Having real tought time with the "Comfortable Bladder Requirement of IMRT (same as SBRT -bladder wise)

[JWS13]

I am having a real tough time with the "comfortable bladder" thing with IMRT (same as SBRT w regards the bladder). I have very small bladder and they want it 90% full (they'll take 75-80) . I start drinking 45 minutes before the appointment and some days it's fine but some days it's only 50% and I have to get off table (embarrassing) and then drink more and get back on. The one time I forced myself to stay on the table and go through it , it was like "waterboarding" worst 12 minutes ever.. 15 more treatments are going to be touch and go...

Will Flomax help? Having urinary urgency as well from radiation..

Please all tips will be appreciated. Thanks

[Tall_Allen]

Flomax and Cialis will make it worse. You can try kegels.

[JWS13 in reply to Tall_Allen]

must have went to bathroom 20 times within a three hour period ...last night between 5-8 am..off and on weak stream ..During the day , I go one to two hours withour going (almost normal like) .flomax should fix the morning frequency and I don't know how it will effect the treatment today at 4pm...Haven't taken the flomax yet. ???

[Tall_Allen in reply to JWS13]

Flomax increases flow and facilitates more complete emptying of the bladder. The irritative effects of the radiation are going to make it more difficult for you to hold it in. Maybe an NSAID can help.

[jwrhn]

I had the same problem when I was doing my IMRT. The techs would insist on the bladder being full but I'd be jumping around during the procedure and developed radiation proctitis four months after. I finally talked to the radiation oncologist, and he told the techs to lay off so I'd come in with a full bladder for me but not some arbitrary number they were alerted to on their screens, wish I'd talked to the Doc sooner would have saved me this proctitis hassle.

[JWS13 in reply to jwrhn]

what do you mean "full bladder for me and not some arbitrary number?"..How did you get proctitis from this? thanks

[jwrhn in reply to JWS13]

The techs have number on their screen that gives a percentage of how full the bladder is when you are on the table, mine was always 70-80% they wanted like the 90% they saw on their screens but that was just to full for me and I'd be jumping around while the machine was working because the bladder was just too full.

I got the proctitis because you are supposed to be still during the radiation and with all the movements it hit the colon which gave me the proctitis. Thats why the radiation Doc told the techs to ignore the number on the screen as the risk from jumping around instead of staying perfectly still during the procedure was greater than following the number they show on their screen and to override it.

[Aodh]

My oncology nurse told me to take 2 x Solpadeine at night and keep taking it for 2 weeks after I had completed my course of radiation. I did. It had worked by day 4 i.e. I could both manage to stay on the linac with my full bladder and all sense of urgency abated. I was very glad of her advice.

Hugh