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Breathing episode after Oxaliplatin?

Posted by myjiggers1 @myjiggers1, Sep 30, 2023

Went in for my second treatment, and they gave me two different antihistamines because they were going to give me an iron infusion that they knew I had a reaction to previously and because I had had a small reaction to the oxaliplatin The last time. This time he started with the oxaliplatin and went to go into the push of the 5F you and I started almost having an asthma attack. I couldn’t breathe. I was almost hyperventilating. I couldn’t talk. It felt like I couldn’t get oxygen, but my oxygen levels were amazing. I just couldn’t actually breathe in without feeling like my throat was closing, has anybody had this happen to them? And was it related to the oxaliplatin which I ended up having a very bad neuralgia reaction to you as well with my feet I was not able to walk. It felt like they were bricks attached to them so I needed to be wheeled out to the car and have two people walk me to my door and have my son walk me through the house . UGG. They had decided they were not going to give me my ball and chain to carry with me for the two days and see what happens. I also did not get the iron infusion. Next time. We are going to skip the oxaliplatin and do the other two and make sure that it wasn’t, the F5U, that caused it.

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lisag03 | @lisag03 | Oct 1, 2023

I didn’t have a reaction to oxiliplatin, but I had a severe anaphylactic reaction to the iron infusion, so they dosed me with both Benadryl and steroid prior to my oxiljplatin injection

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rjjacobsen | @rjjacobsen | Oct 1, 2023

My experience was not as quick hitting nor as devastating - that oxaliplatin is nasty! I think I only lasted 4-5 cycles of it with such severe side effects, they dropped it.

In my case it caused cardiac issues and severe dizziness/vertigo. Halted chemo mid-way to get everything checked - nothing wrong was found - cardiology advised they could restart. When they restarted they did no oxaliplatin and a short run of 5-FU rather than the 2 day infusion. After that it was back to the full 5-FU w/o the oxaliplatin.

Sounds like they're doing the right stuff for you.

One time after they had done the pre-infusion blood work and BP/pulse/oximeter tests, a nurse was walking me to the scale at which I promptly had severe vertigo, couldn't control my legs and almost flattened her. Others quickly came to assist and pushed me into a wheelchair. After a minute in the chair, I felt fine, but they rolled me to the ER where they scanned and tested and found nothing.

My best wishes.

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Oct 10, 2023

@myjiggers1, did you see the replies from @rjjacobsen and @lisag03? When is your next chemo?

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1 reply
myjiggers1 | @myjiggers1 | Oct 10, 2023
In reply to @colleenyoung "@myjiggers1, did you see the replies from @rjjacobsen and @lisag03? When is your next chemo?" + (show)
@colleenyoung

@myjiggers1, did you see the replies from @rjjacobsen and @lisag03? When is your next chemo?

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Hi Colleen! I did! My next run is the 13th. I don’t know if I will be getting the iron infusion they wanted to give me the last time. I feel like maybe they will wait and just do the 5FU and see what happens. I am on hydroclorothiazide as well and read that some stage 4s had gone into anaphylactic shock do to a drug interaction and a couple have died. I know I am stage 3, so wondering if perhaps that could have been the culprit for the breathing. I don’t know why I couldn’t walk. It took about 4 days to get around without tight calves and feet that kept cramping up. I think I just may be too sensitive. I am able to taste saline solution and stuff and know I fail the nuclear stress tests. We shall see how it all goes! 😊

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1 reply
rjjacobsen | @rjjacobsen | Oct 11, 2023
In reply to @myjiggers1 "Hi Colleen! I did! My next run is the 13th. I don’t know if I will..." + (show)
@myjiggers1

Hi Colleen! I did! My next run is the 13th. I don’t know if I will be getting the iron infusion they wanted to give me the last time. I feel like maybe they will wait and just do the 5FU and see what happens. I am on hydroclorothiazide as well and read that some stage 4s had gone into anaphylactic shock do to a drug interaction and a couple have died. I know I am stage 3, so wondering if perhaps that could have been the culprit for the breathing. I don’t know why I couldn’t walk. It took about 4 days to get around without tight calves and feet that kept cramping up. I think I just may be too sensitive. I am able to taste saline solution and stuff and know I fail the nuclear stress tests. We shall see how it all goes! 😊

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Not related to cancer, but maybe your cramping and the hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) are related. I used to be on that drug and couldn't keep my electrolytes near the normal range, particularly potassium.

Low electrolytes can cause cramping. A few years before I was diagnosed with cancer, I changed cardiologists and the new one took me off HCTZ and put me on Spironolactone which is potassium-sparing. Goodbye low potassium.

Your medical team would have to weigh in on the wisdom of changing meds during chemo, but in the meantime you can try an electrolyte boosting drink with your medical team's approval. I do Gatorade G2 or Gatorade Zero when I have cramping - others use Pedialyte.

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1 reply
myjiggers1 | @myjiggers1 | Oct 11, 2023
In reply to @rjjacobsen "Not related to cancer, but maybe your cramping and the hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) are related. I used..." + (show)
@rjjacobsen

Not related to cancer, but maybe your cramping and the hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) are related. I used to be on that drug and couldn't keep my electrolytes near the normal range, particularly potassium.

Low electrolytes can cause cramping. A few years before I was diagnosed with cancer, I changed cardiologists and the new one took me off HCTZ and put me on Spironolactone which is potassium-sparing. Goodbye low potassium.

Your medical team would have to weigh in on the wisdom of changing meds during chemo, but in the meantime you can try an electrolyte boosting drink with your medical team's approval. I do Gatorade G2 or Gatorade Zero when I have cramping - others use Pedialyte.

Jump to this post

So! Funny you should say that! My potassium has been for a while and when I was in the hospital during my surgery they refused to let me leave until it was in the normal range. I had to drink this awful putrid liquid that about killed me! 🤮 I am on potassium pills now because before my last chemo it was too low again. They tested me before giving the ox and it was up to 5.9. It is now back down to 3.5. I am definitely going to talk to them Friday about it. Thank you for the suggestion. 😊 You are a GEM RJ!

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