Oxalipalatin question

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k1
k1 Member Posts: 220 Member
Starting Xelox tomorrow and would like to know how long I have to avoid cold drinks/foods after the oxalipalatin treatment? Is it a few days after each treatment or for a longer period?

Just curious because I'm in triple digit heat everyday and normally survive this inferno with iced tea, cold water, sugar free popsicles etc. and cold summer fruit. Not looking forward to giving them up this time of year.

Thanks for info.

K1

Comments

  • Betsydoglover
    Betsydoglover Member Posts: 1,248 Member
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    oxaliplatin cold sensitivity
    Hi K1 -

    You'll know - trust me! For me back in 2005 it was about 4 days. If cold bothers you, it won't kill you. Just experiment slightly until you figure out what works for you.

    Betsy
  • karen40
    karen40 Member Posts: 211 Member
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    Cold Sensitivity
    Hey K1,
    The cold sensitivity for me lasts about ten days. I believe that I am more the exception than the norm. When I had asked my onc. nurse this same question, her answer was that it usually last 4-7 days. I hope you're more the norm.
    Take care,
    Karen
  • abrub
    abrub Member Posts: 2,174 Member
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    It varies...
    You'll learn by trial and error. It tends to last longer with each subsequent treatment. I started at about 3 days, and was up to 7-10 days by my 7th treatment.

    Just take things slowly; try little sips to see if you can handle the cold. You'll know right away.

    Good luck and wishing you smooth sailing. It's no fun.
  • daBeachBum
    daBeachBum Member Posts: 164
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    It varied for me
    I didn't have the hot/cold issues as much as having things taste weird. Even water tasted "fuzzy" to me, kind of like it was carbonated. I think it varies for everyone. My onc switched out my oxaliplatin for avastin after about two months and now I don't run into any of that. I feel a little guilty sometimes because avastin is probably 25 times more expensive for my insurance company...
  • herdizziness
    herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624 Member
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    For me
    It was at first 7 days then increased to about 10 days and I love my ice cold coke cola, it was hard.
    So I'm assuming you probably have air conditioning, get some nice warm gloves and warm socks!!
    Winter Marie
  • r2424243
    r2424243 Member Posts: 51
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    My dad said it only lasted a
    My dad said it only lasted a couple days with him
  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
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    Treatment
    Everyone is different but remember that the more you get of the oxy the more it accumulates in your body and then you feel the sensation sooner and it lasts longer. Most people have this problem but some just sail on. If you start getting tingling in feet and hands let your doctor know right away.

    Kim
  • marqimark
    marqimark Member Posts: 242 Member
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    Varies
    Mine would go away only when my blood count pushed my treatment back a week.
    It took more than two weeks for me to be able to drink room temp water.
    All worth it to change my odds from 40/60 to 60/40.

    I hope and pray that you are able to cool off after only a few days.
  • plh4gail
    plh4gail Member Posts: 1,238 Member
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    Your body will let you know!
    Your body will let you know! There will be no question of wondering when. You better find some cotton gloves to keep in the kitchen for when you need to get into the fridge or freezer. Room temp liquids are probably going to be your favorite for awhile, but it does get better.

    love,gail
  • k1
    k1 Member Posts: 220 Member
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    For me
    It was at first 7 days then increased to about 10 days and I love my ice cold coke cola, it was hard.
    So I'm assuming you probably have air conditioning, get some nice warm gloves and warm socks!!
    Winter Marie

    Oh the power of suggestion :-)
    After reading your post all I could think of was, yes, ice cold Coca Cola must be my sendoff to the first chemo treatment. My rare guilty pleasure.

    I had one before leaving for the hospital, and after waiting an hour and hearing it was going to be another hour for infusion, I had another at the hospital.

    Although before reading your post I had been thinking of a snow cone as the last hurrah, it is impossible to get one here in the daytime once school starts and school has started. So thanks for the suggestion and a memory I can really hold on to and not feels so deprived as I drink room temp water all the next week :-)

    Yes, of course, I have air conditioning. People die here without it in a summer like this. Our a/c units are running 24/7 down here and resulting in astronomical electric bills this summer --we have had 60 days over over 100 temps already. The only concession I made to the oxali the first night was to put socks on my feet. I tried a blanket over the sheets like they said but was a sweat factory.

    Meanwhile, when the going gets tough as I pile the Xeloda on top of the oxali, I will think of that icy cold Coke and how much I enjoyed it. Thanks!

    K1
  • k1
    k1 Member Posts: 220 Member
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    plh4gail said:

    Your body will let you know!
    Your body will let you know! There will be no question of wondering when. You better find some cotton gloves to keep in the kitchen for when you need to get into the fridge or freezer. Room temp liquids are probably going to be your favorite for awhile, but it does get better.

    love,gail

    Had to sign paper saying I would wait 5 days
    My consent form said I agreed that I would not try or expose myself to anything cold for at least 5 days after the oxaliplatin infusion.

    But the nurse said it could well be longer than that, as it varies for individuals.

    So guess I will try something after 5 days and see what happens.

    Thanks everyone for the advice and sharing experience.

