I'm open for suggestions
plh4gail
Member Posts: 1,238 Member
Please tell me what do you take for the side effects resection left us with.
I will go on for a period of time and think all is well, then ....Ugh the reminder of my surgery strikes again.
I take Immodium and it helps, but that is after the fact. Is there something I should be taking daily? Among several vitamins, I only take probiotics for my GI. Diet doesn't seem to make a difference... I think. Sometimes certain foods seem to cause effects, but then other times I can eat the exact same thing and I'm fine. So I really don't know if that has anything to do with it.
I am gladly accepting all words of advice/wisdom/experiences.
peacelove&happiness to us all, gail
I will go on for a period of time and think all is well, then ....Ugh the reminder of my surgery strikes again.
I take Immodium and it helps, but that is after the fact. Is there something I should be taking daily? Among several vitamins, I only take probiotics for my GI. Diet doesn't seem to make a difference... I think. Sometimes certain foods seem to cause effects, but then other times I can eat the exact same thing and I'm fine. So I really don't know if that has anything to do with it.
I am gladly accepting all words of advice/wisdom/experiences.
peacelove&happiness to us all, gail
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Comments
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Honestly
My bowels have always been a bit off. I could go days without moving, then days of a regular morning movement (right after my coffee). Regardless of which way I was going, there was rarely any real discomfort.
Still, how about taking half and Imodium every day? Not enough to stop you up, but it might get you the regularity.
The other thing would be the fiber supplements, like Metamucil. If you have not tried them, it may be just the thing.
Hope you get it under control,
Blake0 -
I've Tried Everythng
Well it seems that I've tried everything. Diet for me doesn't make a difference either, but if I'm not taking in fiber then I'm constipated and to me that is worse than going 15 times a day (runny or not). Some bowel movements are normal consistency and the rest just get more liquidy. Hope you get something can work for you.
Kim0 -
You know Blake, I'm going toBuckwirth said:Honestly
My bowels have always been a bit off. I could go days without moving, then days of a regular morning movement (right after my coffee). Regardless of which way I was going, there was rarely any real discomfort.
Still, how about taking half and Imodium every day? Not enough to stop you up, but it might get you the regularity.
The other thing would be the fiber supplements, like Metamucil. If you have not tried them, it may be just the thing.
Hope you get it under control,
Blake
You know Blake, I'm going to try that. Because not going is not an issue for me. And it's not everyday or even every week that I have these episodes. So maybe an immoduim or half of one will be my "ha ha" to my resection reminders.
Thanks
, Gail
I hope I get some other good ideas too, for plan B and C and .....0 -
Hi,
I have experimented
Hi,
I have experimented with probably just about everything since my surgery in July. What I have found to work for me is 1 teaspoon of powder metamucil with 1/4 cup of water every morning after I eat breakfast. Then about the time I leave for work...1 immodium to help me get through my day at work (which is only 6 hours). the metamucil helps firm things up. This seems to keep me from the frequent bowels movements at work, which were 6 or eight times a day. I also eat a banana and cheese while at work too. I have also added 1 teaspoon of l-glutamine powder in my shakes when I get home.
tessa0 -
I completely understand you
I completely understand you because I am right there with you! There is for me a slight "aura" if you will, before the explosions start happening.
For instance, if I'm feeling bloated and have gone a day w/o a BM, I can almost count on the next day being full of urgent issues.
Sometimes at night after a day of not going, I will take a stool softener to help get things moving on a more or less schedule the next morning. This helps---sort-of--empty my bowels, but if I am going out that afternoon/evening, I make sure I take an immodium beforehand.
It's difficult isn't it?0 -
Issues
Let's just put it this way-my digestive issues were there before the surgery, and it's all gotten way worse since. I was diagnosed with IBS in my 20's, and I've always had it with predominantly constipation. Then there will occasionally be a day when I "dump." Since my colon resection almost 4 years ago, I have issues with blockages and pain that have had me hospitalized many times. I have not had to have surgery, but it's been a trial. All my doctors believe this is going to be an ongoing, chronic issue. I've made my peace with that (sort of), thanks to daily pain meds and Miralax twice a day, every day. I also find that when I remember to really, really drink lots of water, it does help a bit.
*hugs*
Gail0 -
I used to take Miralax daily
I used to take Miralax daily but I seemed to have the same thing happening as I do now without it. It feels a bit contradictive, but I think I want to start taking the Miralax again daily and 1/2 or 1 Immodium daily and see what that does. Brooks once told me to try something..I think called Quetran (?) ...My onc refused to RX it for me. He said this was not my issue! The nerve of him to think he knows my issues without experiencing them. Anyone tried this med?
gail0 -
bm's unpredictableplh4gail said:I used to take Miralax daily
I used to take Miralax daily but I seemed to have the same thing happening as I do now without it. It feels a bit contradictive, but I think I want to start taking the Miralax again daily and 1/2 or 1 Immodium daily and see what that does. Brooks once told me to try something..I think called Quetran (?) ...My onc refused to RX it for me. He said this was not my issue! The nerve of him to think he knows my issues without experiencing them. Anyone tried this med?
gail
I found 2 immodiums most Days gives me between 4 and 6 bm's.
