Cheshire Chris's Treatment Thread

Perhaps we all have our own ideas and taste on what's best, getting the level right for your own rate of digestion and sensitivities.  I'd recommend trying to cut back taking tablets and eating 'real' food, i.e. not processed food.  By that I mean baked potatoes, beans, greens, muesli, fruit and wholegrain bread.   I add bran to muesli according to how I feel, there's a spelt bran with a union jack on the box that's quite good tasting.   The best loosener I've found is adding more ground linseed to the muesli than looks right.   I never look for hardener but usually blame dehydration and going on a long drive which probably mixes dehydration with stagnation and vibration.  I don't think many have a diet like we do, it's my wifes fault.

I have had to take a laxative capsules each day for a number of years now, although my wife has no problem on the same diet and beverages. I find this helps with constipation but occasionally results in slight looseness. Maybe it's due to hereditary to some extent. I remember my mother used to soak senna pods in water and drink, so she had the same problem and this was years before she died. She nevertheless lived to 101!

I think it's better to be a little loose rather than constipated at any time but particularly after surgery when straining could do damage.

I’ve just started swimming again after 4 years. I could only manage 500mtrs each time, hope to get it up to 1km twice a week from October. I openly admit to being a prolific cyclist and am now up to 120 miles a week after finishing my RT. I also am walking 4 miles a week in two sessions.

all of this is done sedately and sensibily 

Diet wise I start my day on rolled oats porridge, whole grain sandwich and ham is a lunchtime favourite, snacks of lots of fruit, ending up with three veg, meat and varied spuds

Now two weeks post-surgery, and things seem to be going pretty well. All 5 of my surgical wounds are healing nicely (I take a picture every couple of days on my phone, and the change is very noticeable going through the sequence). Daily walks are now up to 1.5 miles with no discomfort. I haven't needed any pain medication for the last several days and (thank goodness!) the diahorea has completely gone away. I see my consultant on 11th October (6 weeks post-op) at which time I'll find out the lab results from the removed kidney. Hoping there won't be any unpleasant surprises then!

The next "event" on my calendar is a full blood test at my GPs on Wednesday to make sure that the bicalutamide I'm taking for the PCa isn't causing any liver damage. Tomorrow I'll have been on it for a month. The only real side-effect I've noticed is a complete and utter lack of libido.

I'm planning to go back to work at the start of November (I've been on long-term sick-leave since my cancer diagnosis back in May), although I expect I'll need more time off when I start my RT in Feb. My employers are fine with that.

So, we're getting there!

Chris

Trying to get as fit as I can without overdoing it. It's a bit sad when, as a previously keen walker who did a 10-12 mike walk most weekends with my local Ramblers group and thinking nothing of it, I'm now sweating and exhausted after walking a mile and a half. Still, I'm sure that'll improve over time.

All the best,

Chris

Chris

I emailed my surgeon about the pain in my (left only) testicle, and he said that it could be surgical bruising, but advised me to have it checked out by my GP. I saw my GP this morning, and he's diagnosed epididymitis - an infection of the duct that goes from the testicle to the prostate - and put me on a course of antibiotics to get rid of it. He's also sending me for an ultrasound scan as a precaution, but says he's certain that this is what it is.

I'm pleased it's been diagnosed, anyway, because it's flipping painful!

Chris

Edited by member 18 Sep 2018 at 12:24  | Reason: Not specified

It started with something stupid and trivial - I was reversing my car out of my garage this morning which I must have done literally thousands of times before when for absolutely no reason I scraped the wing mirror on the garage door frame. I just sat there and burst into tears for no reason at all, and that was just the start of what's been a horrendous day when I can't help thinking about all the awful things that RT might do to me, and do I really want to go through with it?

Taken some Diazepam to calm me down which I've not needed for months. No idea why this all suddenly came over me.

Think I'll get an early night and hopefully the world will seem a bit brighter again tomorrow.

Chris