Brachytherapy issues anyone?

Im new to this forum, and very new to prostate cancer, and am looking for anyone elses experience with the seed implants. I had mine done a month ago, and although it hasnt been terrible, it hasnt been a picnic either. The first few days were great, no pain, I was moving around, and went back to work right away. I had the procedure done on the Friday before labor day, so I had a few days to relax, and was back to work on Tuesday. I have a very physical job, I work hard, and its my job to make sure eveyone else does as well, so I felt the need to put on the best face possible. I ignored alot of the side effects when they first appeared, but after 3 weeks they gradually started to take over. The fatigue is ever present, and the burning, and urgency are uncomfortable to say the least. Bowel movements have become an effort in futility without the help of milk of magnesia. It still feels like someone shoved a tennis ball up my rear end, but its isnt uncomfortable to sit or anything, just more of a presence that I cant ignore.

A few days, these feelings put me to tears, and im not too proud to say it. Me a 47 year old man, 5' 11" 220 pounds, in great shape, with lots of attitude, and Im knocked down by a bit of radiation. Pale, darkened eyes, tired, and feeling that because I put on the game face, and get to what needs to be done, that my family, and co-workers think Im throwing myself a pity party. Ive missed just 3 days of work because I just couldnt do it, and that sickens me most of all. The doctors tell me that the third week is the worst, and that the bad things usually go away after 8 or so....I cant wait. I guess Im lucky, (at least thats what people tell me) that they found it early, and that this option was available to me, but there are days that I wonder. I have had no ed, and I dont really need the flomax, but it does help. The blood in the semen, and urine has long since passed... that was really something. Ejaculation was like something out of a ****ographic horror movie, and orgasms were at first very painful. So far so good I guess, and from what the doc tells me Im par for the course.

Im into my fourth week now, and I have had a bout of morning vomiting.. mostly dry heaves. The fatigue is still there ,and walking the shop floor all day really takes it out of me. I no longer put on the "game face", I dont feel good, and there is no hiding it. Being the go to guy at the shop, and the one running the day to day operations made me believe I had to just blast though it, and keep on chugging away like nothing happened. Most days I can do just that, but there are those days that I feel like all I want to do is lay down, and curl into a ball. I feel like Im entitled to a pass from time to time, but in the back of my mind I have this feeling that Im letting everyone down..including myself. I didnt ask for this, this isnt what I signed up for, but its too late, they are in, and arent going anywhere. Maybe I am throwing myself a pity party, at least when I read back this post it sure sounds like one. I wish the patient privacy laws had an exception for me, and that my doctor could call the shop owners and say... " Look, Tim is sick, he has had radioactive seeds implanted into his body, and is reacting to them..this is what you can expect..deal with it, give him a pass, and be understanding when he cant make it in". Now thats a pity party!!!

Tell me what else I can expect folks, because Im really hoping that this gets better soon. I do know for certain that the other treatment options were far more likely to knock me out even more, and Im glad I chose the route I did, but please share what you feel comfortable with. Im the tough guy at work, and at home, I have few friends, and none that I would share any of this with. Forums such as these offer an element of anonymity, and since I will most likely ever encounter anyone here in my day to day doings, I feel I can be honest about what I feel, with no judgments, or across the room glances.

Thanks for listening to my rant, pity party, whatever it is. Writing this actually made me feel a bit better.

I’m with Yooper on this one, you need to give your body a fighting chance. Give yourself a break, take some time of!
My husband had seeds 3½ years ago. He too does an extremely physically demanding job but we were fortunate enough to be able to take 2 weeks annual leave after his implant to regroup. He went back to work full on after that break of course but I made sure we also had plenty of us time for the next month or so after to allow for early nights midweek and lazy weekends as he was quite fatigued.
Stay patient, you will get there but the more you push yourself unreasonably now, the longer it is going to take.
All the best to you.
Susan
x

tulmkr said...
The blood in the semen, and urine has long since passed... that was really something. Ejaculation was like something out of a ****ographic horror movie, and orgasms were at first very painful.

I am not a doctor but it seems to me it was too early for sex.

Thanks for the replies folks, I appreciate them all. I wish I had the chance to take the time off, but my position requires me to be at work no matter what, so it is what it is. I have tried to slow down while here, but its not possible. A problem crops up, and has to be dealt with so off ya go to do what has to be done. I know Ill be able to work through it, as long as it doesnt get much worse. Can anyone tell me what their 4-8 week side effects were, and what I might expect? I know the radiation is doing its dirty work, but is this the point in time when it starts to taper off, or does it progressively increase through the 1/2 life of the 1/2 life? That would put the tapering off at about 3 months. Im not a hard ass or anything, Im just an old school kinda guy who learned from the greatest generation that hard work is the rule, and not the exception. Please keep any advice or insights coming, I really do appreciate them all.

I seem to recall the seeds were iodine. My little godzilla club membership card says 66 seeds with a total activity of 30 mci. I guess I just dont do well with the radiation. Doc says everyone reacts a bit differently, and that my reactions seem to be quite a bit more severe than others. Its good to know that there is an end in sight, thank you for that Tudpock. I do try to rest when I can, but that usually keeps me up at nite, which at least means Im awake when I have to run to the bathroom.

Tim, I was Iodine also. Just crank 'er back a bit, watch some more football rather than playing and this will pass. Trust us...life will be good.

Jim

Tim: I am a weight training instructor and a Wrestling coach. Up until BT I was lifting hard and doing a personal workout, seven mornings a week that included jogging and stationery bike.

While researching BT it was clear to me that this routine would come to a screeching hault. My therapist reclarified that there would be no stationery bike or jogging for at least two months. Let me tell you what a wimp I felt like walking the HS track with the elderly ladies. I steadily moved up to a three mile hike that was too much, too soon. Taking Alieve, twice a day to reduce swelling and taking Flomax raises heck with your system in the form of symptoms that resemble a cardiac event. Slow down and listen to your body as others have recommended.

I had some of the same issues you mention but most of them subsided when I calmed down. Tim, I sincerely believe you can ease up and still maintain your job responsibilities. There is no shame in letting folks know you are fighting Cancer.

I had P103 seeds which hit harder for about six weeks right in the rear golf ball area you have mentioned. I had to mostly stand for a poker game! Most of these symptoms were managebile with the Alieve and are now a thig of the past.

I assume you are referring to painful ejaculations which puzzles me since you are not taking Flomax which is usually the culprit for retrograde ejaculation.

Find rest and peace of mind whenever possible and hang in there for the six weeks to let the seeds do there thing.

Please keep us posted as we learn from each other.