Hi Natasha I am so sorry that this has become such a problem for you and it seems that your doctors are not listening to your real concerns and understanding how much this affecting you. You think the problem may have something to do with hemorrhoids or anal fissures. Both these usually are a result of constipation originally causing them. I have suffered from both these at times in my life and can fully understand your reluctance to put yourself through this each day. It is incredibly painful. But you need to arm yourself with everything you can to ease this and stop it from happening again. Not eating is not the answer. Do you have something to take to avoid constipation? You want to try and avoid inflaming the situation so this actually means keeping everything working as smoothly as possible. Make sure you drink plenty of fluids, get some gentle exercise each day, and try to eat foods that will help to keep everything moving on through. At the first sign of constipation take something to avoid this. Be wary of taking too much panadol as I found this actually causes constipation for me! Ask your oncologist if there are other pain medications you can take. Also talk to your chemo nurse about your problems as I often found that they were more help in a practical sense than the doctors! I am so glad that you are taking your partner with you today. I think this will help immensely to get your message through that this is a major not a minor issue for you. I really hope that you get the help you need with this today and that Chemo 4 is just a little bit easier for you. Sending you a big hug and hoping for the best for you. Take care. Deanne xxx

Thanks Deanne. Yes I have been taking Coloxyl each night to ensure stools are soft. Exercise is difficult as for a lot of the day walking is uncomfortable. I can take small steps like an old person. In the late afternoon when things are more settled I try to get a short walk in around the block. People keep telling me to avoid constipation which I do understand but I haven't been constipated. Even soft stools seem to cause me problems. It's all so icky and there seems to be no real answers. I think it gets damaged again every day which is why I'm reluctant to eat. I feel like I need a really good pain killer prior to a toilet visit and that way I could possibly manage. I had a nice nurse that I could talk to but she went off on sick leave herself. Then I met her replacement but she was moved also. There's some nice nurses in the chemo room but I'm sure nobody wants to hear about this and they cannot prescribe medications anyway. Everybody says the same thing - take something like Movicol or Coloxy or pear/prune juice, keep the area clean etc. All the things I've already been doing. I'll see how the day goes. At least this is my last AC. Maybe Taxol will be easier on me. I can see how people decide not to do this.

Hi Natasha.I also can sympathise with you.This sort of problem is always difficult,just because of the nature of what it is.Any pain like this is torture,because you know that you have to face it each time you use the toilet.I have one other suggestion that might help with the actual pain.Have you tried applying a large soft ice pack to the area several minutes before you need to go to the toilet.It will be absolutely freezing,but it won't hurt you.Thinking of you.Cheers Robynxox

Hi Robyn, I haven't but thanks for the suggestion. I will try it. Today the oncologist was good to me. I now have endone and some other treatments to try and help me through until it heals. Feeling pretty crook from the AC today. Sicker than I've been before and glad it was my last one. Taxol next time.

Aw Natasha,I hope you get some relief with the medication that the doctor gave you.I didn't have AC,but I had Docetaxol.Hopefully you will find it a little easier.Hang in there and take it easy.There is an end to all this,and life WILL be good again.Big hug.xoxRobyn

