Hi...new member

ginnimp
ginnimp Member Posts: 9
in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hello All….

New to this forum but have been reading your entries for the last few days...ya'll are inspirational, informative and funny! I was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer in January of this year, had surgery to remove cancerous polyp along with lymph nodes, and have been on chemo since March. I’m down to my last 2 out of 12…yay.

Here’s one for ya’ll….don’t have nausea or diarrhea from the chemo but terrible bouts of trapped gas! Anyone else experiencing this? I’ve tried all the OTC’s but nothing seems to work; it’s primarily at night when I’m trying to sleep. Any suggestions for remedies?

Comments

  • Buckwirth
    Buckwirth Member Posts: 1,258 Member
    #2
    Hi Ginni
    Welcome to the club no one wants to belong to!

    What chemo regimen are you on this time? Folfox? Folfiri? Are you getting Avastin?

    Was your tumor genetically tested for the KRAS mutation?

    Sorry for all the questions, but knowing a bit of this will help in the long run.

    Yours,

    Blake
  • ginnimp
    ginnimp Member Posts: 9
    #3
    Buckwirth said:

    Hi Ginni
    Welcome to the club no one wants to belong to!

    What chemo regimen are you on this time? Folfox? Folfiri? Are you getting Avastin?

    Was your tumor genetically tested for the KRAS mutation?

    Sorry for all the questions, but knowing a bit of this will help in the long run.

    Yours,

    Blake

    KRAS??
    Hi Blake

    I'll have to ask my onc about the KRAS mutation issue...not familiar with it.

    I'm currently on eloxatin/leucovorin cocktail with fluorouracil pump for 48 hours. My chemo sessions are every other wednesday, but I had to delay #10 for a week because my platelet count was too low.

    Don't mind the questions at all...the more info the better.

    Thanks,

    Ginni
  • buckeye2
    buckeye2 Member Posts: 428 Member
    #4
    Welcome. I am also a recent
    Welcome. I am also a recent member and have learned more from this discussion board than any other place. I feel empowered with this information. Lisa
  • lisa42
    lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
    #5
    Welcome
    Hello and welcome to the board.
    Sounds like you're on Folfox. No fun with the neuropathy. Hopefully you aren't having too bad of a time with it. Taking alpha lipoic acid and vitamin B-6 helps with the neuropathy. Also having the onc nurse give you a magnesium/calcium combo in your infusion is also supposed to help.

    Something I discovered within the past few months that is greatly helping me with my red blood cell count and my platelets is to take spirulina and chlorella. My onc okay'd them and has been amazed that ever since I started on them, my platelet count has been smack in the middle of the normal range & I was really having problems with them being too low before I started this. He response recently was, "Well, whatever you're doing seems to be helping, so keep it up". I am!

    So far as the gas, I wish I could help you on that one- that gets me too. I do take simethicone (anti gas pills) when that happens. It doesn't get rid of the gas problem, but allows to escape instead of being trapped.

    Take care & glad to "meet" you!

    Lisa
  • Buckwirth
    Buckwirth Member Posts: 1,258 Member
    #6
    ginnimp said:

    KRAS??
    Hi Blake

    I'll have to ask my onc about the KRAS mutation issue...not familiar with it.

    I'm currently on eloxatin/leucovorin cocktail with fluorouracil pump for 48 hours. My chemo sessions are every other wednesday, but I had to delay #10 for a week because my platelet count was too low.

    Don't mind the questions at all...the more info the better.

    Thanks,

    Ginni

    one other question:
    Where are you located? Some answers are country/state dependent.
  • herdizziness
    herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624 Member
    #7
    trapped gas
    Okay, here's a remedy that might work for you. Get on your hands and knees, stretch your hands straight out past your head, resting your chest on the floor or bed keep your knees bent and your butt in the air. This will often release the trapped air, as it naturally forces it out.
    Hope this helps.
    Winter Marie
  • ginnimp
    ginnimp Member Posts: 9
    #8
    Buckwirth said:

    one other question:
    Where are you located? Some answers are country/state dependent.

    from the Gulf Coast
    Hi Blake

    I'm in Mississippi
  • ginnimp
    ginnimp Member Posts: 9
    #9
    lisa42 said:

    Welcome
    Hello and welcome to the board.
    Sounds like you're on Folfox. No fun with the neuropathy. Hopefully you aren't having too bad of a time with it. Taking alpha lipoic acid and vitamin B-6 helps with the neuropathy. Also having the onc nurse give you a magnesium/calcium combo in your infusion is also supposed to help.

    Something I discovered within the past few months that is greatly helping me with my red blood cell count and my platelets is to take spirulina and chlorella. My onc okay'd them and has been amazed that ever since I started on them, my platelet count has been smack in the middle of the normal range & I was really having problems with them being too low before I started this. He response recently was, "Well, whatever you're doing seems to be helping, so keep it up". I am!

    So far as the gas, I wish I could help you on that one- that gets me too. I do take simethicone (anti gas pills) when that happens. It doesn't get rid of the gas problem, but allows to escape instead of being trapped.

    Take care & glad to "meet" you!

    Lisa

    Ya'll are awesome!
    Hi Lisa

    Thanks a bunch for all the info you provided, especially about the neuropathy. The tingling in my finger tips and my toes started going to pain after my 8th chemo.

    ....glad to "meet" you too!

