Reversal Thread

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susie0915
Posts: 945
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Facebook Username: Susan DeGrazia Hostetter
Location: Michigan

Re: Reversal Thread

Postby susie0915 » Thu Sep 28, 2017 5:58 pm

I had a blockage 4 weeks after my resection. Nothing in the bag, no gas and pretty bad abdominal pain. I don't remember after reversal, as I had it reversed when I had surgery for the blockage, then got c diff in the hospital. So had to deal with that horrible uncontrollable diarrhea.

But I believe if you had a blockage, you would be having pain. Are you passing gas? That's a good sign of no blockage. The pain meds don't help either, they cause constipation. About a year ago I had some pain went to hospital and was constipated. Pretty embarrassing, but I was worried after going through a blockage once.

I'm sure if you had a blockage you wouldn't be passing gas and have pretty bad abdominal pain. Plus if you're not eating much you're not going to go much. Problem is we are now so tuned in to our bowels it's constantly on our minds. My gastro once told me the more I stress about it the worse it'll be. It's hard tho, I'm always so aware of my bottom.

Good luck, hopefully things will start moving soon.
58 yrs old Dx @ 55
5/15 DX T3N0MO
6/15 5 wks chemo/rad
7/15 sigmoidoscopy/only scar tissue left
8/15 PET scan NED
9/15 LAR
0/24 nodes
10/15 blockage. surgery,early ileo rev, c-diff inf :(
12/15 6 rds of xelox
5/16 CT lung scarring/inflammation
9/16 clear colonoscopy
4/17 C 4mm lung nod
10/17 pel/abd CT NED
11/17 CEA<.5
1/18 CT/Lung no change in 4mm nodule
5/18 CEA<.5, CT pel/abd/lung NED
11/18 CEA .6
5/19 CT NED, CEA <.5
10/19 Clear colonscopy
11/19 CEA <.5

Basil
Posts: 275
Joined: Thu Mar 16, 2017 12:33 pm

Re: Reversal Thread

Postby Basil » Thu Sep 28, 2017 7:52 pm

susie0915 wrote:I had a blockage 4 weeks after my resection. Nothing in the bag, no gas and pretty bad abdominal pain. I don't remember after reversal, as I had it reversed when I had surgery for the blockage, then got c diff in the hospital. So had to deal with that horrible uncontrollable diarrhea.

But I believe if you had a blockage, you would be having pain. Are you passing gas? That's a good sign of no blockage. The pain meds don't help either, they cause constipation. About a year ago I had some pain went to hospital and was constipated. Pretty embarrassing, but I was worried after going through a blockage once.

I'm sure if you had a blockage you wouldn't be passing gas and have pretty bad abdominal pain. Plus if you're not eating much you're not going to go much. Problem is we are now so tuned in to our bowels it's constantly on our minds. My gastro once told me the more I stress about it the worse it'll be. It's hard tho, I'm always so aware of my bottom.

Good luck, hopefully things will start moving soon.


Thank you! Am passing gas. Not a ton but some but I don't have a lot of food in my system. No abdominal pain whatsoever so I think I'm good. I will no doubt be back posting about clustering and urgency in short order. What fun journeys we lead!
40 y/o male (now 46), kids 11 & 14.
Dx 3/16/17, rectal cancer s3,t3,n1,m0
PROSPCT trial (FOLFOX in lieu of chemorad)
FOLFOX 4/5/17 - 6/26/17
LAR 7/31/17, temp ileo
pathological complete response
Adjuvant chemo cancelled (IDEA Study)
Ileo reversed 9/25/17
NED
1 year scans - clear
2 year scans - clear
3 year scans - clear
4 year scans - clear
5 year scans - clear (considered cured)

MissMolly
Posts: 645
Joined: Wed Jun 03, 2015 4:33 pm
Location: Portland, Ore

Re: Reversal Thread

Postby MissMolly » Thu Sep 28, 2017 9:16 pm

Basil:
The intestinal tract is often traumatized by surgery, including reversal surgery. The effect is a slowling of the neuromuscular coordination involved with paristalsis.

I know that you have had loose, watery stool the day after reversal and are now concerned by a lack of bowel movement.

You do want to keep they GI attract moving when taking narcotics for pain. But you want to avoid swinging the pendulum too far toward repeated diarrhea. Options:

1. 1/2 dose of milk of magnesia. Take 1 tablespoon with ample fluids.
2. 1/2 dose of Miralax. Take 1/2 cap with ample fluids.
3. 6 oz of warmed prune juice or PlumSmart (a prune juice cocktail drink).

Both MOM and Miralax are osmotic agents that nudge along a sluggish colon. Both can be taken safely after a reversal.

Repeat the 1/2 dose if you do not have results within 12 hours.

Avoid taking a harsh stimulant laxative (Sennacot or E-Lax).

Stool softeners are often inadequate. Stool softeners add water to the large intestine but without any kinetic or movement assistance. The result more than often that the stool sits in the lower sigmoid colon like heavily weighted cement. And sits. Without producing a bowel movement.

Simple yoga postures - especially those that have an element of torso rotation - can be helpful in massaging a slow colon to begin to move. And, of course, walking. The intestines are a long tube of smooth muscle and are stimulated and engaged by walking and exercise of skeletal muscles of the legs and lower abdomen.

It sounds as though your early recovery is progressing well. You are a champ. Best wishes in the days ahead,
Karen
Dear friend to Bella Piazza, former Colon Club member (NWGirl).
I have a permanent ileostomy and offer advice on living with an ostomy - in loving remembrance of Bella
I am on Palliative Care for broad endocrine failure + Addison's disease + osteonecrosis of both hips/jaw + immunosuppression. I live a simple life due to frail health.

Basil
Posts: 275
Joined: Thu Mar 16, 2017 12:33 pm

Re: Reversal Thread

Postby Basil » Thu Sep 28, 2017 9:27 pm

Well any low grade concern was misplaced. Had some solid food - pizza - and we're off and running.
40 y/o male (now 46), kids 11 & 14.
Dx 3/16/17, rectal cancer s3,t3,n1,m0
PROSPCT trial (FOLFOX in lieu of chemorad)
FOLFOX 4/5/17 - 6/26/17
LAR 7/31/17, temp ileo
pathological complete response
Adjuvant chemo cancelled (IDEA Study)
Ileo reversed 9/25/17
NED
1 year scans - clear
2 year scans - clear
3 year scans - clear
4 year scans - clear
5 year scans - clear (considered cured)

Basil
Posts: 275
Joined: Thu Mar 16, 2017 12:33 pm

Re: Reversal Thread

Postby Basil » Thu Sep 28, 2017 9:39 pm

I'm not taking anything and after 24 hours of calm silence it's coming in bursts. Oh well, to be expected.
40 y/o male (now 46), kids 11 & 14.
Dx 3/16/17, rectal cancer s3,t3,n1,m0
PROSPCT trial (FOLFOX in lieu of chemorad)
FOLFOX 4/5/17 - 6/26/17
LAR 7/31/17, temp ileo
pathological complete response
Adjuvant chemo cancelled (IDEA Study)
Ileo reversed 9/25/17
NED
1 year scans - clear
2 year scans - clear
3 year scans - clear
4 year scans - clear
5 year scans - clear (considered cured)

Basil
Posts: 275
Joined: Thu Mar 16, 2017 12:33 pm

Re: Reversal Thread

Postby Basil » Thu Sep 28, 2017 9:41 pm

I've been working steady for years and this is my longest reprieve by far. So it's still sorta nice.
40 y/o male (now 46), kids 11 & 14.
Dx 3/16/17, rectal cancer s3,t3,n1,m0
PROSPCT trial (FOLFOX in lieu of chemorad)
FOLFOX 4/5/17 - 6/26/17
LAR 7/31/17, temp ileo
pathological complete response
Adjuvant chemo cancelled (IDEA Study)
Ileo reversed 9/25/17
NED
1 year scans - clear
2 year scans - clear
3 year scans - clear
4 year scans - clear
5 year scans - clear (considered cured)

User avatar
susie0915
Posts: 945
Joined: Wed Aug 02, 2017 8:17 am
Facebook Username: Susan DeGrazia Hostetter
Location: Michigan

Re: Reversal Thread

Postby susie0915 » Fri Sep 29, 2017 7:38 am

Also, one of the tips from the MD Anderson bowel control program is drinking a hot liquid can sometimes can initiate a bowel movement. Just some information if you have issues in the future. Doesn't have to be tea or coffee, hot soup will work also. Good Luck, sounds like you're doing pretty well.

