This week marks 16 years of living with cancer for me. It’s been a long slog, but of course I am grateful to still be here to tell my story.
I got the incurable diagnosis 11 years ago, and it was at this time that I had radiotherapy to my lung. For me it was the miracle treatment because it shrunk my tumour in my bronchial airway just in a few days, enough so I could breath again. It left me with a perfectly formed red square, a burn mark, on my chest and on my back, which with time has disappeared completely. It took me a good 12 months to recover from my radiotherapy, but did not suffer any other side effects, until about 18 months ago when I started with just a gentle tingling in my back. Right where the red square used to be. Over time this tingling changed to painful pins and needles, with shooting pain like electric shocks going up my neck. I have since been diagnosed with late onset Radiation-induced peripheral neuropathy (RIPN). My nerves have been damaged by the radiation, possibly scar tissue effecting the nerve endings.
Last week was unbearable. It has now spread up over my shoulder and into my scalp. The tingling radiates down my arm, and my grip is being effected, I dropped my mug of tea this week I just lost my grip completely. My GP wants to start me on Gabapentin. Is anyone else on this medication and can share their experience of side effects of it please? I have to come off of my amitriptlyne first, so can’t start it straight away, but I’m also feeling nervous about taking it.
Hi anndanv I did mention it at my last oncologist appointment back in February, but to be fair it has got worse since then. I will see how I get on with this Gabapentin and if no better I will go back to my oncologist.
The New Forest is lovely, I won’t get to see much of it though this week, I will be stuck indoors with 2 puppies, luckily my daughter has a lovely house with lots of rooms to separate them if needed, and plenty of space to run around. You are right I will need a break myself by the end of the week! X
