Nausea & urgency

Ranae8828
Ranae8828 Member Posts: 2
in Anal Cancer #1
I am almost three years out since finishing treatments. I still struggle with nausea and urgency in bowel movements. Have had accidents. Cannot pin down to certain trigger foods. Anyone have same issues? Suggestions? Help? Know foods that make it better? Worse? "New Normal" makes it hard to function at work or out of the home at times.

Comments

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #2
    I'm sorry you are dealing
    I'm sorry you are dealing with these issues this far out from treatment. I am almost 2 1/2 years out and feel very fortunate that I don't have too many issues to deal with, other than the occasional urgency. Mine is mostly food related. Have you talked to a dietician or nutritionist? Because you also experience nausea, I would say that apparently your intestinal tract has not recovered well. Perhaps a gastroenterologist could be helpful. I know that it was a long time before I could tolerate fresh fruits and veggies. Also caffeinated drinks and chocolate can cause diarrhea/urgency.
  • Donna M
    Donna M Member Posts: 25
    #3
    Nausea
    Ginger is great for reducing or relieving nausea. You can get it in pill form at the Health Food store. I lived on candied ginger, gingersnaps and Hansen's Ginger Ale all through treatment. Still keep the Hansen's and the Trader Joe's ginger snaps on hand for flair ups.
  • SueRelays
    SueRelays Member Posts: 485
    #4
    I am 2 1/2 years post
    I am 2 1/2 years post radiation and chemo as well....and YES I still experience both. Like you said, it makes it difficult to be at work, and places where you can't always get to a bathroom quickly! I feel your frustration, but don't have a remedy! In addition I eat so many more fruits and vegetables now days which further complicates this issue!! So far I have been lucky!!
    I agree with Martha that it might be wise to see someone who can help with diet??
  • alis7910
    alis7910 Member Posts: 80
    #5
    nausea and urgency
    Hi:
    I am a year and 4 months after treatment and have the same challenges- I find that diet seems to have the most to do with it and am still looking for the balance between constipation and diarrhea. Fruits and veggies are the challenges for me, especially spinach.I would recommend being really aware of what you eat, and you might consult a dietition.
  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #6
    alis7910 said:

    nausea and urgency
    Hi:
    I am a year and 4 months after treatment and have the same challenges- I find that diet seems to have the most to do with it and am still looking for the balance between constipation and diarrhea. Fruits and veggies are the challenges for me, especially spinach.I would recommend being really aware of what you eat, and you might consult a dietition.

    Spinach
    alis, I don't know how eating spinach effects anyone else, but it backs me up like the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River. It has made me quite miserable on a couple of occasions, so no more of it for me. Sad, because I really like it and it's so nutritious. I can tolerate most other fruits and veggies, except those with small seeds, such as some berries and kiwi, and corn due to diverticulosis, which I wasn't diagnosed with until after treatment.
  • Ranae8828
    Ranae8828 Member Posts: 2
    #7
    mp327 said:

    Spinach
    alis, I don't know how eating spinach effects anyone else, but it backs me up like the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River. It has made me quite miserable on a couple of occasions, so no more of it for me. Sad, because I really like it and it's so nutritious. I can tolerate most other fruits and veggies, except those with small seeds, such as some berries and kiwi, and corn due to diverticulosis, which I wasn't diagnosed with until after treatment.

    Thanks
    Thanks for your help all. I have been to gastro numerous times. Have recently started eating more fruit and salads and strange but it seems to be helping. Used to set me off in minutes. Probably helps cutting back on junk food and eating out.
  • alis7910
    alis7910 Member Posts: 80
    #8
    mp327 said:

    Spinach
    alis, I don't know how eating spinach effects anyone else, but it backs me up like the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River. It has made me quite miserable on a couple of occasions, so no more of it for me. Sad, because I really like it and it's so nutritious. I can tolerate most other fruits and veggies, except those with small seeds, such as some berries and kiwi, and corn due to diverticulosis, which I wasn't diagnosed with until after treatment.

    spinach
    mp327: I have the opposite effect- only certain types of cooked spinach( I think it is the spices) and I get colitis. also I react to blueberries! Fruits seem to give me the most challenges, but I never know what I'm going to react to. I think the unexpected reactions give me the most stress, because I have to find a bathroom real fast.
    best wishes to you
  • sissy310
    sissy310 Member Posts: 300
    #9
    alis7910 said:

    spinach
    mp327: I have the opposite effect- only certain types of cooked spinach( I think it is the spices) and I get colitis. also I react to blueberries! Fruits seem to give me the most challenges, but I never know what I'm going to react to. I think the unexpected reactions give me the most stress, because I have to find a bathroom real fast.
    best wishes to you

    I'm six months out of
    I'm six months out of treatment and yes, have those same issues with food. I never know what will trigger it but each time I have an issue with something, I stop eating it. Seems oils or oily products affect me or maybe some types of creams (Creamy wild rice soup almost caused a bowel Armageddon with me). Ginger ale helps my nausea, the real Ginger ale seems to work better than the generic, don't ask me why. As for tummy issues and urgency, my gosh I was shocked at some of this happens so fast. I probably will wear a diaper on the plane for my trip next week "just in case" -- new 'normal' seems to change every week lately.
  • mxperry220
    mxperry220 Member Posts: 496 Member
    #10
    Urgency
    I am out from treatment 26 months. I still have an urgency to have BMs on certain days particularly if under stress. My oncologist has recommended immodium. I take 3 at one time first thing in the morning after a BM. This has helped tremendously. I was having 4-5 BMs per day. Now I have 2-3 which was what I had prior to my tretments. I found Sam's sell their brand equivalent of immodium for much less than immodium brand and more pills in bottle. Good luck. It will get better.

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