Susie
58 yrs old Dx @ 55
5/15 DX T3N0MO
6/15 5 wks chemo/rad
7/15 sigmoidoscopy/only scar tissue left
8/15 PET scan NED
9/15 LAR
0/24 nodes
10/15 blockage. surgery,early ileo rev, c-diff inf :(
12/15 6 rds of xelox
5/16 CT lung scarring/inflammation
9/16 clear colonoscopy
4/17 C 4mm lung nod
10/17 pel/abd CT NED
11/17 CEA<.5
1/18 CT/Lung no change in 4mm nodule
5/18 CEA<.5, CT pel/abd/lung NED
11/18 CEA .6
5/19 CT NED, CEA <.5
10/19 Clear colonscopy
11/19 CEA <.5

rockhound
Posts: 113
Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2017 5:00 pm

Re: Reversal Thread

Postby rockhound » Fri Sep 29, 2017 8:57 am

Basil wrote:Well any low grade concern was misplaced. Had some solid food - pizza - and we're off and running.


I could not resist pizza the other day either- it tasted so good and was the first food I've really been hungry for and eaten in any normal volume since my reversal last week. So great! No obvious effects either which is nice. Even with oxy I'm still having loose runny poops, which I guess is good?
45 yr old male
Diagnosed December 2016, age 41
Stage 1/IIA rectal cancer - T2/3N0M0 via MRI (MRI indicates stage 1; onc/surgeon = stage 2a)
Lynch syndrome, MSH6 mutation, MSI
2 to 3/2017 Xeloda + Radiation
5/10/17 - Robotic LAR with temp. loop illeostomy, 0/20 lymph nodes
6 to 7/2017 - Six cycles Folfox @ full strength
9/20/17 - Ileostomy takedown
10/17 - CT, NED
5/18 - CT, NED
11/18 - CT, NED
5/19 - CT, NED..moving to yearly CT scans
5/20 - CT, NED
5/21 - CT, NED (4 yr. scan)

Basil
Posts: 275
Joined: Thu Mar 16, 2017 12:33 pm

Re: Reversal Thread

Postby Basil » Sat Sep 30, 2017 7:40 am

Well, went to the bathroom twice yesterday. Otherwise, all silent and normal. No urges or emergencies. We'll note it as a good day and soldier on.
40 y/o male (now 46), kids 11 & 14.
Dx 3/16/17, rectal cancer s3,t3,n1,m0
PROSPCT trial (FOLFOX in lieu of chemorad)
FOLFOX 4/5/17 - 6/26/17
LAR 7/31/17, temp ileo
pathological complete response
Adjuvant chemo cancelled (IDEA Study)
Ileo reversed 9/25/17
NED
1 year scans - clear
2 year scans - clear
3 year scans - clear
4 year scans - clear
5 year scans - clear (considered cured)

tammylayne
Posts: 2177
Joined: Fri Jul 16, 2010 9:24 am

Re: Reversal Thread

Postby tammylayne » Sat Sep 30, 2017 9:28 am

:D
51 F
'06 Stage 1 CC,
'10 Stage 3 Rectal

"You never know how strong you are until you have to become your own hero."

Basil
Posts: 275
Joined: Thu Mar 16, 2017 12:33 pm

Re: Reversal Thread

Postby Basil » Sun Oct 01, 2017 6:55 pm

And nothing today. Had a couple of small BMs late last night. I can hear gurgling like normal but no output. Obviously no clustering or urges. Just . . . quiet. Not sure if this is a positive sign or there's a storm a brewin.
40 y/o male (now 46), kids 11 & 14.
Dx 3/16/17, rectal cancer s3,t3,n1,m0
PROSPCT trial (FOLFOX in lieu of chemorad)
FOLFOX 4/5/17 - 6/26/17
LAR 7/31/17, temp ileo
pathological complete response
Adjuvant chemo cancelled (IDEA Study)
Ileo reversed 9/25/17
NED
1 year scans - clear
2 year scans - clear
3 year scans - clear
4 year scans - clear
5 year scans - clear (considered cured)

Basil
Posts: 275
Joined: Thu Mar 16, 2017 12:33 pm

Re: Reversal Thread

Postby Basil » Wed Oct 04, 2017 6:34 pm

So Monday I got worried and took an enema in the morning. That cleared a lot out. Tuesday went three times, noon, five and midnight, with minor clustering. The midnight bout cleared everything out. Today, nothing, but all I've had to eat is a piece of toast. I took a fall yesterday and have had pain at the incision site so a hernia worry is in the back of my mind.

