Pelvic Radiation Diet?

My daughter had a hysterectomy say 5 years back for fibroids, she has allot of trouble having bowel movements, she eats alot of meat and salad, her favorite thing. I think meat is hard for the body to digest. They got her to drink Sooth Move Tea. Seems to help her.

@terradean It really is challenge to figure out how much water to drink before your radiation appointment and time it just right. You have a longer drive than I did to your appointments and since you're working you have a tighter schedule. Here is what I did. I arrived to my appointment about 30 minutes early. My appointment was about a 10-15 minute drive but I had to park a distance from where I had the radiation treatments. I began drinking water before I left the house, sipped on the water during the drive and while walking to the appointment. Then I finished my bottle of water while I waited in the lobby. There were just a few times I was told my bladder was not full enough although frankly I never could quite figure out how full to be.

My appetite was off during radiation treatment and I lost a little weight but only about 5 or 6 pounds. Also, my bowel movements were more frequent starting at about the half way point of treatments. I carried Immodium with me. Just one tablet of Immodium helped me with a few bouts of diarrhea.

In your weekly meeting with your radiation oncologist you can bring up the side effects you have having. I suggest that you write these down so you don't forget during your appointment. In my experience they were very interested in keeping me as comfortable as possible and had good suggestions.

How are you feeling today?

Boy, Monday was last day of the 25 external radiation, have been in bathroom alot ever since, am hoping slows down not sure Imodium is helping much. Monday, next week both Brachy scheduled, Monday and again on friday.
Following Monday to start last 3 chemo 3 weeks apart. Hope I do well with the rest of this, was told irritation should subside in 2 weeks, Am so hoping. Pretty aggravated right now. Just drank a protein shake hoping it will calm intestinal track and stay put for awhile.

@terradean
Yay, for completion of the external treatments! I had a lot of gastrointestinal issues, especially in the last few weeks. I will say that the brachytherapy treatments made that a little worse and it took about 6 weeks for the diarrhea to stop. I had a lot of crampimg too and that stopped around 2 weeks after I had the last treatment. My doctor said I had gastroenteritis caused from the radiation amd that some people improve in a couple weeks and others take longer. Hang in there you are almost done.

I am not happy about the intestinal issues, I will never believe all this damage is good for you.
I normally drink Kombucha and had not been, I drank one 2 nights ago and no diarrhea yesterday, drank another last night and am tonight. Very soft bowel movements but no diarrhea,
no severe itching either. Guess after Monday's brachy treatment will know more.
Last 3 chemo starts 3 days after brachy, really do not need diarrhea, at same time as chemo effects. Hoping Kombucha may be my answer.

@terradean
I will be thinking of and praying for you. You have been through so much and are nearing the end of the treatment process. Keep trudging along and very soon you will be done.

I want to share something that helped me.

I started my 25 radiation sessions last Monday and also had chemotherapy on that day. Tuesday I drank over 60oz. like they told me to and my bladder was only 40% full. I had to get off the table and chug two 12oz. glasses of water and wait 20 minutes. My bladder was full after that. On Wednesday my bladder was 75% full. Not what they wanted but they still treated me. I was sick to my stomach from drinking so much water. I met with a dietitian afterwards. I told her what a struggle it's been to get a full bladder. She said to start by drinking "Liquid IV" (Gatorade, Powerade, and Propel also work.) She said this would give my cells what they need and then start drinking the plain water and that would fill my bladder. On Thursday/Friday/today my bladder was good! (97-99% and they are happy.) And so was I!!!

Hope this helps you!!!

Finished last Monday the 25 external radiation, Started drinking kombucha about 4 or 5 days ago so two-week's diarrhea issues seemed to stop just alot of soft stools. Think that is because they are much narrower than before radiation. Today started Brachy, wasn't very comfortable waiting after cat scan for treatment plan to be finished.
And, 8 minute treatment to take place. Bladder was to full so not comfortable at all till device was taken out.
Glad to know last one friday will go quickly, just hope my insides aren't to irritated that placing the device doesn't send me. They told me to drink alot of water so radiation isn't to damaging. By the time this is all over I may hate water and have always drank alot of water. Am hoping kombucha keeps diarrhea at bay.

@terradean Your last brachytherapy treatment will be this Friday, the 17th? I'm hoping that will be a relief for you and you can get back to your life and routine.

After my external and internal treatments I was more fatigued then I expected to be. I needed about two weeks to get some reasonable energy back.

I'm not a fan of kombucha however I might have liked to try it when I had diarrhea during my radiation treatments. I'll keep that in mind to recommend to others when they experience what you and I did. I often felt I was swimming in water to get my bladder full enough each day. Fortunately, I didn't hate water when I was finished. I only disliked the local water in Rochester, MN during my treatments. We have own well that is an aquifer of Lake Superior where I live in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. We filter the water ourselves.

I will always drink water as was my favorite drink. Just not the thought right now. I do still have 3 more chemo yet to go through three weeks apart, starts the 2/27 thru 4/10. But, hopefully will go by quickly. Just seems so long. I only hope can some peace after all done.