I see from the other posts that it just gets worse in the first few weeks.

I still feel pretty nauseated, dizzy, weak, have trouble with eating/drinking, spend a lot of time sleeping.

Also I've had a rash for the past 3 weeks on armpits, hips, chest, legs and elsewhere (typically around skin folds or areas touching clothes etc)

No bowel movements in 3 weeks. I don't eat much and only liquids.

Big sore on tongue and other areas in mouth; had to stop drinking juice as it was irritating.

RO wanted to put me on IV for hydration for 4 hours, but my ride could not wait that long. RO said I could do the same at home by drinking a lot of liquid.

Follow your RO's advice. If you get dehydrated, you will be REALLY sick, really quickly. If there's some way of getting back for an I.V. "top-up", that would probably make you feel quite a bit better. I would be concerned about the lack of bowel movements, though. Have you mentioned that to your Doctors?

Good luck. You've stil got a little while before you start to feel better, but you're on your way!
Wayne

trt

Marvin is starting his 4th week after treatments. He has good days but more bad days at this time. We have found out that if he doesnt have a bowel movement everyday he gets pretty sick ends up he doesnt want much food or water if this happens. Because of all the meds he has to take something to help him go. For him we have found that if he gets 2 senikot plus(not sure on spelling of name)pills crushed and put in his tube then later 12oz of prune juice his bowels work good. So we do this everyday. It is important to get lots of fluids and food in. They told us to stay away from acid drinks.

trt,

Congrats on finishing Tx but most of us had a pretty bad time the 2 to 3 weeks post Tx. Probably the worse time of "Tx". I had a time with constipation and used the over the counter "solutions" that helped on a temp basis. You need to get that water and "food" down every day. Now it's more important than ever before since everything is working against you at it's worse. Remember dehydration causes constipation; pain meds also can cause constipation and believe me constipation can cause a lot of pain.

I had to go to the hospital in my 2nd week post Tx for severe dehyradtion and nausea. I was also constipated and while I was there they x rayed my intestines and then a big mean nurse gave me an enema and then waited until "it worked" and then "inspected" the results before she would leave me alone. I NEVER wanted to go thru that again so I had a little extra incentive to make sure I stayed hydrated from then on.

We all seem to be our own worse enemys at this stage, I know looking back I was.

trt, I'm sounding like a broken record here, but please keep some unflavored Pedialyte [children's section-gro store] in your pantry-Gatoraide too, altho it tends to burn some people's stomach. These can help quickly replinish electrolytes if you find yourself low on liquids, and you don't have to drown yourself in them. What's causing the rash? There are several good topical skin ointments that could help, once it is identified.Do try to find something to help with the constipation-Benefiber helped John [OTC at most gro. stores] You have a way to go yet, it's really crucial to keep getting the nutrition and liquids down. Amy in the Oz

Rob takes lactulose 15ml via his tube twice a day ,and considering the amount of morphine he is taking he has not suffered from constipation since he started it.We too are four weeks post tx and also find the bad days outweigh the good ,but at least there are some good days now!!

Good luck Liz in the UK

I mentioned lack of bowel movements to nurse and she wanted me to take milk of magnesia. I tried once and it did not do anything. Maybe I should try again.
I do take colace 250 x 2 regularly.

I only eat some liquid foods like soups, soymilk with protein powder and probably not enough. I do drink a lot of gatorade etc.

I don't have a tube.

The IV was offered one day I felt and looked particularly bad. I could probably aske for it.

I urinate normally.

How would I know if I am constipated. Nothing at all comes out.

I felt seriously uncomfortable after one week without a bowel movement (almost to the point of tears). I can't imagine how I would feel after 3 weeks.

The only thing that worked for me at the end were enema's.

Best wishes,

Chris

trt, don't laugh-or maybe you should- have you tried good old fashioned prune juice? And do you get any exercise at all? [I know you've not been feeling very good] Amy in the Ozarks

I am not uncomfortable at all (in terms of digestive functions). Maybe it's because I don't eat enough and all liquids get absorbed.

I took a full strength dosage of milk of magnesia (4 TBs) and had several small, loose bowel movements yesterday. Interesting. Maybe I should have taken less(3 ). They were not accompanied by typical diarrhea symptoms(like gas, pain and cramping).