4 weeks after: still watery eyes and weak thigh muscles?

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Siku
Siku Member Posts: 3
edited July 2020 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After

Today is 4 weeks since my last chemo. I had numerous SEs, some very bad, some tolerable, but I would like to know whether anybody still has/had watery eyes (a known SE of Taxotere according to my MO) and slightly blurred eyesight that long after chemo?

And another, slightly weird SE - my thigh muscles feel weak, but at the same time tense and like I've just finished a strenuous bike ride (haven't been on a bike for years)? Difficult to stand for a long time, difficult to take stairs (my house is on 4 floors altogether) and really difficult to walk even a little bit uphill; walking on level ground is no problem.

Any experience or advice much appreciated!

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  • DATNY
    DATNY Member Posts: 358
    edited July 2020

    It takes longer than that to fully recover for some. Check your blood work before and after the chemo. The red cells and the ions (sodium, potassium) could still be off which might explain your tiredness (anemia) and muscle problems. And yes, the watery eye and blurred vision stayed with me for a good while too.

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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited July 2020

    Siku - I went to my ophthalmologist after Taxotere. She checked it out an gave me sample drops for 'dry eye'. Yup - watery eyes is a symptom of dry eye. I think it was Systane Ultra or Thera Tears Extra Dry Eyes Therapy.

    You're only one month past chemo. It does take time. And looks like you're just starting rads? My only SE from rads was fatigue. Be prepared to nap early & often.

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  • CocoB122
    CocoB122 Member Posts: 8
    edited July 2020

    At the advice of my optometrist, I am using a warm compress on my eyes for 10 min per day to help with dry eyes that feel "sticky" but also are watery. The warmth helps remove some plugged oil glands at the lash line that cause dry eye. The easiest way to do warm eye compresses is with a microwaveable eye mask. There are many options on Amazon.

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  • Siku
    Siku Member Posts: 3
    edited July 2020

    Thanks for the answers, feel a bit calmer now. Obviously I've been too impatient; just so fed up with the myriad of SEs. Day 32 from the last chemo.

    DATNY - no blood work was done after the end of chemo. Suppose the one before the last chemo wasn't too bad. But today I went out on an errand in my village and when coming back to my house, which is slightly uphill, didn't actually notice my thighs complaining, so that must be a good sign.

    MinusTwo - the queues to ophthalmologists are loong here, so I'll try to manage on my own. I tried artificial tears before, but I suppose the stream of my own was just constant and flushed the eye drops out straight away. It's much less bad now, so will give the artificial tears another go.

    CocoB122 - Right, will try warm compress. I'm one of those weird people who doesn't like microwaves, so will think of another way. My instinct was cold compress against inflammation, but was obviously wrong.

    Keep well!

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  • Sunshine99
    Sunshine99 Member Posts: 1,680
    edited July 2020

    CocoB, I've also needed to use a warm compress for dry eye, but I wasn't aware of the microwavable type. The washcloth is sort of messy and cools really fast. I saw several on Amazon, as you mentioned. Have you tried one? Which do you prefer?

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited July 2020

    If you don't like the microwave you can heat raw rice in a pan over low heat and use a funnel to put it in a longer length sock (like a tube sock or soccer sock), fasten the end closed, and the rice will stay warm for quite a while.

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  • CocoB122
    CocoB122 Member Posts: 8
    edited July 2020

    I can't link directly to Amazon, but the brand of mask that I have is Optix 55, searching amazon for that should get you there.

    For those who don't have/like microwaves, there are also battery operated eye masks that get good reviews.


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  • Sunshine99
    Sunshine99 Member Posts: 1,680
    edited July 2020

    Thanks, Coco, I just ordered it! :)

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  • WC3
    WC3 Member Posts: 1,540
    edited July 2020

    Siku:

    My leg muscles were too weak to walk up an incline during and for a few months after chemo. Remember, your last infusion is not the end of it. If you were on an every 3 week schedule then you are just one week past the end of the cycle. It took me many months to recover my strength and I had a few setbacks. I am a little over 1.5 years PFC and I have only recently approached my pre chemo strength levels.

    I would be concerned about blurred vision though.

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  • Sunshine99
    Sunshine99 Member Posts: 1,680
    edited July 2020

    Coco, it came today. It's really nice. I tried to find it again, but now they only sell it as a set with a gel pack. Anyway, I've felt like I was getting a sty (sp?), and having been using a warm washcloth. This is much better. I microwave it for 20 seconds, turn on an audio book, set for 10 minutes, and relax away! Thanks so much for the recommendation!

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  • CocoB122
    CocoB122 Member Posts: 8
    edited July 2020

    Sunshine,

    Yay, I'm glad it helps! I think my eyes are also irritated a bit by the fact that I'm now (4 weeks PFC) losing my eyelashes and eyebrows. So I'm sure that occasional debris is complicating things a bit.

    Wishing everyone a happy and comfortable week :)

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  • Siku
    Siku Member Posts: 3
    edited July 2020

    WC3 - been going for walks in the neighbourhood, doing some milder uphills with clenched teeth, and I think the legs are getting better. Had an introductory session with a psychologist at the radiation therapy centre today and she also told me to be patient, because the chemo SEs can take months to go.

    CocoB122 - I had never heard about chargeable eye masks, but I've ordered one now, should arrive soon. In the meantime, the tear flow has practically gone, just some redness and irritation in the mornings. Yes, I'm sure my eyes also don't appreciate the fact that most of the eyelashes have packed up and left.

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