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How to manage unpredictable, rapidly changing bowel symptoms from LARS
At age 80, I am 39 years out of low anterior resection for stage 1 rectal cancer, pelvic radiation, and ostomy takedown. Doing well with 3 year colonoscopies. Biggest problem is managing bowel habits since becoming a flight attendant 10 years ago.
On my feet for 12 hours with little opportunity for extended bathroom time, I can go from constipation or not needing a BM to loose, watery stool in minutes. Have adopted by use of Dulcolax Soft Chew, Loperamide, Low residue/low roughage diet before a trip with some success and Depends in an emergency. Want to explore pelvic floor therapy, sacral nerve reinnervation, and other potential remediation to gain control of bowel movement habits.
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Managing bowel habits has dictated my life since 2021, when I was first treated with chemo & radiation therapy for what was (then) diagnosed as ureter cancer. Turned out that cancer was an occult tumor of a lymph node, that had invaded the ureter. Anyway, 18 months later, the primary anal/rectal cancer showed up, so off to chemoradio therapy again. All the treatment has destroyed my bowels. I have the sacral nerve stimulator, I wish I could say it worked. I don’t know how you work in this condition!
The best solution for me, has been to use Linzess to cause me to have a bowel movement. It works approximately 2 hrs after taking it (for me), I then spend the next 1-1/2-2hrs clearing my bowels. This allows me to use the rest of the day. It has also prevented the bowel impactions/obstructions that I used to get. Sometimes I have to add castor oil in my naval at bedtime, to help get things going. Crazy routine (I take Linzess at 3:30-4:00am), but for me, it’s working. Has minimized my accidents. Best wishes to you!