What would you all do if you were me? My CEA was 5.1 when I was diagnosed in May 2017, although that was my previous oncologist's scale before I switched to MSK so it may have been different. I had a 5 cm tumor in my rectum at that time, stage IIIA. I did radiation/chemo, had the tumor removed, did ...

Thanks Henry, that's interesting. I have to say, my cramps are not always predictable. I had bad cramps this morning, and I hadn't eaten since about 7 pm the night before - and this was around 8:30 or 9 am. I had to go to the bathroom when I got to the office. I had taken my Metamucil powder that mo...

Susan and Jachut, it's good to know that you both go through the same thing and that this isn't unusual. I was just out of town and tried Metamucil capsules, but those didn't seem to help much (although it may have been because I was eating more since I was on vacation). I'm back home and doing Meta...

I will try the psyllium husk powder or pills and see if that works. I will say that my stool is not watery, just slightly soft (although sometimes I get pellets). I really do think I just need to up my fiber intake to firm things up.

Oh thanks, I will try that! I took Metamucil today and had no cramps all day despite eating a lot. So presumably that would work.

For the past six months or so, I've been dealing with diarrhea-like cramps almost every time I eat something. Dr. Kemeny's NP told me it's probably soft stool and to take Metamucil to firm it up. I've been doing that, and I also take Imodium if the cramps are really bad. That usually works, but to b...

Thank you so much everyone! Very reassuring.

Thanks, this is helpful. I did have those procedures done before my reversal. But when my colorectal surgeon went to do my colonoscopy eight months later, there was something about the shape of my colon that made him stop. I’m going to have him speak directly to the GI doc who will perform my colono...

I am tentatively scheduled for my annual colonoscopy on September 16. I had a colonoscopy last October with my colorectal surgeon, but he couldn't get past the sigmoid area for fear of puncturing the colon because of its post-surgical shape. (I had a Low Anterior Resection in Sep 2017). So this upco...

Just checking in and so sorry to hear this. Karen was so helpful to me when I had my ileostomy. Karen, you selflessly helped others while dealing with your own pain - thank you.

Glad the surgery went well! I also had a slow time getting my appetite back. Make sure to walk as much as you can for a faster recovery. If you have muscle spasms in your abdomen like I did, ask for Ativan or Toradol if your kidney can handle it. It was the only thing that allowed me to get out of b...

My CEA was at 1.7 after my liver resection and is now at 4.7 after almost six months of chemo. Hoping to see it go down after my last treatment on April 10. It was 5.1 at diagnosis so I’m not even sure it’s a good indicator. It’s good to read posts like this!

I never trust that the nurse has the final answer. Definitely try to get an answer from Dr K herself.

You know I agree with you, hiker! Thanks for that message.

I think you will actually be good with either surgeon. My colon and rectal surgeon was more like the older one you describe (although he did it laparoscopically), while my liver surgeon was much more like the younger one. They both did an excellent job. Ask them both about litigation of the bowel du...