????? after effects of radiation

Moesimo
Moesimo Member Posts: 1,072 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hi to all:

Could this be an after effect of radiation?
I now get up several times a night to urinate.(at least 2). I have trouble sometimes falling back asleep. I can no longer sleep on my belly due to my colostomy. That's my favorite positon. I have tried it's just not comfortable anymore.

OR., could it be from instant menopause that causes my trips to the loo, or from my 3 abdominal surgeries caused by this horrible disease.

Sorry, I have bitched enough tonite, I know I could have it alot worse. I am also nervous about my upcoming CAT scan. It has been almost 2 years since my first surgery.

OK, I must go back to bed, I have to get up at 6 AM for work. (Note the time of this posting.)

Sweet dreams everyone, Maureen
PS Kanga, thanks for the pictures. lol

Comments

  • taraHK
    taraHK Member Posts: 1,952 Member
    #2
    Hi Maureen,
    I have had some urinary problems related to the radiation (well, the oncologist says related to surgery and the surgeon says related to radiation ha ha). But more frequent night urination is not one of them. My issues have been very mild incontinence and also a slightly reduced sensation of when I need to urinate. Neither are very serious but I have pursued consultation with specialists (urologist or urogynecologist) and found one who was remarkably informative regarding side effects of both surgery and radiation. Perhaps you might also have the option and inclination to pursue that.....(I did also have instant menopause with the radiation).

    As far as the upcoming CT -- hey -- I understand. It is nerve-wracking. Pull on every resource you have to get you through. And please know that I and everyone here is pulling for you.

    Sleep position: I was a belly-sleeper before colostomy. One suggestion (which I discovered during pregnancy) is to lie on your side, with the top leg stretched way over to the other side (hmmm -- bit hard for me to describe --). I found this a comprise between side-sleeping and belly-sleeping -- just a thought....

    Love and best wishes,
    Tara

    ps I am an advocate of sleeping pill or mild tranquilizer, occasionally, to get one through a tough night or nights. But, I realize not everyone is -- I certainly respect those who prefer to go a more natural route....
  • tkd3g
    tkd3g Member Posts: 767
    #3
    Hi Maureen,

    I don't have any advice about the more frequent urination.

    I, too, had the instant menopause. I have to tell you, I don't sleep well at all anymore. It is the hot flashes/night sweats that wake me at least 3-4 times a night. ( I have permanent bags under my eyes:)

    I am scared of traditional hormone replacement therapy, but I have to do something.

    I am currently looking into something called bioidentical hormones. ( Susanne Somers is into them) I haven't found a doctor yet, but I'm hoping.

    Do you perhaps, get up because of the hot flashes and then need to go to the bathroom?

    Best of luck.

    Barb
  • madu
    madu Member Posts: 53
    #4
    Maureen,

    I'd check with your gynecologist. I also had radiation to my pelvic area and went into medically induced menopause. I've been on the pill to keep my hormones up and everything seemed normal until about a year ago. I was bleeding when I shouldn't and I was worried I had cervical cancer. I went to be tested and my gyno said (hmm maybe this is more detail than anyone wants so to make it shorter) so my gyno suggested I take internal hormones. I was a little worried because you see all this stuff on the news about hormone replacement. She assured me this was different - just a small local amount - well one thing I noticed immediately was I was up less in the night to go to the bathroom (I was up to almost 4 times!). I mentioned it to her and she said - oh that's common, your uterus and bladder are touching and the bladder gets hormones through that connection. Lower hormones, more peeing. Just a thought!

    Heidi
  • Moesimo
    Moesimo Member Posts: 1,072 Member
    #5
    tkd3g said:

    Hi Maureen,

    I don't have any advice about the more frequent urination.

    I, too, had the instant menopause. I have to tell you, I don't sleep well at all anymore. It is the hot flashes/night sweats that wake me at least 3-4 times a night. ( I have permanent bags under my eyes:)

    I am scared of traditional hormone replacement therapy, but I have to do something.

    I am currently looking into something called bioidentical hormones. ( Susanne Somers is into them) I haven't found a doctor yet, but I'm hoping.

    Do you perhaps, get up because of the hot flashes and then need to go to the bathroom?

    Best of luck.

    Barb

    I had terrible night sweats right after my radiation. My onc. had been trying to get me to take something for my mood and I would not. But when I saw my GP and she wouldn't give me hormones because it increases the risk of breast cancer. She suggested paxil 20mg a day because a study was done and it helped with the symptoms of menopause. It has helped tremendously and I now wake up dry. I also was soaked several times a night. Maybe this would work for you also.

    Maureen
  • Moesimo
    Moesimo Member Posts: 1,072 Member
    #6
    madu said:

    Maureen,

    I'd check with your gynecologist. I also had radiation to my pelvic area and went into medically induced menopause. I've been on the pill to keep my hormones up and everything seemed normal until about a year ago. I was bleeding when I shouldn't and I was worried I had cervical cancer. I went to be tested and my gyno said (hmm maybe this is more detail than anyone wants so to make it shorter) so my gyno suggested I take internal hormones. I was a little worried because you see all this stuff on the news about hormone replacement. She assured me this was different - just a small local amount - well one thing I noticed immediately was I was up less in the night to go to the bathroom (I was up to almost 4 times!). I mentioned it to her and she said - oh that's common, your uterus and bladder are touching and the bladder gets hormones through that connection. Lower hormones, more peeing. Just a thought!

