1. < Pancreatic Cancer

Does anyone have chronic diarrhea?

Posted by hroberts257 @hroberts257, Dec 20, 2024

My husband was diagnosed with acinar cell pancreatic cancer of the head Oct 11 2024 he started with diarrhea prior to diagnosis May 2024 with c diff since then to loose stools have not gone away Tried creon Zenpep now protonix with viokase
Makes no difference they tested him for sibo and he was positive waiting for insurance to approve expensive antibiotic Takes Imodium lomotil and tincture of opium day 4-8 has 11-12 liquid stools talked to gastro today and he said 100 percent his pancreatic cancer but why isn’t enzymes working tried increasing dose does nothing Just wondering if others have this problem thanks

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Pancreatic Cancer Support Group.

carrie40 | @carrie40 | Feb 14 8:32am
In reply to @jimhans48 "To me diarrhea is a mostly liquid discharge. I don't have that .What I do have..." + (show)
@jimhans48

To me diarrhea is a mostly liquid discharge. I don't have that .What I do have is excessive bowel movements, up to twenty or more a day. These have been since the reversal of my ostomy bag that I wore for about two months after colorectal cancer surgery on May 31 of 2024. Most if not all of my rectum was removed since that is where the cancer was.
My output is soft solid waste. I keep track of the number of bowel movements since I started have WAY two many. six to eight a day is normal, but my high so far is thirty. That was about three weeks ago, from 3 AM until 11 PM that night, about 20 hours. Currently I've had 19 yesterday, Wed Feb 12 and another 26 so far today (it's currently about 9:30 PM), Thursday Feb. 13. I have doubled up tonight on my immodium anti-diarrheal Hoping it doesn't cause unforseen problems. I have had enough of this nonsense and realize there are NO support groups for this! I feel like I'm the only one in Denver Co. so affected, and probably am.

Best of luck to you,
JIM in Denver

Jump to this post

Dear Jim, I really hate to give medication advice, but my PC recommended chlorestyramine (sp?) powders for diarrhea (after Whipple in 2023) and it worked for me. After 3 months or so I don't take it every day and I am still OK. The interesting thing is I told my dear friend who also had colon cancer and part of her rectum removed about 25 years ago; she asked her doctor and has since had a respite from the constant diarrhea. That's 25 years of literally pooping her pants often. Courage, Carrie

REPLY
koneil | @koneil | 1 day ago

I have had chronic diarrhea for almost five years. Ive been through countless tests and procedures. I take lomotal to slow it down. I went to see my gastrologist and met with his PA
She went through my test results and notice my bile content was very high. She prescribed collector to reduce my bile content.
Im thrilled to say so far, that worked.
No more running to the toilet, or cleaning my soiled clothes.
What a difference! I feel normal now.
Has anyone had chronic diarrhea from their gallbladder? My PCP said he had it prior to his gallbladder removal. He said it was common to have this ailment.
Is that common? If its common, why wasn't it found earlier. Thanks to Jordan, the NP, the diarrhea has stopped! I'm eternally thankful.

REPLY
1 reply
Moderator
Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | 13 hours ago
In reply to @koneil "I have had chronic diarrhea for almost five years. Ive been through countless tests and procedures...." + (show)
@koneil

I have had chronic diarrhea for almost five years. Ive been through countless tests and procedures. I take lomotal to slow it down. I went to see my gastrologist and met with his PA
She went through my test results and notice my bile content was very high. She prescribed collector to reduce my bile content.
Im thrilled to say so far, that worked.
No more running to the toilet, or cleaning my soiled clothes.
What a difference! I feel normal now.
Has anyone had chronic diarrhea from their gallbladder? My PCP said he had it prior to his gallbladder removal. He said it was common to have this ailment.
Is that common? If its common, why wasn't it found earlier. Thanks to Jordan, the NP, the diarrhea has stopped! I'm eternally thankful.

Jump to this post

Hi, @koneil - I moved your post here to a current discussion on chronic diarrhea, so you can talk with others who've experienced this. Here's the discussion you are now a part of:

- Does anyone have chronic diarrhea? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/does-anyone-have-chronic-diarrhea/

Hoping members such as @carrie40 @msh466 @jimhans48 and others will have some thoughts for you on the chronic diarrhea you experienced for 5 years and how common it may be to have this symptom from a gallbladder issue.

For the benefit of others in this discussion, koneil, I wanted to confirm the medication the nurse practitioner prescribed that was very helpful to reduce your bile content and which helped the diarrhea you were experiencing. Was it cholestyramine (oral route), described on this Mayo Clinic Drugs & Supplements site https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/cholestyramine-oral-route/description/drg-20068562/?

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