Last Thursday I went as a day case to the hospital for the anal stretching to see if it would ease some of my loo problems. The worst part of the day was the waiting for over two hours for my turn, my fault completely but in my nervous state I forgot to take any sort of reading material or even my Suduko book. The nurses were extremely sympathetic but said after Covid they keep nothing lying around. So I went in circles, reading every single pamphlet and leaflet and notices on the walls!
I saw the registrar before I went through and mentioned my haemorrhoids, and she said that until they looked she didn't know whether they would be injected, banded or cut away. Well, I sat and thought about it and completely lost my nerve. I had been thinking if I am going to be in pain anyway I may as well have them done. But my daughter had hers done and was in agony with the incisions so I called the nurse and asked that they just be left alone. So I went through, I certainly wasn't in there long, and when I was back and conscious the registrar saw me again and gave me a dilator. I was in pain, but not excessive, they had dosed me up prior and during the procedure and I had a supply to take home. My husband is away and I am staying at my daughter's and that night I was fine. Friday I felt distinctly unwell, and Saturday I couldn't lift my head off the pillow. I don't think this is connected to the procedure at all, I think it was some sort of virus I had picked up but I had such a high temperature my daughter slept in beside me she was so worried. Fast forward a couple of days and I am almost back to normal. But it does mean that because of being unwell I haven't started using the dilator so with much gritting of teeth I am going to try later today. Loo visits have been much the same as before but later in the day, although now accompanied by excessive wind. So the jury is out as to whether this has helped or not. The follow-up appointment to see the consultant came through the day after the procedure and is on 4th January, so I will see what he says. This is the consultant that offered me a stoma, who never rushes me when I see him and I have great trust in him. What is interesting is the young (actually most of them look young!) oncologist I last saw looked really shocked when I told her about his offer and said that's a huge step, that if I didn't get on with it it may be difficult to reverse. But her reaction, I think, bore out the fact that many oncologists are not totally aware of the ongoing problems that some people suffer after radiotherapy.
Anyway I'll keep you posted!
Oh Irene, what an ordeal for you! It’s good to read you’re feeling more back to normal but I bet the dilators weren’t sounding appealing!
It’s funny actually, in a way, seeing the differing views of oncologists and surgeons, and sometimes the lack of appreciation of quite what the aftermath of treatment can be like. When I first met my bowel surgeon he was really matter of fact, and wanted to try to save my bowel. I said no, take it-even though there was no cancer there, only radiotherapy damage. He said no-one had ever suggested that to him before! But for me it was a case of might as well have 2 bags as one, and give myself hopefully a better chance of no further recurrence of my original cancer.
A stoma just takes a little time to get used to, but it can be very straightforward to cope with, so I can understand why your consultant would suggest it when the effects of radiotherapy can be life changing in themselves and impact badly on quality of life. If someone said to me I could get rid of one of my stomas, I’d keep the colostomy and get rid of the urostomy, which is much more of a bind to deal with. Not that that could ever happen with either of mine though!
I hope things are continuing well with your recovery, and things are feeling easier now for you.
Sarah xx
Hi Irene75359 , Crikey you must have been exhausted by the end of the day!! There’s such a lot going around at this time of year isn’t there? I’m really pleased that you’re feeling much better now.
Following the conversation with my oncologist that I’ve documented before regarding the life restricting, long-term bowel disturbances etc., that we can be left with as a result of the pelvic radiotherapy I would definitely myself consider a stoma, you’re trying everything available before taking that road but as Sarah has said this surgery it can be life changing for the good if the issues are unable to be resolved.
I hope you continue to recover well & things improve with the use of the dilators.
Nicola
You’ve got a healthy, level headed approach to this Irene, it’s all about weighing up the pros and cons so I’m positive you’ll make the right decision for you, my way of looking at it is if you’re severely modifying your life & missing out on things you really would like to be doing because of bowel issues then there will probably be more pros than cons. We’ve fought this disease & hopefully won the fight so now our lives are for living.
Nicola
