Watery diarrhea, sudden

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JMonet
JMonet Member Posts: 1
in Anal Cancer #1

I am a year out from chemo and radiation.  Cancer free, according to recent biopsies, tests.  Twice in the past two weeks I have had watery diarrhea...no warning. once I had met a friend for coffee and bagel, took her for a couple of errands then stopped in a small store to look at something.  All of a sudden, out it rushed Into my pants, shorts.  I ran for the car and grabbed a towel from the trunk to put on the driver's seat.  Ran home To clean up.  This morning, it happened again...no warning.  Biopsies still clearing up.  Any advice? 

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  • mxperry220
    mxperry220 Member Posts: 493 Member
    #2
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    Suggestion

    I am almost 7 years post treatment and take 2 immodium daily.  I have been using immodium daily post treatment.  I do not and have not had diarrhea but have frequent bowel movements.  Immodium seems to help.  My radiation oncologist said it would not hurt to take immodium daily.  Others on this site recommend taking psyllium.  I have never tried this.

    Mike

  • EvelynB
    EvelynB Member Posts: 72
    #3
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    JMonet

    How long has it been since the biopsy? Have you mentioned this to your dr to see if maybe it is related to the biopsy? The other suspect could be coffee. That is definitely a stimulant to the bowels. Do you drink it regularly and had you recently drank some before the second episode? 

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #4
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    EvelynB said:

    JMonet

    How long has it been since the biopsy? Have you mentioned this to your dr to see if maybe it is related to the biopsy? The other suspect could be coffee. That is definitely a stimulant to the bowels. Do you drink it regularly and had you recently drank some before the second episode? 

    JMonet

    I have to agree with EvelynB in that coffee can definitely stimulate the bowels to move.  I am a coffee drinker and about an hour after I have my two cups most mornings, I am headed to the bathroom.  It's not always real urgent or diarrhea, but I do have urgency sometimes.  I have tried taking Imodium on a daily basis when I have had a bout of this and it does help.  Usually, I take no more than 1/2 tablet, otherwise, I get constipated.  My radiation oncologist told me, just like Mike said, that it's perfectly fine to take Imodium on a routine basis.  You might give it a try.  I've never tried the psyllium.

    Martha

  • cbokay
    cbokay Member Posts: 21 Member
    #5
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    JMonet

    I understand what you're going through and the soundest advice I can give you is this: wears diapers.  I'm going on two years NED in December and I only stopped using diapers a couple months ago.  But I still keep them around, just in case.  I do, however, wear the over-sized maternity type pads every day.  I have mishaps.  Sometimes I have a little anal dripping and don't even know it's happening till I recognize a wetness down below.

    At first I had to use chucks on the bed everyday, along with diapers.  Come to think of it, I wore them during treatment, too. I asked my doctor, "How long am I going to have to wear diapers?"  And he said he didn't know. 

    I think a lot of this sudden (oops) also has to do with what we eat.  That's a subject I'd like to get into deeply on this board.  I went through four pads this morning before 8:00 a.m.  And I tried to figure out why.  I asked myself, "Did I eat something yesterday that worked on me over night?"  I don't know.  Maybe it was the icecream sandwich treats I ate.  Maybe sugar products raise a little havoc with the chemicals that are still in our bodies after treatment.  

    I was on diapers for almost two years and I'm very glad I had them.  They saved me much embarrassment and gave me a sense of security whether I was at home or out and about.  I use to tease about them and tell people I wear these cute diapers that have a lace edging around the legs.  I would get a variety of different facial expressions from people but I had fun with it.

    Hope this helps. 

    CB

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