Fell down for the first time... anyone got stuff to share on Falls?

joemetz
joemetz Member Posts: 493
in Colorectal Cancer #1
I'm 9 weeks in on my treatments. (stage IV, dx'd 12-2011, colon + multiple mets to liver, temp colostomy). Am taking Erbitux, Lucivorian, Folfox 6 and 5FU (along with some other drugs to combat the rash from erbitux, emotions, low iron + gout)

I've been getting dizzy now and again, but today i got up to head to the bathroom... saw white spots, then everything went black. I held on to the wall for a bit and then went down. Butt first, head bounced off the wall and woke up thinking... What the hell???

I've been a pretty healthy guy and so far the side effects have been the rash, tingling in the hands and some nausea.

But, Falling down?

Anyone have any stories to share.
(I'll take good, bad and one's that will make me laugh!)

thanks so much.

Joe "i don't like falling" Metz

Comments

  • RickMurtagh
    RickMurtagh Member Posts: 587 Member
    #2
    falling
    Joe, while going through chemo I was constantly falling. Neuropathy, dizziness, general lack of coordination, it all contributed. I never blacked out though. White spots where pretty common whenever I moved too quickly. I got a shillelagh to help with balance. I suppose a cane would have done just as well, but I liked the cool factor of knowing I could become a thug in a moments notice if the need arose!
  • Lovekitties
    Lovekitties Member Posts: 3,364 Member
    #3
    Dear Joe
    I don't have any first hand experience with the dizziness, but there are a couple of things which you might consider.

    Low blood pressure can certainly cause dizziness, particularly when going from seated to standing.

    Hypoglycaemia is another culprit that could be present.

    Then there is also dehydration with mineral deficiency.

    Given that you are in treatment, it seems that any of these could be possible, along with many other things.

    Best to contact your doc and let him find the real reason and get you more stable again.

    Marie who loves kitties
  • plh4gail
    plh4gail Member Posts: 1,238 Member
    #4
    Funny you brought this up right now...
    Fell...sounds like you passed out Joe? I have been off chemo for 9 months (YAY). While on chemo my coordination and balance was shot. Things would just fall out of my hands. Probably because I couldn't feel them. And I would tip over, as I called it because I never actually fell. I could be getting up or down, walking or just standing there...tip and catch myself. The closes time to actually falling I hurt my foot that I broke 3 years ago where they put a plate and screws. And I felt it! My 2 Dr said I didn't re injure it but it sure felt like it and it still does after 7 months.

    Then...fast forward 9 months to February. I'm feeling so much better. I still have some neuropathy but nothing like before. My coordination has been so much better, I dont lose balance anymore.

    Well a couple of weeks ago I was with my 10 year old taking our little dog for a walk around the block. A cat started following us on the sidewalk and I didn't want it to follow us home and adopt us, I have enough animal friends. lol. As we came up to a community center parking lot and the cat was still following us but about 4 houses back I said "hey we should run across the front parking lot here and cut through to the back and lose the kitty and it won't know where we are" . As if we could actually lose it right? :) So she runs off with the dog and I am running behind her. It dawned on me that I was actually running! It had been so long! It felt wonderful for those few moments! Then in a blink of and eye all 4 extremities lost contact with each other and my brain and started doing their own thing. It only took a couple of seconds before I was tumbling and sliding on the pavement. I yelled out (because it took me by surprise and because it hurt). Kacie looked back and saw me down and came back worried to help me up. My palms were dirty and scraped. My knees were bloody and scraped. Yes it was on a busy street. By the end of the day I was sore and bruised. It didn't cross my mind, my body had just learned to walk again and wasn't able to full out sprint.

    In the last 2 weeks I have started a walk/run easy paced time myself program with the help of a friend I met on here. Each time I go, I have visions of my tumble trying to lose a little cute kitty.

    Thats my story...

    plh4gail
  • maglets
    maglets Member Posts: 2,576 Member
    #5
    plh4gail said:

    Funny you brought this up right now...
    Fell...sounds like you passed out Joe? I have been off chemo for 9 months (YAY). While on chemo my coordination and balance was shot. Things would just fall out of my hands. Probably because I couldn't feel them. And I would tip over, as I called it because I never actually fell. I could be getting up or down, walking or just standing there...tip and catch myself. The closes time to actually falling I hurt my foot that I broke 3 years ago where they put a plate and screws. And I felt it! My 2 Dr said I didn't re injure it but it sure felt like it and it still does after 7 months.

    Then...fast forward 9 months to February. I'm feeling so much better. I still have some neuropathy but nothing like before. My coordination has been so much better, I dont lose balance anymore.

    Well a couple of weeks ago I was with my 10 year old taking our little dog for a walk around the block. A cat started following us on the sidewalk and I didn't want it to follow us home and adopt us, I have enough animal friends. lol. As we came up to a community center parking lot and the cat was still following us but about 4 houses back I said "hey we should run across the front parking lot here and cut through to the back and lose the kitty and it won't know where we are" . As if we could actually lose it right? :) So she runs off with the dog and I am running behind her. It dawned on me that I was actually running! It had been so long! It felt wonderful for those few moments! Then in a blink of and eye all 4 extremities lost contact with each other and my brain and started doing their own thing. It only took a couple of seconds before I was tumbling and sliding on the pavement. I yelled out (because it took me by surprise and because it hurt). Kacie looked back and saw me down and came back worried to help me up. My palms were dirty and scraped. My knees were bloody and scraped. Yes it was on a busy street. By the end of the day I was sore and bruised. It didn't cross my mind, my body had just learned to walk again and wasn't able to full out sprint.

