Started Treatment

They will sort this out for you but it’s incredibly frightening . My husband went in to collect my mum to find her spluttering like a chicken . She thought she was being strangled . He works in the field so able to reassure her that it was a spasm of the larynx and despite the hideous sensation her airways were still wide open . The oncologist got onto it right away . For her they gave her drugs before her infusion and slowed her infusion down . She got it over six hours . She never had it like that again . 

We also had her tightly wrapped up leaving the hospital so no air made contact with her mouth . We carried a flask of tepid water for her to take small sips on the journey home .

The second year they took her in overnight and administered it as she dosed . I would then pick her up in the morning and it was much better and easier .

Please do tell your team as they will not want you to experience that again . They acted right away . 

The good news , despite being a brute the chemo hit the liver mets well .

So sorry you had a horrible experience. But hope they adjust it for you .

take care ,

Court 

Thank you for your response, I appreciate it very much!

Great tips there. I did have a hat, scarf, gloves and hat on when I left hospital but then promptly got home and was roasting so removed everything and tried to have a cold drink - big mistake! Thought the same reaction was going to happen, luckily there was a towel on a warm radiator so I grabbed that and put over my mouth and nose and the feeling passed quickly.

I sure will mention it to my team, no way do I want to experience that again. I had actually read up on it, but didn't expect it to happen to me so although I was aware of what it is, I genuinely thought I was going to die there and then. 

My mum still talks about that episode. It does sound really horrible .

I never gave her cold drinks during treatment . Added a splash of warm water to everything to take the edge off .

My mum’s first treatment I was looking after my dad who had just had a stroke . She left the house looking lovely . My sister and husband went to the local outdoor shop whilst it was being administered. What a state she came home on . She was wrapped in fleece. I could hardly see her . I honestly thought what on earth have you done with my mother .

Its a nice thought to think those unwanted cells are now under attack though . Here’s to significant shrinkage .

Court 

Hi Jen988

I had a very similar experience regards the throat spasm, but it happened on the evening of my third treatment. It was so scary - the way you describe it "My throat started to spasm and I was literally gasping for air. I felt like I was dying and was so panicked"  is just how I remember it. When I told my oncologist he said it was a reaction to the Oxaliplatin and prescribed an anti-histamine infusion alongside the Oxaliplatin (after making sure I wasnt driving myself home after the treatment!). I didnt have a similar episode on the fourth cycle, although my throat did feel a bit closed up on the first evening after it.    

One of the oncology nurses also told me if it happened again, then I should do the cupping of hands around the nose and mouth and breathe in the warm air, and also to take an anti-histamine tablet. I had been prescribed the anti-histamine tablets in my second session, as after my first treatment I had a side effect of 'flushing' where my face went very rosy. (I wasnt even aware of it myself, it was my other half who was most concerned - she thought I'd been out sunbathing!)  I also had a side effect for the first few days of each session where my lips felt a bit swollen but looked perfectly normal, I realise now that this was probably also a similar/related reaction as after my fourth session, when I had the anti-histamine infusion/drip, it was much less noticable. 

I hope you dont experience it again. If you do, do try not to panic - much easier to say than to do as it really is a frightening experience!! I remembered after I had my 'experience' , being told by the oncology nurse in the first meeting that something like this may happen, so I dont think its uncommon but hopefully now that it has happened your team will take precautions to try and prevent it happening again.