Phantom side effects from chemo?

[Rene]

It's been about 5 months now since I finished chemo. I was in Target shopping and had to stop and sit down. I got flushed starting from my toes to the top of my head, suddenly exhausted and lost my breath. That's what I used to feel like a few hours after chemo. Hmmm. I also get bone pain from time to time like I did when I would take the Neupogen shots. My doctor said that it could be my body adjusting and that meds take up to a year to fully flush out of your body. I've experienced it several times and it seems like it's mostly when I've been running around or cleaning house. 
I've had this happen a hand full of times and the memories of the hours right after chemo came flooding into my head.

Has anyone else experienced this?

[Tara]

I'm so glad you brought this up!!! I"ve never asked this question.  I have the same thing happen at times.  Nowhere near as frequent as it did when I was taking chemo  . But, this is something I didn't experience in my 'before cancer' life.

[Kelly_Marie]

Rene and Tara I don't know why but I too seem to wait until someone else brings up a subject I have been wondering about?  Rene the answer is yes for me and your dr. is correct about that year it takes for the chemo and radiation effects to flush out.  I would ask another question...have either you two ever gone through maybe a stress related event?  let me explain-some reason my hospital stay for chemo would happen Mondays.  So often Sunday night during my shower before going to sleep at night I would cry and fight the fear.  Then, I'm out of the treatment and not even right away but exactly 3 to 5 monthes later Sunday nights in the shower I'd have a panic attack, could not get out of the shower, I'd cry and it was as if the next day I was to start treatment but I wasn't.  My time was over but my head and body was still back in time....Other things would happen too...I fought through most that stuff.  At 13 years later it is only certain food I shun and hospitals that have had a lasting effect. 

Blessings,
Kelly Marie

[Mary]

Wow, Kelly, I hate to think of you having panic attacks like that. It is definitely understandable. I think if I went through chemo Jason would have to drag me in there on Monday mornings! I might even be kicking and screaming! It always amazes me all of the things that so many of you have gone through. It makes sense that it takes the body and the mind quite a while to adjust after it's all over.

[Cari]

Yep had that problem--I do agree and have been told it takes about a year for everything to get out and for your body to "recover" from everything it has been through.  As far as it happening when yuo clean the house-my suggestion--get a house cleaner--hahah  I remember being in stores and literally passing out-no one could ever explain it except for saying that I was recovering.....

[Rene]

Ok to add to my original post about the side effects, after the last episode my eyelashes fell out 2 weeks later and are finally growing back. I thought the mascara I bought was just cheap and then when I bought the good stuff, it still didn't work. I realized they were GONE! My hair got a little thinner on the top too. It didn't grow in as thick on the top anyway, but I treasure all the hair I have now. I hope this chemo is all out of my system soon...

[Cindi]

Rene...you always seem to find humor in everything you experience...I LOVE this about you.  Sorry to hear about the eyelashes and hair...I just met someone who said it took a good year to get thickness back in her hair.  But we all have learned...everyone is different.  I STILL have my eyebrows...so strange.  I have met 4 ladies at Stanford who are going through treatment right now for Ewing's.  They all say..."Hey you have your eyebrows"...now watch when I am done with all this chemo crap they will fall out  . 

You are a true inspiration...

Staying strong-
Cindi

[Tara]

you aren't the only one with hair 'weirdness'.... I'm almost 1 year out (HECK YEAH!!!!!!!!)  Anyway, my hair is just now thickening up.  The little bit that I had grew in quickly.  But, I always had very thick, super-fine textured hair.  Well, super-fine texture, that is thin... wasn't working.  When I got my hair highlighted a month or so ago, my hairdresser told me that I had a lot of new growth coming in.   You are just now being able to tell it.  I get more volume and 'umph' when I fix it.  Eyelashes have JUST returned to normal.  BC, I had thick, long lashes... They were spotty for months after discontinuing chemo.  Honestly, I had very bare patches.  I didn't have to shave my underarms or bikini line regularly until 6 or so weeks ago.  Same goes for my legs... I could shave once every month or so.  I only had patches of hair to shave at that.  BUT, when it came in... it came in... I have to shave on the same schedule as before. Eyelashes are pretty normal.  They aren't quite as thick yet, but I know it's coming. 

My MIL only had 4 treatments for breast cancer - she said it took her about a year before she was back to normal.  4 one day treatments.  It took a year for her to get her hair, energy, etc back to normal.  That's what I keep in mind.  4 days versus 42 days that I had.  So... maybe it will take even longer?