Poo accidents

Hi there 

I’m not an expert in this.

Others will be along that have more info.

However I had a rectal growth and found food hard to process so I ate low fibre and very small meals three times a day with two meal supplement drinks twice a day.  It helped 

The runny output could be  more of an overspill in my case anyway but it may be really good to phone here. Phone the medics for advice 

Best wishes 

Thank you for your reply, I am finding this so difficult, I wish I knew what was normal (if there is a normal). Xxx

I agree with Artsie . I think you might want to ask his GP if you could be referred back to the colorectal team to make sure he isn’t blocked .

There are non invasive things like splints that can help .

But best to get the experts to have another look and assess him .

Court 

Thank you I will see if I can. When I tried to speak to the specialist nurse before she said they could not help. I need to go to the doctors and they may refer again. Hopefully they will. Xxx

He absolutely should be seen . Remember our helpline team can guide you in how to access his team . But a blocked bowel needs intervention and you could ask if they can guide you on knowing if his bowel is blocked and by passing or he is taking too much laxative but it needs proper assessment .

Take care ,

Court 

I’m in agreement with the others he needs proper medical attention. I went regularly without using laxatives, and when I did develop a small blockage it was picked up quickly. I had a temporary stent fitted to enable my surgeon to carry out my resection. He did have another surgeon who could’ve stepped in to perform the surgery if it had been necessary. I didn’t suffer from loose/runny motions, but have heard of others that have. I can completely understand why he wouldn’t have much of an appetite, but it’s so important to stay as fit and healthy as possible. Don’t try and manage this alone. That really is the job of the medical professionals. Sending you best wishes for a speedy solution.

Thank you everyone. By coincidence Barry had a review with his diabetic nurse today, when we got to the surgery he was weak and needed to use their wheelchair to get to the room. She took one look at him and said I think I will get the doctor to pop in I don’t like the look of your colour. He said he would look through all his notes and ring tomorrow. However he has since phoned and asked Barry to go back in tomorrow to have bloods taken and he is going to wait for results then possible re-refer him. 
He was surprised Barry had not been offered any treatment and even more surprised when he said for us to get in touch with our colorectal nurse and Barry said he had tried to speak to them but they said they could not help him as he was discharged. 
I feel so relieved that somebody is actually looking into how he is feeling at last. 
Thank you again 

Pauline.

Good for his Diabetes nurse to take action, & hopefully that the doctor will intervene & take some action now.

However, I am really surprised to hear that the Colorectal nurse could not give advice in this situation -'because he is discharged.'

4 years down the line (after being diagnosed with bowel cancer,) I can still access my Colorectal team & get advice on the phone at any time - should I need it..

Best wishes to you both

Marian

Hi Marian. The doctor was surprised too.. when Barry was diagnosed they said they would not do any treatment due to his other health problems. He was discharged into the hands of the local hospice for palliative care. When Barry phoned to ask a question he was told that he was discharged and to ask his hospice nurse. The hospice nurses are lovely and they do mornings when you can go for coffee and things like that but when I said we have no idea of the stage of the cancer or if anything is changing they said they have no knowledge either so we really still have no idea of staging etc and any medical matters etc have to be dealt with by the doctor. 
Pauline xxx

I think that it might be helpful for you, if you start writing down notes - as to everything you have experienced thus far.

When you say doctor - do you mean your local GP? as obviously he won't be able to answer those questions. It would have to be the person that did a Colonoscopy, or an Oncologist (that you might have been referred to, or a surgeon.)

Being passed on to a Hospice (without gaining any knowledge of where the cancer is/ whether it has spread,) seems too sudden  & imo, you need some concrete answers right now.

I hope you get them.

Marianne x