Aweful week and today green mucousy poo!

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dpatter03
dpatter03 Member Posts: 23
edited May 2015 in Anal Cancer #1

 This has been a horrible week.   My last day of radiation was last Friday, May 22th.   I went to stay with my brother because my neice was graduating.  I peood mucous all weekend.   Monday I was constipated...with pink blood in stools.  On Tuesday took a dose of Miralax along with am and pm stool softener.  Wednesday started having diarreah.   Had one instance where I couldn't get to bathroom fast enough and pood my pants 3 ft from bathroom.   Huge mess.   Thursday I had to take my Mom to outpatient surgery in the city...Missed toilet once...cleaned up my pants...went to store to new pants.   Barely made it to bathroom in store.   Then, when I thought the coast was clear, I realized I had to urgently go and was miles away from the bathroom.   All I could do was stand there and pooh.   I waddled to bathroom and begged a store associate to help.   She used my charge card and bought another pair of pants and brought them to me along with wet paper towels and trash bag.   Three extra large BMs in 2 days.   Stopped by my oncology office to get blood drawn...another quick bm...only it is green this time.    The Oncologist has not gotten back to me yet.

 

I am so humbled, embarrased, frustrated, and feel like I will never be able to go out in public.   What's with the green pooh?   I also have increased anal pain.   This is aweful.   Any advice?

Thanks.

diarrhea queen.

Edit:   Corrected end of treatment date

 

Comments

  • RoseC
    RoseC Member Posts: 559
    #2
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    I'm sorry

    I don't have any valuable advice for you except for 'give it time' but I just want you to know that you're not alone. It's awful. I feel so bad for you. My thoughts are with you. Stay close to a bathroom for a while. Never mind what you think you 'need' to do in the way of family or life - this is a time where you need to think of yourself. Do NOT feel degraded because these thing are happening. It is NOT your fault.

  • dpatter03
    dpatter03 Member Posts: 23
    #3
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    RoseC said:

    I'm sorry

    I don't have any valuable advice for you except for 'give it time' but I just want you to know that you're not alone. It's awful. I feel so bad for you. My thoughts are with you. Stay close to a bathroom for a while. Never mind what you think you 'need' to do in the way of family or life - this is a time where you need to think of yourself. Do NOT feel degraded because these thing are happening. It is NOT your fault.

    Thanks.   This seems like the

    Thanks.   This seems like the most humiliating thing ever, but I guess I do have to realize I don't have control over much...You are so right...keep bathrooms close.   It's so hard.   I took my mom to the city to have surgery this morning.  After she was in recovery, I thought I could stop by the local discount store to get supplies she would need after surgery, and Wamooo.   I want my normal life back  :)

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #4
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    dpatter03

    I'm very sorry this happened to you.  You are not the first and won't be the last, but I know that is of little comfort.  I had tremendous urgency right after treatment and had a few accidents.  I talked to my radiation oncologist about it and he said I could take Imodium daily without any harm.  I would suggest you ask your doctor if that would be okay in your case.  The dose can be adjusted as you figure out how your bowels will respond to it.  If the Imodium doesn't work, then prescription Lomotil would probably be my next suggestion.  Also, watch carefully what you eat and keep a food journal.  This will allow you to determine what foods cause you problems and what ones are tolerable.  You also may need to follow a low-residue diet for a short time to slow down your bowels.  Do an internet search and you'll find all kinds of information about this type of diet.  I had to follow that regimen for awhile after I had a bowel obstruction.

    I guess my last suggestion is to just get some Depends to wear until your bowels settle down.  IMO, wearing those would not be as bad as having accidents when out in public.  I also found that going to the toilet often and trying to eliminate anything that might be in my rectum saved me from some urgency and potential accidents.

    Things will get better, really they will.  You are so soon out of treatment and perhaps your bowels just need more time to recover from the radiation blast they took.  I wish you all the best with your recovery--better days are ahead.

    Martha

  • Lorikat
    Lorikat Member Posts: 681 Member
    #5
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    been there, done that, still

    been there, done that, still do once in awhile!  One time I was sitting in my car and the dam broke!  Pants full of poo right down my pant legs!  Then there was getting from car to house!  First time I really appreciated leather car seats!

    I always carry a "whatever happens bag".  Extra everything.  I am eating low carb, without lettuce or other greens and it's better.

    that said, I am so proud of you for being out and about!  I was at least two months before I could get away from the house....    

    remember the "whatever happens" bag!  And don't take on more than you NEED to be handling.....  Ask for help....

  • Ouch_Ouch_Ouch
    Ouch_Ouch_Ouch Member Posts: 508 Member
    #6
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    I'm with mp327 and Lorikat.

