side effects

Hi Watkinab36b5 and welcome to Macmillan and the anal cancer group.

I had a different type of cancer but noticed that your post hadn’t yet had a reply, so am giving it a nudge up the discussion list for you.

Sometimes the group gets busy and a post gets missed, but the lovely people in this group will see it again now and I’m sure will reply to help with advice from their own experiences, as post treatment pain is a subject which comes up frequently in the group.

Sarah xx

Hi Watkinab36b5, I'm not sure if you're struggling due to consistency (sorry but not sure what other way to describe).

Are you taking any pain relief? I was on oromorph for a few months after I finished chemoradiotherapy & this  causes constipation.  I have stenosis as an  after effect and have struggled trying to find the right diet/laxatives regime to make things more manageable.  I still go  between severe constipation and incontinence. 

For some people, it seems they're back to nearly normal in no time, for others its a bit of a long slog. Keeping hydrated, using stool softeners/laxatives, a small raised stool to rest your feet on (like a kiddies toilet training stool) can help as you're in a better position. I had seen a specialist physio who recommended daily irrigation which helps me sometimes, depending on  consistency Quforma is the brand I was prescribed. 

It's still early days for you post treatment , even tho I'm sure it doesn't perhaps feel like, perhaps you can reach out to specialist nurse if you were given a contact number to see if they can offer anything?

Any questions please ask.

Sending big hugs.

Andrea 

Hi Watkinab36b5 

Im sorry you are suffering. Like Andi72 has said its still quite early days, but if the pain is becoming an issue give your specialised nurse a call and they will be able to help you, I still ring mine occasionally. Sending hugs. Xx

Thank you Andrea for your reply The pain has been so bad that after I’ve been to the loo I’m unable to sit down for 2or3 hours !! I’ve had the oramorph but not used it much because of the constipation issue , but I’ve found that if I take it once in the morning it’s ok I take stool softeners and I read on a forum that someone was taking blackstrap molasses before bedtime and I’m finding that works Seems my whole life revolves around keeping my stools soft and drinking loads of water It’s probably me being impatient thinking I would be ok by now but obviously got a fair way to go Once again thank you for your advice, it’s nice to know that I’m not by myself .

Thank you for reply Perhaps I’m just being impatient I’m realising that I’m going to have to up my painkillers as I been reluctant to the past few weeks 

Thank you Sarah for your communication I have had 2 lovely replies giving some support . 

Have you got instillagel if not ask for some, it stings initially but then everything goes numb for about half an hour and then it starts to wear off. X

Oh I feel your pain. I’m only three weeks post treatment but after a bowel movement (when I can have one) is me in pain for 4-5 hours. The team are doing everything they can - so many laxitves and pain relief. 

saw a registrar today and she said it’s totally normal - tenesmus - and gave me fibrogel. 

im sorry this isn’t any help but I wanted to let you know you are not alone and I really do understand how you are feeling. 

my day is planned around the bathroom - can I go before the school run (NO!) can I have a work meating ( Often not) will I be able to cook tea (doubtful!) 

Hello,

Sorry to hear you are still in so much pain but as others here have said it might be worthwhile calling someone who was involved in your treatment; I used the radiotherapy staff as they seemed to have come across all the side effects. It might be that they can work out some good treatment for you - pain after going to loo is a very common thing amongst us AC people but if you could describe exactly what's going on for you, they should be able to help. Don't suffer! I think trying to balance good pain relief with not getting constipated is the thing you are aiming for, and it sounds like you are making some progress using blackstrap molasses, but I have heard here that stool softeners are really beneficial too. 

You might also try actually having a poo into warm water, like in a sitz bath, or even using a warm shower attachment soothes it a little. 

I hope you start to turn the corner soon but please ask for help. xxx

Thank you , I will ask for some of that