Rant: From constipation to diarrhea in 3 hours!

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Letlet
Letlet Member Posts: 1,053
edited June 2014 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

I am presently lying in bed on my side. My hinny is on fire!!! I spent the morning 20 min on the can so constipated that my arms were shaking and I wanted to scream with the pain. (hemorrhoid) Three hours later and another 20 mins later, it's diarrhea! If my butt could talk it would be begging, please no more!!!!

Sorry for the graphic post but it doesn't make sense anymore! I never thought I would be popping Imodium like tic tacs!

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  • thePuppetLady
    thePuppetLady Member Posts: 127
    edited December 2010

    aw, you poor thing!  I've so been there :(...I sometimes use an OTC product called Butt Paste (yep, that's what it's called) to help ease the raw, burny butt....hope you feel better soon--ellen

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  • stlrepke
    stlrepke Member Posts: 34
    edited December 2010

    That just sucks!! I had a heck of a time with those kinds of issues when going through chemo too. One trick I used was to get those butt wipes that are sold in the toilet paper isle and I bought Witch Hazel from the pharmacy and would pour the witch hazel onto the wipes and used those whenever I had to go. I also stocked up on Prep. H and used it before and after.

    Hope you feel better soon.

    Take care.

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  • Lowrider54
    Lowrider54 Member Posts: 2,721
    edited December 2010

    Been there, done that - Tucks are my buddies!

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  • Letlet
    Letlet Member Posts: 1,053
    edited December 2010

    Thanks ladies...just finished E/C..will start on Taxol next week. Did you do Taxol as well? Any diarrhea?

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  • Letlet
    Letlet Member Posts: 1,053
    edited December 2010

    Hi Lowrider...using Tucks as well. I feel someone stuck a jalapeno pepper up there, it burns! I had planned to do a couple of things, now I'm just in bed waiting, waiting for it to get better.

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  • Leah_S
    Leah_S Member Posts: 8,458
    edited August 2013

    Letlet, I'm so sorry you're going through this.

    As you can see, a lot of us go through the same thing. Let's just say, it was less than 3 hours for me. Boy can I relate to the jalapeno pepper.

    It might be a good idea to ask your doc for prescription hemmorhoid meds. I had some with hydrocortisone and it made a world of difference. Some are creams, some suppositories, so whatever you prefer & will work for you is good.

    Even after you heal, keep using the tucks pads or an equivalent.

    Best of luck.

    Leah

    edited to add: hot sitz baths also are soothing.

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  • Letlet
    Letlet Member Posts: 1,053
    edited December 2010

    Thanks Leah, I didn't realize they have prescription hemorrhoid meds! I'll ask my onc for it. Thanks again :)

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  • coonie
    coonie Member Posts: 7,618
    edited December 2010

    Oh so sorry you're going through this Letlet.

    I had diarrhea (live rear) the whole time I was on chemo (AC and Taxol).

    I kept a box of baby wipes in the restroom. It was much easier than toilet tissue.

    ((((((((((((gentle hugs))))))))))))

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  • Paula1231
    Paula1231 Member Posts: 456
    edited December 2010

    Oh Letlet,

    I hear you.  I have had nonstop gastro issues since the first AC.  Two nights before AC I start with colace or stool softner.  Two days after AC I start the immodium.  I have Tucks, baby wipes and Desitin by the potty.  I wipe with baby wipe, apply Tucks or the Wal-Mart version, then follow with Desitin the entire time.  I have been able to keep the butt fire away, but it is a battle.  I swear I am pooping out my intestines..nothing looks like poop..

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  • Lowrider54
    Lowrider54 Member Posts: 2,721
    edited December 2010

    Two things - I have had irriatable bowel forever but boy oh boy - I can go from praying for movement to splatter all over - all in the same sitting - Tucks, wipes and Desitin and right next to the potty!

    The second thing - that prescription roid stuff is the absolute best wrinkle reducer you could find anywhere - especially for those eye lines and under eye sagging - don't ask, I don't know but if you dare tell anybody...I will have to chase you around the potty....LOL

    Hugs....LowRider 

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  • Letlet
    Letlet Member Posts: 1,053
    edited December 2010

    Paula, that seems exactly like my schedule too! There are days where I'm so confused, is this the day I eat rice and bananas or go high fiber?? After a while I gave up and just bought boxes of Imodium. Did you notice a funny taste in your mouth a day or two after the Imodium? I thought it was the chemo at first but the second time I took the Imodium I tasted it again.

