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Post Chemo/treatment complete yet stomach pain after eating/drinking

HodgQueens
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Hi, I wonder if someone would help please; during treatment I developed awful digestive pain after eating or drinking. It settled a little or maybe the pain reduced but I'm really noticing it still. I finished chemo (ABVD for Hodgkins)at the end of June and radiotherapy at the end of August. It's now December and I'm still struggling after eating or drinking. I get griping pains and nausea.

I read that I could be down to gut microbiome after chemo and have been having benecol daily for the past week with little improvement if any.

Is this normal?

I'm finding it so hard post treatment. I'm so alone. The medical team treat the cancer but not the continued awful post treatment pain, nausea, hair loss, emotional changes, exhaustion, fear, anxiety. I feel like post treatment I've been put on a dinghy and pushed out into a storm alone. 

My family love me but think that because I'm in remission I'm fine. I'm not.

  • Hi HodgQueens,

    Thanks for getting in touch, and welcome to the online community. My name is Ursula and I’m one of the cancer information nurse specialists on the Macmillan support line.

    I am sorry that you are still struggling with griping pains and nausea, after completing treatment at the end of August. Sometimes there can be late effects of cancer treatments. Here at Macmillan, we are independent of the NHS and do not have access to medical records, so we are unable to give personalised advice. However, with any new, changing or worsening symptoms it is important to contact your GP, specialist team or NHS 111 so that you can be medically assessed and supported with managing these symptoms,

    It sounds like you are going through many emotions right now. I am sorry that you are finding it so hard post treatment and feel so alone. Recovering from treatment can take time and bring its own challenges. Friends and family often expect you to ‘bounce back’, but here at Macmillan we understand the reality can be very different. I am glad you have reached out today so we can signpost you to some of the support that is available and hopefully you will not feel so alone. It is also important to let your GP know how you are feeling, so they too can support you.

     

    This Blog post from Maggie’s Cancer charity talks about feelings after cancer treatment, and also has some tips for coping with these feelings.

    Maggie’s also offer a seven-week course Where now? This course offers support beyond treatment, offering skills and techniques to support you through this period and beyond.

    Lymphoma Action offer many resources and support, including their Live your Life programmes which are offered both in person, on-demand or online. They have been developed to support people at the end of lymphoma treatment, to help you to connect with others in a similar situation, develop self-management strategies, and to find further local help and support. 

    Here at Macmillan, through a partnership with Bupa, we are offering up to 4 free remotely delivered counselling sessions for people struggling emotionally due to cancer. We also offer online access to a self-directed HOPE programme – Help for overcoming problems effectively. It is based on positive psychology, mindfulness and cognitive behavioural therapy, and helps develop coping strategies and techniques.

    You may also find it helpful to chat in more detail with one of our nurses, by giving our support line a call. Or the Hodgkin lymphoma forum on our online community can often offer support from others going through similar challenges.

    I do hope you find this information helpful, but please do not hesitate to get back in touch with us if you need any further support. 

     

    Take care, 

    Ursula

    Cancer Information Nurse Specialist 

     

    You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email.  

    Ref: UH/DT

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