Hello fellow travellers,
I'm not sure how I got to this point. Week 3 has been a blur in some respects. I thought I was managing until Wednesday. Then the bowel department gave me a good kicking. It all seemed to pile on within 24hours of the treatment. It's been agony ever since. I've not had any constipation, just hovered on the right side of diarrhoea, but it's been the constant toilet activity that has made me so very miserable, as well as extremely sore, with blood quite apparent.
I've had numerous reviews with the team and all are very kind, though some advice has been somewhat conflicted: some want me on codeine and some have thought it wasn't right for me. I've controlled things with the horrible diet up to the weekend, but my Saturday evening pasta didn't hang about, shall we say, and it's been dreadful ever since. This morning I sent in 2 boiled eggs. Don't have a verdict yet, but hope it might have calmed things. Now, is this too much information?
Med-wise I have Flamigel which is OK I find, but not brilliant. I'm using an oatmeal moisturiser all round for general skin support. And they also recommended Preparation H for those old pesky haemorrhoids. Stings like hell on application, but then does calm things somewhat. I also continue to use Strata XRT daily before each treatment in the hope it will offer some protection from the radiation. I'm also trying to keep up with a rolling paracetamol/ibuprofen schedule - every 2 hours! - but that, not surprisingly is rather hit and miss. I started off wanting to avoid opiates at any cost, but feel I'm now at a threshold and will likely accept a low-dose one and then have to take stool softeners to overcome the side effects. Sounds so bonkers and counter-intuitive to my thinking, but I think many of us will probably get to a point where we just cave in. I think I'm there.
On a slightly more positive note, the mouth ulcers at last faded and the irony is that I can now eat, but have little inclination to do so. Great isn't it? But more chemo soon, so maybe they'll be back before I know it?
Finding the prospect of Week 4 filling me with dread. I just can't imagine how I will get through it.
Gritting my teeth,
love to you all,
Rainie
xxx
Hi Rainieday ,
Firstly there’s no such thing as too much information regarding our diagnosis & the aftermath of the treatment for it, it’s the nature of the beast so to speak!
You may find if you’re offered any opiate pain relief that they might help with both the pain & the diarrhoea although make sure if you go down that route that you’re prescribed some stool softeners just in case things take a turn in the opposite direction. A really bland ’white’ diet may also help with the frequent toilet visits, white bread, white potatoes, white rice etc. Following any serious health event it’s natural to want to eat super healthy & a plain low residue diet seems to go against that but sometimes it’s needed just to get you through then once your bowel begins to settle then you can revise your diet again.
Do whatever it takes to get through the next couple of weeks & if your appetite wains as has already been said ask for some meal replacement drinks as at least you’ll be getting the correct nutrients.
Keeping my fingers crossed for you for the rest of your treatment.
Nicola
