Or as per an earlier blog "what a difference a day makes?"!
First things first: as per our educated guess, "it is more than likely" that stopping the tummy protector two thursdays ago was indeed an oversight and caused my wholely unexpected dip. As a consequence a note has been made in my record and a discussion of "tummy protection" considered on a wider basis - both excellent news, but trumped by the practical personal step of also supplying an extra just-in-case "stash" (yes, stash!) Of protector to guard against future mishaps!! It also turns out that on particularly challenging days I can safely take a second (from the stash!): so i'm now covered "top, middle and bottom"!!!! (Apologies to the gameshow!)
As for " now" - the combination of steroids, return of the tummy protector, and absence (this first cycle) of the MAB (Avastin) means I am 100% better than two days ago. Previous (none tummy) side effects continue to wain, while not all of the new hopefully lesser ones have yet manifested themselves.
But one that has immediately made iself known is wierd!! Reaction to cold (only surfaces so far - not been down the chiller aisle of a supermarket!). Holding something straight from the fridge causes a strangely painful cold (VERY cold!) sensation in the fingertips! And the same in the soles of my feet on cold stone floors! And mouth drinking fridge cold drinks... Whether this is intermittent (only immediately after treatment?) or gets worse with increasing cycles is yet to be seen, but definitely tolerable, and avoidable. But WIERD!
So, back on an even keel, riding higher in the water, and generally far more "up" than we were!! "Way to go, Folfox!"
Hi Ian - I had the same sensitivity to cold when I was on Oxaliplatin. It did definitely build up over time, and at its peak I had to be careful getting things like milk out the fridge (partly because I had peripheral neuropathy problems too) in case I dropped it. As always, it's about coming up with strategies/mechanisms to help cope. In my case, that was a pair of gloves by the fridge :-)
ReplyDeleteI have found the effect of cold worst week one, bearable week 2 and almost non existent week 3. I have avoided eating drinking cold things the whole way and manage to avoid most cold things week 1. In the main this side effect is pretty avoidable which is better than others I guess. I have a friend who had this regime with stage 4 including liver mets and he's been completely well over 2 years now, I have a good regard for this treatment which makes any side effects more bearable!
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