Help managing my gut?

jsabol
jsabol Member Posts: 1,145 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hi all,
I'm busy gathering suggestions for how to manage my (thus far) infrequent bouts of diarrhea...just 1 or 2 a week following my 5FU and leuco, and Immodium stops it cold. BUT, I think I'm then stopped up for too long, and that seems to trigger another bout. Yesterday, my beloved smoothie seemed to set off another episode :((

I know I can better manage this with diet; I tend to be a no red meat leaning towards vegetarian type (Sorry Em, I'm trying! and my 16 yo son has been vegetarian for 4 yrs now!!)
Any thoughts/ideas??? Thanks, Judy

Comments

  • spongebob
    spongebob Member Posts: 2,565 Member
    #2
    Hi, Judy -

    Sounds like you and I have similar diets - mostly chicken/fish and rice. OK.. the occassional pizza now and then! Hardly ever red meat.

    In my case my trips to the reading room didn't slow down after chemo. That's attributable to my hemi- being on the right side (where all the water is typically removed by the body). It will probably be this way forever so says my doc. Being ever the optimist, though, I looked for silver lining in that and found it:

    1. At least I CAN go to the bathroom

    2. Think of all the reading I'll get done!

    3. The value of my stock in Glade air fresheners recently doubled!

    Seriously, though, I have found that Metamucil (I prefer the pills) helps a lot! I have also found that a small glass of merlot helps settle the rumbles and aid in digestion. I think it's the tannins in the wine that do it.

    Hope this helps!

    - SpongeBob
  • cmcl
    cmcl Member Posts: 78
    #3
    Hi Judy,
    Although I don't have any "real" diarrhea, and my diet doesn't seem to effect my plumbing, I also find Metamucil gets me back to normal. I also prefer the pill form.
    Hope it works for you,
    Carolyn
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #4
    Three cheers for metamucil!!! I swear by the stuff and my colon is completely intact...it just does what my body has trouble doing naturally.

    Years ago when I had some minor surgery they had me use laxatives for three weeks before and two weeks after..I was on the pot as much as SB (know what you mean about good reading). Anyway, when it was time to get regular and stop the endless diarrhea, doc put me on metamucil. I've been on it ever since.

    Monika
  • pattieb
    pattieb Member Posts: 168
    #5
    unknown said:

    Three cheers for metamucil!!! I swear by the stuff and my colon is completely intact...it just does what my body has trouble doing naturally.

    Years ago when I had some minor surgery they had me use laxatives for three weeks before and two weeks after..I was on the pot as much as SB (know what you mean about good reading). Anyway, when it was time to get regular and stop the endless diarrhea, doc put me on metamucil. I've been on it ever since.

    Monika

    I take senncott stool softener can't take the other stuff (M) this seems to work well for me.
    Pattie
  • subrosa
    subrosa Member Posts: 1
    #6
    My doctor suggested small sips of PeptoBismol off and on during the day and within 24 hours the diarrhea was gone. Be careful not to go too far with it. I'm now taking stool softeners.
  • jsabol
    jsabol Member Posts: 1,145 Member
    #7
    Thanks for the posts; my dad depended on Metamucil after he lost a big hunk of his colon, and I'm planning to re-review this with my onc. Seems like a trial of it is in order. Anyone use Miralax? I have to check if it's also psyllium; it's supposed to be tasteless and grit free! Judy
  • bryancarson
    bryancarson Member Posts: 47
    #8
    It's a problem that we have all had and I have some advise that differs greatly from most people here. I had uncontrollabel diarreah for 6 months solid. NOTHING helped, not even perscription medications. I cchanged my diet a lot. When I first started my chemo, my Dr. told me to eat comfort foods because the might be easier on the stomach. That only made it worse. So, I tried a high protien/low carb diet. It did the trick, it cut WAY down on the bulk that my body was passing and my stool was much more consistent. Normally that kind of diet plugs people up, but it really seemed to help me. I still don't each much red meat. Mainly chicken, turkey, fish and LOTS of veggies. So...just one more opinion that worked for this 5FU/leucovoron survivor.
    Good Luck.
    Bryan
  • pattieb
    pattieb Member Posts: 168
    #9
    bryancarson said:

    It's a problem that we have all had and I have some advise that differs greatly from most people here. I had uncontrollabel diarreah for 6 months solid. NOTHING helped, not even perscription medications. I cchanged my diet a lot. When I first started my chemo, my Dr. told me to eat comfort foods because the might be easier on the stomach. That only made it worse. So, I tried a high protien/low carb diet. It did the trick, it cut WAY down on the bulk that my body was passing and my stool was much more consistent. Normally that kind of diet plugs people up, but it really seemed to help me. I still don't each much red meat. Mainly chicken, turkey, fish and LOTS of veggies. So...just one more opinion that worked for this 5FU/leucovoron survivor.
    Good Luck.
    Bryan

    Yes Judiths I use miralax and it is tasteless and no grit you can mix it in anything just stir it well
    Pattie
  • nanuk
    nanuk Member Posts: 1,358 Member
    #10
    Judy-You may have seen this, but thought I'd send it along.. Bud
    smathiason
    01-22-2004
    11:46 AM EST
    Ah! That first round of chemo always tricks us into believing it's not so bad.
    My chemo was once a week of 6 weeks on and 2 weeks off. My tumor was stage 3 and microcells were found in 1 of the 12 lymph nodes tested. Because I was "young and strong", the oncologist used a double dose of the 5FU treatment. And I suffered from diarhea. At one point the Imodium no longer worked and the doctor prescribed some other medication. One of the best home treatments is the BRAT diet - bananas, rice, applesauce and toast. My husband would make a bowl of rice and mix in applesauce. Most of the time, this helped.
    Being tired is normal. And will last for a few months even after the chemo treatments are over.
    Sharon
  • nanuk
    nanuk Member Posts: 1,358 Member
    #11
    Judy: I word-searched this site with "diarrhea", and came up with over 140 hits..Happy reading.. bud
  • spongebob
    spongebob Member Posts: 2,565 Member
    #12
    nanuk said:

    Judy: I word-searched this site with "diarrhea", and came up with over 140 hits..Happy reading.. bud

    And just imagine, Bud - that's with the word spelled correctly!

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