Oh Mart, I feel so sorry for you I hope the pain eases off a bit for you for today. Good luck. xxx
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I have had the second session and feel OK. Just a mild ache. There is now a prescription for a pain killer waiting at the GP’s Pharmacy. Also, the GP has booked an urgent call from Phyllis Tuckwell, who are specialists in the management of cancer pain (amongst other things). I had a review at the Cancer Centre regarding the pain and they say that some pain might be expected and it can last for a couple of weeks after treatment. Just a question of properly managing any pain, which seems to be in hand now.
An interesting condition. All the times I have been laying in bed with the bladder/Urethra burning pain, a similar pain has been in my left heel. No way to get it comfortable. I thought it not worth a mention but we idly researched that while waiting for things to happen this morning. It turns out it is all part of the same nerve system. Who’d have thought it?!
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Alright, Mart. That’s two down and by now the painkiller is starting to work. It sounds like you are surrounded by a good medical team and an even better family team! I hope you get some rest though; time and sleep are the best medicine right now.
That is indeed fascinating about your heel pain being related to your issues as part of your peripheral nervous system. I just wish you didn’t have to learn about it in such an annoying way. Information is power; I am glad you pushed through to have that symptom examined.
March on; you’ve got this!
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3 sessions down and 2 to go. Some pain and blood. I’ve been given a liquid opiate pain killer from the GP for night times. It doesn’t work all that well but last night wasn’t too bad.
I took a urine sample along to the Cancer Centre yesterday. All labelled up in a proper sample bottle (got plenty of those 
). Not requested by them but I told them I just needed an opinion. It must have got to the right place because I got a phone call later in the day to say an infection was present. Some antibiotics will be ready to collect when I go for today’s session.
It can take a week or two to start feeling better after the Radio Therapy course. I’m looking forward to great things.
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It’s all done. I spoke to a clinician afterwards. I was worried by an extra lump I’d found and the fact that there is no way pee can flush the blood from my bladder. It bunged up this morning. The drainage eventually freed but it was a worry. After the final session, I was asked empty the best I could using a catheter. There was only 7ml left (ultrasound scan), which is pretty good. The new lump was in the target area of the Radio Therapy anyway and not the time to worry about it. I felt better after the talk.
She said many men get a flare-up after about the ten day mark and be sure to have some pain killers to hand in case it happens to me. I’ve been feeling low/tired and off my food again today. Not an unusual side effect. An early night for me I think.
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Well done Mart, time to get some rest and take it easy…Lets hope the worst is over…
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@mart Mart, reading this, I just want to say how incredibly strong you are. What you’ve been through is not small at all, physically or mentally, and yet you faced it, asked the right questions, and saw it through to the end. That takes real courage.
The worries you had were completely understandable. Anyone in your position would have felt the same. What matters is that you didn’t ignore them, you spoke up, you got reassurance, and you came out feeling steadier. That’s strength, not fear.
The fact that there was only 7ml left is actually a win, even on a tough day. And knowing the new lump is already within the treatment target must count for something, even if your mind is tired right now.
Feeling low, exhausted, and off your food doesn’t mean you’re failing, it means your body has been working unbelievably hard. An early night isn’t giving up; it’s recovery in action.
Please be gentle with yourself tonight. You’ve done something big. One day at a time is more than enough, and you don’t have to carry this alone. I’m really glad you talked to the clinician, and I’m really glad you shared this too.
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Thanks! Just a matter of taking painkillers until everything dies down a bit. One of them is a liquid that the Pharmacy keeps under lock an key. A dose has to be syringed out to 2.5ml. It can go to 5ml. I tried that but I felt a bit more dopey than usual so went back to the lower dose.
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A Phyllis Tuckwell person came here to see us this morning (organised by the GP). It was agreed that I don’t need that sort of care at present but It is only a phone call away if it is.
More my concern is Mrs mart. She has her own health problems (as written about) but still keeps trying to do everything immediately. I encourage her to take life easier but she finds it difficult. I’m working on it.
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With the Radio Therapy done, a few side effects have set in. One is the bladder bleeding but as mentioned, that was present to a great degree before the therapy. This is tending to ease off a bit now (fingers crossed) but another one has set in. My innards are inflamed I think. It’s quite painful at times. No detailed description. Suffice it to say I’d better not go too far from a toilet. Both of these side effects are well-documented and I can only hope they subside in the coming days/weeks.
Our daughter leaves for her home in Spain today. We’ll miss her lots. Her and our son who both stayed here for 3 weeks, one after the other, have born the problems well. After 6 weeks of not having to face life on our own, it will come as quite a shock. We have our local sons and grandsons and they will do anything needed but it’s not quite the same as having help staying in the house. I expect we’ll survive.
That’s the saga so far.
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I feel for you Mr mart, especially with the bladder bleeding. FWI I have started the radiation therapy myself and, so far, the side effects are minimal. We will see - the treatment lasts seven weeks…
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That is a long treatment! Is the hospital nearby? I sincerely hope it all goes well without any significant side-effects.
Thanks mart. Unfortunately the trip is about three hours round trip.
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Thank you all kindly. The trip was without problems this afternoon.
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Weston Park Besoeker?
Pleased to read that Besoeker. I hope all the other trips go the same way. Are all the Radio Therapy machines all the same? The one used on me was huge and revolved around the body to a degree. Is yours like that? I was quite impressed with it to start with but grew to be not quite as fond of it by the end of the treatment.
Nephrostomy dressing and bag was changed this morning.
Yes, that’s the one Mr Fox.
Yes, that’s the one, Sir mart
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