Hi.
My 78 year old dad started his first chemo treatment on Thursday last week (5 days ago). He had oxaliplatin administered via IV and is taking Capecitine as 5 tablets a day.
He finished his course of 3 days of anti nausea medication, on sunday, and felt nauseous yesterday so statyed taking metochlopromide as and when he needed it.
This seemed to help, but in the evening he had a couple of bouts of diarrhea and kept getting grumbles in his stomach, and thought he might have diarrhea again. Luckily he didn't.
He has gradually been feeling worse each day. Feeling extremely tired and lacking in any energy - he cant even gather the energy to go for a walk. Feeling nauseous as well and also shakey.
His temperature seems slightly on the low side, just above 36°. The guide boon says below 36° is a problem.
I've told him this is all quite standard from what I have read, but he doesnt believe me. He won't read anything about chemo himself as it stresses him out too much.
He suffers with very bad anxiety as well, so I think this is making everything worse for him. He cant stop worrying about everything, and said he couldnt sleep at all last night.
He is already saying that he doesnt know how he will cope with more rounds, and he didnt want to take his chemo pills this morning. I told him he had to, but he asked 'why. They are what are making me feel ill'. He did take them, but I'm worried this will all be too much for him and he will stop.
Just wondered if anyone could give some reassurance that what he is feeling is normal?
Is it usually to feel worse as time goes on?
Will it improve or just get worse?
Thank you so much for any advice.
Hi Link103
I'm sorry to read that your dad is struggling to cope with chemotherapy and it must be a very difficult time for the whole family.
I don't have any experience with chemotherapy to share with you but I noticed that your post hadn't had any replies. As you are a member of the stomach cancer group I'm assuming that that is the type of cancer that your dad has. If that is the case I hope you don't mind me suggesting that you also post this in the stomach cancer group which will give you the chance to talk to others who have had chemotherapy for this type of cancer.
If this is something that you'd like to do clicking on the link I've created will take you straight there where you can start a new post in the same way as you did here. To save you typing this all out again you could simply copy and paste it into your new post.
It would be great if you could pop something about your dad's diagnosis and treatment so far into your profile as it really helps others when replying to you and also when looking for someone on a similar pathway. It also means that you don't have to keep repeating yourself. To do this click on your username and then select 'Profile'. You can amend it at any time and if you're not sure what to write you can take a look at mine by clicking on my username.
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"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
