Good evening. I am happy to have found this group; wish I had such support when I was going through treatment in 2002.
I have, of course, had various "issues" over the years due to radiation damage (mostly related to bowel issues, as you would expect),but all manageable until last spring when I became quite ill due to urinary retention - seemingly out of the blue. I had to be catheterized basically all of the time until I had a bladder "pacemaker" inserted in October. Unfortunately, we have not (yet) been able to get it programmed to both prevent retention and allow me to sleep in at least a 3 hour stretch, so I am thinking about other options (It is great to not be catheterized, however!)
I am wondering if anyone else here developed significant side effects 20+ years after treatment, if anyone has specifically had bladder issues, and what treatments might have been effective. I have just started reading about hyperbaric oxygen treatment so interested in experiences with that, also.
The treatment 20+ years ago made me very sick for 6 months (I understand it is better now), but I am grateful to have had it and been able to raise my kids. I am a bit surprised to be paying the piper these many years later, I guess, but here we are!
Thank you for any information and best wishes to those of you just starting or in the middle of treatment. Only one piece of advice: give yourself plenty of time to recover. It takes awhile to get energy, stamina, and psychological health back! Be patient.
