just diagnosed stage III rectal

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JoyceCanada
JoyceCanada Member Posts: 134
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Had my operation on 4th January. Clear margins - 2 out of 17 lymph node involvement stage III. Started Flofox on 28th February. I have been having trouble with diarrhea since the operation and take immodium. Is taking Immodium EVERY DAY the only way that I can control the diarrhea. Once I take the immodium lie down for an hour I feel fine --- my only concern is "should I be taking Immodium every day"?

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  • CAMaura
    CAMaura Member Posts: 719 Member
    #2
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    Have you spoken with your onc about it? Mine was pretty adamant that diarrhea - somehwat unchecked - could become problematic. I am sure that it is something which can be brought into some sense of calm for you. Bug your doc and you'll feel a bit better knowing more. All the best to you - Maura
  • spongebob
    spongebob Member Posts: 2,565 Member
    #3
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    Ahoy, Joyce -

    Welcome to Semi-Colons! Sorry you have to meet us here, but know that you are among a great group of folks.

    Regarding your Imodium issue... I took it daily, too - sometimes a couple of times a day. The doctor also gave me a scrip for atropine, but it was very hard-core and I only took it a couple of times. There are other things you can do to slow things down a bit; increase the amount of fiber in your diet, increase the amount of probiotic yogurt you eat, and/or start taking a fiber pill or fiber drink - like metameucil - daily. In most folks that would tend to "speed things up", but in the case of Semi-Colons like us, it actually helps "slow things down".

    most importantly, Joyce, DRINK LOTS and LOTS of water. I mean like 4+ litres a day. When you have severe diarrea, you lose a lot of water. You do not want to become dehydrated. Push the water. Push it hard. It will also help flush your body post-chemo.
  • rthornton
    rthornton Member Posts: 346 Member
    #4
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    I always had horrible, horrible diarrhea with 5FU and CPT-11. I took Immodium every day, and most days I would also take Lomotil. Spongebob is right about Metamucil. It will help a lot! Eating grits seemed to help be somewhat. Even now that I have long since recovered from my surgery and I am no longer using 5FU, I still often take Immodium (or a generic version) with meals to decrease the number of bathroom trips.

    My doctor once told me that some patients lack an enzyme which allows them to tolerate 5FU and other 5FU-based drugs. I clearly lacked this enzyme, as I had the most intense diarrhea. I remember it was horrible. I wish you the best.

    Rodney
  • kangatoo
    kangatoo Member Posts: 2,105 Member
    #5
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    rthornton said:

    I always had horrible, horrible diarrhea with 5FU and CPT-11. I took Immodium every day, and most days I would also take Lomotil. Spongebob is right about Metamucil. It will help a lot! Eating grits seemed to help be somewhat. Even now that I have long since recovered from my surgery and I am no longer using 5FU, I still often take Immodium (or a generic version) with meals to decrease the number of bathroom trips.

    My doctor once told me that some patients lack an enzyme which allows them to tolerate 5FU and other 5FU-based drugs. I clearly lacked this enzyme, as I had the most intense diarrhea. I remember it was horrible. I wish you the best.

    Rodney

    Hiya Joyce and welcome to our family. It gets repeated here often about the effects of chemo. For some reason....probably our genetic make-up, we all suffer different side effects to varying degrees.What the others have said here is quite true and some good advice as well. Running to the bathroom is a trait we all are acutely aware of.....quite frankly it gave me tha sh.....'s(scusey my french).
    One thing that you may not know is that there are definate benefits to be had by eating regularly...good fibre food that is....but also taking meals in small amounts more regularly. I found that the traditional 3 meals per day idea needed to be "thrown out tha window". The body seems to cope better eating this way.
    All the best from oz, Ross n Jen
  • jana11
    jana11 Member Posts: 705
    #6
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    Hi there - nice to meet you, but sorry you are here. I had stage 3 rectal cancer (now stage 4- but doing well).

    After my surgery I had 3 positive lymph nodes and did xeldoa with CPT-11. I had diarrhea with EVERY meal. I was told to take imodium 20-30mins before every meal. It did help. AND - after I got off the chemo, the diarrhea stopped!! I have a colostomy - so may be a little different from you.

    I get all my medical care at MD Anderson. They saw NO problem taking many imodium a day. They told me to ignore any instructions on the box while on chemo. However, make sure to talk to your own team about what is best for you.

    Hope you are doing well. Let us know if you have any other questions. jana
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #7
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    spongebob said:

    Ahoy, Joyce -

    Welcome to Semi-Colons! Sorry you have to meet us here, but know that you are among a great group of folks.

    Regarding your Imodium issue... I took it daily, too - sometimes a couple of times a day. The doctor also gave me a scrip for atropine, but it was very hard-core and I only took it a couple of times. There are other things you can do to slow things down a bit; increase the amount of fiber in your diet, increase the amount of probiotic yogurt you eat, and/or start taking a fiber pill or fiber drink - like metameucil - daily. In most folks that would tend to "speed things up", but in the case of Semi-Colons like us, it actually helps "slow things down".

    most importantly, Joyce, DRINK LOTS and LOTS of water. I mean like 4+ litres a day. When you have severe diarrea, you lose a lot of water. You do not want to become dehydrated. Push the water. Push it hard. It will also help flush your body post-chemo.

    Joyce, I'm sorry to hear your troubles, but I have some of the same. Rectum and sygmoid colon removed May 05.
    SpongeBob Thanks for the tip! I'm going to try that too, I have troubles taking Immodium...it works too well. Wow, thank you soooo much-its so embarassing that now when I'm in public, if there isn't a restroom handy, I just don't eat.
    I know that's wrong.
    Joyce, things do get better over time...I stock up on A and D ointment when things get too sore in the South.
    Kathi
  • foxy
    foxy Member Posts: 188 Member
    #8
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    Hi Joyce, just to be a pain in the B**, I have been cancer free for 12 years, but have never been able to organise my toilet trips. If I eat or drink anything I know I will need to go go go in about 15 minutes. I have learnt to cope with this issue. When I had my operation quite a bit of the small bowel was removed too, and I just can not tolerate too much fiber. I hope you don't think of this as a condition for all, I think it is just because of my own surgery. All the best of luck to you. Virginia.
  • Kaye2003
    Kaye2003 Member Posts: 86
    #9
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    My husband had to depend on Immodium for 6-8 months after surgery. It will get better.
    God Bless,
    Kaye
  • Moesimo
    Moesimo Member Posts: 1,072 Member
    #10
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    Joyce,

    Welcome to our group. I was left with diarrhea, occasional incontinence, urgency and a very sore bottom. I tried everything and nothing worked. I was miserable , so 18 months after my ileostomy reversal, I made the hardest decision of my life. I got a colostomy. Life is better now.

    You are still pretty early in your healing. I took lomotil and tincture of opium to help prior to my surgery.

    Good luck

    Maureen

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