Pooping is WAY overrated

just4Brooks
just4Brooks Member Posts: 980 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Here we go again talking about going poop or the lack of being able to poop. Now I’ll be the first one to admit it but there used to be a day I enjoyed my morning poop session. I’d go in the bathroom with a fresh cup of coffee and the morning newspaper and have a nice enjoyable, quit, morning dump. But after removing the cancer and temp iliostomy, Many radiation treatments, reversal of the iliostomy, six total blockages, and recently bowel reconstructive surgery . I HATE IT!!! I cramp and poop for hours. Straining, sweating, chills, cramping, diarrhea, Have many times a day when I’m incont of poop and lay awake at night in pain. IT SUCKS!!! And I HATE IT!!! I cant go anywhere or do anything in fear of pooping my pants. I cant even walk to the mailbox to check the mail!! I have my 6 week check up with my surgeon on the 3rd and he better have some answers. Give me a bag back or something. Does anybody have anything else I can try besides a cork?

Oh Ya.. Marry POOPING Christmas.. LOL

Brooks the pooper
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Comments

  • Lovekitties
    Lovekitties Member Posts: 3,364 Member
    Have you tried Probiotics?
    Some folks are having success with the probiotics...like in Activia...or even the pill form which can be found in many varieties OTC.

    It could be that you are missing some of the enzimes like Jennie has just found she is. Would not be surprising with all that has gone on in that area.

    Hope you can find a good solution soon.

    Merry Christmas and a less Poopy New Year!

    Marie who loves kitties
  • keila7692
    keila7692 Member Posts: 4
    pooping girl replying
    Hey Brooks the pooper,
    i have a couple of questions: what type of surgery you had or what is exactly a bowel reconstructive surgery? When did you have this surgery?
    I am 34 years old. I had rectal cancer as well. My rectum removed, temporary ileostomy and reversal and final coloanastomosis with J-pouch in top of chemo and radiation of course.
    Anyway. After my ileostomy was removed i had a TERRIBLE/HARD time dealing with my bowel movements as well.
    I lived in the bathroom for weeks. I could not leave my house for weeks and I got so desperate that i thought i would rather go back to the ileostomy or colostomy whatever was better than what i was going through after the reversal. I cry all day long thinking that i would never get back to "normal" (even though I will never be)but after 3 months it started to get better and six months later i was ready to go back to work. I won't lie to you, i am not normal but at least i am able to enjoy life as much as i can.
    Well, i hope youcan answer my question and if you want we could share experiences
  • This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • geotina
    geotina Member Posts: 2,111 Member
    Brooks:
    Geez, I'm sorry, you must be so darn frustrated by now. Don't know but could a dietician help get you on a special diet to deal with some of this. It has gone on so long for you and you sound like you are in so much pain and other side effects that the docs just have to come up with someting. I know people say give it time but heck, you have given it so much time already.

    On the irrigation thing, there are U-tube videos of it if you want to see what people are talking about.

    Take care - Tina
  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    probiotics
    Hey, Brooks.

    I'm so sorry about this. I know you want to have control of your life again! I use probiotics every day (for the opposite reason). You might consider trying that route!

    *hugs*
    Gail
  • tootsie1 said:

    probiotics
    Hey, Brooks.

    I'm so sorry about this. I know you want to have control of your life again! I use probiotics every day (for the opposite reason). You might consider trying that route!

    *hugs*
    Gail

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • just4Brooks
    just4Brooks Member Posts: 980 Member
    keila7692 said:

    pooping girl replying
    Hey Brooks the pooper,
    i have a couple of questions: what type of surgery you had or what is exactly a bowel reconstructive surgery? When did you have this surgery?
    I am 34 years old. I had rectal cancer as well. My rectum removed, temporary ileostomy and reversal and final coloanastomosis with J-pouch in top of chemo and radiation of course.
    Anyway. After my ileostomy was removed i had a TERRIBLE/HARD time dealing with my bowel movements as well.
    I lived in the bathroom for weeks. I could not leave my house for weeks and I got so desperate that i thought i would rather go back to the ileostomy or colostomy whatever was better than what i was going through after the reversal. I cry all day long thinking that i would never get back to "normal" (even though I will never be)but after 3 months it started to get better and six months later i was ready to go back to work. I won't lie to you, i am not normal but at least i am able to enjoy life as much as i can.
    Well, i hope youcan answer my question and if you want we could share experiences

