Is it just me? I'm having terrible side effects from chemo.

Chemo had me asking myself how far I would go to stay alive. Infusion 1: Nobody told me that my digestive tract would shut down; they just told me to eat small amounts multiple times a day, but not what to eat; so I developed a painful bowel obstruction. After that I only ate foods that practically walk through on their own, mostly fruit with cottage cheese, veggies, and soup. I dropped from 125 to 112 pounds. Infusion 2: I was being infused with twice as much steroids as I could tolerate. I went through 72 hours of cold sweats after my first 2 infusions; the chemo and palliative care departments insisted it was depression, which is nonsense and about like calling a woman hysterical. Infusion 3: The steroids were cut by half by the third infusion, and the post-infusion nightmare did not occur again. But nobody told me that the docetaxel infusion was in a solution of ethanol. I couldn't even walk out on my own steam after an infusion. I didn't know what was happening to me until I Googled "chemo" and "drunk." A nurse even asked me once if I "really" needed a wheelchair. Yes, I really needed a wheelchair because I was drunk as a skunk. It's a good thing my husband always drove me to appointments.

While the chemo dept. always says, "everyone is different," the worst side effects I had were well known and could have been avoided. I'm pretty sure most humans react the same way when being infused with ethanol. "I'd like some poison with my poison, please," said nobody ever. Alcohol is a Class 1 carcinogen, in the same category as cigarettes, and I had not had a drink in 13 years.

If I had to do chemo again in the future, God forbid, I think it would go much more smoothly; assuming I agreed to do it again. But this learn-as-you-go business is a huge drag. Ironically, oncologists who get breast cancer are shocked -- shocked! -- by the cancer patient experience. Were they listening to their patients at all? Did they not know how much their patients were suffering? They are surprised that their concerns are casually blown off. Then they write a book or start a Youtube channel about their own experiences because they're experts with a story to monetize!

I also had chemo brain fog. I have a master's degree in English, as well as a J.D., but I was unable to read or spell as my I.Q. temporarily dropped about 40 points. I got slight neuropathy in my toes. I had dizzy spells and fainted a few times. I had a slight but persistent nasal drip after my nose hair fell out with the rest of my hair. Chemo dried out my skin, which, despite constantly drinking water, has only started to plump back up and stop shedding 6 weeks after the last chemo cycle ended. Black clothes were out until the shedding stopped.

Hang in there. I had Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, too, and recovered my immune system and energy one month after the end of the last chemo cycle. I'm 63 years old.

I had chemo 19 years ago and am receiving it again (both for breast cancer.) Seems like I sailed through it last time around and did fine the first few sessions this time around, but they changed something last time and I've been sick since two days after. It's now 4 days after. Skin all broken out (no itching so far thank God) but tired, severe bowel problems, no energy at all...I expected tired but not the rest. No one will listen to me and I'm ready to tell them what to do with their chemo. If they can't do something about the side effects I'm going to quit chemo as living like this is not living. It's existing. Miserably. Just needed to rant I guess as I'm not sure anyone can solve this. Thank you for reading my post. Sorry about the repetition....didn't remember I posted already.

@gemjaynes I'm going through the same frustrations right now. Mainly, why can't they listen to the patient. I find myself wishing that the oncologist and his staff would get cancer too and have to deal with all the side effects that I'm dealing with and having their concerns ignored as if they're imagining them. A lot of sleepless nights can stir up a lot of anger, and I don't want to be angry all the time. I just want to get through this, be done with chemo and be somewhat healthy again. I feel like my "innards" are never going to the same again. This is my second go-round with breast cancer and the first time wasn't nearly this bad.

@kletrinka7
HELLO DEAREST SONORITY SISTER OF A DIFFERENT KIND. SORRY TO HEAR OF SIDE EFFECTS. I AM NOW 71. CHEMO NOV 2021-JAN 2022, BREAST CANCER. I JUST TURNED 67, AND QUARANTINE JUST LIFTED WHEN MY SUSPICIONS WERE CONFIRMED. MY BF SINCE AGE 15, WAS 42 WITH BREAST CANCER. HER DAUGHTER SAME AS WAS DIAGNOSED A YEAR AFTER I WAS. ANSWERING NON MEDICALLY. I MENTIONED TO BF, I DON'T UNDERSTAND. YOU DID SO WELL WITH CHEMO. SHE SAID THE 3-LETTER WORD, AGE. WHOA. YOUR SIDE EFFECTS MAY HAVE TO BE PART AGE. PLZ TALK TO THE ONCOLOGIST AND YOUR SENORITY FAMILY. I WAS THANKFUL MY RN ASKED, ANY TINGLING IN LIMBS? YES, I AM CAN TOUGH IT OUT, I AM IN IT TO WIN IT, NOT SABOTAGE. RN IMMEDIATELY STOPPED TREATMENT, NOTIFIED DR. HE., OF COURSE, SAID HE ASKED. MAYBE AT THE START, BUT NOT AFTER. MY ANSWERS STARTED WITH RN QUESTIONS. YOU MAY WANT TO SPEAK TO YOUR FAVORITE ONCOLOGIST RN AND SHARE YOU THOUGHTS. SICK, TIRED, BOWELS I HAD MEDS. PLEASE, YOU ARE IN IT TO WIN IT. START TALKING IF THEY DON'T LISTEN, SAY YOU WILL BE SEEKING SECOND OPTIONS,ETC. THEY WILL LISTEN. MY POSITIVE VIBES AND HEALING PRAYERS GOING YOU WAY. FYI, I HAD MAYBE 2-3 DAYS WELL ENOUGH TO FAKE IT THEN C DAY, AKA SPA DA AKD CURE DAY AKA CHEMO.

@medranocm I just came to the same conclusions after another night of getting off and on sleep. I have a short term break coming soon and will try to be patient till it's here, see how much life improves during that break to allow me the courage to go back on chemo after the break. I know there are plans to change what drugs I'll be getting....somewhat vague on that...even have my husband there listening (he doesn't have chemo brain) and it never seems clear what the plans are. But I'm not giving up...it's winter here with cold temps and snow and hard to push myself outside to even walk a little ... I was walking 2 miles- sometimes 3 per day for years before cancer knocked me down again this time. Fresh air always makes everything feel better. Thank you.

@medranocm I just came to the same conclusions after another night of getting off and on sleep. I have a short term break coming soon and will try to be patient till it's here, see how much life improves during that break to allow me the courage to go back on chemo after the break. I know there are plans to change what drugs I'll be getting....somewhat vague on that...even have my husband there listening (he doesn't have chemo brain) and it never seems clear what the plans are. But I'm not giving up...it's winter here with cold temps and snow and hard to push myself outside to even walk a little ... I was walking 2 miles- sometimes 3 per day for years before cancer knocked me down again this time. Fresh air always makes everything feel better. Thank you.