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Brachytherapy tips

User
Posted 03 Dec 2021 at 22:07

Hi. My husband had this 2 weeks ago and has bladder irritation. He’s drinking the recommended amount of fluid. He’s taking brufen but up 2 hourly in the night. How long will this last and any tips? Thanks

User
Posted 04 Dec 2021 at 00:08

Hi Joanie, was it HDR or LDR brachy? Drink plenty in the day, but much less before bed time. Get a "piss bottle", easily found online. The getting up in the night ruins sleep, rolling over pissing rolling back and back to sleep is less disruptive. Perhaps not as dignified, but old notions of dignity go out the window with this disease.

Dave

User
Posted 04 Dec 2021 at 09:55

Thanks for your answer Dave. Not sure what kind he had as wasn't told and discharge letter doesn't say.


Bought a bottle in Boots.


Joanie

User
Posted 04 Dec 2021 at 10:12

The difference between the two is that HDR the radiation dose is put in and removed on the same day. With LDR radioactive pellets are left in. My main reason for asking is that I had HDR and I could relate my experiences, whereas if he had LDR I can only tell you what I have read.


If LDR the discharge letter may have said avoid pregnant women and young children for a month as there is a tiny amount of radiation still present for a few weeks.


For either of these there is the issue of the recovery from the relatively minor surgery. But for LDR there is the ongoing issue for a few weeks of ongoing radiation.


My personal experience is that HDR didn't make peeing in the night worse, but I have a pee bottle next to my bed, and it usually gets used once a night, sometimes not at all and occasionally twice a night.


If this continues to be a problem after a couple of months and it looks like it may be a permanent problem it is possible to use a disposable catheter just before bed time. If your local NHS provides a continence service they could help with this.

Dave

User
Posted 04 Dec 2021 at 10:27

I understand now. He had the pellets put in and was given the advice you mentioned. It's early days so time for it to settle down.


Joanie 

User
Posted 04 Dec 2021 at 10:27

Hi Joanie,


I had my Brachytherpy five years ago and everybody has different outcomes but tenderness and getting up in the night is one of the after affects we have to get used to.It took a long time for me to adjust to the visits to the toilet and loss of sleep tiredness and fatigue was a great part of recovery.


I took Tamulosen for the first six months and found it helped with some of the urgency but i could still get up at least three times a night and that lasted for three years or more but not through urgency to go but more like if i got up and went it was easier to get back to sleep.


Of course it could be totally different for your husband and only time will tell.


If you click on my Avatar you can see my journey so far.


My original PSA 2.19 Gleason 3+4=7 And five years on PSA 0.05 and signed off  by Specialist in January 2021.


Regards John.

Edited by member 04 Dec 2021 at 10:28  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 04 Dec 2021 at 10:53
I had Brachytherapy as well. Bladder and bowel "disturbances" were uncomforable for me. Bladder has mostly settled but I still pee a bit more than I used to, my bowels are functioning but not as they used to, a bit more gas/wind ( my wife said "a lot more!) and some constipation. My bowels in the early months were loose and prone to "leakage" when peeing.

The good news is everything settles down with time.

My GP gave me something for loose bowels that helped a lot. The nightime peeing slowly improves, I get up about twice a night, I can live with that.

John

Gleason 6 = 3+3 PSA 8.8 P. volume 48 cc Left Cores 3/3, Volume = 20% PSA 10.8 Feb '19 PSA 1.2


Jan '20 PSA 0.3 July '20 0.1 Jan. 21 < 0.1 Dec 21 <0.01 June '22 <0.01 April '23  <0.01

User
Posted 04 Dec 2021 at 20:22

Thank you for all your replies. Much appreciated.


Joanie

 
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