Just joined

Hi HelenJanet

Welcome to the club. Can't really be much help as I didn't have that problem during treatment. I have read on here though that some people follow something called the fodmap diet and another lady used to take a change of clothes with her. In the last week of my treatment I had a constant mucous avalanche and the hospital provided me with nappies to wear which wasn't great but at least I was safe as such. Keep counting the days down you will soon be out the other side. Xx

Bless ya... I just started the same treatment today, so can't offer much in the way of advice. I'm scared of these side affects creeping up on me too and have bought some incontinence pads as a 'just in case' so I can feel more secure when leaving the house... how soon did these troubles start for you? 

I hope the rest of your treatment flies by before you know it and that soon you'll be into the healing stage. It's a hell of a lot to go through, but we must and we will! 

Jenna xx

Thank you, the symptoms started last Thursday. The tablets work and over the weekend it was fine. Then upset again today. Yes, I,ve got pads etc. I need to be brave and go out prepared.

Started getting sore last week but hospital gave me cream and it helps. 

Medical staff have been brilliant.i hope your treatment  goes well

Thank you take care

Thank you,  it's lifting to here from others

Hi HelenJanet,

Welcome to the forum. 
It’s a tricky one isn’t it. My Oncologist recommended a very low fibre diet and cutting out most vegetables ( which was difficult as a vegetarian). I always had to be aware of where the nearest loo was. I didn’t generally eat prior to treatment other than some crackers.

I believe there is a card that you can get or print off that you can show to give you access to toilets. The Imodium can help and I also carried an emergency’ kit of change of clothing, wipes etc just in case. 

Wishing you all the best for week 3 - almost 1/2 way now. Xx

Thank you, I have prepared a out and about bag and will look at my diet .

Hello HelenJanet

A warm welcome to the forum, and well done, two weeks down - keep marking off those days!  I also had diarrhoea, I wasn't sure if it was the chemo or radiotherapy that caused it but like you I worried about getting caught short.  I took to wearing Tena incontinence briefs, I never did 'need' them but I felt a bit safer.

I am so pleased you have a responsive team, it makes such a difference.  Just be careful that if later in treatment they give you opioid drugs (co codamol, morphine) they cause constipation.  So especially when treatment ends, take a stool softener to keep your loo visits as comfortable as possible - the last thing you want to do is strain.

Best of luck in the coming weeks, we are here to support you however we can.

Irene xx

Hi HelenJanet ,

Another warm welcome from me to the MacMillan Online Community although I’m sorry to hear of your diagnosis & the need to face this treatment. I didn’t suffer from diarrhoea during treatment, swung completely the opposite way in fact! You’ve already received some great advice in the replies & I would reinforce keep taking the loperamide, stick to a low fibre ‘white’ diet & if it helps you feel a little more secure some incontinence pants, it would be worth asking at the hospital if they can advise on In continence products for bowel incontinence as they’ll differ slightly from ones for bladder incontinence. I hope the remainder of your treatment goes quickly & smoothly. 

Nicola 

Thank you I have purchased the relevant sanitary wear.

Helen

Thank you