Wanted to say hi to the group

Hi,

Just to send you support and encouragement as you heal. I

am at the start of my journey and awaiting results. I hope that you continue with your recovery.

Take care and keep strong.

Thank you for that I appreciate it good luck with the process of results it’s such a journey isn’t it.

Hey Goldbug 

Be kind to yourself - the anxiety from diagnosis to end of treatment and then the gruelling treatment itself - the radiotherapy continues to work for 3 months post treatment.  

I'm just over two weeks out and whilst I'm feeling wonderful in comparison to just a few weeks ago, my BMs leave me sore...  I am following a low fodmap protocol diet and this is really helping me - I've removed gluten, highly processed foods, dairy and sugar.  I'm finishing my evening meal by eating a kiwi fruit which seems to be helping me keep my stools soft.  My BMs now tend to be in the morning - still too many (currently at 4 for today) but it's early days re tumor and the reduced size of the exit.   

I'm continuing to use instagell and coconut oil - the latter to stop all the skin down there drying out - which adds to my soreness.  

Good luck and  with everyday you'll see improvements.

Take care 

Ali x

Hi Goldbug ,

I’m sorry that things seem to be taking a while to settle down since finishing your treatment. Have you spoken with your treating team about the situation with your skin & if there’s anything more that they can prescribe to aid the healing process? 

We’re all different in regards to the disruption the treatment causes to our digestive system. I was lucky & didn’t suffer too badly at all, a few of those members that did have, have mentioned as with Ali (MrsBadass ) that a low residue diet such as FODMAP has resulted in some success in settling things down. Remember this treatment will have completely wiped out your immune system which stems from our gut so it’s worth having a read up on healing your gut micro biome. You need to build up the good bacteria again, I ate a clean diet to try & aid this & kept a food diary to document things that caused a reaction so that I could steer clear until things improved. I slowly introduced the things that upset me in the beginning back into my diet & now 6+ years on I can eat most things again aside from onion (unless it’s cooked to within an inch of its life), I don’t do terribly well with sugar (causes bloating & IBS type symptoms) as does coffee, the odd cup now & again is fine but I can’t drink it every day. Other than this I’m good. 

Remember your body has been bombarded with 2 really toxic treatments & it’ll take time to recover although I can completely understand your frustration. 

Sending lots of healing thoughts your way. 

Nicola 

Hello Goldbug

I know the scans are dreaded, and I really sympathise, but the good thing is that you will be having a face-to-face appointment shortly afterwards.  It would be a good idea to mention then the ongoing problems that you have been having.  Not that I think there is anything wrong, but they may be able to prescribe something to ease your skin in particular. In the meantime, one cream I always have in the bathroom cupboard is Sudocrem, it may be worth trying that.

I am sorry that your gut hasn't calmed down either, you have been given some good advice about the FODMAP diet, it has certainly helped lots of forum members.

I do hope this period doesn't last much longer, sending healing hugs.

Irene xx

Thanks Ali for taking the time to reply and well done with finishing treatment so well it’s so interesting isn’t it how differently we all respond to treatment I was so proud of myself for doing the treatment itself but I found it really tough with the side effects..I was secretly hoping to be the other side right now but I think I’m definitely learning the diet advice is important. Thanks for the tips on coconut oil I do use it everywhere else lol and just didn’t think to use it in that area too which now seems a little daft

totally with you on the number of BM which are super annoying as it doesn’t help with soreness or healing I think I’ve reached 8 on most days but sometimes they’re tiny (hopefully not tmi)

anyhow best wishes back too 

Nell 

Hi Nicola 

Thanks for the reply and kind words..

so no I haven’t managed to catch up with the team yet about the skin issues as when I saw them last it was a while ago and they were very much ‘it’s still early days’ (which it was) so I will be able to see them at the end of the month but the I expect the focus might be on the scan results but I will try at that point..it’s so lovely to be in a group where six years down the line you can hear positives I have looked into the fodmap diet and probiotics but I think adding in a food diary would be helpful, also I don’t mind cutting out so many things but I would really miss my coffee but maybe I’m going to have to!

Thanks again 

nell x

Hi Irene,

Thanks ever so much for the reply and the kind words.

Some days are better than others generally I feel quite positive and then sometimes it feels hard!

The fodmap diet advice is brilliant especially as people seem to have had successes down the line.

The skin is a little more tricky as I’ve always suffered with eczema so at the moment it seems to have been really triggered by the treatment and the hard stop on the hormones! So it was healing really well and then suddenly decided to be permanently sore. I will definitely bring it up with the team though. Thanks again 

nellx

Nothing is too much information on this forum!  Even the smallest detail helps others who have to follow the same path xxx

That’s true

xx