Life after cancer, the bathroom chronicles . . . .

Helen321
Helen321 Member Posts: 1,459 Member
edited April 2015 in Colorectal Cancer #1

I could write a book.  Let's just say, I wish I had an extra pair of pants (I wore them home the last time this happened), I'm so glad my company has a back staircase and private bathroom and thank goodness someone has a space heater (I had to wash my pants out by hand) and I have a sense of humor.  Yeahhhh cancer, yeahhhh mid 40s!  lol  Can't wait for what my 50s have to offer.

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Comments

  • janderson1964
    janderson1964 Member Posts: 2,215 Member
    I feel your pain. I have been

    I feel your pain. I have been fighting for nearly 10 years and I am now officially in my 50's. The bathroom issues never fully go away and strike without much warning. I was helping my wife in the garden on Easter and just barley ran up the stairs and made it to the bathroom. Good thing is that it cleanned me out so I could ride my motorcycle for a while with confidence.

  • Helen321
    Helen321 Member Posts: 1,459 Member

    I feel your pain. I have been

    I feel your pain. I have been fighting for nearly 10 years and I am now officially in my 50's. The bathroom issues never fully go away and strike without much warning. I was helping my wife in the garden on Easter and just barley ran up the stairs and made it to the bathroom. Good thing is that it cleanned me out so I could ride my motorcycle for a while with confidence.

    I have an ostomy but when

    I have an ostomy but when this happens, the bag is just useless.  That's the good side to all of this, generally 3 days before it kicks back in  to output again so I get 3 days off.  Of course I'm sitting at work with the loudest gas in history and I do believe I still slightly smell.  I can't wait to go home today.  Talk about humbling.

  • jen2012
    jen2012 Member Posts: 1,607 Member
    Helen321 said:

    I have an ostomy but when

    I have an ostomy but when this happens, the bag is just useless.  That's the good side to all of this, generally 3 days before it kicks back in  to output again so I get 3 days off.  Of course I'm sitting at work with the loudest gas in history and I do believe I still slightly smell.  I can't wait to go home today.  Talk about humbling.

    Sorry...not fun.  In the

    Sorry...not fun.  In the beginning, my husband had an issue with the bottom of the bag that seals would stick to his pants....and open.  He finally started using a binder clip to keep it sealed.  Kind of funny when we went to see the ortho onc and she said, why is there a binder clip in all of your X-rays?  

    So I assume you will be putting together a new emergency kit for work.  I highly recommend a pack of baby wipes and a bottle of this:

    http://www.amazon.com/Mustela-PhysiObebe-Rinse-Cleansing-Diaper/dp/B00021D1GC/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1428440645&sr=8-4&keywords=Baby+soap+mustela

    has a nice soft scent and you don't have to wash it off.  Not for the stoma area,just for other areas you want to clean up.

  • merrysmom
    merrysmom Member Posts: 51
    Just happened to me today

    I had to go to the doc today and felt pretty good and I thought well I feel so good that I think I will go to CVS and then get an ice tea for the drive home. I left the docs got in my truck and Omg . The cramps hit and there was no holding it. Needless to say I drove the 20 miles home really fast and prayed that I would not get stopped by the police. For the most part I do well and then surprise it hits. Always exciting. Hang in there. barb

  • Steve444
    Steve444 Member Posts: 105 Member
    merrysmom said:

    Just happened to me today

    I had to go to the doc today and felt pretty good and I thought well I feel so good that I think I will go to CVS and then get an ice tea for the drive home. I left the docs got in my truck and Omg . The cramps hit and there was no holding it. Needless to say I drove the 20 miles home really fast and prayed that I would not get stopped by the police. For the most part I do well and then surprise it hits. Always exciting. Hang in there. barb

    It always hits fast near the end

    Doesn't it?  As soon as you're close to home the demons want to come out bad.