The theory my surgeon explained was to give the stools time to form properly.
My main issue now is wind, often small poo wind and then this repeats .
Hugs,
Pete0 -
what works for me (so far)
Hi Gail
After trying a number of different approaches, here's what seems to be working for me:
1. Eliminating foods that cause gas. So I don't eat much in the way of whole grains, beans, cheese, certain vegetables like broccoli. I still try to eat fruits and vegetables that don't cause much gas.
2. Drinking alot of water.
3. Using Citrucel. Citrucel adds bulk and consistency without adding gas the way Metamucil can. I take a spoonful of powder mixed with water after every meal. Citrucel is the brand name for methylcellulose, and it's also sold under house brands at drug stores. I use the sugar-free kind. is it natural? No. But it seems to work and I have not experienced bad side effects from it, or heard of any from others.
4. I mainly eat homemade Chinese food. The white rice (Thai jasmine rice, delicious) adds consistency to my diet, and moderate amounts of meat and vegetables are included. I've enjoyed trying new dishes and styles of Chinese and other Asian cooking. Works great to make extra and have some for leftovers for breakfast or lunch. Not expensive.
Everything's not perfect, but I average 1 BM per day and this lets me get off to work very early in the morning feeling reasonably confident. I teach school, so I can't be running to the can every 30 minutes.
Peace
Grant0 -
Gail
My colon surgeon explained to me that my bathroom, um, habits would never be the same. I have same issues if I don't go one day, I'm guaranteed that the next will be hard then soft then here comes the diarrhea, and if I have to go, I have to go. It sucks.
Oh well, I just tell myself, I'm still here, so I can handle it. Hope you find the solution, be sure to let us know.
Been there, doing that,
Winter Marie0 -
Winter Marie...I think weherdizziness said:Gail
My colon surgeon explained to me that my bathroom, um, habits would never be the same. I have same issues if I don't go one day, I'm guaranteed that the next will be hard then soft then here comes the diarrhea, and if I have to go, I have to go. It sucks.
Oh well, I just tell myself, I'm still here, so I can handle it. Hope you find the solution, be sure to let us know.
Been there, doing that,
Winter Marie
Winter Marie...I think we may have gone to the same hospital....Stanford was mine.0 -
Indeedplh4gail said:Winter Marie...I think we
Winter Marie...I think we may have gone to the same hospital....Stanford was mine.
We did!!!
Winter Marie0 -
I am six years out from
I am six years out from surgery. There is no ryme or reason to what foods set my system off. I can tell you that it does get better. I rarely have problems any more. It used to be a couple of times a week. Now I can go several months feeling normal.0 -
From my oncology dietician
I had awful troubles due to early and late onset Irinotecan diarrhea. I finally met with my oncology dietician about it. Here is what has helped me:
Peel and de-seed vegetables and fruits
Steam the "hard-core" veggies before eating (like brocolli) rather than having them raw
Cut out the whole grains (hard for me)
LOTS of protein - bump up the protein double or triple
Careful on juicing - no more than 4 ounces at a time (so instead of using the juicer, I'm just drinking Bolthouse Farms)
Greek Yogurt daily (protein and probiotics)
Bananas, smooth peanut butter, white rice - all good things to help
So you don't have to stick to just the b.r.a.t. diet, but do need to modify the good foods to make them work. Stay away from insoluble fibers, but eat plenty of solubal fibers and proteins.0 -
Imodiumplh4gail said:You know Blake, I'm going to
You know Blake, I'm going to try that. Because not going is not an issue for me. And it's not everyday or even every week that I have these episodes. So maybe an immoduim or half of one will be my "ha ha" to my resection reminders.
Thanks, Gail
I hope I get some other good ideas too, for plan B and C and .....
Another thing for me - I've found that I have to continue Imodium even after I think I'm "safe." I take one each time before I eat for an extra 24 hours after I think I am ok. If I stop taking it too soon, it hits again.0 -
Phil, you make me laughPhillieG said:BRAT?
Bananas
Rice
Applesauce
Toast
It's the recommended diet for people who are coming off a flu where they have the "squirts"
(pardon me but I didn't want to say the shits!)
*winks* at Phil. Good thing you didn't say that 4-letter word! *L*
*hugs*
Gail0
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