MORE POST-TREATMENT ISSUES

Sorry to hear about the bloating - I've not experienced that.  I have had pain in the sit bones though and can't sit on a hard chair for more than 5 minutes.  All chairs must have a cushion. It has eased a bit the last week but I can certainly understand the need to lie down!

Carole x

I haven't experienced the bloating (or not much- or at least not unless I've binged on ice cream) but the sitting......oh yeah, at 6 months out I was still not able to sit for long. If I had to take a long car drive, I needed the next day off at least to lie down and recover. 

Have you tried a good old fashioned gas pill? During the last few weeks of treatment and first 2 months after I had to take Bean-O all the time1

Hugs

Suz

Hi Suz, thanks for your good wishes. I don't think we have Bean-O here, but have been taking Buscopan for several weeks now, no difference. I might go into the pharmacy and ask the pharmacist about it. Speaking of sitting, when we had to go down to the hospital, I had to lie in the back all the time, just couldn't sit in the front. Hope you're sitting better now. Much love B Xx

Jester

I am 15 months out of treatment and I still get bloating - not to the extent that I look pregnant but puffy; and added to that an urge that totally confuses me, I don't know whether I need to go or just pass wind and it is nearly always wind.  I am watching this thread with interest as I am going to get an over-the-counter remedy this week.  It may well be one of my foods but as I don't want to have to watch what I eat (one of life's pleasures!) I will see how I get on taking something for it.  Apparently Rennie do one called 'Deflatine'!!!

I still can't sit for very long periods on a hard chair, I just don't have much padding there and combined with the general hip ache that goes with the territory I find myself stiffening up and have to move to a sofa or armchair.  But I am much better that I was at six months out, so that definitely improves.  You might find it useful carrying a seat pad when you go out.  I also sit on an homemade soft pad in the car, I made it out of bits of an old duvet and it helps make journeys more bearable.

You are doing well too, taking your dogs out, I love my walks with Rosie!

Irene xx

Hello Irene, thank you for this really helpful reply. I'm exactly the same regarding the same sensation a lot, whether it's wind or needing to go is very confusing, but it just feels as if I need to go most of the time. The soreness is still pretty bad and I'm so glad I refused to have the camera procedure under a general anaesthetic because as Suz told me, it would have made things unbearable and I don't want to go back to that. I'll be interested to hear how you get on with some OTC remedy for the bloating, I thought I'd ask the pharmacist tomorrow. I've been taking Buscopan for a few weeks, but no improvement at all. s There's also something called Wind-Eze which I thought I'd have a look at, but will talk to the pharmacist about both the Deflatine & Wind-Eze. As you say, food is one of life's pleasures we can still enjoy so don't want to start watching what I eat.

The sitting issue is difficult, because it's one of the things everyone takes for granted, but I simply can't sit for long, even with my proper ring cushion. I suppose we're putting our entire weight on the nerves that have been damaged and they don't like it. I've never been able to sit on hard chairs - I have no covering at all on my rear end. I never go out without my ring cushion. But I've found a lovely soft sponge chair pad which I've got in the car and I can drive quite happily now for short distances.

Thank you for all the support and advice you've given me over the months, and all the other ladies too, where would we all be without eachother? Take care and let me know how you get on with the wind meds. With love Bee Xx

Hi, I can’t comment on the treatment as I haven’t had mine yet but I have struggled with bloating and trapped wind for years with Crohn’s Disease. I have found the best way to help get rid of it is peppermint capsules (the tea and cordial didn’t really help me). They sell them at Tesco in the pharmacy section and Boots, smaller pharmacies near me didn’t stock them. I hope you get some relief soon!

Hello Mrs KS. Thank you for your kind suggestion. Do you mean Colpermin, or just plain peppermint capsules? I'm hoping to go to the pharmacy today and will ask. Bee

Hi Jester ,

I’ve suffered bloating to differing degrees pre & post treatment, generally diet related, I’ve found activated charcoal capsules are good they’re one of the only things that give me relief, I’ve tried peppermint capsules too but the activated charcoal seems to suit me better. Just something else that would be worth a try, I buy mine from Amazon.

Nicola 

Hi Nicola, I've got some charcoal capsules, I'll give them a try. It's strange because today I'm not too bad, don't feel so bloated and look less pregnant! (at 75). I took 6 prunes in apple juice last night, and expected to be worse, but I'm not. All very strange this journey we're all on. Bee x

Hi jester I I took six prunes in juice in one day I would definitely be on the toilet five or six times a day! I am two years on and I goes to show all our digestive systems are different to a certain extent. If I haven’t consumed enough veg in that day and think I will have a problem I will have a teaspoon of black strap molasses in a glass of warm water before bed. I wish I could eat more prunes as I am told they are really good for osteoporosis. Early days I resorted to windeze but I was put on the FODMAP diet which cut out problems with wind. I find cheese one of the culprits