changes in bowel movements after 10 years NED

kimarmstrong
kimarmstrong Member Posts: 8 Member
in Colorectal Cancer #1
Wow, its been a while for me, but I was hoping to get some suggestions. I had rectal cancer in 2001 with 6 mnths chemo. My most recent colonoscopy was at the beginning of last year and was fine. Since my surgery in 2001 I have had frequent bowel movements, which I understand alot of us have to deal with after rectal cancer/surgery. I am experiencing constipation suddenly. Its like my bowels have just stopped moving. I have a high fiber diet, drink plenty of fluids, its just strange. I have been seeing my primary care for other issues which include loosing weight over the past 6 months. Not much, about 3 lbs. a month. My doctor has me taking miralax and doing 2 enema's a day until I am moving again. Its been two weeks and it doesn't seem to be working. I clearing out, but it just seems like my intestines aren't working on their own. I am concerned because this is not how my body works. My body is always moving and to just stop seems weird. I have a call into my primary doc to see how long we should wait before we call my colon/rectal doctor. Anyone have the same experience?

Comments

  • thingy45
    thingy45 Member Posts: 632 Member
    #2
    Don't waite, CALL
    Hi, Please do not waite. Loosing weight, change of bowel habbits, etc. Ask for another colonoscopy, a scan, anything.
    You know your body best, if you are regular ads somethingcshanged without you having changed your eating habbits, something might be up.
    Be safe and make the call.
    I hope for a clean colonoscopy and or scan for you, Please keep us posted.
    Marjan
  • ron50
    ron50 Member Posts: 1,723 Member
    #3
    Hi Kim
    I am 14 years out now and I am in a constant state of flux. I find that I am either constipated or living half my life on the loo. I have had to stop so many medications because of severe diahorrea. Even taking codeine tablets for pain does not stop the diahorrea at the moment. Still I prefer that to constipation. I guess I have irritable half bowel syndrome. Seriously tho I hope they can find a non sinister cause for your problem and get you back to normal with minimal disruption,ron.
  • Lovekitties
    Lovekitties Member Posts: 3,364 Member
    #4
    Don't wait
    Please contact your colon doc to get a colonoscopy scheduled soonest.

    If it is nothing serious, I am sure he/she will have opinion about what may be causing this change.

    If it is something serious then you can move on to treatments that much sooner.

    Waiting is never a good option...take it from someone who did.

    Wishing you best outcome.

    Marie who loves kitties
  • kimarmstrong
    kimarmstrong Member Posts: 8 Member
    #5
    thingy45 said:

    Don't waite, CALL
    Hi, Please do not waite. Loosing weight, change of bowel habbits, etc. Ask for another colonoscopy, a scan, anything.
    You know your body best, if you are regular ads somethingcshanged without you having changed your eating habbits, something might be up.
    Be safe and make the call.
    I hope for a clean colonoscopy and or scan for you, Please keep us posted.
    Marjan

    Thanks for the reply
    Thanks for advice. I talked to my doctor and since its not improving she wanted me to go to the ER because they could provide IV fluid and check for a blockage. I told her since I wasn't in pain or running a temperature, that I thought a call to my colon/rectal doc was a good idea before I go to the ER. His office told me that he was in tomorrow and his nurse would call me first thing in the a.m. to talk and they would most likely have me come to their clinic because they can provide everything I need. Yuck...tomorrow is gonna be fun :). I will at least feel better in his hands, he removed my cancer and knows how I am wired. He'll get to the bottom of this I am sure, and hopefully it will turn out okay. I will keep you posted. Thanks again.

    Kim
  • kimarmstrong
    kimarmstrong Member Posts: 8 Member
    #6
    ron50 said:

    Hi Kim
    I am 14 years out now and I am in a constant state of flux. I find that I am either constipated or living half my life on the loo. I have had to stop so many medications because of severe diahorrea. Even taking codeine tablets for pain does not stop the diahorrea at the moment. Still I prefer that to constipation. I guess I have irritable half bowel syndrome. Seriously tho I hope they can find a non sinister cause for your problem and get you back to normal with minimal disruption,ron.

    Thanks for the reply
    Thanks for advice. I talked to my doctor and since its not improving she wanted me to go to the ER because they could provide IV fluid and check for a blockage. I told her since I wasn't in pain or running a temperature, that I thought a call to my colon/rectal doc was a good idea before I go to the ER. His office told me that he was in tomorrow and his nurse would call me first thing in the a.m. to talk and they would most likely have me come to their clinic because they can provide everything I need. Yuck...tomorrow is gonna be fun :). I will at least feel better in his hands, he removed my cancer and knows how I am wired. He'll get to the bottom of this I am sure, and hopefully it will turn out okay. I will keep you posted. Thanks again.

    Kim
  • kimarmstrong
    kimarmstrong Member Posts: 8 Member
    #7
    Lovekitties said:

    Don't wait
    Please contact your colon doc to get a colonoscopy scheduled soonest.

    If it is nothing serious, I am sure he/she will have opinion about what may be causing this change.

    If it is something serious then you can move on to treatments that much sooner.

    Waiting is never a good option...take it from someone who did.

    Wishing you best outcome.

    Marie who loves kitties

    Thanks for the reply
    Thanks for advice. I talked to my doctor and since its not improving she wanted me to go to the ER because they could provide IV fluid and check for a blockage. I told her since I wasn't in pain or running a temperature, that I thought a call to my colon/rectal doc was a good idea before I go to the ER. His office told me that he was in tomorrow and his nurse would call me first thing in the a.m. to talk and they would most likely have me come to their clinic because they can provide everything I need. Yuck...tomorrow is gonna be fun :). I will at least feel better in his hands, he removed my cancer and knows how I am wired. He'll get to the bottom of this I am sure, and hopefully it will turn out okay. I will keep you posted. Thanks again.

    Kim
  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    #8
    Good to check
    Yeah, I'd be concerned about that, too, especially the weight loss. I have a terrible problem with constipation, and that tends to make it difficult for me to lose weight. Please let us know what you find out.

    *hugs*
    Gail

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