Hello Helenjoann,

                           the trick with chemo is to make your body into a hostile environment  that cancer can not survive,whilst not destroying the recipient.In doing so it is going to give a hard knock to your immune systems ect.The body will be working in constant overtime to cope with this and as such will shut down systems in order to cope,so sleeping takes less from it than it requires to function awake.So yes it will make you feel sick,you will feel like the walking dead,trivial things feel like they need superhuman efforts to achieve.Initially its a shock to the body but it will adjust after the first course,and things become a little easier.But it is cumalative,and builds up with each succesive course over time.Once your course is finished you will slowly build up your strength once again.Your team will monitor side effects and if excessivemay elect to adjust your treatment.

In my case l had 6 weeks of capcitibine and radiotherapy pre surgery,in which l worked on a farm for 6 hours each day during the week,with weekends spent on my own farm and animals.Post surgery was 6 three week courses of capcetibine plus an infusion which really kicked me hard and left me with nerve damage to hands and permanantly to my feet,but l kept going in between collapsing into bed.The good news is that was 6-8 years ago now and l am firing on all cylinders.There was always light on the darkest of days if you kept the faith with no surrender.

l wish you and your husband well and just keep your medical team updated over any extreme side effects,

            David

Hi David

thank you so much for taking the time to reply. I guess I'm just not used to seeing my husband so exhausted and sleeping all the time. There's no way he'd be able to go to work at the moment. It's just all new and scary. I'm so pleased that you are fully recovered, it shows me it can happen. Thanks again

Hello again,

                  he will probably find his appetite wanders off out the door too,but its important to keep eating,so little and often,graze rather than feast.one trick is to leave little bowels or plastic boxes spread around with little treats and goodies to tempt,just a small amount of many things.Small high sugar fruits, grapes,berries, cherries,ect,boiled sweets ect.Keep fluid intake up,one thing that seems to avoid sickness from drinking is ginger beer.l discovered it and have heard from others over the years that this was what helped them..Again decant from large bottle into smaller containers placed around is a good trick..After my op l was encouraged to eat jelly babies,l am guessing the gelatine helped bind the bowel contents and the sugar boosted energy available to a bowel that was functioning well below par.Dieting goes out the window for a while and high energy is in,full hit .Coca cola is another Hope some of this proves to be a help,

                                                                                                                                                             David

Hello again,

                  he will probably find his appetite wanders off out the door too,but its important to keep eating,so little and often,graze rather than feast.one trick is to leave little bowels or plastic boxes spread around with little treats and goodies to tempt,just a small amount of many things.Small high sugar fruits, grapes,berries, cherries,ect,boiled sweets ect.Keep fluid intake up,one thing that seems to avoid sickness from drinking is ginger beer.l discovered it and have heard from others over the years that this was what helped them..Again decant from large bottle into smaller containers placed around is a good trick..After my op l was encouraged to eat jelly babies,l am guessing the gelatine helped bind the bowel contents and the sugar boosted energy available to a bowel that was functioning well below par.Dieting goes out the window for a while and high energy is in,full hit .Coca cola is another Hope some of this proves to be a help,

                                                                                                                                                             David

Thanks again David. You're right, his appetite has flown the nest. He used to be a sugar fiend but really doesn't fancy any of it at the moment. There's no way he'll drink ginger beer. He loved coke but turns his nose up at it now. Jelly babies might be a good shout, I'll try those He really is just sleeping all the time but then getting up every 20 mins during the night for a wee. I don't know what's normal and what's not!

thanks again for your time

lloHe,

           l think you will find the jelly babies come in play further along your journey after surgery.The palate gets a good hammering and ginger beer will cut through cleanly and leave it refreshed,with the added bonus that l believe that ginger is good for bowel digestion.Your taste buds will crave something that gives them a clean flavour,and coke just becomes cloying.Little sips to cleanse the palate is the way to go.You will find that tastes change as you travel through your journey,something to bear in mind.Hope the side effects of the chemo ease back a little in the coming weeks,

                                                                                                              David

Hi again David

He had surgery first, one dodgy node was found during the resection so all this is a precaution. He has said that his taste buds have changed. At the moment it's just warm water that seems to be going down well

Hello Helenjoann,

                           well that certainly explains his tiredness,body recovering from surgery,bowel adjusting to itschanged status and chemotherapy thrown in on top.At least he is now over halfway on the road back to recovery which is the good news.Only a few moremountains to climb before the more pleasant downhill stroll,

                        Take care,

                                         David

Thanks David I really hope so. We've got lots to do! He's been my rock while I've struggled with long Covid for 18 months. Now I can see what my body can do being the carer!