Vomiting

I had cancer about 10 yearss ago and had 36 radiation treatments which caused me to have some colon problems (loose stools most of the time).  I have 3-5 BMs a day.  However, a few months ago, everyone in awhile, I would beocome nauseated when I used the bathroom. As I vomited my bowels would move.  Then I would feel fine.  It happens anywhere from 3-6 times a month.  Do  you think this could possibly IBS?

Thanks for responding. I am just looking for a diagnosis...I am an RN and you know how they are!!! Docs just want to do another test and I feel I have been poked and proded all I want right now. I do not have any other symptoms except maybe a mild cramp now and then.

Who knows? The cancer I had was only the 3rd case since 1900 so whatever this is, it is probably odd, too!

--Joyce

Thanks for your reply. I had thought of that but had never found anyone who had the problem because of it.
Thanks. I am going to have gastric bypass in a few months and my surgeon had already said he checks the gallbladder and removes it if needed. Maybe I will be lucky and have it all at the same time.....if that is the problem. Thanks again for replying.

--Joyce

I hope you have been informed that vomiting and diarrhea are extremely common with gastric bypass, so you will probably have an increase in your current problems rather than a decrease--with or without removal of a potentially faulty gall bladder.

I was reading something a few weeks ago about chemotherapy and children, and the fact that they are finding that chemo causes a lot of problems in kids later in life--especially bowel problems. I wouldn't be surprised that your cancer and radiation treatments both have led to your developing problems with your intestines now.

Please know that this is my own, personal opinion, but if I were you, I would be reluctant to reroute my intestines and stomach when I'm already having problems with them. And especially since you have had cancer, and your body almost certainly isn't healthy/functioning correctly now due to treatments you had in the past. Having lived for 5 years with a bad gall bladder, I am terrified of being that sick again. I wouldn't wish that on anyone; and yet, from what I have read, constant stomach/gut problems is pretty well par for the course with gastric bypass. Of course, the fact that 1 in 50 people dies within a month of having it done is pretty freaking scary as well. I would think that, given that your body doesn't work correctly now, your risk would be even higher than average. Contrary to what diet doctors preach about fat killing, most fat people--even most morbidly obese fat people--don't have that great a chance of dying at any given time. I know people who have gotten it done and like it (even though it never makes them fashionably slim), and I've read some real horror stories about how it ruined people's lives and even killed them.

I'm sure you've looked at the lap-band versus gastric bypass already, but if you didn't know about the bowel complications that GB can cause, you may want to rethink the lap band. I have heard it doesn't cause anywhere near as much diarrhea and vomiting and, of course, it's reversible and has a much, much higher survival rate--on par with any other routine surgery, as far as I am aware.