Radiation - my experience
Hi Everyone, I finished 25 sessions of radiation on the 3rd Jan 2019 and thought I would write about my experience of the whole process. It will be a long post, so get a cup of tea ready :) ...
Forum Discussion
I remember you telling us how they 'lost you' @sister & thought it HORRIBLE - so upsetting - when it didn't have to be!
I also went public and paid ZERO (just a nominal amount for the 4 weeks in Rotary Lodge) and had both male and female techs and had no issues. I had a swipe card that advised them of my arrival & I waited in a well setup waiting room with tea & coffee making facility & a HUGE circular jigsaw puzzle that never seemed to progress - I am sure someone was taking bits out every afternoon ..... and a heap of magazines. When called, I would grab a new gown & put it on (open at the front) which was funny one day, as it opened up as I sat down to read my magazine - and I didn't notice ..... but the guy sitting opposite did! LOL
Every other day, I saw one of the nurses to check my skin colour & ask how I was going. I got a bit red & hot but applied all the lotions (provided by me - none by the clinic.) I started peeling towards the end.
I was face down for mine, so had a great view of the couch, as my face was resting in a 'raised cushion' (sort of like an airline 'neck cushion' only square edged & hard - I was amazed that they thought I had an 'ample bosom' as I've only ever been a 34! However, maybe gravity had a play in it - as I haven't worn bras for 30 odd years! LOL The machine had to be raised up quite high, for the beam to do it's work underneath the couch! So .... when getting OFF the machine, I eventually worked out a method of just sliding my legs & bum to one side & 'feel for the floor' ..... but one day I forgot to wait for them to lower the machine & they had to grab me before I fell off!!
I agree re the music, @sister - boppy music definitely makes you want to twitch!!
I found the final session to be highly emotional & I blubbed big time - face down, with snot running out of my nose! (A really GREAT LOOK cos I couldn't wipe it!) I had become strangely reliant on these lovely people ..... and I was sad (in a way) to be leaving. I also stayed at the Rotary Lodge at Port Macquarie for the 4 weeks & Paula, the manager, was my biggest support - she was just amazing. We just got on so well.
Having Keith fall off his bike & breaking his rib on Day 1 was a real pain tho ....Even tho he was on endone for the first few days and Panadeine Forte for the rest of the time, he was in such agony, he had to be on 4hrly meds (even during the night) and I had to set the alarm clock to wake up to give them to him & that lasted for the whole month of treatment & ongoing when home! So that totally stuffed my whole treatment time, as I was no longer 'the patient' - HE was! grrr
I also went public and paid ZERO (just a nominal amount for the 4 weeks in Rotary Lodge) and had both male and female techs and had no issues. I had a swipe card that advised them of my arrival & I waited in a well setup waiting room with tea & coffee making facility & a HUGE circular jigsaw puzzle that never seemed to progress - I am sure someone was taking bits out every afternoon ..... and a heap of magazines. When called, I would grab a new gown & put it on (open at the front) which was funny one day, as it opened up as I sat down to read my magazine - and I didn't notice ..... but the guy sitting opposite did! LOL
Every other day, I saw one of the nurses to check my skin colour & ask how I was going. I got a bit red & hot but applied all the lotions (provided by me - none by the clinic.) I started peeling towards the end.
I was face down for mine, so had a great view of the couch, as my face was resting in a 'raised cushion' (sort of like an airline 'neck cushion' only square edged & hard - I was amazed that they thought I had an 'ample bosom' as I've only ever been a 34! However, maybe gravity had a play in it - as I haven't worn bras for 30 odd years! LOL The machine had to be raised up quite high, for the beam to do it's work underneath the couch! So .... when getting OFF the machine, I eventually worked out a method of just sliding my legs & bum to one side & 'feel for the floor' ..... but one day I forgot to wait for them to lower the machine & they had to grab me before I fell off!!
I agree re the music, @sister - boppy music definitely makes you want to twitch!!
I found the final session to be highly emotional & I blubbed big time - face down, with snot running out of my nose! (A really GREAT LOOK cos I couldn't wipe it!) I had become strangely reliant on these lovely people ..... and I was sad (in a way) to be leaving. I also stayed at the Rotary Lodge at Port Macquarie for the 4 weeks & Paula, the manager, was my biggest support - she was just amazing. We just got on so well.
Having Keith fall off his bike & breaking his rib on Day 1 was a real pain tho ....Even tho he was on endone for the first few days and Panadeine Forte for the rest of the time, he was in such agony, he had to be on 4hrly meds (even during the night) and I had to set the alarm clock to wake up to give them to him & that lasted for the whole month of treatment & ongoing when home! So that totally stuffed my whole treatment time, as I was no longer 'the patient' - HE was! grrr