I had radiation some years ago and have had periodic problems with diarrea that is getting uncontrollable. Any one have any old remedies that they know of besides Emodium...I'm living on the stuff. Anyone else have this problem....getting discouraged real fast. I can't drink juice, eat any fruit or oatmeal or fiber of any kinds. HELP

Rice and cheese might help. Have you talked to a dr?

What about the BRAT diet ? Bananas Rice Apple sauce and toast. That is what I use to give my kids when they were sick and had that problem. That is what their doc told me to do ...

Sharon

Have you talked to a naturopath? I would think there would be several natural options that may help. I know when the kids were little unripe bananas were suggested, not totally green ones but more green than yellow.

I also seem to remember my mum saying stewed apples were really good too. It would pay to research anything well though, you never know if something is an old wive's tale or actually worthwhile trying.

Good luck... it must make life very difficult!

I was going to suggest the BRAT diet, but then I re-read your post, so that won't work.

The BRAT diet is bananas, rice, applesauce and toast.

Hope you find some relief for your problem.

Snap! :-)

Oh, I am sorry to hear this. I have an aunt with Crohn's Disease. I also have stomach problems and have almost had some embarrassing times.

Are you sure it is related to the radiation? I found that cutting out Splenda helped me a LOT. I like the taste of it, so I was sorry to do that, but after I stopped using it, I noticed a huge improvement. Also, certain foods seem to trigger it for me- onion soup mix, for whatever reason does NOT agree with me. Try keeping a food journal and see if you can see a pattern.

My aunt had the same problem after radiation, her doctor gives her something.

the one thing I have completely illiminated was chocolate of any kind. That was a sure trigger. The one thing that is frustrating is not knowing what to eat. I can get away with a bagel in the AM or soup at noon but I am going to research crohns disease also.

Watch your food additives. I have the same problem when I have MSG (monosodium glutomate) and Aspertame. MSG has MANY names it goes by -- do a Google search and Aspertame is in a lot of food products (it's the blue sweetener). Good luck!

aspartame - also known as Nutrasweet - aggravates a lot of people

I've had this problem in the past, I lived on the BRAT diet and hard cheeses, vitamins and supplements. The doc even had me drinking hot rice water as no coffee or tea was allowed :( I hope you can find relief soon, I know how miserable that can be.

You REALLY need to go see a Dr. and try and NOT get this fixed on the internet, although our intentions are good.
Go to a Dr....ASAP!!!
Kirsten

My dad had radiation treatments with the same results as yours. He mostly eats rice, boiled chicken, bananas, etc,

Have you tried the yogurts with natural cultures in them? They are supposed to help you replace the natural flora that is supposed to be in your intestines---they help with constipation or diarrhea.

I hope you find something and share it. I am almost afraid to eat out where I can't go right home. I don't know what it is and I've always had a sensitive digestive tract. I had my gallbladder removed years ago and I'm pretty sure it started after that. I don't think it's food though. Once I was about to eat lunch at work, took ONE BITE of a potatoe chip and immediately had to run to the ladies room.

One day something is fine. I'll have it the next day and NOT! I never know what's going to trigger it.

Pam I know what you mean, I was told by my Dr. that its having the gallbladder removed that causes the problem. He said stay away from greasy foods, I do but thats not it either. I never know what will happen, it is better if not eating out.

I think it would be a good idea to see your doctor. I'm sure he will have some suggestions.

There is an over the counter medication called "Digestive Advantage" (Walmart, K-mart, Rite Aid, Eckards, Kinney's)there is one for Lactose Intolerance, and one for Chron's, and one for IBS...I personally use Lactose Intolerance and it is better than Lactaid by far. Have used IBS in the past and that is better than Imodium. Hope this helps BUT---you need to discuss this with your Dr.....as you know, it's no joke. :oops: :hunf: Joan

when i was suffering from it really bad for about a week the DR gave me something called Lomatil (think i spelled it right) I only had to take two or three and it stopped.

Pam, you just summed me up in a nutshell! I just never know -- and it gets very hard to go out with friends.

Is that prescription?

gosh, sorry what you're going through. I've had irritable bowel for years, and have a few triggers. Canola oil is the biggest, so i dont eat french fries when having fast food. And artificial gravy. Like if we're gonna have hamburger helper for supper, no way do we get beef strogonaff with the brown gravy, we get the lasagna hamburger helper cus it has tomato sauce.

Yes it is

Oooch, what an unfortunate side effect, I really feel for you. I also think it is best for you to go to the doctor. The digestive system is a tricky thing at the best of times, everyone reacts in different ways to things.

Every time I have something wrong with me I look it up on the internet. After hours of searching, finding scary stories about the 'thing' I have, getting 101 different 'diagnoses and 202 different 'cures', my common sense finally kicks in and I take myself to the doctors.

Good luck with finding some relief

While waiting to see your dr you might try some Pro-biotics. It will replace the natural bacteria in your intestines.

Vicky

walmart carries a generic emodium that I find helps tremendously. Its the EQUATE Brand. My doctor said that it doesn't hurt to take this on a continual basis as its just a stool forming additive. I always take one when I'm going to eat out or golf...no surprises PLEASE, ha I will try and watch the additives in food, never thought about that...thanks so much, I guess I'm not alone in this problem. Another thing my doctor told me is to be sure and take calcium tablets because everyone complains about them. I find they do help also for some reason....I TRY everything....thanks so much to all who replied...

I've tried this also....helps for awhile :D

Pam, My BIL had his removed and has the same problem. I too think it is related. He believes it is from this too.

Kyia

My first quilt teacher and now dear friend has the same thing: radiation colitis from a cobalt implant years and years ago. Coconut macarrons helped for a while. Try that first. But if the diarrhea persists, you need to see a gastroenterologist who can prescribe something stronger. Good luck!

Radiation may have killed the natural flora in the digestive tract. Health food stores have pills to replenish the flora. Also some yogurts, like Activia claim to do the same. You might also try eating some very dark chocolate. I get the Lindt dark chocolate, which is over 60% cocoa. That seems to regulate my digestion pretty well. It firms things up, but doesn't cause constipation. And who doesn't like eating chocolate? :wink:

What the health food store will have is call Acidophilus. I have my 10 year old DD on it for regularity. It promotes intestinal health. BUT - you should still get this checked out with a DR. The Pied. ok'd this for my DD.

I worked in an endoscopy unit and our docs encouraged water, lots of water if you can't take fiber. Good luck!!

Eat bread dough. That will stop diarrhea fast. My grandmother always had bread dough rising and that has been a known cure passed down for generations. Eat too much and you will be stopped up for days. I would first ask the Dr. because you don't have a natural diarrhea problem.

have you kept a good diary - along with when you have the problem - you might be able to make a connection

I don't have your problem, but usually I need to RUN for the toilet after eating aged beef or some oriental foods.

Kind of takes the fun out of eating a nice steak dinner. Grocery store hamburger doesn't seem to cause it.

I called my PA and she said to take one fiber therapy pill and one generic emodium every morning. Walmart carries a brand "Equate" emoidum that works really well. the real emodium is VERY expensive. She said this is very good for your colon and will not hurt your digestive tract. she hesitated putting me on a perscription cuz she said they only help for awhile really not a long term solution. Thanks to everyone and I hope those who need it will try it.

Glad you called your PA - you know we all mean well, but unless we are Dr.s we can only give you suggestions. Hope what she told you helps and let her know if the situation does not change or gets worse.