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Re: Did anyone ever decide to go back to ileostomy after reversal

Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2019 5:48 am
by Rikimaroo
Thanks my brother swirdfish appreciate that feedback. I am here in Tampa Florida today to get a second opinion at Moffitt Cancer center just to cover all bases.

Folfiri is tougher then folfox I feel. My docs at Cleveland clinic here in Fl wanted to do more chemo to shrink the pelvic recurrence even more or possibly eradicate it but my thing is if that last four rounds shrunk it by half I prefer to get that sucker cut out. We also spoke to my surgeon at CC and he said surgery is an option but wants me to have surgery with intraoperative radiation which they do not have at CC Weston only Ohio has it. So they suggested Moffitt which has it.

So here I am went to bed at around 11:30 am and clustered the entire night didn’t get a lick of sleep. I blame it on eating La Brasa the beans you add to your rice cause I have been gassy as hell farting all night which also burns my ass!! I even popped three Imodium total. I think it’s finally stopped but still busting some farts which honestly I hate because not as fun like before alll this. I would recommend avoiding beans folks that have had reversal

Anyways that’s my update of my journey so far. Hoping they say stop chemo let’s plan on surgery chemo really sucks it’s absolutely necessary evil for sure.

Re: Did anyone ever decide to go back to ileostomy after reversal

Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2019 6:51 am
by NHMike
Rikimaroo wrote:Thanks my brother swirdfish appreciate that feedback. I am here in Tampa Florida today to get a second opinion at Moffitt Cancer center just to cover all bases.

Folfiri is tougher then folfox I feel. My docs at Cleveland clinic here in Fl wanted to do more chemo to shrink the pelvic recurrence even more or possibly eradicate it but my thing is if that last four rounds shrunk it by half I prefer to get that sucker cut out. We also spoke to my surgeon at CC and he said surgery is an option but wants me to have surgery with intraoperative radiation which they do not have at CC Weston only Ohio has it. So they suggested Moffitt which has it.

So here I am went to bed at around 11:30 am and clustered the entire night didn’t get a lick of sleep. I blame it on eating La Brasa the beans you add to your rice cause I have been gassy as hell farting all night which also burns my ass!! I even popped three Imodium total. I think it’s finally stopped but still busting some farts which honestly I hate because not as fun like before alll this. I would recommend avoiding beans folks that have had reversal

Anyways that’s my update of my journey so far. Hoping they say stop chemo let’s plan on surgery chemo really sucks it’s absolutely necessary evil for sure.


I can understand why they want as much chemo as possible as it makes the surgeon's job easier. Before chemo I just wanted them to cut the tumor out and didn't understand why no surgeon would do it. But after learning that it shrunk over 90% I understood that it would make the surgery a lot easier (it was already a tough surgery even with the shrinkage) and that it could mean less loss of function. More chemo makes their life easier. The intraoperative radiation is interesting; I've never heard of it.

The clustering that you've gone through - I think that we've all gone through things like that. I will have a burrito from time to time but it definitely gets gassy. It's too bad because beans are so healthy. I haven't taken an Imodium since the obstruction back in December and am hoping that the Nopalina improves things a lot. I think that some combination of Nopalina, Miralax and Imodium can work for me as I've seen it works for others.

I hope that you can get some rest. My approach is to fast for two days and that will definitely provide a bathroom break.

Re: Did anyone ever decide to go back to ileostomy after reversal

Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2019 9:33 am
by Rikimaroo
Well Moffitt Cancer Center did not have intraoperative radiation LOL, even though there website said it. I guess the possible surgery is pelvic exenteration if the chemo doesn't kill this and see what the next step is. I am not doing that surgery, I rather die.

Right now its just finish two more rounds of folfire and keep and eye on things. The pelvic tumor shrunk by half so I am assuming it might get killed with this chemo or I can do maintenance chemo, I don't know. Will keep you guys posted, on a good note cea 1.9 :) which has been a good indicator for me.

Re: Did anyone ever decide to go back to ileostomy after reversal

Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2019 11:08 am
by NHMike
Good to hear your CEA number. You’ve really been up there in the past.

