As a long term cancer survivor of multiple Myeloma, I have had my share of side effects, issues, fatigue, etc…yada ,yada ,yada… It’s not fun being on drugs/chemo for so long but one puts up with it because well, we want to live. It’s kinda a no brainer. But one of the issues I have had really since my SCT is G I issues. It really started about 3 years into Revlimid when I noticed I was going to the bathroom a lot. I didn’t really quite register( a little slow on the uptake here) that I was having diarrhea a lot. I know I kept mentioning it to my doctor but he didn’t seemed concerned or said take Immodium. It started to get worse and I would need to go immediately after I ate and then I needed to know where bathrooms were etc. I didn’t go out to eat unless I felt sure I could get home in time. I figured this was something I had to live with. I’m off Velcade and Dex now but I was still having the same issues. Eat, bathroom…..not fun. Then last week I read the Myeloma Beacons column by Tom Shell about issues he’s having and GI issues. I always enjoy these columns written by very good writers and interesting people. But I also read all the comments since I learn SO MUCH from other people. Well, someone, Katie, mentioned a drug called Questran for diarrhea and I immediately was interested. I posted a comment to her about the drug etc, but it wasn’t published for some reason, so she didn’t get a chance to answer my couple of questions. Well, I looked it up and read all the details especially about bile and after eating the release of certain enzymes. It sounded exactly like what I have. I’m guessing this is a result of so many drugs over the years but also, I think my body is triggering this reaction. Well, the uptake is I e-messaged my doctor, who always is very responsive, and said could he order me a prescription for me to try since I’ll be going on vacation in August and I’m concerned about diarrhea. He said it’s worth a try and did.
AMAZING!!!! I’m taking 1 teaspoon in the morning and I have had absolutely no diarrhea. I want to give a huge shout out to Katie who wrote that comment, because I am amazed. I don’t to get too confident yet but today is day 6 and it is amazing to feel just a little more confident about going out to town or whatever. I am taking a very small dose and it’s doing the job.
If this has been an issue for you read what it says about the drug. It really described my condition totally.
I’m so glad that Questran has helped you. Honestly, you never really complain in your blog, so no one reading it knew that you were suffering. I hope this proves to be be a long term solution for you
this was a marvelous read; thank you!