I wonder if anyone has suggestions as to how my husband (dx stage 111 rectal cancer July 2003) can regain the weight he lost during post surgery, chemo/radiation and complications. He lost a total of 40lbs and has regained 20, but seems to have stuck at that now. He has finished treatment and was confirmed cancer free 1/12 months ago. He eats well but has several bowel movements a day, which I know is normal but I am wondering if that is preventing him from putting on more weight.....he could do with at least another 10 pounds. Could the shortened colon be a factor too?

His concern regarding the increased number of bowel movements is aggravated by the fact that he has to attend meetings, which are sometimes quite lengthy, even though he is only supposed to be working part time. He worries that he will feel an urgent need to use the bathroom in the middle of a meeting. Would there be any danger in his taking one Imodium after breakfast to keep the bowel movements at bay without causing constipation or worse, blockage.

Just wondered how people deal with these problems if they occur.

Also asking after James ( Cancer dad) ...have not heard from you for a while.

My husband treats cancer patients and they give their patients ensure to drink. It has vitamins and calories. Hope that helps. Also check with your doctor but there are weight gain suppliments at health food stores.

Alison:
Good to hear from you... thanks for the check in!

Your husband should certainly be trying Immodium or Lomotil. My surgeon has me taking it as I feel I need it to firm things up. I find twice a day works pretty well... 2caps 2x/day. If your husband finds it's too much, he can try increasing his water intake or try docusate (stool softner).

Another option is to start with the fiber supplements... try 1 tab twice a day then increase to 2 twice a day. I find the Lomotil or Immodium work better though. I wish I had the problem of not gaining weight! I think because of my stricture issues and what goes in must come out has me eating lighter which has slowed my metabolism. Good luck to your husband. Again, good to hear from you. :)

Regards,
CancerDad :angel:

ileostomates sometimes eat a few marshmellows to firm things up and keep them from constant bowel movements.

the shortened bowel should not affect calorie uptake, that is done in the stomach and upper (small) intestines. The colon does remove water from the feces though and this can make the result of a partial colectomy, loose stools. (that is why an ileostomate, who has had the total colon removed has problems with dehydration)

Immodium will work but if it not only cancels the rest of the day's BM's but also the next day's and the day after you might try something less strong. During my chemo I would get bouts of diarehea that immodium would only take care of after I took three in a row but then I would go almost a week before the next BM.

Ensure is one way to go. There is also the sports drinks that are readily available. They contain electrolytes and sugar and come in various flavours.

I lost 20 pounds but gained it all back, I have since lost 10 due to cutting out certain snack foods.. My situation is different though since I could have afforded to lose 30 at the time of my surgery and still looked healthy.

Hi alison..... good to see you :wave:

My husband has bouts of urgency, usually during or straght after a meal or hot drink. If it turns into diarhearra ( haha..... great spelling huh? ) then he resorts to immodium. Unfortunately he does have the odd mishap but nothing he cant deal with.

He also gained back a lot of weight. He lost about 60 lbs and has gained about 75% of this but is a normal weight now for him. He weight gain was prior to going back to work so he did have complete rest and a mixture of mine and his mother's cooking.

I do worry a lot about his weight though. It only takes a couple of light meal days for him to look "thin" and I think that we should all be on the heavier side of healthy. I am convinced this is what saved him in the first place. His weight loss was so rapid in last 2 months before diagnosis that if he had weighed any less at the outset then he would have lost his fight before he had a chance to fight it.

Anyhow, only advise i can give is make sure his calorie intake exceeds his outake and that he does not overdo his excercising and stuff.

Take care
Ktee

Thanks everyone. It is not really that my husband is not eating enough...and he hates supplements....just that, with the amount he is eating, I thought he would have put on more weight. His job is quite sedentary but mentally very demanding so that is probably keeping him back. I agree, Ktee, that mine too looks thin after a couple of light days of food or rest. I am glad he too had some extra weight.....I wonder if this is why I have put on 15 extra pounds since he became ill!!! Just in case I need the extra weight at some point? Or just over indulgence in comfort food, more like.

Mine has good bowel control considering he was told he would have to have a colostomy. Just that the fear of having urges is more stressful than the actual event, which he can seem to control.

Thanks everyone. It is not really that my husband is not eating enough...and he hates supplements....just that, with the amount he is eating, I thought he would have put on more weight. His job is quite sedentary but mentally very demanding so that is probably keeping him back. I agree, Ktee, that mine too looks thin after a couple of light days of food or rest. I am glad he too had some extra weight.....I wonder if this is why I have put on 15 extra pounds since he became ill!!! Just in case I need the extra weight at some point? Or just over indulgence in comfort food, more like.

Mine has good bowel control considering he was told he would have to have a colostomy. Just that the fear of having urges is more stressful than the actual event, which he can seem to control.

Are there any foods or drinks that seem to trigger an urge off? Maybe he could avoid certain things on days that he knows he will be in a meeting or such like.

Regards
Ktee

Yes, food triggers it!! He just eats less when he has a meeting, which is, of course, what I do not want. I think he has amazing control really, considering. It is also mind over matter and I mentioned Imodium to him and he said "No way!" so it cannot be that anxiety provoking for him. I need to stop fussing like a mother hen!

I just found another bit of information concerning anti-diareha meds.
Consider Imodium, rather than Lomotil. Not particularly new, Imodium has become more and more the drug of choice in reducing the volume of discharge in ileostomies and colostomies. Its great advantage over Lomotil is that it contains no atropine and anti-cholinergic. Atropine in large amounts has several serious side effects, including difficulty in urinating and dryness of the mouth and it can increase intraocular pressure in persons with closed angi-glaucoma. Lomotil requires a prescription.