My last chemo was on August 2. Each cycle has its digestive challenges and for about five weeks (since chemo #7), I have been challenged with ahem, rear end difficulties! Things got better, but with the last chemo, started to get worse. The situation worsened even more over the weekend and after doing everything I could possibly do (sitz baths, Preparation H, Tucks pads, Anusol HC (prescription strength) to no avail), I realized that I had to go to a doctor. My sleep was being disrupted due to extreme pain and when I could barely walk this morning, I made the call to get in as soon as possible.
The first doctor let me know that she didn't think I had an abscess (I was concerned about an infection), but sent me on to a colo-rectal specialist. My situation was beyond her expertise. She was very sympathetic, though and I think I needed that sympathy!
The specialist took a look and decided to do an in-office surgical procedure to drain an infected area (no abscess, but some infection) and to relieve the pressure caused by the extreme swelling. I won't go into details, but let me just say that I cried. I never cry in doctor's offices! I have yelled in pain before, but I have never cried like this. I felt so out of control. That literally, here at the end of the chemo part of the journey, that I had been hit with yet another skin infection, in a most undignified place.
However, I will say that I felt almost immediate relief. I whimpered a little bit on the way home (Art was driving), but after sleeping two hours, I felt much more like "me." I was given some strong pain killers, but I don't think I'm going to need them . . . that's how much relief I feel.
I thought about not saying anything, but hey, we've traveled together on this journey so far, so why not let you know? Please continue to remember me as I recover from the dreaded hemorrhoids and that they will heal quickly as a result of today's procedure. Please pray that I get good sleep as I build my strength for my upcoming surgery on September 4. Details to follow.