Chemo questions

Hi Kazoo!
I found the few days immediately after chemotherapy were the hardest on my bowels & then things went back to normal for me. (I'm just after finishing 4 x doxorubicn/cyclophosphamide, going onto 12 x taxol next week.) However, I found it hard to sleep for the first few nights after chemotherapy, most likely down to the steroids, so we changed my taking the dexamethesone to 4 in the morning & 4 in the afternoon on the first day, then the second day I took 4 dexamethesone in the morning and went onto Valoid at lunch and evening and the same again on the third day. I found this hardly affected my bowels really after this.

Then again, we're all different, so what worked for me may not kick in for you Kazoo.

Best of luck with the rest of treatment, I hope it gets kinder to you x

I finished the same chemo regime as you a month ago. I had some constipation but not as bad as you. I would take the senokot on the first day of chemo (whether I needed it or not) and continue with it for the next few days. Try drinking cooled boiled water with fresh lemon juice first thing in the morning - I always find this good. Also as you're doing, lots of water and fruit. If you're up to it during that time try a little walking - I felt the inactivity didn't help the bowel misery.

I hope it won't be too bad this time, good luck.

Thanks gals, I got Laxtose from the chemist and it seems to be helping - apparently it's 'gentler' on the tummy than Senekot.
It's not joke getting through this chemo but you gotta keep smiling I guess...

i found prune juice very good, still suffer with constipation two years later if not careful. i used to drink one large glass every day for first few days after chemo. still drink it when constipated, it works wonders as gentle releif, the other thing that always works for me is diafane (spelt incorrectly), but not gentle or predictable, it cuts the tummy out of me, 24 hrs is enough.