Any Tips for Chemo Side Effects?

[Luci22]

Hello all,

My mom is on her 4th chemo. This time her symptoms are stronger, wondering if anyone has any tips to help.

- sensation of very cold toes

- body joint pains and aches

Also any constipation prevention tips?

Many thanks,

Lucia

[Sunfleury-UK]

Hi Lucia, if you use the search box and put in 'chemo tips' you'll find quite a few threads with some great suggestions. Best wishes to you and your mum, Sx

[Luci22 in reply to Sunfleury-UK]

Ok thanks, will do!

[Luci22 in reply to Luci22]

Took a look at the chemo tips, I see some related posts but a bit lengthy to sift through.

I'm mostly looking to see if the extreme cold toes have happened to anyone, is that part of neuropathy or something completely different? They aren't cold too the touch but she says inside she feels like they're very cold.

Sorry if it's a repeat question.

Lucia

[Lily-Anne]

Constipation is my bug bear. I had weetabix every morning for fibre and movicol 3 times a day. Fresh coffee with a tiny bit of sugar helps too.

Cold feet is woolly socks and joint pain a hot water bottle it’s definitely better than the bean bags

Hope she gets some relief soon

LA xx

[Janet235]

I have ALWAYS had cold feet as lower leg circulation very poor. Every winter chilblains... but strangely enough since chemo treatment ( or mystery whatever,....) not suffered from these, minor thankfulness 🙄

So my tips below.... as now the physical on going coldness most of the time is made worse by the numbness, tingling sensations from the neuropathy

- keep balance between nice warm fluffy socks. And or slippers. Need to be loose not tight as I have found if I then put furry slippers on top then the restriction of too many layers doesn't allow for circulation

- microwave slippers 😉. Bizarre but work! Again not too hot as not good for yr feet. Also use microwave wrap in bed, not on feet but between knees as warmth travels up and down the body

I used to lay awake a long time in bed as couldn't sleep with cold feet so now I make sure feet are warm before I retire...

- don't sit too long as a killer for getting cold feet. Move around and do dvt exercises, there is a link to this on my last post...Dana Furber I think

- massage and reflexology helps enormously

- consider investing in a Revitive machine which stimulates the feet and lower limbs with electrical pulses to relieve neuropathy etc

- nice warm foot bath with Epsom or himalayan bath salts

If you don't have warm feet after that lot, take up jogging... 🏃‍♀️💃 Or dancing🤗. That could sort the constipation also....

Janet x🌈

[SarahsJourney]

Docusate Sodium bought over the counter. I swear by it when I was debilitated by constipation. It was the only thing to bring any relief!! x

[Di16]

I sometimes get cold feet at night, even in a warm bed, whether or not I'm having chemo. When I do, I wear socks in bed.

[Luci22]

Aww thank you so much ladies for all your excellent tips. I am going to take this back to my mom and share. I have given her reflexology massages myself and seems to give her overall relief, she loves reflexology. Will try the foot soak too and warmed up socks. As for constipation, she dreads day 3/4 after chemo because that's when things get stuck so I will get to the store for over the counter meds.

I like the idea of dancing wouldn't that be nice for her.

Very much appreciate all the feedback.

Lucia

[Manyin52]

My toes are freezing all the time but my husband and daughter say they feel warm to them. I always did suffer with cold feet but since my toes have been numb they feel much worse. I wear fluffy socks in bed but my feet still feel cold.

[1lisamac]

Try fiboyel it’s a fibre drink ( I think that’s how you spell it 😂) I got my mum it as she has had her fourth chemo last week and as same as your mum started to feel the effects more eat bran flakes or weetabix for breakfast brown bread is good strong coffee can help too with the toilet issues and get them snuggle sock they are lovely for keeping the toes warm if your mum legs become dry try e45 cream I usually do my mum a foot massage she likes it more then I do 😂but if it helps your mum with her circulation in her feet it’s worth it xx hope you mums feels better soon xx 💖

[pishi1]

Actually when I was on Chemo I used to have smoothies once a day consisting of carrots, apple, pear to cope with constipation. It really helped me and I rarely had constipation. For the joints and aches try Epsom bath salts and I found that helped me too. She has to lie in the bath for at least 15 to 20 minutes. I wrote an article about how I coped if you are interested I can email you privately. All the best. Hope things improve for her.

[Sunfleury-UK]

Constipation was a big problem for me and my GP helped with some info and advice...

I took a senna tablet at night if I hadn't been and then if still a problem the next day increased to x2. This stimulates the bowel

I also took Movikil (which works differently) it draws water into the bowel and found that for me, I needed to pre-empt and start with sachets the day before chemo and continue through, I needed to use the 'big dose' after most chemos.

(even when things were resolved, I took Ducolease which is very gentle)

I also had to use gylcerine suppositries on a couple of occasions- this was prescribed and must be discussed with medical team first due to the risks of infection during chemo

***please be aware, I did all of the above based on medical advice. I was having single agent Carboplatin and had also had bowel complications (illeus) after my big op which included a bowel resection ***

- I also really forced myself to drink more, before, during and after chemo.

- I also found that getting up and moving as often and as much as I could was important. On some days post chemo this would be very little.

- I tried to tune in, so for example there is a reflex that makes us want to go to the loo very soon after eating. Its quiet and as adults we will tune out and delay going but it can be helpful to make the most of this . There is also some good advice (can be found online) as to how to adjust how to sit on the loo to help your body better!

Pears have often been mentioned as helpful- I ate plenty of fruit / veg / wholegrains but this wasnt sufficient!

After Chemo finished, I found my bowel habits were still really variable and I had a series of reflexology with someone with particular experience of working with people dx with cancer. I do really think this helped and it was a really positive experience.

Sx

[Luci22 in reply to Sunfleury-UK]

Sx, sounds like you had a tough time with the constipation and I hear you I've seen my mom deal with it. Her first chemo was the worst; she wound up being very constipated by day 4 that a nurse came in to poke around, gave her a suppository and still that didn't help until many other laxatives and another suppository again the next day. After all those medications she was up all night running to the bathroom so she had zero sleep and was just wiped out! Poor mom. After that episode she watched it like a hawk and made sure to keep up with laxatives but she still fears the constipation; traumatized from the first one, and even with those laxatives and fibre meals it gets a bit slow on the 4th day and she worries. As you say sometimes even with all the fibre, fruit and whole grains aren't sufficient.

Well thank you for your reply and various tips! I've been reading her the replies from everyone

Lucia

[Superkim]

For constipation, I do Miralax everyday starting the day before chemo, with lots of water (I add it too smoothies and oatmeal). Can take a few days to fully work, but is mild enough not to cause diarrhea. Some people choose colace and harder laxatives. The key is to get a head start on it. Definitely check with your Mom's doc, too.

As for cold fingers and toes, mine get cold, but not where it's painful. I just keep them covered when possible.

Aches and joint pains are pretty common. For me, a little exercise (as tolerated), lots of water, and stretching helps.

All the best to your mom.

Superkim