Sore lady bits and bum - advice needed

Hi Squeak

I remember those poos. I would have said it's all pretty normal although for me it was the tops of my legs that were the worst. Have the radiotherapists had a look ? I had flaminal forte and flaminal hydro for my damaged skin. You are nearly done, hang on in there. Sending hugs. Xx

Hiya

Not asked them to look yet as it's a young lady that's doing most of my radiotherapy so it's a bit embarrassing..

Will see tomorrow if they can give me any other cream 

X 

Hi Squeak 

Try not to be embarrassed they've seen it all. I was looked at every week in my weekly progress appointment and sometimes during the session. Ask for the hydro and forte they help to heal the skin. I don't know if you are taking any pain relief but they would be able to prescribe you something stronger if you need it, I know some people on here have been prescribed morphine. Xx

Hi Sqeak,

You are definitely at the hardest part of treatment and I think that this is all normal. I absolutely get that it feels as far from normal as possible but this is when the effects of the treatment absolutely peak.

Please tell your team what you are experiencing and hopefully they are giving you suitable pain relief. The radiation cystitis is grim so go for the cranberry juice or cystopurin. This is the point where you will likely need the morphine to stay ahead of the pain and you need to take enough. I held back with it and this did me no favours. And stool softeners are essential too.

Although we are warned about this stage nothing quite prepares you for the reality. It honestly will get better. I am so sorry that you are suffering so much.

Big hug to you x

Thank you..

I'm drinking cranberry juice and water 

But it's agony..

I think i need to up my oramorph to stay on top of pain..im only taking the lowest oramorph 3 times a day.. im going to up in tonight xx

Hi Squeak I just wanted to say about the pain relief. Definitely get your team to up your morphine and also I took paracetamol and paracetamol alternating each every two hours so you keep the pain relief in your system. Please ensure you take stool softeners when taking morphine. Continue with using the sitz bath. It can be very painful for some of us towards end of treatment and beyond and when I had to use the bathroom I would sing in my head really loud and it kind of distracted me. I was lucky I didn’t get too much external skin damage but very sore internally. Ask your hospital if they have a skin nurse on duty when you go as they specifically are trained to deal with skin that has been radiated 

Julie

Hi Squeak. ,

You really are at the business end of your treatment now & I think the most important thing for you now is to try & stay ahead of your pain, whatever your using for pain relief at the moment take it whenever it’s due even if you feel you don’t really need it & if what you’re taking now isn’t cutting it have a word with your team to see if they can prescribe an alternative, I alternated paracetamol & high strength  ibuprofen 2 hourly whether I needed to or not. As others have said if you’re taking opiate based medication make sure you take a stool softener to counteract any constipation as you don’t want that on top of everything else right now. 

I really hope you get some relief very soon. Sending lots of healing thoughts your way. 

Nicola 

Squeak

I am really sorry to say, for some of us, yes it is.  Some people have it worse than others and you could be one of those unfortunates.  As a matter of urgency you need to up your morphine, talk to your team tomorrow for advice, and ask if there is anything else you can have.  I also had slow-relief morphine capsules to make sure I didn't have any really severe break-through pain and Jaycee's suggestion of topping up with paracetamol and ibuprofen will help too.  

I was also prescribed Polymem dressings (if you have open sores) which I used over a base of Flaminal Forte.  I really wouldn't worry about who has a look at your burns, they have seen it all before countless times and the priority is to get your pain controlled. 

I was referred on to the tissue viability nurse, who asked if I minded the hospital photographer taking photographs for training sessions.  I was absolutely shameless and said of course, as long as there is nothing to identify me.  So that's my claim to fame - all my nether regions on a slideshow!  She was wonderful at treating my sores, and if something didn't work within a day or so she tried something else.

You have done so well and you only have three more days to mark off and then you can get down to the serious business of rest and recuperation.  Initially the pain will still be there but it is such a relief not having to go to the hospital every day. 

Sending a gentle healing hug

Irene xx 

Hi Sqeak,

 I do hope that the increased dose of morphine gave you some relief last night and that you are able to discuss your pain levels with your team today.  
With a better pain management plan you will get through these final few days of treatment. A really tough time for you at the moment but it’s definitely time to pull out all the stops to help you through.

Best of luck for today x