Chemo | BCNA Online Network

11 Replies

Natasha
Member
10 years ago
Thanks Robyn. I hit an all time low and was taken to the ER. I am trying some potential solutions. Don't wish to post here really as I now understand I cannot edit or remove any comments on this site and am worried about controlling my information. Thanks for your concern.
Robyn_W
Member
10 years ago
Aw Natasha,I feel very sorry for you that things have got this bad.PLEASE don't stop your chemo.Is there a Breast care nurse at the hospital that you know ,that you could perhaps call and tell how serious this is? It sounds like no one really realises the intensity of the pain that you have to endure.l feel that there MUST be other ladies that have experienced this,and I wish that they would read your blog post.Please stay in touch,and I am hoping that things improve for you.xxxRobyn
Deanne
Member
10 years ago
Hi Natasha, I am so sorry that there has not been much relief for you. I had a bit of a problem with constipation and then pain (which I would describe as 25 on a scale of 1 to 10!) during my Chemo 4. I developed a fever and had to go to hospital and have IV antibiotics. I think this may have helped to heal my issue and I never had a problem for my remaining 2 chemos. To consider not doing your remaining chemo is an indication of just how much pain you are in but you have to also consider the long term Cancer consequences of not doing all your chemo. It is terrible that your doctors have let your situation deteriorate to this. I hope that things improve and you can find the strength to continue for your long term health benefit. Sending lots of hugs, Deanne xxx PS I think there is an edit button for posts but I am not aware of any edit process for comments or replies yet.
Natasha
Member
10 years ago
I cannot see an edit button anywhere to fix my typos. Can we edit posts and comments?
Natasha
Member
10 years ago
Thank you. Everyone here is so kind. I do not know if I can continue with this. I cannot endure the pain. I find it too much for me. I am considering not continuing with chemotherapy and allowing my body to heal. I am crying with pain every day and I do not know what to do. I have been to my GP also now. I don't know if doctor's understand pain levels or not. If they've never felt it, how can they? At the moment I take an Endone, then wait 45 mins then run a bath to relax myself, then try the toilet. I can go, but it is traumatic and I feel more than I bear any longer. The pain isn't last so many hours afterwards now so there is a a possibility it might be improving a little, or maybe that's just wishful thinking. I don't know. I am not constipating. I am just in a lot of pain.
Gillian2069
Member
10 years ago
Sending you my love and blessings. So glad you have people who can help carry you through difficult times.

I'm just through my fourth AC and have 12 Taxol ahead. So, the ups and downs are familiar to me. Sometimes I'm strong, sometimes I need a good bit of support.

Blessings on you and your loved ones

Gillian
Robyn_W
Member
10 years ago
Aw Natasha,I hope you get some relief with the medication that the doctor gave you.I didn't have AC,but I had Docetaxol.Hopefully you will find it a little easier.Hang in there and take it easy.There is an end to all this,and life WILL be good again.Big hug.xoxRobyn
Natasha
Member
10 years ago
Hi Robyn, I haven't but thanks for the suggestion. I will try it. Today the oncologist was good to me. I now have endone and some other treatments to try and help me through until it heals. Feeling pretty crook from the AC today. Sicker than I've been before and glad it was my last one. Taxol next time.
Robyn_W
Member
10 years ago
Hi Natasha.I also can sympathise with you.This sort of problem is always difficult,just because of the nature of what it is.Any pain like this is torture,because you know that you have to face it each time you use the toilet.I have one other suggestion that might help with the actual pain.Have you tried applying a large soft ice pack to the area several minutes before you need to go to the toilet.It will be absolutely freezing,but it won't hurt you.Thinking of you.Cheers Robynxox
Natasha
Member
10 years ago
Thanks Deanne. Yes I have been taking Coloxyl each night to ensure stools are soft. Exercise is difficult as for a lot of the day walking is uncomfortable. I can take small steps like an old person. In the late afternoon when things are more settled I try to get a short walk in around the block. People keep telling me to avoid constipation which I do understand but I haven't been constipated. Even soft stools seem to cause me problems. It's all so icky and there seems to be no real answers. I think it gets damaged again every day which is why I'm reluctant to eat. I feel like I need a really good pain killer prior to a toilet visit and that way I could possibly manage.

I had a nice nurse that I could talk to but she went off on sick leave herself. Then I met her replacement but she was moved also. There's some nice nurses in the chemo room but I'm sure nobody wants to hear about this and they cannot prescribe medications anyway. Everybody says the same thing - take something like Movicol or Coloxy or pear/prune juice, keep the area clean etc. All the things I've already been doing.

I'll see how the day goes. At least this is my last AC. Maybe Taxol will be easier on me. I can see how people decide not to do this.