Odd ideas and cachexia
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Thank you Marions. We are checking now, this very soon this morning. She is the type of woman that never-complain when she is in pain, which obviously does not help.
Jose…..I am sorry to hear of the latest developments. Given the symptoms you are describing, I think it would be best to engage in a frank discussion with the treating physician.
Pain control is of utmost importance. If the pain increases or your sister becomes incoherent- do not hesitate and take her to a hospital. You might want her to elevate the legs as it helps to reduce the fluid accumulation in the lower extremities.
Please, stay in touch.
Hugs
MarionYes Fatema, thank you. We have to put an effort in this problem of food. We are thinking whether or not her symtoms could be encephalopathy. We will check with the doctor tomorrow morning. Thanks a lot
Jose
jmgrisolia wrote:fatema alzahraa wrote:Hi Jose,
As i remember you had a post asking about ascites, did you check your sister’s liver function?? if not you should do that. really i don’t want to scare you but “odd”” ideas and being talkative may reflect disturbed liver function and may be grade of hepatic encephalopathy, please don’t explain every symptom to be a side effect of chemotherapy.Another thing take care while using anxiolytics and SEDATIVES (Diazepam compounds), they are metabolised by liver so in liver illness they may be harmful.
Sorry if i made you worried but i should warn you, wish her and my mom spedd and soon recovery.
Please keep us updated.
I read this in wiki
“Encephalopathy often occurs together with other symptoms and signs of liver failure. These may include jaundice (yellow discolouration of the skin and the whites of the eyes), ascites (fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity), and peripheral oedema (swelling of the legs due to fluid build-up in the skin).”
Right: her legs are growing, her abdomen as well (it was like that before but not so high like two weeks ago). I dont really think she shows the other symtoms of confusion, etc. She is not that different from her normal personality but we are alarmed anyway.
On the contrary Fatema I think what you are saying must be taking into account and we thank you very much for telling us. She is not taking diazepan, though. In fact she takes morphine for pain but nothing for reducing her anxiety (she behaves very sensitive and affectionate, talkative and content). We are talking to the doctor tomorrow (its night here and she is sleeping). Besides, I dont know if there is a connection but she have eaten (oddly she had appetite today) unhealthy food: fat and red meat (cooked with salt). Her swelling in abdomen is growing as well as her pain. We are really worried.
Hughs
JoseHi,
No you should restrict salt to avoid water retention and also restrict proteins (specially red meat) to avoid increase of ammonia in her blood (which causes hallucination “encephalopathy”) and give her fish meat instead till consulting her treating physician.If you need to ask about anything you are welcomed.
fatema alzahraa wrote:Hi Jose,
As i remember you had a post asking about ascites, did you check your sister’s liver function?? if not you should do that. really i don’t want to scare you but “odd”” ideas and being talkative may reflect disturbed liver function and may be grade of hepatic encephalopathy, please don’t explain every symptom to be a side effect of chemotherapy.Another thing take care while using anxiolytics and SEDATIVES (Diazepam compounds), they are metabolised by liver so in liver illness they may be harmful.
Sorry if i made you worried but i should warn you, wish her and my mom spedd and soon recovery.
Please keep us updated.
On the contrary Fatema I think what you are saying must be taking into account and we thank you very much for telling us. She is not taking diazepan, though. In fact she takes morphine for pain but nothing for reducing her anxiety (she behaves very sensitive and affectionate, talkative and content). We are talking to the doctor tomorrow (its night here and she is sleeping). Besides, I dont know if there is a connection but she have eaten (oddly she had appetite today) unhealthy food: fat and red meat (cooked with salt). Her swelling in abdomen is growing as well as her pain. We are really worried.
Hughs
JoseHi Jose,
As i remember you had a post asking about ascites, did you check your sister’s liver function?? if not you should do that. really i don’t want to scare you but “odd”” ideas and being talkative may reflect disturbed liver function and may be grade of hepatic encephalopathy, please don’t explain every symptom to be a side effect of chemotherapy.Another thing take care while using anxiolytics and SEDATIVES (Diazepam compounds), they are metabolised by liver so in liver illness they may be harmful.
Sorry if i made you worried but i should warn you, wish her and my mom spedd and soon recovery.
Please keep us updated.
