shortness of breath

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MaxRudy
MaxRudy Member Posts: 56
in Ovarian Cancer #1
I am scheduled for my 4th round of carbo/taxol tomorrow and most of my side effects have been discussed by one or more of you ... low wbc low rbc etc. I get the neuprogen shots to boost the white blood count but thus far my red blood count (Hemog. and hermaticrits) seems to be a tad above the level for getting either a blood transfusion or procrit shots.
My question is, do any of you experience the labored breathing? I have not seen too many comments on this. It is worse when I first wake up. the 20 ft to the bathroom and Im panting like a ran a marathon. I make myself walk about 30 min a day...in intervals of about 7 to 10 min...thinking I am strengthening my lung capacity but it is tiring. My doctor encourages the walking.

Is this the chemo and if so should i expect it to get worse in cycle 4, 5 and 6....or is it the low rbc/hemog/hermaticrit not bringing enough oxygen? When I mention it to my doctor, she listens to my lungs and says, your lungs sound good. Too, nothing bad shows up on my lungs on the 3 CT scans I've had. Thank you for any info/advice.

melanie

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  • eward
    eward Member Posts: 210
    #2
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    with my mom's experience
    Doctors can't hear pleural fluid by listening to the lungs. An x-ray or CT scan will show fluid. Do you have abdominal fluid that could be pushing up on your upper abdomen? That could cause a feeling of shortness of breath. Otherwise, perhaps the chemo is causing fatigue and that is why you feel out of breath. If it has been a while since your last CT scan, and the out of breath feeling has increased over time or even suddenly, I would suggest you have an x-ray. (Although I am not a doctor!)

    Everything I have read has said that walking for exercise is great - as long as you can breathe well enough to tolerate it.

    My mom has had stage IV primary peritoneal cancer for 2+ years now and has had lots of issues with fluid..
  • eward
    eward Member Posts: 210
    #3
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    stage
    If I may ask, what stage of cancer were you diagnosed with??
  • Radioactive34
    Radioactive34 Member Posts: 391 Member
    #4
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    It might be a repost. I
    It might be a repost. I have only had one round of chemo. The first few days I was so exhausted. Flipping myself in bed made my heart race. It seemed that even breathing was an exercise. When I go back for chemo, I will ask the doctor about it.
  • antcat
    antcat Member Posts: 270
    #5
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    Dear Melanie
    Hi Melanie, I've been on several chemos since last year and recently, when I was on Topotecan, my red blood counts went down low. I always did alot of walking and when my red blood counts went down, I got winded (a little out of breath)when I walked. I asked my primary care doc what was causing this and he explained that it was due to the red blood cell count being a little low, which has to do with not getting enough oxygen. It is kind of scary, but felt better after I knew what was causing it. Now, I just make sure I don't walk to fast especially if my red blood counts are low.
  • MaxRudy
    MaxRudy Member Posts: 56
    #6
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    eward said:

    stage
    If I may ask, what stage of cancer were you diagnosed with??

    CX Stage
    Stage IIIc. I just had a CT scan last week and they scan the abdomen and lungs and no fluid was noted. Thank you for your comments....Prior to the cx I have always been an exerciser and runner/walker so I'm all the more aware of the breathing deficiency.
  • MaxRudy
    MaxRudy Member Posts: 56
    #7
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    antcat said:

    Dear Melanie
    Hi Melanie, I've been on several chemos since last year and recently, when I was on Topotecan, my red blood counts went down low. I always did alot of walking and when my red blood counts went down, I got winded (a little out of breath)when I walked. I asked my primary care doc what was causing this and he explained that it was due to the red blood cell count being a little low, which has to do with not getting enough oxygen. It is kind of scary, but felt better after I knew what was causing it. Now, I just make sure I don't walk to fast especially if my red blood counts are low.

    Breathing Probs
    Thank you for the comments. I was sort of going in that direction myself....my rbc is low and I am fatigued. I am able to breathe a little better once I get up and start moving around. Jeez, I've got 3 more rouunds of this chemo...hope I make it! The breathing is getting more and more labored. (Just kiddin'...I'll make it!) I sent you another note on the HIPEC but I couldn't find the posting. You're welcome to send me an email directly...
  • MaxRudy
    MaxRudy Member Posts: 56
    #8
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    Radioactive34 said:

    It might be a repost. I
    It might be a repost. I have only had one round of chemo. The first few days I was so exhausted. Flipping myself in bed made my heart race. It seemed that even breathing was an exercise. When I go back for chemo, I will ask the doctor about it.