    Heidi

    I had a hysterectomy about 7 years ago for pelvis relaxation. I kept my ovaries because I was only 41. My doc won't give me hormones because of the increase risk of breast cancer. See my above post. Thanks

    Maureen
  • tkd3g
    tkd3g Member Posts: 767
    #7
    Moesimo said:

    I had a hysterectomy about 7 years ago for pelvis relaxation. I kept my ovaries because I was only 41. My doc won't give me hormones because of the increase risk of breast cancer. See my above post. Thanks

    Maureen

    I feel the same way about the hormone thing. That is why I'm checking into this bioidentical hormone replacement. They are made from yam and soy extracts. ( no you can't just eat yams and soy) I recommend Suzanne Somers book The Sexy Years and Slim and Sexy Forever. Everything I read in there was me to a tee!!! I'm sure it's not for everyone, but it is an alternative.

    Do you know what Prempro is made of?

    BArb
  • nanuk
    nanuk Member Posts: 1,358 Member
    #8
    Maureen: Although our plumbing is different, I have experienced increased urination, and CTs show a thickening of the bladder wall, which the doc attributes to radiation-induced changes. Bud
  • goldfinch
    goldfinch Member Posts: 735
    #9
    Hi Maureen,
    Don't have anything that will help with your symptoms because I went through menopause before treatment (i was very young! early 40's-makes me wonder if that was a hint that something was off in my body). My night sweats which were never very bad actually got better.
    Reagarding the frequent urination...I have noticed a decreased need to go and slower flow than before, not to mention that I don't always feel like I empty (not a uti-i checked). I was wondering if that was due to the radiation and or surgery myself. Symptoms aren't troublesome enough for me to follow up on it.
    Certainly seems possible that either thing (surgeries or radiation) or a combo of the 2 may be responsible. I hope you can find some relief soon.
    I like to sleep on my side. I would be so bummed if i couldn't do that anymore. I am so sorry that you can't sleep in your favorite position.
    Hope you got some sleep for your work day!
    Take care!
    Mary
  • madu
    madu Member Posts: 53
    #10
    Moesimo said:

    I had a hysterectomy about 7 years ago for pelvis relaxation. I kept my ovaries because I was only 41. My doc won't give me hormones because of the increase risk of breast cancer. See my above post. Thanks

    Maureen

    I specifically asked about the hormone I'm taking and the risk of other types of cancer and was told that since it was local (vaginal insertion - I know more than some might want to know) and low dose (twice a week) it did not have the same effect as the oral hormones - darn if I can remember the name right now
  • madu
    madu Member Posts: 53
    #11
    madu said:

    I specifically asked about the hormone I'm taking and the risk of other types of cancer and was told that since it was local (vaginal insertion - I know more than some might want to know) and low dose (twice a week) it did not have the same effect as the oral hormones - darn if I can remember the name right now

    Looked it up - Vagifem
  • 2bhealed
    2bhealed Member Posts: 2,064 Member
    #12
    tkd3g said:

    Hi Maureen,

    I don't have any advice about the more frequent urination.

    I, too, had the instant menopause. I have to tell you, I don't sleep well at all anymore. It is the hot flashes/night sweats that wake me at least 3-4 times a night. ( I have permanent bags under my eyes:)

    I am scared of traditional hormone replacement therapy, but I have to do something.

    I am currently looking into something called bioidentical hormones. ( Susanne Somers is into them) I haven't found a doctor yet, but I'm hoping.

    Do you perhaps, get up because of the hot flashes and then need to go to the bathroom?

    Best of luck.

    Barb

    Hi Barb and Maureen,

    For sleeping melatonin works great and is an antioxidant which is great for cancer fighting. I now take calcium before bed and sleep great! My problem was once I woke up to pee I couldn't fall back asleep. The melatonin fixed this right away. I took up to 20mg....but I built up to that increasing every night. When I woke up too groggy I knew I needed to start cutting back which I did to nothing and switched to calcium.

    As for the menopause stuff. I just read tonight (funny timing) that the cranberry/flax seed drink that I take every morning and every night is supposed to help balance hormones and menopause symptoms just what you described barb. I read in a Fat Flush book which is a liver detox program that I am currently doing.

    Anyway just thought I would add my .02. oh surprise! haha! :-)

    peace, emily who swears by both methods and none are "addicting".
  • rejoyous
    rejoyous Member Posts: 259
    #13
    Hi Maureen,

    I was a belly sleeper until my pregnancies, and then trained myself to sleep on my side. I use pillows, too, one between my legs and one that I kind of hug. These are good for back support--that's how I got started on them.

    I have been having quite a bit of sleeplessness. I have no idea why--maybe just the whole crazy stress of all this? But I've found that doing some simple stretches right in bed often relaxes me almost instantly. I lie on my back and pull up one thigh to my chest, count to sixty, then the other thigh, count to sixty, that kind of thing. I don't know whether it's the stretching or counting but something in all this just calms me down and lets me go to sleep.

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