Jim Wilde wrote:Jose, I was on Gemzar for six months, and a major effect on me was appetite loss. I had to almost force myself to eat, especially the day of infusion and the day after. Lot of smaller meals helped, along with healthy snacks.Some years ago, following a cardiac surgery, I was given Ativan in the ICU, which caused an LSD type drug trip. They said no more of that for me!
Hello Jim, thank you for your post. I think she has unexpected changes of appetite. Unfortunately she does not feel like to eat most of the healthy anti-cancer food that we want her to take. She just wants to eat food that she craves for. Her excuse is that, otherwise she feels nauseas.
eli wrote:Hi Jose,About odd ideas:
As mentioned by Julia and Lainy, chemo drugs and steroids can play nasty games with the brain. In addition to that, check the side effects of anti-nausea or anti-anxiety drugs your sister takes. The following drugs are commonly prescribed to chemo patients:
Compazine (Prochlorperazine) anti-nausea
Reglan (Metoclopramide) anti-nausea
Ativan (Lorazepam) anti-anxietyThese drugs may all cause mental or mood changes.
Best wishes,
EliThanks Eli. Yes indeed. She is taking one of those (metoclopramide) along with several others and surely this is affecting her.
Jose, I was on Gemzar for six months, and a major effect on me was appetite loss. I had to almost force myself to eat, especially the day of infusion and the day after. Lot of smaller meals helped, along with healthy snacks.
Some years ago, following a cardiac surgery, I was given Ativan in the ICU, which caused an LSD type drug trip. They said no more of that for me!
Hi Jose,
About odd ideas:
As mentioned by Julia and Lainy, chemo drugs and steroids can play nasty games with the brain. In addition to that, check the side effects of anti-nausea or anti-anxiety drugs your sister takes. The following drugs are commonly prescribed to chemo patients:
Compazine (Prochlorperazine) anti-nausea
Reglan (Metoclopramide) anti-nausea
Ativan (Lorazepam) anti-anxietyThese drugs may all cause mental or mood changes.
Best wishes,
EliLainy wrote:Dear Jose, we sometimes call this Chemo Brain! However, there are some Meds for hallucinations. Teddy used to say the walls were closing in on him. I would definitely talk to the Doctor about that and the weight loss! There are some nutritional drinks your sister can use that take the place of a full meal but first the Doctor needs to know what is happening. I am on steroids right now and sometimes I can’t catch up with what I am saying!Thank you Lainy. Yes, we will talk to the doctor about this. She is eating better now… Let me add something else: altough she is fine, no pain and fairly content, her face shows something bad, her eyes are too big and the color of her skin is somehow alarming. I dont know what to think but, of course, we’ll have to wait until the next test.
HughsDear Jose, we sometimes call this Chemo Brain! However, there are some Meds for hallucinations. Teddy used to say the walls were closing in on him. I would definitely talk to the Doctor about that and the weight loss! There are some nutritional drinks your sister can use that take the place of a full meal but first the Doctor needs to know what is happening. I am on steroids right now and sometimes I can’t catch up with what I am saying!
Lalupes wrote:Chemo produces some very “odd” side-effects, Jose. So do the steroids they add for the nausea. My sister gets extremely hyper-active on those. She can talk total nonsense in a perfectly rational manner, until my brain spins. This diminishes as she slowly reduces the steroids.The drugs she’s on also cause her to see things (my sister generally sees cats; another person I know sees vikings in full battle dress and my neighbour’s husband used to see Shaolin Monks walk into the house quite regularly).
I can’t comment on the weight-loss, but it could easily be the chemo, too. Do talk to your sister’s Oncologist or specialist cancer nurse, if you’re worried.
My very best to you both.
Julia x
Thanks for your comments Julia.
Hughs
JoseChemo produces some very “odd” side-effects, Jose. So do the steroids they add for the nausea. My sister gets extremely hyper-active on those. She can talk total nonsense in a perfectly rational manner, until my brain spins. This diminishes as she slowly reduces the steroids.
The drugs she’s on also cause her to see things (my sister generally sees cats; another person I know sees vikings in full battle dress and my neighbour’s husband used to see Shaolin Monks walk into the house quite regularly).
I can’t comment on the weight-loss, but it could easily be the chemo, too. Do talk to your sister’s Oncologist or specialist cancer nurse, if you’re worried.
My very best to you both.
Julia x
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