colon cancer

Hi VonB and a warm welcome to the board. I’m not sure what operation you had but this sounds like LARS (low anterior resection syndrome) and the frequent toilet trips are called clustering. You could google this as I’m not allowed to list links to sites not authorised by macmillan? 
I can totally relate to how you feel as I have the same after my evening meal - rumblings and grumbling then multiple trips to the toilet. I’ve no magic cure I’m afraid but here a few tips

Take your loperamide about 30 minutes before your meal. Try to have several small meals a day rather than a big evening meal. Do not drink during your meal. Practice anail sphincter exercises to enable you to control the urge to go until you’re near a toilet. As you’ve had some of your colon removed you’ll find that food moves through more quickly meaning that less water is absorbed resulting in loose stools. Loperamide slows this down so if you need to take 8 a day then do, 

Ive attached some links below which may be helpful?

https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_types/bowel-colon-rectum-cancer-forum/f/general/232375/regaining-bowel-control

https://bowelcancerorguk.s3.amazonaws.com/Publications/Bowel_Cancer_UK_Regaining_Bowel_Control.pdf

I hope some of these help

Take care

Karen x

 VonB Something else that could be worth reading up on to see if it fits your situation is acid bile absorption?

Thank you for the thought but my problem is that the very  little colon I have left isn't doing it's job, therefore creating painful  gas and bloating, 

Thank you for your reply I found the video's very interesting. I had a very large part of my large colon removed they thought I might have to have a stoma but they managed without doing so. I don't think I am taking enough of the Loperamide so will try going back to taking more I was trying to wean myself off of them as I thought that was the way to go. The reason being my local doctors don't seem to like prescribing them to me. I also eat a lot of vegetables as I thought that was the healthiest thing to do, so maybe a few less of them. Anyway thank you so much for the video's and if things do not improve I will get in touch with the medical team numbers given to me by the hospital I just didn't want to be a nuisance to them.

Glad you found the video helpful. It might be worth keeping a food diary to see if there are any triggers although I must admit it’s not really helped me. I order my own loperamide online so I always have a good amount in stock x

I had left and right colon removed left with just 20 cms of colon now.

After second op was warned that going to toilet would be 10 times a day, was prescribed loperamide and codeine had some control but had to keep upping the dosage, lots of issues going to toilet actually got constipation at one point which caused a large cut in my rectum, the pain unbearable even morphine struggled to control it.

Southampton hospital set up a special after care clinic to deal with these issues which was amazing, they got the cut repaired with special creams, then they took me off loperamide and codeine took away all the creams and said that these were the problems.

They put me on a special white diet with very little fibre and put me on a tablet colesevelam 6 tablets a day.

This has changed my life going to toilet 3-4 times a day with plenty of warning when I need to go.

They warned me yes my toilet would be loose and always would be but to keep healthy drink plenty of water every day and would you believe eat two bananas a day.

Hope this helps

It's quite something adjusting isn't it? I am only a week post op but certainly couldn't leave the house currently! As soon as I eat have to dash to toilet. Luckily am OK overnight.  Had a right hemicolectomy so I guess the water absorption is all off. I ate loads of vegetables and salads and pulses before, keeping it pretty low fibre currently but it's still bad.

Hopefully the bowel nurse will ring and I can tap into some help.x

I realize you don't have a stoma, but look up recommended foods for slowing output from a stoma. They may help you... applesauce, bananas, smooth peanut butter, marshmallows are some. Many of these lists also tell you what foods may make it worse. 

I ended up with a colonostomy which has really been a blessing. Ive also struggled with watery output that can come on quite suddenly. Fortunately the bag gives me time to find a toilet. I'd be a complete mess if I had to go the usual way. 

I'll admit I've had no luck slowing my output either with foods or loperamide. But these things work for some people.  It's worth a try.