Bowel control

PhillieG said:

Battle of the Bowels
I had surgery and no colostomy was needed too. Things balanced out after a while. Mine was a long time ago but since your husband's was only two months ago, I think it still needs time to heal and adjust to the new "route". Like many things when dealing with cancer, he may have a New Normal but they should become more predictable.
-phil

It's a balancing act, I had
It's a balancing act, I had to find the right amount of immodium every morning and things are normal when I pop three every morning. Now, when on chemo. that threw it all off from time to time, but not much. In time it will get better.

My resection was a year ago
My resection was a year ago from October and I finished chemo last May. I waited for chemo to be over before I worked on my "new normal". I've tried different medications, eating certain things, and staying away from others, also amount I eat and time. The only thing worse than unexpected mad dashes to the bathroom is being out and needing a restroom and there isn't one around.

I hope like the others said, with time, it will get better and better. But, for now at 8 months out of chemo this is what seems to work best and I need to be pretty faithfull with some of it. I take 3 chewable Benefiber morning and night (bulks things up). I add Immodium as needed. But when I do take it, I start with 4 and take another 2 or 3 each time till it stops. It sounds like a lot, but I don't have the problem of not going. For food, I eat a banana at least once a day, and usually peanut butter sandwich or on toast daily. (I use a good bread like Milton's, organic peanut butter, organic honey, and flax on mine) Those are the only foods I know seem to help. And there are things I think can really mess me up, and its not the spicy or rich stuff (I can have the yummy red sauce but if I try the alfredo I might pay a price). ...it's milk, or too acidic like oranges or orange juice. I can pretty much eat anything. But if I keep it smaller meals and servings, it seems to be easier on my system.

Another thing and sorry if tmi but for me, just in case...I never leave the house without my "emergency kit" because I feel like a kindergartner again sometimes. It includes Immodium, pads, panties, and used to be pants. I take a bottle of water every single time I go somewhere and at least have these things in the car. I know it sounds like a lot but I've had some tough situations happen and learn as I go.

The good news is...it's getting better and easier to manage if I stay with my routine.

Hugs, plh4gail

Lisa -

Something that hasn't been mentioned, is regarding the amount
of intestine that's been removed.

Between the small intestine and large intestine, is a section that's
called an "ileocecal valve". The "valve" has two purposes in life:
It keeps bacteria from the large intestine from migrating into the
small intestine..... and... It helps regulate the output from the
small intestine into the large intestine.

It's the second part of that, that is of concern.

When the large intestine is resected, that valve (being part of the
large intestine) is usually removed. The output from the small intestine
is then uncontrolled, and the waste enters the large intestine
unhampered and at whatever speed the small intestine decides
is adequate.

If too much large intestine has been removed, the very liquid
output from the small intestine that's being dumped into the large
intestine and to the anus, will be more liquid than otherwise.

No, not diarrhea.... just waste that hasn't been processed the
way mom nature designed it to be processed.

Mom nature doesn't like us messin' with it's system.

So..... long story short?

Your mileage may vary depending on what sections have been
"modified", and what remains.

If the output is too much to deal with, and the trips to the toilet
become overwhelming and too time consuming, then the possibility
of either a colostomy or Ileostomy should be seriously explored.

I prefer my Ileostomy to the alternative of wearing "Depends"
and being chained to a toilet.

Try to find out more from your surgeon, regarding "how much
of what" was taken out, and what's left. There's no rush to
do anything, but it'd be good to know for future reference.

Best of health!

John