Long-Time Survivor Question

islandgirlculebra

Hi. Long-time survivor (6 years) checking in. Just wondering if any other long-timers have issues with skin irritations with the areas where your skin received the radiation and what you do about it. I like to swim but even salt water pools seem to irritate those areas if I go more than 3 - 4 times a week. Don't see much redness but it just seems to irritate nerve endings I guess. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Some creams just seem to irritate it more. 

mp327

Hi islandgirlculebra!

Wow, it's been a long time since we've heard from you!  I hope that other than the skin issues, you are doing well--6 years--congratulations!  I have not had many skin issues, other than some rawness if I have a bout of diarrhea, which rarely happens (I tend to lean more to constipation these days, 10 years post-treatment).  There must be something in the pool water that is not setting well with your skin.  If you take a few days off from swimming, does the irritation go away?  I guess if I were in your situation, I would try aloe vera or Aquaphor to see if that helps, unless you've already tried those.  Perhaps someone else will have some better suggestions.  I hope you get it figured out so you can get some relief.  I'm glad to hear from you and hope that you will continue to enjoy good health!

islandgirlculebra

mp327 said:

Hi islandgirlculebra!

Wow, it's been a long time since we've heard from you!  I hope that other than the skin issues, you are doing well--6 years--congratulations!  I have not had many skin issues, other than some rawness if I have a bout of diarrhea, which rarely happens (I tend to lean more to constipation these days, 10 years post-treatment).  There must be something in the pool water that is not setting well with your skin.  If you take a few days off from swimming, does the irritation go away?  I guess if I were in your situation, I would try aloe vera or Aquaphor to see if that helps, unless you've already tried those.  Perhaps someone else will have some better suggestions.  I hope you get it figured out so you can get some relief.  I'm glad to hear from you and hope that you will continue to enjoy good health!

Ah Martha it's good to hear

Ah Martha it's good to hear from you! I knew you would respond! You are so wonderful! I was in a different pool last week on vacation. Not sure if it was salt water or not. seems to have irritated me. I'm doing well except for degenerative discs in my lower back which cause low back pain. That combined with the stiff and sore hips from radiation limits walking and doing much bending over, which is frustrating. Pool exercising and stretching helps, so that's why I'm in pools so much. How is your health Martha? Are you still able to run? 

mp327

islandgirlculebra said:

Ah Martha it's good to hear

Ah Martha it's good to hear from you! I knew you would respond! You are so wonderful! I was in a different pool last week on vacation. Not sure if it was salt water or not. seems to have irritated me. I'm doing well except for degenerative discs in my lower back which cause low back pain. That combined with the stiff and sore hips from radiation limits walking and doing much bending over, which is frustrating. Pool exercising and stretching helps, so that's why I'm in pools so much. How is your health Martha? Are you still able to run? 

islandgirlculebra

Thanks for your response!  You are so sweet!  If you were in a different pool, it's possible that it had different chemicals or more chemicals in it than what you are used to.  It seems to me that your skin could react to something like that.

Sorry to hear about your low back pain and hip problems.  That is similar to my situation.  I can understand why you like exercising in the pool to reduce impact.  I am no longer running--osteoporosis in my hips and lower back.  I now walk at an incline on my treadmill.  I miss running, but I have a lot fewer aches and pains!  I am still weight training.  I feel good, but am dealing with chronic kidney disease (holding my own on that so far!) and was recently diagnosed with the very early stages of glucoma.  Oh boy!  Something else to deal with! 

I hope your skin issues clear up.  Keep up with the swimming--that's great!  Thanks for letting me know how you're doing!  Take good care!

Ouch_Ouch_Ouch

Thoughts.

islandgirlculebra - I know nothing about salt water pools. Do they need chemicals? Fresh water pools use chlorine, that can be irritating to skin and lungs, especially if there's too much in the water. Another pool chemical is based on peroxide - not so bad, I think. And salt water can be irritating all by itself. Do you have other skin sensitivities? Maybe you are a delicate flower like me?

I suggest an experiemnt --- coat the irritated area with a blocking agent, like Aquaphor, Albolene, or a zinc oxide product, then go into the water. Are you still irritated? It won't be good for the elastic in your swimsuit, so you'll need to wash it thoroughly afterwards. Could it be the swimsuit that's irritating you, latex, spandex, polyester, whatever? Have you tried calling your radiation oncologist's nurse or seeing a dermatologist, or allergist?

gesalbano

Anyone know of wipes to clean rectum after bowel movement to keep area extra clean.  Thank you.

Mollymaude

My favorite products

i used aloe vesta cleansing foam with toilet paper- but something very soft like charmin ultra strong. To prevent “diaper rash” I still use critic-aid clear moisture barrier ointment by coloplast. There is another one by coloplast with a similar name that I don’t like, it is called “baza clear”. The aloe vesta saved me in the hospital when I was having diarrhea literally every 15 minutes for days on end and they couldn’t get it stopped until they put me on tincture of opium. I was too weak to shower and that was what I used to clean up after bouts of diarrhea. I don’t use the aloe vesta anymore but I use the critic-aid moisture barrier after every shower. Sorry to be graphic but it kind of makes it like a nonstick pan and clean up is way easier- you don’t have to wipe as hard to get clean. Lol!

Jewlz

gesalbano said:

Anyone know of wipes to clean rectum after bowel movement to keep area extra clean.  Thank you.

Wipes

I use Cottonelle FreshCare Flushable Wet Wipes. 

DebbieM58

gesalbano said:

Anyone know of wipes to clean rectum after bowel movement to keep area extra clean.  Thank you.

Hi. I have used huggies

Hi. I have used huggies natural care baby wipes since my chemo and radiation treatment in 2012.  I have tried other brands but go back to the buggies. They are gentle, clean well. I can also get them unscented. Take care. 

DebbieM58

Hi. I used bismoline powder

Hi. I used bismoline powder when my skin was irritated. I continue to use it as prevention. I order the powder through Amazon. I will never stop using it. I hope you find something that will work for you. Take care.