sudden-onset diarrhea

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Hello all you wonderful people, and my apologies for the "messy" subject.... but I'm heading into day five of diarrhea and am getting concerned. At first thought it must be a virus - and am still hoping it is! - but I wonder if I should move faster: I have my routine appointment with my MO on 2 February and was waiting for that.

Please comment, anyone with abdominal mets of any sorts:
Was sudden-onset diarrhea a symptom of metastasis for you, and where did the cancer show up?
Should I try to get in to my MO or family doctor earlier?
And what exams should I push for?

Many thanks to all, those who reply and those who simply send warm thoughts, as I do every day when I read these pages

Comments

  • doxie
    doxie Member Posts: 1,455
    edited January 2017

    MRock,

    Yep, messy, but not fixable. This seems something better suited to start your family doctor. There are so many possible causes. BC related treatment more often causes constipation, unless I suppose you've started new medication. I've not read of diarrhea related to mets.

  • bevin
    bevin Member Posts: 1,902
    edited January 2017

    HI. my hubby just got over a 7 day bout of daily diarreah. He did finally go to the doctor , they did some tests and said its a virus and can last 10 days. They gave him a script to keep his diarreah at bay. It helped a ton. He is now better. Hoping its the same for you, just a virus. Good luck and I hope you get well.

  • wallycat
    wallycat Member Posts: 3,227
    edited January 2017

    I had a hamburger "on the outside" and DH had the same burger. He was fine. I thought i was going to die....day 5 and I called emergency wondering if I should go in. Day 6 and it finally started slowing down. This was 2015. Horrible and frightening.

    Most tumors cause constipation as they grow and block things moving along.

    I was also on a course of antibiotics for a tooth abcess and never saw the gut issues coming, pardon the pun.

    So it can be anything from food poisoning, meds, herbs, a flare of IBS......stay hydrated and if things don't improve, see someone because the dehydration affects other organs. Hope you feel better soon!

  • MRock
    MRock Member Posts: 49
    edited January 2017

    Many thanks, doxie, bevin and wallycat!

    All good advice, and I appreciate your taking the time to share it!

  • bevin
    bevin Member Posts: 1,902
    edited January 2017

    How are you feeling today?

  • MRock
    MRock Member Posts: 49
    edited January 2017

    Hi bevin, thanks for asking.

    My diarrhea was getting better but after eating a (generous!) portion of cake yesterday, it's suddenly reappeared forcefully, so I'm thinking it's diet related, maybe with an initial bacterial or viral issue.

    I'm going to be careful to follow a chicken-soup and BRAT diet this weekend and will see my PCP next Monday if still "going" ;)

    Thanks again and hugs to all of you!


  • bevin
    bevin Member Posts: 1,902
    edited January 2017

    :)   good luck

  • mustlovepoodles
    mustlovepoodles Member Posts: 2,825
    edited January 2017

    Mrock, colon cancer would not have been my first choice of diagnoses. I think you should talk to your PCP, at least.

    I have struggled with diarrhea since I started chemo in 2015. I have IBS-D, but this was waaaay beyond my baseline. After months of watery stools and several close calls (!) I finally went to my GI doctor. He suspects I may have a micro-colitis due to damage from chemo. Arrgh. Chemo--the gift that keeps on giving.

    My GI put me on Welchol, an old school cholesterol med whose primary SE is constipation. Its been like a miracle! No more urgency, no more 6-7-8 watery stools a day! It hasn't cured me--if I neglect to take it the med, bam! Watery diarrhea all day long. But at least I can live my life normally now.

  • MRock
    MRock Member Posts: 49
    edited January 2017

    Thanks, mustlovepoodles!

    That's very helpful and I'll talk to my PCP as well as my onc.


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