Has anyone had THIS severe of bowel side effects?
Long time listener, first time caller.
Short rundown: I was diagnosed with stage 3C1 cervical cancer in June 2026. I promptly started treatment beginning of July. I was in a clinical trial for cervical cancer; basically, 8 high dose EBRT radiation sessions instead of 25 (the norm), 4 chemo rounds, and 4 brachytherapy rounds. I’ve been done with EBRT for two weeks, and done with Brachy for almost a full week. I have not had any surgery done.
Here’s the issue: since the middle of EBRT, I have been having the worst diarrhea I’ve ever heard anyone talk about. When I say I can go up to 25-30 times a day, I wish I was exaggerating. It’s also out of my control; my body starts cramping and pushing, and I have to RUN to not soil myself. My doctors prescribed Imodium and lomotil along with the BRAT diet. I have experienced zero change with these medications other than the hour of relief after they kick in; it starts right back up after that golden hour. I am going INSANE. I can’t go back to work because I need to be within 10 ft of a bathroom at all times. I’m stuck in bed because I am hunched over trying to walk from the pain in my bowels. I am on an opioid painkiller that is not helping any part of the situation either. I have also tried hydrocortisone suppositories with zero relief.
Someone please say they have had this before (I’m so sorry if you have) and what you did to help it. I am crying every day because I am never not in pain and I can’t leave my house or go back to work after a month off for treatment. If I was offered a colectomy right now, I would take it immediately, that’s how bad this is. If anyone has ANY advice, please let me know. I’ve been stuck with a heat pad in my bed for days now after getting back home after treatment and I just want to see the light at the end of the tunnel.