Question for post chemo ladies.

kikz

I had my last chemo on 9/16/2010 and am still experiencing aches, pains, fatigue and a general lack of stamina. I don't want to exaggerate the situation, I am feeling great but I don't think I'm back to before ov/ca. I am 63 and not a real active person so although I was healthy, I know I was not very fit.

Here's my question:

When I do stuff around the house or go out to the store or any normal activity that is not very strenuous, I get hot. It feels like it comes from inside. My forehead breaks out in a little perspiration. It's not a big deal, I just wondered if anyone else has experienced this.

Karen

Tethys41

Chinese Medicine
I have not had these exact symptoms. I've had hot flashes, night sweats, and long periods when I'm just overall too warm. I work with an accupuncturist who uses Chinese herbs. He has always been able to address these issues. Chinese medicine looks at the body differently than does Western medicine, but in a much simpler way. Heat is one of the symptoms of imbalance in the body. Perhaps you could consult with someone who practices Chinese medicine. Your Heat could be a symptom of something that is causing your other issues as well. I would really be suffering with hot flashes and night sweats were it not for the Chinese medicine.

carolyn45

Tethys41 said:

Chinese Medicine
I have not had these exact symptoms. I've had hot flashes, night sweats, and long periods when I'm just overall too warm. I work with an accupuncturist who uses Chinese herbs. He has always been able to address these issues. Chinese medicine looks at the body differently than does Western medicine, but in a much simpler way. Heat is one of the symptoms of imbalance in the body. Perhaps you could consult with someone who practices Chinese medicine. Your Heat could be a symptom of something that is causing your other issues as well. I would really be suffering with hot flashes and night sweats were it not for the Chinese medicine.

Stamina and immune system
I did some internet checking and ascertained that many people take 6 months to 2 years to feel anywhere near to where they did before cancer. That comforted me to some extent. It's just all so confusing. I was fit and quite healthy before cancer. I've "done" natural medicine most of my life, as I'm allergic to most antibiotics anyway. I've done some Chinese medicine, and I agree that it's a good thing to look in to for the heat problem. Aruvedic medicine can be quite powerful. Trouble is there are umpteen things to take and do with no guarantees of anything. I think the best we can do is read the books that draw us, follow the plans and advice that feel right to us, and ultimately surrender to that Mystery that includes our own mortality. I ordered "Anticancer: A New Way of Life" because I'm sure it has some excellent ideas. I read "Emperor of All Maladies" because I wanted to better understand cancer and how it grows in the body. What frightens me a bit is that I still have a sore throat after almost 5 weeks. I cough frequently, although it doesn't hurt. If I even go out for dinner and socialize for 3 or 4 hours, I'm dog meat the next day. I'm used to my immune system fighting things off with relative ease, but that isn't happening although I'm taking LOTS of natural immune support. I don't think the cancer is recurring, as my tummy is flat and I have no pain in my abdomen. (Last chemo was July 6, 2011) I just hate feeling lousy.

Tethys41

carolyn45 said:

Stamina and immune system
I did some internet checking and ascertained that many people take 6 months to 2 years to feel anywhere near to where they did before cancer. That comforted me to some extent. It's just all so confusing. I was fit and quite healthy before cancer. I've "done" natural medicine most of my life, as I'm allergic to most antibiotics anyway. I've done some Chinese medicine, and I agree that it's a good thing to look in to for the heat problem. Aruvedic medicine can be quite powerful. Trouble is there are umpteen things to take and do with no guarantees of anything. I think the best we can do is read the books that draw us, follow the plans and advice that feel right to us, and ultimately surrender to that Mystery that includes our own mortality. I ordered "Anticancer: A New Way of Life" because I'm sure it has some excellent ideas. I read "Emperor of All Maladies" because I wanted to better understand cancer and how it grows in the body. What frightens me a bit is that I still have a sore throat after almost 5 weeks. I cough frequently, although it doesn't hurt. If I even go out for dinner and socialize for 3 or 4 hours, I'm dog meat the next day. I'm used to my immune system fighting things off with relative ease, but that isn't happening although I'm taking LOTS of natural immune support. I don't think the cancer is recurring, as my tummy is flat and I have no pain in my abdomen. (Last chemo was July 6, 2011) I just hate feeling lousy.

