My husband is three weeks post-op and has been at home for 10 days. At first all went well and his digestive system was behaving pretty normally, but he's had a problem these last few days. Yesterday and the day before, around 4pm, he's had to dash to the loo. He'd had a different lunch each day and the only common factor on both days seemed to be this occurring about an hour after having an Altraplen energy drink (prescribed by his GP).
Thinking maybe a whole one was too much for his system to handle, this morning he had just half a drink, but there was a similar outcome. He'd only had porridge for breakfast, which he has every day.
It has been extremely hot lately, which he's struggled with (and he's not been sleeping well) but it's considerably cooler today so we think maybe that wasn't a factor - it had been hot for several days before this problem arose. Could it be the drinks causing this? Prior to getting Altraplen from the GP he's been having Complan every day, since he started losing weight during chemo, and he was fine with that.
This has been a bit of a setback when he seemed to be doing so well. Any thoughts or advice will be gratefully received.
Hi Supportingrole, I'm Tony one of the Community Champions, whilst I haven't had an operation for my cancer when I was in Chemo and RT treatment to help keep my weight going ( I lost over 20 kg) I was on Fortsip Compact Liquid for additional calories, the other thing that may have changed is as you mentioned it's been very hot and was he keeping himself extremely well hydrated as the treatments really do dehydrate you for quite a long time after, I would speak with your Cancer Nurses and they will be able to have experience, they would be preferable than your GP, who would only refer back to them or his Consultant
Hope all gets better for him, Take care bothe
Tony
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Voicebox Cancer- Laryngectomy 2020 and Oesophagus survivor 2022
Adminitrative Assistant at Frimley Park Hospital, Cancer Support Hub
Thanks for your reply. Yes, he was staying well hydrated (with just a bit of nagging). I gave him a rehydration drink after each loo-dash episode, just to be on the safe side.
We did ask the GP for Fortisip, I suspect they prescribed this instead as it's cheaper! Hubby had his first follow-up appointment today and the consultant said those drinks don't agree with everyone and to stop having them. She has emailed his GP asking them to prescribe Complan instead, as he had that during chemo and never had a problem with it.
I went back to the pharmacy and explained things. At first they said I could take them back but then - since there is a large quantity of them - said they would collect them from our house on Monday which was better still.
So a good result all round.
More good news today as the histology results from the op were back - all of the tumour removed and no sign of cancer in the 18 lymph nodes they removed. So all in all a very good day. 
