please help

northernlites

It has been 4 weeks since I had my colon removed due to cancer. I am having a hard time getting back my strength and staying hydrated. My stools are still like water even with the immodium(sorry so graphic). Today the stools also were bright yellow. My bum is so sore from going so much. Tried every ointment on the shelf and nothing so far has helped. I am taking vitron-c as an iron supplement along with vitamin d and b12. I am not alert and feel dizzy all the time. I drink G2 gatorade and even pidyalyte. Still on the low residue diet. Is this normal for being 4 weeks out of surgery? I am so depressed...

Tessa

pepebcn

Tessa don't get in panic it took me 6 months to feel completely
recovered of my surgery in a100%! concernning to stools it was nearly one year to feel reasonably well despite still some unexpected emergencies !,little by little step by step you will feel a little better every week!.
Hugs!

karguy

Don't panic
It will take a while to get back to"normal".My doctor had me taking fiber pills,and drinking power aid,I can't drink gatorade.I also took 1 imodium every day,and iron pills.Good luck,and don't ever give up.I don't have that problem anymore,now I have a permanant colostomy bag.Just be patient,and talk to the doctor.Good luck.

MrsJP

Black Berry Tea
When my son had his ileostomy reversed he had bathroom issues too. I new a herb lady back in the day and she suggested blackberry tea to slow the stools. For the burn feeling I think I read a post that someone used silvadine cream. I believe you can buy this over the counter.

I am so sorry you are going threw this. But am glad you found this board. The people here are very supportive and have given me insight to many things. They have lifted me up more than once.

Best Wishes
JP

LivinginNH

Hi, If you haven't tried it
Hi, If you haven't tried it already, you might want to pick up a tub of Eucerin for the soreness. It's fragrance free, so it doesn't sting when used in that tender area. Best wishes, Cyn

taraHK

so sorry
So sorry you are having these experiences and I hope you are feeling MUCH better VERY soon.

Are you able to see your doctor/a nurse? A prescription cream may be indicated - for your sore bum. When I was going thro something similar (for a different reason -- mine was radiation-connected), I think my doc prescribed a steroid cream (which has to be used carefully -- easing off gradually etc -- as I understand). You may even want to see a "wound nurse", if that is possible for you...Also (I'm not a doctor! just trying to share my own experiences) some iron supplements cause diarrhea in some people. Is this something you could raise with your doctor? I believe there are a variety of iron supplements out there and maybe a different one would be better?? Have you tried the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, dry toast) for a couple of days? That's good for acute diarrhea sometimes (but not great as a long-term diet! Gets old VERY QUICK, as a recall too well!!)

I'm just brainstorming here, Tessa. Most of all, I am sending loving thoughts your way....

Buzzard

taraHK said:

so sorry
So sorry you are having these experiences and I hope you are feeling MUCH better VERY soon.

Are you able to see your doctor/a nurse? A prescription cream may be indicated - for your sore bum. When I was going thro something similar (for a different reason -- mine was radiation-connected), I think my doc prescribed a steroid cream (which has to be used carefully -- easing off gradually etc -- as I understand). You may even want to see a "wound nurse", if that is possible for you...Also (I'm not a doctor! just trying to share my own experiences) some iron supplements cause diarrhea in some people. Is this something you could raise with your doctor? I believe there are a variety of iron supplements out there and maybe a different one would be better?? Have you tried the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, dry toast) for a couple of days? That's good for acute diarrhea sometimes (but not great as a long-term diet! Gets old VERY QUICK, as a recall too well!!)

I'm just brainstorming here, Tessa. Most of all, I am sending loving thoughts your way....

AQUAPHOR...will help the bum.....
You can buy it over the counter or any radiation dept usually gives sample bottles away...It will stop the burn associated with Radiation so Im sure it will do the same for the runs....

Annabelle41415

Normal
What you are going through is very normal, just give it time. Your body will eventually start getting back to a normal way. Try Calmoseptime ointment. It's not a prescription, but you need to get it from the pharmacist. Good luck with the bottom, mine still gets raw.

Kim

k1

At first I was having
At first I was having painful bowel movements 20-30 times per day.

Took me several months and a visit to the cancer dietitian to get a low residue diet I could tolerate. Gradually I was able to eat a wider variety of foods. Some things I will never eat again. See the dietitian if your cancer center offers one for consultations.

I was also put on Metamucil one to two tablets per day. My colorectal specialist said it would absorb some of the water and result in more solid stools. It did help some, but really it just takes time.

If I left the house had to be prepared to make multiple road stops for bathrooms. I knew all the best public restrooms and also became an expert on tile patterns :0 At home just kept a stack of magazines in the bathroom for the extended visits.

This too shall pass, hang in there.

Marianne313

k1 said:

At first I was having
At first I was having painful bowel movements 20-30 times per day.

Took me several months and a visit to the cancer dietitian to get a low residue diet I could tolerate. Gradually I was able to eat a wider variety of foods. Some things I will never eat again. See the dietitian if your cancer center offers one for consultations.

I was also put on Metamucil one to two tablets per day. My colorectal specialist said it would absorb some of the water and result in more solid stools. It did help some, but really it just takes time.

If I left the house had to be prepared to make multiple road stops for bathrooms. I knew all the best public restrooms and also became an expert on tile patterns :0 At home just kept a stack of magazines in the bathroom for the extended visits.

This too shall pass, hang in there.

hi
My aunt is also having this problem, she also gets very depressed and worse than angry. She has started saying she doesn't want to live "like this" (she is 81 years old). She refuses to tell the Dr. whether her butt is sore or not---he doesn't ask, she doesn't tell--that kinda thing. Presently, my sister and I have told the Dr. that her diarrhea is like water and many times day and night. She takes immodium and it doesn't work much at all, but does help slightly. I can't say that I know how you feel, the most I've had diarrhea is 2 or 3 days and I think that sucked big time so I can't begin to imagine how bad it must be for you, as little as I do know, I do also believe as K1 said "this too shall pass". I'm going to try to find where to buy the blackberry tea that someone else here mentioned--it can't hurt and if it MIGHT help I'm happy! I've also written down some of the ointments others mentioned here and I will also try to find those (one at a time) to see which may be more comfortable for my aunt.

It's sad to see so many go through so much pain but I am grateful for this site and the vast amount of knowledge that everyone here has. Their advice, knowledge and wisdom has kept me going through some not so nice times (and I know they will get worse) so when I need to vent or just read something inspiring I come here. I always leave feeling better. Please don't "give up". I'm not sure what else to say, I just thought you'd feel a bit better knowing you're not going through this alone. Take care and please come back often, it's rather healing to visit with everyone here. I'm not quite sure why, but it is.

Marianne

RickMurtagh

loose stools
Tessa,
You might check out the MD Anderson Bowel Management protocols.

The one for loose bowels:

http://www2.mdanderson.org/app/pe/index.cfm?pageName=opendoc&docid=34

It took me ages to get things under control and then things got worse because of a perorated bowel and an infection. I was on a low residue diet for ages after surgery. My first surgery was in June of 2009. I still have not fully recovered from that ordeal (my entire colon was removed) or any of the treatments that I have gone through really. I have just started to be abe able to do physical work through a whole day. I still have to take naps and lots of breaks, but things have become manageable. Two years later I am still not where I was before.

Be patient. Things should improve, but it will be slow going for a good while. Be patient.

Best wishes,

Rick