    In the last 2 weeks I have started a walk/run easy paced time myself program with the help of a friend I met on here. Each time I go, I have visions of my tumble trying to lose a little cute kitty.

    Thats my story...

    plh4gail

    JOE
    Joe I found that when i was on oxy I was very very shakey. Sometimes I would be so woozy coming downstairs I would be clinging on with both hands. White spots for sure but I don't think I ever passed out completely. Balance is prob for sure. Getting up slowly helps...

    best of luck

    maggie
  • r2424243
    r2424243 Member Posts: 51
    #6
    maglets said:

    JOE
    Joe I found that when i was on oxy I was very very shakey. Sometimes I would be so woozy coming downstairs I would be clinging on with both hands. White spots for sure but I don't think I ever passed out completely. Balance is prob for sure. Getting up slowly helps...

    best of luck

    maggie

    My dad fell
    My dad was put on camptosar/5fu/leucovin. the doc only gave him 60% of the recommended dose. He fell 3 xs. Once in the bathroom, he said he just remembers his head hitting the wall, falling forward while standing up to pee. 3rd time he was getting dressed. He apparently mustve passed out. He woke up with his hip broke. He lives alone. He ended up in the hospital with surgery and has decided to stop chemo. He is real afraid of that side effect. He was also very sleepy. He would fall asleep holding coffee, ect. he now has a life line button just incase but he is currently holding off on chemo for awhile. Best of luck! I would definately try the life line button in case your home alone!
  • joemetz
    joemetz Member Posts: 493
    #7
    plh4gail said:

    Funny you brought this up right now...
    Fell...sounds like you passed out Joe? I have been off chemo for 9 months (YAY). While on chemo my coordination and balance was shot. Things would just fall out of my hands. Probably because I couldn't feel them. And I would tip over, as I called it because I never actually fell. I could be getting up or down, walking or just standing there...tip and catch myself. The closes time to actually falling I hurt my foot that I broke 3 years ago where they put a plate and screws. And I felt it! My 2 Dr said I didn't re injure it but it sure felt like it and it still does after 7 months.

    Then...fast forward 9 months to February. I'm feeling so much better. I still have some neuropathy but nothing like before. My coordination has been so much better, I dont lose balance anymore.

    Well a couple of weeks ago I was with my 10 year old taking our little dog for a walk around the block. A cat started following us on the sidewalk and I didn't want it to follow us home and adopt us, I have enough animal friends. lol. As we came up to a community center parking lot and the cat was still following us but about 4 houses back I said "hey we should run across the front parking lot here and cut through to the back and lose the kitty and it won't know where we are" . As if we could actually lose it right? :) So she runs off with the dog and I am running behind her. It dawned on me that I was actually running! It had been so long! It felt wonderful for those few moments! Then in a blink of and eye all 4 extremities lost contact with each other and my brain and started doing their own thing. It only took a couple of seconds before I was tumbling and sliding on the pavement. I yelled out (because it took me by surprise and because it hurt). Kacie looked back and saw me down and came back worried to help me up. My palms were dirty and scraped. My knees were bloody and scraped. Yes it was on a busy street. By the end of the day I was sore and bruised. It didn't cross my mind, my body had just learned to walk again and wasn't able to full out sprint.

    In the last 2 weeks I have started a walk/run easy paced time myself program with the help of a friend I met on here. Each time I go, I have visions of my tumble trying to lose a little cute kitty.

    Thats my story...

    plh4gail

    Thanks plh4gail!
    Great story of success for you.

    you've fallen and you got up... and now you are working on running.

    i'm so happy that you shared this with me and the group.

    i cannot imagine your 10 year old... but she's gonna be proud to run with you someday soon.

    cheers to you and your family.
  • johnnybegood
    johnnybegood Member Posts: 1,117 Member
    #8
    RickMurtagh said:

    falling
    Joe, while going through chemo I was constantly falling. Neuropathy, dizziness, general lack of coordination, it all contributed. I never blacked out though. White spots where pretty common whenever I moved too quickly. I got a shillelagh to help with balance. I suppose a cane would have done just as well, but I liked the cool factor of knowing I could become a thug in a moments notice if the need arose!

    falling
    is not funny and i am sorry it happened to you.but here is a funny story about me.i seem to trip over my own feet,yesterday my husband and i were walking back to the house after feeding our horses out at the barn.i kind of started walking sideways and tripped a little and my husband say to me "What happened did you trip over the grass?" there has got to be humor in this cancer journey so we can make it. be careful....Godbless....johnnybegood
  • ron50
    ron50 Member Posts: 1,723 Member
    #9
    joemetz said:

    Thanks plh4gail!
    Great story of success for you.

    you've fallen and you got up... and now you are working on running.

    i'm so happy that you shared this with me and the group.

    i cannot imagine your 10 year old... but she's gonna be proud to run with you someday soon.

    cheers to you and your family.

    G'day Joe
    For the last five or six years I've needed training wheels. I suffer from vertigo attacks (never had one prior to cancer) at best they put me in bed at worst it's a trip to hospital. when I feel it coming on I usually get as low as I can be it floor or bed. Had a bad one late last year ,fell on a concrete boat ramp . That hurt. I take a couple of anti-histamines a day to try to maintain my balance. I am also on allopurinol for excess uric acid wonder if has some side effects?. It's funny I now sort of plan my activities around the likelyhood of falling over e.g. I avoid high places ,no ladders,roofs or cliff edges:) Ron.

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