It was clear! No polyps and no cancer. He took a picture of my anastomosis and it looks really good. Next one in three years.

Tomorrow will be my first colonoscopy since diagnosis. I can't believe it has been a year already. The prep is very interesting with my new plumbing. I'm just glad I buy the economy size packages of diapers. My pelvic physical therapist warned me that my system will probably be out of whack for abou...

I don't want to jinx myself, but I have started having one bowel movement a day. They are well formed and a large volume. I never thought I would get to this point, especially so soon after my reversal.

My oncologist prescribed me gabapentin in January for my neuropathy. I need to have her increase the dose, because it is not working.

My return to work went well. I worked two 12 hour shifts, with no issues at all. I stocked the ladies locker room with all the supplies I might need, so I'm ready in the future. I was worried all the walking I have to do for my job would cause my colon to be too active, but that didn't happen.

My reversal surgery was not like the typical ones. Normally, they go in through the stoma to do the reversal. I was told the surgery would take about an hour, mine ended up being 3 hours. I woke up to a huge incision down my belly because I had so much scar tissue in my abdomen and my surgeon punche...

I know exactly how you feel. I was spiraling downward. With the help of my nurse navigator, I was put in contact with the oncology counselor at my cancer center. She has been helping me. She also set me up with a psychiatric nurse practitioner for medication. You may need to have a dose change on yo...

How much time have you taken off work? Has it mainly been to stabilize any bowel issues? I am nervous because my reversal is on March 12, and I have only requested one week off. Should I stay home the second week? I have a key hire to make and need to do some interviews, but am anxious that I won’t...

I am thrilled to report that yesterday I only went to the bathroom 6 times! I have noticed that I am going a larger volume in one sitting now that I use the massage. I hardly have any clustering. I am so excited! When I go back to work on the 22nd, I think I just might be able to handle this.

I don't know what my actual doses were, but my oxaliplatin dose was reduced twice during treatment due to side effects. My oncologist said that it is still effective, even at the reduced dose.

... No. The massage technique my pelvic physical therapist has me doing focuses on activating the ileocecal valve , then getting the "kinks out of the hose" by massaging the hepatic flexure toward the belly button, then the splenic flexure, and finally the sigmoid colon. My anatomy is a b...

Do they not have you continuing steroids after your infusion? My oncologist had me take steroids for the three days after each infusion to continue what the steroids they give as premeds were doing to prevent nausea. I only had to take my antinausea meds once during chemo, and I think that may have ...

Is your sheet of massage instructions something like this one? Abdominal massage for constipation https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/resources/patient-information/gi/abdominal-massage-for-constipation.pdf or this one? Abdomen self massage for constipation http://www.youtube.com/embed/N39GIWquhWg/?r...

Atoq wrote:

heiders33 wrote:I'm going to have to learn this massage technique!

Me too!

Claudia

PM me your email addresses and I will scan and send you the sheet she gave me detailing the massage.

The massage she taught me seems to be working. It will take a while to perfect the technique, but I am getting there. Yesterday I had a much larger movement than normal after I massaged. This morning, I started passing gas while massaging. I'm hoping I can eventually get to where I empty out complet...