Living with long-term bowel side effects post anal cancer treatment

I have no experience with a colostomy or cancer, but what the people describe seem much worse to me. I know someone with a colostomy and I belief he manages it well. Everyone is different. It seems they are not able to deal with incontinence.

I had the whole of sigmoid and rectum removed The descending colon was brought down to form a J loop and anal canal was attached to the base of the J.So as per physiology both the storage areas for the stools has been removed.So the descending colon which has an interrupted movement unlike the small bowel keeps emptying once in a few minutes depending on the consistency of the stools.As high fibre diet is essential for good gut health the evacuation is more.The large bowel movement is more at night and stools come into storage to evacuate in the mornings,which is our routine habit since child hood.So fragmentation frequency and the fibrosis of anal canal following radiation which has produced incontinence are all creating the challenge.Anyway I have learnt to live with it.Maybe more time to read while the others sleep and read in peace.I was a practicing Obstetrician for 45 years,so God trained me for so many years with interrupted sleep and got me ready for this ultimate phase of life.Thanks to HIM who knew what awaited me.

Thanks for your explanation. After reading your experience, I am thankful the my sigmoid colon resection was minimal leaving me with a descending colon. After my recent hospital discharge for a small bowel obstruction (my first hospitalization for SBO in 28 years), I adopted a regularity regimen suggested by a friend: Oatmeal bowl daily mixed with Chia seeds and cracked walnuts. It has helped my stool formation and reduced by not eliminated diarrhea. She also recommend about 72 ounces of water daily which I have not yet adopted.

It’s been a year from my last radiation treatment and my bowels is never the same I’ve tried pelvic floor therapy and it help some I try to increase my fiber to increase the bulk. But I never know. My husband passed away 2weeks before I got my test results so I been thinking a lot of mine has been emotional stress cause the drs never told me to expect all this bowel problems

I just wanted to reach out and say you are not alone. I was diagnosed in 2014 as well, chemo and radiation. I am at a loss at this point how to manage fecal incontinence as well. I experience all the same issues you are having. I wear depends at night if I have any inclining of a tummy rumbling as I have woken up with a bowel movement in my sleep as well. I manage mostly by diet control and fasting when I need to leave the house. I also eat at the same time and to TRY to make bowel movements as predictable as possible. I fast till noon, then have a daily high protein smoothie with lots of healthy ingredients and the routine helps. I have zero control and can be is the bathroom and still not make it to the toilet in time. My sensation to go is only in stomach so hard to manage. Kaopectate liquid sometimes calms the tummy after dinner. Loperamide only helps minimally. Same with colonoscopy preps! I thought I would die! I have done multiple and will go every 10 minutes right up till they put me under , it is a nightmare. I found if I cut down on the prep and fasted the day before it helps. We shouldn’t be given the regular prep amount. Does not seem like there is a solution for us… I will look into the diarrhea transcript and the Anal ca foundation too take care

@tsch those can break in the middle of the night too. nothing is perfect. Better to not have an operation if it is not necessary.

@jimdiehl
I have a colostomy and would 100% rather deal with it rather than incontinence! This is
definitely a personal preference situation. Though I can reasonably guess none of us would choose any of these issues!

I just want to let you know you are certainly not alone. I was sitting on the porcelain throne wondering if I was the only person who still has life affecting bowel issues 10 years after chemo radiation treatment. It isnt as bad as it was 9 years ago, but I still try hard not to schedule anything before noon - or at least 11 am. I do wonder if anyone else spends a lot of time on the toilet when they might be "done" for the moment because they know as soon as they get cleaned up and ready to do something... they will have to go through it again. Across the holidays I must have eaten too many things that upset the precarious balance I can sometimes maintain. I have to remind myself that I am lucky - at least I am cancer-free...
Hoping you find relief -

I just found this site and am blown away at the responses. Blown away because it never really occurred to me that so many others are dealing with the same issues as I am. I was diagnosed in October 2013 with anal cancer. I underwent 8 weeks of radiation and chemo, side by side (chemo was oral other than the first treatment). I remain cancer free (at least there. I was diagnosed with lung cancer last Dec and had surgery in February). The bowel issues have been ongoing since 2013. I try to manage them with all the same things other writers note. Fibre, Imodium, when to eat, knowing I need access in the mornings to a bathroom immediately, watching what I eat or drink when out, especially early in the day. One doctor told me to 'strengthen' the anal sphincter muscle. Made no difference. Incontinence has been an issue. It does govern my life and what I do for a good part of the day. It's not that easy to 'share' with people. When I travel I pretty much don't eat until I know we are stopped for a length of time and I have access to a washroom. No doctor yet has any reasonable answer for this. I take Imodium pretty much every day. It helps. Most days I remember how fortunate I am to be here. And some days are just plain frustrating and discouraging. I keep trying different combos of meds and foods.

@gavid I had cervix cancer 35 yrs ago...I just found out through colonoscopy foot and half of burnt bowel from 30 radiation treatments.I was taking immodium which kinda worked but now I just have liquid stool. Don't know what to try next..good luck to everyone with this issue