Hi. Can anyone tell me how long after chemo finished did their fluid retention dissapear? I can not find any specific information that tells me how long it should take. I finished chemo two weeks ago and am so puffy, particularly in the face and feet and have fluid leaking out of one eye. I have gained about 5kg also which is I assume is mainly fluid. I have read it may take months (!!!!!) for the fluid to go. I just want my body to go back to normal sooner rather than later. I see my oncologist in a week so will ask her what I can do.

Hi I had my last chemo on the 17th June and I still have fluid retention - its really annoying. Its not too bad but still noticeable in the ankles and feet at the end of the day. I will be interested to see other peoples responses to this question. Marg

I was still retaining fluid for up to a couple of months after chemo finished. I still do to a lesser degree. mostly in the ankles and feet. I am back at work which is helping because I'm moving around more. My oncologist did give me fluid tablets but a very low dose and not for long. Hope it eases for you soon, Hazel xx

I put on 3kg which was mostly fluid. It did take a while to go away but I found eating apples and watermelon helped. Also do drink lots of water as this actually helps to flush the fluid out. I had radiotherapy after chemo but once my skin healed I went swimming ( with a kick board at first) and this seemed to help get rid of the last of it. The pressure of the water against your skin helps your lymph system to work better. Hope you are more comfortable soon. Deanne xxx

Fluid retention | BCNA Online Network

11 Replies

Wendyj
Member
11 years ago
I was told prior to starting my treatment to eat what I wanted because when I started Chemo I wouldnt want to eat. Not so. I did really well during Chemo but because of the Dex seemed to eat like a horse. It was actually 12 kg in total I put on but the first 6kgs just dropped straight away after treatment with absolutely no effort. The problem then was I was used to eating loads and with the Tamoxifen after Rads there was a slight change there as well. Mainly round my middle !! I was 62kg when I started and 74 kg after Chemo. Now sitting at 67ish kg. Yes I got a swollen puffy face and eyelids. So basically looked like and over weight gollum when I wasnt wearing my wig lol. My face was only swollen for a short while and not through the whole of the chemo treatment. It will get better and you will return to normal. Here are photos in chronological order from start to wher I am now

Just had the portacath put in before chemo

Short hair cut ready for chemo

Gollum look a like

During chemo with my beloved wig

Swollen face - excuse the wig was at a football do

Regrowth started to look like my nan!

Cut and colour

Today
Gerbera67
Member
11 years ago
Yes, Wendyj, I had dexomethasone and about 10 chemo sessions the last one being almost 3 weeks ago. I am finding my weight is still going up.....over 6kg now. It is not what I am eating as my diet is pretty much the same as before chemo so I am confident that it is all fluid. How quickly did you drop that 6kg? I just want to return to normal and not feel like a freak. People are seriously not recognising me with my wig and swollen face!
Wendyj
Member
11 years ago
I went through 16 chemo sessions and put on 10 kgs and definitely had a puffy face. Think it was the dexomethasone. I then went on rads for 7 weeks and that was when I had swollen ankles or kangles. After the chemo I dropped 6 kg without any effort and about half way through the rads my ankles stopped swelling up. I think it was just my body adjusting
Wendyj
Member
11 years ago
I went through 16 chemo sessions and put on 10 kgs and definitely had a puffy face. Think it was the dexomethasone. I then went on rads for 7 weeks and that was when I had swollen ankles or kangles. After the chemo I dropped 6 kg without any effort and about half way through the rads my ankles stopped swelling up. I think it was just my body adjusting
Gerbera67
Member
11 years ago
Thanks for that ladies. I wouldnt care so much if it was just my ankles and feet but my face looks like a watermelon! I did read about some food that is a natural diuretic like tomatoes and lettuce. I have been drinking lots of water too. The swimming sounds practical. I've been avoiding pools and our dam while my immunity has been low.....didnt want any scratches or eyes getting infected.....but now that chemo is over, I'll give that a go. Thanks again.
Deanne
Member
11 years ago
I put on 3kg which was mostly fluid. It did take a while to go away but I found eating apples and watermelon helped. Also do drink lots of water as this actually helps to flush the fluid out. I had radiotherapy after chemo but once my skin healed I went swimming ( with a kick board at first) and this seemed to help get rid of the last of it. The pressure of the water against your skin helps your lymph system to work better. Hope you are more comfortable soon. Deanne xxx
Deanne
Member
11 years ago
I put on 3kg which was mostly fluid. It did take a while to go away but I found eating apples and watermelon helped. Also do drink lots of water as this actually helps to flush the fluid out. I had radiotherapy after chemo but once my skin healed I went swimming ( with a kick board at first) and this seemed to help get rid of the last of it. The pressure of the water against your skin helps your lymph system to work better. Hope you are more comfortable soon. Deanne xxx
Hazel_M
Member
11 years ago
I was still retaining fluid for up to a couple of months after chemo finished. I still do to a lesser degree. mostly in the ankles and feet. I am back at work which is helping because I'm moving around more. My oncologist did give me fluid tablets but a very low dose and not for long. Hope it eases for you soon,

Hazel xx
margiemoo
Member
11 years ago
Hi

I had my last chemo on the 17th June and I still have fluid retention - its really annoying. Its not too bad but still noticeable in the ankles and feet at the end of the day. I will be interested to see other peoples responses to this question.

Marg
margiemoo
Member
11 years ago
Hi

I had my last chemo on the 17th June and I still have fluid retention - its really annoying. Its not too bad but still noticeable in the ankles and feet at the end of the day. I will be interested to see other peoples responses to this question.

Marg