irrigation and chemotherapy

Hi and welcome to the group

Although not a member of this group myself, I noticed that your post had gone unanswered. It may be that no one in this group has the experience you're looking for or simply that they've not yet read your post. By replying it will bump it back to the top of the page where, hopefully, it'll be seen by someone with the right experience. I'm also going to tag my fellow Community Champion as she helps to look after this group and may be able to help you further.

If you don't get any replies you could post your question in ask a nurse and one of the specialist cancer nurses will aim to respond within 2 working days.

Best wishes with your upcoming treatment.

x

thank you so much for doing this xx

Hi

Welcome to the community and sorry I missed your post. 

Unfortunately, I don’t have any experience with this myself and after a quick internet search the only information I can find on irrigation and chemo is that you can usually start it once chemo is over. Seeing as you’ve been irrigating for such a long time, this seems to be a null point. 

I’m sorry I can’t help you more. As latchbrook mentions, you could post the question for a nurse on the site or speak to a stoma nurse at your local hospital. 

Please let us know how you get on and I hope your chemo goes well. 

Best wishes

thank you for replying Cassie x

Hi Stef

Side effects of chemotherapy include constipation and diarrhea and with the normal cycle of irrigation being between 24 and 48 hours there is a likelihood that you could be caught off guard and have output when you least expect it likewise you could experience constipation and be unaware of it.

As you are an experienced irrigator you will be fully aware of the need for the utmost high degree of hygiene when having your clean out.

But it's not only the chemotherapy you have be aware of you maybe given other drugs which could give you constipation and diarrhea and I would suggest that you discuss all your concerns with your stoma nurse at your next meeting but certainly raise it with your medical team as well as unfortunately doctors don't seem to take into consideration your other medical conditions when treating you and are only concerned on their own speciality.

Personally I think that providing you follow your normal standard if hygiene when irrigating and avoid any unnecessary contact with your poo it should be okay providing you keep an eye on other symptoms that you may experience. As I am belt and braces type of male I would consider wearing a pouch between irrigation days just to be on the safe side.

If you intend to use any medication to combat the symptoms make sure that there is no contradiction between them and the other medication including chemotherapy you take or are given.

This is a very interesting topic and I would appreciate you, if you have time, making a diary of your experiences and sharing with us by adding to this post.

I hope everything goes well with the treatment.

Ian

To the rest of the team and champs I know I'm not supposed to be here but my wife's gone out and didn't hide her tablet and while the wife's  away the Bodach will come out to play!!!!!

thank you Ian . I agree with all you say , I will wear a bag and of course ensure that everything is very clean. I cant see it being any worse than having to keep emptying bags, dealing with bursts/ leaks etc. I cant seem to get a definitive answer from the medics- everyone seems to differ. For my own sanity I am going to give it a go and see what happens. will up date the post as I go along- possibly add to my profile?