All and all, things have been very manageable so far. BMs are sometimes few and far between, and three has been my max. But, again, I'm eating very little. Still recovering from the reversal nine days ago.
40 y/o male (now 46), kids 11 & 14.
Dx 3/16/17, rectal cancer s3,t3,n1,m0
PROSPCT trial (FOLFOX in lieu of chemorad)
FOLFOX 4/5/17 - 6/26/17
LAR 7/31/17, temp ileo
pathological complete response
Adjuvant chemo cancelled (IDEA Study)
Ileo reversed 9/25/17
NED
1 year scans - clear
2 year scans - clear
3 year scans - clear
4 year scans - clear
5 year scans - clear (considered cured)

User avatar
susie0915
Posts: 945
Joined: Wed Aug 02, 2017 8:17 am
Facebook Username: Susan DeGrazia Hostetter
Location: Michigan

Re: Reversal Thread

Postby susie0915 » Wed Oct 04, 2017 6:38 pm

Sounds like things are going pretty well. Good news.
58 yrs old Dx @ 55
5/15 DX T3N0MO
6/15 5 wks chemo/rad
7/15 sigmoidoscopy/only scar tissue left
8/15 PET scan NED
9/15 LAR
0/24 nodes
10/15 blockage. surgery,early ileo rev, c-diff inf :(
12/15 6 rds of xelox
5/16 CT lung scarring/inflammation
9/16 clear colonoscopy
4/17 C 4mm lung nod
10/17 pel/abd CT NED
11/17 CEA<.5
1/18 CT/Lung no change in 4mm nodule
5/18 CEA<.5, CT pel/abd/lung NED
11/18 CEA .6
5/19 CT NED, CEA <.5
10/19 Clear colonscopy
11/19 CEA <.5

Basil
Posts: 275
Joined: Thu Mar 16, 2017 12:33 pm

Re: Reversal Thread

Postby Basil » Wed Oct 04, 2017 7:03 pm

And if anyone is checking this thread because they're anticipating reversal and have interest in another traveler's journey, let me know. I'm happy to update but won't do so if it's not going to help out anyone else.
40 y/o male (now 46), kids 11 & 14.
Dx 3/16/17, rectal cancer s3,t3,n1,m0
PROSPCT trial (FOLFOX in lieu of chemorad)
FOLFOX 4/5/17 - 6/26/17
LAR 7/31/17, temp ileo
pathological complete response
Adjuvant chemo cancelled (IDEA Study)
Ileo reversed 9/25/17
NED
1 year scans - clear
2 year scans - clear
3 year scans - clear
4 year scans - clear
5 year scans - clear (considered cured)

benben
Posts: 324
Joined: Fri Apr 28, 2017 3:18 pm
Location: Washington State

Re: Reversal Thread

Postby benben » Wed Oct 04, 2017 7:57 pm

Basil wrote:And if anyone is checking this thread because they're anticipating reversal and have interest in another traveler's journey, let me know. I'm happy to update but won't do so if it's not going to help out anyone else.


It's good to keep updating Basil.
If not for those currently, there may be folks in years to come that may gain from the information you share.
I know there are lots of threads from several years ago that I come across sometimes in a google search that I find relevant.

Keep progressing. Sounds like things are going quite well for you.

best wishes.
----------------------
3/29/17 diagnosed CRC - 44 y/o Male
4/17/17 ULAR - Straight anastomosis - no ostomy.
Path: low grade T3n1m0 - moderate diff.
KRAS - NO, MLH1/PMS2/MSH6/MSH2 - Normal.
5/3 med port install
5/22 folfox - first treatment.
3rd treat, delayed - low ANC - reduced to 90% OXI
zarxio all treats
Treat 7 - 75% OXI
Treats 8-12 - NO OXI, Luke & 5FU
10/20/17 CT- NED
3/18 Scope - Clean
11/8 PORT OUT!
7/22 CT - NED (5 years!)


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