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Bowel strictures after gynecologic cancer: What helps?

Posted by dor64 @dor64, Jan 12, 2023

Hi I live in Australia. I had cervical cancer 30yrs ago. Total hysterectomy after intense radiation treatments. Suffering since with bowel issues but the last 2yrs have been dreadful. Was diagnosed with bowel strictures in several spots along bowel. Seems no doctor can actually help me. I spend days on the couch with a bowel blockage & self medicate to help move it along. Some times I end up in hospital but same answers...Sorry not much we can do. Please please!! Can anyone tell me if they know of a treatment to help. I'm on pretty much fluid diet as everything else gets blocked. Weigh 40kgs & am total miserable. Please help

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jan 22, 2023

Hi @dor64, I'm tagging a few fellow gyne cancer members like @starko @valentinaz @earscan @erthart65 @val64 @pugpeople, who may have some thought about bowel obstruction after hysterectomy and radiation to treat cancer.

Dor, are you seeing a gastro specialist regarding the bowel obstruction or your oncology team? Have they confirmed what the spots are along the bowel?

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1 reply
dor64 | @dor64 | Feb 1, 2023
In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi @dor64, I'm tagging a few fellow gyne cancer members like @starko @valentinaz @earscan @erthart65 @val64..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

Hi @dor64, I'm tagging a few fellow gyne cancer members like @starko @valentinaz @earscan @erthart65 @val64 @pugpeople, who may have some thought about bowel obstruction after hysterectomy and radiation to treat cancer.

Dor, are you seeing a gastro specialist regarding the bowel obstruction or your oncology team? Have they confirmed what the spots are along the bowel?

Jump to this post

Hi yes I am under a gastro team. This has been going on for 2 yrs. I nearly have an obstruction weekly. Very strict diet. Only weigh 41kgs. Next month he suggested to have a Doctor do an artroscope investigation to look at 1 particular spot. I have several flat spots all along the bowel but this is the largest. Not sure what will happen but soo need my life back. Very depressed

REPLY
2 replies
dor64 | @dor64 | Feb 13, 2023
In reply to @dor64 "Hi yes I am under a gastro team. This has been going on for 2 yrs...." + (show)
@dor64

Hi yes I am under a gastro team. This has been going on for 2 yrs. I nearly have an obstruction weekly. Very strict diet. Only weigh 41kgs. Next month he suggested to have a Doctor do an artroscope investigation to look at 1 particular spot. I have several flat spots all along the bowel but this is the largest. Not sure what will happen but soo need my life back. Very depressed

Jump to this post

Appreciate the hug thanku

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tymayo | @tymayo | Apr 4, 2023

Hi @dor64, I realize your post is from Feb, but I just discovered this support forum a few days ago. Anyway, I have the same issue with bowel strictures and the pain of blockages. It is horrendous. I found significant relief strictly following the Mayo Clinic low fiber diet plan, which I merged with a low oxalate list from Harvard. I use a free food diary template from Vertex42. If you are proficient in Excel, I highly recommend it as you will be able to make a few modifications and track exactly how much fiber you are getting. As for the oxalates, they cause me a great amount of vulvar pain and I think they added to the bowel pain. My diet is soft food, low fiber, low oxalate only. It is limiting but so worth it to avoid that awful impacted pain.

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1 reply
gratefulcat | @gratefulcat | Apr 5, 2023
In reply to @dor64 "Hi yes I am under a gastro team. This has been going on for 2 yrs...." + (show)
@dor64

Hi yes I am under a gastro team. This has been going on for 2 yrs. I nearly have an obstruction weekly. Very strict diet. Only weigh 41kgs. Next month he suggested to have a Doctor do an artroscope investigation to look at 1 particular spot. I have several flat spots all along the bowel but this is the largest. Not sure what will happen but soo need my life back. Very depressed

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@dor64, so sorry you're going through this. Is there a homeopathic doctor in your area who might offer guidance? Also, what type of radiation did you have internal or external? Thank you

REPLY
gratefulcat | @gratefulcat | Apr 5, 2023
In reply to @tymayo "Hi @dor64, I realize your post is from Feb, but I just discovered this support forum..." + (show)
@tymayo

Hi @dor64, I realize your post is from Feb, but I just discovered this support forum a few days ago. Anyway, I have the same issue with bowel strictures and the pain of blockages. It is horrendous. I found significant relief strictly following the Mayo Clinic low fiber diet plan, which I merged with a low oxalate list from Harvard. I use a free food diary template from Vertex42. If you are proficient in Excel, I highly recommend it as you will be able to make a few modifications and track exactly how much fiber you are getting. As for the oxalates, they cause me a great amount of vulvar pain and I think they added to the bowel pain. My diet is soft food, low fiber, low oxalate only. It is limiting but so worth it to avoid that awful impacted pain.

Jump to this post

Do you mind sharing what type of radiation you had, external or brachytherapy? Thanks

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1 reply
tymayo | @tymayo | Apr 5, 2023
In reply to @gratefulcat "Do you mind sharing what type of radiation you had, external or brachytherapy? Thanks" + (show)
@gratefulcat

Do you mind sharing what type of radiation you had, external or brachytherapy? Thanks

Jump to this post

Hi @gratefulcat. At the time I had my surgery, the common thinking was that radiation and chemo weren't good options for this type of cancer. Sounds like there has been a reversal on that. I'm glad to hear that women's health care is improving.

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