  • Helen321
    Helen321 Member Posts: 1,459 Member
    jen2012 said:

    Sorry...not fun.  In the

    Sorry...not fun.  In the beginning, my husband had an issue with the bottom of the bag that seals would stick to his pants....and open.  He finally started using a binder clip to keep it sealed.  Kind of funny when we went to see the ortho onc and she said, why is there a binder clip in all of your X-rays?  

    So I assume you will be putting together a new emergency kit for work.  I highly recommend a pack of baby wipes and a bottle of this:

    http://www.amazon.com/Mustela-PhysiObebe-Rinse-Cleansing-Diaper/dp/B00021D1GC/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1428440645&sr=8-4&keywords=Baby+soap+mustela

    has a nice soft scent and you don't have to wash it off.  Not for the stoma area,just for other areas you want to clean up.

    Thanks yup new kits and a

    Thanks yup new kits and a pair of pants and I use binder clips too!!! Lol They're so handy in an emergency. 

  • Helen321
    Helen321 Member Posts: 1,459 Member
    Steve444 said:

    It always hits fast near the end

    Doesn't it?  As soon as you're close to home the demons want to come out bad.

    Barb and Steve, Isn't that

    Barb and Steve, Isn't that always the way. If it wasn't so ridiculously funny, I'd cry. 

  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    I've always got bathroom issues

    Since my resection I've always had bathroom issues.  I'm never able to tell when I've got to go and sometimes I'll go while standing in the grocery store and there is nothing I'm able to do about it except just stand there until it quits coming out.  It's a very frustrating situation.  My ostomy was reversed and sometimes it can be a terrible curse.  There are days I'm going 15 times a day and leaving the house is a chance I'm not always wanting to take so therefore it keeps me inside and/or close to home.  Hoping that you do better though.  I've been where you are at as well and it's no fun either.

    Kim

  • merrysmom
    merrysmom Member Posts: 51
    Helen321 said:

    Barb and Steve, Isn't that

    Barb and Steve, Isn't that always the way. If it wasn't so ridiculously funny, I'd cry. 

    I really appreciate your comments

    It is so true that when you get close to home it gets REALLY bad. So many situations. I wrote a long time ago about when I was taking care of my dad and he wanted to get an icecream cone and I told him we really need to leave. He was about 85 at the time and wanted that icecream. He ignored me went into the store and got his cone. At that point I was almost crying and told him we needed to leave. Needless to say I filled my pants in the rite aid, then grabbed his icecream cone and through it away and we got in his nice van with my horrible stinky clothes and went home. He never understood why I through his cone away. He died last year and now thinking back I can find it funny. So many hard things to handle and yet I still appreciate the fact that if I had never had this disease I would have never met some of the most awesome and strong people. You all make it worth it. Helen you are so right if it wasn't so funny I would cry. I appreciate the fact that we can write this on the board and everyone understands and no one is offended. God bless you all. barb

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,796 Member
    Its getting better, butttt

    it still gets me now and again. 

    I just got my old, one day a week job back. I told my boss that when I have to go, I have to go NOW. Literally drop everything and go, which isn't always possible when you're in the middle of a sterile procedure (I'm a podiatric medical assistant).  So far, it hasn't happened, and I hope it never will. 

    About needing to go when you are close to home; you do realize that is psychological, right?  Believe it or not, you can learn to control that part.  When I was first home from radiation (which was what set me off), I had to stay close to the loo at all times.  I wanted to start on my morning walks again, but didn't dare. When I did, I Started with a block. Sure enough, as soon as I saw my house, the urge hit, and sometimes I didn't make it to the loo. I moved on to two blocks and three until I was doing my three mile walk. I learned pretty fast that my need to go when I knew I was close to home, was psychological, but I had no idea how to stop it. Mind over matter didn't work, when the matter was running down your legs. 

    Ah, the good old days.

    I loved my DEPENDS. My little saying was Depends are my freinds.  Luckily I don't have to wear them any more. 

    Great thread. Not often do we discuss the messy side of things. 

