Treatment Blog by Me! OFFICIAL!

Hi ,

Just a bit of an afterthought, Epsom salt baths have already been mentioned, I found this really soothing, but also wiping with loo roll after using the loo became a no no for me towards the end of treatment so instead I washed after going to the loo at home but when I was out I carried water wipes, they’re like a baby wipe but literally are 99% water, no lotions or perfumes so no stinging or burning on that sore skin, they can be found with the baby wipes in the supermarket. I still carry these with me now just incase! 

Nicola 

Yer,  I've got those already, they certainly help.  Gonna pop to the shops today to stock up on Epsom salts and get some aloe vera gel, that's been mentioned to me also.  

Have a lovely week x

Brilliant you sound well prepared, I bought Aloe Vera too but didn’t use it, the creams that the radiotherapy team & oncologist provided sufficed throughout but it’s always handy to have in.

Nicola 

So here we are.

last 3 days of treatment.  I am in absolute bits.  My skin has broken down and split. The pain is unbelievable, they’ve put me on oral morphine but I still don’t think that’s strong enough.  I’m walng like John Wayne and at home wearing a fucking kaftan! I’m really struggling to cope with this pain.  Not sure how much longer I can tolerate this.  The staff continue to be second to non.  I had mild fit today at the ward, began shaking and nearly passed out, they took care of me.  Home now, nephews round for a sleep over, so uncle duties have to kick in.  2 more zaps in the radio machine tn I’m done.  It’s been ok up till now, but I’m finding this so very hard.  I’m literally on the verge of tears all the time.  

Hi ,

I’m sorry you’re suffering right now, not everyone reacts exactly the same, my skin got sore & raw but not until my very last day of treatment, this lasted for around 11 days post treatment then things healed really quite quickly. 

It’s really difficult when things get so sore at the end & it’ll be of little comfort right now but it will get better. The most soothing thing I found when everything got so sore was Epsom salt baths & once I didn’t have to go back & forth to hospital every day I was probably having 3-4 daily as it’s where I was most comfortable. I also slept quite a lot as I found I was completely wiped out by the end of treatment. The oramorph didn’t touch me in the context of pain relief it just constipated me which you really do not want right now! I alternated ibuprofen & paracetamol so I was having something every 2 hours day & night, I also kept everywhere really well moisturised! 

You’ve done so well & you’re nearly there. 

Hope these last 2 days pass quickly & don’t push yourself to carry on as normal as things are about as far away from normal as it gets for you right now! Be kind to yourself, try those long warm salt baths,  take to your bed if needs be & you’ll soon find the healing phase will begin. 

Take care.

Nicola

Really sorry to hear you’re suffering. Like Nicki says Oramorph May constipate you but you could take laxatives with it. You would need to ask the nurses what you could take. If it’s unbearably painful you could ask for a higher dose of morphine-but again-ask about taking laxatives with it. The good thing is that you will find you heal surprisingly quickly. I took to having 3 salts baths a day in warmish not hot water with a load of salt (table salt) in each one. I then didn’t wear underwear at all for ages. It helps if you can get air to the area as much as you can so sleep naked for now. You’re nearly through it now. X

Hello both of you,  yes I’ve taken a Laxido tonight that they prescribed me. Hopefully will help with movement, so to speak. I’m feeling like utter crap, I’m bloated, weak, my ass is shredded to hell and I am giving up now.  So unattractive and repulsive, I’ll never find a partner like this.  Fuck life right off.  

Hi again , 

Yes definitely try keeping things on the softer side for the foreseeable future, 19 months post treatment I still take one softener a day! Try not to worry about feeling rubbish just now, your body has been poisoned & radiated to hell over the last 5+!weeks, you will get back to yourself you just need a little time, get plenty of rest, it’s when your body does it’s best healing. 

Nicola 

Just keep going, you only have two more sessions to go!  My skin problems started three weeks in but continued for a further right weeks.  But thanks to a very helpful nurse at my GP practice were managed to the best of her capabilities and looking after my care!  Just remember that when you started on this journey all you wanted to be was cured.  I know it's a cliche - no pain no gain.  That is the only way forward, just accept the here and now for what it is and the future will soon be better and brighter.  You have to face your demons to come out the other side unscathed.  You are in charge of your destiny and it is up to you to face the future full on!  It is your life, sieze it with both hands and take control and not rely on others.  It's up to you to be brave, it will only be for a short time and then you have a long future to look forward to.  It's up to you , it's your life your destiny!  Mxx

I know it’s far easier said than done but just try to concentrate on getting through treatment. Finding a partner and other stuff can be put on the back burner and dealt with later. Remember, your physical health and how you look/feel about yourself won’t stay like this. Things will change for the better. X