Re: Did anyone ever decide to go back to ileostomy after reversal

Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2019 12:26 pm
by Rikimaroo
Thanks Buddy. I get so negative sometimes because this is all so frustrating. It's one damn tumor can't they just poke a needle into it and kill it. Cancer is so stupid.

Re: Did anyone ever decide to go back to ileostomy after reversal

Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2019 1:47 pm
by stu
Great CEA . Chemo is doing a great job . Who would blame you for feeling a bit down when your still on chemo .

Here’s to it obliterating it for good .
Stu

Re: Did anyone ever decide to go back to ileostomy after reversal

Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2019 10:21 pm
by Punky44
Happy for your low CEA!

Re: Did anyone ever decide to go back to ileostomy after reversal

Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2019 5:51 pm
by Swirdfish
Rikimaroo wrote:Thanks my brother swirdfish appreciate that feedback. I am here in Tampa Florida today to get a second opinion at Moffitt Cancer center just to cover all bases.

Folfiri is tougher then folfox I feel. My docs at Cleveland clinic here in Fl wanted to do more chemo to shrink the pelvic recurrence even more or possibly eradicate it but my thing is if that last four rounds shrunk it by half I prefer to get that sucker cut out. We also spoke to my surgeon at CC and he said surgery is an option but wants me to have surgery with intraoperative radiation which they do not have at CC Weston only Ohio has it. So they suggested Moffitt which has it.

So here I am went to bed at around 11:30 am and clustered the entire night didn’t get a lick of sleep. I blame it on eating La Brasa the beans you add to your rice cause I have been gassy as hell farting all night which also burns my ass!! I even popped three Imodium total. I think it’s finally stopped but still busting some farts which honestly I hate because not as fun like before alll this. I would recommend avoiding beans folks that have had reversal

Anyways that’s my update of my journey so far. Hoping they say stop chemo let’s plan on surgery chemo really sucks it’s absolutely necessary evil for sure.


Keep your head up high bro you will get through this, and life will be back to normal.Even 6 - 8 months out is I believe still early stages on reversal, and from my experience I still had a lot of issues. It will get better as time goes by, but generally I have issues usually first thing in the morning. As soon as you eat, this awakens your bowels, and yes I have a bad urge to go up to x3 times. Then the rest of the day is somewhat normal, but u do frequent to toilet more due to less storage. It does come down to food, you will have to experiment. I do a lot of gym, so lots of protein shakes. This gives me issues. But generally I can live with it. Im over 2 years out, and I can say its annoying at times, but I can live with this happily. Also does chemo affect stools? I though chemo can give you the runs sometimes, I guess it depends which chemo regime your on.

Wish you will brother. Stay strong.

Re: Did anyone ever decide to go back to ileostomy after reversal

Posted: Fri Jul 05, 2019 12:35 pm
by Rikimaroo
Just a quick update. I am taking a minor break from chemo, until July 22nd when I get my next pet scan. I just did a FOLFIRI treatment Wednesday June 26th. So I should be fine. Doc is cool with the break, its been hard, the nausea, taste bud loss, makes everything so difficult. Enjoying life sucks when on chemo....Pooping seems to be fine, I go maybe 2 times a day, but it really depends on what I eat. I have to avoid BEANS. It causes alot of gas and clustering from what I have found. Yesterday I had 2 bowel movements, first one I spent like 40 minutes on the toilet, then the 2nd one came about 20 minutes after the first one and it was a major blowout. I know when I am going to have a blowout because my my abdomen starts to churn like your going to have diarrhea.

Had a nice Fourth with the family. God Bless all my friends on here, lets kick cancers butt.

Re: Did anyone ever decide to go back to ileostomy after reversal

Posted: Fri Jul 05, 2019 1:11 pm
by NHMike
Rikimaroo wrote:Just a quick update. I am taking a minor break from chemo, until July 22nd when I get my next pet scan. I just did a FOLFIRI treatment Wednesday June 26th. So I should be fine. Doc is cool with the break, its been hard, the nausea, taste bud loss, makes everything so difficult. Enjoying life sucks when on chemo....Pooping seems to be fine, I go maybe 2 times a day, but it really depends on what I eat. I have to avoid BEANS. It causes alot of gas and clustering from what I have found. Yesterday I had 2 bowel movements, first one I spent like 40 minutes on the toilet, then the 2nd one came about 20 minutes after the first one and it was a major blowout. I know when I am going to have a blowout because my my abdomen starts to churn like your going to have diarrhea.

