aftercare after removal of perianal squamous cell carcinoma in situ

oncology12345
oncology12345 Member Posts: 41
in Anal Cancer #1

I have had it excised a few days ago and to say that I'm in pain would be an understatement. I am finding it very difficult particularly having a bowel movement. I'm taking pain relief, antibiotics as instructed but the pain is unbearable. I'm told not to bathe but can rinse off in the shower. I'm sitting on an ice pack this minute. Anyone any helpful tips please????Frown

Comments

  • RoseC
    RoseC Member Posts: 559
    #2
    Hi onc,
    How big of an area is

    Hi onc,

    How big of an area is affected? Do you have stitches? (Trying to get and idea of what kind of wound you're dealing with.) A lot of people used sitz baths to relieve pain, even having bowel movements in the sitz bath or in the tub - but if you've been told not to bathe then those things are probably out too. What about asking the doctor for something like lidocaine? To numb the area. Can't really think of anything else right now, except the pain meds and time. So sorry you're hurting - it's no fun. Hopefully the pain will subside quickly.

  • oncology12345
    oncology12345 Member Posts: 41
    #3
    RoseC said:

    Hi onc,
    How big of an area is

    Hi onc,

    How big of an area is affected? Do you have stitches? (Trying to get and idea of what kind of wound you're dealing with.) A lot of people used sitz baths to relieve pain, even having bowel movements in the sitz bath or in the tub - but if you've been told not to bathe then those things are probably out too. What about asking the doctor for something like lidocaine? To numb the area. Can't really think of anything else right now, except the pain meds and time. So sorry you're hurting - it's no fun. Hopefully the pain will subside quickly.

    Thanks for that, I guess I'll

    Thanks for that, I guess I'll continue with the showering until told otherwise. The area isn't that big and has been stitched up but it's right at the anal opening and about 4/5 cm out from there. I finally got the courage to look at it last night and it looks awful - I don't know if I'll ever feel normal again. It isn't just the look of it but I feel different too. It's as if my two sides of my bum are a little pulled together or something. Sounds wierd I know but that's what it feels like. Because of the stool softners I'm on the loo alot and even though it's not as bad as it was it's still painful.  I wonder looking at it will I ever wipe normally again???

  • Ouch_Ouch_Ouch
    Ouch_Ouch_Ouch Member Posts: 508 Member
    #4
    Pain control

    Do not be afraid to ask for a better pain control plan if you need to. Pain is very subjective; nobody can predict how you specifically will react to the meds you are on - you may need a dose change or a total med change. There are also local pain med options available, like lidocaine gel, for example. Have a heart to heart talk with the MD's nurse if the MD is hard to get to.

    All the best!

  • oncology12345
    oncology12345 Member Posts: 41
    #5
    Ouch_Ouch_Ouch said:

    Pain control

    Do not be afraid to ask for a better pain control plan if you need to. Pain is very subjective; nobody can predict how you specifically will react to the meds you are on - you may need a dose change or a total med change. There are also local pain med options available, like lidocaine gel, for example. Have a heart to heart talk with the MD's nurse if the MD is hard to get to.

    All the best!

    Hi. I am now starting to feel

    Hi. I am now starting to feel a little better and the pain is subsiding. At last. I still have to be careful moving and use a shower to clean off after a bowel movement and am still on pain killers but Could anyone possibly direct me to any website or anywhere I might find advice as to how to minimise scarring in this area and how to keep the skin soft as possible.  I've googled loads and can't find anything. 

    Thanks for all the help received here.

  • Thunderstorm
    Thunderstorm Member Posts: 2
    #6
    oncology12345 said:

    Hi. I am now starting to feel

    Hi. I am now starting to feel a little better and the pain is subsiding. At last. I still have to be careful moving and use a shower to clean off after a bowel movement and am still on pain killers but Could anyone possibly direct me to any website or anywhere I might find advice as to how to minimise scarring in this area and how to keep the skin soft as possible.  I've googled loads and can't find anything. 

    Thanks for all the help received here.

    Hi Oncology!
    My cancer center

    Hi Oncology!

    My cancer center recommends using coconut oil or almond oil and massaging the anal area to try and keep it supple. Now this was recommended for radiation treatment so it does not take into account a wound (surgery). But it covers scar tissue formation. 

  • oncology12345
    oncology12345 Member Posts: 41
    #7
    Thunderstorm said:

    Hi Oncology!
    My cancer center

    Hi Oncology!

    My cancer center recommends using coconut oil or almond oil and massaging the anal area to try and keep it supple. Now this was recommended for radiation treatment so it does not take into account a wound (surgery). But it covers scar tissue formation. 

    Thanks so much for that

    Thanks so much for that suggestion - it feels really hard down there compared to what it was.  I'll get the oil and give it a try. Do you know if it's ok to use a month after surgery???

     

    Even though I'm now back to work and feeling fine I still have a bit of pain down there and am not back to what was normal for me as regarding bowel movements. I'm taking a stool softener but I seem to be constipated quite a bit and this is even with eating healthier than I ever did in my life! Is it normal for this to happen?  Any suggestions for this.

     

    Again, thanks for all the replies and help I've received here. I've never told anyone exactly what was wrong with me and wouldn't have had a soul to ask only for here.

