touchy subject

June - For me it depends on the veggies I eat.  It seems lettuce will cause this for me.  Probably keep a little diary to figure out the culprit/s.  I often go ahead & eat the veggies & stick close to the bathroom:)

Nic

Increased fiber and fluids are good additions if what you are dealing with is constipated stool.

However, for diarrhea, in addition to Immodium, please consider a low-residue or at least a low fiber diet. This will reduce the amount of fecal matter you have to pass, reduce the number of times a day you have to go, reduce the amount of fluids and electrolytes you are loosing to diarrhea, and will help your bowels to rest.

These threads mention a low-residue diet:

http://csn.cancer.org/node/255548
http://csn.cancer.org/node/257428

It's basically a white, cooked diet, so I'm sure you will miss your raw fruits and veggies. It doesn't need to be forever, though, just long enough to help your guts re-boot. Visit a Registered Dietician for help in achieving a balance. Here are several info sources; be sure to look at several as they each seem to stress different aspects of the diet:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/patientinstructions/000200.htm
http://www.webmd.com/ibd-crohns-disease/low-residue-diet-foods
http://www.med.nyu.edu/content?ChunkIID=199396

All the best luck!

I'm almost 2 years post treatment and still have BM issues (mostly frequency and urgency).  Like Martha has said in the past, "radiation is the gift that keeps on giving!"  My radiology oncologist recommended a probiotic and I think it helps.   (I still carry and extra pair of underwear and pad in my purse everywhere I go but thankfully have not had to use them in quite some time.   Baby wipes will always be my friend.)

I was on the low residue diet during treatment and when I finished up my dietician told me to reintroduce one food a day to see how my body reacted.  I am fortunate to have no issues with any foods and eat all the same things I did before treatment (lots of vegi's included.)   

I also eat a greek yogurt every morning.

TraceyUSA said:

Try a probiotic

I'm almost 2 years post treatment and still have BM issues (mostly frequency and urgency).  Like Martha has said in the past, "radiation is the gift that keeps on giving!"  My radiology oncologist recommended a probiotic and I think it helps.   (I still carry and extra pair of underwear and pad in my purse everywhere I go but thankfully have not had to use them in quite some time.   Baby wipes will always be my friend.)

I was on the low residue diet during treatment and when I finished up my dietician told me to reintroduce one food a day to see how my body reacted.  I am fortunate to have no issues with any foods and eat all the same things I did before treatment (lots of vegi's included.)   

I also eat a greek yogurt every morning.

 

I had to follow a low residue diet for a few weeks after my hospitalization for a small bowel obstruction.  This type of diet allows the bowels to rest and output is much less in frequency and amount.  But like Ouch stated in her post, it is a diet that should only be followed for a certain amount of time and not be a permanent switch as to how we eat, as it lacks many nutrients that our body needs.  When re-introducing foods, I would suggest cooking all fruits and veggies.  I got really good at zapping apples and other fruits in the microwave with a little cinnamon.  Just cut them up in bite-size pieces into a pyrex measuring cup, cover, and zap for a couple of minutes.  They will be much easier on your system that way.  Unfortunately, it is common for some of us to have a lot of trouble with salads.  My husband was trying to lose some weight, so we were eating a lot of salads for awhile and my guts went simply wonky on me.    I am finding that greasy or fatty foods are not so kind to me anymore either.

Like Tracey, I eat Greek yogurt every day--one in the morning and one in the evening.  Plain is the best (I like Fage) if you can stomach it.  Add a little honey or cooked fruit that has been cooled for flavor.  Be wary of all of the yummy flavored yogurt.  I used to enjoy Oikos, but realized it does not even list the type of yogurt cultures it contains.  The label just says that it contains yogurt cultures.  Also, it is marketed as a "Dairy Snack" as per its label.  Hmmmm.  Activia now has a Greek style and I have found that to be good and it does have the types of cultures it contains listed.

I was taking Culturelle tablets, but noticed no difference in my bathroom habits, so as soon as I finish the supply I have, I will stop taking those.

This is definitely a balancing act--what to eat, what not to eat, trying to get enough fluids and fiber (without getting too much).  We are all "Flying Wallendas" now, trying not to take that one wrong step. 

Martha

mp327 said:

Low Residue Diet

I had to follow a low residue diet for a few weeks after my hospitalization for a small bowel obstruction.  This type of diet allows the bowels to rest and output is much less in frequency and amount.  But like Ouch stated in her post, it is a diet that should only be followed for a certain amount of time and not be a permanent switch as to how we eat, as it lacks many nutrients that our body needs.  When re-introducing foods, I would suggest cooking all fruits and veggies.  I got really good at zapping apples and other fruits in the microwave with a little cinnamon.  Just cut them up in bite-size pieces into a pyrex measuring cup, cover, and zap for a couple of minutes.  They will be much easier on your system that way.  Unfortunately, it is common for some of us to have a lot of trouble with salads.  My husband was trying to lose some weight, so we were eating a lot of salads for awhile and my guts went simply wonky on me.    I am finding that greasy or fatty foods are not so kind to me anymore either.

Like Tracey, I eat Greek yogurt every day--one in the morning and one in the evening.  Plain is the best (I like Fage) if you can stomach it.  Add a little honey or cooked fruit that has been cooled for flavor.  Be wary of all of the yummy flavored yogurt.  I used to enjoy Oikos, but realized it does not even list the type of yogurt cultures it contains.  The label just says that it contains yogurt cultures.  Also, it is marketed as a "Dairy Snack" as per its label.  Hmmmm.  Activia now has a Greek style and I have found that to be good and it does have the types of cultures it contains listed.

I was taking Culturelle tablets, but noticed no difference in my bathroom habits, so as soon as I finish the supply I have, I will stop taking those.

This is definitely a balancing act--what to eat, what not to eat, trying to get enough fluids and fiber (without getting too much).  We are all "Flying Wallendas" now, trying not to take that one wrong step. 

Martha

"I used to enjoy Oikos, but realized it does not even list the type of yogurt cultures it contains."

Unfortunately, the term "Greek yogurt" is unregulated in the USA. That means that companies can put the term on their label without having to comply with any standards. Oikos, by Dannon, isn't really Greek yogurt at all.

Greek yogurt comes out natually thick and higher in protein than regular USA-style yogurt. A bunch of companies, including Dannon, use thickeners for make their yogurt appear thick: they use additives like carageenan, pectin, even corn starch. The tell is on the label - look at the ingredients. Real Greek yogurt will not have any thickeners. In addition, check the protein content. Real Greek yogurt will have a higher amount of protein per serving listed on the label than thickened, un-Greek yogurt. Compare Fage or even Chobani with Oikos.

Get what you pay for - caveat emptor!