Forum Discussion
TC Chemotherapy
Had Round 3 of TC chemo on Monday morning. Bone aches arrived like clockwork on Thursday night, but now on Friday, I seem to have lower back pain and hip pain for the first time as well. Is this normal? I have been walking 1.5 - 2 kms each day this week.
I am finding the variety, and variance, of side effects, to be weird. For example, Round 1, a little nausea, Round 2, a lot, Round 3, none so far.
I am finding the variety, and variance, of side effects, to be weird. For example, Round 1, a little nausea, Round 2, a lot, Round 3, none so far.
282 Replies
It has to be Loratadine, Jules. not just some random antihistamine. There are chemist brands, just make sure they have the same % of the active ingredient as Claratyne or talk to the pharmacist about how to adjust the dose. Make sure your oncology team is OK with it, but I can't imagine why they wouldn't be.
Keep taking it for a few extra days, Steph, the evening of day 4 was always hell for me as that was when the booster kicked in. You may be stopping just before you are going to get the anti-oedema benefit. You know what to do, ask if it is OK first. It's only a dollar a day...
- thanks @Zoffiel I certainly will pick some up tomorrow.
Jxxxx - @Zoffiel - that’s interesting regarding the claratyne. I take some for about 3 to 4 days after chemo cause I get a rash but does nothing for bone pain - wonder if I’m not taking it long enough or if u were lucky with it for some reason. Might take it longer with my next dose and see if it helps.
Ask about Claratyne for the bone pain, @Jewel-ee I discovered it early in my second round of chemo. The theory is it cuts down the Neulasta pain by decreasing bone oedema. It's standard practice with some oncologists--others have never heard of it or pooh-pooh and say it's little more than a placebo. I don't give a shit why it worked, but it did.
I have never heard of anyone being told they can't take it, so if you are having treatment tomorrow, buy a pack of ten on the way in, ask if it is OK and then take one a day for 6 days. Anything that might help is worth it. I found the antihistamine did nothing for the muscle pain (it felt like I was strapped to the Rack for a week) but that day 4 pain in your spine, pelvis, shoulder blades and sternum--truly remarkable difference. Marg
- thanks @Zoffiel for your experiences - it must be bloody difficult to reconcile on-going effects on your daily quality of life.
One of my big concerns (alongside the never-ending nausea/diarrhoea) is the fatigue. I was only able to work 2 days in the 1st cycle and none this cycle (barely in recovery mode atm) and have just taken leave without pay until this ends. As i am 58 and single I need to work as long as possible and not being able to is a real concern for me. before BC I worked 6 days a week (in 2 demanding jobs) for 11 years - the ending of a long term relationship (and leaving without a fair settlement) meant re-starting to be able to get back to financial independence.
I have also asked for a break before I start the AI meds just so I can recover a little - especially reading people's real experiences of having to take these drugs.
and thank you for your understanding of the beneficial use of appropriate strong medication - I now have the go ahead to use valium which I will be doing. For me food and eating is anxiety inducing as it just means misery, pain and not being able to leave home and I figure that is how valium helps me. @sister I wonder if ativan works in a similar way?
I also have endone for the bone pain - which worked beautifully. I will now be able to use it when I have pain breakthroughs on other days. thank god for understanding oncs - when I asked for endone leaving hospital after my mastectomy I'd swear the young residential doctor thought I was an addict and I was 'allowed' 5 days supply....All the older nurses and the anaesthetist had recommended taking higher doses as needed so that the acute pain could be controlled until it receded.
Jules xxx - thanks @kmakm - the more information I have about effective anti-nausea meds the better for my next onc appt.
have I remembered correctly that you had genetic testing of your tumours and the recommendation was for chemo? - @Zoffiel I have had to take very little nausea relief thank for until recently when 1 zoffran did the trick. Panadine forte seems to work for my pain and it is nice to have my 5 endone tablets as an emergency backup if I need them but so far, touch wood I haven’t.
- @zoffiel - Ativan is what my onc prescribes me for nausea - he says it's the best and I suspect the effect could be a bit like valium. The only drawback is I can't take it and drive. And codeine is still the best for pain relief, I think. Luckily, my old GP agreed with me and trusted me to take it with consideration for the addictive qualities.
I had really miserable joint and muscle pain. It also really stirred up the problems I have with extensive scar tissue and encapsulation around my implants. Unfortunately the AI drugs are making it very difficult to recover from the physical aspects, it's been over a year and I have stalled and am still requiring physio, pain relief and am now seeing a podiatrist as my feet are collapsing which is affecting my knees and hips. All of this might have happened anyway, but I don't think so. It took a long time for me to get help with physical rehab, there are no exercise physiologists or structured programs here and it is only now that I qualify as chronic that I have been able to get any subsidized professional assistance for my feet.
Fatigue is my main issue. I am just exhausted by mid afternoon regardless of what I do, or do not do, in the morning. That is not helping me get back into the workforce. Financially, this is a disaster. Chemo brain is also a very real condition for some. Perhaps I am too hard on myself, but it saps confidence when I make silly mistakes and can't remember things I should. That doesn't help my mental health.
I had AC chemo in 2006 and while I won't say it was easy, I recovered quickly. You really do not know what the future brings.
Regarding nausea, it's a shame that the home remedy I used during chemo on both occasions is not readily available, I never threw up or used antiemetics. I did, however, use valium for a couple of days after treatment. TBH, I'd have used heroin if I could have got hold of it and slept through the misery days when the physical pain was far worse than any other symptoms. That would have been naughty and is not recommended, but it doesn't mean I didn't lie there considering it. Using narcotics/opiates when you are in extreme circumstances is unlikely to lead to addiction--good medicos simply wont prescribe enough to get you into trouble and if you use them strictly as directed they can make a great deal of difference in the short term..
- @jewel_ee My oncologist prescribed Pramin for breakthrough nausea. I found it to be very effective indeed.
