I am at the end of my rope

The_Lost_Boy

My mom is having some crazy mood swings, are her mood swings a direct reaction to her chemo?  Is there anything I can do to help her realize she is having a mood swing? Any suggestions on medication or anything to help subdue her mood swings?

Anonymous

Hang on tighter!  It will get better.

o2bhealthy

Lostboy - I was thrown into full blown chemical menopause - it was instant and terrifying.  Your mom probably is aware of her mood swings and probably feels like she is losing her mind.   Chemo is not an easy trip and it can be frightening for everyone involved (patient and family).  Hopefully your mom has a good relationship with her onc and will ask for help, do you go to appointments with her?  perhaps you can discretely approach her dr.   My onc put me on effexor and it leveled me out within a week to where I was not so out of control.  Just hang on and try to be there for her and please do not take anything personally...half the time I was ranting at my dh I really didn't even know why I was ranting but I could not stop myself...

meg8000

Lost Boy - 

Hugs to you and your family for what you are going through. If you mean things like over-the-top, witchiness kind of mood swings, I guess it could be chemopause.  I'm afraid I don't know about that, as I was already post menopausal.  Menopause certainly produces some pretty tough mood swings.  However, just dealing with a cancer diagnosis alone can put you on an emotional roller coaster, with feelings of fear, anxiety, depression, and tears.  

Your mom should definitely speak with her oncologist about some help with this and get some help in the form of drugs.  Several drugs are commonly given, such as Xanax, Ativan, and SSRI's (such as Effexor, Lexapro,Paxcil,etc.), and they most certainly will help her get through this time in her life a little more easily.  

I took all 3 of these (Xanax, Ativan and Paxcil) at different times and they were invaluable.  Xanax will help calm you down when you have anxiety.  Ativan will help you sleep, and the SSRI's will even out the mood swings and help boost your general outlook. 

You mom might not recognize that she is having mood swings at the time she is having them, but will probably recognize it if you talk to her about it after it is over and she is a little more calm.

Hugs to you for all you are dealing with.  Hugs to your mom for all she is going through.  Hope it gets better for you.