    I had my ileostoy reversal 7 months ago. (I had 5 blockages in 6 months). About 6 weeks ago they went in and removed scar tussue caused by radation, ileostomy scar tissue, and from the spot they removed my tumer.
  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917 Member
    this sucks!
    I find myself envying my twin who announces he's off to take a poop. I envision him stepping in the bathroom, sitting down with a newspaper and a cup of coffee. After a few satisfying minutes, he leaves the bathroom and asks if anybody wants to see it, he's so proud! :) I don't think I even remember what normal poop looks like, much less how it feels to evacuate it. I'm not having near the issue you are having, I just know you are so miserable. I pray that you are able to find some relief and soon. I don't think people realize just how much this seemingly innocuous activity can affect your life when it doesn't go well.
    Merry POOPING Christmas back at ya!
    mary
  • Crow71
    Crow71 Member Posts: 679 Member
    I hate this for you Brooks.
    I hate this for you Brooks. I used to enjoy pooping as well. Now I just dump the bag and yell at Mr. Dribbles. Since starting Folfox again I've had increased rectal mucus output. For a few days after treatment I constantly feel pressure. I sit there trying to remember how to push and every now and then out comes a bunch of butt snot. Hang in there. It'll get better.
    Merry buttsnotting Chrisatmas right back at you. lol

    Roger the dribbler
  • khl8
    khl8 Member Posts: 807
    Brooks,
    Is it like this all

    Brooks,
    Is it like this all the time? or just some of the time? I occasionally have a bout of where it seems very difficult to get things moving and then when it does , it just keeps on coming. Is it something in your diet? I went to the store last week and saw this bag of clementines, and thought "those look good" and brought them home. I am not much of a fruit eater at all. BUt something strange happened, I have been having one of these every day for a week now and I am going to the bathroom regularly, we as regularly as you can after bowel surgery. For some strange reason, my poop is more solid than before but is also easier to come out. I am not sure if this is what is helping me or not, but I feel pretty good. are you drinking enough water? if your intestines are absrbing too much then it will make it difficult to get things moving and cause the straining.
    But talk to your doctor and a nutrionist, there has to be soemthing that you are or aren't doing that can make this better for you!

    Hugs,
    Kathy
  • VickiCO
    VickiCO Member Posts: 917
    Brooks...
    OK, here's my 2 cents, and remember, this is only MY story. Everyone has to make their own decisions. I was where you are. I lived in the bathroom, 30-40 times a day most of the time. I was trapped in my house, and lived in Depends. I had surgeries, expansions, medicines, probiotics, acupuncture - you name it. This went on for 9 months. My remaining colon (the rectum was long gone) started reacting with stenosis - hardening of the cells. I finally asked my surgeon what else we could try. He answered immediately - colonostomy. Nov 11, 2009 I had the final surgery, and within a couple of weeks, I had my life back. It's not perfect, and there are times I wish I didn't have to have the bag, etc, but really, at the end of the day I have a more normal life than I've had since I started this journey back in Oct 2008. I was introduced to a wonderful ostomy nurse, and my supplier (Edgepark) has on-call medical help as well. Recently **** and I took a trip to Australia - 12 hours on a plane from San Francisco to Sydney. I had no issues.

    I am not suggesting you jump into this finality without careful thought and long discussions with your doctors. But it is an option if you truly have no type of control left.

    Many Hugs, Vicki
  • coolvdub
    coolvdub Member Posts: 408 Member
    VickiCO said:

    Brooks...
    OK, here's my 2 cents, and remember, this is only MY story. Everyone has to make their own decisions. I was where you are. I lived in the bathroom, 30-40 times a day most of the time. I was trapped in my house, and lived in Depends. I had surgeries, expansions, medicines, probiotics, acupuncture - you name it. This went on for 9 months. My remaining colon (the rectum was long gone) started reacting with stenosis - hardening of the cells. I finally asked my surgeon what else we could try. He answered immediately - colonostomy. Nov 11, 2009 I had the final surgery, and within a couple of weeks, I had my life back. It's not perfect, and there are times I wish I didn't have to have the bag, etc, but really, at the end of the day I have a more normal life than I've had since I started this journey back in Oct 2008. I was introduced to a wonderful ostomy nurse, and my supplier (Edgepark) has on-call medical help as well. Recently **** and I took a trip to Australia - 12 hours on a plane from San Francisco to Sydney. I had no issues.

    I am not suggesting you jump into this finality without careful thought and long discussions with your doctors. But it is an option if you truly have no type of control left.

    Many Hugs, Vicki

    I feel for you
    Brooks,

    I wish that I had the answer to your problem. Have you tried changing your diet and the number of times you eat. Some say numerous small meals throughout the day is best. Your story sadly does not sound uncommon. I am contemplating my reversal and stories such as this worry the hell out of me. Hopefully, Santa will bring you some relief from this for Christmas.

