Oxalplatin Side efffects

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dimples2
dimples2 Member Posts: 13
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I am having major drinking issues with my chemo treatment. I am on a regimen of Oxalplatim, Leucovorin and FOLfox6 Pump. I have just finished treatment 4. Any Suggestions? I am new to all this but glad to find some extra support.

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  • usakat
    usakat Member Posts: 610 Member
    #2
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    Hello Dimples,
    I was on Oxaliplatin and Xeloda, but had to stop in the middle of round 2 due to too many side effects that ultimately landed me in the hospital for a couple of days. I'm currently in detox, but will start a new regime of FOLFOX in a few weeks.

    After my second infusion of the Oxaliplatin, while dinning at a nice restaurant I ordered ice tea out of habit. I took one sip and my throat seized up - I nearly blew tea out my nose, which would have been horribly embarrassing at such a nice place. I'll order hot tea from now on.

    Throat problems and cold sensitivity are known side effects of the Oxaliplatin. Avoid cold things and hopefully you'll be okay?

    Hope this helps...

    Katie
  • taraHK
    taraHK Member Posts: 1,952 Member
    #3
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    Hi. I was on a similar chemo treatment to you. Sorry to hear you are having problems. Can you tell us a little more about the problem? There are many people who have been on that chemo 'cocktail' who can share experiences with you. One thing that commonly occurs with oxaliplatin is a funny "jaw spasm" sensation -- which occurs with the first bite/sip of food, and may last a couple of days. Also, a lot of people find they cannot tolerate eating/drinking -- or even touching -- anything cold for a few days after each cycle (or even longer, as the chemo goes on). Are you experiencing something like this? Or maybe it's something different? Sending best wishes your way.
  • dimples2
    dimples2 Member Posts: 13
    #4
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    usakat said:

    Hello Dimples,
    I was on Oxaliplatin and Xeloda, but had to stop in the middle of round 2 due to too many side effects that ultimately landed me in the hospital for a couple of days. I'm currently in detox, but will start a new regime of FOLFOX in a few weeks.

    After my second infusion of the Oxaliplatin, while dinning at a nice restaurant I ordered ice tea out of habit. I took one sip and my throat seized up - I nearly blew tea out my nose, which would have been horribly embarrassing at such a nice place. I'll order hot tea from now on.

    Throat problems and cold sensitivity are known side effects of the Oxaliplatin. Avoid cold things and hopefully you'll be okay?

    Hope this helps...

    Katie

    Hello Katie,
    I know exactly how you feel as far as the cold sensations but I can't seem to drink warm or hot drinks either without almost gagging. I just wish there was something else I could try because I had to get 8 bags of iv fluids this past week because of dehydration. But I will survive and I hope you are well also.
    Thanks for responding so promptly.
    Pamela (Dimples2)
  • Betsydoglover
    Betsydoglover Member Posts: 1,248 Member
    #5
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    Hi -
    Oxaliplatin causes weird cold sensitivity, finger tingling and "first bite sensitivity" for a few days. So, be careful and stay away from cold and drink room temp drinks (or warmer). You will probably find that drinking issues go away with room temp drinks - so try that and then let us know. Oxaliplatin is a hugely effective drug in spite of its side effects, so if you can manage the side effects, that is all good.

    Be more specific and I am sure lots of us can help you.

    Betsy
  • dimples2
    dimples2 Member Posts: 13
    #6
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    taraHK said:

    Hi. I was on a similar chemo treatment to you. Sorry to hear you are having problems. Can you tell us a little more about the problem? There are many people who have been on that chemo 'cocktail' who can share experiences with you. One thing that commonly occurs with oxaliplatin is a funny "jaw spasm" sensation -- which occurs with the first bite/sip of food, and may last a couple of days. Also, a lot of people find they cannot tolerate eating/drinking -- or even touching -- anything cold for a few days after each cycle (or even longer, as the chemo goes on). Are you experiencing something like this? Or maybe it's something different? Sending best wishes your way.

