Hi I am at the end of week 2 if treatment and notice I had similar symptoms last Friday. Severe trapped wind and very painful. Im not sure if it is when my steroids wear off or it’s going to be a regular weekend thing to suffer from- has anyone else experienced this or have any tips to receive this pain please.
Hi Trease and welcome to our group.
You don’t say what treatment you are having, but I’m assuming chemoradiation? I had this during treatment though not too badly, but I did use Windeeze tablets which helped, and I had a permanent hot water bottle on my tummy! I also drank peppermint tea.
When I was 3 weeks into treatment, my issues were diarrhoea and cystitis and I didn’t suffer from the trapped wind any longer. Are you having a weekly review with your consultant as you go through your treatment? I’d bring it up with them to see if you can get something to help. Other than the trapped wind I hope your treatment is going well.
Sarah xx
Sorry it’s my 1st time in here- I am having daily raidiotherapy and chemotherapy once a week. Last weekend I suffered really badly but my consultant felt , along with other symptoms that my dose of steroids were too strong and they lowered the dose as they felt it was a come down off the steroids when I had finished the course they gave me. I was happy to think I wouldn’t have to go through this again this weekend but no!
Thanks Trease -lots of us in the group have been through the same treatment, so hopefully others will come along to share how they got on. I never actually thought at the time of my treatment that the steroids could be the cause of this. I just had them for 3 days after each chemo-is that the same for you?
Sarah xx
Yes 3 days after treatment but last week I was in bed all weekend rattling from the inside out , shaking, trapped wind, constipation it was an awful experience. I thought if this is side effects from chemo I can’t do this for another 7 weeks but it turned out it was the steroids too strong. I have took your advice and now have a hot water bottle and have just tried a ginger tea. I will have to try and get out for some windease and mint tea later x x thank you for your reply - it has really helped keep the tears away and stressing on my own again x
Oh Trease its sounds like you live alone? Have you got anyone round you for support?
All I can say from what I’ve been through is that speaking up to your consultant is absolutely the best thing to do and I found them always very anxious to help with the slightest thing if I had any concerns. Chemo might be making you constipated, but you can be prescribed something to help.
You may want to think about filling in your profile details as this helps others know your story to be able to better help support you-just click on your own name and you can add details of your diagnosis, stage and treatment. It will mean you don’t have to keep repeating yourself as others can see where you are and what treatment you’re having.
You mentioned 7 weeks of treatment-are you having Cisplatin chemotherapy? This is the one I had, though I was only scheduled for 5 weeks of this, and I ended up with 32 sessions of radiotherapy which seemed to never end!
I was exhausted by everything, but I knew I had to keep going and we can help you through this. I am around the group every day and am happy to chat any time. I had my treatment in 2018, and further surgery when I had a recurrence, but I’ve overall done very well.
Please don’t feel alone with this-our own thoughts can be so hard to deal with it, but if it helps to be here and posting as much as you’d like, I’m happy to listen and try my best to help.
Sarah xx
Thank you so much for your support- yes I live alone , my children have all grown up and left home. My sister has moved me into her house which has been good- she is my best friend and is supporting me so well, I do have good family support but I don’t like them seeing me like this and the worry it brings them which I struggle with. It’s such an emotional rollercoaster and I’m only on week 2!
I was diagnosed with stage 4 cervical cancer as it had spread to my bladder wall so I need 7 weeks of radiotherapy daily with 1 day of chemo threw in the mix- week 7 I have to stay in for I think it’s brakatherapy which I’m not looking forward to!
I will try and upload my info later - I’m so tired but the wind keeps waking me up x x
I’m so glad you are living with your sister-it would be so hard to do this alone.
I’m sorry to read your diagnosis is stage 4-I understand now why you are having a longer treatment regime than some of the other ladies at lower stages. It is very intense, but I hope you’ll manage to cope with it. If you ever want to call Macmillan if you’d like some extra support, the number is in my signature below and they also have nurses who can advise on medical issues.
The staff are lovely there and very understanding, and can also let you know about free counselling arranged with Macmillan through BUPA if you feel you’d benefit from that. I had this myself, and can recommend it. Sometimes we don’t want to burden our own families, and it can help to talk to someone else who is not emotionally involved.
I found myself that I had to dig deep to find the mental and physical strength to deal with this, especially when I had my recurrence, which was treated as stage 4, and sometimes looking back, I’m amazed at everything I had to go through. But I had to. I’ve been blessed to see my new granddaughter arrive a few weeks ago, and there were times I didn’t think I would see that day.
I just tried to take one day at a time, and not look further than the next day of treatment, or the next appointment. One foot in front of the other, and just keep going.
Sarah xx
Morning Sarah- just wanted to say your support whilst I was feeling very stressed and agitated yesterday is much appreciated.
I called the hotline and they recommended buscopan due to me suffering ongoing constipation and it has really helped.
thanks again x x x
Hi Trease
I’m really glad it helped to phone the support line and that the Buscopan has been useful for you. I hope that will help make you more confident about your treatment going forward, and I hope you’ll keep in touch to let us know how things are going.
Sarah xx
Whatever cancer throws your way, we’re right there with you.
We’re here to provide physical, financial and emotional support.
© Macmillan Cancer Support 2024 © Macmillan Cancer Support, registered charity in England and Wales (261017), Scotland (SC039907) and the Isle of Man (604). Also operating in Northern Ireland. A company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales company number 2400969. Isle of Man company number 4694F. Registered office: 3rd Floor, Bronze Building, The Forge, 105 Sumner Street, London, SE1 9HZ. VAT no: 668265007