Had a nice Fourth with the family. God Bless all my friends on here, lets kick cancers butt.


When you wrote 40 minutes, I thought that wasn’t so bad.

Hard to imagine life without beans.

Re: Did anyone ever decide to go back to ileostomy after reversal

Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2019 6:12 pm
by Rikimaroo
Haha right Mike. I love beans with my Spanish food :(, oh well, don't want to cluster anymore. Things have been going better. I pooped once today it was kind of a blowout. But I stay on the toilet for at least 40 minutes to make sure everything comes out. I took a Lomotil/atropine right after.

I hope this cancer goes away I have scans on July 22nd. Will see how things look. I need to find a place in florida that does intraoperative radiation if this thing is still in my pelvic. I really need that for a chance to cure.

Re: Did anyone ever decide to go back to ileostomy after reversal

Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2019 10:22 pm
by Rikimaroo
Hello All,

Another update. So I got my pet scan on Monday and it came back that the pelvic recurrent tumor shrunk even more and they think surgery is a possibly. So Doctors are meeting on Monday Tumor Board to discuss my case. I am hoping and praying that I can get the surgery to get this damn thing out of here, and maybe do some mop up chemo and once and for all be free of this disease.

Re: Did anyone ever decide to go back to ileostomy after reversal

Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2019 3:03 am
by stu
Just delighted to hear that .

Such good words to hear !

Stu

Re: Did anyone ever decide to go back to ileostomy after reversal

Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2019 6:41 am
by NHMike
Rikimaroo wrote:Hello All,

Another update. So I got my pet scan on Monday and it came back that the pelvic recurrent tumor shrunk even more and they think surgery is a possibly. So Doctors are meeting on Monday Tumor Board to discuss my case. I am hoping and praying that I can get the surgery to get this damn thing out of here, and maybe do some mop up chemo and once and for all be free of this disease.


Good to hear when treatment is doing its job.

Nobody likes a parasite.

Re: Did anyone ever decide to go back to ileostomy after reversal

Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2019 9:16 am
by Rikimaroo
Update - So currently the pelvic recurrence based on MRI states lesion with Fibrotic Signal. Typically that means dying tissue, or nothing. However Cleveland Clinic here in Weston is referring me to the CC in Ohio and I spoke to there Dr. Scott Steele. He suggested I do surgery with Intraoperative Radiation. He has done this numerous times and one of the leading experts in ColoRectal Surgery with IORT. We spoke on the 20th and he said if I want to wait for my next Pet Scan to review everything that is fine while they try to work out with insurance to get it approved for me to go there.

Today he called me and said that they thoroughly reviewed my data since when he called me he didn't get to review it thoroughly i guess at the Tumor Board meeting. He said that there is a new growth by the anastomosis and he said that I definitely need an operation and to think this will just go away is fallacy. He said he doesn't care where I do the surgery but he wanted to make sure I am clear on the situation.

My question to you guys here is why didn't the CC Weston Doctors see this? How could they miss such a thing. Currently my CEA is 1.5 and I am going to wait until October 1st for Pet Scan then review again and make a decision that month about operation. I want to do whatever it takes, but to get different results from both sites really frustrates and confuses me on if this is a ploy to get me to do surgery (I don't think so, but the mind wonders) or just CC Weston are not as good as reading scans as CC Ohio.

My action plan as of right now is to wait for Pet Scan then make a decision in October. What do you guys think? The other thing is insurance. They would require me to pay 50% up front. I am not sure how much this all is, but either way I think waiting 1 month is not going to cause that much damage since my CEA is 1.5 and have been a great indicator. So right now these things could be benign or nothing. I am surprise they don't suggest let's do a biopsy first.

Rikimaroo