    Sue - Trubrit

  • JanJan63
    JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
    Trubrit said:

    Its getting better, butttt

    it still gets me now and again. 

    I just got my old, one day a week job back. I told my boss that when I have to go, I have to go NOW. Literally drop everything and go, which isn't always possible when you're in the middle of a sterile procedure (I'm a podiatric medical assistant).  So far, it hasn't happened, and I hope it never will. 

    About needing to go when you are close to home; you do realize that is psychological, right?  Believe it or not, you can learn to control that part.  When I was first home from radiation (which was what set me off), I had to stay close to the loo at all times.  I wanted to start on my morning walks again, but didn't dare. When I did, I Started with a block. Sure enough, as soon as I saw my house, the urge hit, and sometimes I didn't make it to the loo. I moved on to two blocks and three until I was doing my three mile walk. I learned pretty fast that my need to go when I knew I was close to home, was psychological, but I had no idea how to stop it. Mind over matter didn't work, when the matter was running down your legs. 

    Ah, the good old days.

    I loved my DEPENDS. My little saying was Depends are my freinds.  Luckily I don't have to wear them any more. 

    Great thread. Not often do we discuss the messy side of things. 

    Sue - Trubrit

    I had IBS as long as I can

    I had IBS as long as I can remember and my surgeon said it would likely get worse once I get ressected. It has been so nice to not worry about it that I don't know if I even want to. I can eat what I want, when I want. However, I have what my surgeon calls mucous that comes out rectally. Sometimes I don't have it for days and other times it's hard to stay safe from havng it mess my pants or bed. For some strange reason, even if I'm lying on my back in bed, it goes forward so it gives me UTIs. I had to listen to several lectures in the hospital about not wiping back to front with me trying to explain that I don't, that stuff just goes that way. My surgeon says it's normal but there's so much sometimes it's crazy. I suspect it's actually from one of the abcesses I had after the surgery because it has a similar smell. The abcesses are still there, I do know that.

  • ron50
    ron50 Member Posts: 1,723 Member
    I can certainly

       Contribute to this conversation , but in the interests of being positive , I think I will just be quiet. Ron.

  • Steve444
    Steve444 Member Posts: 105 Member
    ron50 said:

    I can certainly

       Contribute to this conversation , but in the interests of being positive , I think I will just be quiet. Ron.

    :)

    Thanks for making me smile...

  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    Trubrit said:

    Its getting better, butttt

    it still gets me now and again. 

    I just got my old, one day a week job back. I told my boss that when I have to go, I have to go NOW. Literally drop everything and go, which isn't always possible when you're in the middle of a sterile procedure (I'm a podiatric medical assistant).  So far, it hasn't happened, and I hope it never will. 

    About needing to go when you are close to home; you do realize that is psychological, right?  Believe it or not, you can learn to control that part.  When I was first home from radiation (which was what set me off), I had to stay close to the loo at all times.  I wanted to start on my morning walks again, but didn't dare. When I did, I Started with a block. Sure enough, as soon as I saw my house, the urge hit, and sometimes I didn't make it to the loo. I moved on to two blocks and three until I was doing my three mile walk. I learned pretty fast that my need to go when I knew I was close to home, was psychological, but I had no idea how to stop it. Mind over matter didn't work, when the matter was running down your legs. 

    Ah, the good old days.

    I loved my DEPENDS. My little saying was Depends are my freinds.  Luckily I don't have to wear them any more. 

    Great thread. Not often do we discuss the messy side of things. 

