Has anyone experienenced blue zig zags across the eyes while on Chemo.

[marold52]

This zig zag experience was quite a frightening worry, i have kept a diary of my daily routine on my cycles of carboplain and it seems it happens around the 3rd and 4th day, has anyone else had this happen to them. It does go away eventually, anyone know the reason please. love Marg.xx

[Whippit]

oooh errr. I've never experienced anything like that. I think you should ring Ruth at Ovacome to see if she can offer any explanation. I'm hazarding a guess it might be something to do with the various tablets you're taking rather than the chemotherapy - but perhaps someone else has a better idea?

Hope you can get some advice on this as it is disconcerting.

Love Annie xx

[Hidden]

Hi Marg,

Yes I also had these zig-zag lines whilst on carboplatin, mine started also a few days after my chemo sessions, I went to the opticians for an eye test but they found nothing wrong...the only thing my doctor and optician could put it down to was stress especially when the immune system is taking a down turn... they are most likely to be migraines but maybe to ease your mind you could have a check up..I do hope you get it sorted out soon.

Luanna xx

[marold52 in reply to Hidden]

The opticians found nothing wrong with my eyes either, i have worn specs just about all my life so do have regular check ups. Im sure its stress like you,ve said and im very very tired on this flippin chemo. I have had a bigger dose of carboplatin this time thats probably why its been bit worse. Can a person have migraines without pain? i dont have any head pain just bright blue zig zags? love Marg xx

[Hidden in reply to marold52]

Hi Marg

I have migranes without head pain, nothing to do with oc or chemo just something I get every now and then. Starts with zig zag lines then everything goes blurry, like looking through water at everything. Hope this helps although you should still mention it to your doctor.

Chris x x

[BJ_UK in reply to marold52]

Yes, I quite often get migraine auras without going on to develop a headache, though I always take ibuprofen or paracetamol as soon as possible after they start to make sure I don't get a headache! They virtually always involve blue zigzag lines. Do check with your doctor to be sure, but I bet that's what it is.

[marold52 in reply to BJ_UK]

Thanks for your reply very interesting. I was told at the hospital never to take paracetamol because of the drop in the immune system, i checked with my doctor and she told me i could take co-dyramol, repeated this to the hospital and they said no no, take ibrufen, It is all very confusing, they just dont seem to agree with each other. Anyway i have taken it upon myself to take ibrufen and it seems to have done the trick, thankyou. love Margaret xxx

[doodoolatrice]

Hi Marg, I thought the same as Luanna. I used to get zig zag lines just after I had my second child when I was extremtly tired and probably stressed due to the sleepless nights and I was told they are called aura migraines. Hope this helps Kerry x

[marold52 in reply to doodoolatrice]

Thanks Kerry, its not too much of a problem because it does go quite quickly about half an hour or so. I just wondered if anyone else had it happen to them and it seems it does, so will put up with it for the time being. Very interesting youve put a name to them. I get extremely tired and dont sleep very well sometimes, only on chemo. Yes youve helped me thanks. love Marg xx

[Archiebanana]

Hi Marg

I got these twice on the third day after chemo, and I can vouch that they are very frightening. I spoke to my oncologists registrar who wasn't overly concerned, but told me to keep my eye on it (ooh sorry about that). I spoke to my GP who thought it was migraine, the second time was much less and I never had another.

Try not to worry as I'm sure this makes it worse.

Love Linda xxx

[marold52]

Hi Linda, You sound exactly the same, third day the first chemo and 4th day the third chemo and yes it worried me, i havent actually mentioned it to my oncologist as i forgot, so many other things to ask, thats why i have come on here to you ladies. I,m not overally worried as it only happened for 10mins the other day. Other ladies have mentioned migraines, i dont get pain, but i am exceptionally tired. So much happens to our bodies during chemo, so im sure some of it is worry, love Marg xxx

[MargaretJ]

Blurring yes but not zig zags! I did, however get blurring, as if I had make up in my eyes, similar to the sensation that accompanies my migraines. They have been much less frequent as I have got older. I think you should follow advice above and ring Ruth and also tell your onc! Mine used to ask as nerve damage is a side effect of chemo! Taxol produces a lot and cisplatin, which I had last, produces tinnitus!

Tiredness seems to be normal. It hit me at the end of day 3 and was like walking into a brick wall! I could not walk 50 yards, slept every afternoon and did virtually nothing. It passes though I still tire easily and I am told the radio therapy for the boob will result in extreme exhaustion! Ho hum! One has such fun in old age!

M

[Whippit in reply to MargaretJ]

I'm really sorry you're now facing radiotherapy. When will you start and how long does it go on? My oncologist told me radiography is better than chemotherapy if they can do it so hopefully that's a little bit of comfort.

I hope the better weather goes some way to cheering you up.

Loads of love xx Annie

[MargaretJ in reply to Whippit]

I see the onc tomorrow then radiotherapy will start within 31 days and be daily for 3 weeks. It is quite a good sign actually as my GP and breast surgeon both say radiotherapy on the breast is to ensure no return within 10 years and it was decided at MDT that it was apropriate so, as my GP said, they must think I have long enough to make it worthwhile. My sis had it last year and had 5 weeks of daily dosE on the Wirral but in Leeds they give 3 weeks. I am not sure whether they increase the dose or just believe 3weeks is enough!

I have booked a week at my son's in Dartmouth from Easter Sunday. As they no longer fly from Leeds to Exeter I am going by train and have found a car hire firm in Totnes which gives me freedom. Makes me cross though as it will cost me more than a holiday abroad!

M

[Whippit in reply to MargaretJ]

It does seem very good news Margaret - though the process might be tough. At least you can see an end in sight with a 3-week programme though I imagine just travelling each day to the hospital is tiring let alone the treatment.

I know what you mean about the cost of travel in the UK. Everything's OK if you want to travel to London but travelling cross-country is a nightmare. It can work out a lot cheaper to book two journeys - one from York to a station mid-way if there's a natural break in the journey, or even remain on the same train, but make another booking to Totnes. I got this tip from Martin Lewis on the BBC. Apparently there's some strange pricing policy involving certain stations and by booking a second trip part-way through your journey you will be charged less as you'll start your second journey out of peak hours. Another tip he gave was to avoid Fridays.

I have a friend in Largs, Ayreshire. Travel between Cardiff and Scotland is prohibitive and takes all day. We now meet once a year when my daughter goes on holiday and we house-sit for her. As I understand it this is the new way to travel and go places and it's called Sofa Tourism. It's great because it makes everyone happy.

Good luck with your travel plans!! xxx love Annie

[citrine]

Hi Marg

It does sound like an aura migraine. I started getting these at the age of 12 and don't usually get any pain as such, just visual disturbance which usually takes the form of zig zag lines. Oddly enough, I didn't suffer any whilst on chemo but did have a lot after treatment. Thing settled down eventually and I've been free from attacks for several months. Once again it shows how differently our bodeis react to the same treatment

Fingers crossed that yours will stop once you've finished the chemo.

Love Mary

[nandi]

I have zig zags several times while on carbo. Sort of encouraged to find I am not alone with it!!

[Chancedtoni]

I do not have cancet; however, I do get the squiggly lines. In my case it is stress. I also get silent migraines. My husband recently found out he has stage 4 lung cancer. He started getting squigglies a few days before chemo. I would venture to guess it is from stress. Hope this helps.