OH, geez....

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Patrusha
Patrusha Member Posts: 487
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hi all. Still lurking after all this time but I need my semis now! My last test was a CEA in January which was still less than 0, so that's good. But even with full blown cancer my CEA ws only 1.5. My only real symptom was diarrhea and that has returned. I did not have it after my surgery in July 2006. But now it's back every time I eat. Deja Vu! So I'll be calling my oncologist next week and asking -- actually asking! -- for a colonoscopy. My colonoscopy last July was clean as a whistle so I probably have nothing to worry about, but this diarrhea is no fun. Going on a couple of months now and I am sick of it. So sling up a few prayers for me when you lay down your heads at night, OK?

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  • Starleen
    Starleen Member Posts: 40 Member
    #2
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    Oh I bet you're a-ok. You had the surgery. That means smaller colon, lots of pooping. Some good weeks, some bad. I'm a year out and I have flare ups. I take Lomotil, and it really makes a difference. If you had another tumor, you'd be having trouble pooping, and that does not sound like the case. Your body has taken a beating.
  • rmap59
    rmap59 Member Posts: 266
    #3
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    Wow this could have almost been my post today. I had to leave church because of bowel issues. The difference is I am not afraid of a recurrance because I just had my colonoscopy 3 weeks ago and all clear except endrometrial thickening which is common after pelvic radiation. Anyway diarreah does get old so maybe some of the more experienced semis will chime in and give us some good advice. Good Luck to you and hopefully we can get this under control. Does lymotil help anyone else?? Do you take it everyday or just as needed??

    Robin
  • Patrusha
    Patrusha Member Posts: 487
    #4
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    rmap59 said:

    Wow this could have almost been my post today. I had to leave church because of bowel issues. The difference is I am not afraid of a recurrance because I just had my colonoscopy 3 weeks ago and all clear except endrometrial thickening which is common after pelvic radiation. Anyway diarreah does get old so maybe some of the more experienced semis will chime in and give us some good advice. Good Luck to you and hopefully we can get this under control. Does lymotil help anyone else?? Do you take it everyday or just as needed??

    Robin

    My surgery was 20 months ago and my bowel function returned to absolutely normal -- and I had been dealing with diarrhea for seven years off and on before that. My only symptom that I had that there was something wrong was constant diarrhea every time I ate. Once the surgery was done, the diarrhea stopped. It was like heaven. So now that it has returned is concerning. It's not like a little bit here or there. It is every single time I eat and it's been like this for weeks, not a couple of days. But I'll check it out. If it is not recurrent cancer I hope they can tell me what it is because I'm getting back to the level that I am afraid to eat anything unless I am very near a toilet. What a drag.
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #5
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    Have you thought about what you are eating? I came away from my treatment experience allergic to lactose (there are chewables to put back the lactase that is missing) and very sensitive to beef products. Might help to do a bit of eating diary....

    Good luck with the scope....I will be sending good thoughts....please keep us posted!

    Hugs, Kathi
  • Patrusha
    Patrusha Member Posts: 487
    #6
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    KathiM said:

    Have you thought about what you are eating? I came away from my treatment experience allergic to lactose (there are chewables to put back the lactase that is missing) and very sensitive to beef products. Might help to do a bit of eating diary....

    Good luck with the scope....I will be sending good thoughts....please keep us posted!

    Hugs, Kathi

    It doesn't appear to be any particular kind of food or spice or anything like that. And it is so odd that I was so "normal" for so long and then all of a sudden, boom, it's back. But hopefully it will be something like that and not the beast. I just hope it is something I can fix.
  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    #7
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    Starleen said:

    Oh I bet you're a-ok. You had the surgery. That means smaller colon, lots of pooping. Some good weeks, some bad. I'm a year out and I have flare ups. I take Lomotil, and it really makes a difference. If you had another tumor, you'd be having trouble pooping, and that does not sound like the case. Your body has taken a beating.

    Starleen, You said if you had trouble pooping, that might mean another tumor. Now I'm on high alert, because I'm really having trouble. Worry is my middle name! I've had 2 dreams about having chemo this week...
  • betina61
    betina61 Member Posts: 642 Member
    #8
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    Hi chemo buddy!!I'm sure is nothing serious,as you said you had your colonoscopy about 7 months ago and it was fine,the problem with all of us including me of course is that even if we think that we are very positive people in the back of our mind is always that other voice telling us "what if". Anyway I'm sure that you are going to be fine,I'll be waiting for your post letting us know the good news.
  • vinny3
    vinny3 Member Posts: 928 Member
    #9
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    Patrusha, have been wondering how you are doing. Having had the fairly recent colonoscopy is a good sign. You say your diet hasn't changed. Have there been any other things that have changed?- job, stress, etc. I'm thinking it is not the beast but it is good to check it out. Keep us informed.

    ****
  • Starleen
    Starleen Member Posts: 40 Member
    #10
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    tootsie1 said:

    Starleen, You said if you had trouble pooping, that might mean another tumor. Now I'm on high alert, because I'm really having trouble. Worry is my middle name! I've had 2 dreams about having chemo this week...

    If you are markedly having trouble on a daily basis-like you feel your bm's never get "finished" or hurt coming out or the stools are narrower, and above all, IF YOU SEE BLOOD, get to the doc, especially if pain persists even when you are not trying to poop. But diarrhea is very common to semicolons. Get the Lomotil. It helps a lot. It doesn't stop you up, it just slows things down so you go maybe 1 or 2 times a day versus 20 like I used to.
  • hopefulone
    hopefulone Member Posts: 1,043 Member
    #11
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    Prayers on the way! Keep the faith . God Bless

    Diane
  • Patrusha
    Patrusha Member Posts: 487
    #12
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    betina61 said:

    Hi chemo buddy!!I'm sure is nothing serious,as you said you had your colonoscopy about 7 months ago and it was fine,the problem with all of us including me of course is that even if we think that we are very positive people in the back of our mind is always that other voice telling us "what if". Anyway I'm sure that you are going to be fine,I'll be waiting for your post letting us know the good news.

    What if.... what if .... you are so right on that one, Betina! But I guess, given our histories, it is better safe than sorry to ask what if and check it out. Glad you're doing well!
  • Patrusha
    Patrusha Member Posts: 487
    #13
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    vinny3 said:

    Patrusha, have been wondering how you are doing. Having had the fairly recent colonoscopy is a good sign. You say your diet hasn't changed. Have there been any other things that have changed?- job, stress, etc. I'm thinking it is not the beast but it is good to check it out. Keep us informed.

    ****

    Well, now that you mention it, ****, my job has been pretty stressful the last couple of months. Maybe it is as simple as that, eh? I did call my onc today and left a message with the nurse but I haven't gotten a return call yet. Hopefully tomorrow. Hope you're still doing well.
  • Patrusha
    Patrusha Member Posts: 487
    #14
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    hopefulone said:

    Prayers on the way! Keep the faith . God Bless

    Diane

    THanks, Diane. I accept all prayers and good wishes! LOL! Can't get enough of those!

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