Looking for someone knowledgeable about chemo side effects

@aardvark2118 I've read/seen that TENS, but I've never owned or used one. The price is scarier than the functions/benefits it offers 🙂 I simply use ice (online bought gel filled gloves that I put in the freezer), massage, and do fasting. I also use a croquet ball for my hands and for my feet (sitting down!), and it's pretty good finding trigger points on my body...

again2 @again2 one thing more that I do and that you may want to try...fill a small basin with the coldest water from your faucet and then gradually soak your hands in it until it's no longer comfortable for you. Much better if you wear thin gloves, so that even though the water isn't directly on your skin, you still get the relief from its coldness. Then gently massage your hands, finger tips, and the in-between of your fingers. If you want, before you massage your hands, you can put your cold hands on your head, face or anywhere that hurts. It feels really good, because it takes away some heat emanating from your skin because of chemo. You can do the same way for your feet, but you need to be really careful if you have balance issues.

And try to distract yourself from the pain/worries by doing meditation, or by watching a foreign movie like I do -- characters speaking not my own language, but with the translations in my own language; this way, the brain gets stimulated, too.

@naturegirl5 @again2 did your doctors recommend doing the genetic testing? None in my family has cancer of any kind; I was the first one, and up to now I couldn't believe I'll get it...I'm pretty healthy and rarely get sick (once in a blue moon I'll get sore throat/cold and nothing serious. I always get my annual exam or whatever test my PCP orders, and the results are always very good. My doctor recommended genetic testing which I did last December. I have the Lynch Syndrome/pathogenic mutations...now that I've done the genetic testing, my family is aware of what they could expect in their lifetime. And I know what to expect, or what test (some are sooner than the recommended time) or treatment I need to get. They'll do their own genetic testing soon. I'm not sure if your insurance covers the test, but mine covered it. Even if it's not covered, I was told that it about $200 for the test. Since I've done it, my family could do the test for free.

I have neuropathy in my feet and acupuncture was recommended by my medical oncologist. It helped a lot and was given at a discounted rate through the hospital I was treated at. It is normally $115.00 a session but I paid $40.00 which was affordable for me. My feet are still numb but it is manageable. My medical oncologist said she would refer me to a neurologist if I had more bad days than good and that has not happened. If you have access to acupuncture I would highly recommend it. Blessings to all!❤️

@again2 Good morning 🙂 I hope you are feeling so much better than before...do you like music? Listening to happy music, jazz, classical, children's music, nature sounds, or any kind you like would be helpful, too. Try to avoid the sad ones or the ones that will not help your mood and the ones that will add to your aches and pains. And it will help also if you will research the benefits and side effects of any pain medications. The timing of when you take your pain medication also helps. It's better not to wait until you're in so much pain before you take your medications. If you're taking a high dosage of pain meds, let's say every six hours, maybe your doctor would allow you to split the dosage and take every three hours (it's best this way for me...maybe not for you, so ask your doctor).
Take good care...all the best to you and your loved ones...until next time < 3

Hello,
Congratulations on finishing your treatment and a clear scan God Bless! I just finished another 6 of carbo/taxol for recurrence like front line both times I take 600mg Gabapentin at night helps you sleep and Claritin I haven't experienced any neuropathy and I was on dose dense for both treatments.

I have a tens unit and have used it but not for neuropathy. I take 600 mg Gabapentin and Claritin have no neuropathy 12 carbo/taxol total dose dense.

@tbkomparda I'm glad it works for you (and for others). Anything that helps managing whatever ails our bodies is a huge comfort...