I had 40 radiation treatments for prostate cancer in 2016. My treatment also included Lupron to reduce my testosterone level. About a year after the last treatment I began having frequent, daily bouts with excessive gas and diarrhea. This condition kept me close to home because of the unpredictable nature, as well as the frequency of the episodes.

I was able to get a proper diagnosis from a proctologist who referred me to a wound treatment center that provided hyperbaric therapy. The doctor there recommended 40 daily treatments of 2 hour sessions. After all was done the symptoms were significantly reduced but still there and my daily routine was still unpredictable but more manageable.

My PCP then referred me to a gastroenterologist to see if anymore could be done. There I spoke with the Nurse Practioner who told me to take an over-the-counter combination pill of 2 mg Loperamide and 125 mg of Simethicone. She told me to start with 4 a day and to experiment a bit on the frequency. My final resolution was one in the morning and one at night but I keep a few handy. I also added a nightly 250 mg Simethicone just to avoid any night issues.

As far as daily rituals are concerned I sleep with a bed pad and, if my stomach feels a bit queasy, I wear a disposable diaper as well. During the day I use a minimum of a 12 layer 4” by 4” with a dab of A&D Ointment (for adhesion) to tuck between my buttocks cheeks as a seepage barrier. While this is not perfect, I have found nothing else that is any better. My Howell movements were still runny and more frequent than they should be.

Lastly, my PCP was working on my overall health and he prescribed Ozempic to lower my A1C. I have been using it with a .5 mg dose once a week for the past 6 months. The medication causes my stools to solidify and more often than not I am back to one bowel movement per day like I was before the radiation.

I certainly hope this information proves useful to some of you. Good luck.