When does it get better

Hello Shell46,

Welcome to the forum and a very big well done on completing your treatment. 

I really feel for you right now and well remember those few weeks post treatment as being really hard.

Although it’s a relief not to have to do the daily journey, it’s a tough time with the tiredness and pain. I know people heal and bounce back at different rates, but I think how you’re feeling right now is both normal and understandable. Your body and mind have been through so much and although you’ve finished you can’t underestimate the impact.

It honestly does get better although I know that’s hard to believe when you’re in the midst of it.  For me I would say the pain subsided after 4 weeks though the tiredness did go on for longer. For some it was quicker and many report a quick turning point in the 3rd week.

I hope that you’ve been given something for pain relief. I held out through treatment until the very last days and the early days of recovery and it helped. I also took stool softeners.

 I really hope you turn the corner very soon.

Healing hug to you xx

Hi Shell46 ,

Another warm welcome from me to our little corner of the MacMillan Online Community although.

I’m sorry you’ve had to go through this but I’m please to hear you’re through the other side of your treatment. 

Those first few days after your last treatment session really do suck don’t they? My side effects peaked around day 11 post treatment & I had the most awful fatigue, I slept A LOT!

Once I hit the peak things felt better day on day, I really turned a corner & healing happened pretty quickly although the fatigue took time to subside. 

Whatever pain relief you’re taking take it regularly, I was advised to try & stay ahead of any pain & to take pain relief even if I felt I didn’t need it so in those early days I did just that & never be afraid of telling your oncologist if the pain relief you have isn’t working for you. 

I hope you start to feel some improvement really soon.

Sending healing thoughts your way.

Nicola 

Hello Shell46 

I remember where you are very well, but I promise you will feel better soon.

I had a pretty rough couple of weeks following the end of treatment but after that recovery, from the pain and the skin breakdown, was fairly quick. So much so that I was able to attend an evening wedding reception just 18 days after my last radiotherapy session.

The fatigue took a little longer to shift but it’s amazing how much better you will feel once the toileting pain improves.

Just keep taking the pain meds, rest as much as you can and keep the faith that relief is coming soon.

Hello Shell46 

My heart goes out to you, you really are at the sharp end of treatment now - the aftermath.  Most of us remember the bowel movements that felt like passing broken glass and we all had coping strategies.  Labour breathing sounds an excellent idea, other forum members used drumming of feet, Instillagel (a local anaesthetic used prior to using the loo).  Personally, I used the Sitzbath filled with luke-warm water and pooed with my bottom under water.  I had lots of sores internally and externally and somehow it was less painful under water and the Sitzbath is easily emptied and disinfected.

I do hope that you have been given adequate pain relief too, and if not, please shout out to your treating team.  Just bear in mind if you take opioid-based pain relief they can cause constipation so be prepared with Laxido or similar.  I had diarrhoea all during treatment and wasn't ready for the constipation when I had finished and was taking lots of pain killers.

It really is early days for you and now you just need to be very kind to yourself and take as much rest and recuperation as you need;  your body has been through what can be a gruelling course of treatment and needs time to recover.

And so well done for getting through all this, just keep telling yourself you will never have to go through this particular treatment again.  On this forum virtually everyone has gone through what you are experiencing right now and there is an abundance of empathy for others on this path.

Gentle healing hug

Irene xx

Thank you for your reply, yesterday was just one of those tough days.   I've just bering taking paracetamol as didn't want to become constipated with anything stronger. 

My stools would be soft then go too diarrhoea have hemorrhoids which can make it painful. 

Thank you I hope so

Thank you sometimes it just feels like the pain is never ending, looking forward to those days I can go to toilet even just for a pee without being in pain.

You did amazing making it out to a wedding reception after 18 days. 

Thank you Irene,  we try anything that helps with the pain.  I've tried the sitz bath but I'm not that keen, do love having a bath can get all around the front soaked as well or use a lukrlewarm cloth when sitting on toilet, I have hemorrhoids which isnt pleasant as well as all vulva area red sore.

It's so nice to chat with people who have been through the same thing it really helps no feeling so isolated as after treatment finishes you don't have the support from nurses everyday.

Michelle xo

Hi Shell46. My oncologist was very honest and told me to expect symptoms to last for at least two weeks after completion of treatment, so when that happened, I was prepared. You have to believe that it will get better. My bowels still aren’t quite how they used to be (and I hear that may be the case for some time), but the discomfort you are feeling right now will improve, as long as you follow the guidelines and make sure to see a nurse if you’re unsure about anything. I hope you’re able to take the time to look after yourself and recover. The treatment is brutal and being internal, it’s hard to believe what’s actually going on in there. Apparently the radiation continues working for some considerable time after treatment ends, so I’m a bit more realistic about the time it’s going to take to return to some kind of normal. It will happen though - and people on this forum will help you through it. Take care.