hey guys...
well, been a bad week. the long and short of it is the cancer has returned, near my cervix, and so the weekend was spent doing chemo.
the chemo they're giving me one of the side effects is diarrhea.
i wasn't sure how this was going to affect me and was hoping not much.
but my god! this weekend i had such horrible cramping and bloating if i even just put a bite in my mouth.
and everytime i intubated it was aaaalll liquid. it was so hard to keep drinking fluids. so i was uncomfortable and in pain, and also in fear of dehydration.
so...can i take something like lomotil with a kpouch?
has anyone had this problem?

Becca,
I am so sad to hear this.
When my output (with the end ileo) was watery, the docs suggested Imodium. You could call up to CC and ask if one works better. Try drinking Gatorade or something that will replenish your system with electrolytes....what am I telling you..your mom is a nurse
Let us know how you are doing

thanks les,
i've got like 5 jugs of gatorade in every flavor the problem is me actually getting em down.
i don't have a huge problem with nausea, just the day after, mildly.
but i guess it's that my stomach every minute or so is clutched by crippling cramps. and after a minute it'll die down, and i'm able to rest for a few min, and then it'll clutch me again.
today is the first day i have to be back at work after teh first treatment, and i'm not sure i can make it through the day like this.
i was thinking stuff like lomotil, doesn't it just sorta slow the digestive system? as opposed to bulk up output?
i'm waiting on a callback from my onc.
and yea, my moms on her way over with liquid immodium, though there's a fat chance i'll be able to stomach that.
you know dr. fazio isn't really seeing patients these days, right?
B

Hey Becca,

Sorry to hear you are having these problems. Unfortunately I dont have any answers for you other than what you probably thought of yourself (typical foods to thicken such as bananas, pancakes etc...). Though if you can't stomach them, then I have got nothing for you other than treatments we were on for UC.

Is Fazio not taking patients now or is he just not taking new patients? I have been meaning to call him but have been putting it off due to having a baby and stuff.

Mike S

see, that's the thing, i don't necessarily care bout the consistency of the output, it's the cramping that is killing me.
i am gonna take an immodium i guess. the question i keep asking is, that affects the motility, right? not the consistency?

(and as for Fazio, i'm pretty sure he isn't taking new patients, and i think existing patients he's just looking at records and refering. for now)

Hi Becca,

I'm really sorry to hear that your cancer has returned. To say that it's a bummer is a real understatement. I don't have any advice but just wanted to add my best wishes for a speedy resolve to this.

Take care.

Luv & Hugs

Shell

Becca
Dr. Remzi or Dr. Dietz should be able to help you at CC.
Both are experienced with Kocks.

Can the docs give you a muscle relaxer for the cramping?

yea, that's what his nurse said.

i am trying immodium now. so i dunno if that'll help. though i do have some percocet laying around. that could help too.

i'll wait and see if immodium does it. i'd sure like to eat

Hmmmmmmmmmm......I took and ate some 'nannas when my 'bout with the "D" was bad during Chemo, I had my temp ileo though not a K Pouch.

Take a couple of Immodium, see what that does (if anything), try a few more in like 3-4 hours after you take the first batch.

Wish I had a certain answer for you.

Becca
If you have a health food store try Stamina packets. Electrolyte, trace minerals, etc 49 cents each, mix with 4 oz water. Not like all the drinks with sugar. Been a saving grace for Chris.No need to drink alot and bloat, gatorade has way too much sugar which can cause watery output too. A heating pad for the cramping may help some.Sounds like a muscle relaxer for the spasms may be an option.

I am so sorry, my thoughts are with you.

My gastro just prescribe Bentyl for cramping...

Becca I am so sorry that you're having to go through this again. I agree that you should put a call into CC, I think if Dr. Fazio is available, he would speak to you and point you in the right direction.

I'm sending prayers your way.

janna

thank you all.
its certainly a rougher road than i remembered the last time. sheesh.
chemo sucks.

anywho, yea, my onc. called in a 'script for that bentyl (sp?) stuff for me today. I haven't gotten it yet.
but i do hope it helps. cuz the liquidy output has stopped, but the cramping is ridiculous. insanely ridiculous.

dr. fazio still hasn't weighed in

(oh, and holly, i'll be on the hunt for 'stamina' tomorrow, thanks)

Becca, I don't know if you really want to thicken the output and I have never used metamucil wafers but it's a thought. Won't help the cramping.
Take a hot bath too to relax the muscles. Did a heating pad help at all?
My thoughts are with you.