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surgery problems

I have another question regarding the question I submitted below a couple of months ago.  Since the weather has started getting really hot and humid both of my feet and ankles swell really bad, to the point that I have trouble walking.  Is this due to reconstructive surgery - they took muscle and tissue from both of my thighs to reconstruct my pelvic area.  And do you have advise to help with keep the swelling down.



All of 2007 I was in and out of the hospital for cancer treatment.   I was diagnosed with stage IV vaginal cancer.  I had 6 weeks of chemo, 7 weeks of radiation, and in May I had my surgery that consisted of a complete pelvic externation, removal of my rectum and reconstructive surgery of my pelvis and vagina.  My question is - along with the obvious pain problems that I still have from my surgery, I have a constant burning pain in both of my upper arms - to the extent that I have trouble raising my arms.  My gynecologist said it is probably from nerve damage from the chemo.  My follow up cat scans so far show no other cancer.  Is it possible the chemo is causing this much pain and will this pain ever go away?  With everything Ive been through I would love to hear that this will eventually go away
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Avatar universal
I have another question.  I keep forgetting to ask my doctor about things when I go see him.  My surgery was on May 29th 2007.  Ive been trying to pay close attention to my health since then and have noticed something.  About once a month, I have an episode where I will be feeling fine, then all of sudden I get really hot, starting sweating profusely and then violently throw up.  Could this be an effect from the chemo that had, menopause from the surgery, or something worse.  All of my pap smears and cat scans have come back normal since my surgery.




I have another question regarding the question I submitted below a couple of months ago.  Since the weather has started getting really hot and humid both of my feet and ankles swell really bad, to the point that I have trouble walking.  Is this due to reconstructive surgery - they took muscle and tissue from both of my thighs to reconstruct my pelvic area.  And do you have advise to help with keep the swelling down.



All of 2007 I was in and out of the hospital for cancer treatment.   I was diagnosed with stage IV vaginal cancer.  I had 6 weeks of chemo, 7 weeks of radiation, and in May I had my surgery that consisted of a complete pelvic externation, removal of my rectum and reconstructive surgery of my pelvis and vagina.  My question is - along with the obvious pain problems that I still have from my surgery, I have a constant burning pain in both of my upper arms - to the extent that I have trouble raising my arms.  My gynecologist said it is probably from nerve damage from the chemo.  My follow up cat scans so far show no other cancer.  Is it possible the chemo is causing this much pain and will this pain ever go away?  With everything Ive been through I would love to hear that this will eventually go away

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Avatar universal
Hi,
It is common for legs to swell up after a surgery in pelvis This is due to the fact that the lymphatic channels which have been divided due to surgical procedure are realigning themselves.
Lymph movement occurs with low pressure due to peristalsis, valves, and the milking action of skeletal muscles.After surgery, immobility can cause swelling.
When-ever  possible as permitted by your condition try to move around a bit and also keep your legs elevated when resting. Yhis will reduce the swelling.
Chemotherapy or radiation induced pain - is most often a form of nerve pain. It can cause peripheral neuropathy (painful numbness of the extremities), or paresthesia (numbness and tingling of hands, feet or any extremity of the body).
Most chemotherapy side effects cease after treatment. But one can only hope for it and cannot be re-assured that it will be gone.
ref:http://www.chemocare.com/managing/
Wishing you pain-free and well.God bless.
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