Bloating during chemo.....

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GraceB64
GraceB64 Member Posts: 10
edited June 2014 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

I have gone through 4 rounds of AC and am now on 4 rounds of Taxol.  I have always been working out throughout my treatments but my belly is bloating so much my jeans are tight!  It started after my first treatment.  Please let me know if this has happened to you and if it will go away.  I haven't changed my eating habits (very healthy, lots of veggies and fish).  Any ideas?  Is there hope?  I was going through bouts of mild constipation but that all is better now that I am on the Taxol and not taking any anti-nausea drugs. 

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  • Maureen1
    Maureen1 Member Posts: 614
    edited September 2013

    I had the same dose dense chemo regimen that you are having and I had bloating, but for me, it was the complex carbohydrates like fresh veggies and salad that I just couldn't digest that were causing it. My GI tract just didn't have the "muscle" power to handle it so until I was done with chemo I had to eat more processed carbs...I had to keep taking the antinausea drugs on Taxol though and I was still dealing with constipation so you are doing much better with it then I did! A few months after chemo was over I was able to gradually add the healthier foods back in and am back to normal:) Good luck...it won't be long and chemo will be behind you, (((Hugs))) Maureen

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  • GraceB64
    GraceB64 Member Posts: 10
    edited September 2013

    Thanks for your reply.  Processed carbs..... it's been so long.  I've forgotten what they are!   What kinds of food were y ou eating?  I have 3 treatments left and will be gong on a body "reset" diet that is like a cleanse but not so restrictive.  Very clean eating with supplements.  You aren't allowed to workout during this but yoga is ok and light cardio.  The whole thing of it is that your insides are getting a workout so once you get back into doing your workouts you'll see better reults.  I'm also hoping that it will get rid of all the chemicals that were put nto my body (that I'e spent years avoiding, ah the irony!) will be cleaned out.

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  • Maureen1
    Maureen1 Member Posts: 614
    edited September 2013

    Yes, processed carbs were so off what I was used to...I was veggies and salads before chemo and I am back to that now:) I tried to avoid true "junk" food and went with choices like sweet potatoes or red skins - mashed with a little butter or sour cream; soups like vegatable or pea soup; sandwiches with "easy" to digest things like grilled cheese, ham and cheese with whole grain bread; a warm bowl of oatmeal seemed to hit the spot and I got the one with more fiber and low sugar; whole grain pasta with a light sauce of cheese...I couldn't eat tomato products or drink carbonated beverages - too much acid, I think my lining in my GI tract was thinned by the chemo so it burned when I tried to eat anything like that. I'd love to hear more about your "reset" diet, I still struggle with the extra pounds that came with chemo and tamoxifen and the lack of exercise...Good luck with those last few treatments!!

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  • GraceB64
    GraceB64 Member Posts: 10
    edited October 2013

    Thansk for the tips!  I already eatsweet potatoes but the bloat is still there.  I guess it's just experimenting with different foods that work for me.  As for the reset diet, it's through a company called Beachbody, of which I am a coach.  I will try it and let you know!  I didn't want to try it before because the thought of not being able to workout for 3 weeks would mean that I would be ready to kill someone but this is the perfect opportunity to do it.  The diet is called the Ultimate Reset and it incorporates food, supplements and a shake called Shakeology that I already have been taking for a couple of years now.   It's all natural and the best shake on the market.  I will test drive it for you and let you know how it goes.

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