  • jcruz
    jcruz Member Posts: 379 Member
    #8
    oncology12345 said:

    Thanks so much for that

    Thanks so much for that suggestion - it feels really hard down there compared to what it was.  I'll get the oil and give it a try. Do you know if it's ok to use a month after surgery???

     

    Even though I'm now back to work and feeling fine I still have a bit of pain down there and am not back to what was normal for me as regarding bowel movements. I'm taking a stool softener but I seem to be constipated quite a bit and this is even with eating healthier than I ever did in my life! Is it normal for this to happen?  Any suggestions for this.

     

    Again, thanks for all the replies and help I've received here. I've never told anyone exactly what was wrong with me and wouldn't have had a soul to ask only for here.

    what's normal?

    I don't know what is normal for BMs after the surgery.  I just want to suggest that if the stool softener isn't effective enough try miralax.  I had a surgery before my chemo and radiation started and I was taking oxycontin which is constipating.  So I mixed a really thick glass of metamucil in the morning and then drank a glass of miralax in the evening.  Kept everything moving along.

    Wishing you well as you heal

  • sandysp
    sandysp Member Posts: 868 Member
    #9
    jcruz said:

    what's normal?

    I don't know what is normal for BMs after the surgery.  I just want to suggest that if the stool softener isn't effective enough try miralax.  I had a surgery before my chemo and radiation started and I was taking oxycontin which is constipating.  So I mixed a really thick glass of metamucil in the morning and then drank a glass of miralax in the evening.  Kept everything moving along.

    Wishing you well as you heal

    scar tissue

    This is different from your problem but from the radiation treatments my skin changed a lot. My daily regimen prescribed 2x a day is vitamin e oil then aquaphor throughout the entire vaginal and perianal area one side of the moon to the other I guess you could say. I also use other vaginal moisturizers. One that works quite well in the perianal area also is Replens but it's a lot more expensive than coconut oil (which I also use sometimes when I run out of Vitamin E oil) and think it is also very good but thinner.

    I buy my Vitamin E Oil over Amazon.com as a subscription so I never have to think of picking it up. I get it in the bottle so I don't have to poke holes in capsules. Costco has Aquaphor very reasonably (like $12.95 for the great big jar). The philosophy I was told is that the Aquaphor seals in the oil and helps it work better. 

    I am glad your pain issues are resolving. BTW regarding maintaining healthy bowel function instead of Metamucil, which has some wheat and artificial stuff in it, my colorectal surgeon recommended Psyllium Husks. I buy the organic Whole Psyllium Husk powder at The Vitamin Shop and put it in a smoothy at least four or five days a week. What a difference it makes!

    Good luck to you.

    Sincerely,

    Sandy

  • oncology12345
    oncology12345 Member Posts: 41
    #10
    sandysp said:

    scar tissue

    This is different from your problem but from the radiation treatments my skin changed a lot. My daily regimen prescribed 2x a day is vitamin e oil then aquaphor throughout the entire vaginal and perianal area one side of the moon to the other I guess you could say. I also use other vaginal moisturizers. One that works quite well in the perianal area also is Replens but it's a lot more expensive than coconut oil (which I also use sometimes when I run out of Vitamin E oil) and think it is also very good but thinner.

    I buy my Vitamin E Oil over Amazon.com as a subscription so I never have to think of picking it up. I get it in the bottle so I don't have to poke holes in capsules. Costco has Aquaphor very reasonably (like $12.95 for the great big jar). The philosophy I was told is that the Aquaphor seals in the oil and helps it work better. 

    I am glad your pain issues are resolving. BTW regarding maintaining healthy bowel function instead of Metamucil, which has some wheat and artificial stuff in it, my colorectal surgeon recommended Psyllium Husks. I buy the organic Whole Psyllium Husk powder at The Vitamin Shop and put it in a smoothy at least four or five days a week. What a difference it makes!

    Good luck to you.

    Sincerely,

    Sandy

    Thanks very much, I will

    Thanks very much, I will certainly try those suggestions. I know from reading other posts that my problem wasn't as difficult to solve as others here and I truly wish everyone the best. I suppose at some stage I'll have to have another scan and that will be a worrying time again but I'll get through it when the time comes. Thanks again

  • qv62
    qv62 Member Posts: 434 Member
    #11
    oncology12345 said:

    Thanks so much for that

    Thanks so much for that suggestion - it feels really hard down there compared to what it was.  I'll get the oil and give it a try. Do you know if it's ok to use a month after surgery???

     

    Even though I'm now back to work and feeling fine I still have a bit of pain down there and am not back to what was normal for me as regarding bowel movements. I'm taking a stool softener but I seem to be constipated quite a bit and this is even with eating healthier than I ever did in my life! Is it normal for this to happen?  Any suggestions for this.

     

    Again, thanks for all the replies and help I've received here. I've never told anyone exactly what was wrong with me and wouldn't have had a soul to ask only for here.

    oncology12345

    In addition to the stool softner, I take 2 Senna before bed most nights, they were perscribed to me after each surgery but now I buy the over the counter brand at CVS they are the same and help to make a difference in staying regular. Hope you find them helpful if you give them a try.

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