Boiling Hot Diarrhea

rthornton · July 2005

OK ... so I found out a few days ago, after a particularly interesting and disturbing examination, that I have an anal fissure. The examination was scheduled due to many painful bathroom trips. The doctor prescribed something called Proctofoam HC, which worked very well until ... I completed round three of chemotherapy on Friday. Now, the painful bathroom trips are a reality again!

I think that since the symptoms got better before my latest chemo treatment, and the surgeon examined me and actually saw the fissure, that I now have two problems. I think there is an anal fissure AND a chemotherapy side effect that causes whoppingly painful diarrhea for a few days after treatment. I have read that chemo causes diarrhea in many patients, but I've not read anything about it burning like hot, boiling oil as it passes thru. Has anyone else experienced this? And if so, is there a medication that will help?

Any info would be sooooo much appreciated! I plan to call the oncologist tomorrow (I know that he's on call tomorrow anyway), but I am curious if anyone out there has experienced burning diarrhea from chemotherapy.

Thanks,
Rodney

HisJoy · July 2005

Yep, I have heard it described as passing battery acid. *ouch* I take Immodium to stop the diarrhea, but for a couple days after treatment, it BURNS and makes my bottom raw. I'm sure your fissure makes it worse. Did you talk to your onc? He may reccommend something. My only advice is to drink a LOT of water and take Immodium to at least minimize the number of bathroom trips.

CAMaura · July 2005

Hi Rodney,
I didn't have a fissure, but the diarrhea always felt as you described. The chemicals are so strong.....my thought is that they caused the sensation. Immodium never worked for me - and I popped it like mints. What helped for me (and I learned about it at the end of chemo) was fiberous, whole grain bread. Sounds odd - but it helped.
Best of luck to you.....so sorry that you have to experience any of this.....
Cheers,
Maura

goldfinch · July 2005

Rodney,
I would describe the diarrhea from chemo the same way. Imodium would work for me-so well that it would cause constipation and that would aggravate the AF almost as much as the diarrhea.
Along the lines of the whole grain bread that Maura recommended, I used metamucil. I think that was somewhat effective. There are stronger antidiarrheals that your onc can prescribe. I frankly think that even the more normal BMs burn right after chemo because of what's in them, but getting the diarrhea under control should help a bit.
Mary
PS. i started the Proctofoam 2 days ago. No change yet, but keeping my fingers crossed. Thanks for giving me some hope.

rthornton · July 2005

goldfinch said:
Rodney,
I would describe the diarrhea from chemo the same way. Imodium would work for me-so well that it would cause constipation and that would aggravate the AF almost as much as the diarrhea.
Along the lines of the whole grain bread that Maura recommended, I used metamucil. I think that was somewhat effective. There are stronger antidiarrheals that your onc can prescribe. I frankly think that even the more normal BMs burn right after chemo because of what's in them, but getting the diarrhea under control should help a bit.
Mary
PS. i started the Proctofoam 2 days ago. No change yet, but keeping my fingers crossed. Thanks for giving me some hope.

I think you are aboslutely right about what's "in" the diarrhea. I actually don't really care about having diarrhea, it's just the burning sensation which would probably be there even if it wasn't diarrhea. So, what would really be great, is some kind of medication or nutritional supplement to nuetralize whatever drug is causing the burning sensation. This is what I will ask my doctor about today, if I can speak to him.

The impression I get from everyone's replies is that there is no solution to the burning, only maybe solutions to the diarrhea. At least now I know I'm not the only one to have dealt with this side effect.

Rodney

jana11 · July 2005

goldfinch said:
Rodney,
I would describe the diarrhea from chemo the same way. Imodium would work for me-so well that it would cause constipation and that would aggravate the AF almost as much as the diarrhea.
Along the lines of the whole grain bread that Maura recommended, I used metamucil. I think that was somewhat effective. There are stronger antidiarrheals that your onc can prescribe. I frankly think that even the more normal BMs burn right after chemo because of what's in them, but getting the diarrhea under control should help a bit.
Mary
PS. i started the Proctofoam 2 days ago. No change yet, but keeping my fingers crossed. Thanks for giving me some hope.

No getting around the title of your post... ouch. I had TERRIBLE diarrhea with my chemo the first round. I too popped Imodium like candy. There is a prescription med called Lomotil. Talk to your doc about it.

I would take 2 imodium 30 minutes before any meal and hope to eat enough quickly before my abd started to hurt. I took the Lomotil as a last resort.

Give it a try. See if your onc. has other suggestions. I never had the burning hot stuff - sounds terrible!

Good luck. jana

steved · July 2005

Have had simialr problems on and off at times during treatment and still get periods of it now that I have my ileostomy reversed. Genreally it is simply the irritaion of the anal area that causes the burning sensation more than the components of the diarrhoea (unless you are eating hot curries at every opportunity!) The best thing is to try a two prong approach- slow things down so that you go less often so the area is less irritated and inflamed and also use a local anaesthetic to ease the pain (which I think the proctofoam contains although I could be wrong as e don't have that here in the UK I don't think).
The only thing that really kept me sane when it happens is the knowledge it will settle in time as things heal- no real comfort for you jsut know I'm sure.
Best of luck,
Steve.

Boiling Hot Diarrhea

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