I am going through a chemo course and after each session I have a battle with constipation. After this second dose of chemo my stools were like marbles and then slowly over a few days returned to what I regard as a normal consistency for me. The last 2 days my output was way beyond what I would have expected for the diet I was on and the amount I ate of what I thought was a low residue diet, I nigh on was on a 18 hour outputting session. My stoma is now bulging out at times and causing a fair bit of discomfort at times, I wonder if it has been overworked as it looks swollen? I use a Coloplast 2 piece and my stoma is normally at 28 mm. Has anyone else had the misfortune to be on chemo and experienced similar things. Any advice/comment/help, thank you in advance.
Hi AJ , Chemo and Radiation can cause a lot of inflammation in the intestines . The Love of my life , Kitty had an Ileostomy just like me ( UC ) only because the Doctors did no pay attention enough to see how dadly the treatment was damaging her Colon and Small Intestine . By the time they took it seriously it was too late to save her Intestines. She lost All of her Colon and most of her Small intetine . Kitty had Short Bowel Syndrome and was told she would be on IV food for therest of her ilfe. Eventually she was able to eat normally . When my belly acts up I generally go on a Ramen Instant Noodle diet for a while , I add a bit of fish, Salmon even from the can is pretty good with no residue at all , all I get is liquid .
I would ask the Doctor how your Intestines look and asking for a Scan or even an Ultrasound of your Neck to Pelvis to see if there is inflammation going on .
Hope they help you resolve this .
Eamon X
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