Thought I would feel great

462lt
462lt Member Posts: 117
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
One year ago I was having major problems, diarrhea, constipation, blood and muscos in stool and yes low and behold I did have rectal cancer. I have been through radiation chemo and a transanal excision, here it it amost a year later and guess what i still have major problems all of the above and add a few like incontinuince,total exhaustion, and hip pain ( I think from radiation). I'm kinda depressed thought I would feel much better.

Comments

  • Kerry S
    Kerry S Member Posts: 606 Member
    Get mad about it and get moving
    462it darlin,
    I am a year ahead of you. It does get better with time. That rad/chemo is the hip problem. I went thru the same crap. That might save our lives, but it sucks. I don’t care what they say, that crap cooks you inside.

    I can’t speak to the incontinence. I just get crap all over me from the damn bag. 13 more days of that. (they moved my reconnect surgery date out 2 days - It was like telling a kid they moved Christmas.)

    I can tell you that exercise is the best help to get out of the dark fog days. Go for long walks. Any thing but laying on the couch and focusing on how bad you feel. Look at the funny side of all this. Think how much fun it is to beat the grim reaper at his own game.

    Get mad about it and get moving.

    Kerry
  • karguy
    karguy Member Posts: 1,020 Member
    It does
    It does get better with time,I have to take 4 iron pills a day,and still have some hip pain,but my hips were damaged in the military when I was wounded so that is part of my problem,and the radiation.Kerry was right,if you get out and walk it will help alot.I walk as much as I can and when my hips start to hurt,I just walk it out.Good luck.
  • Lori-S
    Lori-S Member Posts: 1,277 Member
    Sorry
    to hear you're feeling so down at your almost one year mark. I'm not there yet myself. but, it's post like yours that help me to reset my expectations so thank you for posting about these things.

    Once I started reading the boards, I quickly realized that I had a silly notion in my head that I'd just get over this and life would go back to normal. I further realized this was not the case when I started having other non-cancer but, related problems like with my hernia and problems with my entire GI system that I now know might get better but won't ever be the way it used to be. It's been a slow realization for me. The more I read the better I am preparing for how it will be. I think it's a shame that things are not really discussed by anyone in the medical community when you are receiving treatments. I mean they "mention" side effects and such but, they don't "address" the true nature of the changes that some of us will face.

    I hope you feel better soon. Everyone has those days. HUGS to you.
  • Jaylo969
    Jaylo969 Member Posts: 824 Member
    me too
    Yes, I too am one year out and most afternoons I feel like HE double hockey sticks. The fatigue is horrible. I have no hip pain...just hands and feet.One thumb that refuses to function....Be hey, we are alive and that is good!

    Things WILL get better.

    -Pat
  • AnneCan
    AnneCan Member Posts: 3,673 Member
    Sorry
    I hope you start to feel better soon!