Severe effects AFTER chemotherapy!

Options

I hope I'm on the correct board -----  I have completed 8 months of chemotherapy WITHOUT many side effects ---EXCEPT gaining 24 pounds which seem STUCK TO ME --- I had a conference with the cancer center's nutritionist and my food intact is fine --- I focus on fiber and protein -- no cookies, cakes, candies etc!  Not losing is depressing!  Also, AFTER treatment I experienced severe head flaking.  Shampooing did NOT help---  I saw my dermatologist who said this was from chemotherapy and steroid "withdrawal".  He put me on medicine as well as medicated shampoo and conditioner ---It did help!

But now I am suffering from muscle pain, occasionally nausea, mouth sores but the worse is UNCONTROLLED IMMEDIATE BOUTS OF DIARHEA TO THE POINT OF EMBARESSMENT!  I never know when it's about to happen.  I had none of this during chemotherapy.  So now, the question is ----- who among you have had this after treatment experience???  It surely does depress me.   This is my SIXTH cancer --- I have had radiation, medication, tests, surgery AND MERCA TWO TIMES! 

I would really love to hear from anyone!   Thanks …..

Comments

  • hapa
    hapa Member Posts: 920
    edited September 2018

    How long ago did you finish chemo? My guess is that your diarrhea is preventing your body from absorbing the protein and nutrients, which in turn is making it difficult to recover from the damage the chemo did, which is why you're having such problems with dandruff and muscle aches. I also ate a diet very high in fiber and protein, which I think is why I didn't have problems until towards the end of chemo. When my digestive tract would start acting up I'd eat plain fat free greek yogurt and take probiotic shots every day, and if I had diarrhea I'd make sure to eat a banana or two every day. After a few days the problems would start to subside. If that doesn't help then I'd start chugging immodium, etc because I don't think your other problems are going to resolve until you get the diarrhea under control. The only other thing you could do, once you're able to absorb nutrients again, is exercise to clear out whatever is causing your muscle aches (probably leaky blood vessels, that's what my onc nurse told me). It took about five weeks for the muscle aches to go away, just one week before my surgery.

    I also gained weight on chemo, though not as much as you (probably because I'm active at work and also worked out through chemo) and I blame the steroids and the swelling. As your muscles aches subside you might notice your weight going down. My muscle aches were caused by (or at least related to) bloating. I think I had about 6-8lbs of water in me at the peak, and I'm rather petite. I'm up about 4-7lbs from my normal and I'll work on it once I'm healed from surgery and done with rads. I think keeping up my nutrient and protein intake to speed healing is more important right now than losing a few pounds.

    Six cancers? Man, that's tough. You're stronger than me, I don't know if I could do any of this stuff again, and I'm not even finished with my first cancer yet!

  • WC3
    WC3 Member Posts: 1,540
    edited September 2018

    Hazaka:

    Have you been checked for vitamin deficiencies?

  • hazaka
    hazaka Member Posts: 3
    edited September 2018

    Yes, each time I see the oncologist, whom I will see this upcoming Tuesday, blood work is taken..... no deficiencies....  


  • hazaka
    hazaka Member Posts: 3
    edited September 2018

    I will see my oncologist tomorrow and see what he says.  When last I saw him --- about 3 months ago he suggested I go back to the gym ---I did --- tho' I have way too much going on --- I live alone) I usually go 2 times per week.  Well. I am intent on beating this, but the diarrhea makes things difficult!  Thanks for your thoughts.


  • jo6359
    jo6359 Member Posts: 2,279
    edited September 2018

    hazaka- I was very fortunate I had minimal side effects on chemotherapy. Even though I was also receiving herceptin and projector I only experienced diarrhea on three different occasions and it never lasted more than a few hours. I completed chemo in June up 2018 and so far there have been no issues. I have continued with herceptin and perjeta with no issues. A friend of mine did tell me she's 4 months post chemo and she began experiencing episodes of uncontrollable diarrhea. Being a vegetarian my diet has always been high in fiber. When I knew I was going to receive chemotherapy I significantly cut back on fiber due to the risks of diarrhea.

Categories