    K1
  • karen40
    karen40 Member Posts: 211 Member
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    k1 said:

    Had to sign paper saying I would wait 5 days
    My consent form said I agreed that I would not try or expose myself to anything cold for at least 5 days after the oxaliplatin infusion.

    But the nurse said it could well be longer than that, as it varies for individuals.

    So guess I will try something after 5 days and see what happens.

    Thanks everyone for the advice and sharing experience.

    K1

    Consent Form
    That's interesting. I haven't heard of that. I, of course, had to go home and put my hands in the freezer to see if it was for real. It's for Real.
    Take care with getting adjusted to the routine,
    Karen
  • RKSTR DAVE
    RKSTR DAVE Member Posts: 3
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    Warm is good!!
    I had my treatments over the winter and my face felt like it was growing fur on it
    when i was outside! After grabbing a few icecube trays or reaching into the fridge
    for somthing, i learned quick. After a week i was making snowballs! Its a small
    sacrifice for life, have fun with it! Dave
  • westie66
    westie66 Member Posts: 642
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    Warm is good!!
    I had my treatments over the winter and my face felt like it was growing fur on it
    when i was outside! After grabbing a few icecube trays or reaching into the fridge
    for somthing, i learned quick. After a week i was making snowballs! Its a small
    sacrifice for life, have fun with it! Dave

    Oxaliplatin and cold intolerance
    HI all: I've posted this quite often but I'll do it again. I had cold intolerance after the first treatment, quite badly actually. But my oncologist reduced the infusion rate of the oxaliplatin and reduced the amount infused. As well, I followed suggestions on this board to try different supplements - daily doses of vit B6, calcium/magnesium, alpha liloic acid, and L-Glutamine. I haven't had a problem since and I've just finished by 7th treatment. I can eat ice cream, drink cold coca cola, etc. right after treatment. Can't say for sure whether it is the reduced dose and infusion rate of the oxaliplatin or the supplements or both. But it works for me.
    Cheryl
  • Jane822
    Jane822 Member Posts: 50
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    Cold Sensitivity
    Cold sensitivity varied -- it would last from 7 - 10 days. However, I found drinking through a straw helped - little sips. Ice cream - forget it. It was like eating crushed glass. I live in Florida and have the a/c running constantly so I kept an afghan handy and warm socks. hope this helps.
  • Vickilg
    Vickilg Member Posts: 281 Member
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    Jane822 said:

    Cold Sensitivity
    Cold sensitivity varied -- it would last from 7 - 10 days. However, I found drinking through a straw helped - little sips. Ice cream - forget it. It was like eating crushed glass. I live in Florida and have the a/c running constantly so I kept an afghan handy and warm socks. hope this helps.

    I Avoided Cold Drinks/Foods
    I am now on my 11th treatment and avoided drinking or eating anything cold for the entire time. Only at treatment 10 did I find minor neuropathy in my toes and tips of fingers. I am not sure if this is because I avoided all of the cold stuff or not but thought I would let you know. Maybe you can ask your doctor. I live in Florida too so it is so hard not to but my gut just told me their was a connection to eating/drinking cold and the neuropathy. Really I don't know... just throwing it out there.
  • k1
    k1 Member Posts: 220 Member
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    Vickilg said:

    I Avoided Cold Drinks/Foods
    I am now on my 11th treatment and avoided drinking or eating anything cold for the entire time. Only at treatment 10 did I find minor neuropathy in my toes and tips of fingers. I am not sure if this is because I avoided all of the cold stuff or not but thought I would let you know. Maybe you can ask your doctor. I live in Florida too so it is so hard not to but my gut just told me their was a connection to eating/drinking cold and the neuropathy. Really I don't know... just throwing it out there.

    Avoiding Cold Drinks/Food after Oxaliplatin
    I did see my oncologist today and asked for clarification on the five day prohibition on cold stuff.

    He basically said use common sense. He said everyone is different and for some people it might be five days, and some it might be two days, and others it might be two weeks before they can eat/drink cold again after oxaliplatin infusion. So the chemo people just as policy say 5 days and put it on the consent form.

    He said the negative side effect would be an immediate reaction -- you eat or drink something cold and your throat will feel like it is closing or that you are having trouble breathing, could be painful. Like some others here said, your body will tell you.

    It's not like you take a cold drink on Day 2 and three days later you will have a reaction. He said it will be immediate.

    If I am hellbent on trying it before five day period he said drink a small sip of cool (not ice cold) water and see if I get the reaction. If so, it's too soon and I can try again in a couple of days. If not, proceed with caution. That, he said, was using common sense. Either way, he said, it does not cause long term worsening of neuropathy; it is a side effect of the infusion.

    Today was Day 5 for me and I had a cold drink and later a sugar free popsicle, so I guess 5 days was enough for me. It was 104F outside so enjoyed my cold stuff.

    K1
  • RickMurtagh
    RickMurtagh Member Posts: 587 Member
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    It differs
    It differs from person to person. Mine started about week four and stayed with me until about three weeks after chemo ended. It does not seem to effect some people at all.