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EBRT Simulation: Failed two CT scans because of gas - suggestions?

Posted by johnny8924 @johnny8924, Jan 25 7:38am

I had an EBRT radiation simulation yesterday but two CT scans indicated the presence of gas. Did anyone experience this before? Bowel was clean and the bladder was sufficiently full. Dietitian called me immediately after these results and recommended a low gas diet before my next simulation on February 6, 2025. Any suggestions, advice, etc greatly appreciated. Thank you!

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chippydoo | @chippydoo | Jan 28 9:17am
In reply to @michaelcharles "There are eight million stories in the naked city of how to manage, or mis manage,..." + (show)
@michaelcharles

There are eight million stories in the naked city of how to manage, or mis manage, the "mostly empty rectum" requirement. This is one of them.
Everyone has their own formula. I tried to slip in a small amount of my usually large servings of greens and veggies. And took a GasX at night.
Or, go with the non-gas medical diet recommendation synopsis:
Double Whopper w/ cheese and fries, hold the lettuce and pickle, 3x daily.
Good luck. All of us struggle, but somehow figure it out and complete treatment. 😊

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Haha the Mel Tillis Whopper special. Ahh the good ole days.

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jc76 | @jc76 | Jan 29 8:00am
In reply to @heavyphil "You are truly the only person I’ve heard this from; everyone I’ve met - including yours..." + (show)
@heavyphil

You are truly the only person I’ve heard this from; everyone I’ve met - including yours truly - was put on a very strict diet of no fermentable fiber - beans, cruciferous veggies, whole grains, dried fruit, nuts….all the good stuff we’ve been told to eat for the last 50 years.
The changing room at Sloan always had at least one frustrated patient who was thrown off the table because of gas. I even had to give myself an enema one day because I drank Smooth Move Herbal tea and the tech claimed I had a huge gas bubble in my colon which I didn’t even feel.
But having no gas is key to avoiding radiation proctitis down the road.

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@heavyphil
Agree.
My R/O was very adamant about diet and no gaseous foods. I was told would prevent treatment as gas pushing up against prostate and move it.

I had it happen only one day. It was when I added a protein powder to my breakfast. I thought it was animal fiber but found out when read label it was Soy. And yep my R/Os and tech had a hell of time fixing me on the table and I got a good natured lecture on if I wanted to get out there more quickly do not comsume beans or any gasseous foods.

I learned my lesson.

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1 reply
johnny8924 | @johnny8924 | Jan 29 10:30am

Thank you for your comments. Since "failing" my first EBRT radiation simulation last week, I've been following a low fiber low gas-creating diet. It seems to have lessened what little gas I had but it's not ideal for bowel movements. Trying my best to solve these situations. Taking Gas-X and eating/ drinking things recommended by the FODMAP plan. Will I have to continue this stuff when my 28 radiation sessions begin? Looks that way.

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1 reply
johnny8924 | @johnny8924 | Jan 29 10:30am
In reply to @jc76 "@heavyphil Agree. My R/O was very adamant about diet and no gaseous foods. I was told..." + (show)
@jc76

@heavyphil
Agree.
My R/O was very adamant about diet and no gaseous foods. I was told would prevent treatment as gas pushing up against prostate and move it.

I had it happen only one day. It was when I added a protein powder to my breakfast. I thought it was animal fiber but found out when read label it was Soy. And yep my R/Os and tech had a hell of time fixing me on the table and I got a good natured lecture on if I wanted to get out there more quickly do not comsume beans or any gasseous foods.

I learned my lesson.

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Thank you for your advice!

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1 reply
toolbelt | @toolbelt | Jan 29 2:45pm
In reply to @johnny8924 "Thank you for your comments. Since "failing" my first EBRT radiation simulation last week, I've been..." + (show)
@johnny8924

Thank you for your comments. Since "failing" my first EBRT radiation simulation last week, I've been following a low fiber low gas-creating diet. It seems to have lessened what little gas I had but it's not ideal for bowel movements. Trying my best to solve these situations. Taking Gas-X and eating/ drinking things recommended by the FODMAP plan. Will I have to continue this stuff when my 28 radiation sessions begin? Looks that way.

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You need to try and replicate your bowel and bladder conditions so they're the same as they were at your planning session.

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heavyphil | @heavyphil | Jan 30 8:05am
In reply to @johnny8924 "Thank you for your advice!" + (show)
@johnny8924

Thank you for your advice!

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Go on Amazon and buy HEALTHY FIBER . It is guar gum based , non bloating, nonfermentable fiber. Take it 3X/day with 16 oz water. It works! Don’t use Metamucil and other psyllium based products - GAS CITY!!
Also try Miralax once daily if you are still stopped up. You REALLY need to have a clean rectum at treatment time and personally I couldn’t do that on this horrific, unhealthy no gas diet.
So these supplements really worked for me; you may even need less, depending on your GI tract….Best
Phil

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johnny8924 | @johnny8924 | Feb 13 1:20pm

This balancing act of following a low fiber nutritional plan such as FODMAP to eliminate gas while simultaneously trying to ensure that such a plan doesn't prove to be challenging with respect to bowel movements and a clean rectum is a daily struggle.

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1 reply
heavyphil | @heavyphil | Feb 14 7:12am
In reply to @johnny8924 "This balancing act of following a low fiber nutritional plan such as FODMAP to eliminate gas..." + (show)
@johnny8924

This balancing act of following a low fiber nutritional plan such as FODMAP to eliminate gas while simultaneously trying to ensure that such a plan doesn't prove to be challenging with respect to bowel movements and a clean rectum is a daily struggle.

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Totally! It was the absolute hardest part of the treatment for me. But when I started Orgovyx I knew I had 10 weeks to experiment and get my act together before the sessions began. It was trial and error and a lot of frustration and screaming on the toilet.
What finally worked for me was FODMAP, Miralax at 5AM and Healthy Fiber 3X per day with double the amount of water they recommend. Also GasX about 3 hrs before treatment and at night at bedtime.
Still didn’t work 100% but any gas I had was high up in the intestine and not in the rectum. And on those 3 or 4 days out of 25 that a BM just wasn’t gonna happen I used a glycerin suppository or a Fleet enema. Gotta do what you gotta do!

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chippydoo | @chippydoo | Feb 14 10:01am

I got thrown off the Rad island yesterday due to gas. Forgot to take my normal dose of gasex. Jumping around doing agility drills in the hall took care of it and back on the table 20 minutes later with all looking good. Celebrate the small successes.

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1 reply
heavyphil | @heavyphil | Feb 15 7:04am
In reply to @chippydoo "I got thrown off the Rad island yesterday due to gas. Forgot to take my normal..." + (show)
@chippydoo

I got thrown off the Rad island yesterday due to gas. Forgot to take my normal dose of gasex. Jumping around doing agility drills in the hall took care of it and back on the table 20 minutes later with all looking good. Celebrate the small successes.

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Wish YouTube had a super cut of all us old men in gowns jumping around with their butts hanging out - trying to fart!
The title could be “What are these men doing”😂

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