In the painful phase...

Hi ShieldMaidenMax Welcome to the forums although I'm sorry you have found yourself here. Well done on getting through treatment so far, so close to the finish line. I didn't have the issues you are having  during my treatment so I can't really help. Hopefully someone who did will respond, by me answering it will put you back at the top. Sending hugs. Xx

Thanks Bungle! 

Hello ShieldMaidenMax 

Another warm welcome from me.  And you really are on the home stretch, just keep marking those days off.  And I am full of admiration that you are still cooking and gardening!  When I was where you are now in treatment, I got home, stripped off and lay in bed, legs akimbo and my husband brought me cheese on toast with onion and mustard - every day.  It was the only thing that appealed as my taste buds were affected.

I was way past the menopause so I am sorry I don't have any experience to share.  And in the main it was my anal canal that suffered most although I also had external sores back to front.  When you say your urethra is affected, just check that you don't have a urine infection which is very common during treatment (and afterwards too, for me).

And I didn't have a rollercoaster of emotions but I do remember feeling completely numb with real disbelief at what I was going through, including the pain.  So please let your team know if the pain meds aren't enough, they are normally really responsive and can up your meds the same day if necessary.

So I am sorry that I can't help more.  I do hope things ease up for you very soon, and please don't worry about asking personal questions, we talk about anything and everything on here and no one gets in the least offended.

Please let us know how your next couple of weeks go.

Big hug

Irene xx

Welcome to this forum and we'll done getting this far through your treatment..

I think my oncologist told me at the very beginning to ' be kind to yourself ' ..so when I was feeling so much in pain.. physically snd emotionally I always remembered those words..

Its ok to feel tired..emotional..scared and sometimes angry..all those emotions are valid..

I was the same as you.. managed to still do my weekly shop after my treatments and cook the meals.. but little else..

My go to food was dairy lea on toast..and haribo sweets..oh and I drank tons of fruit barley water and managed to avoid and bladder issues.. i found it easier to wee if my bladder was full..and I bought a shewee which was a godsend...

Im 18 months post treatment now and whilst my below regions are not the same ..im getting on with my life...I bought my own vaginal dilators and practiced every day once my vagina area healed..even had a few trips with hubby to Anne summers to look at small vibrators to help..

Go at your own speed and remember.. be kind to yourself x

Im sending big virtual hugs you way..

Hi Max (ShieldMaidenMax ), another warm welcome from me to the MacMillan Online Community although I’m so sorry that you’re having to go through all of this right now. 

To put it politely my lady parts were on fire by the end of my treatment, if anything that was more painful than anything else although bowel movements were right up there too on the pain scale! I just kept slathering on the creams I was provided with & kept a jug of water by the loo to pour over while having a wee because at times it burned pretty badly. 

You really are at the business end of things now but like you I was able to stay somewhat active throughout which I was grateful for although I’d have a nap each afternoon when I got back from the hospital.

I was definitely peri-menopausal possibly in full menopause when I started treatment, I had a mirena coil in situ when I started my treatment which had stopped my periods hence not being sure, once through the other side of treatment & on the road to recovery I noticed that all of my menopausal symptoms had just about gone, they’ve never returned, I’ve had the odd tropical moment so to speak but that’s only happened once in a blue moon, I was warned my ovaries would be about fried so I think it brought things to an abrupt halt for me so hopefully it will be the same for you too. 

Wishing you well with your last 8 treatments, hopefully it will all be a dim & distant memory very soon. 

Sending healing thoughts your way.

Nicola 

Hi Irene, thanks for your lovely and detailed message! It made me smile when you said you lie legs akimbo in bed.... I was just telling my sister yesterday how I starfish in the spare bed and go commando while at home all day. I don't do much gardening, mind! The one hour I did last week nearly did me in! Spent 7 hours waiting for a call back from 111 for UTI relief, they phoned me at 10:20pm and I was in bed by then. Their response time was shocking and next time I'll just go to the walk in centre. 

Have a lovely week. 

Max 

Hi Squeak ( I love your name btw!

Thanks for your lovely message. I 'm sure I will definitely need the dilators and toys once I'm finished...it already feels tight, but that's obviously the swelling.  Unfortunately I'm one of those who is susceptible to infections and thrush! Hubby just needed to look at me sideways and I 'd have a UTI. Jokes aside, I hope I get through these next 8 sessions in one piece. It has been agony. 

Virtual hugs back, 

Max 

Hi Nicola, 

Thanks for your lovely message. I was quite happy with the thought of going through this forced menopause as I've been peri-menopausal for the last 6 years, so I wasn't very happy when my period arrived in week 2 of treatment! Silver lining though, it could have been week 3 or 4 which would have been intolerable! 

Thank goodness for the creams! Most people I spoke to recommended Flamigel, but I also rotate it with Cicaplast B5+ ultra-repairing balm that I found on Amazon. 

Glad you are out the other side.  Thanks again for replying - I feel comforted by everyone's responses and personal experiences - it helps to know others have gone through similar and understand the pain! 

Big hugs, Max