Seeing things

trishell
trishell Member Posts: 20
in Ovarian Cancer #1
Okay this is the weirdest question that I ever had to ask but has anyone else started seeing things after starting chemo. Mostly just bugs on me and things moving. It's really freaking me out. I think that I am actually going mental. I am in no test trials or anything like that. Just carbo/taxol. Any kind of info or sharing would be helpful before I check myself into a loony bin. lol.

Comments

  • nancy591
    nancy591 Member Posts: 1,027 Member
    #2
    hmmm
    something in my nursing background is reminded of a side effect to certain antipsychotic medications. Are you on any mood alterting drugs?
  • Mwee
    Mwee Member Posts: 1,338
    #3
    actually
    For a few days after I get the carbo infusion part of my combo, I notice that I see things what I would say are like floaters and shadows. I think I see something and look and it's nothing. During this 3-6 day period, my hearing is also somewhat impaired. Do you think it's the heavy metal or the steroids used to decrease allergic reactions? I wonder if they have spa services at the looney bin... if so, sign me up.
    (((HUGS))) Maria
  • trishell
    trishell Member Posts: 20
    #4
    nancy591 said:

    hmmm
    something in my nursing background is reminded of a side effect to certain antipsychotic medications. Are you on any mood alterting drugs?

    Bipolar
    Nancy. I am diagnosed with type 2 Bipolar Disorder. Talk about feeling bad for hubby with that on top of the menopause mood swings :(. I was on meds for that but I haven't taken them for years. I am only taking the hydrocodone and the chemo treatments. I guess my mind has really snapped ;).
  • trishell
    trishell Member Posts: 20
    #5
    nancy591 said:

    hmmm
    something in my nursing background is reminded of a side effect to certain antipsychotic medications. Are you on any mood alterting drugs?

    Bipolar
    Nancy. I am diagnosed with type 2 Bipolar Disorder. Talk about feeling bad for hubby with that on top of the menopause mood swings :(. I was on meds for that but I haven't taken them for years. I am only taking the hydrocodone and the chemo treatments. I guess my mind has really snapped ;).
  • trishell
    trishell Member Posts: 20
    #6
    Mwee said:

    actually
    For a few days after I get the carbo infusion part of my combo, I notice that I see things what I would say are like floaters and shadows. I think I see something and look and it's nothing. During this 3-6 day period, my hearing is also somewhat impaired. Do you think it's the heavy metal or the steroids used to decrease allergic reactions? I wonder if they have spa services at the looney bin... if so, sign me up.
    (((HUGS))) Maria

    Bugs
    Maria. I am not sure what in the world it is. Not to sound even crazier than I already do, but I am used to seeing certain things like people and shadows that aren't really there, hearing things that no one else hears, and the feeling of my hair being pulled and played with. This has gone on since I can remember but this other stuff is new. I HATE bugs and when I am sitting down I have seen spiders crawl on me and when I jump up like I'm being attacked, its gone. I searched this house through and through for bugs and webs and anything that might indicate that there might be bugs in here. Nothing. It ALWAYS disappears and it's always at night.

    If there is a spa at the loony bin, I'm definitly moving in there.
  • Cafewoman53
    Cafewoman53 Member Posts: 735 Member
    #7
    oh no
    my gosh you sure don't need anything else to deal with , I would talk to your dr , I read somewhere that chemo upsets the chemical balance in our bodies that is why so many of us need the anti-depressants. I hope you feel better soon
    Colleen
  • trishell
    trishell Member Posts: 20
    #8
    Cafewoman53 said:

    oh no
    my gosh you sure don't need anything else to deal with , I would talk to your dr , I read somewhere that chemo upsets the chemical balance in our bodies that is why so many of us need the anti-depressants. I hope you feel better soon
    Colleen

    anti-depressants
    Thanks Colleen. I was thinking about that. I'll make sure to talk to him about that at my next appointment. Maybe that's all that this is. Hopefully it will stop when I take the anti-depressants. I was telling my mom that it's funny cause I am diagnosed with something and have to take meds. Then I have to take more meds for the first's side effects and then more meds for the other's side effects and so on. My house is about to look like a pharmacy. lol
  • Hissy_Fitz
    Hissy_Fitz Member Posts: 1,834
    #9
    trishell said:

    anti-depressants
    Thanks Colleen. I was thinking about that. I'll make sure to talk to him about that at my next appointment. Maybe that's all that this is. Hopefully it will stop when I take the anti-depressants. I was telling my mom that it's funny cause I am diagnosed with something and have to take meds. Then I have to take more meds for the first's side effects and then more meds for the other's side effects and so on. My house is about to look like a pharmacy. lol

    Definitely could be
    Definitely could be anti-depressants. My daughter was also diagnosed with bi-polar disorder and some of the meds they gave her caused her to hallucinate. It's been 10+ years, so I don't remember which one(s) they blamed for it but at different times she took Buspar and several others. She saw purple and pink polk dots, as I recall, and maybe bugs, too.

    Carlene
  • trishell
    trishell Member Posts: 20
    #10
    Hissy_Fitz said:

    Definitely could be
    Definitely could be anti-depressants. My daughter was also diagnosed with bi-polar disorder and some of the meds they gave her caused her to hallucinate. It's been 10+ years, so I don't remember which one(s) they blamed for it but at different times she took Buspar and several others. She saw purple and pink polk dots, as I recall, and maybe bugs, too.

    Carlene

    Not crazy
    Woohooo!!!! So I'm NOT crazy!!! (Although I seem to be acting like it now lol)
  • LaundryQueen
    LaundryQueen Member Posts: 676
    #11
    trishell said:

    Not crazy
    Woohooo!!!! So I'm NOT crazy!!! (Although I seem to be acting like it now lol)

    bugs
    No one has studied the effects of chemo on people like you so who can tell you that the bugs you are seeing are not a side effect of chemo.

    For hallucenations, you would do better on one of the anti-psychotic (Seroquel, Risperdal, Zyprexa, etc.) rather than an anti-depressant. There are different types of bi-polar disorders so I can't say for sure what would be best for you but anti-depressants do not help hallucenations. Your doctor will know what to do for you.

    I do know that the anti-psychotics are slightly different so you might need to switch around until you get on one that agrees with you. The side effect of the anti-psychotics is that they usually makes food tastes good and you will have a good appetite. I would make a conscious effect to keep sugar out of the house as you will be tempted to over indulge if you are taking an anti-psychotic.

    I can tell you that you are NOT CRAZY but that you have a delicate brain chemistry and that delicate balance has been disturbed.
  • Lisa13Q
    Lisa13Q Member Posts: 677
    #12
    Dear Trishell
    Bi-polar and steroids are a very serious combination.....in fact, that is how Diane Sawyer ended up in the hospital....for weeks.....My recommendation......get a psychiatrist who has experience with bi-polar cancer patients....probably a tough resource to find.....do not just go on anti-depressants either....very possibly those meds could throw you into a manic mode....especially with the steroids......find a good psychiatrist.....you do not want to be hospitalized at this time with any serious MH issues.....

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