Food After Treatment Ends

SisterPretty said:

Food
Hi LaCh,
I was so happy to read your post because I have the exact same problem as you! My digestive system has slowed right down, I can eat almost everything but if I eat large portions I am uncomfortable and experience abdominal pains. My bowels also are sluggish, I am also lucky to go once a day and only small hard bowel movements! I am like you and miss the days of going 3 good times a day!!

I should clarify, albeit just a little. My bowel movements aren't hard, but that's because I take huge amounts of stool softeners, a big help.  And my normal precancer schedule was once a day and only increased (a lot) during treatment.  Now, I'm down to once or if I'm lucky, twice but that's from drinking a lot of water, like 3 liters a day (no easy task) and the stool softeners. The rest is true, slow, slow gut, big, big stomach, much, much discomfort.  I read somewhere--I no longer remember where-- that some people develop a lactose intolerance after radiation, and although I'm not at all sure that that's what this is, I've eliminated dairy with the exception of goat's milk kefir and plain, goat's milk yogurt. It still seems like a problem with volume more than anything else, and a stomach that doesn't want to empty and a gut that doesn't want to wake up and move so I'm trying to eat small portions.  The entire thing is a real pain in the butt.  Fatigue and digestion problems are what I'm dealing with these days, neither one a life-or-death thing but both very annoying.  Very frustrating.  And no one can offer a remedy to either. Try the stool softeners; it might not help with frequency but it'll eliminate the hard consistancy.

1linde said:

cant tolerate the spices as much now

BB I have noticed my digestive system cannot handle the same level of spicy foods I had pre cancer. I also used a lot of hot spices in my cooking and now my family complains it is bland and I use a small amount of the same seasonings but not the quantity. I notice what I think is spicy, my family thinks not so much.

I prefer to consume what I am comfortable with.  The only food I really have problems with today is beef. I can eat a 3 - 5 oz serving fine but if I have more my system seems not to be able to process it. That is not the worst thing.  I stick to chicken or fish mainly and eat a lot more vegan meals as I am also on Weight Watchers now.

At first I could not eat salad, veggies or any high fiber foods. Had unbearable stomach pains just doubling over, felt like my intestines were twisted and felt relief when the food finally passed through me. When I began WW I tried eating the salad and veggies and had that reaction the first day, decided to persevere for a week and the next day my body did not react the same way and now eat 5 - 9 servings a day of veggies and fruits and blend and also juice.

I think it is just trial and error for everyone as my doctors will sometimes affirm that other patients have my same symptoms post treatment. I have bathroom issues in the morning and my oncologist's PA mentioned they had another patient with my same side effects but hers are after lunch so she works only until midday. I started worknig later to accomodate my morning issues so same issues but differnt timing for our bodies.

As those that have been  on the board awhile already know, I had a terrible diet during treatment and shortly thereafter.  I had very little appetite and was losing too much weight. I had a healthy diet prior to being diagnosed.  The nutriionist sat me down one day and really got on my case about not eating enough during treatment. She told me to forget about what may or may not be good for me and just eat whatever I could. Okay, so I did.  McDonald's cheesburgers, fries, vanilla ice cream, greek cookies (specially baked for me by loved ones) and gingerale.  That was my diet for two months.  After treatment, I eased off of the cheeseburgers and fries, but eased into macaroni and cheese.  It was something my insides tolerated. I went back to work about 3 weeks post treatment and was really nervous about accidents. The mac and cheese worked so I ate it.  I could not tolerate lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, etc.  It took about a year before I could slowly eat salads again. 

Fast forward 3 1/2 years. I don't eat junk food anymore!  I eat pretty normal, no processed meats, fresh veggies, etc, etc.  I'm married to a greek so we do follow the mediterran diet  pretty much.  Tomato sauce is still a no no. 

Liz

shirlann54 said:

Kris

I understand ,I don't think we will ever eat like the good old days .I miss it too .It's been 2 year's and 3 mo out of treatments for me .It is getting better i can eat more kinds of food then i did last 2 years . i'am better then i was last year.So you will get better and better as time gos on.....Shirley

I just have to post this, as I know some of you will be able to appreciate it.  Since treatment ended, I have eaten salad just occasionally, as it would often give me problems.  And since my hospitalization in late January for an intestinal obstruction, I have avoided raw fruits and veggies.  However, this past Saturday I was SO hungry for a salad I could no longer stand it.  So, I had a salad from Wendy's and here I am, two days later, alive and well with no repercussions!  My husband was even excited for me!  LOL! 

jcruz said:

I can totally relate to the

I can totally relate to the excitement!  I've recently be able to back to eating well-cooked greens (my favorite Bloomsdale spinach was a part of dinner last night) and I've been thrilled to be able to eat small amounts at dinner.  I'm a big farmers' market shopper and right now I don't buy much except fresh eggs and potatoes.  Now I can add the greens and am thinking about trying asparagus.  I know that I probably won't spend my summer eating fresh tomatoes but I hope that maybe next year I can try them and all the stone fruit I used to consume.

Friday night I had some pizza and that came back to haunt me on Saturday.  I gave in to a temptation I knew might backfire but I had such a craving!  I have a brother with Crohn's disease and he and I have talked about foods you just have to have knowing that they'll make you sick and eating them anyway.  Well, I probably won't be trying pizza again for a while - nothing like a morning in the bathroom as a reminder to take better care of myself.

I'm sorry the pizza came back to haunt you!  I think in small amounts, most of us can tolerate the foods we love and crave.  My only suggestion is to enjoy them when you don't have to be anywhere in particular the next day and can stay at home--just in case!