R/T Side effects during treatment

Heya, 

Sorry to hear you're suffering a bit at the moment. 

I've not had radiotherapy, but I have had massive issues with my bowels recently. One thing I've found that helps is rather than using the dry toilet paper - that was irritating my bum and cutting it with the frequent wiping - I switched to some of the wet wipe style tissues.

It gives a really good clean with less wiping, and can come with aloe to soothe the ring sting too. I also found that with the pain I was in, I wasn't wiping as well as I otherwise would which was adding to the discomfort. But with the wet wipes, it got everything wiped and cleaned and soothed. Look for the flushable ones, even if the council say you aren't supposed to flush even the flushable ones.... 

Hopefully I've understood your issue, and hopefully it'll help you too!

Good luck! 

Lass

Xx

Thanks Lass,

sounds like you do understand me! I’ve tried the Andrex wipes but think I’ll invest in some Aloe ones and see if that helps. 

I’m drinking lots more too so I don’t dehydrate, just means peeing more but I was getting used to that anyway having to drink lots during treatment! 

Sorry to talk bottoms but we are all on the same rollercoaster! 

:-) 

No need to apologise at all! Good to have a safe place to ask questions like this and get no judgement back at all. 

I tried the Andrex ones too, but I found they stung. I think it's the Morrisons, or could be the Tesco, own brand ones that I have in the cupboard at the moment. They're much less harsh.

The other thing I've used, sudocreme. Again it soothes and helps to heal as well. And..... There's a bit of joy in having a squidgy bum too with the cream rubbing between your cheeks. Lol.

Lass

Xx

Hi Chellby 

Ouch! Do tell your radiotherapy team about the problems. They can give you some Imodium to help with the diarrhoea, or just buy it at the supermarket. They can tell you how to increase the dose too if the one on the pack doesn’t work. They can also give you stronger stuff if Imodium doesn’t help. Definitely a good move to drink lots - keeping hydrated helps the damaged cells to repair and can help with fatigue too. I found the Imodium worked well. If your worried about portential accidents carry some wipes and spare clothes in a bag. My paramedic daughter also suggested investing in some pad/pant combinations (Tena or supermarket own brand) as a means of giving some added security whilst out snd about. Never actually needed them but psychologically it was a good move. Also Macmillan do a toilet card which you can show in shops etc - hopefully if there’s a queue for the ladies showing the card will prompt others to let you go first if you really can’t wait. 

Thinking of you and hoping all goes well x

Please please don’t flush any sort of wet wipes down the toilet. Better to dispose in your normal waste.

only pee, poo and paper should be flushed 

wet wipes are bad for the environment as they contain plastic and don’t break apart and they block drains and sewers and help form fatbergs

there are some biodegradable ones available. The brand Say Yes To Cucumbers, which is available at Boots, sells wipes made from compostable fabrics. CannyMum is an online brand that makes baby wipes from bamboo fibres and the widely available Ecover brand of cleaning products markets a biodegradable cleaning wipe range.

Hello Chellby,

It's horrible isn't it ? I  had chemo alongside my RT so I can really empathise with your problem. I found that using Anusol really helped me. It takes away that awful soreness. Also bathed my rear end with warm water and Tea Tree oil, just a couple of drops as it's a natural antiseptic.  And of course the beautiful Andrex wipes, put mine in a bag to dispose of. Pleased don't be down hearted, just think you are 11 down only 14 to go and your finished, nearly half way. Make sure you keep up your fluid intake, very important when you have RT. The low fibre diet sent me into a tizzy ! Everything I really don't like eating, add a little fibre into your diet as well otherwise you are going to end up constipated.  Do tell your team as well, no used being shy, my team were amazing. Oh I really do feel for you, but you  can do this! Rest as much as you can as well, don't rush around trying to do everything you used to do. I have never watched so much daytime TV in my life ! 

I hope the above can help you in some way, I finished my External RT early December. And am starting to feel so much better.

Please take care of yourself, sending you a gentle hug, you are doing great !

LC XXXXXXXXXXXX

Hiya chellby, I'm sorry to hear your having a tough time. My diarrhoea started day two and lasted right till the end. At one point I was having 8 tablets a day and sitting on a towel and nappy all the way home. I had a few weeks prior where I started cutting out fibre and I found a lot of vegetables and fruit were horrible, mushrooms in particular! I lived off cup a soup, bovril and toast, it was the only thing I could keep in. I used sudocreme constantly and baby wipes. I have to say that when treatment ended so did the diarrhoea. Its awful at the time and really gets you down but hopefully it's short lived for you to. There were other ladies on my cycle who didn't get any issues, others that had it once or twice, I was just unlucky. Talk to the radiotherapy team they are great. They changed a lot of my appointments because I found if I had appointments in the mornings and didn't eat anything before I could be home before the diarrhoea started. Hopefully you will only have a few days and the rest will be plain sailing xx

I haven't had radiotherapy, but watching my husband go through it was enough for me. The hospital advised E45 cream, but he reckoned it didn't do much good for him on his neck.. I get very sore and chapped hands in the winter and the only thing that sorts me out is Johnsons baby cream!! You can keep all your fancy perfumed creams!!!

I also made a big chart for the days of radiotherapy and tore a day off each time he had treatment. I suppose you shouldn't wish your life away, but it helped!! You're nearly half way.  Keep going!!!! xxxxxxx

Hi Chelsey,

I’m just about to have number 37 of 37 sessions of radiotherapy to the pelvic region, have had a few side effects.

I found Imodium an excellent solution to diarrhoea. I purchased the supermarket own brand. I found Wilkies, other brands available, were the cheapest, and are still the same thing. Aveno body lotion is in use to protect my skin. Lovely stuff.

I carry a rucksack with be that contains a change of clothes, bags to put soiled garments in, wipes to clean myself, and surface wipes to clean public facilities. You’d be surprised just how many you’ll need on you travels. Some people seem to be totally incapable of using a toilet without leaving a mess. And of course Imodium.

Be prepared for the fatigue that comes with radiotherapy. It’s just hit me, and hit me hard, so I’m looking forward to the rest.

In the mean time keep going, and if you’ve any problems speak to your radiology team. Mine are great, and have helped me immensely 

best wishes

Hi Chelby, my problems started on day 3 of treatment!  It's miserable isn't it.  I got Loperamide (Imodium) from the doctor at the hospital which helped and in fact 18 months on I still have them on prescription as things never went back to how they were before all of this.  I changed to a low fibre diet and also cut out coffee which I had read about and found I didn't fancy it anyway with feeling nauseous and running to the toilet!  I also use the Andrex wipes!  I already had IBS and found since treatment it has become worse, maybe that's why my side effects started so early into treatment.  

You are nearly halfway through and it will soon pass.  I made a chart to put on the wall in front of where I sit and crossed off each day and I found that helped to see the end was in sight!

Hugs, Lesley xx