Lingering Diarrhea?

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crikklekay
Posts: 142
Joined: Thu Feb 15, 2018 9:47 am
Location: Richmond, VA

Lingering Diarrhea?

Postby crikklekay » Mon Apr 08, 2019 9:35 pm

My husband had his ostomy take down back in October and other than watching a couple of numbers he’s been doing okay. A little over a week ago we both came down with some sort of intestinal bug and while we both got better his diarrhea is still lingering. No fever, bloating, pain etc just mild diarrhea and gas. He went to the regular doctor today and they mentioned wanting to get an x-ray to rule out a blockage, which didn’t even cross my mind.

Has anyone else post-op had lingering diarrhea issues? He’s going back in for an X-ray and fecal tests but I wasn’t sure if this might just be a “normal” problem for post surgery/post chemo people?
Caring for DH John
Stage IIIC, Lymph nodes: 6/22
Chemo: FOLFOX (6)
12/17 ER and emergency surgery
02/18 Hospital w/MSSA infected port, PICC line inserted, chest CT scan showed septic emboli & blood clots
03/18 Hospital w/CDIFF
08/18 CT Scan Clear, NEMD
2018/2019/2021 Colonoscopy Clear
2019/2020/2021/2022 CT Scan Clear
2021 PET scan & MRI show one spot on liver
08/21 Liver surgery to remove spot, confirmed mCRC. Now Stage IV
09/21 Start Folfiri + Avastin
03/22 CEA Rise, continuing chemo

Pyro
Posts: 305
Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2015 7:40 pm
Location: Tucson, AZ

Re: Lingering Diarrhea?

Postby Pyro » Tue Apr 09, 2019 11:27 am

Not me, I’m just glad when I can go! I haven’t been, and won’t be, hooked back up though. What is NEMD? (Signature)
Aug 2015- Stage 4 CC with liver Mets(38/m)
Sep 2015- Avastin/Folfox/Iron
Dec 2015-Not liver surgery candidate
Jan 2016- Erbitux/Folfiri, 2nd opinion at MDA in TX
Feb 2016 -MDA liver surgery
Mar 2016 -30% of left lobe rem, PVE
May 2016 - 70% of liver rem
Jun 2016-Rad
Jan 2017-perm colost @MDA
Jul 2017-Erb/FOLFURI
Nov 2017 -Lung & Liver ablations@MDA
Jan 2018 -Xeloda & Avastin mx
Jul 2018-Avast/FOLFURI
Sep 2018-Rad
Mar 2019 - Keytruda fail
Jun 2019 - FOLFURI
Aug 2019 - No more, quality time!

crikklekay
Posts: 142
Joined: Thu Feb 15, 2018 9:47 am
Location: Richmond, VA

Re: Lingering Diarrhea?

Postby crikklekay » Tue Apr 09, 2019 11:47 am

NEMD is apparently a fancy way of saying NED: "No Evidence of Metastatic Disease" It's what they listed on his last CT Scan so I put it that way in my signature.

John had a horrible ostomy experience, retracted AND it shrunk down to only 11 mm in diameter. He leaked constantly as no product really fit. When he went in to be reconnected he was happy as a clam, I was the one worried sick haha. I know that life after resection can mean changes from what we thought as "normal" bowel habits before. Like how we found out he can no longer handle eating a whole bunch of junk food at a party, he was horribly bloated for a day or two after and gave me a scare. He also knows now that wings will give him bloating and diarrhea when they didn't before. I'm hoping his gut is just extra sensitive and needs an extra push after the stomach bug to get it back to normal. But I'm worried it means bowel blockage due to adhesions or that something else sinister is going on. At this point I'd almost welcome a c diff diagnosis, at least that can be taken care of at home with some antibiotics. If he has to go back in for more abdominal surgery I don't know what we'd do, he'd most likely lose his job and health insurance as he's new and isn't protected by FMLA. Too many things running through my brain, too much reading Dr. Google! That's why I thought I'd check here to see if anyone had something similar happen to them.
Caring for DH John
Stage IIIC, Lymph nodes: 6/22
Chemo: FOLFOX (6)
12/17 ER and emergency surgery
02/18 Hospital w/MSSA infected port, PICC line inserted, chest CT scan showed septic emboli & blood clots
03/18 Hospital w/CDIFF
08/18 CT Scan Clear, NEMD
2018/2019/2021 Colonoscopy Clear
2019/2020/2021/2022 CT Scan Clear
2021 PET scan & MRI show one spot on liver
08/21 Liver surgery to remove spot, confirmed mCRC. Now Stage IV
09/21 Start Folfiri + Avastin
03/22 CEA Rise, continuing chemo

Bob_Weiss
Posts: 743
Joined: Sun Apr 11, 2010 11:23 am
Location: Brooklyn, NY

Re: Lingering Diarrhea?

Postby Bob_Weiss » Wed Apr 10, 2019 9:27 am

I had rectal surgery 9+ years ago, and still get occasional diarrhea. Although it has improved over the years, my bowel movements never returned to normal. By manipulating my diet and taking some OTC medications occasionally, things are sufficiently under control to lead a 'near normal' life.
Stage 3 R/C -1 node+ ( 7/09)
5 wks radiation, 2 wks chemo: 5FU (8-9/09)
Rectal surgery: tumor removal (11/09)
10 rounds Xeloda: 3000mg/daily 1 wk on/1 wk off (1/10-6/10)
Supplements: Aspirin, Calcium, Vit. D3
03/27/17: 7+ yrs. since surgery--still NED

User avatar
WriterGirl1969
Posts: 524
Joined: Sat Mar 05, 2016 3:48 pm
Location: Central NY

Re: Lingering Diarrhea?

Postby WriterGirl1969 » Thu Apr 11, 2019 10:42 pm

I'm 3 years post surgery and still have trouble with diarrhea. I try to manage with diet, and supplement with Immodium as needed.
DX 3/4/2016 Colon Cancer; age 46 Mom of then 4-yr-old
Stage IIIB: T3N1M0
3/31/16 Surgery
4 to 10/2016: Xeloda Monotherapy
CEA: 10/16 0.56, 1/17 0.54
CT CLEAR: 3/6/17; 4/17/18; 4/16/19
NED 3 years
“If I can help somebody as I walk along, then my living shall not be in vain.”

Gravelyguy
Posts: 382
Joined: Thu Jul 05, 2018 6:03 pm

Re: Lingering Diarrhea?

Postby Gravelyguy » Fri Apr 12, 2019 4:30 am

I think any changes, like the flu, can set out new bowels off. I was doing pretty well but then had gallbladder surgery and it took a week to get things back on track.

I have had a lot of success taking a good probiotic at higher than minimum doses. My theory is that our new smaller colons have had enough trauma and need all the help they can get. I had reversal last June so am a little farther ahead and it has continued to get better.

Hope this helps,

Dave
6/17 dx mRC t3n1m1 very low rectal tumor 2 liver Mets 1.3 cm and .9 cm

6/17 begin 4 rounds Folfox w/Vectibix
9/17 short course radiation
10/17 rectal and liver resection LAR with coloanal anastomosis (no rectum left)
11/17-3/18 8 rounds Folfox
6/18 still NED!! Takedown
8/28/18 still NED! CEA .8 new low for me
10/18/18 colonoscopy clear
12/12/18 CEA .9 still NED!
6/11/19 CEA 1.0
12/19/19 CEA 1.0 still NED!
6/17/20 CEA 1.1 still NED!
12/15/20 CEA 1.1still NED!
12/16/21 CEA 1.2 still NED!


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