Hi Dave, I have slightly different symptoms after Radiation Therapy. It’s been 7 years and it knocked me for a loop. Not right away but a few weeks later it started to get really bad. I had laryngeal cancer and doctor removed it surgically then I had 7 weeks of RT. About 4-5 months after I got a throat infection and went to a specialist in Boston, who put me on a very aggressive course of 2 strong antibiotics and 2 antifungals for 30 days. By day 26, I was vomiting the meds and stopped taking them. My stomach was a mess and I spent the first 2-4 hours in the bathroom because I couldn’t have a complete bowel movement. It took me most of the day. Still does. Im also very fatigued still. I take 2 Colace every night because, like you, I don’t like the idea of taking laxatives daily. I went to a gastroenterologist and was diagnosed with
gastroparesis, paralysis of my digestive system. If I knew then what I know now I would not have had the RT. I would have stopped after the surgery which the doctor said was very successful and he felt he could say with confidence that he got 99.99% of the tumor. But he wanted me to have the RT just in case. I have never really recovered from it. I don’t go out much except when I have to. And it makes me so angry because there are so many things I used to do, like visiting my kids and grandkids, taking them places, going to their sports events, etc.
I really sympathize with your situation. I never had shingles but I’ve known people who have and I’ve watched them suffer. I got the Shingrix vaccine recently. Trying to talk my older kids into getting it too.
Have you had serious weight loss and loss of appetite? I have and it’s made me weak and I’ve lost much muscle mass. My advice is to eat 5-6 very small meals per day and drink a high calorie ( if you’ve lost weight) but certainly high protein supplement such as Ensure Plus. Make sure you tell your gastroenterologist about the slight kink in your intestines. Try to sit upright for at least an hour after eating.
And try to keep your diet simple and soft and easily digestible. Chew your food well before swallowing. I don’t know much about natural laxatives but my PCP suggested
Senna tea. I haven’t tried it so I can’t comment on its effectiveness. Maybe ask your doctor first.
Good luck, Dave. I hope you get through this awful time soon.
BLT