Colitis Side Effects

Options
KatColitis
KatColitis Member Posts: 3
edited August 2020 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After

1st round of chemo put me in the hospital with a colitis infection. It's been 3 months, I'm on my 3rd round, and the colitis wont go away. It seems each round just brings it back. Anything I eat causes pain in my belly, it's either explosive diarrhea or bloody constipation. The oncologist tells me I can only eat macaroni and cheese, rice, and yogurt, mashed potatoes. I am getting barely any nutrients, have no energy, and I spend a good 10 days out of each 21 day cycle bedridden. The doc dropped my meds by 20%, which seems to have kept me out of the hospital but it has not resolved the issue.

I've tried looking into this side effect online but I'm seeing it is very uncommon. Is there anyone on here that has experienced this as well? If so, was there anything your doctor did that helped the issue? Are there long term colin side effects I should be concerned about? Did you finish your chemo treatment?

I am dealing with the nausea, fatigue, nerve pain, yada yada. I cant handle this colitis anymore and I'm scared my body wont recover from this. Ready to call it quits.

If anyone has had a similar experience I would appreciate any feedback.

Thank you.

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited August 2020

    Kat - what chemo are you on? If you go to My Profile you can enter your diagnosis & treatment to date. That would help us understand where you are.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • KatColitis
    KatColitis Member Posts: 3
    edited August 2020

    Chemo info updated.

    Thank you for any help you may provide.

    Kat

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Sunshine99
    Sunshine99 Member Posts: 1,680
    edited August 2020

    Kat, your treatment still isn't showing (or I can't see it). I've had to go into my profile and make my "stuff" "public" in order for it to be seen on this forum. Anything you choose to leave Private will be for your eyes only.

    So sorry you're dealing with the colitis! No fun at all!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • KatColitis
    KatColitis Member Posts: 3
    edited August 2020

    Shoukd all be public now- thank you!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • moth
    moth Member Posts: 4,800
    edited August 2020

    Kat, I need more info before I could suggest things. Are you still on the AC part of the treatment or have you moved on to Taxol?

    Does eating the foods that the oncologist recommended work or not?

    Have you tried any medications for your gastric symptoms?


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited August 2020

    I had 6 rounds of Taxotere & Chemoplatin every 3 weeks - with Herceptin & Perjea because I'm HER2+. The first 10 days of every cycle I had continual diarrhea in spite of eating the BRAT diet. So 1/2 way between each infusion date I went back in for a full bag of saline so I wouldn't get dehydrated. Still, I lost 60 lbs & I wasn't overweight to start. After surgery I was scheduled for 4 rounds of Adriamycin & Cytoxan since I didn't have a complete response. I was only able to complete 3 rounds because even with Neulasta, my white & red blood cells tanked.

    I'll find constipation tips thread and post it for you. As for the diarrhea, just lots of fluid & mild, bland foods. I took a protein supplement every day since I couldn't eat meats or chicken or etc.

    Good luck

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited August 2020

    Kat: Here's the link to the constipation thread. Lots of helpful ideas.

    https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/6/topics/...

    And the protein powder I used was Beneprotein by Nestles. It was recommended by MD Anderson.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories