Radiation prep FLEET ENEMA nightmare: HELP

Paxton said...
P.S. I also used Gas-X. I wasn't sure if it was helping, but thought it couldn't hurt.

FWIW I had asked my RO about simethicone and he said products like Gas-X only work in the stomach, but he said Beano works in the bowel.

Well...I had the treatment and no gas issues.

All the info helped. I really was vigilant about the diet...took the gasex later

The enema really didn't agree with me and was nauseous...but I didn't have gas.

I think possibly my low fiber diet plan included some whole milk products like yogurt and milk.

I eat some but not as much. That could have been the cause.

thanks everyone.

Most of my treatments have been at around 3:00 Pm unless they are delayed which is almost always the case. But a 3:00 Treatment means you have to be there at 2 to empty your bladder and drink 8 oz of water (you have to hold it in for an hour...but if they run late even longer)

So if I have to be there at 2
I take the gasex the night before (I used the gel caps this time which might work better)
That morning I take the enema at 10 (you only need it 3 hours before..but I need that extra hour because they don't work well on me and I'm still going till I leave)...also warm up the fleet bottle a bit as that helps.

After I take the fleet and have gone to the bathroom (I will usually end up going a few more times) is the window when I eat a small meal. A bit of turkey and maybe some rice cereal.

You might be going for a long time with no food so while you don't want a full stomach..you don't want to be gurgling from all those meds..the enema..and have an empty stomach.

That is the diet that I followed. I cut out the fiber but I think I need to put it back as I am becoming constipated making the enema more difficult. Hopefully that small amount won't cause the gas.

They give a protocol of taking the gasex before bed and in the morning no matter what time your treatment is. That makes no sense. The RO doing the procedure said I would take it 2 or 3 hours before the procedure. I think that helps as well.

Hope this helps. The protocol can and should always be tweaked depending on when you go in. They don't even know that you are better off with organic whole psyllium ground than the chemical tasting artificially flavored Metamucil which is processed and actually causes more gas. These places know nothing about better natural versions to use and will never recommend them.

Well

I had my last treatment yesterday. No gas (I've been vigilant with my diet)

Didn't have enough water 3 of the four treatments. Had to stop and drink more water....them they have to film it....get the doctor to sign off....Adds 20 min to the procedure. For the last treatment I insisted on drinking twice the amount of water. They said the first treatment or during the simulation treatment planning they measure how much water is needed to fill the bladder. The RO said I probably didn't pee enough before they took that measurement. So after 2 times the bladder not being full enough I decided to use common sense and push to do something they wouldn't normally do. Just would have to tie up the machine for longer and make me go through double time on the table making the procedure more difficult. Its not bad that they are so meticulous but and it only costs them money (and difficulty for the patient). But being inflexible I suppose makes it easier for them as far as tweaking the treatment for each patient...the one fits all protocol can also make it harder for everyone.

Anyway...I'm done. Hopefully you won't see me posting on the "managing side effects" forum. But the way things have already gone you might see a post or two from me.

Wish me luck....and the best outcomes for all of US.!!!!!!!!!