Diarrhea frequently during Chemotherapy

I was told to take Imodium after each loose stool. Dr prescribed diphrenoxylate for diarrhea. I also take ondansetron for nausea and that causes constipation and that helped me a lot

Thanks for response. Are you still undergoing chemo treatments and are you taking any enzymes?

No I finished 12 rounds of chemo and 3 weeks of radiation.
I take Creon enzymes when I eat.

I wish nothing but the best for you. God Bless you and your loved ones.

Yes, diarrhea is a regular visitor. I had the whipple in April and my last (twelfth) FOLFIRINOX is scheduled on Tuesday. I take Creon with meals. I have found a big link between animal fats and diarrhea. So when it occurs, I stick with chicken and rice or foods that are easily digestible.

Thank you. I am so glad you are almost to your last cycle. I wish my husband wasn’t having such a hard time with it all. The side effects and weight loss are overwhelming at times. The Dr. has paused things till end of August too and will decide how to proceed with cycle #8. Wishing you all the best on this journey. God Bless.

I had significant weight loss as well. I lost 60 pounds total and 20 of that was after the Whipple surgery. I have gained 10 pounds back mainly because they had to break from my chemo for about four weeks because my neutrophils were too low. With your husbands number eight chemo coming up, you are approaching the end. I know it’s really hard and hopefully this break will be helpful. Best of luck.

Thank you and only positive things for you as well.

Ask for a shot of Atropine prior to them administering Irinotecan, which is the drug that causes diarrhea. I am on round 7 and have not had one episode of diarrhea, thanks to them giving me this drug prior to each round.

I had a distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy on Jan 5, 2023. I was stage 1B. No vascular involvement and all 20 lymph nodes removed were clean. Prior to my surgery my CA19-9 was at 89. After surgery it went down to 10. As you know, normal range is 0-35. I had radiation to my Pancreatic bed in March. Chemo started in mid May. By June 16th my CA19-9 had crept up slowly to 206 but I’m happy to report that it has gradually decreased each week since and is currently at 88 going into round 7. The wretched chemo must be doing its job! Recent CT scan was clean. CEA is continually in normal range. I am hoping my CA19-9 continues to decrease. CA19-9 & clear CT scans together are their main way of monitoring the cancer growth or lack there of. The CA19-9 or CEA is not the only determining factor.

My best advice….stay away from sugar & aspartame at all costs! I don’t mean naturally occurring sugar in fruit. I mean added sugars. Sugar is in almost everything. Read labels. Make your own organic green juices & cook for yourself, all organic if possible, so you know what you are eating. Limit meat & dairy. Go plant based. Your body will thank you!

Thank you for sharing your story and helpful ideas. I cook everything and constantly read labels! We were such healthy eaters long before his diagnosis. Now nothing he enjoyed before chemo works. His appetite and weight are dropping with each treatment. I wish you a speedy recovery and will pray things all move in a positive direction. Thank you so much.