Need some encouragement, please

I can certainly relate.  When I got down to the last few treatments I was in great misery.  I was burned, skin was sloughing off, I could not stay out of the bathroom, and I was very weak from not eating because my appetite was completely gone.  However, I hung in there and I'm so glad I did.  That was almost 8 1/2 years ago and I'm still here.  This is a time when you must pull strength up from rock bottom.  It's not easy, but you must. 

Make sure the none of the silver sulfadiazine cream remains on your skin prior to a treatment, as the metal in the ointment will increase the burning effect.  Drink lots and lots of fluids.  If you have pain medication, take it as prescribed.  If you don't have any or need something stronger, ask for it.  Look for Domeboro packs, as many get relief from them for the burning.  You also might try Aloe.  Just be sure your skin is completely clean prior to treatment.  If you are still able to eat, get as much protein as you can, as this promotes healing.  However, eat whatever you can to get calories and some nourishiment.  To ease the burning, you might also try lying on the bed with a fan blowing cool air on your treatment area. 

I wish I had one good bit of advice that would take away your pain, but it's really a trial and error thing.  Just remember that many of us have made it through this treatment and you can too.  Hang in there, you are almost at the finish line.

Martha

you can do it.  dont look at tomorrow Take one day at a time.   you are a very strong person to have done this treatment and you will finish it!

nan2017 said:

i just finished my treatments

i just finished my treatments in early January. So much pain towards the end of treatments, I was asking my doctor if there was any protocol to stop early. He said "no." Please make sure you don't have a UTI. Although the sith baths helped me, I think I got a UTI from taking them. I has so much going on in that area, that my UTI went undected for 4 days. It caused me a lot of pain. Hang in there!

 

Congratulations on finishing!! I hope the healing and recovery is moving ahead smoothly. 

You bring up a good point....I also had UTI's (twice) during treatment and was put on antibiotics. You are right, with all else going on it can be hard to detect at first!

katheryn

Reading your post brought me right back to that horrible time. Don't wear pants at all if you can get by with this, even a fan on those burned areas can give some relief. I just laid in bed with only a shirt on And my legs propped up so air could get to the burns. Domeboro soaks worked for me, lay gauze soaked in water and  domeboro over the burns. My husband helped with those. Lukewarm water only, no warm or hot baths.  I was in hospital for the last days of treatment because my UTI went into sepsis. You can ask for a wound care consult, I got one in hospital and she gave me all kinds of things to try. Most helpful was Aloe Vesta, a foaming cleanser that doesn't sting. I was literally having bowel movements every 15 minutes in spite of morphine and oxycodone for pain, lomotil, and tincture of opium to stop the diarrhea. I started crying with radiation tech one day, I can't remember what she said but I starting bawling to my embarrassment. Just take it one day at a time, one radiation treatment at a time. I think I just was too stubborn to stop or take a break. I kept thinking about my father in law, a Marine who spent four years in the Pacific in WWII. He hardly ever talked about his time which had to be hellish, but I do remember him saying "I never fell out", meaning he never quit marching, fighting, or anything else. Right or wrong I held myself to that standard and I got through. I cried in the bathroom too, didn't want the kids to see. You are not weak if you cry. You really are close to the end and things will get better. 

No you are not pathetic the pain you feel is and will be unbearable for quiet some time. I hate to hear you are going through this. I wanted to quit treatment before it was done but the doctors would not allow it. Try to have at least two ppl helping care for you so they can get time out themselves. I used aloe vera to help cool the stinging. only lay towels around the area keeping them cool by changeing them often.I'm trying to remember the other thing we soaked the towel in? it was liquid and smelled like ashes but worked great, i will get back with you on that. I wasnt able to use toilet paper so i used wet paper towels and dabbed not wiped the area helps. The med ondacset for nasuea and vomiting helps but take it 20 minutes before you eat. i highly recommend getting something for thrush before your last chemo tmt. and begin taking it before chemo. It helped me to use a towel to scream in when i used the toilet, it helped the cartakers ears also! I cried alot even after getting off the toilet. We kept a log of medicine times because of the way everything was happening and with the stress it made it seem like every five minutes more was due. My last week of radiology and chemo i had to use a bed pan because of weakness but found out this was because my blood count was down three pints and had to become hospitalized with a blood transfusion. I was barely able to walk to the bathroom, or get out of the shower from weakness and the pain was more intense with fluids in my port. I guess due to the skin being thinner because of the low blood count. These may be signs you can watch for. I didnt know what to look for.

