Week 5

mbh97766

Thought I would check in, I've just completed week 5 and it was all I thought it was going to be. Almost threw in the towel on Wednesday but reading on this website and seeing all you amazing people fight your way through this, I knew I had to go on. I want to be like you guys. So here I am, Friday, with two days off, and three days of radiation left. Can ya give me an Amen?
Last round of chemo hit me bad this time, Nausea couldn't be controlled, and I have found myself very weak and tired. It only lasted three days but felt like an eternity. I'm better now. Still struggling to find stuff to eat, for some reason Kraft Mac n'cheese is doing the trick this week. Thinks like rice and seeds and bread scratch at my throat. Noodles are soft and I'm able to swallow without adverse reaction.
Elimination - It's a nightmare and I cry my way through it. I've tried all the recommended tricks, and I'm just putting one foot in front of the other. I'm staying dosed up on pain pills, but for some reason regardless of the strength, elimination is going to burn and sting. I have discovered that a benedryl capsule will help with the incessant itching and also adds an effective sleeping aid to the mix.
Looking forward to the weekend. Just thought I'd touch base.
Darcee

mp327

Hi Darcee!
I'm glad you came here to update us. Oh, how well I remember the last week or so of treatment--it was miserable. My heart goes out to you. I, too, didn't think I could go on when I got down to my last 3 treatments. A very timely phone call from one of my best friends was what pulled me through, plus a weekend break before the last 2 treatments. You can do this, I know you can. It's not easy, I realize, but like you said, so many of us have made it and I know you will too. I had the same issues with foods too--could only eat soft foods, that is, when I had an appetite, which dwindled towards the end. I ate a lot of those Ramen noodle cups. You might try applying some Lidocaine cream to your anal area before a bowel movement to see if that numbs things up enough to be bearable. I know some people have tried this and say it helps. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other and soon you will be crossing that finish line. Please keep us posted on how you are doing. I will be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.

LOLLI64

BE STRONG
AS WELL, I REMEMBER THE LAST FEW TREATMENTS. DIG DEEP FOR THE INTER STRENGTH, I PROMISE YOU IT DOES GET BETTER. EACH DAY YOU WILL GET JUST A LIL STRONGER. THE LIDOCAINE CREAM MAY HELP, OR ASK YOUR DR. IF THERE IS ANYTHING HE CAN GIVE YOU. THERE IS ENOUGH PRESCRIPTIONS, THAT NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO SUFFER. I LIVED ON CREAMED POTATOS FOR MANY WEEKS. YOU ARE NOT ALONE !!!!!!

nonichol

hang in there
Darcee,
I'll give you an amen, sister. One good thing I have found is after going through all that, I know I am pretty tough and so are you. I did the lidocaine, and would jump straight into the sitz bath after a bm. I was even more tired the week after treatment, hopefully you won't be, but if you are just take it easy and then recovery will quickly follow and your strength will return.
Norma

z

Darcee
Hi Darcee,

Just 3 more zaps and let the healing begin. I know I would get tired easily, and for a good month after tx ended anything could tire me out. I returned to work after about 2 1/2 months off. Everybody is different and it will just take time for your stamina to return, but it will. I used the water bottle for a good year while using the bathroom, it sort of acted like a bedai (sp) and would pat dry never rub. I remember the pain, and the water bottle would just help take a little of the sting and burn out. I will give you that Amen now. I wish you well Lori.

lizdeli

z said:

Darcee
Hi Darcee,

Just 3 more zaps and let the healing begin. I know I would get tired easily, and for a good month after tx ended anything could tire me out. I returned to work after about 2 1/2 months off. Everybody is different and it will just take time for your stamina to return, but it will. I used the water bottle for a good year while using the bathroom, it sort of acted like a bedai (sp) and would pat dry never rub. I remember the pain, and the water bottle would just help take a little of the sting and burn out. I will give you that Amen now. I wish you well Lori.

You're on the home stretch....
Darcee
I know it's the hardest part of the treatment. Stay strong, it's almost finished. On to the healing process! Wishing you healing and keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.
Liz

JDuke

lizdeli said:

You're on the home stretch....
Darcee
I know it's the hardest part of the treatment. Stay strong, it's almost finished. On to the healing process! Wishing you healing and keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.
Liz

Oh Darcee How I Feel Your Pain
You are so close! I remember mac and cheese was tolerable and somehow comforting. However, by the end of the week following completion of treatment I developed an adversion to all foods that were white or yellow. Go figure. Try to rest up the next three days and remember by this time next week it will be over and the healing will have begun. Benedryl was one of the most effective things in my arsenal as the healing progressed.

AMEN, AMEN, AMEN

Joanne

Gulamin

Almost Done!
You are almost done!!! I wish we both would be done by now. Reading this really worries me. I am going into week 5 on Monday ... scary to read all of this. Thanks for the tips. I will get the benadryl and the Lidocaine ready. Any advice from all of you is so much appreciated.

ejn58

Gulamin said:

Almost Done!
You are almost done!!! I wish we both would be done by now. Reading this really worries me. I am going into week 5 on Monday ... scary to read all of this. Thanks for the tips. I will get the benadryl and the Lidocaine ready. Any advice from all of you is so much appreciated.

Hang in there!
You're going to get through it. I had a thing for Culver's milk shakes during the last couple weeks. They were easy for me to handle as well as noodles with melted butter. You have all of us behind you.

sissy310

ejn58 said:

Hang in there!
You're going to get through it. I had a thing for Culver's milk shakes during the last couple weeks. They were easy for me to handle as well as noodles with melted butter. You have all of us behind you.

Hi Darcee, you are nearing
Hi Darcee, you are nearing that finish line. Hang in there and push forward. I know it isn't easy but you can do this. I remember that incessant itching...hated that but the benedryl worked well for me too. The itching does get better once treatment is over...keep everything aired out if you can and do sitz baths. Keep us posted. Soon you will be done!! Marilyne

grandma2selena

Hang in There
Darcee, hang in there. While the last part is the toughest and as many have said just take it one day at a time. I feel lucky as I read others here to look back and realize I didn't have all the side affects that many dealt with. I know my fifth week, I didn't think the metallic taste would ever go away, but it did. Funny thing for me was I ate better the last part of my treatment then I did the first part, in fact I ate all the time even getting up through the middle of the night to make myself a half of turkey or ham sandwich. I was starving at that point and you couldn't keep me away from food. Just hang in there it will be over soon and the healing process will begin.