More Post treatment issues

Hi Carole, well done with playing table tennis at ten weeks post treatment. My energy levels was swings and roundabouts for weeks. I wouldn’t know about the insect bite causing the itch or the covid jab but ten years ago I was bitten on the edge of the nail bed on my big toe and it was agony for the itch so fully sympathise. Maybe a nice bath in some salt to ease it. I can understand the obsession with worrying about stool softeners and two years post treatment I still worry if I have not eaten enough of certain foods to keep everything soft. I don’t take laxido anymore but if I think I have not eaten enough veg I have a glass of warm water with a teaspoon black strap molasses which seems to keep things soft last thing at night. But if you have been taking laxido up to now I would not have thought it was that causing the itching. Enjoy putting your feet up and recharge them batteries 

Hello Carole, well I'm 6 months post-treatment and still can't really sit down, other than for a very short time, but I can walk and do walk my dogs twice every day, so I count that as a bonus. My "ladies bits" are still sore and I use Flamigel on that part twice a day and use a combination of some steroid cream and anusol on the rear portion, which does help. Like you, I would go along and improve and then, for no reason at all, go back to more pain & difficult pooing. I eat tinned prunes in apple juice every night plus either black strap molasses or syrup of figs to keep everything soft and moving through. Hope you continue to feel better daily and my thoughts are with you, because I understand just how you feel, as though you'e taking one step forward and one back, all the time. Bee x

Hi Carole

Sorry you’re feeling a bit light headed- just a quick thought: have you had your B12 checked? Mine is low and I need injections and I’ve read that radiotherapy to your pelvis can make this worse. Might be worth asking your GP? The cancer research website mentions it. It can make you feel really tired and dizzy when it’s low. 
Take care, Steph. Xx

Sometimes we just hve to flee back to the sofa. I"m over a year out, and sometimes still do.

Rashes are just the worst- you'd think that having ploughed our way through frickin' anal cancer treatment that we could be spared the awfulness of itching. The nice thing about Benadryl is that it gives you a good sleep. 

My money's on the bugbite or the Covid vaccine. What did the pharmacist suggest?

Hope tomorrow's better, Carole.

Hugs

Suz

Hi Carole (Cranford ),

The fatigue can hit just out of nowhere for quite some time! I returned to work part-time 5-6 weeks after my treatment ended (3 half days), I’d be ok some weeks then others I’d have to spend my days off doing absolutely zilch! These episodes just got further & further apart until the fatigue disappeared altogether. 

The rash sounds awful, it definitely sounds like a reaction to something but with having the insect bite & the covid booster who knows which could be the culprit? I would bet on one or the other, I would be very surprised if it was the Laxido. 

I would rest up for at least the next couple of days but if the lightheaded feeling you’re having doesn’t pass then chase it up with your GP incase it’s linked with this rash. 

I hope you’re feeling better & more energised really soon. 

Nicola 

Hello Carole

Itching can be unbearable, sometimes just plain old generic anti-histamines can help.  I also get lots of allergies, and get a chain reaction; I wore compression stockings when I flew to the States and  a few years back, and when I took them off I looked as if I was wearing long red socks.  The itching was unbearable, and the rash spread until I was covered in angry red hives all over my body.  It took almost two weeks to go.  So it may well be that insect is the culprit.  I wouldn't have thought it is the Laxido if you have been taking it for some time.

You sound as if you are doing amazingly, at ten weeks out.  But recovery time has its highs and lows for some considerable time afterwards, just be really kind to yourself and rest (lots) if you need to.  Sunnygirl has also made a good point.  I also get dizzy turns, and had a comprehensive blood test some weeks ago. My Vitamin B12 levels are low as well, and everything else was 'borderline'.  Also, I don't know if you take blood pressure tablets, I used to take medication for mildly raised blood pressure and during treatment one of the doctors took my blood pressure and it was 90/60.  She obviously told me to stop the tablets, and said my blood pressure might never go back up.  And it hasn't, one of the GPs in the practice was doubtful and had me wear a monitor, and no, it remains low 15 months out.

Please don't worry about having a rant, Carole, we all remember and experience the difficult days.

Irene xx

Thank you all for the kind comments and reassurance. It is so good to have somewhere to  vent!

Last night I resorted to cold flannels to cool my itching so I could finally get some sleep.  It seems ok during the day but flares up at night.  The B12 advice is good - I think I'll follow that up. I've always had very low blood pressure too. Incidentally the pharmacist recommended taking vitamin D supplement and skin soothing cream such as Aveena - but I already use that anyway. If it all doesn't improve in next day or 2 I may contact doctor.  Its hard to know how to approach problems at times because you feel like you have to offer a medical history of a year and that current problems get lost amongst it all! 

Carole x

When I went to the States I was touring in a huge RV with my daughter and her family.  I had 'the bedroom' at the end of the van.  At night, in desperation, I resorted to using a hairbrush to scratch but they could hear me and the nights were punctuated with 'Stop scratching!'

I take extra Vitamin D (alongside K2) as my recent scan showed osteopenia so I am hoping my bones don't deteriorate further.

Best of luck!

Irene xx

I've been taking a good Vitamin D supplement and also B12. I buy mine from Lindens - they seem very clued up and if you buy 3 you get a 4th free. They're an old company and I've used them for years. I must get some more probiotics as well. I took them all during my treatment, but no other supplements as I was told they don't know what reaction the treatment would have with many supplements, but I believe the probiotics helped with the chemo side effects. Bx

Hi all - Thanks for your advice.  I went to doctor and it is hives - maybe a reaction to insect bite. She was very good & helpful - gave me a fast appointment and prescribed stronger antihistamine that have helped a little so far and I've managed to sleep better. Have also had a much more restful week to try to recover. 

Carole x