Hi everyone. I joined the site a few weeks back, but this is my first post. I've been reading some of the posts on pain and meds, so I thought I'd give you all a brief history, to see if anyone else has my problems.
About 12 years ago, I was diagnosed with Lichen Slerosus - a skin infection around my private parts. I was told that its not curable, only treatable. 2 or 3 days really sore (enough to make me cry when having a wee), then a couple of days of peace. Then the merry-go-round starts again! Fast forward to April last year, and my LS became a Vulval Squamos Carcinoma.(so rare, that the average GP would be doing well to see one case throughout their whole career). Very aggressive! Grew too much in 5 weeks to take surgery out of the picture. Intensive radiotherapy (6 weeks x 5 days) plus 5 x 6 hours chemotherapy, which left me in hospital for a fortnight (this was brought about by 12+ hours of raging diarrhea -every time I stood up, everything left me. It took my poor son 4 days to clean my bungalow!) with Pneumonia, Sepsis, and 3rd degree burns - front to back, inside and out. It took 4.1/2 months to eventually clear the blisters away, nurses in every day for the first 3 months treating and dressing the blisters. Ladies, have you ever tried to keep dressings in place, down there??? January this year, I found another suspicious "lump", which turned out to be a tag of skin with a haemorrhoid in it.Then in April, I found a 2nd tumour, which was surgically removed - within a week, over the Easter weekend! When I next saw my consultant, he told me I was cancer-free. Since the radiotherapy, my skin is so fragile, that I dare not "wipe", because it causes the skin to break and bleed. When I asked how long the skin was going to be so fragile, I was told "for the rest of my life". I am only 64! At this moment in time, I have a severe infection, which is almost as painful as the burns were. I have my next appointment on Monday, and I am dreading being told that this also will keep coming back.
Apart from this, I also have osteoarthritis in every single joint, and degenerative discs, as a result of back problem since I first slipped a disc at 19. Now, because of all the problems I've described above, sitting and walking has been extremely difficult, and consequently has upset my back even more. I have been housebound for most of the last 3 years, only going out with a wheelchair, when my son could take me. I have just recently bought a mobility scooter, and the freedom is wonderful!! although still very painful. I can pop up and down to town, or the doctor's, or even just a ride around the neighbourhood, as and when I want. So now, instead of going out maybe once a month, I go maybe 3 times a week, weather permitting.
A couple of other things that might interest you all. I had a hysterectomy when I was 27, and looked after my mother every day for 22 years (arthritis, wheelchair,confusion etc.) until she died just before her 90th birthday. At the same time, I also took on my grandson (from 10.1/2 to 16, when he went back home to his mother) with ADHD. And at various times, held down a p/t job as well. Haven't had a holiday for 17 years.
WHAT A RICH AND VARIED LIFE I'VE LED!!! (can't see me making it to 90 though.)
I would be very interested to hear from anyone that has/is suffering from any or all of the above.