    Ginni
  • Buckwirth
    Buckwirth Member Posts: 1,258 Member
    #10
    herdizziness said:

    trapped gas
    Okay, here's a remedy that might work for you. Get on your hands and knees, stretch your hands straight out past your head, resting your chest on the floor or bed keep your knees bent and your butt in the air. This will often release the trapped air, as it naturally forces it out.
    Hope this helps.
    Winter Marie

    Childs Pose
    What Marie refers to is a yoga position referred to as Childs Pose

    According to my wife, it is well known for producing embarrassing moments in yoga classes. :smile:
  • yoga
    yoga Member Posts: 87
    #11
    Buckwirth said:

    Childs Pose
    What Marie refers to is a yoga position referred to as Childs Pose

    According to my wife, it is well known for producing embarrassing moments in yoga classes. :smile:

    Sorry you have to be on this board, but welcome! I too was diagnosed with stage 4 CC (in July 2010). I have had gas problems all along, sometimes it can be quite embarassing when relief finally happens. Quite like the idea of trying the Child's Pose! I know that it sometimes causes me (or those around me) problems during yoga so maybe it would be good to try at other times as well. I often find that getting up and moving helps with this gas problem - going for a brisk walk in the evening often gets things cleared up before bedtime. Warm hugs being sent to you.
  • herdizziness
    herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624 Member
    #12
    Buckwirth said:

    Childs Pose
    What Marie refers to is a yoga position referred to as Childs Pose

    According to my wife, it is well known for producing embarrassing moments in yoga classes. :smile:

    LOL
    I've never been near a yoga mat in my life, but apparently I know YOGA!!! LMAO.
    Glad Blake could refer you to the right picture for positioning. It will help I'm sure.
    Winter Marie
  • Kimo Sabe
    Kimo Sabe Member Posts: 64
    #13
    From, to New Member
    I too am a newbie. Please allow me to introduce myself.

    I am a family man and we will be married 40 years next week. I am starting my fourth three week round of XELOX (Oxaliplantin and Capacetabine) for stage IIIB   colon (cecal) cancer. 

    Until the last couple of weeks I had not really done much reading or research or any other investigation. I just thought cancer was cancer, and especially adenocarcinoma of the colon which is 95% of a very common cancer. Duh, I don't have to tell you how wrong I was.

    I have learned that everybody is different including the issues mentioned in the question above. My Xeloda is harsh, but I am making it. I do experience symptoms and they go beyond annoying. 

    I could say more but perhaps I should do that in a separate posting. I am wondering if there are instructions somewhere on using this board. And also what is our place to put more personal information. Why do people use aliases? Does it keep the snake oil vendors away?  I have a website about health care, but I wonder if I should link to it? Is that a reckless thing to do?

    I do like my name on the site because Kimo Sabe means trusted friend as some of you might remember. Also as I'm on chemotherapy and I speak Spanish, you probably  know what that means. 

    I find this site to be quite full and rich with information and kindness. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. In the words of Arnie, " I'll be back", on this board and in life.

    So, Kimo Sabe, Ciao.

    Kimo Sabe
  • keystone
    keystone Member Posts: 134 Member
    #14
    Kimo Sabe said:

    From, to New Member
    I too am a newbie. Please allow me to introduce myself.

    I am a family man and we will be married 40 years next week. I am starting my fourth three week round of XELOX (Oxaliplantin and Capacetabine) for stage IIIB   colon (cecal) cancer. 

    Until the last couple of weeks I had not really done much reading or research or any other investigation. I just thought cancer was cancer, and especially adenocarcinoma of the colon which is 95% of a very common cancer. Duh, I don't have to tell you how wrong I was.

    I have learned that everybody is different including the issues mentioned in the question above. My Xeloda is harsh, but I am making it. I do experience symptoms and they go beyond annoying. 

    I could say more but perhaps I should do that in a separate posting. I am wondering if there are instructions somewhere on using this board. And also what is our place to put more personal information. Why do people use aliases? Does it keep the snake oil vendors away?  I have a website about health care, but I wonder if I should link to it? Is that a reckless thing to do?

    I do like my name on the site because Kimo Sabe means trusted friend as some of you might remember. Also as I'm on chemotherapy and I speak Spanish, you probably  know what that means. 

    I find this site to be quite full and rich with information and kindness. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. In the words of Arnie, " I'll be back", on this board and in life.

    So, Kimo Sabe, Ciao.

    Kimo Sabe

    Welcome Kimo Sabe!
    Yes you can put more about your diagnoses/treatment on this forum. If you look at the top of the page it will say "Welcome Kimo Sabe" go to the right of this and click on the about me. I wish more people would put in this info so we all know how their story started and how they are dealing with this disease. Stephanie
  • Kimo Sabe
    Kimo Sabe Member Posts: 64
    #15
    keystone said:

    Welcome Kimo Sabe!
    Yes you can put more about your diagnoses/treatment on this forum. If you look at the top of the page it will say "Welcome Kimo Sabe" go to the right of this and click on the about me. I wish more people would put in this info so we all know how their story started and how they are dealing with this disease. Stephanie

    Thanks
    Thank you for your response. I've had a chance since my first post to drill into the site a little bit and get a better sense of what it is about.

    I will get more information up as you suggested. I feel comfortably oriented at this time.

    FYI I am on round four of chemo for stage IIIB colon cancer.

    Norm

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