Neuropathy and Swimming

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testing765
Posts: 324
Joined: Tue Aug 19, 2014 9:41 am

Neuropathy and Swimming

Postby testing765 » Thu Aug 31, 2017 9:39 am

Hello all. I have had to deal with neuropathy in both of my hands and both of my feet since I finished folfox in the spring of 2015. I use gabapentin but I can only use it in a relatively low dose because at a higher dose it causes me to have headaches.

I joined the local Y about two months ago and I have been going swimming there for an hour three times a week. One benefit I have noticed is that the time that I am in the pool and swimming is one of the few times throughout the day when I almost completely cannot "feel" the neuropathy. Additionally, the swimming seems to lessen the overall severity of the neuropathy throughout the day. So it is something to consider if neuropathy is a problem for you. It is unfortunate that almost 2.5 years after the completion of treatment, I still have to deal with the neuropathy, but I am grateful to be alive.

On another note, I had a colonoscopy one year after the colon resection. Precancerous polyps were removed. Even though my oncologist wanted me to wait a full three years after that colonoscopy before I had another one, my gastroenterologist agreed that a two year interval was appropriate, so I have a colonoscopy scheduled for 10/17. I will also have a CT scan in 9/17 or 10/17 and that will be my three year post colon resection surgery scan. I am starting to get a bit anxious about this one, but I am just trying to take things one day at a time.

Next week I will go to Cape Cod, Massachusetts and then to Acadia National Park in Maine for a little rest and relaxation. That will help me to keep my mind off of the upcoming colonoscopy and CT scan.

So just a little update from me. I hope everyone that I have come to know on this site is doing well. And I will probably check in here again after the CT scan and colonoscopy are complete.
male-age 44 at diagnosis
8/14-clnscopy
8/14-CT scan,no mets
9/14-left colectomy,CEA 2.2 before surgery
pT2pN2bpM0
3 cm tumor in dscnding colon
7/23 pos LNs
low grade MSI stable
10/14-start folfox
1/15-CT & PET scan and sigmdoscopy- no mets
3/15-finish folfox
9/15- clnscopy- 3 polyps removed
10/15- CT scan, NED
10/16- CT scan, NED, CEA 1.6
10/17- clnscopy- 4 polyps removed, CT scan NED, CEA 1.8
10/14 1.9; 4/15 2.8; 5/15 2.4; 9/15 2.8; 12/15 3.1; 1/16 3.0; 4/16 2.5; 7/16 2.5; 10/16 1.6; 1/17 1.9

Lee
Posts: 6207
Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2006 4:09 pm

Re: Neuropathy and Swimming

Postby Lee » Thu Aug 31, 2017 10:27 am

Interesting about swimming and neuropathy. Good luck with your upcoming scope and scans.

Keep us posted,

Lee
rectal cancer - April 2004
46 yrs old at diagnoses
stage III C - 6/13 lymph positive
radiation - 6 weeks
surgery - August 2004/hernia repair 2014
permanent colostomy
chemo - FOLFOX
NED - 16 years and counting!

testing765
Posts: 324
Joined: Tue Aug 19, 2014 9:41 am

Re: Neuropathy and Swimming

Postby testing765 » Thu Aug 31, 2017 1:10 pm

Lee wrote:Interesting about swimming and neuropathy. Good luck with your upcoming scope and scans.

Keep us posted,

Lee


Thank you, I appreciate it. Right now I am not feeling too nervous, but I am sure I will be more anxious the closer I get to the dates for the CT scan and the colonoscopy.
male-age 44 at diagnosis
8/14-clnscopy
8/14-CT scan,no mets
9/14-left colectomy,CEA 2.2 before surgery
pT2pN2bpM0
3 cm tumor in dscnding colon
7/23 pos LNs
low grade MSI stable
10/14-start folfox
1/15-CT & PET scan and sigmdoscopy- no mets
3/15-finish folfox
9/15- clnscopy- 3 polyps removed
10/15- CT scan, NED
10/16- CT scan, NED, CEA 1.6
10/17- clnscopy- 4 polyps removed, CT scan NED, CEA 1.8
10/14 1.9; 4/15 2.8; 5/15 2.4; 9/15 2.8; 12/15 3.1; 1/16 3.0; 4/16 2.5; 7/16 2.5; 10/16 1.6; 1/17 1.9

