Beginning radiation for rectal tumor

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Comments

  • MeAndMine
    MeAndMine Member Posts: 54
    #42
    I appreciate your help. I

    I appreciate your help. I haven't been in the tub, just showers. I'm afraid it would be hard on my bottom to try to sit in there but then again, maybe I should give it a shot. I've only managed a couple of minutes on the sitz bath at a time but I do use it every time I go to the bathroom. I'll tell myself I'm going to do 15 minutes but after a minute or two, I'm like "nope, can't do this" and get back up. But the little I'm doing does help with the major pain at that point. 

    I noticed a new mouth sore from the Xeloda. I'm swishing with magic mouthwash and using the bicarb/salt water in between. Not bad yet but things taste metalic.

    Thank you all for the encouragement. It really helps when you are struggling and wondering if you can get through the day.

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,804 Member
    #43
    MeAndMine said:

    I appreciate your help. I

    I appreciate your help. I haven't been in the tub, just showers. I'm afraid it would be hard on my bottom to try to sit in there but then again, maybe I should give it a shot. I've only managed a couple of minutes on the sitz bath at a time but I do use it every time I go to the bathroom. I'll tell myself I'm going to do 15 minutes but after a minute or two, I'm like "nope, can't do this" and get back up. But the little I'm doing does help with the major pain at that point. 

    I noticed a new mouth sore from the Xeloda. I'm swishing with magic mouthwash and using the bicarb/salt water in between. Not bad yet but things taste metalic.

    Thank you all for the encouragement. It really helps when you are struggling and wondering if you can get through the day.

    Short

    You don't need too long on the Sitz, I would be on it just long enough to clean and soothe. 

    Like I said, try laying on your side in the bath, and wooshing the water.  And if you need to wash, kneel.  Its all so painful, I know. 

    Tru

  • MeAndMine
    MeAndMine Member Posts: 54
    #44
    Trubrit said:

    Short

    You don't need too long on the Sitz, I would be on it just long enough to clean and soothe. 

    Like I said, try laying on your side in the bath, and wooshing the water.  And if you need to wash, kneel.  Its all so painful, I know. 

    Tru

    Thank you. I just finished

    Thank you. I just finished using it but only for 2 minutes at most. I will try the bath and laying on my side. Any and every little tip that we can share with each other is like the most amazing blessing. It's the little things that help along the way. 

  • AnneO1965
    AnneO1965 Member Posts: 182 Member
    #45
    How ya holding up me?  You

    How ya holding up Me?  You good?

  • danker
    danker Member Posts: 1,276 Member
    #46

    When I was going through Chemo & radiation simultaneously I used RADIA gel from walmart to sooth my bun .

    You might give it a try!

  • MeAndMine
    MeAndMine Member Posts: 54
    edited October 2019 #47
    AnneO1965 said:

    How ya holding up me?  You

    How ya holding up Me?  You good?

    I'm sorry, I haven't been on

    I'm sorry, I haven't been on here much. I don't want to do anything but lay in the bed with a fan blowing on my rear. I'm hanging on but it's not fun. At all. I keep going each day, but each day I'm not sure if I can continue. But I do. I know you guys hung in there and got through so it gives me hope that I can, too. 

    I keep thinking that if I don't eat, then I won't go to the bathroom so much and that's the worst part. But I know I can't lose any more weight and I know I have to have the protein to rebuild my cells. I'm not getting the required amount but I'm getting close. 

    Thank you for thinking of me. Gives me a boost to know others that have been there are here for support and taking the time to post. This forum is wonderful.

  • MeAndMine
    MeAndMine Member Posts: 54
    edited October 2019 #48
    danker said:

    When I was going through Chemo & radiation simultaneously I used RADIA gel from walmart to sooth my bun .

    You might give it a try!

    Thank you! I will try that,

    Thank you! I will try that, too. Anything that can give me an edge, I'm all for! My radiologist was telling me to use different things throughout the day but not at the same time. I will still use things at the same time depending on the area because I might want the one with lidocaine in one area and the moisturizing one in another. At this point, I'll try any suggestions available. The doctor is good with what I'm using and just tells me not to use it before treatment and make sure everything is washed off.

  • leslyelaw
    leslyelaw Member Posts: 11
    #49
    feckcancer said:

    This may be helpful. sorry the size is so big

    Thank you for these lists. I

    Thank you for these lists. I have a Partial blockage and have to eat low fiber. I use soy milk. High in protein which I need for surgery. I wonder why it’s on the avoid list. I also eat coconut yogurt. It’s made with coconut milk powder which is low in fiber. I wonder why coconut cream is on the avoid list. Any ideas why? I’m new at this. 

