So following up on my post in October ... turns out that my recent ileocolectomy has resulted in Bile Acid Malabsorption/Bile Acid Diarrhea. Along with moderating my fat intake, I have been on Questran Light (cholestyramine) for about a month, with a current dosage of 3/4 a packet twice a day (I tak...

thanks for the good thoughts, prayingforccr and stu ! I send my best to you, too. The constipation wound up resolving itself within a day or so, and now I'm back to trying to balance imodium/fiber to slow things down. Hemorrhoids have flared up something awful, but I saw my surgeon yesterday and he ...

Hi all, Hello! :) I'm back after being gone for quite some time, and even though I don't have cancer this time around, I thought of no better place to check in! I was around these parts a little over 10 years ago with Stage 2 rectal cancer. Successfully treated, though a lingering side effect was a ...

So sorry to hear about Eric's passing. I'm another person who hasn't posted in years, but occasionally check in... and I was always happy to see any posts from BrownBagger. When I checked in yesterday and saw the news, it took my breath away. He was always someone I admired and looked up to in terms...

Maybe there is something I am not consciously acknowledging when is comes to my cancer treatments? I think this is probably a very real possibility. I found that a fair portion of my psychological/emotional aversion to sex was that I just associated my whole body below the waist with discomfort/pai...

Hi Cherie, Coming out of lurk mode to post... Did your treatment actually send you into premature menopause? This is a very common side effect for women who've had radiation for colon cancer, as the lymph nodes that go into the colon are right next to the ovaries (at least this is how my radiation o...

Hi all, I'm replying to bump this up to see if anyone might have any experience on this score since I first posted this last year (after which I went mostly into lurk mode, but have been visiting and keeping up with at least some things around here!). My (chronic) fissure seems to have gotten lonely...

Hi BB, Coming out of *lurk* mode, as a long-time (chronic) fissure sufferer, to commiserate and also to offer the suggestion: see if your doc will prescribe diltiazem cream. The diltiazem helps promote healing, and it often comes with lidocaine to help bring down the pain a half-notch. It usually ha...

Yay, Bev! So happy and relieved for you! Rest easy and enjoy yourself!

Holly, thank you for posting here. My deepest condolences to you and your family, and to all of Terry's loved ones. Your mom had a big heart and shared so much, which is a wonderful legacy to leave behind. I'm so sorry for your loss and your grief. (And to Jaynee, too.) I send wishes for comfort and...

Dear Bev, I just saw this post and your update. I'm so sorry you've been through the mill these past days, but extremely relieved you are home and on the mend. Sending lots of love your way, plus every good wish for comfort and rest!

I just want to reiterate what others have said about consulting with your doctor(s) about appropriate supplements -- they really, truly can cause other side effects/complications or have interactions with other drugs that can be quite serious. (I have a bleeding condition, for example, and have to b...

When I find myself wanting to shout "Enough already - grow up" at a thread or poster - well, that takes up way too much energy. Hee hee... wise woman. Save your mental and physical energy for yourself. Gaelen, I'm also glad to read your update, and just want to tell you that I'm another p...

Great news! So happy to hear it. (And good luck with the disk issues.) Here's to many, many perfect days for long, happy rides.

Hi all, Saw my surgeon yesterday, and we're going to try medical treatment for another few weeks for this latest flare-up of my chronic fissure, but after that, we've decided to put the LIS surgery on the table. (He doesn't feel botox is reliable enough to be an option.) My understanding (which my d...