Spaced out

Hello Lesley

I think if we bear in mind that the treatment is 'abnormal' and although effective can take a real toll on the body then all of the side effects are understandable.  I would check whether or not your blood pressure is low, I felt dizzy and spaced out and when the doctor checked mine was 90/55 - at the time I took blood pressure tablets and she told me to stop immediately (obviously!) and added that I mightn't ever have to take them again, and I haven't.

And not fancying a lot of food is very common too.  Sometimes strong flavours help but I would just eat what you can and anything that takes your fancy too whilst the urge is there.

And let your treating team know all of your symptoms too, sometimes they can help.

Keep counting off those days, you will get there.

Irene xx

Hi Lesley 

I would speak to your team about the spaced out feeling. As for food I found some foods tasted weird and I'm nearly 3 months post now and some still do. Just eat whatever you can stomach, I survived on cheese and marmite on toast. Sending hugs. Xx

Hi Rogers4075,

Well done on completing your first week of treatment. 
I echo what the others say in please tell your team as it could be down to a number of things but important to check it out.

Could be low blood pressure, low blood sugar if you aren’t eating much, anxiety or are you on morphine yet ( can make you feel very off the planet).

Im also sure that the chemo affects taste as I went totally off things I normally like and threw so much food out in that period as would take one bite and find it awful so think that’s normal. 

Tell your team and wishing you all the best for week 2 xx

Hi Lesley (Rogers4075 ), 

I agree that you should speak with your treating team about the way you’re feeling. It could be any number of things, it may be just that you need a medication review if you were on medication prior to starting treatment & adding in other meds for pain relief etc., it may have unbalanced things & could be a case that like with Irene they stop some medication in the short term. 

The chemo side of this treatment can alter your tastebuds & your sense of smell, you can become hypersensitive to certain smells & a metallic type taste is quite common, it’s not unusual to completely hate the taste of things that you’ve previously enjoyed. 

Let us know how you get on. 

Nicola