Lost weight but getting bleeding
Posted , 4 users are following.
I'm a 67 year old female. In February I had open surgery to remove my gallbladder. Histology discovered a small cancerous growth in the gallbladder wall and so I had a liver resection in March. That found no sign that the cancer had spread but of course it may spread via blood or lymphatic system so I have six-monthly checkups. Next one due in two weeks plus CT scan next week.
Over the period of a year, I've lost four stones in weight through having to eat a low fat diet and lack of appetite. I've had piles since I gave birth to my elder daughter in 1973 and from time to time, I've had small bleeds. I am tested regularly in the national bowel cancer screening. About a month or so ago I started to get bleeds, which I find strange as I've lost so much weight- is this common? Mostly they are very small and red, so fresh blood and no clots, but have had a couple of heavier ones. I don't get itching or pain, but never have had.
Maybe I'm just being hyper, because of my diagnosis, but should I be concerned?
0 likes, 8 replies
Jelly_bean Beenthruit
Posted
Hi Sick of Waiting. If I were you, I would see a nutritionist and get my diet straightened out. Low fat is the worst diet but the fats you need are coconut oil, avocado, and butter. No other oils or fat, they are not good. Cook and bake with the coconut oil using generously. You should be taking fiber everyday, but a good fiber to get your bowels working. Heathers Tummy Fiber is a good one and she has a web site full of info and a newsletter she emails. Eat organic food including meat and chicken. It's so available and affordable these days. This may sound like a drastic lifestyle change for you but It's what will heal your body. At your age you must take better care of your body. Educate yourself on proper eating and avoiding pesticides in food, drinking purified water, etc. We are what we eat.
Beenthruit Jelly_bean
Posted
Thank you for replying. However, I already eat organic meat. I have had to eat low fat on recommendation of surgeon in order to control pain and other symptoms. I would not dare eat butter or cheese now. My diet is actually very healthy. I eat plenty of fruit, salad and veg, and I only eat wholemeal bread and pasta, bran flakes and brown rice anyway so I get plenty of fibre. I need to eat fibre to soak up excess bile due to having no gallbladder so there's no issue there. I'm otherwise very fit and active for my age. I'm just concerned that the cancer has spread to my bowel.
Jelly_bean Beenthruit
Posted
Yes your fears are well founded. If you get a diagnosis thst it has. Be cautious in choosing your treatment. There are lots of options out there that won't destroy your immune system. Many many clinics having great success curing cancer all over the world. And some affordable.
God speed.
anthony10484 Beenthruit
Posted
I suggest that you raise your concerns when you attend for your check up and hopefully the results of the CT scan will put your mind at rest. It's best to get some professional advice as to the appropriate action to be taken, perhaps the person you see at the check up could refer you to the appropriate specialist.
Since you have been having 6 monthly check ups it is perhaps unlikely that anything too dramatic has taken place in the meantime. Should there be need for action the problem should be in an early stage and respond well to treatment. Perhaps I should add that I was diagnosed with fairly well advanced (T3) bowel cancer 3 years ago at the age of 77 and so far things are going well after treatment. Like you, I have 6 monthly check ups, the next one is at the end of this month.
I hope all goes well for you.
Beenthruit anthony10484
Posted
TheToad Beenthruit
Posted
Beenthruit TheToad
Posted
Thank you john. You know how it feels once you've had that diagnosis and I think I'm probably over cautious now and a bit hyper. Pretty sure my problem is haemeroids.
Read your other posts about yellow stools. Mine were yellow and a bit loose post op, but daughter (nurse one) said to increase fibre in diet. She frowns on Imodium type medicine used long term. Switched completely to wholemeal bread, wholemeal pasta, eating skin on potatoes, brown rice and eat branflakes with dried fruit for breakfast two to three times a week. Sounds awful, but actually quite palatable! Also eating a lot more fruit. My stools are now normal and no diarrhoea or constipation . As you're already taking a fibre supplement I'm not sure this would work for you. Ask for that referral to a dietitian.
Went to pizza restaurant last night with whole family (11 of us) and had a low in fat and calories (legera) pizza with salad followed by raspberry sorbet. I felt 'normal' for the first time in many months as what I was eating looked barely any different from what the others were eating! Both daughters on diets now as I think my experience has scared them into losing a few pounds and eating healthily so they both had super salads.
I'll let you know the outcome of my check up.
TheToad Beenthruit
Posted
All sounds very positive! Yes, I will ask to consult a dietician, in fact Dr has agreed to refer me but I've been in two minds about it. But why not? It could help a lot. All I have been told by my Dr and colorectal nurse, is ' that's just the way it is now' and 'at least you're getting rid of it now!' (I had a blockage and things were a bit urgent.' I know exactly about the worry prior to tests etc, but it has got better over time. I'm nervously waiting for my next Colonoscopy about Nov probably. Really glad you are feeling normal! Looking forward to good news about you. Best wishes.