Second cycle yesterday and OMG the side effects

Dear VJS1985

Firstly, we are all different so each of us will have our own experiences, and have varying tolerance levels too. But I think most us find that as the chemo builds up cycle by cycle and does it’s primary job of shrinking the tumour, the unwanted effects also seem to become more pronounced. But many can be short-lived, such as the eating pain. 
Secondly, you should have a chemo hotline number to call. I’d encourage you to use that as there may be remedies they could prescribe to help you through this. 
Lastly, I found the best way through was to take a day at a time and deal with what may or may not come my way. Some patients prefer to know in advance and the leaflet you should have for your chemo might help if that’s your case. However tough the chemo process might be, it will be working to attack the disease. Holding on to that thought helped me cope with the tougher days. 

If you like a drink in the night,get an insulated mug with lid and fill it with a hot drink as you go to bed

That way you arent drinking a cold drink during the night.worked for me

I also found cleaning my teeth with lukewarm water was best.your teeth dont feel as clean but at least no throat spasms.

Kath

Sorry you’re having a rough time! 
For me, the second cycle was much worse than the first. The third was very similar to the second (slightly different side effects but similar severity) and the fourth was a little worse again, but the difference wasn’t as big as between 1 and 2, and mentally it was much easier because it was the last.  

Wicked I’ve just brought a thermos flask I can keep bedside, don’t suppose you ever got like calf pain, I’ve got it really bad now I don’t know if it is the chemo or the fact I had my flu and covid jab a day before infusion x

That’s good to know defo feeling a lot worse second time round, don’t suppose you ever got calf pain x 

Hi, my mum had this during chemo,  can I suggest you give the 24 hour helpline a call.  She had small chemo related blood clots below the knee.   Her oncologist pulled her in for scans and anticoagulant treatment that day. It maybe something else but these DVT’s are common with chemo.  I don’t want to alarm you but give them a call for reassurance and ask for a call back from the duty doctor.    Take care x

Did she have them in both calfs x

I did get calf pain and cramps in my feet. Walking around the living room for a few minutes every hour (and going by for walks outside) helped.  

No, just one leg in her case, the right leg.  It had pain and it was weaker.

She wasn’t on oxyllaplatin, her chemo was  5FU and Folinic acid.   X

How did you feel VJS after the Covid and Flu jag?? Jay (my husband) was supposed to have his done 2 or 3 days after his Oxy infusion, but we asked about that, and they advised against it. We spoke to a specialist cancer nurse over the phone, and she told us that it was advisable not to have that jag within 48 hours after having the infusion, so I have since re-scheduled his covid and flu jag to his `down week` where he doesn't have any treatment which is the beginning of next month (November) because all dates we wanted for the rest of this month October were not available. 

Vicky x