Chemo side effects

I had BIG time constipation !!! and had to work so hard with my diet to fix the problem, which took weeks to get straightened out. I had never in my life had such constipation and I suffered with it miserably with all kinds of pain and issues realted to constipation.

More side effects I had were fatigue so bad, my head was clouded and it was hard to think and for some reason my legs and feet hurt so badly I couldn't take a step off a curb without pain. The bottoms of my feet feeel like I ran 500 miles and so sore I can't put all my weight on them at times and had to resort to a cane to help me walk due to the pain in lower legs and feet. It has improved over the last week but still more than just discomfort, its painful and limits my mobility in a big way.

My husband is not making things any better for me. He thinks I should feel sorry for him that his wofe ( me) has cancer. I guess the chores he now has are too much for him and he has told me he is thinking about leaving me.... I guess that is also a side effect of chemo as the fatigue and pain in my legs and feet has seriously changed my energy level.

There was one day I was curled up in a ball in pain, could hardly think and just crying because of all the constipation pain, pain in legs and feet. I finally called the doctors office and they told me to take tylenol x stregth and xanax round the clock and I did, every 4 hours. After 24 hours I began to get some relief.

At least I now know what to expect. They told me it was the shot AFTER chemo to help rebuild bone ( some shot with e.coli in it ) that was causing the bone/ joint pain. I plan to keep stocked up on xstength tylenol knowing that shot after chemo will do that.

Other than that, I had terrible heart palpatations after the chemo and would easily get dizzy with any activity ( getting up to go to the bathroom) I could feel my heart beating as it was oviosly working hard. I saw stars a few times in getting up and generally the whole chemo trip was a bad experince for me. I just pray this tumor responds to the chemo because if it doesn't and I'm going through all this hell and pain for no reason ( tumor does not respond) , I'll sure be upset !!!

Hello Ladies,

I'm 2 years post chemo, taxotere, cystoxan and adriamycin.  I though the taxotere would be the end of me with severe intestinal inflammation, extreme pain, constipation added to chemo brain.  I had those symptoms one week after each infusion and could do nothing but sit in the bathroom and pray and cry.  I don't forget those days but Ativan helped, colace helped and the support of my partner.

However, it's all behind me, I feel I can do anything I set my mind to do after enduring that treatment.  My oncologist said "this is the marine regimen" which was not too helpful as I'm not a marine.  Going through this treatment is a lonely, challenging and depressing experience but at the end, it's a testament to our courage and determination.

To all of you in the middle of it, I send you a big hug.