Oxaliplatin

cowman
cowman Member Posts: 61
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I am currently taking 5FU and radiation before surgery and then will be doing chemo with the Oxaliplatin after surgery. My dr told me I couldn't pick up or touch anything cold. I also read that you aren't supposed to breathe cold air. I will be taking this treatment during the winter months. Has anyone experienced dealing with this in cold weather? Can you not spend any time outside? Just trying to figure out what I can and cannot do.

Kevin

Comments

  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #2
    Oxi
    I am now on Oxi and yes there is cold sensitivity when you drink or touch anything cold. Room temperature drinks are the best (besides warm, hot) and taking anything out of the refrigerator for as long as side effects are with you. Not sure about breathing cold air, but I can assume that yes, this would be a problem. I always wondered would it be better in the summer or winter to get the Oxi, but I think the winter as I have to worry about air conditioning and it is so hot now. Actually, no time is good, but if it helps you become cancer free then it is worth it no matter when the season Good luck.

    Kim
  • Julie 44
    Julie 44 Member Posts: 476 Member
    #3
    Annabelle41415 said:

    Oxi
    I am now on Oxi and yes there is cold sensitivity when you drink or touch anything cold. Room temperature drinks are the best (besides warm, hot) and taking anything out of the refrigerator for as long as side effects are with you. Not sure about breathing cold air, but I can assume that yes, this would be a problem. I always wondered would it be better in the summer or winter to get the Oxi, but I think the winter as I have to worry about air conditioning and it is so hot now. Actually, no time is good, but if it helps you become cancer free then it is worth it no matter when the season Good luck.

    Kim

    New Yorker
    Hi there,
    I live in NY and had Oxi during the winter months and it was not fun...You need to cover your mouth up with a scarf and your hands,ears,and nose,feet....It makes your body parts hurt when its cold...I am a school bus driver so it was hard being in the cold...Your body hurts from the cold and becomes numb.....So you can go out just prepare yourself...Like Kim says drink room temp drinks and don't touch cold items..I had to use gloves to go into freezer..Had to have my daughter make meatballs because the meet was to cold..Watch door handels,car steering wheels anything just be aware..Beleive me you will learn very fast what to do and not to do..You will get past this too and it feels great when you get past that.... JULIE
  • kmygil
    kmygil Member Posts: 876 Member
    #4
    Cold air
    Hey Kevin,

    Not everyone has the air reaction, but I understand it is intense when you do--feels like you can't breathe even though you are breathing fine. I had chemo during winter months, and just to avoid it, I covered my mouth & nose with a scarf when I was out doors. What I did experience apart from the hands/feet sensitivity, was that cold air STUNG my eyes. Just crying was so painful that I refused to allow crying even when I wanted to. So keep gloves by the refrigerator/freezer, don't pick up roasts in the meat department without gloves (yes, there's a funny story there...) and try to keep your beverages at room temperature, warm or hot. It is temporary and you find yourself heating beverages you never imagined you would drink warm!

    PS: Use bathroom slippers in the bathroom unless you want to dance a very funny cold tile dance (LOL!)

    Hugs,
    Kirsten
  • paulette S
    paulette S Member Posts: 42
    #5
    kmygil said:

    Cold air
    Hey Kevin,

    Not everyone has the air reaction, but I understand it is intense when you do--feels like you can't breathe even though you are breathing fine. I had chemo during winter months, and just to avoid it, I covered my mouth & nose with a scarf when I was out doors. What I did experience apart from the hands/feet sensitivity, was that cold air STUNG my eyes. Just crying was so painful that I refused to allow crying even when I wanted to. So keep gloves by the refrigerator/freezer, don't pick up roasts in the meat department without gloves (yes, there's a funny story there...) and try to keep your beverages at room temperature, warm or hot. It is temporary and you find yourself heating beverages you never imagined you would drink warm!

    PS: Use bathroom slippers in the bathroom unless you want to dance a very funny cold tile dance (LOL!)

    Hugs,
    Kirsten

    me 2
    i cant touch anything cold, drink my water at room tempt and keep gloves right next to my fridge/freezer. i did it 6 weeks, then had my surgery and now i just finished #1 of 10 after treatments
    good luck
  • angelsbaby
    angelsbaby Member Posts: 1,165 Member
    #6
    paulette S said:

    me 2
    i cant touch anything cold, drink my water at room tempt and keep gloves right next to my fridge/freezer. i did it 6 weeks, then had my surgery and now i just finished #1 of 10 after treatments
    good luck

    Husband
    When he was on oxy and we would ride the harley he had to cover his face because of the cold his chemo was in winter too but we are in az it still gets cold here. angel did try to drink something cold and he said his throat felt like there was a hook in it, so he did not do that again, good luck and tell your dr any side effects you have.

    michelle
  • luv3jay
    luv3jay Member Posts: 533 Member
    #7
    Same here
    I was on Oxi in the winter months too and I had to wrap a scarf around my face, especially my mouth and neck. I would put on 2 pair of socks under my shoes, but my toes would still get numb and hurt. My fingers would "lock up" in certain positions which made typing difficult at times. I couldn't cut onions or anything out of the refrigerator and forget the freezer. It was pretty awful. And I agree with Angel about the hook in the throat when trying to drink anything cold, but my lips would burn first. Warm tea became my drink of choice.
  • cowman
    cowman Member Posts: 61
    #8
    Thanks Everyone
    Thanks to everyone who is helping me figure this thing out. It sure helps to read your ideas and your positive outlooks. I didn't have a clue what it meant when my dr told me I had rectal cancer. I have learned alot in the past 4 weeks! Sometimes no one has the answer except someone who has been through it or going through it - everyone here! Blessings to you all.

    Kevin
  • daydreamer110761
    daydreamer110761 Member Posts: 487 Member
    #9
    cowman said:

    Thanks Everyone
    Thanks to everyone who is helping me figure this thing out. It sure helps to read your ideas and your positive outlooks. I didn't have a clue what it meant when my dr told me I had rectal cancer. I have learned alot in the past 4 weeks! Sometimes no one has the answer except someone who has been through it or going through it - everyone here! Blessings to you all.

    Kevin

    they are right
    went through it december til may in minnesota. cold sucks even without chemo. BUT couldn't imagine going through it in the summer and not drink anything cold! think that would be worse!

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