Thank you all

steelerfan
steelerfan Member Posts: 26 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I really want to thank you all for your kind words and suggestions! I sat here and had myself a good cry after reading your replies. Just for me to know that this happens to others makes me feel a little less crazy. Up til now, everyone I have talked too that had a similar situation or knows someone who went through it, didn't have the problems I am having. I have tracked my food intake for months--have worked not only with the doctors, but also a dietician. There have been times when I ate a banana and some yogurt and spent the next 3 hours in the bathroom and times when I have had a whole day of eating things that you think would not be O.K. (tacos, raw veggies, cabbage, etc.) and I felt like a million bucks. I have also kept track of how I feel the day after and there does not seem to be any kind of pattern. I think that is why I am so frustrated because I just never know what kind of day I will have. I do take both Imodium and Lomotil every day but sometimes they just don't help and the Lomotil makes me so tired. I also have tried the fiber--changing doses to see if I got better results--and again it didn't seem to make a difference so I don't take it at all now. I try to eat whole grains and high fiber cereal though. I guess I just have to learn to be happy with the good days and not dwell on the bad days. I am so grateful that the cancer is gone and that is the main thing. I really appreciate all of the advice--it helps to talk to others who know first hand. It's true that most people don't understand what it is like. Thanks for listening!

Comments

  • CAMaura
    CAMaura Member Posts: 719 Member
    #2
    Hang in there. You know, you might have something going on which is not all food-related...Maybe your intestines are just incredibly touchy and might react postively to something (which I know nothing about!)...
    I would really search for answers -- within both Western and Alternative Medicines. Take care - Maura
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #3
    I agree with Maura...and, you didn't mention trying to cut out milk products (lactose intolerance). At one point, I LOOKED at a carton of yogurt, and I was running to the toilet!

    You CAN find your rhythm...I, too, can now eat tacos, and chocolate (dark for me), and all sorts of 'naughties', but DON'T give me a bowl of yogurt, please!!!!!

    Hugs, Kathi
  • shmurciakova
    shmurciakova Member Posts: 906 Member
    #4
    Hi,
    I did not respond to your first post because my tumor was in the Sigmoid colon. Even though I go to the bathroom about 60-90 minutes after a meal, like you mentioned, I don't really have the problem of going and going, etc.....But after reading this it occured to me that you mentioned banannas and yogurt causing problems. They are very easily digested and would tend to pass through right away. They also could cause a spike in your blood sugar levels because they are high on the GI scale. The other stuff you mentioned tacos, raw veggies and cabbage are low GI foods. Have you looked into the Glycemic Index much? Those foods take much longer to digest and would tend to bulk up the stools. If you have not tried it, I would recommend looking in to the GI diet and trying to eat low on the index.
    Best wishes,
    Susan.
  • Moesimo
    Moesimo Member Posts: 1,072 Member
    #5
    I did not reply to your last post, but I have been in your shoes. I tried everything and nothing worked. I even had bowel issues when I did not eat. I was miserable and afraid to go out. I made a tough decision and had a colostomy done. I got my life back.

    You can email me through this site if you have any questions.

    Maureen
  • kangatoo
    kangatoo Member Posts: 2,105 Member
    #6
    Moesimo said:

    I did not reply to your last post, but I have been in your shoes. I tried everything and nothing worked. I even had bowel issues when I did not eat. I was miserable and afraid to go out. I made a tough decision and had a colostomy done. I got my life back.

    You can email me through this site if you have any questions.

    Maureen

    It's a strange situation Steeler. When we came over to Austin I was not prepared for the vast differences in food preperation OR the types of food available, especially when eating out. The crazy part is that texans have some great choices(I loved tha ribs) but much of the food is highly spiced(hot....yow...encheladas, jalepinos, chilli etc.) I thought my bowels would erupt! Now the crazy part. In all the time we were there I never had a problem with the spicy food and yet here in oz I cannot tolerate it. The other crazy thing was that on both the trip over and return I sufferred incredible diarrea.(Ying knows all about that 'cos it cut short our tour of San Francisco with her)
    Maybe the trip over was due to excitement and airline food. Maybe the home journey was more excitement(meeting Ying) and the plate of prawns I had for lunch on pier 39.Who knows.
    Even 3 years out from surgery my situation here is not always constant with bowel habits. It seems that once our bowels have been "disturbed" thru surgery many of us do not always go back to what we would consider "normal". Why this is so I do not know, however, having said that I do know that for me many small meals a day tend to regulate things. As for eating spicy food in texas...go figure...maybe they just cook great food!....

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