bilirubin and severe diarrhea

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Katmy
Katmy Member Posts: 93
in Breast Cancer #1
I had my first chemo on 1 March. On day 5 severe diarrhea and abdominal pain began. Even though the pain abated after 2 days, the diarrhea persisted until March 14. Immodium was continually needed. My bilirubin has always been 1.2 or 1.3, which is slightly above the normal limit. Has anyone else experienced abdominal pain and prolonged diarrhea after having Taxotere and Cytoxin? If so, what did your Oncologist do differently the next chemotherapy?

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  • sea60
    sea60 Member Posts: 2,613
    #2
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    No, I didn't have the severe abdominal problems
    I'm surprised your Onc isn't looking into the fact that maybe this is a severe allergic reaction?

    When is your next treatment?


    Sylvia
  • MAJW
    MAJW Member Posts: 2,510 Member
    #3
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    Had..
    Cramping and diarrhea after first T/C. Diarrhea lasted 4 days...bad....never had this problem with the remaining infusions...oncologist said it usually follows the first infusion....chemo is quite a shock to our system...to say the least...I was instructed when I called him on a Sunday early morning, to take extra strength Immodium until it stopped..to disregard the dosage on the package...and drink drink drink!!!!! anything but alcohol...stay hydrated!

    After the remaining infusions, constipation sets in, due to the steriods.. Never seemed to be a happy medium!
  • Katmy
    Katmy Member Posts: 93
    #4
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    sea60 said:

    No, I didn't have the severe abdominal problems
    I'm surprised your Onc isn't looking into the fact that maybe this is a severe allergic reaction?

    When is your next treatment?


    Sylvia

    next treatment
    Hi Sylvia,
    My Oncologist said that she would decrease my dose of Taxotere. She said technically, my bilirubin levels were not high enough to lower my dosage ( by medical protocal) but she wondered if, in my case, the normal dose was too high. She seems to think it is not a severe allergic reaction. I have read that other people have had diarrhea, but most say constipation. My next treatment is 24 March assuming my gut and energy resume by then.

    I do feel much better today.

    Were you on Taxotere and Cytoxin?

    Thank you for responding
  • Katmy
    Katmy Member Posts: 93
    #5
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    MAJW said:

    Had..
    Cramping and diarrhea after first T/C. Diarrhea lasted 4 days...bad....never had this problem with the remaining infusions...oncologist said it usually follows the first infusion....chemo is quite a shock to our system...to say the least...I was instructed when I called him on a Sunday early morning, to take extra strength Immodium until it stopped..to disregard the dosage on the package...and drink drink drink!!!!! anything but alcohol...stay hydrated!

    After the remaining infusions, constipation sets in, due to the steriods.. Never seemed to be a happy medium!

    glad to know I am not alone in this reaction
    So, I may not have this reaction the second time. You do not mention a higher bilirubin. I guess severe diarrhea can happen to normal levels, too. That gives me comfort, because I am nervous since I am on the high side.
  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    #6
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    Katmy said:

    glad to know I am not alone in this reaction
    So, I may not have this reaction the second time. You do not mention a higher bilirubin. I guess severe diarrhea can happen to normal levels, too. That gives me comfort, because I am nervous since I am on the high side.

    I had constipation followed
    I had constipation followed by diahrea. It was a big problem. I took immodium, and altered my diet. It was not related to bilirubin as my level was ok. I found my system was incedibly sensitive and the smallest amts of things affected me either way. i never quite got the balance I neede. but it did resolve after treatment. I hope its just a one time deal for you
  • pattimc
    pattimc Member Posts: 431
    #7
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    carkris said:

    I had constipation followed
    I had constipation followed by diahrea. It was a big problem. I took immodium, and altered my diet. It was not related to bilirubin as my level was ok. I found my system was incedibly sensitive and the smallest amts of things affected me either way. i never quite got the balance I neede. but it did resolve after treatment. I hope its just a one time deal for you

    Taxotere and Cytoxan, too
    That was my chemo cocktail, too. I had severe "D" and Immodium didn't even touch it. I was given a prescription for Lomotil and that did the trick. Maybe ask your onco if it might be more helpful that Immodium. Also, took Acidopholus and ate alot of yogurt to try to keep my system balanced.

    Good luck!
  • Megan M
    Megan M Member Posts: 3,000
    #8
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    Katmy said:

    glad to know I am not alone in this reaction
    So, I may not have this reaction the second time. You do not mention a higher bilirubin. I guess severe diarrhea can happen to normal levels, too. That gives me comfort, because I am nervous since I am on the high side.

    I hope it doesn't happen
    I hope it doesn't happen again with your chemo. Sending hugs to you!


    Megan
  • renee616
    renee616 Member Posts: 181
    #9
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    Megan M said:

    I hope it doesn't happen
    I hope it doesn't happen again with your chemo. Sending hugs to you!


    Megan

    I had my first treatment of
    I had my first treatment of taxotere and He told me exactly what to expect, Diarrhea was one of them! I had some cramping and had to go 4-5 times a day for about a week, it tapered off each day. I had to ask the pharmacist for an ointment for my raw bottom. Ouch! He recommended equal parts of aquaphor with Maalox or other generic antacid. I put it on and it cleared it up! With everything else that's going on, I didn't need that little problem too!
  • Katmy
    Katmy Member Posts: 93
    #10
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    renee616 said:

    I had my first treatment of
    I had my first treatment of taxotere and He told me exactly what to expect, Diarrhea was one of them! I had some cramping and had to go 4-5 times a day for about a week, it tapered off each day. I had to ask the pharmacist for an ointment for my raw bottom. Ouch! He recommended equal parts of aquaphor with Maalox or other generic antacid. I put it on and it cleared it up! With everything else that's going on, I didn't need that little problem too!

    My doctor put me on
    My doctor put me on Immodium. It eventually leveled off. After my second treatment, I had the same diarrhea, and I was prepared with what to do. I did not need to go get IV fluids or anything. The diarrhea was manageable. Also, the doctor lessened my dose of Taxotere by 20%. All side effects were much less.

    I will remember the Aquaphor and Maalox combo. Good to know! Thanks.

    Hope all is going well with you up to this point.
  • linpsu
    linpsu Member Posts: 747
    #11
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    The Big D
    I had diarrhea for almost the entire 4 months that I had chemo - (4 adriamycin/cytoxon, then 4 Taxol). That for me was the worst side effect from my treatments. Lomotil did help. But I rarely left the house b/c of fear of something happening. Eecch - what a bad memory. Good luck. Linda

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