Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I had a very odd episode last night that I wanted to share so that I could ask if anyone else has had a similar experience.
At about 6:30 last evening, with no warning at all, I suddenly got very nauseous (and almost lost it, which never happens), felt extremely weak and tired, very crampy, and was suddenly very cold - in a nice warm house! It reminded me very much of how I felt during chemotherapy treatments when that two-to-three day period was about to knock me on my butt for the weekend. I used to call it the chemo crash, and it was exactly that same weak sick feeling. Within an hour, I decided to call it a day and I went to bed ... and fell asleep almost instantly, which also rarely happens.
We eliminated other possibilities, like food poisoning as my wife and I had the same things of the last day or two. It's not the flu as I am OK this morning. It absolutely felt like what many of us experience during chemo treatments.
Weird, I have never heard of such a thing. Maybe a virus? Or maybe it is some sort of "flashback!" Sounds scary. From time to time my tastebuds seem to have little "flashbacks" if I eat something now that would have tasted bad during chemo; the food will just taste a little icky.
It's not your tastebuds, it is classical conditioning (think Pavlov's dogs). That is why we advise patients not to turn to their favorite foods during those times as you can get conditioned to the smell/taste of foods.
I still deal with a lot of fatigue, which sounds similar. It often comes on fast, and is often accompanied by a spike of anxiety. Nausea can come from anxiety as well.
I still can't even look at a cupcake or ginger ale without feeling ill, though. :P
I'm back to eating normally, and I actually did eat some of my favorite foods during treatment ... and can eat them now. The only exception is Gatorade. If I NEVER see Gatorade again, it will be too soon.
I've been off chemo now for a little over 2 years. I still have chemo effects or at least that's what I think they are. I had what they call a 'chemo ed' class right before I did chemo and one of the things I was told was that I could experience the effects years after taking chemo. Some people it effects and some it does not. Funny thing is that I didn't experience that many side effects other than tiredness and fogginess until after I finished chemo and then I started getting more effects.
At times, when something is cooking, I cannot stand the smell, I get unexpectedly nauseated and I can go from having energy to being tired within minutes. My tastebuds are different too.
It's not my favorite foods, it's greasy foods. Greasy foods tasted disgusting on chemo for me. Now, every once in a while when I eat something greasy, I get a vague gross taste in my mouth. Probably is psychological but that is the closest I have experienced to what Charley is talking about.
It's not my favorite foods, it's greasy foods. Greasy foods tasted disgusting on chemo for me. Now, every once in a while when I eat something greasy, I get a vague gross taste in my mouth. Probably is psychological but that is the closest I have experienced to what Charley is talking about.
That's funny - the ONLY thing I wanted to eat during chemo (except for my chemo weekends) was greasy or spicy foods. I learned how to make my favorite Chipotle meat filling so I could make my own burrito bowls at home - I'd cook up about 6 pounds of meat in the crockpot and defrost. I wish I was repelled by grease! :P
The worst flashbacks I get are my car AC and when the janitor at work cleans windows. They both remind me of the smell of the hospital. The car took me by surprise - but I guess it saves me money by forcing me to open my windows!
That's funny - the ONLY thing I wanted to eat during chemo (except for my chemo weekends) was greasy or spicy foods. I learned how to make my favorite Chipotle meat filling so I could make my own burrito bowls at home - I'd cook up about 6 pounds of meat in the crockpot and defrost. I wish I was repelled by grease! :P
The worst flashbacks I get are my car AC and when the janitor at work cleans windows. They both remind me of the smell of the hospital. The car took me by surprise - but I guess it saves me money by forcing me to open my windows!
Charley - how have you been feeling since?
Thanks for asking. I was fine the next morning. It was an absolutely bizarre experience that I imagine will go without explanation. It was either a momentary flashback or some other thing that disappeared as quickly as it arrived. One thing's for sure ... I'm SURE I wasn't reminiscing about "the good old days of chemo".
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