    Dear Radio
    I have had 3 rounds of chemo so I don't know what the next 3 will be like but my first round was the worst. One of the ladies on the Board told me that her 2nd and 3rd round was better than the first and it sure made me feel better....I was really dreading that 2nd round since I had so much trouble with the first. She was so right. I hope the same holds true for you and they get better. I couldn't sleep the first night of my first round which I believe was due to all the steroids they give you for that first round (to abate any allergic reaction to the chemo)
  • kayandok
    kayandok Member Posts: 1,202 Member
    #9
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    Yes,
    I have the labored breathing, especially with the carbo and taxol. I have a huge flight of stairs from the street to my house, and I can barely make it up when I am on carbo/taxol regime. When I get to the top I feel like I have climbed a mountain. If I take it easy, and rest through the day, I carry on my normal routine. Good for you for continuing to walk! I think continuing to excercise is good for the body, soul and spirit. I haven't always been faithful to do that these last few years, but am getting back to my normal walking lately, and I feel so much better.

    Hang in there Melanie,

    kathleen
  • Tina Brown
    Tina Brown Member Posts: 1,036 Member
    #10
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    MaxRudy said:

    CX Stage
    Stage IIIc. I just had a CT scan last week and they scan the abdomen and lungs and no fluid was noted. Thank you for your comments....Prior to the cx I have always been an exerciser and runner/walker so I'm all the more aware of the breathing deficiency.

    Hello MaxRudy
    I too suffer with breathlessness. I do suffer from plueral effusion which at the moment is virtually absent. However I also get very fatigued from the chemo and walking can and does exhaused me.

    I am frustrated with it as like you I used to exercise and used to be a runner. I find I can no longer run so I have taken to swimming.

    I would say it is the chemo that is causing your breathlessness and you need to listen to your body. Try not to be too hard on yourself and rest whenever you can. This will certainly help you regain your energy so you can have quality exercise again. I used to get really upset about not being able to run anymore, but I have come to terms with it a bit.

    Take care and I hope your breathing gets easier for you

    Tina xx
  • mopar
    mopar Member Posts: 1,972 Member
    #11
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    CHECK YOUR BP
    Hi, MaxRudy:

    Lots of reasons for the labored breathing (obviously low blod counts can cause this). But the biggest reason for me was that the chemo can lower blood pressure. And since mine runs low anyway (average is 106/65), it really did a job on me. It got as low as 82/78. Lightheadedness, dizziness, difficulty breathing, couldn't walk 5 feet without feeling exhausted, etc. When I first had it I was so scared - told my husband I felt like I was 'floating away'. He called the doctor on-call (mine was not on call that day), and he suggested something to raise the BP like caffine, salt, etc. Actually, I'm surprised he didn't say get me to the hospital. I truly thought I was leaving this Earth.

    Anyway, from then on I knew to take some precautions before and after each chemo. I'd have some salty snacks on hand. We actually had a bag of chips with all the crumbs on the bottom. I just slowly nibbled on these little bits. I did have 1/2 cup coffee, and I walked a little every 15 minutes or so. Little by little the BP went to a normal level, and I felt soooooo much better!

    Hope this helps. And I hope you feel better soon!

    (((HUGS)))
    Monika
  • MaxRudy
    MaxRudy Member Posts: 56
    #12
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    mopar said:

    CHECK YOUR BP
    Hi, MaxRudy:

    Lots of reasons for the labored breathing (obviously low blod counts can cause this). But the biggest reason for me was that the chemo can lower blood pressure. And since mine runs low anyway (average is 106/65), it really did a job on me. It got as low as 82/78. Lightheadedness, dizziness, difficulty breathing, couldn't walk 5 feet without feeling exhausted, etc. When I first had it I was so scared - told my husband I felt like I was 'floating away'. He called the doctor on-call (mine was not on call that day), and he suggested something to raise the BP like caffine, salt, etc. Actually, I'm surprised he didn't say get me to the hospital. I truly thought I was leaving this Earth.

    Anyway, from then on I knew to take some precautions before and after each chemo. I'd have some salty snacks on hand. We actually had a bag of chips with all the crumbs on the bottom. I just slowly nibbled on these little bits. I did have 1/2 cup coffee, and I walked a little every 15 minutes or so. Little by little the BP went to a normal level, and I felt soooooo much better!

    Hope this helps. And I hope you feel better soon!

    (((HUGS)))
    Monika

    Low BP
    Good information and thank you very much.

    Hugs back at ya!
    Melanie

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