Soreness

Hi Jlan 

Sorry you are suffering. Have your team given you instillagel, if not ask them for it. It does sting a bit when applied but works quickly and makes everything go numb so it may give you some relief i found it lasted for about half hour, and keep everything as moisturised as possible. Also maybe stop the salt baths, I was told of by my hospital for having them as they said it drys the skin out, but this advise seems to differ with hospitals. Xx

Hello Jlan

I am sorry you are reaching the sharp end of treatment, I think you have reached the stage where you need to ask your doctor for something more to relieve your skin and ease the pain.  I also had childbirth haemorrhoids that came back with a vengeance and very sore skin internally and externally.  Bungle has given some excellent advice about instillagel (especially before a bowel movement), and moisturising.  Also, keep your stools very very soft - the last thing you need is constipation or large hard stools - Laxido helps with this.

Also, if you need pain relief (drugs) please don't hesitate - there is no virtue is suffering and I could not have done without Oramorph and slow-release morphine in the latter stages.  If you do take them just make sure you don't get constipated, they slow everything down.  Probably around this point I started using the Sitzbath filled with lukewarm water as a loo - it was slightly less painful going under water and the bath is easily emptied and disinfected.

You are over half-way through and have done so well.  Just keep marking off those days.

Irene xx

Thanks   I will ask them about Instillagel. It's weird that the hospitals give different advices. I have seen people have been given advice to moisture etc whereas I have been told to salt wash as much as I can as hard dry skin won't split as much. I am going to ask about everything at my review this week. Xx

Yes I think I need to ask for more now. I have a review this week so will ask re the gel and stronger pain killers as it is ramping up. I think I will be sitting on the sitzbath a lot the next 3 weeks  

Did you have side effects from the Oramorph like nausea or drowsiness?

Xx

Hello Jlan

I didn't have nausea at all, I was drowsy all the time anyway and I am not sure if that was treatment fatigue or the Oramorph.  My appetite or rather my taste buds were really affected too but that was probably the chemo/radiotherapy.

I will stick my neck out and say hard dry skin sounds questionable - more likely to crack?  I would say use anything that makes you feel a bit more comfortable and moisturised, just make sure you don't have anything on prior to your radiotherapy session.

Your Sitzbath won't wear out - mine didn't!

Irene xx

Hello JLan,

Great that you’ve finished week 3, although this is definitely when the side effects start to ramp up. It looks like good advice to ask for the instillagel if it’s getting really painful. I was never offered this so can’t comment but it definitely sounds helpful in numbing everything temporarily.

It’s really interesting that you’ve been advised to have salt baths instead of moisturising. The advice and creams given seems to vary enormously depending where you are having treatment. I wonder how much is down to budgets rather than research. I was mainly advised to use Sudocrem but was also given a small tube of flaminal in week 4. I definitely couldn’t have managed without moisturising.

 I hope your review goes well and that you get some guidance on managing the pain and skin. 

Oromorph made me feel a bit queasy and drowsy but I only took it at night towards the end of treatment but it did help a lot with the pain. Xx

Hi Jlan ,

You’ve already had some great advice, just wanted to say I’m sorry that things are kicking off where your skin’s concerned, it’s so uncomfortable. I hope you find some relief really soon. 

Nicola