I know how you feel. Getting the port was a huge step for me, too. I was nervous until I finished that first infusion. On the upside, if it is a power port, you can use it for the IV contrast when you get a scan.

susie0915 wrote:I thought the pelvic floor therapy was very helpful. Did she tell you to get a squatty potty. I found that to be very helpful.

Yeah, she told me to get one or use a stack of books or shoe boxes at my first visit. I bought one for my master bathroom. I was amazed at how it helps open you up.

I had a very informative session with my pelvic physical therapist yesterday. She taught me the massage technique to help me have an emptying bowel movement, instead of clustering. It will take some practice to get it right, but I could tell it helped this morning.

Does the reversal surgery normally take four days in the hospital or is that due to the loop illeostomy? My surgeon told me beforehand that it is normally a 3 day stay, barring complications. I was there almost exactly 72 hours, even with the extra stuff that happened to me. Surgery was at noon on ...

In my experience, the fatigue from the radiation continued after I was done. Radiation keeps working for a while after the treatments are complete. Hopefully the nausea will subside now that you are done with the chemo. Keep your medical team informed of all your side effects, there are things they ...

Does the reversal surgery normally take four days in the hospital or is that due to the loop illeostomy? My surgeon told me beforehand that it is normally a 3 day stay, barring complications. I was there almost exactly 72 hours, even with the extra stuff that happened to me. Surgery was at noon on ...

I was married when I was diagnosed, though my husband was not supportive at all. He walked out shortly after my first chemo infusion. I have been alone with my two cats ever since. I had a hard time accepting help, too, but eventually I sucked it up and let my neighbors help me. The wife drove me to...

My insurance refused to let me use the pharmacy at my cancer center for my capecitabine. I had to use their selected mail order pharmacy. Even after my oncologist lowered my dose, they still sent the original amount of pills. I gave up trying to explain things to them.

Had my staples removed today. I feel much better after that. I made the mistake of eating chicken strips for dinner. I had an accident in my pants as soon as I finished eating. I'm still learning what foods do what to my system.

I had to force myself to eat. I scheduled my meals and set an alarm. Try adding calories where you can. Add butter to bread when making toast or a sandwich. Use the full fat versions of foods. My favorite go to was peanut butter toast, with butter on the bread before the peanut butter. When using mi...

I took a dose of Citrucel today and it seems to have done the job. I have now swung to the clustering side of things. I'm just glad I don't feel the need to strain anymore, that had me nervous so soon after surgery. I guess I just need to find a balance.

I have been keeping a diary of food and bowel movements since the first day. I'm eating the same foods, that's what has me so confused. I guess my intesines are still trying to figure out what they want to do.

I don't know what my bowels are doing. I started out after my reversal with the liquid lava, then moved on to several good days of semi-solid movements. The last two days I have pretty much been constipated. I am just eating and drinking normally, not taking anything. Has anybody been through this? ...

At the risk of jinxing myself, I am happy to report that I have started to get a handle on my bowel movements. I don't have a perfect system yet, but I am already noticing a major improvement in my quality of life. I was able to sleep the entire night last night without an accident, or even having t...

Trying to figure out if what is going on is normal. I was diagnosed with colorectal cancer with liver mets. I started chemo and radiation and finished 6 weeks of chemo and radiation on Jan 1st of this year. I am having so much pain in my hips, tissue around hip area that I am having trouble sleepin...