farmgal needs advice

farmgal
farmgal Member Posts: 22
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I need advice from those that actually know what is happening. Doctors do not seem concerned but I am worried about my husband. He was operated on to remove 14 inches of colon/rectum 2 years ago. He is presently NED after wearing bag for 6 months after operation. Problem is he has issues in the bathroom. He eats very little (has lost 60 lbs. in the past 2 years-big eater before). If he eats anything at all spicy he has major problems. He takes only probiotics at bedtime-no other medication. He will go about 3-4 days without having bowel movements. Once he does feel the urge, he will go continously all day until he is too weak to eat or move, normally goes to bed. When he goes, it is only the size of a short pencil and may have to sit in the bathroom for an hour to do that. Any comments will be welcome, I just do not know what to do next because he will not go to the doctor.

Comments

  • pluckey
    pluckey Member Posts: 484 Member
    #2
    Farmgal,
    One of the most
    Farmgal,

    One of the most infuriating things about Post--cancer/Post treatment after cancer is the utter lack of information and follow up from the the people that treated us.

    On the last day of chemo, or the last scan or oncologist check up, no one sat me down and said, OK Peggy, here's some things you should be aware of ..

    - possible post chemo side effects
    - this is what your poop will look like/not look like/frequency

    anyway, given the way you described his output, reminds me of mine before i was diagnosed, so if that was happening to me, I'd want another scan/colonoscopy.

    HOWEVER, I think your husband should see either the surgeon or gastro doctor to get some kind of input on his situation.

    I also had a bag for six months and of course they say post reversal adjustment varies with us all.

    The alarm for me is when he had so much frequency that he turns weak....that's not right

    Good Luck and keep us posted

    Peggy
  • thxmiker
    thxmiker Member Posts: 1,278 Member
    #3
    Just an idea
    He may have a blockage at the anastomosis.
    Are his poops ribbon or much smaller in diameter then normal?
    Has he had his bacteria in the colon tested?

    These were both problems that I had. I lost 45lbs and had ribbon poop. Constipated then massive diarrhea.

    I had a blockage at the surgical site and c-dif bacteria infection. A colonoscopy will be able to tell if one has a blockage of the colon. (Not necessarily the small intestine.)

    Best Always!
    mike

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