    Sue - Trubrit

    For me it's not psychological

    Having my rectum removed and redone to make a j-pouch from my large colon my stools are always loose.  You can't hold liquid in with your butt cheeks.  Don't care how hard you try - it will just pass through that opening and make a mess.  We have others on the board that has had much more success from j-pouch than me.  Diet changes never worked for me either.  But I'm not letting it get me down.  I'm glad I'm here being a part of life when I'm able and that's good enough for me Laughing

    Kim

  • Helen321
    Helen321 Member Posts: 1,459 Member

    I've always got bathroom issues

    Since my resection I've always had bathroom issues.  I'm never able to tell when I've got to go and sometimes I'll go while standing in the grocery store and there is nothing I'm able to do about it except just stand there until it quits coming out.  It's a very frustrating situation.  My ostomy was reversed and sometimes it can be a terrible curse.  There are days I'm going 15 times a day and leaving the house is a chance I'm not always wanting to take so therefore it keeps me inside and/or close to home.  Hoping that you do better though.  I've been where you are at as well and it's no fun either.

    Kim

    Hey Kim, Welcome back!

    Hey Kim, Welcome back!  That's why my doctor said that he chose the permanent ostomy while I was under (he checked with my sister).  He said there would be permanent leakage if I didn't do it.  I am not sure which is worse sometimes.  

  • Helen321
    Helen321 Member Posts: 1,459 Member
    JanJan63 said:

    I had IBS as long as I can

    I had IBS as long as I can remember and my surgeon said it would likely get worse once I get ressected. It has been so nice to not worry about it that I don't know if I even want to. I can eat what I want, when I want. However, I have what my surgeon calls mucous that comes out rectally. Sometimes I don't have it for days and other times it's hard to stay safe from havng it mess my pants or bed. For some strange reason, even if I'm lying on my back in bed, it goes forward so it gives me UTIs. I had to listen to several lectures in the hospital about not wiping back to front with me trying to explain that I don't, that stuff just goes that way. My surgeon says it's normal but there's so much sometimes it's crazy. I suspect it's actually from one of the abcesses I had after the surgery because it has a similar smell. The abcesses are still there, I do know that.

    My doctor told me that too.

    My doctor told me that too.  That if he had not done the ostomy, I would have had a lot of mucous and stool leakage.

  • Helen321
    Helen321 Member Posts: 1,459 Member
    ron50 said:

    I can certainly

       Contribute to this conversation , but in the interests of being positive , I think I will just be quiet. Ron.

    lol Ron.  Poop conversations,

    lol Ron.  Poop conversations, oh the joy.

  • thingy45
    thingy45 Member Posts: 632 Member
    Poop conversation

    o yes, I so acknowledge all the stories. I'm going on 4 years now Since my surgery. Going out for dinner and then a movie, makes me real nervous.

    indeed when I have to go I have to go, NOW. The cramps and the growling noises sometimes are sometimes louder then the movie and I have to leave. I know where all the bathrooms are in my town. Going for a long drive to visit my son and family, means  no food  then only arrow root cookies and water. After all you never know? When and where. It makes my life really more exciting then I planned. I know I'm not the only one, but it makes for a really crappy move lol.

     

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,796 Member
    Making it work

    Yeah, me again.

    Its a two - three hour trip to the big city, and I am learning what NOT to eat or drink the day before and morning of a long journey. There are definitely foods and drinks that kick off the bad stuff, so I keep away from that. 

    And you may not want to hear this, but when I am out in the wilds for hours on end, and nature calls, I find myself a hidden spot and do my thing. I'm not letting this stop me enjoying the joys that life brings. 

    Sue - Trubrit

  • RickMurtagh
    RickMurtagh Member Posts: 587 Member
    Ha

    I work in a warehouse. I bring an entire change of clothes AND four sets of appliance.  On a good day I have just what I need. On bad days I end up going home and have a mulligan. On my worst day I repeated that process. Thankfully work is really understanding and I only had to do that once. 

    Sounds like you have the same good fortune of having understanding coworkers. 

    I used to worry that all these bad things might happen. Now that they all have happened, it is all a walk in the park. The only way things could be worse than anything that has happened is if I passed out during a huge blowout or my small intestine pushed out of my ostomy and exited my body. So really it's all good. Since there is an extremely low probability that either of those would happen, I am good. 

    Here is to being able to laugh at the things we go through, at least some day!