Bladder and Bowel Preparation for prostate radiation

From my personal experience, I wouldn't take antibiotics without planning a dose of Culturelle and/or Florastor (depending on the issue being treated) on a regular schedule not to interfere with the antibiotic's effectiveness. Consult your doctor, of course. But I will add that doctors were of zero use 20 years ago when my wife needed a proper probiotic, so there is that. All I can tell you is that for the last 20 years, if any of us in the family or friends had any gut issues, say, after dining out, we would take a Culturelle and the problem is gone within the hour. Our habit now is to pretty much take a Culturelle daily. We don't travel without Culturelle and Florastor. Both can usually be purchased at your big box stores (Costco, Sam's Club, BJ's, etc.). During my proton therapy a year ago, I took Culturelle daily to prevent any unwanted gut issues, which might have affected receiving the daily therapy. It worked. That's my experience. Your mileage may vary.

Culturelle is the ONLY probiotic I ever used that actually made my body react in any way.
Phillips Colon Health was also helpful; reasonably priced as well. Most of the expensive health store formulae are a complete waste of $$.
Phil

Tks.

I think the C Diff is going away - primary symptom gone, lingering other gut issues. I asked the doc by message today when I could consider myself no longer contagious. "When the symptoms go away." I had to ask which, because normally I have gut symptoms. Meanwhile, the radiation therapists have to put on their gowns and gloves, and I can't visit my friends for coffee, or go to church, because I might infect someone.

My reading says I'm not infectious. My guess is that the docs sent essentially boiler-plate that works for people without lots of gut issues.

We'll see.

On the probiotics, I'm taking recommended probiotics for this. But ironically, becausse of SIBO, normally I'm supposed to not take them.

Complex. Frustrating. And it means I have to go with a very complex prep for the radiation - one I've been developing by AI suggestions and experience as I go along. It worked well today, and if its repeatable, I'll give kudos to drinking a fair amount of warm herbal tea through the day up until the official start of prep. But I also am eating only one meal a day, with less than 1000 cals and foods chosen for low residue.

I'm tired of this. The radiation stuff doesn't bother me, but getting my gut to where I can have the radiation just frustrating.

About 20 years ago my wife had a problem with C-Diff after taking clindamycin that a dentist had prescribed. It got so bad that she was headed for colon surgery if things didn't improve. No antibiotics worked. I did some research and discovered a probiotic called Culturelle(R) I was able to find it in only one pharmacy in downtown Portland, a city where I worked at the time. This turned her around and, in my opinion, saved her life. We have been taking Culturelle ever since, especially when we travel and after dining out. Once in a great while, when Culturelle doesn't quite fix an intestinal "problem," we use Florastor(R), a probiotic known for its ability to combat C-Diff.

Based on my personal experience ask for something for bladder urgency early on. My RO doesn't like to prescribe any meds and lead with that we don't provide this that or the other. Frankly forgot the details but after blowing up on the table twice in one day 4 weeks in I told them I would not get back on the table until they treated my bladder urgency. It arrived Saturday, the next day. They couldn't get paid if I didn't get on the table. Money talks!

For what its worth, I am taking 28 radiation sessions as well. I never take enemas, and I drink around 20 oz of water on my way into the center. I did not have the spaceOAR. I will be starting my last week Monday. What worked or me was to schedule radiation in the morning, have some coffee to keep things moving, empty your bowels and bladder, and then refill your bladder with water on the way to the session. It's worked for me, I have never had a session delayed. Good luck!

Hi... I might have had one pill of antibiotics prescribed pre-biopsy, not sure. But that was 2 months before the symptoms started. But, I had C Diff once before, decades ago, and my gut never recovered. It went untreated for 8 months of disabling sickness (I was working full time but had to half time or more from home due to it). Finally, they gave me two courses of Flagyl and it went away. The gut damage never did get better.

So yeah, Bad sh*t indeed (pun intended)!

I notified my oncology team as soon as I got the test results. It just means the radiation therapists wear PPE (waterproof gown, gloves) when I come in. I have 3 treatments that way already. I'm also practicing good hand hygiene - you have to wash well with real soap.

I think Mayo was one of the pioneers in fecal transplants. I hope we don't get that far.

Whoa!! You only get that when you’ve been on a regimen of strong antibiotics (Biaxin esp). Were you given any prior to treatment or did you take any leftover from some previous illness?
You might have to postpone your treatment if the Vancomycin doesn’t clear it up. C. Diff is some serious sh** - no pun intended! People are now getting fecal transplants for persistent cases.
I strongly suggest you talk to your RO about this before continuing your treatment!!
Phil

My gut problem is getting more complicated. I found out yesterday I have C. difficans. So now I'm on a very strong antibiotic (Vancomycin) and the radiation therapists are wearing personal protective equipment - gloves and waterproof gowns over their clothes.

C diff is common bug that can get pretty serious if not treated. But my concern now is being able to prep right for radiation, as things change from diarrhea (2 wks) back towards normal (IBS).

Every treatment day is a challenge: how do I prepare so that I won't get kicked out of the session.

Good thinking with ditching the Miralax. Bananas are great for potassium and for diarrhea but you must eat them more on the UN-ripe side or else they have too much sugar and cause cramps. I know green bananas don’t taste as good but that’s the way it is.
Cooked rice and strong tea(tannins) can also help.
Believe me, I know how very hard this juggling act is for you! Hopefully your upcoming consult can shed some light on how to manage this difficult situation. Best,
Phil