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Awkward Question for Ostomates
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Feb 11, 2004 - 7:09 pm
This is an awkward question but I will go ahead and ask. I was diagnosed with and got surgery for stage 3 colon cancer on the left side. I ended up with a colostomy which leaves me about 9" or so of colon aqnd my rectum. Thing is I still get the urge to go to the bathroom and when I do I pass a small amount of mucous. This happens about 3 or 4 times a day and is confusing and kind of nostalgic as well :). I have asked both my surgeon and and oncologist about this and they are not concerned and have no answer. BTW 5-fu is like eating pennies no nausea just a relly bad taste :(. Later semi-colonites |
Joined: Apr 2003
Hi there- The segment of colon that has been left still produces mucus and the lining cells like those of our skin die and flake off to be replaced by new lining cells, so passing a bit of whitish stool is normal.
The thing that seems a bit odd is the frequency. I only pass material every few weeks. It has been almost a year and a half since my ostomy, so maybe I am underestimating the frequency when it was first done.
Perhaps the 5-FU is contributing to this as well ?It can cause irritation of mucus membranes. Some people get mouth sores, I have mostly gotten nasal irritation but perhaps for you it is the colon? Or could you have some inflammation of that remaining part of the colon separate from surgery or chemo?
Good to hear that you are not having any major problems with the 5-FU. The taste thing is annoying. I didn't get an altered taste, it just pretty much went away. One day I ordered a tuna sandwich in a resturant and was sure that they gave me chicken. Then I bit into the dill pickle and found I could not taste that at all!
Take care and best wishes for good results with chemo.
Kris
Joined: Dec 2003
pleach: you might also go to the UOA & IOA sites for
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