    Thank you

  • ellend
    ellend Member Posts: 109 Member
    #50
    Burns

    I went through the same treatment in 2017. I did ok until towards the end of the 5 weeks. Oh boy, I didn't want to go to the bathroom because it hurt so bad. I really wished I had a bidet. The radiologist prescribed some suppositories that helped and I use Calmoseptine and Aquafor to soothe the burn and protect the skin. However, you do have to clean it off before the radiation treatment.

    I didn't have much issue with the Xeloda, some skin cracking and mouth sores, but creams and a salt water rinse took care of them. I didn't have much trouble with nausea, but they prescribed me ondansetron when I started because they wanted me to keep ahead of the nausea.

    My oncologist thought this was the toughest stage of the treatment. I don't know about that because surgery was no picnic either, but I survived both and have been NED for 2 years now.

    Ellen

  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #51
    ellend said:

    Burns

    I went through the same treatment in 2017. I did ok until towards the end of the 5 weeks. Oh boy, I didn't want to go to the bathroom because it hurt so bad. I really wished I had a bidet. The radiologist prescribed some suppositories that helped and I use Calmoseptine and Aquafor to soothe the burn and protect the skin. However, you do have to clean it off before the radiation treatment.

    I didn't have much issue with the Xeloda, some skin cracking and mouth sores, but creams and a salt water rinse took care of them. I didn't have much trouble with nausea, but they prescribed me ondansetron when I started because they wanted me to keep ahead of the nausea.

    My oncologist thought this was the toughest stage of the treatment. I don't know about that because surgery was no picnic either, but I survived both and have been NED for 2 years now.

    Ellen

    Calmoseptine and Aquaphor

    Yes, both of those were wonderful for me.  If it wasn't for that, it would hurt so bad to go the bathroom.  There were times when I'd dread having to go because the tears would roll down my face.  35 times a day wasn't unusual for me, so that came as some much needed relief.

    Xeloda wasn't that hard on me either.  It was the FOLFOX that bothered me after about 5 treatments.

    Congratulations on the 2 years.

    Kim

  • MeAndMine
    MeAndMine Member Posts: 54
    #52
    ellend said:

    Burns

    I went through the same treatment in 2017. I did ok until towards the end of the 5 weeks. Oh boy, I didn't want to go to the bathroom because it hurt so bad. I really wished I had a bidet. The radiologist prescribed some suppositories that helped and I use Calmoseptine and Aquafor to soothe the burn and protect the skin. However, you do have to clean it off before the radiation treatment.

    I didn't have much issue with the Xeloda, some skin cracking and mouth sores, but creams and a salt water rinse took care of them. I didn't have much trouble with nausea, but they prescribed me ondansetron when I started because they wanted me to keep ahead of the nausea.

    My oncologist thought this was the toughest stage of the treatment. I don't know about that because surgery was no picnic either, but I survived both and have been NED for 2 years now.

    Ellen

    I'm doing better on the

    I'm doing better on the Xeloda than the radiaition for sure. I'm using the creams and mouthwash and staying on top of it. I get a tummy ache about an hour after I take it. No nausea but just a bad feeling, kind of bloated and usually have to go to the bathroom at least three times after feeling that. But I can get through it.

    I just try to get through it but now it's both front and back. Before I wasn't having too much of an issue urinating but now that's like lava, too. I'm swollen and itchy feeling. I used to kind of sit forward to give my rear relief. Now I can't do that and don't want to sit at all.

    I know this is what I need to be doing but I'm so ready for it to be over!

  • MeAndMine
    MeAndMine Member Posts: 54
    #53
    I just returned home from

    I just returned home from radiation. My doctor had an emergency so I saw a different doctor and she was great. It was nice to hear another opinion on things I was trying and she did a thorough examination to see what was going on with my skin. She basically said to keep using the creams I was using. I told her I needed to use something for vaginal swelling, itching and dryness. She said I could use aquaphor but I thought you weren't supposed to use that in the inner area where I need it. She said to use a light coating to create a barrier. 

    Was there anything different that anyone else tried that I might be able to find for the inner area? I will do as she suggested but feel like that's not really what I need there. She said it will help with the itch, too.

