After effects

Hi.. its a scary time after your treatment finishes and in between appointments..

I would suggest maybe speak to your surgeon.. try to get a appointments with them.. 

Im 14 month post treatment and sometime have pain.. all scans clear but they sent me for a flexible sigmoidoscopy which found diverticular disease ..radiation proctitis And piles.. all treatable..but it put my mind at rest.. the not knowing is awful..

Wishing u lots of positive thoughts  x

Hi HannahB 

Recovery for many of us is an up and down thing - just when you think you are getting through, something else starts to nag and for many of us it is a long term thing. I still get really twitchy when I have a bit of blood in my poo for instance. As Squeak  has mentioned it is a scary time between appointments. Even now (four years down the road) I am still a bit anxious when my check-up is coming around. 
You know this treatment is really effective, and being monitored regularly is necessary and reassuring, to keep an eye on how things are going. You just have to do the looking-after-yourself bit by eating well, trying to prevent constipation and keeping your skin moisturised - our poor bottoms have taken a right beating! You might not have any wounds to see, but your body is still trying to mend and recover. Treat yourself with care and gentleness, and contact your hospital or the Macmillan helpline if you need reassurance about any aspect of your treatment, or just need someone to talk to. Or write it here and share with us. xx

Thank you your words felt so reassuring, because I healed externally straight after treatment it’s been hard to accept this is all normal… but u have really helped thank you 

Hello HannahB 

I am so sorry that you are so worried, it is a feeling we are all only too familiar with. 

And yes, a firm or hard stool is enough to split the skin, it is all very fragile there and for me it has stayed that way.

I find the most effective way to deal with very tender nether regions is to have some cushions around the house; I use https://www.amazon.co.uk/JML-Soft-Sitter-Honeycomb-Cushion/dp/B0D4FBBQN5/ref=pd_ci_mcx_mh_mcx_views_0_title?th=1

I have one on our hard kitchen stool, on our hard dining chair and on our hard car seat (which I grab when out in case we end up sitting on hard seats).  All that said, I am certainly more comfortable now that I was in the beginning but I have become used to ensuring being comfortable at all times, otherwise it wears me down.

Big hug Hannah

Irene xxx

Hi HannahB , I’m so pleased that you’ve had a complete response to the treatment although I’m really sorry to hear that you’re feeling this way.

Recovery from this diagnosis & treatment isn’t linear unfortunately. I recall my own recovery, I would do so great for a couple of weeks then feel as though I’d taken 4 steps backwards, this would often follow a difficult bowel movement! My pelvis would ache also & my coccyx was painful. 

I hope the replies you’ve received to your post help reassure you a little.

Nicola 

Thank you it really does help, have been feeling so much brighter then ache hurt pelvis hips etc so spiralling thoughts, thank you so much