    Hey,The side effects are the cold sensations and almost a gagging almost everytime I drink esp cold but now I seem to not be able to drink warm or hot either. I had to have 8 bags of iv fluids lst week due to dehydration. But i will survive and I hope you are doing well also.
    Thanks for responding,
    Pamela )dimples2)
  • vinny3
    vinny3 Member Posts: 928 Member
    #7
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    Hi,
    I just completed my 6 th cycle of Folfox. The cold liquids usually bother for about 3-4 days at first and maybe 4-5 now. I have also found that carbonated beverages are bothersome in the first week. I get a heartburn type of sensation. Try drinking frequent, small amounts of warm or body temp liquids. There is less chance of dehydration that way.

    Good luck, ****
  • Wendy67
    Wendy67 Member Posts: 8
    #8
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    Dimples 2-

    I was able to take 10 sessions of Oxaliplatin before my body started rejecting the drug and I had a reaction at the oncology office. In my first session of chemo, I noticed an adversion to cold. Chemo is cumulative, and the sensitivity to tempertures kept increasing. I was lucky and did my chemo through the summer, but I did keep a pair of gloves by my freezer.

    The one side effect that was long term for me was the nueropathy. I still have very little sensation in my finger tips, and I'm a year out from my last session. Perhaps a small price to pay, but nonetheless very bothersome on a day to day basis. My balance has also been slightly affected.

    ~ Wendy
  • jams67
    jams67 Member Posts: 925 Member
    #9
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    Wendy67 said:

    Dimples 2-

    I was able to take 10 sessions of Oxaliplatin before my body started rejecting the drug and I had a reaction at the oncology office. In my first session of chemo, I noticed an adversion to cold. Chemo is cumulative, and the sensitivity to tempertures kept increasing. I was lucky and did my chemo through the summer, but I did keep a pair of gloves by my freezer.

    The one side effect that was long term for me was the nueropathy. I still have very little sensation in my finger tips, and I'm a year out from my last session. Perhaps a small price to pay, but nonetheless very bothersome on a day to day basis. My balance has also been slightly affected.

    ~ Wendy

    Wendy, does your onc feel like your neuropathy will eventually fade away? My onc said something about if it got worse during treatment then it would probably not go away. I take B6 but I can't tell any difference after 6 weeks. It started in January and steadily got worse. My feet are worse than my hands, but it is pretty much wrist to ankle. jams
  • spongebob
    spongebob Member Posts: 2,565 Member
    #10
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    Hi, Dimples -

    Sounds like you have lots of good advice from your cohorts here... About the only thing I can add is if you think you have major drinking issues, you should dump out all of your vodka and switch to diet coke!

    (OK... bad joke...)

    - SB
  • jams67
    jams67 Member Posts: 925 Member
    #11
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    spongebob said:

    Hi, Dimples -

    Sounds like you have lots of good advice from your cohorts here... About the only thing I can add is if you think you have major drinking issues, you should dump out all of your vodka and switch to diet coke!

    (OK... bad joke...)

    - SB

    Make that coke room temperature please. jams
  • dimples2
    dimples2 Member Posts: 13
    #12
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    spongebob said:

    Hi, Dimples -

    Sounds like you have lots of good advice from your cohorts here... About the only thing I can add is if you think you have major drinking issues, you should dump out all of your vodka and switch to diet coke!

    (OK... bad joke...)

    - SB

    Hey Sponge Bob,
    Thanks for the advice! No more Vodka for me, that taste has left me for awhile.
    Dimples2
  • dimples2
    dimples2 Member Posts: 13
    #13
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    vinny3 said:

    Hi,
    I just completed my 6 th cycle of Folfox. The cold liquids usually bother for about 3-4 days at first and maybe 4-5 now. I have also found that carbonated beverages are bothersome in the first week. I get a heartburn type of sensation. Try drinking frequent, small amounts of warm or body temp liquids. There is less chance of dehydration that way.

