Anyone willing to talk about sex?

Oh..... I just did a search back through old threads.  It's sad, and depressing.  So many not here.

Kudos to those who managed to continue a sex life during chemo!  I never felt good enough, always felt sick.  But now, even though I'm less than 3 weeks out from the last round, I feel so much better that I'm willing to try, and I'm glad I did.

I will call surgeon's office today and insist on being seen.  It just doesn't seem right to have bleeding this far out from surgery.  It stopped almost immediately, so hopefully it's just that the tissues are delicate and friable.

I'm dreading the radiation, but I made my decision.  Going through the old threads only reinforces that decision in me, to do everything I possibly can to survive this.  I just hope that somehow I'll be able to preserve this part of my life.  I'm only 57, so's my husband, not yet ready to give up on that.

The gyn onc NP fit me in early this AM.  She says cuff is fine, that there's a tiny area of friable vaginal tissue that is definitely NOT a recurrence, and that's where the bleed came from.  And yes, I AM shorter than I used to be!  She said she biopsies ANYTHING that looks suspicious and that this doesn't look suspicious.

I will start using the dilators as early as they will let me.  I've already discussed it with my rads onc doc.  Donna, don't worry!  Believe me, we "youngsters" know a million different things to do!  But more for my husband's sake, I'd hate to have to give up vaginal intercourse.  And of course, it's very important for the gyn onc to have access to the area, for future exams.

The Storm said:

Good News about sex life

Here's some good news for you. I had 25 external rad treatments. I did not have any brachy(by the grace of God it wasn't needed). That was going on 6 months ago. I have had no problems. I had some external irritation towards the end of treatment, that was it. My husband and I stayed relatively active throughout treatment. Some weeks it was a no way, but if I felt like it we did so very carefully and no issues. I was given a dilator, I used it a few times without any problems. When I saw my gyn onc the beginning of January, she told me I was fully healed and that I did not need to use it anymore. Maybe I was just lucky, but radiation was a piece of cake for me. I do not usually give advice but here goes.

Some advice I would give. Go out and buy the following: Dove unscented soap, use it and only it during treatment, Vitamin C take extra to help your bladder - make sure your Dr. knows, drink cranberry juice every day again for your bladder. I had my treatments after work everyday. When I got home, I would lie down on my bed bare from the waist down and let things air for about 30 minutes, helps the skin and the fatigue. Seamless boy short underwear helps keep skin from rubbing on skin. Your nurse will give you a diet, follow it when you get diarrhea it does help. Also, high dose probiotic and Immodium , are very helpful.  Good Luck and don't despair it is possible to not have issues. 

 

THANK YOU, STORM!!!! This was just what I needed to hear.  I know that everyone is different, but at least now I know that it's possible that I'll be okay and not lose this part of my life!  Yes, acidifying the urine really does help to prevent UTIs, so I will make sure to use the vitamin C.  I'm scheduled for I think 30 rounds of pelvic IMRT, but no brachy, since I had no involvement of the lower uterine segment or cervix.  I don't know if I'll be able to get through it all, but I'm gonna try.