    My last radiation zap was July 9th, 2014. My pocketbook continues to double as a diaper bag. (I may never be able to carry a tiny purse again.)  I carry extra underpants, wash cloths, Comfort Cream Barrier Cloths, Always "Discreet Bladder Protection" underwear pads (absorbant and extra long to accomodate poos), and an empty 2 gallon Zip Lock bag to hold the too-used items. If I travel a long way, I choose routes with lots of potential rest stops and stop frequently as prophylaxis and bring an extra pair of jeans with me.

    I only recently phased out the low-residue diet because of increasing episodes of formed stools. I see-saw back and forth on a dime now between loose and firm. It's a balancing act titrating between Senekot and Immodium. I didn't travel far for a long time, but will now. But I take several doses of immodium before I ever get into the car. Hard stools hurt like blazes, but loose stools hurt like blazes AND come with that sense of hyper-urgency and anguish.

    You just finished treatment - things may never be the same for you again, but it will get better over time. It's a matter of developing patience. Boo! Patience!

  • Ouch_Ouch_Ouch
    Ouch_Ouch_Ouch Member Posts: 508 Member
    #7
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    Ouch_Ouch_Ouch said:

    I'm with mp327 and Lorikat.

    My last radiation zap was July 9th, 2014. My pocketbook continues to double as a diaper bag. (I may never be able to carry a tiny purse again.)  I carry extra underpants, wash cloths, Comfort Cream Barrier Cloths, Always "Discreet Bladder Protection" underwear pads (absorbant and extra long to accomodate poos), and an empty 2 gallon Zip Lock bag to hold the too-used items. If I travel a long way, I choose routes with lots of potential rest stops and stop frequently as prophylaxis and bring an extra pair of jeans with me.

    I only recently phased out the low-residue diet because of increasing episodes of formed stools. I see-saw back and forth on a dime now between loose and firm. It's a balancing act titrating between Senekot and Immodium. I didn't travel far for a long time, but will now. But I take several doses of immodium before I ever get into the car. Hard stools hurt like blazes, but loose stools hurt like blazes AND come with that sense of hyper-urgency and anguish.

    You just finished treatment - things may never be the same for you again, but it will get better over time. It's a matter of developing patience. Boo! Patience!

    Addendum.

    By the way, I use the liquid Immodium. That makes it easier to titrate the dose depending on the situation du jour. For example, if at home without a trip planned, I take 1/2 dose or 3/4 dose. If traveling or have an appointment or go shopping, I can take 1-1/4 or 1-1/2 doses if that seems better. You won't confuse the taste for a dark chocolate milk shake, but it's tolerable.

  • mxperry220
    mxperry220 Member Posts: 493 Member
    #8
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    For the First Two Years

    For the first two years I made sure I was never far from a bathroom no matter where I went.  Mornings have been more of a challenge for me.  I am almost 6 1/2 years post treatment and still make sure my "business" is taken care of before venturing out. You may be overcommiting at this time.

    Mike

  • dpatter03
    dpatter03 Member Posts: 23
    #9
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    Thank you all for your

    Thank you all for your support.   I like the Just in Case Bag.   Guess what?   I just went to ALASKA!  Went with family and stayed with family and stayed for 8 days.   Had 1 accident and only 2 meltdowns.  It is so great to be home and I an't beleive how tired I am.  I can't beleive I did that.  I am really tired and it is hard to realize that.

     

  • pializ
    pializ Member Posts: 508 Member
    #10
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    dpatter03 said:

    Thank you all for your

    Thank you all for your support.   I like the Just in Case Bag.   Guess what?   I just went to ALASKA!  Went with family and stayed with family and stayed for 8 days.   Had 1 accident and only 2 meltdowns.  It is so great to be home and I an't beleive how tired I am.  I can't beleive I did that.  I am really tired and it is hard to realize that.

     

    Dpatter03

    great news! Sounds like you are on the right path & recovering. Your bathroom habits may never be as they were before treatment, but they certainly keep on improving for some time. I finished treatment 28 months ago, and I would say that it levelled out about 12 months ago, but certainly less problematic after about a month. 

    Best wishes for a continued recovery and clear follow up

    Liz

  • dpatter03
    dpatter03 Member Posts: 23
    #11
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    pializ said:

    Dpatter03

    great news! Sounds like you are on the right path & recovering. Your bathroom habits may never be as they were before treatment, but they certainly keep on improving for some time. I finished treatment 28 months ago, and I would say that it levelled out about 12 months ago, but certainly less problematic after about a month. 

    Best wishes for a continued recovery and clear follow up

    Liz

    Thanks for your words of

    Thanks for your words of encouragement.   I can't believe how helpful everyone has been!

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