Help with incontinence

tallorder5793
tallorder5793 Member Posts: 67
in Anal Cancer #1

Following radiation treatment in March, I experienced a few months of IBS-type symptoms, including incontinence. It had been healing through late June and early July. Now, after going back to chemotherapy, I've been experiencing symptoms all over again. Earlier this morning, after going out for a walk, I had a sudden urge and soiled myself. Not fun.

I wonder what other people have experienced... and what you did to improve symptoms.

I take a pro-biotic pill, eat well, and exercise. What else?

Comments

  • Phoebesnow
    Phoebesnow Member Posts: 600 Member
    #2
    Incontinence

    I try to eat an hour or more before leaving The house.   If I know I'm going to be out for a long time, I don't eat. Trial and rror and this is what works best for me. It will be five years on 12/8.  I hate the unexpected.  LOL!

  • GoodDog2
    GoodDog2 Member Posts: 22 Member
    #3
    Incontinence

    I watch my diet, which for me means cooked vegetable rather than raw, no dairy, and a daily fiber supplement. 

    My gastroenterologist also has me on hyoscyamine, which I take 60-30 minutes before each big meal. It's an antispasmodic.

    Rectal surgeon had me on huge short term dose of vitamin A and A&D around anal area to help heal that area.

    All or one of those things seems to have helped. Although I still carry and extra pair of underwear for insurance.

  • nicotianna
    nicotianna Member Posts: 209
    #4
    Help with incontinence

    I try not to go out of the house until I have had a bm.  I pretty much know the offenders but like to eat veggies.  I am reluctant to wear bulky pads or diapers.  I use "always" panty liners which provide some minor protection of my underwear & minor protection.  They are sticky one entire side & totally disguised.  If I am traveling farther from home.  I put an extra one on the outside of my panties & maybe another in the crotch of my slacks.  I also carry emergency supplies if I am not close to home.  Hope this info is not too basic:)

    Nic

  • tallorder5793
    tallorder5793 Member Posts: 67
    #5
    Thanks for info.

    I will look into anti-spasmodic, mentioned above.

  • mxperry220
    mxperry220 Member Posts: 493 Member
    #6
    Immodium

    I am 6 1/2 years out of treatment.  I was diagnosed with Stage 2 anal cancer.  I still take 2 immodium daily as well as a probiotic.  Unfortunately frequent BMs are a side effect of this treatment.  I do not have diarrhea but have several BMs daily.  I try to have no morning obligations.  Afternoons are not as much of an inconvenience as mornings.

    Mike

  • TraceyUSA
    TraceyUSA Member Posts: 316
    #7
    Psyllium seed

    I recently tried psyllium at the suggestion of my radiology oncologist and some members on this site. 

    I had frequency & urgency issues and I still do but the psyllium helped to get it under control.   I have gottlen lazy lately and have not been taking it.

    I used 1 tsp. psyllium in 2 oz. of water after breakfast and waited for an hour to drink anything else. 

  • lolow
    lolow Member Posts: 12
    #8
    Have you tried calcium?

    I put this under the mucous discussion as well. Calcium can cause constipation for some folks who don't have anal cancer... For me, it really helped with the incontinence/mucuous discharge. Like others, I wear the liners and try to take my dog for a morning walk after the morning bm.

    I also like to walk at work with co-workers. We go in the parking structure. The advantage is when I'm having a bad day, I can quickly get to a bathroom.

    Have any of you tried pelvic floor physical therapy? Or kegels? I did the PT for a month. I learned a lot. Mostly how to relax the pelvic floor. After radiation, everything is so tight. The way the therapist described it is that we have more power to control from a completely relaxed state versus an already contracted muscle. Not sure I'm explaining it very well but it did help a bit as well. I haven't had as many out-of-control accidents.

     

    Good luck to all of you,

    Linda

  • nicotianna
    nicotianna Member Posts: 209
    #9
    help with incontinence

    i also had involunary stools w/chemo after the emend and zofran wore off. a dietician recommended the brat diet (bananas, rice, applesauce and toast).  it works!

    nic 

  • cbokay
    cbokay Member Posts: 21 Member
    #10
    tallorder5793

    I'm going on two years NED in December for Stage 2 squamous cell cancer.  The cancer was found October 2, 2013 and the rest of that year was filled with various procedures that would move me along for the treatment with chemo and radiation.  I don't remember much about last year. (2014)  The treatment really did something strange to my memory and energy metabolism.  It also brought on unexpected changes in my bowel movements.  And I do remember the need to wear diapers and pads every day, with several changes throughout the day. 

    I'll interject right here to add that I watch my diet, too.  And I started back on supplements with my doctor's approval. And I tried the Kegel Pelvic exercises but it didn't work because of the level of my condition at the time.  Apparently the healing body has its own time budget.

    I really don't understand how new anal cancer survivors can get by without wearing diapers to bed or out in public.  I stopped using diapers maybe 2-3 months ago.  And I started wearing them circa October 2013. That's how long it has taken me to get semi-normal BM's.  I still have mistakes but not as often.  And now I mostly use the long pads (size & length of the maternity pads).  I have two different sizes of pads I use daily: the maternity type I wear around the house and sometimes to the store (if I'm wearing clothes that don't show the pad).  And the 2nd size is shorter and doesn't show under outerwear.  I tried a variety of panty liners and menstrual pads but none of them gave me the coverage and security I needed.  And I feel the need to say, I have never been embarrassed about wearing protection for incontinence; moreover, I'm just happy I'm not dead.

    I realize that everyone's body reacts differently to treatment for anal cancer but I have a tendency to believe everyone has loose BM mistakes that come on suddenly, sometimes without our knowledge.  I hope I'm not being too forward about all this but I really believe in what I'm saying.  I'm living it.  And I've learned that it just takes time. 

    Many blessings to you and may you have a speedy recovery.  Jesus loves you and so do I.

    CB

  • 0626june
    0626june Member Posts: 73
    #11
    tallorder

    I think it helpsa bit  to know that you're not alone with this. Many of us are constantantly concerned about this problem.  Timing is everything and some days are just worse than others.  I'm 16 months post-treatment and the queen of the panti-liners. Organic Psyllium really does help.  This is such an unfortunate side effect of the treatment. Sorry you're going through this. Keep up the nutrition, supplements and exercise. 

  • Paris75
    Paris75 Member Posts: 6
    edited December 2016 #12
    nicotianna said:

    help with incontinence

    i also had involunary stools w/chemo after the emend and zofran wore off. a dietician recommended the brat diet (bananas, rice, applesauce and toast).  it works!

    nic 

    help with incontinence

    It's true that the BRAT diet works, but if you stay on it too long you will be malnourished, not to mention so bored with your food that the sight of rice makes you want to vomit! (It's been many months for me, and some of the people writing in with these problems had their treatment years ago, yet still have problems with incontinence. You can't stay on a BRAT diet for years.

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