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Help with no gas, empty bowel diet during RT.
Prostate Cancer | Last Active: 6 hours ago | Replies (29)Comment receiving replies
@mjm8491 Together with my full bladder routine….:
> For me, that was just 18oz of water to drink just 30 minutes prior to each fraction. This resulted in not only much of the bladder being distended away from the field of radiation, but also stabilization of the intestines (and anything else in that area). For me, I emptied my bladder 45 minutes prior to treatment time, started the 40 minute drive to the radiation center, 10 minutes into the drive drank 18oz of water, arrived at the treatment center 30 minutes later, and had the treatments. Worked every time; never had a problem.
….at the same time I also practiced my empty bowel routine:
> The bowels being “empty” didn’t mean it had to be clean like it is for a transrectal biopsy; no need for an enema. What my radiation oncologist told me was what they really mean is nothing in the lower intestine, material or gas, that might move during the radiation treatment and cause the prostate to move. So, no gassy foods that might cause issues. At the same time as emptying the bladder 45 minutes prior to treatment (mentioned in above), I would also empty bowels. Worked every time; never had a problem.
Practiced this daily in the weeks leading up to treatments.
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@brianjarvis thank you Brian, I was curious how long it took from drinking water until it hit the bladder, your 30 minute scenario seems to be very doable. I don't yet have my actual instructions from my radiologist as far as how much he wants me to drink and how far in advance, but I will certainly start working on this routine.
As far as the bowels being empty, I'm in the process of moving to a FODMAP diet and using some non fermentable fiber to help replace the fiber I'll be losing that should help with emptying my bowels, and throwing in some simethicone to help with the gas.
I have received some amazing tips and recommendations from this group, I'm still a bit nervous to start radiation, but not anything like the nerve ending I was before I asked for help. And for that, I am grateful.