Blood Pressure and Chemo question?

cindyruggs
cindyruggs Member Posts: 24
in Esophageal Cancer #1
Does anyone have advice for us on a blood pressure issue? Rocky started back on a lighter version of chemo this week, Herceptin and 5FU pump. Today is the last day for the pump. Thursday he came home and his right leg (from the calf down) was really swollen and his blood pressure was high. 190/100 in that range all night. He is on blood pressure mediccine that until now was keeping it under control. After elevating his legs and waatching it for two days it is still high. Still in the 190/100 range. Does chemo raise blood pressure or cause swelling in the legs? His right leg is better but still swollen. No other symptons other that fatigue from the chemo. No headache, not light headed and no leg pain, etc. Trying to figure out if we should go to the ER?

Thanks,

Cindy

Comments

  • paul61
    paul61 Member Posts: 1,391 Member
    #2
    Chemo actually lowered my blood pressure
    Cindy,

    When I had chemo I had to reduce my blood pressure medication because my blood pressure actually want down. It was in the range of 80/50 and I was having dizzy spells. I would tend to think this is something you should discuss with your oncologist's office.


    Best Regards,

    Paul Adams
    McCormick, South Carolina

    DX 10/22/2009 T2N1M0 Stage IIB
    12/03/2009 Ivor Lewis
    2/8 through 6/14/2010 Adjuvant Chemo Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU
    Two year survivor

    Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance!
  • sandy1943
    sandy1943 Member Posts: 824
    #3
    My blood pressure went very
    My blood pressure went very low. I have not had to start back on the medication. My pressure is always good now. It could be because of weight loss.
    You need to check with the doctor,
    Sandra
  • dodger21
    dodger21 Member Posts: 85 Member
    #4
    sandy1943 said:

    My blood pressure went very
    My blood pressure went very low. I have not had to start back on the medication. My pressure is always good now. It could be because of weight loss.
    You need to check with the doctor,
    Sandra

    Swollen leg
    Cindy,
    I would double check that the swollen leg isn't a blood clot.
    Danielle
  • Freida
    Freida Member Posts: 182
    #5
    Bill suffers from High BP
    Bill suffers from High BP and the chemo did not increase it. If anything, it might have lowered it a little.

    I would definitely check out the swollen leg. Bill does get some swelling inn the ankle area, but it is a normal thing for him. And it tends to be about the same on both sides. Having just the one leg swollen sounds a little iffy to me and definitely should be looked into ASAP.

    Just before Bill was due to start chemo at M D Anderson they noticed his right arm was very swollen (we had not even noticed, too preoccupied with everything else). Their immediate concern was a blood clot and they sent him off for tests. Have it checked to be on the safe side.
  • JReed
    JReed Member Posts: 428
    #6
    Don's BP lowered also
    Hi Cindy:

    For sure get this checked out asap. Don's bp also went down way low. In fact when he completed chemo he checked his bp a week or so later at home with a thing that did not work and started taking his bp med again and he broke out in hives.

    A swollen leg could be a blod clot, or a host of other issues. Let us know if you find out what caused it, please.

    Thanks,
    Judy
  • cindyruggs
    cindyruggs Member Posts: 24
    #7
    JReed said:

    Don's BP lowered also
    Hi Cindy:

    For sure get this checked out asap. Don's bp also went down way low. In fact when he completed chemo he checked his bp a week or so later at home with a thing that did not work and started taking his bp med again and he broke out in hives.

    A swollen leg could be a blod clot, or a host of other issues. Let us know if you find out what caused it, please.

    Thanks,
    Judy

    Update on Blood Pressure
    We called Rocky's doctor over the weekend and he called in a new medicine for his BP. The doctor said Rocky was very bloated and swollen from the Chemo and that the fluid retention was raising his BP. We took the new medicine and the swelling was gone and a healthy Blood pressure returned. We are thankful. The "lighter" chemo has still been hard. His mouth is so sore and raw. We are doing the miracle mouthwash but he is really hurting. We will get his blood drawn today and see how all the counts are doing? One day at a time. Thanks for all the prayers.

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