamin & adenosylcobalin 1mg, I have noticed that I am not coping very well, and my job which is robotic (team administrator) which I am very capable at, I am having to stop and think about it, and today at work I was all over the place.
I am due to see my consultant the end of the month and want to ask him about it, but he is not likely to know. Is it worth me asking him to contact my GP and arrange tests for B12, folate iron, adrenals and also my thyroid.
Any advice would be much appreciated.
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health2015
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it’s always worth contacting your Dr about any changes in bowel habits, also having had a part of the digestive system removed may well have changed the way you absorb meds/nutrients etc so seek help soon. Wishing you well. 💐
Sorry to hear of your battles, I'm wondering if you have changed batches of Thyroid S as I hear a need to tweak isn't uncommon?
Always hard to know how well we absorb vits and mins without testing, we often have lower uptake due to low stomach acid, it certainly makes sense that having less bowel could have an effect?
I'm thinking he could test you for SIBO, Candida and H Pylori with regards bloating etc, do you have thyroid antibodies? It could be that gluten and or dairy free would help
Could the killer wind be linked to the adrenal supplement? I know it has that effect on me if I take too many 😬
Do you take a B Complex alongside your B12 injections to keep them in balance?
thank you for your reply. I do take a B complex with vitamin 12, with regards to the adrenals, I have taken 6 a day for a few years. I will ask for testing for SIBO, Candida, H Pylori and thyroid antibodies, along with thyroid etc.I have also noticed that when I try to eat breakfast, I get a pain and nausea. I will speak to my doctor.
hello health2015 although I don’t have any experience with your situation but I do believe you have to push yourself with health team and insist that they conduct the test you believe will help you understand what is happening in your body if they say no ask them why and ask them to explain their reasons on your medical records so you can refer back to them if needed in my experience extremely foul smelling flatulence was a symptom of ulcerative colitis I think the ulcers were connected to this I think I have had better care when I speak to ibd nurse so maybe give them a call as they are really helpful when it comes to expressing your concerns to the consultant 🤍
I will insist on the test, I did wander if I had an infection, after all the nonsense I've been though, but then thought, it wouldn't happen a year after my operation, but who knows.
Hi Health2015, sorry to hear about your troubles. The only thing I have experience of is the probiotic. I found the probiotic drinks didn’t do much for me, but I have found a big improvement in constipation since I started taking Pro Bio Cultures with Lactospore 60 billion CFU from Nutravita. The dose is 2 capsules per day, and I find I have to take 2 (not 1 which I tried first) to be effective. I hope you find a solution for all your problems x
Many thanks for your reply. I also take Apple cider Vinegar with the mother, and that works for me, but it just isn't working now, so maybe there is more o this than just constipation. I have tried several drinks and yoghurts, to no effect, I will have a read up of the Nutravita.
My cancer was Hodgkin's lymphoma so I had chemo only. I don't take any supplement.
Your tired ness is due to chemo and what is known as Brain fog.
Do you belong to a forum. They can be very helpful I find. I feel your B12 injection should be once a month. where i live we have advocacy for cancer patients only. Try and find out.
Thank you for your reply. My last chemo was January and I only had 4 rounds and I worked through the 1st couple rounds, it was the last two that got me. I felt good after it as time went on, it is only in the last 3 weeks or so that I have been feeling like this. I am seeing my consultant towards the end of this month and will discuss with him.
Thank you for your kind words. I have been doing so well, I had a few weeks off in January through March, went back to work and all was well, had a lovely 2 week holiday in Malta. Work was the thing that got me through all of this, as I lost my partner the week before I was diagnosed with bowel cancer. I will be asking my consultant all these questions and arranging for blood tests, I figure my consultant will have a bit more clout with regards to the testing. sorry if I've rambled on, but since you guys have replied to my post you have armed with me with positivity and questions to ask my consultant.
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