Hi there, I found this site and could use some advice if anyone has been through something similar. I had to get a colostomy bag put in emergency because I have a huge tumor crushing my anal and other areas shut, so it was about to burst my bowels. I have stage four anal cancer and now am undergoing chemo and radiation treatments. It's been about a month and a half since the surgery, and I just can't seem to find a diet that doesn't feel like knives running through me with big blocked-up, barely passing matter, and oh, it hurts, and I feel so bad. I'm only 94 pounds. Please let me know what was kind to you if you have been through this experience because I'm facing the biggest challenge due to weight loss, and no food likes me so far. Starving!!! Thank you all, and God bless you.
Welcome to the site. I'm sorry you're struggling.
I had rectal cancer, a massive tumor that invaded the other organs in my pelvis. I hope your cancer is more contained.
I did not get surgery until after chemo and radiation, so it isn't exactly the same. But I recall having a lot of intestinal distress during treatment as well as difficulty eating.
Get an appointment with a dietitian. Most cancer centers have one on staff at least part-time. I asked my oncologist, and he referred me.
Focus on protein. Your body needs protein to fight the cancer. Find a protein shake like Premier Protein or Ensure in a flavor you like and drink at least 1 per day, but go up to multiple per day if you aren't eating well.
Consider going on a full liquid diet for a few days up to a week; this should give your system some relief and stop the pain. If not, go clear liquid but only for 1 or 2 days. If the pain doesn't stop, you need to talk to your doctor. Something else is going on.
Add back low-residue (no fiber) foods slowly. Keep a food diary and note anything that leads to pain within about 18 hours. Once you have some low-residue foods you can comfortably eat, you can trial food with more fiber. Slow and steady wins the race.
Add calories where you can: full cream instead of milk or creamer in your coffee, butter can be added to everything, add protein powder, whatever you can, peanut butter (smooth only for now), and cheese are rich sources of calories. Your goal is to maintain your weight. The cancer is robbing your body of energy, and you need more calories just to maintain your weight.
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Hi Crossley. Ya know, I think it’s all about feelings. I don’t mean the pain feelings which could control everything. I mean the feelings inside our heads, our hearts and even our souls. I mean the feelings of who we are now compared to who we were; how we accept our situation or maybe we don’t. My wife asked how I felt and I said, “like crap”. She asked what hurt and I answered, “Nothing hurts, well, everything hurts, I don’t know, It all sucks.” That was a long time ago. You question if your feelings are normal. How normal is it to relocate your butt hole to your belly where it’s usually in the way of your belt and, you know. But that’s where we are and for lots of us we are so much better off than we were before, physically. Emotionally, psychologically, well, that might be a different story. I believe talk therapy is wonderful if we could find a real empathic or sympathetic listener. So guess what! I found MAO and began “talking” with a keyboard with some of the wisest, kindest most sympathetic and compassionate folks on the planet. Regardless of where we’ve been, lots of folks here have been there and worse places and found their way back healthier and happier. We really do help each other.
Keep “talking”,
Mike
G-Day,
I hope that by following Susan's details, it works for you. Keep us up to date. Sending good vibes to you.
Regards, IGGIE
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What worked for me one day didn't work the next. I could eat BBQ, and it was the best tasting thing ever; the next day I'd look at it and want to puke. My advice: eat whatever you can, healthy or not; you need calories. The radiation and/or chemotherapy is what's causing your pain. I'd about pass out while trying to poop, and then I'd only pass a pea-sized turd. Get through the cancer stuff, whatever it is your doctors have you set up to do, and it'll get much better once that crap gets out of your system.
I have to agree with both AlexT and SusanT, aim for higher calories and lower fiber foods that your mouth likes. Chemo is a serious challenge. I couldn't stand the taste of coffee (which I normally love!) during chemo for some reason, but liked lemonade, so that's what I drank. Protein is your friend and will help you heal. I had to try and find veggie proteins that didn't upset my tummy because I have gout, and too much meat protein can set off kidney problems for me. I could tolerate about one veggie protein shake a day, cottage cheese with crackers worked for me, and chicken noodle soup helped me too. Once you can tolerate a little bit of chopped-up nuts in your system, I found the Aloha brand protein bars quite tasty and packed a nice dose of protein too.
My Ostomy Journey: LeeAnne | Hollister
Bless You Both
Susan has such a depth of detailed and good advice and is such a practical comfort for so many of us. Thank you for your postings.
May your weight improve and the pain ease.
My best energy wishes to you.
Never give up
armyagcorps77
Where there is a will, there is a way.
Hug - hug
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Jayne ~ ~ ~ ~ ~