I honestly never thought I’d be the one posting here, but life has a way of forcing your hand... My mother was hit out of nowhere by these strange pelvic pains and abdominal fluid buildup—everything pointed toward the worst-case scenario. After some terrible ovarian markers and a battery of tests, she underwent surgery just a week ago, and the news is devastating... 😢, everything in her abdomen is involved. They removed as much as they possibly could, but it wasn't enough... essentially, the ovaries, the uterus, and part of the bowel are gone. Apparently, the bladder seems okay, but the cancer originated from the peritoneum and had been developing silently for years without a single symptom. She’s currently in the hospital, recovering slowly... and chemo is slated to begin in about a month. To be honest, the shock is overwhelming—I feel far too young to be navigating this kind of reality... It’s hard, just incredibly hard... yet, somehow, I wake up every day clinging to a shred of new hope. I would be so grateful if anyone who has walked a similar path could reach out, as I have several questions weighing on me. 1. What does a standard six-cycle chemotherapy regimen actually entail? 2. Are there any proven ways to strengthen her system during this recovery period? 3. Which supplemental aids—including alternative options—might help mitigate the side effects of chemo? 4. Nutrition... does anyone have specific dietary advice or recommendations?
Thank you so much for any insight you can provide.
Did they mention any other symptoms besides the high fever? I was reading somewhere that in cases like this, you often see things like diarrhea, vomiting, or even anemia...
It’s usually pretty clear what we're dealing with—even if I can't quite put my finger on the specific culprit right now—but antibiotics should do the trick, provided we aren't running into the growing issue of antibiotic resistance these days.
I’m really hoping for a positive outcome here; since they're at the hospital in Chicago, I'm sure they'll pull out all the stops. Keeping everything crossed for them. 🙂
Has he traveled outside the States recently? I wonder if we might be looking at Legionnaires' disease. A while back, an acquaintance of my father passed away from a similar bacterial infection... but since he had been traveling abroad, the consensus was that he picked up the bacteria during one of his trips overseas.
Hey ladies, just figured I’d chime in here... For about a year now, I’ve been relying on standard Advil—thankfully, a single pill usually does the trick and moves through my system pretty fast. I might take up to two during those first couple of days, though if I'm staying home, I try to just "power through" as much as possible; after all, the fewer pills, the better, right? But when I have plans out and about, I make it a point to take them during those first three days regardless of how bad the cramps feel at that exact moment... My biggest issue, though, isn't even the pain—it's the weakness, that sudden drop in iron levels... which, predictably, manifests as black spots dancing before my eyes. There is absolutely no way I can hop onto a packed subway or a commuter train during the first or second day and expect to stand for more than ten minutes without 🙄, that overwhelming sensation of frailty and darkness hitting me. Fortunately, I haven't actually collapsed yet; I always manage to spot an empty seat, wait a minute or two for it to pass, and then scramble my way home to lie down—it’s become a bit of a routine at this point, I suppose. 😛... Then there's the heat waves that hit a few days beforehand—especially intense during high-stress periods—which leave me feeling weak and nauseous... yet, somehow, I still haven't made it to my gynecologist. 🤣, I'm always rushing somewhere, running against the clock... hmh.
