unusual bowel movement

Posted by davidbrandi01 @davidbrandi01, 1 day ago

I am cancer free now. 7 months after RP. two readings at 3 and 6 months both < .01 . Not wearing pads or diapers. Some dripping occasionally , coughing and laughing mostly. Playing 18 holes of golf with no leakage. Here's the question. My bowel movements are pretty regular however wiping my self doesn't seem to remove all the stool material. My point is I have noticed 'poop" stains in my underpants where as i never had before. Any comments would be appreciated

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jeff Marchi | @jeffmarc | 1 day ago

Don’t be 100% positive that you are cancer free. It’s more like you are in remission. For some people that can last a lifetime. I had surgery and 3 1/2 years later my cancer came back. That is true for many people, but a larger percentage don’t have it come back.

Take a quick shower after you poop. That’s what I do. Train your body so you can do it in all early the morning.

retireditguy | @retireditguy | 1 day ago

I haven't noticed any permanent bowel changes after RP a year ago that I attribute to the surgery. In my case, earlier in life (long before surgery) I noticed a little bowel leakage when I was taking a supplement curcumin (from turmeric) to fight inflammation. I stopped taking that supplement and the leakage went away. Since surgery I have added a daily magnesium supplement to my diet. I don't have leakage, but my bowel movements are much easier (sometimes very much easier) so leakage could possibly result. Any chance there's a diet change that could account for your changed bowel behavior? It's a long shot but I thought I'd mention it. Best wishes.

jc76 | @jc76 | 1 day ago

@davidbrandi01
That is great news on your PSA tests. I just had (I had radiation not RP) my 2 year follow up and my PSA was .10

I was told my Jacksonville Mayo Lab does not give numbers out below .10 as they consider below .10 as undetectable. Mine started at 3.75 (I know was normal but rising) so I have been real happy with my numbers also and you should be too.

I am sure many other labs, like yours, give a more precise or lower numbers. But appears you are at the undetetable level and that is great news. Some posters say PSA can come for other sources (not from prostate, and not from prostate cancer cells) but I have no expereience on that so can't comment on it.

I hate to say it but I have the same issues with #2. It seems when I eat certain things my #2 is sticky and sticks to the side of my cheeks. Not always but I know when I eat dark choclate or a type of artificial sweetner this happens a lot.

My wife has same problem so we got one of those toilets that cleans your bottom for you after you poop or with female urinate. She likes it and say does good job of cleaning her. I tried it but did not like the feeling of water going up me, etc. You might want to look into that if you think you would like it.

What I do now is use disposable wet wipes. I clean my #2 area and don't have the problem of what I call stickies and prevents having any spots on underwear. It works for me so passing on my expereince with this. You could try the disposable wipes as easy to use and can be flushed down toile like toilet paper.

heavyphil | @heavyphil | 23 hours ago

Hey, after RP I believe anything is possible. You could have unrecognized (unfelt even) sphincter issues that may cause some stool to come out when you pass gas - commonly known as ‘sharting’…
After a two week bout of post radiation diarrhea my ass and hemorrhoids were killing me. I started using Pampers baby wipes since they were moist, soothing and non abrasive.
But even now, no longer symptomatic, I will use toilet paper at first but finish cleaning myself with a moist Pamper. You will be squeaky clean with no residue at all. Not exactly a bidet, but damned close! If you still find your underwear stained then you are probably not evacuating completely during a BM.
Phil

olman | @olman | 22 hours ago

Japanese toilet is THE BEST!
You can now buy toilet seats with the wash and dry features built in. Once you try it you will never want to use TP again!
Lowed Home Depot has them and you can order them on Amazon
Say goodbye to wiping unless your visiting someone who doesn’t have one

thmssllvn | @thmssllvn | 18 hours ago

Bidet seats can be inexpensive some less than $50.00 [unheated water] or expensive with a required electrical connection for water warming and air drying. If money is no object TOTO has 5K complete toilet solutions. There is even a simple sprayer option that attaches to the side of the tank

jime51 | @jime51 | 13 hours ago

In reply to @jeffmarc "Don’t be 100% positive that you are cancer free. It’s more like you are in remission...." + (show)

I have 2-3 BMs every morning, so I'd be spending a huge amount of time in the shower! Multiple doses of Imodium get my system quieted down for the rest of the day, at least until evening when I have my #3 or #4, #2. My radiation oncologist ran out of ideas.