Immune system
Carolyn,
You are absolutely right. It takes a long time to recover from the treatments. It is a sad statement that Western medicine pumps you full of multiple cycles of this very intense treament and gives you little to no support when you are complete. You definitley have to care your body back into shape. Have you looked into Iscador for your immune system? Is that avaialable where you are?

kikz

Tethys41 said:

Immune system
Carolyn,
You are absolutely right. It takes a long time to recover from the treatments. It is a sad statement that Western medicine pumps you full of multiple cycles of this very intense treament and gives you little to no support when you are complete. You definitley have to care your body back into shape. Have you looked into Iscador for your immune system? Is that avaialable where you are?

Here's an update.
The day I saw my primary for my yearly physical, I told her there was something going on in my left nostril. There seemed to be caked mucus (sorry) that was really stuck. I hated to admit I had put my finger in my nose but of course I was scared it was some form of cancer. She took a culture and it seems I have a staph infection. Two types with very long and strange sounding names. I have to take antibiotics for ten days and put a cream in my nose for five days.

Karen

pattysoo

chemo recovery
I also finished chemo a year ago and have been in remission ever since. I am on a hormone blocker for maintenance, and thus have lots of hot flashes. I also have lots of joint pain and a lower stamina. Still, I am able to do mostly what I want, except I'm cautious about activities that could lead to broken bones since I'm sure my bone density is compromised by the lack of hormones and general menopausal situation. I just turned 60 today. I ride a bike and/or walk every day. Still, there are some days when I'm inexplicably tired. I wake up tired and stay that way all day. It's very disturbing, but it seems to pass after a day or two. I hope the antibiotics you're on have a good effect on you. Maybe the infection just wore you down. Good luck

Tethys41

pattysoo said:

chemo recovery
I also finished chemo a year ago and have been in remission ever since. I am on a hormone blocker for maintenance, and thus have lots of hot flashes. I also have lots of joint pain and a lower stamina. Still, I am able to do mostly what I want, except I'm cautious about activities that could lead to broken bones since I'm sure my bone density is compromised by the lack of hormones and general menopausal situation. I just turned 60 today. I ride a bike and/or walk every day. Still, there are some days when I'm inexplicably tired. I wake up tired and stay that way all day. It's very disturbing, but it seems to pass after a day or two. I hope the antibiotics you're on have a good effect on you. Maybe the infection just wore you down. Good luck

I started
to feel really good about 15 months after I completed chemo, and 7 months after finishing maintenance Avastin. I have been doing a lot of things to boost my immune sytem and to repair my body. But when I look back at what happened just before I really started feeling good, I had a root canal tooth removed and had two cavitaions done. Cavitaions are where they clean out decaying bone from your jaw just behind your back teeth. The whole procedure was pretty intense, but once I recovered from the oral surgery, I've felt really, REALLY great. I suspect that if any of us have some low grade infection going on, it keeps us from completely recovering from the chemo treatments and keeps our immune systems compromised.

carolenk

Tethys41 said:

I started
to feel really good about 15 months after I completed chemo, and 7 months after finishing maintenance Avastin. I have been doing a lot of things to boost my immune sytem and to repair my body. But when I look back at what happened just before I really started feeling good, I had a root canal tooth removed and had two cavitaions done. Cavitaions are where they clean out decaying bone from your jaw just behind your back teeth. The whole procedure was pretty intense, but once I recovered from the oral surgery, I've felt really, REALLY great. I suspect that if any of us have some low grade infection going on, it keeps us from completely recovering from the chemo treatments and keeps our immune systems compromised.

I agree that chronic
I agree that chronic infections will really make it difficult to stay in remission. From what I've read, there is always chronic low-grade infection in root-canaled teeth. No one wants to lose a tooth but better to lose a tooth than to lose your life.

Happy Birthday to you, Pattysoo! May you have many more!

kikz

carolenk said:

I agree that chronic
I agree that chronic infections will really make it difficult to stay in remission. From what I've read, there is always chronic low-grade infection in root-canaled teeth. No one wants to lose a tooth but better to lose a tooth than to lose your life.

Happy Birthday to you, Pattysoo! May you have many more!

It's so weird that the topic of teeth
came up because this afternoon, I was on the computer before starting dinner and my teeth began to ache. First the bottom front teeth and then the top front teeth. This is something new. I have had toothaches before that were the result of a simus infection but nothing like this.

I went to the living room and told my mom, guess what the latest symptom is? I told her I was going to take a couple of Tylenol. Within a short time the pain stopped. I am taking an antibiotic for a a staph infection but I don't think that would cause this.

I am going to make an appointment with my dentist. It has been a while since I had a checkup.

Karen