You can do it. You CAN do it. It's been 13 yrs., to the day, since my last treatment. I'd almost forgotten it all, but your cry for help, and everyone's responses here, has brought it all back. We share this together, and we are stronger for our common bond. Do everything that everyone has suggested. Everything helps, if only for a few minutes. And know that we all will be thinking of you in the next two weeks. I so wish I had had the support then, that i find here now. My only suggestion, as others have suggested, is stay ahead of the pain. Take it and don't worry. I wish I had asked for and been given more drugs, and solid advice about taking them. Also, don't be discouraged if the pain does not subside immediately when treatment ends. It is gradual, but it comes. It surely comes. Please, let us all know how you fare these next few weeks. Gentle, cooling breezes to you from Hawaii.  

rlr000dc said:

No you are not pathetic the

No you are not pathetic the pain you feel is and will be unbearable for quiet some time. I hate to hear you are going through this. I wanted to quit treatment before it was done but the doctors would not allow it. Try to have at least two ppl helping care for you so they can get time out themselves. I used aloe vera to help cool the stinging. only lay towels around the area keeping them cool by changeing them often.I'm trying to remember the other thing we soaked the towel in? it was liquid and smelled like ashes but worked great, i will get back with you on that. I wasnt able to use toilet paper so i used wet paper towels and dabbed not wiped the area helps. The med ondacset for nasuea and vomiting helps but take it 20 minutes before you eat. i highly recommend getting something for thrush before your last chemo tmt. and begin taking it before chemo. It helped me to use a towel to scream in when i used the toilet, it helped the cartakers ears also! I cried alot even after getting off the toilet. We kept a log of medicine times because of the way everything was happening and with the stress it made it seem like every five minutes more was due. My last week of radiology and chemo i had to use a bed pan because of weakness but found out this was because my blood count was down three pints and had to become hospitalized with a blood transfusion. I was barely able to walk to the bathroom, or get out of the shower from weakness and the pain was more intense with fluids in my port. I guess due to the skin being thinner because of the low blood count. These may be signs you can watch for. I didnt know what to look for.

OMG!  Your battle sounds so much like mine...  especially screaming into the towel....  I'm five years out and had forgotten that...

Amy, you have another day done! I'm so glad you are finding help and support while this is going on. I didn't find the site til after my treatment and wish I'd found it earlier. You can and are doing it. I'm glad my father in law's words have helped. You're close to the end, and I know you won't fall out. It really will become a distant memory and life will get back in perspective again.

I have a dear friend who had melanoma and then bilateral breast cancer (years ago)who was texting me during my treatment. She accidentally texted me a text meant for her husband about how she was happy she finally was able to pluck a pesky chin hair!! She quickly texted me and said "oops that was meant for my husband, someday soon you'll be back at the place where all you have to worry about is a pesky chin hair". She was telling me she knew I was miserable but life would get back to the everyday details again, and she certainly was right. Thinking of you!

Lorikat said:

OMG!  Your battle sounds so

OMG!  Your battle sounds so much like mine...  especially screaming into the towel....  I'm five years out and had forgotten that...

And thats a good thing!

Rhonda

rlr000dc said:

MP327

yes the removal of the lesions wll be in the same area. Thanks for the infor I am more hopeful now! I can only imagine the emotions that put you through. Im really hateing this is becoming a regular outing to have to dread going to think i could find much better ways to spend my time.lol geesh!

Rhonda

Yes, it was quite a let down for me to hear that I had those lesions and that I would need surgery.  However, the procedure was not nearly as bad as what I had imagined.  I hope that will be true for you too.  It's good that your doctor is on top of things and being vigilant in your follow-ups.  I wish you all the best and I hope you'll let us know how things go.

Martha