    Lowrider, that's exactly what happened. Also thanks for the laugh. I had to laugh! I can't wait to go back to work and they ask me what's your secret and I'll just give them a wink ;)

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  • Letlet
    Letlet Member Posts: 1,053
    edited December 2010

    I just wanted to add too. With all the diarrhea, why am I not losing a single pound huh??? Um, I guess it's  good thing or else I'd be in trouble but still ya know. It would be nice to have a silver lining to all this (aside from the free wrinkle reducer)

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited December 2010

    I had A/C followed by Taxol.  The AC was the hardest on my rear.......I suffered with constipation so bad it hurt, it was like a traffic jam then right about the time I couldn't take it anymore the diarrhea started and it was something along the lines of the Indy 500.  I started taking probiotics daily (can be found in yogurt and/or in the stomach aids section of the pharmacy), I also took colace 2 - 3 days before chemo and about 2 days after chemo when the loosy goosies started I took Immodium.  The probiotics helped to keep things from being as bad as they were.

    As for the pain of the cactus butt.....use vaseline and soak in a sitz bath (I used Epsom salt) - it really helps!

    (((hugs))) 

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  • Randi64
    Randi64 Member Posts: 177
    edited December 2010

    Hi,

    I am sorry to hear others have gone through this, but now I know I am not alone.  I also have had IBS since college,but hasn't bothered me in quite a while, until now!! I also am on AC and Taxol. Had my third AC today. I will also do Colace for first 4 days then switch to Immodium. I also had terrible burning. Had to take warm baths at least 3x/day. I also used ice packs after the warm bath which seemed to really help. I layed in bed most of Sunday as I was soooo sore. I went to acupuncturist which seemed to also help. I wish every one luck!!!!!  Randi

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  • Letlet
    Letlet Member Posts: 1,053
    edited December 2010

    Hi Jenn, holy s**t (excuse the pun). I totally relate to the Indy 500. I'm kind of glad so many are posting. The first couple of times I thought it was something I ate but I eat rice 3 times a day! My onc just told me "it's the chemo", the explanation for everything these days it seems.

    Hi Randi, I'm intrigued about the acupuncturist, please share more! If Taxol gives me diarrhea then I will be singlehandedly responsible for increasing the revenue of my local Walgreens since my diagnosis. I mean they're already making buckets from my prescription meds and now I'm about to buy every single box of Imodium (gatorade too please). I see you're in Flemington, are you near the outlets?? I used to go there all time but moved a little up north. 

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  • SoCalLisa
    SoCalLisa Member Posts: 13,961
    edited December 2010

     I thought I should have bought stock in Immodium by the time it was over...

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  • Letlet
    Letlet Member Posts: 1,053
    edited December 2010

    Just venting again: Went to the pediatrician with hubby because my daughter was crying she wanted Mommy to come with them because she was getting a shot. Well 5 mins after we got there, I had to run to the bathroon. Was in there the whole entire time that my two kids were seen and when I was out, hubby was paying the copay already. There were two men sitting by the ladies room who witnessed me go in and leave (a year and many flushes later). I was feeling too crappy to be embarassed...

    What to do when Imodium does not seem to be working its magic????

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  • KittyDog
    KittyDog Member Posts: 1,079
    edited December 2010

    bless all of your heart umm butts too.  I can say that because I had the same problem when I went through AC.  I agree on the butt's paste, I all so used Tronalane cream sold at Walgreens for the hemorrhoids.  I got to the point I couldn't use wipes so I bought a squirt bottle and would fill it with warm water to clean up and then pat dry with toilet paper.

    Good Luck ladies...those who are Er Pr Positive...it comes back to haunt you on the meds.  uggg  Currently taking three colace a day about ready to try Mirlax.

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  • konakat
    konakat Member Posts: 6,085
    edited December 2010

    Oh Letlet -- I'm so sorry.  But your descriptions just crack me up.  I think you really need prescription strength anti-poop stuff.  Hugs,

    Elizabeth

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  • konakat
    konakat Member Posts: 6,085
    edited December 2010

    Hi KittyDog,

    I take daily Colace too, three of them.  And also take Sennekot and Lactulose during chemo weeks.  Hoping I win the poop jackpot soon, very, very soon...

    Elizabeth

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  • ishobie
    ishobie Member Posts: 96
    edited December 2010

    me TOO, I had the worst gastro issue with chemo, first treatment i didnt go to the bathroom for 5 days, the next few treatments they had to give me tincture of opium to stop the diarrhea. I had one ER visit for fluids but the tincture of opium did stop it. It knocks you out but at least I wasn't on the toilet every 5 minutes, even from drinking water. I used the baby wipes and butt paste also and warm baths.

    It is a miserable ordeal but once it is over you won't believe how good you feel.

    take care

    isabel

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  • carcharm
    carcharm Member Posts: 486
    edited December 2010

    If your pain is like a knife stabbing you it may be that your inside anus is ripped from the constipation -a fissure. This requires different tx than hemmorrhoids. There is a nitroglycerin compounded cream I used that had hemorrhoidal tx in it also as I also had internal hemorrhoids. If your pain happens after a BM and is like a throbbing pain than it is most probably just the hemorrhoids. I know your pain-either way.  God bless...

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