    She also told me to try Metamucil (100% psyllium) to help with the loose stools. She said it will bulk things up and make me go to the bathroom less which will help me not to be so sore. I'm kind of afraid to take it because I don't want it to be harder to go. If any of you tried that, how did it work out for you?

    I'm having a hard time but afraid to "rock the boat" and do anything differently in case I make it worse. I will try it though. I hope it helps.

    I hope everyone is doing well. Thank you all for your help.

     

  • AnneO1965
    AnneO1965 Member Posts: 182 Member
    #54
    Ahhh Me, I just want to give

    Ahhh Me, I just want to give you a big hug... I so FEEL where you are at. How many more days do you have left? You can do this, I'm rooting for you. 

    I didn't try Metamucil, I just lived through the burn, but it's sounding like you've got it worse than I did, and I'm sorry for that. Good luck sweetie.

  • MeAndMine
    MeAndMine Member Posts: 54
    #55
    AnneO1965 said:

    Ahhh Me, I just want to give

    Ahhh Me, I just want to give you a big hug... I so FEEL where you are at. How many more days do you have left? You can do this, I'm rooting for you. 

    I didn't try Metamucil, I just lived through the burn, but it's sounding like you've got it worse than I did, and I'm sorry for that. Good luck sweetie.

    I will accept that hug

    I will accept that hug because it helps! I've got 9 days of radiation left including today. I'm getting ready to leave for my radiation appointment. Then I will still have 4 more days of chemo pills after the radiation is complete. I will have to ask my oncologist if I'm supposed to stop after the last radiation or complete those last 4 days of the prescription.

    Yesterday was hard. I did take 1/2 a dose of metamucil. I didn't notice any changes but I think you have to do it for a while to notice. I also see my oncologist today so I will ask him about something else I can use. The aquaphor on the lady bits doesn't really do the trick. It's thick but doens't really lubricate or do anything for me. Then I had the hardest time trying to clean it off for radiation. I really don't think that is meant to be used in that area. There has to be something else I can try.

    I'm sitting on a different cushion this morning. I've had a donut style pillow for a while. My husband has a different one, more horseshoe shaped with a little cut out in the middle. I think that works better than the big hole in the donut. Maybe I will try just a big soft pillow next. 

    Thank you for your thoughts Anne. It sure helps to have you all to talk to!

  • danker
    danker Member Posts: 1,276 Member
    #56
    Radia gel

    For bun burn, try Radia gel from walmart!!

  • MeAndMine
    MeAndMine Member Posts: 54
    #57
    danker said:

    Radia gel

    For bun burn, try Radia gel from walmart!!

    Thank you!

    Thank you!

  • MeAndMine
    MeAndMine Member Posts: 54
    #58
    How did you live through this

    How did you live through this pain? It’s torture.  

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,804 Member
    #59
    MeAndMine said:

    How did you live through this

    How did you live through this pain? It’s torture.  

    You just do

    I am sorry it is so hard for you. One day, you will read back with wonder - and horror. One day it will be finsihed, and you'll never have to be radiated in that area again - you would refuse even if it were offered. But for now, you just have to stick it out.

    I think I mentioned that I told my Rad Onc that I could not do it, and he told me I could, so I did.  I don't know if I metnioned that I have also had a C-Section without anesthetic, and radiation was worse, so I know your pain, but I also know if I can make it through, you can as well. 

    We're here, routing for you. 

    Tru

  • AnneO1965
    AnneO1965 Member Posts: 182 Member
    edited October 2019 #60
    What Tru said... You do it

    What Tru said... You do it because you have to... Towards my last 2 treatments, I got blisters in my leg creases, the inside and outside of my lady bits, and it was pure torture. But knowing it was almost over helped get me through it.  

    I'm so sorry you got the owies so early on in your treatment. I think about you every day, and I hope you are managing. Just give yourself a mental hug every time it hurts from me.

  • MeAndMine
    MeAndMine Member Posts: 54
    #61
    Trubrit said:

    You just do

    I am sorry it is so hard for you. One day, you will read back with wonder - and horror. One day it will be finsihed, and you'll never have to be radiated in that area again - you would refuse even if it were offered. But for now, you just have to stick it out.

    I think I mentioned that I told my Rad Onc that I could not do it, and he told me I could, so I did.  I don't know if I metnioned that I have also had a C-Section without anesthetic, and radiation was worse, so I know your pain, but I also know if I can make it through, you can as well. 

    We're here, routing for you. 

    Tru

    Thank you Tru. I'm doing it.

    Thank you Tru. I'm doing it. No idea how I keep going but I am.

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