The side effects of the latest round of chemo treatments (including taxol) took two days to hit me. And when they hit, they hit quite hard. By mid-afternoon on Saturday, my knees started to ache; a couple of hours later, the pain had amplified several-fold. By 7 p.m., I felt the same level of pain in my elbows, wrists, shoulders, back, etc. During the course of the night, it intensified; every joint, muscle, and tendon felt a level of arthritis-like pain I have never before felt. The pain persists now, around 11:00 a.m., but it is not quite as intense as it was earlier—thanks, probably, to acetaminophen. According to a Mayo Clinic website, chemo-caused “pain in the joints or muscles, especially in the arms or legs…usually does not need medical attention.” Regardless, I will call the oncology clinic tomorrow to inquire. If there’s something I can take to lessen the level of pain, I would like to have it available. Ach! I anticipated possible hair-loss or thinning within the first three weeks of treatment, but I did not expect this. I should have remembered, though, that when my late wife underwent chemo for her breast cancer in 2003, the effects of taxol on her were pretty brutal.
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Between brief periods of sleep last night, I checked my phone for news. The all-consuming national news disturbed me, of course, as I considered what happens to a nation’s psyche after a traumatic event like an attempted assassination. If only human decency would again capture the national spirit, the future might hold some promise.
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Enough for now. I want to rest and minimize the damn pain.
Thanks, Phil. I occasionally stop by your place to see what’s up with you…ten pounds off your frame must leave you more than moderately svelte! 🙂
Haven’t stopped here in a while. Sorry you’re experiencing this, and hope for a good outcome.
Thanks Trisha, Hope, and Todd…I appreciate your comments. But no sharing, Todd! 🙂
Oh, this sounds awful. I hope you can get adequate pain relief soon.
Taxol was my first type of chemo, for 12 weeks, 1 infusion weekly. My hair began falling out on the 2nd infusion, so I went ahead and shaved my head in advance. I had a mild allergic reaction to Taxol, and the 2nd day was my day, too. I would get cheek flushing … they burned … and controlled this with oral Claritin, in addition to anti-allergic drug pills I took the day before chemo, and administered via my Port-a-Cath, just prior to the Taxol infusion. I had body aches also, which became less painful as time went by, but wasn’t so intense as you describe in your case, John. I took Tylenol when needed.
Hope your body pain fades as you move forward with your chemotherapy. ~~~
I am so sorry. There should be a way to share and lessen your pain. I would. Maybe just 10%. 🙂