#Brachytherapy Round #1 Complete
For those that don’t know what that is.. Brachytherapy is a type of internal radiation. It uses a radioactive material called a radioactive isotope. The material is placed right into the tumour. 🥺 For me this procedure was the hardest 48 hours that I’ve experienced thus far.
My journey: You check into the hospital the day before, to get comfortable, get blood work, have your IV put in and get your blood thinner needle so you don’t get any blood clots while not moving while in the hospital. 🥺
The next morning, at 8 am I went down for anesthesia, where they inserted the catheter and the rods into my tumour in my cervix. Once it’s inserted, you’re moved to recovery where they wait for you to wake up. I woke up ok, no nausea, just extremely dizzy. I was taken from recovery to the MRI room, where they performed a 20 min test. They injected me with a dye and checked the location of the rods, and the cancer itself. I was still super dizzy and out of it for it.
After the MRI, I was taken back to my room. From here, this is where things began getting difficult for me. You aren’t allowed to move once the rods are in place. Can’t sit up at all. So laying flat on my back, while trying to drink and get back to hydration was hard. You’re allowed to eat, which by then was lunch, so I literally was trying to scoop mashed potatoes into my mouth while laying down. 🙄 I cannot explain how difficult that actually is. The nurses give you consistent supply of Imodium so you can’t pass any bowel movements, so you eventually get some serious gut pains and gas pains. 😑 My gut was extremely bloated and I was in some pain 😢 Also learning to empty your bladder into a catheter is a whole new experience. I literally thought I peed myself so many times. The cramping that you experience is also a bit extreme, it’s like a period cramp or contraction that never goes away, and that’s from the actual rods itself being in your cervix. 🤭
By 2:30 I went down for my first internal procedure of radiation. They hook up connectors to the rods hanging out of your vaginal area, which is not comfortable. The machine sends in radiation for about 10 mins and then disconnected, I’m done and back upstairs for the night. I got to enjoy some dinner once back in my room, which was pork chops and carrots.. still laying down. Can’t even explain how hard it is to cut a piece of meat like that 🤷🏼♀️but I managed lol
Now they do offer all sorts of pain meds, from extra strength Tylenol, to T3s, to percosets or morphine shots. Since I’m stubborn, don’t like meds in my system and my body weight is 109lbs, I stuck with extra strength for the most of the day and night. I could take it every 5 hours. 😔
I started to get the worst spasms in my lower back and my neck because I can’t move or lift my head. So I tried my best to deal, at about 2:00am I had a nurse bring a hot blanket and put it under my back so I could hopefully have some tension relief. 🥺 It brought relief for about 30 mins but that was it.
My last Tylenol i took was at 4am, which I then started to prepare myself for the last treatment of radiation, and the removal of the rods. They recommend morphine a few minutes before your last procedure as you need to be awake for the removal of the rods and catheter. At 7:45, the nurse gave me 2.5 mg injection of morphine. It made me light headed but not nauseous. I was scheduled to be down for 8:15, but porters were running behind so I didn’t actually go downstairs until about 9:15. I had my last radiation treatment which was 10 mins, and then the removal. The first part is they need to remove the gauze which they describe as feeling like a dry tampon coming out. And it’s what it was like. Uncomfortable, but not painful. They then, held my hands, asked me to bear down ( as if I was having a child) and to push on the count of three. On three, they pull out the rods and catheter. If I had to describe it, it’s like giving birth to a metal plunger, literally. 🤦🏼♀️😭 I managed but only because I’ve had two girls prior to this experience. For those that haven’t had children, this experience would be a lot harder for them.
Once the rods are out, the pressure in your stomach is gone, and you almost feel ok for the time being. They take you back upstairs, get you to eat, pee and have a shower. Then you’re released to go home.
I left the hospital feeling okay, but by the time I got home, I was sick as fuck, and felt like I got hit by a truck. My muscles had started to release their cramping, and the pain I felt was intense. My neck, spine, back, sides are all still sore. I have bruises all over my arms 😑😔
To sum it up, it sucks shit. But the words of the doctor telling me that my lymph nodes are clear and have had significant shrinkage make this all worth it. I have to do it all again in 10 days, but it’ll be the last time. 😑👌🏻 This mountain climb is a hard one, but I won’t be giving up. ♥️
Once thing you need to be cautious about after the procedures, and you are home, is your cervix can actually weld itself shut with scar tissue, so if you are getting this procedure, you will need a dialator to keep that from happening. They recommend you start using it right away for 10 mins every other day for the next 3 months 😑
I appreciate all the messages and the follow ups asking how I’ve been. Your support keeps me going 💯🥰❤️ I love you all, and thanks for being apart of this journey with me 🌷 Now I’m back to bed to rest off this pain until this evening, where I’m back at external radiation treatment for the rest of the week 🙏🏻❤️ Not much rest for the wicked unfortunately 👌🏻 Talk soon guys xxxxooo