Please help: Blood in Stool During Chemo

Constipation -- Yep, same experience ---
during chemo -- my constipation lasted 10 to 14 days, so yes, blood in stool! Tough situation - painful to say the very least. I also found that once the laxatives and prescription liquid laxative prescribed by Oncologist kicked in .. I ended up with a rash on my bumm that they only relief I got was soaking in a warm bath turn -- so painful. Constipation continued throughout my entire chemo. I tried prunes, every over the counter tablet ( Senakot, and all others ) know to mankind, a $45.00 liquid Rx by my Onc -- which made chocked in horror by the taste -- Finally, I continued with the blessing of my Onc with laxatives over the counter -- taking 3 every day for 5 months ..

All WARRIORS -- usually have 1 of 2 issues relating to stomach problems throughout chemo ...===== Diarrhea and a lot of gas pain, or Constipation.

Chenheart has a post regarding a mixture sure to ease your pain ... I tried to locate it for you in old postings .. could not. Hoping someone will provide this recipe.

Good thoughts for you!

Vicki Sam

Hope this helps!
First, I would let my physician know that you are having blood in your stool, because this can be a sign of cancer. It sound more like constipation/hemorrhoid issues, but, of course, you must let your docs know.

Second, here is some info on constipation from chemocare:

"Constipation is "abnormally delayed or infrequent passage of usually dry, hardened feces (stool or bowel movement)."
•Some people get constipated because they do not eat enough fruit and fiber, do not exercise or get enough activity, and/or do not drink enough fluids (most people should drink at least 8 glasses of water or other non-alcoholic drinks per day).
•Certain medical conditions and medications can cause constipation. For example, some chemotherapy drugs can result in constipation. Also, many pain medications cause constipation as a side effect.
•There are many things that patients can do to prevent or relieve constipation. Also, there are many medications your doctor can recommend for constipation.

What are some constipation symptoms to look for?
•Infrequent bowel movements. There is no "normal" schedule for bowel movements. Frequent or infrequent should be determined based on your own "normal" schedule. For example, if you normally move your bowels once per day, infrequent may be defined as every 2nd or 3rd day. This should be a consistent change, not a one time occurrence.
•Hard, difficult to pass, bowel movements. Often, a person will pass small marble-like pieces of stool, without a satisfactory elimination.

Things you can do to minimize cancer or chemotherapy-induced constipation:
•Eat foods high in fiber like fruits (pears, prunes), cereals, and vegetables.
•Drink two to three liters of non-alcoholic fluids (water, juices) each day; unless you are told otherwise by your doctor.
•Exercise twenty to thirty minutes most days of the week, as tolerated, and if okay with your doctor. A lot of patients find that walking for exercise is convenient and easy to do.
•If you have been prescribed a "bowel regimen," make sure you follow it exactly."

Third, I can't stress enough the importance of increasing your fluid intake. It will make everything in your body work better while you are on chemo.

Finally, this sounds weird, but try and time your stools about 20 minutes after a meal. Your body has something called a mass movement then and everything is propelled downward, so it is the optimum time to attempt to have a BM.

LoveBabyJesus said:

God bless you all!
Thank you so much for all these suggestions!

Called my Dr. this AM, again. She doesn't seem to be worried as the stool color is normal. She mentioned if bleeding was coming from inside, the stool would be dark or black. I do take stool softeners everyday! I also read one serious side effect of this pill is "rectal bleeding"...so I am confused at this point.

I will continue to drink, eat fiber, etc...

Thank you!

My surgeon told me that if
My surgeon told me that if the stool would be dark or black, the bleeding occured high up in the stomach or high in the bowels. But if the bleeding occured lower in the bowels, the blood would be red.