Struggling with daily bowel movements

[Slug]

Just wondering if anyone else has issues with bowel movements.
My wife finished her chemo in November of 2011, and since then has had on and off again issues with her bowel movements. It always seems that she struggles to have a bowel movement. She now takes stool softeners as well as something (lactalose, I think) to help her have a bowel movement

It is the same story almost everyday. Struggling to have that movement, and until she does, she feels miserable
She has tried fibre, prunes, warm water, coffee, etc

Last visit she had with her onc, the onc said maybe the anastomosis site is where the issue may be, but her last colonoscopy did not show any issues there
She said something like maybe the site has constricted a bit and perhaps preventing the stool moving through as easily as it should

If anyone has any ideas, I would love to hear some to help her with her movements

[SMR]

I'm sorry I don't have much advice... My husband has similar issues. When he stays really hydrated, and eats daily prunes it does seem to ease up a bit. In a pinch he will use a suppository to get things going. Hope others have better advice.

[orcasres]

My normal after chemo has been once every two days. Occasionally it is daily and sometimes it takes even longer. Once I accepted that normal I was much more comfortable. I always had problems being regular, and ever since I had my first child in 1983 I was a daily Metamucil user. During chemo it nauseated me and I looked for other options. With the blessing of my onc and PCP I use Senna and stool softeners daily. But I really think that accepting that this will be an every two day "event" has been the most helpful for me.

[Jachut]

I had a permanent colostomy done yesterday for this reason. We dont know exactly why - a defecating proctogram showed a small prolapse and a very rigid, non ditensible pouch and best guess is tht as the pouch fills, it pushes on the fold of prolapsed pouch and completely blocks the outlet. I too felt miserable with needing to go 24/7 and had to use an enema every day - which caused cramping, pain and nausea. I saw several top surgeons who were all at somewhat of a loss.

Now im not suggesting a colostomy but a defecating proctogram showed up a problem not visible via colonoscopy, ct or dgital exam.

[Sunwaterandsky]

I have a similar problem. I used to have frequent, fairly loose bowel movements. Now, I am experiencing regular constipation for the first time in my life. My anastomosis looks good, apparently. My surgeon says that it is possible that I have some nerve damage from the surgery that is causing slower transition time. He doesn't seem too worried and I am beginning to adjust to the new normal.

Sws

[MitchellVII]

I am now 5 years NED and I typically go 3 to 5 days without a bowel movement. Have tried all of the standard remedies and nothing seems to help consistently. The one thing that does work is that every Sunday I do a BIG dose of Miralax. Next day I have a massive crap and all better. Not optimal but keeps anything more serious from happening.

[lorrainem]

Same here. I've struggled since 2007 upon diagnosis. I have no answer as only trial and error can help me on any particular day. My life is as full as it can be; I prepare with Immodium as necessary and suffer the consequences after. It's still better than not leaving the house; which is always an option.
Please continue to try all and every suggestion you receive, there are options out there and each one works on a case by case basis but you are definitely not alone. CRC is the gift that keeps on giving no matter what stage or how far along you are.
Peace.

[O Stoma Mia]

...
If anyone has any ideas, I would love to hear some to help her with her movements

Here's a link to a leaflet that might provide some help in this area: http://www.stmarkshospital.org.uk/uploads/content/BraceExercise.pdf

[pog451]

Everybody has their cross to bear...

A week out from my last (planned) Folfox +Avastin I would be overjoyed to get down to once an hour :-/

Are you trying psyllium? It works supposedly in both ways - both as a loosener and a tightener (as it were)

[sadysue]

I am in the same club. Everything was ok up until two months ago. Very stressful time selling my home and moving over 800 miles. Things have not improved and I have tried so many things to correct my situation to no avail. So the next thing I will try are fleet repositories an keeping my fingers crossed.

[teacher49]

After finally recoverying from resection.....I've had no further obstructions or big problems in regularity. Occasionally if I am traveling/stress/ irregular meals etc. I have had few episodes of what I felt to be a little slowness of transit. That makes you feel pretty lethargic. My go to relief is: shallow hot/warm bath for 15/20 min. and then grab the big heated towel and I do a sort of belly dance with towel, and use vigorous rubbing to dry pelvis, butt, and perianal area.......THIS IS NOT MEANT to be sexual stimulation GI specialists recommend it for stimulating the GI system.

I also take 2 fiber capsules every morning.....Citrucel. No blockages ever. But then I have a colostomy and life is pretty regular with that. But I can sometimes eat something that doesn't like my shortened colon such as more than one piece of thick crust pizza Too much bulk. That is when I take a bath and vigorous dry and the peristalsis gets jump started.

Good Luck and I hope you hit on a combination that works for you.

[MitchellVII]

I don't know whether this is healthy or not but I take one big dose of Miralax every Saturday, poop like a maniac on Sunday and I'm cleaned out for the week. Tried taking a single dose every day but that never did a thing. Only the Saturday quad-dose seems to have the desired effect.

Oh well, such is the glamorous life of a CRC survivor.

[tammylayne]

My first year after reversal was ok,,,,about a 6 out of 10. Then things started to go downhill for me...until this past April when I would say I was about a 3 out of 10. Nothing for a day or 2, then 20 - 30 episodes. I couldn't go anywhere in the evening, then it started happening during the day. At the blessing of my surgeon I started doing a daily enema. It takes me 30 minutes and I am done till the next day. I had a rough patch a week ago, but everything is back to normal. It is easier for me than how things were, I have my life back.

Daily enema is not for everyone, just like immodium doesn't work for everyone, extra fiber doesn't work for everyone, diet changes don't work for eeryone....My point is that you need to find what works for you. There is no right or wrong, it is not about success being only one way. I feel my reversal IS successful, just different. And I am ok with that.

Good luck!!

[Jachut]

I think one thing o remember though - everyone has (most helpful) tips and tricks that they have but nothing is ever the same as nature intended, although it can be liveable and not too difficult. Try everything but dont blame yourself. I know at the back of my mind always was the thought that if i could just stick o this program or that Id solve all my issues and i was blaming myself - everybit as insidious and dysfunctional as we women tend to be over eating and our weight. It was a real problem for me.