NETs, Toilet Paper, a rant and a little humor

Posted by Angie T @terryabk, Mar 28, 2020

NET, the TP crisis, a rant and a little humor

I’m sure the irony of the TP “shortage” is not lost on most of us. As someone who experiences way too many BMs each day, and frequent diarrhea, (sorry for the TMI) my household keeps a lot of the precious paper on hand. I’m sure in this community, I’m not alone in this. I see online posts and comments complaining about shoppers purchasing more than a couple packages at a time. Large TP purchases are our normal. I’m not condoning hoarding, purchasing carts-full at a time, but please, there are some of us that honestly require an abnormal amount of bog roll.

When reports of TP shortages first began, I made a contingency plan, just in case. We have plenty of rags, old towels, etc., which I could cut into wash cloth size and utilize as an alternative. A good rinse after use, toss into a bucket and launder every day or so. Great plan, or so I thought.

A few days into our sheltering in place, my good, OLD, reliable washing machine died. So, here I am, high risk, trying to stay home and I need a washer. I’m trying to shop for one online, but finding it difficult. I REALLY want to SEE what I’m buying. Laundry is an essential chore, but I have serious lung issues and am already on supplemental oxygen. Laundromats are not an option right now. My daughter comes to the rescue though and offers drop off laundry services at her home. She’s working from home now and can throw in our loads while she’s working. What a huge help. I haven’t asked her yet if she’s willing to wash our reusable butt wipes.

How are you dealing with this health crisis? Staying calm? Freaking out? Looking to humor? Praying a lot more. All of the above?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETs) Support Group.

@terryabk

My scope went well! No signs of new tumors, no new esophagus damage. Stomach was very full of bile, which is making my GI issues worse. MRI scheduled for September to check bile ducts, but they’re probably fine judging by the bile in my stomach. Doc is starting me on Cholestryramine to try to counter act this issue. Not thrilled about yet another medication, but if it works and I can leave the house or even go to my downstairs sewing area without worrying about mad dashes to the bathroom, it’ll be worth it. It isn’t the most pleasant stuff to take, but isn’t the worst either.
Is anyone else taking this? Has it helped?

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@terryabk
Hi Angie,
Thanks for the update. I'm glad to hear there are no more tumors nor esophagus damage! That is good news. I do hope the Cholestryrmaine works for you. While I've never taken it let's see if any of our members in the NETs group might be familiar with this med.

Do any of you have experience taking the med, Cholestryrmaine? @amyh2439 @joannem @gaylejean @lucci50 @derekd @gulzar @joanney @jenchaney727 @lorettanebraska @wordnoid @trouble @nigelvw @tomewilson @upblueeyes @jls77 @tfrancis @ronregency @lamunford @michellewalsh @coolwino @sherryboynton @klpetts @1943 @amandafl @andre1221 @19611ventura @terryabk @mgreene @tsabe2 @trixie1313 @ronregency @124124eva @megansims @gtassithomas @remi @sbcook70 @feebee

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@hopeful33250

@terryabk
Hi Angie,
Thanks for the update. I'm glad to hear there are no more tumors nor esophagus damage! That is good news. I do hope the Cholestryrmaine works for you. While I've never taken it let's see if any of our members in the NETs group might be familiar with this med.

Do any of you have experience taking the med, Cholestryrmaine? @amyh2439 @joannem @gaylejean @lucci50 @derekd @gulzar @joanney @jenchaney727 @lorettanebraska @wordnoid @trouble @nigelvw @tomewilson @upblueeyes @jls77 @tfrancis @ronregency @lamunford @michellewalsh @coolwino @sherryboynton @klpetts @1943 @amandafl @andre1221 @19611ventura @terryabk @mgreene @tsabe2 @trixie1313 @ronregency @124124eva @megansims @gtassithomas @remi @sbcook70 @feebee

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For me prescribed for diarrhea and digestion didn’t work and had no side effects with it. I still have digestion problem Creon didn’t help too My GI prescribed breathing test waiting for the results

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Hello @terryabk,
I just noticed in another discussion group that @astaingegerdm has used the med, Cholestryrmaine, and I would like to invite her to this discussion as well so that she could share her experience.

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@terryabk - Hi Angie- I took Cholestyramine to try to stop severe diarrhea I was having. Some years earlier I had my gallbladder removed. It did not work for me because my diarrhea turned out to be caused by something else. I did not have any side effects from it.

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@gulzar

For me prescribed for diarrhea and digestion didn’t work and had no side effects with it. I still have digestion problem Creon didn’t help too My GI prescribed breathing test waiting for the results

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Hi @gulzar ,
Is the breathing test to check for SIBO? I hope you post when you get the results.

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@gulzar

For me prescribed for diarrhea and digestion didn’t work and had no side effects with it. I still have digestion problem Creon didn’t help too My GI prescribed breathing test waiting for the results

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Hello @gulzar .
I wanted to check in with you to say hello and to see how you are doing. When you last posted you were waiting for test results from a breathing test. I hope the test results gave you some helpful information. Could you provide an update on that?

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Hello Teresa
The test result was Negative it seems this due to the NET cancer and not to monthly injection because I had it before getting injection
Creon is not helping that much but stopped my diarrhea and checked my vitamins only B12 in in low level
Thanks
Ozzie

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@gulzar

Hello Teresa
The test result was Negative it seems this due to the NET cancer and not to monthly injection because I had it before getting injection
Creon is not helping that much but stopped my diarrhea and checked my vitamins only B12 in in low level
Thanks
Ozzie

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I so appreciate your update, @gulzar. How is everything else going with your NETs? Have you had any more treatments, surgeries, or new NETs? We all have different NETs journeys and I look forward to hearing how you are doing.

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My primary tumors removed have over 20 in liver they have been stable for over 4 years
My kidneys function creatinine was going up and improved so much after doctor ordered hydration before and after MRI it seems contrast hurting the kidneys

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@gulzar

My primary tumors removed have over 20 in liver they have been stable for over 4 years
My kidneys function creatinine was going up and improved so much after doctor ordered hydration before and after MRI it seems contrast hurting the kidneys

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Stability is such a great word when we are dealing with tumors, @gulzar! Congratulations on this. I'm also glad to hear that you have found a way to protect your kidneys before and after the MRI contrast. Do you get fluids by IV during the MRI or do you just drink lots of water?

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