Post Op Stoma & Radiotherapy

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Hello everyone

My mother-in-law has rectal cancer and had a stoma fitted in October, followed quite quickly with 5 sessions of radiotherapy. She’s 86 and is so tired and is really struggling to sleep. She also says that her stoma only fills during the night, not during the day, so she has to get up 2/3 times a night. She also has minimal appetite and seems to be loosing weight quickly.

Just after any advice please. I have contacted her colorectal nurse and asked for a call back but I’m really worried that she’s not coping.

I’m also interested in hearing about any additional support there might be for her. She does live with her husband but he is 87 and finding the whole thing very stressful.

Thanks

Kareno62 over 1 year ago

Hi Emma_S23 and I’m sorry to hear that your mother in law is struggling so much. Having a stoma must be a big adjustment for her and I lost weight with mine and sometimes felt like food was just going through me too quickly? Mine was also a night owl and I used to stagger to the toilet with 1 eye open to empty it then back to bed - I think the longest I ever went was 4 hours. So things to try

Eating her main meal at lunchtime then nothing after 6pm

Does she use loperamide? Check with her stoma nurse but this can slow the output down and thicken it up too. Could she wear larger bags on a night maybe?

Get extra calories in where you can? Her doctor can prescribe calorie loaded drinks - theyre about the size of a bottle of actimel but have 200 cals in. Add cream and cheese to mash potato. M & S do a range of little meals for 1 that she could pop in the microwave. Fish finger sandwich with mayonnaise is a favourite of 1 of the ladies on here. I’ve attached a link to a post with some ideas for low fibre foods below

Low Residue Diet

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/impacts-of-cancer/building-up-diet

Lastly please give the support desk a ring on the number below and they will be able to advise you about any additional support that might be available?

Hope this helps and take care

Karen x

Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm