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How to manage unpredictable, rapidly changing bowel symptoms from LARS

Posted by jimdiehl @jimdiehl, Mar 9 11:44am

At age 80, I am 39 years out of low anterior resection for stage 1 rectal cancer, pelvic radiation, and ostomy takedown. Doing well with 3 year colonoscopies. Biggest problem is managing bowel habits since becoming a flight attendant 10 years ago.
On my feet for 12 hours with little opportunity for extended bathroom time, I can go from constipation or not needing a BM to loose, watery stool in minutes. Have adopted by use of Dulcolax Soft Chew, Loperamide, Low residue/low roughage diet before a trip with some success and Depends in an emergency. Want to explore pelvic floor therapy, sacral nerve reinnervation, and other potential remediation to gain control of bowel movement habits.

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amyb5 | @amyb5 | Mar 10 10:56am

Managing bowel habits has dictated my life since 2021, when I was first treated with chemo & radiation therapy for what was (then) diagnosed as ureter cancer. Turned out that cancer was an occult tumor of a lymph node, that had invaded the ureter. Anyway, 18 months later, the primary anal/rectal cancer showed up, so off to chemoradio therapy again. All the treatment has destroyed my bowels. I have the sacral nerve stimulator, I wish I could say it worked. I don’t know how you work in this condition!
The best solution for me, has been to use Linzess to cause me to have a bowel movement. It works approximately 2 hrs after taking it (for me), I then spend the next 1-1/2-2hrs clearing my bowels. This allows me to use the rest of the day. It has also prevented the bowel impactions/obstructions that I used to get. Sometimes I have to add castor oil in my naval at bedtime, to help get things going. Crazy routine (I take Linzess at 3:30-4:00am), but for me, it’s working. Has minimized my accidents. Best wishes to you!

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jimdiehl | @jimdiehl | Mar 15 6:16pm

Will investigate Linzess. I have used Dulcolax Soft Chew to initiate a BM in about 4 hours. I do this 24 hours before an airline trip to aid in clearing my bowels. Then early on trip morning I take a 2mg Loperamide which effectively puts my peristalsis colon action to sleep. It wears off in two to three days, back to unpredictable bowel habits

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amyb5 | @amyb5 | Mar 18 11:28am
In reply to @jimdiehl "Will investigate Linzess. I have used Dulcolax Soft Chew to initiate a BM in about 4..." + (show)
@jimdiehl

Will investigate Linzess. I have used Dulcolax Soft Chew to initiate a BM in about 4 hours. I do this 24 hours before an airline trip to aid in clearing my bowels. Then early on trip morning I take a 2mg Loperamide which effectively puts my peristalsis colon action to sleep. It wears off in two to three days, back to unpredictable bowel habits

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I’m sorry. Living according to bowel movements (& interventions due to bowel movements), is such a challenge! I hope you find what works, & it continues to work.

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verol65 | @verol65 | Mar 19 4:14pm

I had pelvic floor therapy with biofeedback and PTNS (percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation). It really helped. It's important to know that once the sessions are over, it is strongly advised to keep doing the exercises you learned during the therapy.

Personally, I manage very well by balancing soluble and insoluble fibers, sticking a schedule for meals as much as possible, not drinking starting 30 minutes before the beginning of a meal till 1 hour after the end of the meal.

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