Stomach cramps

HeatherApril14

I am on day 12 (of 30) radiation treatments and my second chemo/pump round starts in 8 days.  I had flu shot this year before I even knew I had anal cancer.   Over this past weekend, I did get the worse flu of my life that I can recall with the most gut-wrenching pain from my upper stomach down through my intestines, chills, diarreah and terrific headache.

I never went over 100 temp and all  I wanted to do was stay in bed so I did not call my oncologist. I am 80% better, however, in this third day, I still have horrible stomach cramping. I've been trying not to overdo it on the Imodium so still have diarreah.  

Is this stomach cramping something any of you went through with daily radiation as a side effect?

I won't see my radiologist for another 2 days but was wondering if this is going to be a regular symptom?

Any insight would be helpful.

Thank you,

Heather 

mp327

HeatherApril14

I'm so sorry to hear you had the flu on top of everything else!  I had terrible diarrhea during treatment that was almost accompanied by stomach cramping.  Just to be on the safe side, you should probably let your doctor or the nurse know that you experienced this AND that you've had the flu.  I hope you continue to feel better.

pacificnw

HeatherApril14

Talk about a double blow! I hope you are feeling better this morning.

I call the consulting nurse at my Dr office whenever I have a question/concern. Twice they have had me come in, and I'm glad I did. It's just a phone call, and may give you peace of mind

pacificnw

HeatherApril14

Just thinking about you tonight and hope you got some relief today.

HeatherApril14

Thanks all.  I did call and

Thanks all.  I did call and they were not happy with me that I didn't update them when I was sick. I think in the back of my mind since it was a weekend I was afraid they'd send me to hospital.  They prescribed Bentyl  for stomach cramping which doesn't really help.  Met with radiologist doc this morning after radiation day 14 and she is halting radiation for a couple of days so I can have a four day "get better" reprieve.  I'm starting to realize this cramping may just be part and parcel of side effects.  They did a stool sample also which I have yet to hear results of.  Now I know better that I need to call them with every little health problem.  Like my Hub says "keep calling until they tell you don't call anymore."  I just want to curl up in bed with my heating pad and water bottle.  I was actually a little disappointed to not have radiation tomorrow as it would have been my halfway point.  Now I'll end up finishing I believe after Christmas!  Thanks again for your input.

pacificnw

HeatherApril14

Hi Heather, I'm so glad you called your doctor. My husband has been the one to push me to go in when I am miserable. I hate him, until I'm in the car, then I'm so happy I listened. I've been on the phone more with the consulting nurse that my best friend.  They have been great about switching out meds that didn't work, (i.e. switched me to melt away anti-nausea meds when others kept coming up.) They have a lot of solutions ready for the asking. 

I get what you're saying about getting delayed in treatment days. I didn't like missing 2 days at Thanksgiving and Christmas will bring another 4-day weekend. Today is my 10th day. 1/3 of the way to the finish line. We are so close!!  

HeatherApril14

pacificnw said:

HeatherApril14

Hi Heather, I'm so glad you called your doctor. My husband has been the one to push me to go in when I am miserable. I hate him, until I'm in the car, then I'm so happy I listened. I've been on the phone more with the consulting nurse that my best friend.  They have been great about switching out meds that didn't work, (i.e. switched me to melt away anti-nausea meds when others kept coming up.) They have a lot of solutions ready for the asking. 

I get what you're saying about getting delayed in treatment days. I didn't like missing 2 days at Thanksgiving and Christmas will bring another 4-day weekend. Today is my 10th day. 1/3 of the way to the finish line. We are so close!!  

Thanks Pacificnw

I too feel like my nurse navigator has turned into my new BFF.  She just called me to see how I was doing and had to tell her the sporadic cramping is still happening, even with this Bentyl drug they gave me. They still don't have results of spool sample they took a few days ago.   I just want this over with! Thanks for helping me stay focused and positive.

Heather