    Good luck, ****

    Thanks **** for responding I will really try harder this next course to sip on something at all times if possible. The carbonated drinks are all yucky at that time you are right about that.
    God Bless and you hang in there! YOu are two ahead of me. Good Luck!
    Dimples2
  • dimples2
    dimples2 Member Posts: 13
    #14
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    Wendy67 said:

    Dimples 2-

    I was able to take 10 sessions of Oxaliplatin before my body started rejecting the drug and I had a reaction at the oncology office. In my first session of chemo, I noticed an adversion to cold. Chemo is cumulative, and the sensitivity to tempertures kept increasing. I was lucky and did my chemo through the summer, but I did keep a pair of gloves by my freezer.

    The one side effect that was long term for me was the nueropathy. I still have very little sensation in my finger tips, and I'm a year out from my last session. Perhaps a small price to pay, but nonetheless very bothersome on a day to day basis. My balance has also been slightly affected.

    ~ Wendy

    Wendy,
    Thanks for sharing! Wow you have already completed 10 treatments. You go girl,strong person you are. I also have already got some neurothropy? from the treatments and the last half of my treatment will be thru the winter! I hope that you symptoms go away! That Oxalplatin is wicked but very successful poison!
    God Bless You and prayers,
    Dimples2
  • spongebob
    spongebob Member Posts: 2,565 Member
    #15
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    jams67 said:

    Make that coke room temperature please. jams

    Of course "room teperature" is the "proper" way to serve Guiness...
  • Patrusha
    Patrusha Member Posts: 487
    #16
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    dimples2 said:

    Hey Sponge Bob,
    Thanks for the advice! No more Vodka for me, that taste has left me for awhile.
    Dimples2

    Hey, dimples, pleased to meet you and sorry you're having these problems. Good old Folfox. I get round 2 tomorrow and I have had that jaw sesnitivity thing as well as the cold drinks thingy. The first few bites of anything cause a very painful clenching just under my ears.... like I ate something very sour .... is that what you experience? Somebody mentioned on another thread that a way to help that reaction is to "taste" each bite to the tip of your tongue first. I'm going to try that and see if it helps.
  • dimples2
    dimples2 Member Posts: 13
    #17
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    Patrusha said:

    Hey, dimples, pleased to meet you and sorry you're having these problems. Good old Folfox. I get round 2 tomorrow and I have had that jaw sesnitivity thing as well as the cold drinks thingy. The first few bites of anything cause a very painful clenching just under my ears.... like I ate something very sour .... is that what you experience? Somebody mentioned on another thread that a way to help that reaction is to "taste" each bite to the tip of your tongue first. I'm going to try that and see if it helps.

    Thanks Patrusha and very glad to meet you also. Yes I am having that same sensation.The tip of the tongue thing may help, I"ll try that this treatment and see. My 5th one will be Monday 18th.I also as I mentioned in the other message I have almost a gagging reflex with liquid drinks more than food. Isnt that strange?
    I know not to have cold liquids but warm does it also.who knows! I will get thru it and so will you.
    God bless,
    Pamela (dimples)
  • Wendy67
    Wendy67 Member Posts: 8
    #18
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    jams67 said:

    Wendy, does your onc feel like your neuropathy will eventually fade away? My onc said something about if it got worse during treatment then it would probably not go away. I take B6 but I can't tell any difference after 6 weeks. It started in January and steadily got worse. My feet are worse than my hands, but it is pretty much wrist to ankle. jams

    Jam-

    I'm about a year out of finishing my chemo. My onc said that it would take about a year to really tell the damage, but not to be surprised if it doesn't get better. The upside to this is that I used to be extremely ticklish in my feet. I guess the chemo cured me of that too!

    ~ Wendy
  • Heider
    Heider Member Posts: 24 Member
    #19
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    Hi Dimples, I am almost 2 years out of my 18 treatments. I think I only had to miss 2 treatments due to blood issues. I still have the tingling in my feet, but my hands are back to normal. My advice is to try drinking room temperature drinks from a stray. Sometimes that helped me.
  • Heider
    Heider Member Posts: 24 Member
    #20
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    Ooops, that should be straw.

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