Help with no gas, empty bowel diet during RT.

@climateguy Ah memories…they handed me a Fleet enema once and told me to go to the bathroom…but DON’t pee!!
The enema initially had no effect so here I am doing jumping jacks, squat thrusts and punching myself in the gut to get things moving…thank goodness for large handicap access lavs!
I too used the prick pinch when the time arrived but no blood🥹…
If there was A hidden camera in that bathroom somebody could have made a killing on YouTube….
Phil

@surftohealth88 thank you, but the Orgovyx doesn't seem to be causing any intestinal issues, 3 weeks in and only some hot flashes and fatigue. I don't think the fact that I'm having proton has anything to do with it, the photon radiologist I saw had the same terms, full bladder, empty bowel and no gas. As I said in my original post, due to severe diverticulitis, I had a partial colectomy in 2018, which removed about a foot of my colon. That's when most of my intestinal issues began. We eat a very clean, natural food diet, but that includes many fruits and vegetables that cause gas for me and some other complex carbs that do the same. The FODMAP diet should help eliminate those issues, we shall see.

@heavyphil

My days are just an endless stream of emptiness to me
Filled only by the fleeting moments of radiation treatment memory

[Chorus]
Sweet memories
Sweet memories
Ooh

@heavyphil Yeah, they told me during initial set that I needed to clear my rectum. No enema and to not pee. Then she commented like only 10% move bowels without peeing. I reported back that I wasn't in the 10% category lol. Carry a small enema in my coat pocket every rad session.

For the gas issue, I took over-the-counter anti-gas tablets
preemptively as insurance.

I also got each week’s schedule the Friday before; that allowed me to plan not only my meals, but also my full bladder/empty bowel routine as well as my regular schedule around the appointments. (My appointments were always scheduled at 2:00PM or 2:40PM.)

Diet-wise —> I decreased red meats; increased fish, salads; added more fruits, vegetables, and grains/nuts; cut out soft drinks; cut back on processed foods, and made other tweaks here and there. I also added a protein/fruit smoothie every morning, and a protein bar & two energy bars every day. (I think that was helpful in sustaining energy and endurance during the months of low-testosterone due to ADT.)

I also exercised (lifted weights and ran 5Ks or swam) daily.

In the weeks leading up to my radiation treatments, I practiced the full bladder/empty bowel routine every day. By the time of my first treatment, I had the routine down to a ritual.

@brianjarvis
How did you practice the empty bowel routine?

@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.

@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.