Chronic radiation proctitis

Hi Chrissie,

I have some scarring in my anus - my only symptoms are that my poo is a bit narrow, and sometimes I get a little bleeding if I am constipated or have a hard poo so you might want to take something like a stool softener to try and stop any damage. I would definitely have a word with your oncologist next time you see them.

I have real problems with vaginal scarring. It is probably my own fault as I didn't really use the dilators enough, and now I have to really wiggle and push to get them in, with quite a lot of bleeding as a result.  So definitely persevere with dilators, especially to maintain your sex life. xx

I’m struggling with the dilators. Im

12 weeks out and the second smallest one is fine but I just cannot get anywhere with the third one - it just won’t go in and all trying does is make me really sore so I don’t use any for a few days. Ho hum. x

Lovely to hear from you again Mrs Vanilla … hope you doing well ? 
I probably need a stool softener or mild laxative as my bowels have definitely changed since treatment in 2024.. 

I used the dilators straight away and didn’t have any problems but because the skin between the vagina and rectum / anus are in close proximity , I wonder if that aggravates the proctitis ? 
take care 

Chrissie xx

Hi Crystal , 

just use whichever dilator you are comfortable with , keep going for a few more weeks …

Chrissie xx

Hi Chrissie49 ,

I'd definitely second giving a stool softener a go, I suffered anal stenosis following my treatment, I would bleed on a regular basis when having a BM, this continued worsening over a period of time. I was taking at least one stool softener every day for around 3 years, things began improving over the last year of those 3 so I gradually began using them less, firstly once every other day & so on until I wasn’t taking them at all & I was fine. 

Nicola

Hi Nikki , 

hope you are well and thanks for your reply .. I will try the stool softeners as only the occasional loose stools have put me off taking any laxative .. I tend to have the bleeding about an hour after the BM and it does impact my confidence .. 

take care 

Chrissie xx

Yes, I think that's what happened to me - I kept just putting it off. But persevere, ladies or you'll end up with a vagina like mine!!!

I am great thanks, Chrissie. 

Yes, I think everything is so close down there, it might easily be affecting you. I have just had a quick Google and it says that proctitis is 'active inflammation' whereas stenosis (which is my vaginal problem) is scar tissue, so it sounds like your proctitis may well settle down, although it does seem to have been giving you trouble for a long time, so I would definitely head either back to your treatment team and explain to them, or your GP if you are happy to go there. There are treatments available from what I can see. 

And gentle bonking, too!!

Try to stick with it, even if it is just the smaller ones. I think I just found it quite painful and just opted out; then the thought of trying again put me off and then when I did try, it was just about impossible.

Have you thought about seeing a pelvic physiotherapist? They deal with all that kind of thing, and might be able to help you. And perhaps if you tried a vibrator with lots of lube that might be a different way to keep it all going too.

Just don't give up on it yet.