side effects

lhsteer
lhsteer Member Posts: 28
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hello everyone sorry I haven't been on lately but having a hard time with the chemo this time. leukovorin, fol fox, had my 2nd one last week do it every 2 weeks 48 hours. lst week had diahreia, this time took imodium now I have terrible gas pains, stomache cramps is this unusal or what. I had my colon put back together in december have liver mets now and spots on stomache lining that is why I am doing the chemo, now I notice my hair is really thinning. I did not have these side effects when I did chemo from june til October but this time around it seems to be more difficult is this unusual I have the numbness in toes and fingers which I had before. Now I feel like I have the flu all the time, really tired and achey about the time I start feeling better I start the chemo over again, so out of 14 days I have maybe 5 good. thanks for all your encourage ment and help. This is so frustrating to me. I know I had major surgery only 3 mos ago so maybe this is in effect too. any suggestion I can't do the carrot juice because it cleans me out so much that I get cramps from it. karen

Comments

  • CAMaura
    CAMaura Member Posts: 719 Member
    #2
    Karen, Hi! I am on the same regimen and it is kicking my butt. The meds are hard too. I have about the same recovery days as you do - and the side effects sound so similar; diareha (sp) for about 10 days.....but the original Imodium worked better for me than the one that is supposed to aid gas.I hope that you are able to get out on the good days. I just went to my Health Club this afternoon; it felt great just to feel normal - somewhat. My hair is thinning as well - but it is weird. I usually lose hair for only a day or two ...a few days after treatment....or maybe a little after that. Try to take advantage of your good days - even though they are few. Are you on steroids; the decadron is really affecting me badly - but it does keep the nausea away. Anyway, best of luck . I am up for session four this next Wed. I really hope that I can make it through 12. Take care and think of your good days. Maura
  • grandma047
    grandma047 Member Posts: 381
    #3
    Hi Karen, I'm on FOLFOX4 also. Just had my third round, They stopped last round after first day because I had so much vomiting. I'm on decatron, zofran and reglan, to help with the nausea.No nausea this week yet. Yippee!! I have had the reaction to the cold in my hands and feet and also if I drink something cold I feel like my throat is closing off, I know what you mean about just starting to feel good and then it's time for chemo again, I don't know how many rounds I'll have to have, since they checked last week and my tumor is growing not shrinking, When they get it shrunk enough I will have surgery, If you ever have any questions or need to talk, let me know. I really do care.
    Love and rayers, Judy(grandma047)
  • nanuk
    nanuk Member Posts: 1,358 Member
    #4
    Karen: another good med for diarrhea is lomotil. It sounds like you may not be getting enough hydration;
    are you on the infusion pump for 48 hrs? If so, they can add saline solution to it..in any case keep pushing down water, water, water, and drink a lot before your treatment. The numbness is from the Oxalaplatin (SP?) and they might be giving you too much.
    Nanuk

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