On another note, I have to mention that something truly strange happened this month. Usually, as the years go by, things seem to get progressively worse—I can't survive a single day without at least one pill... but this time? Nothing. 😲, absolutely nothing, just some minor discomfort on the first day. I didn't take a single tablet—just a hint of weakness, but nothing more. I can only attribute that to the massive amount of stress I've been under for the last two weeks; perhaps my body simply braced itself against the pain. 😂... I've been dealing with some respiratory issues lately—lung stuff and breathing trouble—and it honestly just "unsettled" me so much. Between the coughing and all the medication I was taking (which left me feeling quite groggy), I didn't even realize I had started my period, let alone when it would arrive... clearly, there's just too much adrenaline coursing through me... at least that's a silver lining, I guess. We'll see how next month goes... ☕
Regarding those muscle issues... honestly, I suspect it’s a simple case of sheer inactivity. Are you all actually getting any exercise? Look, I'm significantly younger than most of you, but I haven't been particularly active lately—blame the college lifestyle—and after attempting just ten minutes of light movement, I was literally shaking from weakness for hours afterward. It was a struggle just to make it back home. My conclusion? It matches exactly what my physical therapist told me: muscles lose their strength when they aren't being used. If you sit around like a houseplant, you're going to feel it. You really ought to see a specialist to get a proper evaluation and a tailored therapy plan... I’ve started some gentle physical therapy exercises myself, which have been a lifesaver for my back and neck (I deal with scoliosis), but you need to find a form of recreation that actually suits you. Don't force anything that feels unnatural. 2. Iron levels—how are yours looking? I get those same bouts of sudden weakness you're describing. Whenever it hits, I make sure to drink water with a bit of sugar, or maybe a Gatorade or some lemonade... it's that terrifying sensation where everything goes black for a second. I've been dealing with iron deficiency since my teenage years. 3. Blood pressure? What are your readings? It could be the same thing—dizziness, lightheadedness, seeing spots, or just general exhaustion caused by low blood pressure. 4. Stress—you really have to try to shift your lifestyle, even if only incrementally. Carve out at least thirty minutes a day just for yourself. Instead of driving to work or taking the bus, try walking part of the way; instead of collapsing in front of the TV the moment you get home, go for a short walk. 5. Multivitamins—give them a shot for at least a month; you should start feeling a difference. In my view, this isn't necessarily anxiety or hypochondria—or anything quite that dire... at least, not yet. It sounds more like burnout. You need to change certain habits, starting with physical activity. Every Sunday, head out to a local state park or a hiking trail... it will be difficult at first, certainly, but if you stay consistent, you'll see the results sooner than you think.
So, here’s my situation... I’m constantly battling pain, and on top of that, I’m dealing with anemia—which means I’m practically on the verge of fainting most of the time. Usually, when things get bad, I end up staying home for two or three days; if I absolutely have to go somewhere, it involves sitting down—and I mean *only* sitting. No walking, no shopping, no physical exertion whatsoever. It’s exhausting. Fortunately, there are months where I feel okay, and then there are those months where everything just falls apart. When that sudden, insidious, dull ache hits and leaves me unable to move—or when the weakness takes over—I reach for a pill. I used to take Tylenol, but now I’ve switched to Aleve. In both cases, within ten minutes, the pain vanishes and I feel almost weightless—provided, of course, that I stay lying down. If I were to walk around, the pain would dull slightly, but it wouldn't go away. I’ve never touched anything stronger because my stomach is incredibly sensitive; honestly, I had such a horrific experience with Voltaren once that I swore off it forever. It probably just takes longer to kick in, but I’ll never forget that night—I took it, waited thirty minutes, then an hour, and I felt absolutely terrible. I even tried to drink something else to settle my stomach, but I just had to endure it. One thing is certain: Voltaren is a hard "never" for me. Another thing I've noticed isn't just the pain itself, but this overwhelming sense of weakness and these sudden hot flashes—so, basically, total rest is the only option. In your case, I’d suggest the same thing—prioritize resting. I suspect your medication didn't work because perhaps your system has become accustomed to stronger stuff? Maybe you could try Advil? A friend of mine swears by it. Just like everyone tells me, I try to avoid over-medicating since I prefer to take as few pills as possible, but maybe you should start as soon as the symptoms hit—take one every eight hours or so for a day or two to see if things stabilize before stopping. Personally, I usually wait until the pain is unbearable or until I know I’m forced to be on my feet. As for hormonal pills... goodness, I’ve always been resistant to them. Perhaps I’d reconsider if things were as bad as they are for you—I mean, better to take them than to let everything spiral downward, right? Have you experimented with any herbal teas? You know, trying a more natural approach. What really gets to me, though, is the PMS. Lately, I’ve been dealing with constant hot flashes, irritability, and weakness leading up to my period. Does anyone have any advice?
So, did you actually manage to save any of those mushroom remains you ate? Honestly, if I were in your shoes, I’d head straight to a specialist to confirm whether they were actually chanterelles or something much more sinister—you need to rule that out immediately. Once that's settled, get yourself to an ER right away... have them run a full blood panel first so they can check for any immediate signs of toxicity, and then the doctors can figure out the next steps from there. Good luck. 🙂
So, how are things looking now? I went through something remarkably similar last year—or at least, I thought it was tied to the antibiotics I was taking, which was a first for me. My doctor had me on two capsules at a time, and I vividly remember waking up in the middle of the night feeling... well, forgive my choice of words, but it felt like being a junkie going through withdrawal on day one. Just this overwhelming sense of weakness and total helplessness; I could barely pull myself out of bed. When I finally made it to my parents, they told me I looked deathly pale, and then I was hit by this uncontrollable shaking spell. We were completely lost—the panic and restlessness were so intense that we ended up calling 911. The nurse on the line basically brushed me off, suggesting I was just coming down with something and to check my temperature... but how could she not see? I didn't have a fever; I was shaking from pure physical depletion. Since things didn't escalate further, I decided not to head to the ER and instead grabbed some Gatorade with extra sugar. Within fifteen minutes, I started feeling better. After that, I lowered my dosage and went straight to get blood work done. It turned out I have an iron deficiency—something I've been dealing with for a decade now—and nothing else. I started taking multivitamins, and that helped significantly. Thankfully, it hasn't happened like that again; I still deal with bouts of fatigue, but none of those shaking fits. Personally, I suspect stress played a massive role. Between everything happening over the last few years and the grind of college, it all just builds up, doesn't it? You might want to consider some multivitamins, plus maybe getting your thyroid and ovarian hormones checked out. And perhaps seeing a psychologist—even just for a few sessions to figure out how to manage your time, slow down, and maybe find some light recreation. A one-hour walk, rollerblading, or cycling—anything you enjoy that isn't physically punishing. For me, nothing worked better than the coast, swimming, and that salt air... now that I'm back in the city, it feels like the whole cycle is starting all over again.
I suspect time is the primary culprit here... perhaps you might try incorporating a multi-vitamin into your routine—those effervescent ones from Nature Made worked wonders for me—just stay hydrated, avoid anything too heavy on the stomach, and things should start looking up 🙂
Well, I suppose it’s time I finally weighed in on this thread... I’ve been dealing with a fair amount of this since I was quite young—though for me, it wasn't strictly limited to my legs. While that was the primary issue, the sensation would often migrate up into my hands as well... and there was always that overwhelming, almost desperate urge to move my legs, coupled with this peculiar sort of ache. It wasn't exactly tingling, per se, but rather a deep-seated discomfort—a feeling that my current position simply didn't "fit"—that forced me to constantly shift around. In the past, I was actually scheduled to undergo some kind of nerve conduction study involving those dreadful needles, but I ultimately decided against it... On a brighter note, things have actually been improving over the last few years; ever since I upgraded my bed and mattress, I feel like a new person. I’ve also noticed that the symptoms flare up whenever I'm uncomfortable—say, if I'm lounging on an uneven sofa or accidentally falling asleep on one of those flimsy folding guest beds—it's just awful... 🙂, I find myself unable to sleep for the entire night when that happens... I suspect it has everything to do with spinal alignment. Heat seems to be my saving grace, too; clearly, my circulation isn't what it should be. When a flare-up hits, even in the middle of summer, simply covering my feet or my legs up to the knees with a light blanket is enough—within minutes, I can feel the warmth spreading through my legs and the sensation starts to subside. I’ve never really taken anything for it—not even standard painkillers—and while my neurologist suggested I start taking some Omega-3 supplements, I haven't been particularly consistent with that either, hmph...
Sophia Hughes6 said:Have you tried any drops, like hemp tincture, or maybe evening primrose oil in capsules? Those two seem to get the most praise on the forums. For me, the tincture helped quite a bit.
Not yet, but thanks for the tip—I'll definitely look into it...