User avatar
susie0915
Posts: 945
Joined: Wed Aug 02, 2017 8:17 am
Facebook Username: Susan DeGrazia Hostetter
Location: Michigan

Re: Neuropathy and Swimming

Postby susie0915 » Thu Aug 31, 2017 1:22 pm

That is interesting about the swimming. I finished Xelox in April, 2016. My neuropathy kicked in about a month later. My hands have gotten better, I don't drop things like I did, balance is better, but my feet still have numbness and tingling, expecially on hard floor. I don't have a lot of pain just annoying. I find if I keep moving and wear something on my feet I feel better. My oncologist prescribed Neurontin also, but I just don't like the loopy feeling I get from it. It is always stressful every time a scan or bloodwork is done. I have scan in October also. At my 1 years scan a tiny lung nodule was seen so it is being watched. My doctors think it's scar tissue or inflammation but will monitor, too small to do anything. It did not change in the three month follow up scan, so we will see in October. I know how you feel. Hoping the further away I am from finishing treatment the less stressful it will be, but not sure. Good luck with your scans and tests, here's praying things continue to go well for you.
58 yrs old Dx @ 55
5/15 DX T3N0MO
6/15 5 wks chemo/rad
7/15 sigmoidoscopy/only scar tissue left
8/15 PET scan NED
9/15 LAR
0/24 nodes
10/15 blockage. surgery,early ileo rev, c-diff inf :(
12/15 6 rds of xelox
5/16 CT lung scarring/inflammation
9/16 clear colonoscopy
4/17 C 4mm lung nod
10/17 pel/abd CT NED
11/17 CEA<.5
1/18 CT/Lung no change in 4mm nodule
5/18 CEA<.5, CT pel/abd/lung NED
11/18 CEA .6
5/19 CT NED, CEA <.5
10/19 Clear colonscopy
11/19 CEA <.5

testing765
Posts: 324
Joined: Tue Aug 19, 2014 9:41 am

Re: Neuropathy and Swimming

Postby testing765 » Thu Aug 31, 2017 1:31 pm

susie0915 wrote:That is interesting about the swimming. I finished Xelox in April, 2016. My neuropathy kicked in about a month later. My hands have gotten better, I don't drop things like I did, balance is better, but my feet still have numbness and tingling, expecially on hard floor. I don't have a lot of pain just annoying. I find if I keep moving and wear something on my feet I feel better. My oncologist prescribed Neurontin also, but I just don't like the loopy feeling I get from it. It is always stressful every time a scan or bloodwork is done. I have scan in October also. At my 1 years scan a tiny lung nodule was seen so it is being watched. My doctors think it's scar tissue or inflammation but will monitor, too small to do anything. It did not change in the three month follow up scan, so we will see in October. I know how you feel. Hoping the further away I am from finishing treatment the less stressful it will be, but not sure. Good luck with your scans and tests, here's praying things continue to go well for you.


Hi susie0915. Thank you for your prayers. I will also pray that your October scan confirms that you are NED and that you stay that way.
male-age 44 at diagnosis
8/14-clnscopy
8/14-CT scan,no mets
9/14-left colectomy,CEA 2.2 before surgery
pT2pN2bpM0
3 cm tumor in dscnding colon
7/23 pos LNs
low grade MSI stable
10/14-start folfox
1/15-CT & PET scan and sigmdoscopy- no mets
3/15-finish folfox
9/15- clnscopy- 3 polyps removed
10/15- CT scan, NED
10/16- CT scan, NED, CEA 1.6
10/17- clnscopy- 4 polyps removed, CT scan NED, CEA 1.8
10/14 1.9; 4/15 2.8; 5/15 2.4; 9/15 2.8; 12/15 3.1; 1/16 3.0; 4/16 2.5; 7/16 2.5; 10/16 1.6; 1/17 1.9

cmrl
Posts: 174
Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2014 8:39 pm

Re: Neuropathy and Swimming

Postby cmrl » Thu Aug 31, 2017 2:06 pm

Glad to hear that you are doing well. I also have neuropathy, and my Oncologist continues to say that it will improve, but there is no sign of that!
Enjoy your vacation, and good luck with the tests
Resection of splenic flexure 7/24/13
T3N2BM0, Stage 3c,12/29 nodes
Folfox x12 9/13-3/14
CT scan 4/14, enlarged spleen, otherwise clear
CT 4/15, spleen WNL.
6/17 3 cm benign polyp at ileocecal valve, awaiting removal


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