ANA Discussion Forum

Treatment Options => Radiation / Radiosurgery => Topic started by: KJ on December 25, 2009, 07:48:10 pm

Title: I'm Done, I Guess!
Post by: KJ on December 25, 2009, 07:48:10 pm

I finished with my Novalis FSR treatments on Wednesday the 23rd.  Hooray!  Today is Christmas Day and luckily we had a quiet day planned.  I feel somewhat nauseous today and my head feels like a freight train is running through it. I'm somewhat off balance and  I find it is difficult to concentrate on anything and mostly just want to sleep. Hearing is difficult at present, and I'm sure it is because my tumor is still very swollen.  Everything sounds like I have a bucket over my head. The doctor says to give it a couple of weeks and if the swelling hasn't gone down on its own he will perscribe some steroids for me.  I feel restless and really would like to get out of my head for a while, thus the desire to sleep a lot.  Has anyone else experienced these symptoms?  How long before I will feel "normal" again?  I was feeling mostly fine during treatments and I'm wondering if this is a normal reaction when treatment stops.

Kate

Title: Re: I'm Done, I Guess!
Post by: Jim Scott on December 26, 2009, 03:06:59 pm

Hi, Kate ~

Congratulations on completing your FSR treatments!  I'm sorry you're experiencing balance deficits.  I didn't have this issue to deal with after my treatments but apparently some FSR patients do.  It should resolve but if not, as your doctor advised, steroids can very likely alleviate it by reducing the inevitable swelling that takes place with any radiation treatment to the skull/brain.  I think resting/sleeping is probably a very good idea.  I also believe that you'll be O.K. very soon.

Jim

Title: Re: I'm Done, I Guess!
Post by: KJ on December 26, 2009, 03:38:47 pm

Thanks Jim.  I already feel a little better today. I noticed midmorning that the pressure in my head had lessened. I worked today and that kind of kept my mind busy.  When I move my eyes quickly from one area to another I feel like someone has spun me around and stopped me suddenly but I'm sure that will dissipate eventually.  Taking it one day at a time. 
Thanks for replying,
Kate

Title: Re: I'm Done, I Guess!
Post by: patdel on December 30, 2009, 06:15:23 pm

good luck Kathy with a speedy recovery.  Keep us posted on your progress.

Title: Re: I'm Done, I Guess!
Post by: mk on December 30, 2009, 06:51:45 pm

Kate,

congratulations on completing your treatments.
The feelings you describe are not out of the ordinary at all. I found that taking ibuprofen really helped whenever I had fullness or other weird sensations. It is also an antiinflammatory, which could help with mild swelling issues.

Best wishes for a quick recovery.

Marianna