Well, I might as well officially join the club of women suffering through agonizing periods...🙄 It seems like as I get older, everything just goes downhill—especially over this last year. I suspect the stress has completely thrown my system out of whack; now I’m dealing with these sudden hot flashes in the morning, intense pains, and even mid-cycle cramping—likely ovulation, I suppose. Just the day before yesterday, right before my period actually started, I felt so nauseous on the subway that I genuinely thought I was about to die... it’s honestly never been this bad. Fortunately, some pills help, though I try not to rely on them too heavily—maybe just two or three during those first three days at night. Since I'm still a student, I'm lucky enough to avoid a rigid work schedule, which usually means I can dodge heavy lifting or having to leave the house when I'm feeling like death. I used to take Advil—it’s number one in my book—but the relief doesn't last very long, maybe just a few hours. Still, it works incredibly fast; within ten minutes, I start to feel some easing of the pain, which is vital on those once-a-year occasions where the agony is so sharp I feel like screaming. However, it started making me feel a bit queasy, so lately I’ve switched to Neofen or Knavon. Interestingly, Voltaren hasn't worked for me at all—it's far too slow to kick in, so it’s just not worth the hassle. I’ve considered whether hormonal contraception might be a real solution—my OB-GYN certainly suggested it—but I’ve personally declined to go that route... then again, perhaps there are herbal remedies? A close friend of mine practically underwent a total transformation after she started drinking this specific tea designed for women's health; before that, she could barely crawl out of bed, though she did find birth control left her feeling just as exhausted and drained, so she quit that too. I tried starting that same tea, but I have such a low tolerance for herbal brews—they always make me feel sick to my stomach. Since you have to drink it three times a day, I eventually gave up... For me, it isn't even the physical pain that's the worst part, but rather this strange, pervasive weakness, those sudden waves of heat, and the sheer inability to function like a normal human being...🙂 But what can you do? It is what it is...
In my estimation, you’re likely dealing with anemia—specifically an iron deficiency. I went through something remarkably similar myself; it all started when I was fourteen, though my symptoms included those dizzying blackouts where everything just goes dark for a moment... It’s all quite indicative of low iron levels. Essentially, your heart is struggling to circulate enough oxygen because there simply isn't enough hemoglobin to carry it—so the heart starts racing to compensate, leaving you feeling utterly drained and exhausted after even the most trivial exertion, like walking up a single flight of stairs. My advice? Go get a blood panel done first. If the results come back clear, then you can sit down with your doctor and figure out what the next move should be.
Sam Hayes said:I’ve been dealing with this exact same thing all summer. I mean, I love the heat and the sunshine, but—there’s always that "but" 🙄—I just feel completely drained. It’s as if I’ve exhaled my entire life force; I have absolutely zero motivation for anything... I’m living in this state of constant fatigue and exhaustion. Honestly, I’ve even stopped going to the beach because just the effort of dragging myself down there feels like it's sucking the soul right out of me, and then swimming or tanning leaves me so wiped out that I'm practically seeing stars, even though it's broad daylight... The other day, I almost collapsed in the restroom—it was pretty scary. I broke out in a cold sweat, my ears started ringing, and my heart began racing like crazy. It doesn't really matter whether I've eaten or stayed hydrated; this lack of energy is just constant. I am so exhausted that I don't have the strength for anything at all. To be perfectly honest, I feel like a walking corpse. It’s actually become quite awkward when people invite me out and I have to say I can't make it, so we'll try another time—but then that "other time" comes and goes, and it's the same old story. I end up feeling like I'm just flaking on everyone, when in reality, I truly don't have the energy or the will for anything, let alone going out... 🤷
It’s uncanny how much I relate to this—it honestly feels like I sat down and wrote those exact words myself. I headed out to the coast, nursing this hope that a little salt air and sunshine might actually do something for my mental state, and for the first week, things were actually decent. I felt a spark of energy, a genuine sense of momentum. But then? It all just collapsed. The exhaustion came back, and this time it feels different—this crushing, chronic fatigue that just won't budge. I can sleep until 10:00 AM and still find it an absolute struggle to drag myself out of bed in the morning. And don't even get me started on the tachycardia; that racing heart sensation is just miserable. I recently went in for blood work, and while my iron levels are technically fine, I’ve dealt with anemia my entire life, and somehow, it manifests in me in a completely different, much more debilitating way. I feel useless—just completely, utterly drained of any purpose. And now, of course, I’m staring down a mountain of studying while feeling like I have absolutely nothing left in the tank. Is there ever a break?😢 I happen to have a low tolerance. Does anyone have any suggestions? I’m open to hearing what you all might recommend—though, given the circumstances, I won't hold my breath for anything truly revolutionary.