Looking for tips on managing Radiation-induced proctitis

The doctors installed SPACE Oars that’s a jelly that protects the rectum. Had 28 RT treatments. No rectal problems or other abdominal issues. Take care. I m feeling ok, just tired a lot in the afternoon. Take Prevacid in the am before breakfast daily. Hope this helps. Bruce

I've been taking Heather's Tummy Tamers for about 2 years. They are peppermint oil, ginger, and fennel. I think they have helped. I also watch what I eat. But the problem with me still exists. At least twice a month I have diarrhea. I use the Bristol Stool Charts to keep track of my stools everyday. I also have a colonoscopy every 5 years. Now I'm looking at R-alpha lipoic acid in hopes of managing radiation proctitis plus nerve damage.

i use to have intermittent rectal bleeding but no longer since I've been taking Heather's Tummy Tamers: peppermint oil, ginger, & fennel. They are for IBS and IBD, which I have never experienced.

I had 40 radiation treatments for prostate cancer in 2016. My treatment also included Lupron to reduce my testosterone level. About a year after the last treatment I began having frequent, daily bouts with excessive gas and diarrhea. This condition kept me close to home because of the unpredictable nature, as well as the frequency of the episodes.

I was able to get a proper diagnosis from a proctologist who referred me to a wound treatment center that provided hyperbaric therapy. The doctor there recommended 40 daily treatments of 2 hour sessions. After all was done the symptoms were significantly reduced but still there and my daily routine was still unpredictable but more manageable.

My PCP then referred me to a gastroenterologist to see if anymore could be done. There I spoke with the Nurse Practioner who told me to take an over-the-counter combination pill of 2 mg Loperamide and 125 mg of Simethicone. She told me to start with 4 a day and to experiment a bit on the frequency. My final resolution was one in the morning and one at night but I keep a few handy. I also added a nightly 250 mg Simethicone just to avoid any night issues.

As far as daily rituals are concerned I sleep with a bed pad and, if my stomach feels a bit queasy, I wear a disposable diaper as well. During the day I use a minimum of a 12 layer 4” by 4” with a dab of A&D Ointment (for adhesion) to tuck between my buttocks cheeks as a seepage barrier. While this is not perfect, I have found nothing else that is any better. My Howell movements were still runny and more frequent than they should be.

Lastly, my PCP was working on my overall health and he prescribed Ozempic to lower my A1C. I have been using it with a .5 mg dose once a week for the past 6 months. The medication causes my stools to solidify and more often than not I am back to one bowel movement per day like I was before the radiation.

I certainly hope this information proves useful to some of you. Good luck.

Excellent information! Thanks Sir ! . How old are you ? Loprimide - Gosh Familiar with that . When I am station in the Philippines (RP) , I am usually there for a 4-5 month rotation . I take one in morning and one in evening for first week . then 1 a day second week . The maybe one a week after that . Works like a charm . In the RP im exposed to different bacteria . I love it there and its safe, great culture , and so on . I fly ( pilot) so its a little inconvenient the first week . I want to fly another 3-4 years during winter / Winter contract only in South Europe or Philippines . My blood in the stool this week has been minimal . Ive had a colonoscopy and Dr says everything looks fine - just "radiation irritation that should resolve itself " . This GI Dr was on Mainland , he was very good. The GI Dr on Vancouver Island was awful ( his office never returns calls etc ) so im looking for a Alternate GI Dr here on the island so I can consult with him/her . The blood in stool should have resolved itself by now my original dr said . I can go back to original GI Dr if I want ( on Mainland) and government will pay for flight ( Comox to Vancouver ) or ferry ticket ....but I was hoping to find a Dr here on Vancouver Island . Victoria has 10 or so , but thats a 2 hour drive south on the Island . Thanks for your help Sir ! God Bless to you and yours !

I am 73. Are you on any blood thinners or an 81 mg aspirin daily? If so I would recommend checking with your primary doc to cut that out.

Folks, the probability of experiencing some level of rectal bleeding, either shorter or longer term, especially with SBRT proton therapy (5 Sessions) even with gel spacer, is a harsh reality that is not typically a topic of conversation unless the patient happens to bring up the subject during consults. The potential for bleeding is not a reason to avoid this treatment protocol - but it is definitely up to the patient to self-educate on the subject and to not think you are going to beat the odds on the bleeding issue. My bleeding started 12 months following treatment (streaks of blood on surface of stool and periodically just a small amount of fresh blood after a bowel movement). If this occurs with you, request a CBC blood test to see if your hemoglobin level has dropped from baseline. If so, it's probably a radiation induced situation that will not remedy itself but can be addressed by a gastro doctor. It's just all a part of living with the outcomes of any particular prostate treatment protocol we select. Good luck.

I can't remember if I responded to this subject. I have radiation proctitis. In 2013 I was treated for anal cancer and it left me with a myriad of problems. It took me a while to figure out out how to relieve GI issues. One I started taking Heather's Tummy Tamers which consists of peppermint oil, fennel, and ginger capsules. It pretty much stopped the rectal bleeding. I've had to watch what I eat. I've never seen a GI. I just went online and researched and then began using myself as a human guinea pig. In the county where I live, you have to go out of town to see a specialist. And that irks me because I don't drive long distances at fast speeds anymore. So I pretty much rely on google and health forums to help me. I also keep a daily record of my stools. I have a Bristol Stool Form Scale chart and I pay close attention to size and color. I don't have IBS or IBD.

I completed radiation 6 months ago and now, out of the blue, I've experienced some pretty significant rectal bleeding. (Everything else is good -PSA undetectable and just a little fatigue from the ADT.) Im told this is not unexpected,
yet it is a bit startling. Just looking for others with similar experience.

I have both proctitis and cystitis from my radiation 2½ years ago. I've never had visible blood from the proctitis, but I have from the cystitis, and I agree that it's startling.

I'm assured that neither is especially dangerous, just annoying — I've had both cystoscopy and colonoscopy to confirm there's nothing else going on. Spicy food burns a bit at both exit points, but I eat it sometimes anyway. 🙂🌶️