    Don
  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    Yup
    Know your story well. My surgery was a year ago and although I'm doing better, going still about 10 times a day. I've had such bad radiation damamge that if it's more than that the inside blood vessels starts bleeding (hate that). Changing my diet hasn't helped. I'm now taking immodium in the morning and am going to add it to the afternoon too. That has helped me to at least control the pooping to mostly the evening so I'm able to go out during the day. You sound like you have it really bad. I've asked my doctor for lomitil this month but he didn't want me to have it because he said it can cause blockages (surely don't want that). Try the immodium and see if that helps. Sorry you have been going through all these problems.

    Kim
  • lisa42
    lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
    Brooks
    Hi Brooks,

    I'm so sorry you're experiencing such hell with this- you've gone through far too much! Having never had the surgery or bag, I can't give any firsthand advce, but I would definitely get yourself on some good probiotics if you aren't already. They aren't all the same, either- the better ones have more strains of friendly bacteria than the other less expensive ones. I know they helped my bowel problems with diarhhea, and I've heard of them helping some people with the bag reversal surgery too.
    I would also look into meeting with a naturpathic doctor, trying acupuncture, evaluate the diet, etc. If everything is going through you so quickly, then you probably aren't absorbing the nutrients you need to get out of your food well. You may also not be absorbing what you need out of any oral vitamins or supplements you're taking, if the pills/capsules don't even have time to absorb before they're washed out of your system. Consider using a spray vitamin (I get my spray multivitamin, spray vitamin D, and spray B complex on Dr. Mercola's website- I really believe they make a difference- they absorb directly into your system right under your tongue without having to be digested in the stomach or small intestine first like regular vitamin pills)

    Best wishes and prayers for you...
    Lisa
  • AnneCan
    AnneCan Member Posts: 3,673 Member
    Sorry Brooks
    Brooks, I am sorry you have this to deal with. I hope your surgeon has some good answers for you.
  • Buzzard
    Buzzard Member Posts: 3,043 Member
    AnneCan said:

    Sorry Brooks
    Brooks, I am sorry you have this to deal with. I hope your surgeon has some good answers for you.

    Brooks..........I have no remorse about my bag
    The only issue I have is sometimes I have trouble tying my left shoe. I have a colostomy left side . If there is anything at all in it I have to make sure I move it over before I bend down. Other than that I have no qualms about speaking positively about mine........It has given me the opportunity to live and not just exist...........Clift
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    They say
    that sometimes (sometimes being the key word) sex is over-rated and a good dump is under-rated.
    May Christmas bring you a nice Yule Log Brooks...
    -p
  • Sonia32
    Sonia32 Member Posts: 1,071 Member
    Brooks
    I'm so sorry you are having trouble, I really don't know what to suggest. I pray that it gets better for you. Probotics I read somewhere was just a placebo and it really doesn't do anything, but after reading everyones comment on it I'm going to have a go, as I have stomach issues as well.
    I don't know I wish the surgeons and oncs would tell you what to look out for after treatment. Nope they leave you hanging, I have learnt more from everyone on here then from anywhere else.
    Btw ewwwww taking a coffee in with you? ewww lol, and Phil ewwww.

    Hehe, Merry Pooping Xmas.

    Hugss
  • thxmiker
    thxmiker Member Posts: 1,278 Member
    Immodium (otc)or Lomotil
    Immodium (otc)or Lomotil gave me control of my bowl movements. I take it after every loose stool. (Even a little one.) This helped me solid up a bit, and to control a bit. There is always a fear is it gas or a stool. I have learned the feel of the two.

    Wacky that we can discuss what works for us to have a normal stool. lol Think about a year ago we would not be having this dialog.

    I recommend that you talk to your doctor for his/her feelings on Immodium or Lomotil. Both dry out you mouth and nose.

    Best Always, mike
  • khl8
    khl8 Member Posts: 807
    thxmiker said:

    Immodium (otc)or Lomotil
    Immodium (otc)or Lomotil gave me control of my bowl movements. I take it after every loose stool. (Even a little one.) This helped me solid up a bit, and to control a bit. There is always a fear is it gas or a stool. I have learned the feel of the two.

    Wacky that we can discuss what works for us to have a normal stool. lol Think about a year ago we would not be having this dialog.

    I recommend that you talk to your doctor for his/her feelings on Immodium or Lomotil. Both dry out you mouth and nose.

    Best Always, mike

    Brooks, read Idelhunters
    Brooks, read Idelhunters thread on digestive enzymes. might be of assistance.

    Kathy