SBRT finished, now have proctitis

Not biting during urinating, correction: burning

I'm sorry to hear that. In most cases, radiation proctitis clears up after a few weeks. Mine didn't (I'm in a small minority), but also, mine is mild compared to yours, so it's not so bad living with it.

Aside from medication, you might want to *temporarily* avoid high-fibre foods (the ones you normally should be eating for colon health) as well as fried/fatty foods, and focus on things that will cause less irritation (including healthy fats like avocados, olive oil, etc).

Also, stay hydrated. Seriously. Try to drink 64 oz of water a day if you can (unless your doctor has warned you not to), even if you're not thirsty. That will help both the proctitis and the cystitis (the burning when you pee) by continuously flushing everything out.

Has your medical team discussed hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) with you: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537343/

(Did you use a rectal spacer with your treatments?)

No discussion on HBOT. Yes on balloon spacer

Ask them about HBOT. As the data show, HBOT can often help with radiation-induced proctitis. (Radiation-induced proctitis can be short- or long-duration, depending on how much tissue damage was done. In rare cases, secondary cancers can result from radiation overshoot.)

Was your “balloon” the endorectal balloon that is inserted at each treatment?

@gshep
I see most have already asked the questions I was. I had Space/Oar done and see you had balloon done.

Did they explain when you get radiation the colon is so close it gets radiation damage. My R/O explained most is minor and damage to blood vessels. That results in body building new blood vessels in colon which are very fragile and easilty bleed with any constipation straining etc. This goes away as the blood vessels get stronger and less vulnerable.

Did your R/O or urologist suggest stool softeners like MiraLAX? I found and still find that a hemorrhoid creme like preparation H. They make a rectal insert that really helps me with discomfort as I do have hemmorids that I had long before I had proton radiation.

Talk to your R/O I am sure this is something they hear all the time. My wife has constipation and painful bowel movements due to a digestive issue. They gave her a medication to take that has really helped.

When you had your SBRT did you have photon or proton radiation? I asked because photon radiation continues throughout body from entry to exit. Proton radiation stops at a predetermined spot and does not exit and continue out the body.

My RO did not explain that about the colon and blood vessels. All they told me is that I would tolerate SBRT better. I had the cyberknife SBRT. I was thinking about Brachy before SBRT. Now, I’m not so sure I made the correct decision. I use the prep H. I have hydrocortisone suppositories. Takin Metamucil. Doing sitz. I’m ready for this torment to be over.

Does anyone know if a Infared sauna would help after prostate radiation ?

I have been using "Proctol" for years now and it is very effective along with sitz baths

Metamucil may actually be irritating you. Perhaps switch to MiraLax - osmotic which takes on water.
My go to is the old fashioned Mineral Oil - you go smooth and easy, no pain whatsoever. Recommended to me by GI when I developed a fissure - oh man, that was a killer!! All the fiber I was taking made it much worse. Your situation sounds similar. Best,
Phil