Mouth ulcers and fatigue

[Raghunathan]

I am done with 21 injections but the side effects such as acute mouth ulcers and tongue blisters just dont seem to fade! Its pretty severe at times. Is this is a common side effect? If so, what can be the cause? I have tried a more than million gels,but nothing seems to cure other than the one that makes my mouth numb for an hour or so.
Secondly, fatigue which is observed suddenly, is actually bad and makes me lie on bed the whole day! After half the cycle of injections, there does not seem any respite to the side effects!
Does anyone experience body shivers and tremors? What is the cause?

[Kristina538]

Biotene non-alcoholic mouth wash for the ulcers - use often, and you can also get a night gel.

Drinking more water should help with the shivers etc, if you're getting them up to a coupld of days after the shot (if I didn't drink heaps of water on shot day and the day after, I would always feel shivery).. . paracetamol really helps too, but water is the key.   I always got a mild fever sometime during the week.  I also got more predisposed to feeling cold when my thyroid started acting up.

Stay away from spicy foods;  get some melons and yoghurt;  if you dont have the mouthwash, at least rinse with salt water or a bit of baking soda in water.   Drink diluted lemon in water to help alkalinise your system.

You've done the hardest weeks, but the mouth ulcers can really be depressing;  ask your local chemist of help - tell him you're on chemo.  Good luck.

[IMstacie]

You hb may be dropping which is why you are wiped - probably need to check your labs.  For your mount sores, a nurse suggested using magic mouthwash to ease any discomfort. Popsicles feel soothing to a sore mouth.  Hope you feel better soon.

[newleaf09]

I don't know if you should be suddenly wiped out like that.  What is your hemoglobin number now?  There are some people who get a little more accustomed to the meds and their lab numbers stop dropping so dramatically after a few months but some of us don't ever reach that stage (I didn't either).  There is a drug called Procrit that can increase hemoglobin production.  It takes several shots (over several weeks) to bring hemoglobin levels to a less exhausting level, so don't expect immediate improvement.  It helps a lot.

I was never sure if the mouth sores were due to low platelets or low neutrophil count, because I started getting them after 23-24 weeks and both of those were low with me.  Mouth and tongue sores are pretty common.  The numbing rinse makes them feel temporarily better but does not help them heal. You need to be vigorously rinsing your mouth 3-4 times a day with an over-the counter anti-bacterial mouthwash.  It hurts to rinse the first day or so, but it will cause improvement (smaller and less painful sores) after a few days.  Unfortunately new ones will keep starting as long as the bloodcounts are low.  Also look at the 'related discussions' link at the bottom of the page for suggestions on alleviating mouth sores.

Keep going and talk to your doctor about managing these unpleasant side effects.  There are things that can help.