First I'd like to say that I am so grateful to have found this forum. Even though I don't live in the UK [which is where I believe most forum members live] it is the only support forum I found online that is active and helpful. There are times when I feel so alone. Even though I received great news last month after my PET scan that all traces of cancer are gone, I'm left with a difficult recovery and the fear that I'll be living will nearly disabling longterm side effects. The radiation treatment included the lower part of my bowels and damaged them. That means that it will take even longer to reach some degree of healing and "new normal." I'm in the middle of my 4th month post treatment and still can't be more than a minute's dash to my bathroom. The only real progress is that most of the time I do make it to the bathroom, but sometimes I don't. Another bit of progress is that the diarrhea has nearly disappeared [gee but I hate diarrhea!] but I still "go" multiple times a day. Another bit of progress is I'm able to digest more different foods, like lettuce, but lately, as I experiment with food, I get this mucusy stuff that I find most creepy. I Googled it and it can be caused by food incompatibility. My indelicate question is whether anyone else has experienced this mucus? My challenge with it is that like diarrhea before, it is almost impossible to control and I'm back to having to use Depends. Even if COVID didn't invade the world and make life so complicated and isolating, I'd still be isolated at home anyway because of my utter dependence on my bathroom. Don't get me wrong, I am beyond grateful that the cancer is gone, but I'm now swimming in a pool of uncertainty as to what the rest of my life will be like. Treatment was brutal and now I'm beginning to see that, for me, it may prove to be life-altering. Anyway, thanks for listening.
Hi ,
Although I’m lucky enough not to suffer from the whole mucus thing I do sometimes get a little ‘leakage’ which is usually just a clearish liquid but as Liddyloo has said I know it’s happening as it makes my skin sore. Also as I’ve previously mentioned I do definitely think these reactions are food related & keeping a food diary is always good, document food eaten on a daily basis to begin with & any reactions suffered, just keep it in mind that the reaction can be from a day or two previously or immediate so sometimes it takes a little pinning down then as time goes on you’ll notice certain foods & certain reactions recurring & hey presto there’s a link. My reactions are similar to Liddyloos in that sugar has an immediate reaction on my digestive system & I definitely go to the loo more if I eat sugary stuff, I moved to dairy alternatives for my porridge etc., & lactose free milk for tea & coffee I also tend to eat goats cheese now instead of cheddar etc., as cows dairy is pretty inflammatory for me & the less inflammation we carry the less of these issues we suffer. To be honest I don’t do well with processed food in general now especially bread/pasta etc., this causes major bloating & pretty stinky gas! so I stick to mainly fresh foods now. You will find that things improve but unfortunately it’s sometimes a slow process plus it completely knocks your confidence! I didn’t suffer diarrhoea at all throughout but definitely the frequency thing was an issue for a while & remember planning any trip away from the house around toilet stops! If you can do this once you’ve been out & about a few times you’ll get your confidence back.
Nicola
P.S., I just love how everyone is so supportive on here.
