Bloating on chemo (Docetaxel)

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Hi, is anyone struggling with bloating during their chemo? I had a double mastectomy in November and started chemo in January. First three cycles were EC and that went relatively OK, I was able to work from home after a couple of days each time and even went in to the office a few times. Had my first Docetaxel last Wednesday and it has really knocked me for six: my bones ache from the Zarxio injections, I have an upset stomach, sore nails, sore mouth, everything tastes rubbish, even water - basically everything I didn't get before was waiting for me. But this time I am also getting massively bloated, I've put some weight on from the steroids and stuff anyway so by the end of the day I look as though I'm about to give birth, it's also very uncomfortable, causing stomach cramps and making me quite windy when I do have to rush off to the loo (sorry to be basic here). There's quite a lot of info on US websites about this as a side effect but I can't find anything on the UK sites. Is anyone else suffering from bloating?

hev999 over 3 years ago

Sorry haven't got any answers but just to say I'm on my last EC tomorrow then I start 4 cycles of Docetaxal and the more I read posts about it the more worried I'm getting! Like you I've managed overall well on EC working from home. it's sounds horrible and although 3 weeks away yet I'm really dreading it. be interested to see if your side effects lessen x

Bswife over 3 years ago in reply to hev999

Hi, I'm hoping that the first week will be the worst and then I will gradually improve until the next cycle. Like most of us, I think, I am not sleeping much so it's hard to tell the difference between side effects and sheer exhaustion, but certainly this morning my bones don't ache quite so much. Good luck for your last EC x

Beatthebreast over 3 years ago

I found docetaxel far worse that EC and had all those side effects you mention. It really knocked me for 6 too, and like you, I had a lot of bloating and stomach just wasn't working as it should. I also worked from home throughout chemo and on EC, I had it on a Thursday and was back to work on the Tuesday. For that first dose of docetaxel, I didn't make it back to work until the following Monday, I could barely get off the sofa for 10 days. My oncologist thought that was too long so they reduced my dose to 85% for the final 2 cycles, which was a bit better.

Water retention and bloating was quite bad - I couldn't take my rings off for maybe 8 months following chemo ad my feet didn't really look like my own for about 10 months. When I went for my final appointment with the oncologist 5 months following chemo, I asked about water retention pills as I was still feeling like I was carrying loads of water in all of my body but he said it was early days and give it time.

Bswife over 3 years ago in reply to Beatthebreast

Your first docetaxel experiance sounds much like mine, I definitely won't be back at work until Monday this time. I'll talk to my oncologist too and let them know how I'm feeling.

I'm also going to try soya milk to see if that helps with the bloating and stomach cramps

hev999 over 3 years ago in reply to Bswife

anything positive is good news I'm expecting the worst hoping for the best x

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Bloating on chemo (Docetaxel)