Cant Clean After Poo...Water Stings Too Much from Burns..

Congratulations. Welcome to the other side. you made it. now breathe.

when it got that bad for me i got a bowl of hot as i could stand water with some salt in and got cotton wool and made it sopping wet and gently washed myself with that while sitting on toilet using lots of the water, dropped cotton wool in toilet after use. flush.  the cottonwool has to be really wet so it doesn't stick and i hardly touched my skin, almost like using the sopping cotton wool to throw at my bum if that makes sense. use lots of the  cottonwool and water. you can do the same with toilet paper but that tends to fall apart when it is wet enough so thats why the cotton wool is good. or i would poo then straight into running shower where i had another bowl in there water in the bowl just chuck the water on your bits while in the shower. i had lignocaine 2% gel which i would put on before (if i had time) and after . also had various wound gels. some stung some didn't so if it stung didn't use again. if it gets to bad and you have a bath fill bath, get in and swish water round bum with your hands. then have another shower or bath in clean water puttng salt in water helps not get an infection.sitting in basin in hot water and salt feels suprising good .if it doesn't the water temp is not right or there is to much salt. just take care not to burn yourself. dry bum afterwards with hairdryer on low heat not to close.always put wound gel on after . hang in there the worst is over . be kind to yourself . you have been through a lot & your body needs to heal. sleep lots . try to go undie free and wear a sarong . fresh air is good.  Remember, one day all this will feel like it was a bad dream. 

ps: 1 year later i stayed in a hotel that had a bidet. if i knew back them how good it would be for my still tender bum i would have got one installed before starting radiation

I'm wondering if it may be more comfortable to install a hand held shower head in your shower. The one I have has several settings and one is a very fine mist. You may be able to just gently mist the anal area and not have too much pain. 

I have an ostomy so fortunately did not have to deal with this issue. We did install the shower head though at the time of treatment to clean in general after severe radiation burns. I felt clean and the pain was at least temporarily eased.

katheryn

    Hi, the lignocaine 2% gel was prescibed to me by my doctors. it is an anaesthetic gel which might help with the itching as well. instead of scratching apply it to numb the area.  you could always try wiping yourself which it (put on wet cottonwool then wipe) i was also given solosite wound gel & duoderm hydroactive gel from my doctors. i used all for approx 6-10 months after and still have some on hand for a  stinging bum from occasional bouts of bad diarrhea. i used to slather all this on lots. use lots. please check with your doctor first tho. if you don't use dryer just go pants free and let fresh air dry if possible. there are links below to the gels i have mentioned. also a link about salt/sitz baths. i have have only used table salt baths myself for both stiches after childbirth that were also in anal area and after radiation for anal cancer. in the article it says salt can help the itch from water. hope this is helpful. 

https://www.myvmc.com/drugs/lignocaine-2-gel/    

http://www.smith-nephew.com/professional/products/advanced-wound-management/other-wound-care-products/solosite-gel/

https://www.woundsource.com/product/duoderm-hydroactive-gel

https://www.leaf.tv/articles/what-kind-of-salt-should-be-used-for-a-sitz-bath/

Ottawamarc1234 said:

Saw Onocologist Today..Suggests I Smoke Weed.. He's Dutch..

Not my cup of tea...tried two puffs a few weeks ago blitzed out of my head....never again.Maybe because I was taking the Oxycidine it 'mixed' and fave me a 'bad stone'..no idea?

 

He prescriped a pill form. Not sure if I will take it along with the Pregablim. Yet he was trying to persuade me to try it again. Unfortunately no creams he recommends for the damn itch. But Pregablim a nerve pill came up again in the Conversation. Pain Management wanted me to use it. But Radiologist said no...Onocolgust said I should give it a try. Maybe the 'itch' is nerve damage from the Radiation. Cant swallow these pills...break open capsule and sprinkle on Applesauce.

MRI scheduled for late September...hopefully wont need surgery to remove what ever tumour is left over and hopefully it wont grow Bigger over the time. No guarantees in Life though.

He said Left over radiation may last up to 3 weeks

...am only at end of Day "5" awe!

 

Keep u posted. Still swishing tepid water in bathtub to to try and get rid of leftover poo from bowel movements. Cannot put finger there..hurts to muchll small and flat looking

 

Hi,

It is true that some people find overall relief through different forms of medical marijuana but I did not go that route myself so can not speak from experience there.

The itch while maddening is however common...it sucks! You may find yourself living in that tub for a few weeks it sounds like. I mentioned earlier the mist setting on hand held shower head...could you install a new one so you have that option? 

I was in horrific pain prior to dx that only increased once the burning hit and was prescribed a fairly high dose of time released oxycontin every 12 hrs with oxycodone for break through pain in between. I took it on schedule regardless of pain level as a way to stay ahead of it. Not long after treatment ended I was able to easily wean off of it. I wonder if something like that may also dull the itch. Another idea may be to try a couple allergy OTC meds like Benadryl. I have already taken that when camping and going insane from bug bite itch and found at least some relief.

I seldom used ointments during the phase of radiation because it is very important to have it all washed off before the next treatment and I just was too sore to deal with that too. I did on Fridays though (no radiation on weekends) use a spray called Dermoplast...it is sold OTC and often used by women after childbirth to relieve pain and promote healing. I found the spray easy to apply and clean off.

Hang in there...I promise there is light at the end of the tunnel.

katheryn

Ottawamarc1234 said:

Day 5...tough Day..

Day 5 Post Treatment. Too many big urges too poo left me miserable all day..5 poos so far in total and little too see each time. Very frustrating as I need to sit in the Tub afterwards to try and clean the remains. Stung each time.

I was unable to go anyplace today because of this current condition so was stuck at home near the toilet the entire day. Well Radiation Sleep got rid of the inbetween times to evacuate. Still don't feel like I am finished pooing for the day. 

I took some as you Americans call Restorlax..us Canadians call Clearlax hopefully to speed up the emptying of the bowels more completly than 5 or so smaller poos which I suffered from today. If one is taking a constipation Opiod like Oxycodone..they recommend you counter balance it with the Clearlax every other day otherwise too much you may end up with Diarrhea (which I have experienced this at least once during my Chemoradiation time).

Sure would like some 'normalcy' back in my life and not having the feeling that I can't safely leave the house and get on normal daily chores.

This endless long recovery process these post 5 days and counting have been so far...no picnic after completion of Treatment.

 

Pain relief is very individual, so I won't address that.  I am nearing five years post-treatment and still take Miralax (Clearlax) daily.  Also, during healing, I took 6 stool softeners a day.  If it's liquid, it's easier to clean.  STAY HYDRATED, so important.  I used (and still do) Aquaphor I dip very soft TP into it and wipe gently with that and then use baby wipes.  You are not at the point where you can do that yet.  I never liked soaking (sitz baths).  I used the little squeeze bottle.  

Lock yourself in a room, get a fan blowing on your bare butt.  You are in the worst of it right now, in my opinion.  You will suddenly begin to start feeling a bit more human very soon and then the improvement is quick.  Don't expect too much for the next week.  Just power through.  You can do it!!

9 days after an intense 30 day radiation treatment for stage 4..   Their was no walking about.  Just laid in bed 10 steps from toilet and cried, for a month.   8 moths later pain is gone , but still do not venture for from toilet in the AM.  I am alive but I do not expect my world to return to the way it was pre cancer.

I used only a Bidet on the toilet.   Made up my own cream for pain.  It consisted of linacane (for my Port), liquid Moriphene, and cocobutter cream.  Oh witch hazel at times too.