I start each day with a large dose of "grin and bear it" and try to make sure that I am getting enough B12 in my diet or, if necessary, with supplements.
I looked at the suggested prescription meds that mask symptoms but they all come with their own side effects and contraindications so they were eliminated from consideration.
The recommendations of PT, acupuncture and other therapies all came with the caveat "may help relieve symptoms in some patients over time". To be honest, due to financial and time issues I wasn't willing to make the leap of faith that I was one of those who would benefit.
I have difficulty with buttons, doing up my bra, putting in earrings, and using a keyboard among other things. For years I have had the hand syndrome that goes with neuropathy (can't remember the name but my fingers go white and numb when cold). Whenever I wriggle my toes it feels as if they are covered in wet sand and I have a strange pulsing sensation in my feet (it feels sort of like when an elevator stops and then makes the adjustment to be level with the floor before the doors open) that occur at random moments. Standing for a long time is painful and walking barefoot is extremely uncomfortable. My balance is out of whack too. All of this came on full blast during the 10th infusion. I went from zero to warp drive in one infusion.
Now to balance what I hope didn't sound too negative, I am still working full time and, while I do spend many hours on a computer, I don't have to do any thing with fine motor skills. As in I am not a surgeon.
My travel time to and from work is an hour each way in heavy traffic and I am still driving my manual transmission car (fondly called The Blue Tank). I used to be comfortable driving with sandals but now wear shoes. I would be devasted if I had to switch to an automatic because of the neuropathy.
It was my choice to maintain the oxaliplatin for all 12 infusions (I was at 75% of my initial dosage) and I don't regret it.
mob
CC Dx 102017 age 58
Lap. right hemi-colectomy Dec 2017
Adenocarcinoma ascending colon – 6cm x 6cm x 2cm, Low Grade, penetrates to peritoneum
T4a N2a M0, Stage IIIC
lymph nodes 6 positive out of 18
FOLFOX start Jan/18 end Aug/8 (felt like a year)
CEA - 01/15/18-2.8; 07/29/18-5.3; 09/19-2.4; 03/20-2.7; 09/20-2.9
CT scan 08/18 - Clear; 10/19 - Clear; * 10/20 - 8mm & 6mm nodules in liver
PET scan 09/18 (thought about bringing the cat
) - Clear
Colonoscopy Dec 7 2018 - Clear - Next in 3 years?