Side effects from Radiation

[Rarelyseen]

Ouch !

[Rarelyseen]

Does anyone have any helps for the side effects, of bladder pain and I have a lot of pain like needles hitting my lower abdominal area (on the inside) ?

[peanutz]

Have you spoken with your doctor/nurse about this problem? They may be able to give you some medication to treat it. Generally speaking, drinking lots of water and cranberry juice/extract are good for your bladder.

[Sailor]

G'day Rearlyseen Yep radiation induced cystitis. - like peeing needles of glass! Know it well. Your specialist or clinical practice nurse should have warned you about this and suggested what to take. There is stuff you can buy over the shelf from the pharmacist that are sachets you mix in a glass of water that fizz up and you drink it. Ural is one brand but there are others. Cranberry helps with some people, so you can get some cranberry capsules or cranberry juice. There have been clinical trials done on this and apparently the cranberry juice creates a coating on the lining of the bladder. However, sugar negates it so don't get sweetened cranberry juice. The fizzy drinks like Ural basically are sodium citrate which neutralises the urine so it is not as acid and doesn't sting. Problem is that if you have high blood pressure the sodium is not too good for you. When travelling in the UK one time I ran our of Ural so went into Boots the Chemist and asked for some. They didn't have it but sold me a bottle of Potassium Citrate - tasted awful, worked wonderfully. So when I got back I made a few enquiries and found that it used to be available here but the fizzy drink sachets were more convenient. So I found a friendly pharmacist who was prepared to make the potassium citrate up according to the Australian Formulary. I was on that for quite some time getting over the cystitis. Cheers Sailor Many emergencies involving the crew or vessel can be avoided by preliminary and on-going physical and mental preparation. Before embarking on an off-shore passage, you ought to be in good physical shape, properly garbed, and psychologically prepared. Richard Henderson

[Rarelyseen]

Hi Sailor, thank you, for replying, I have been drinking Cranberry juice, and having Urals but neither are helping, I know a chemist I will ask him to make me up some Potassium Citrate, I went along to the nurse and they thought it sounded more like an infection and they tested me and it was positive,so although I still have radiation induced cystitis,the pain is a lot better now I am on antibiotics..

[Rarelyseen]

Hi Peanutz thank you for replying, I did take your advice and speak to the nurse, I have an infection and am on antibiotics which is helping, along with the cranberry juice and Ural. M