Just wondering if anyone else is finding their legs and hands shake a few days after chemo. I had shakiness for about a week after the first infusion so my dose was reduced for my second EC on Saturday but still I’ve got the sssshhhaaakkkeess. Tried putting my eyeliner on this morning and ended up looking like Alice Cooper!
I’ve been quite lucky so far with other things though.
Yes, it’s become a fixture for me. I attribute it to chemo-induced fatigue but there are other factors such as peripheral neuropathy (a common side effect of paclitaxel for example, which can make your fingertips numb) and neuropathy (generally experienced by pain but it can ‘just’ be weakness). Chemo can also cause chemo fog, where messages in the brain seem to get jumbled and you forget the word you’ve used a dozen times that day. You can also lose some motor (?) control such as the steady hand you need for applying mascara without poking your eye. I’ve given up on mascara now - I spend more time with Q tips trying to undo the damage than I do on my whole makeup lol.
Sounds terrible but most symptoms go when you’ve finished the chemo. They may even ease up as you get used to the chemo. EC is a notoriously harsh treatment. It turned me into a zombie so it didn’t matter that I couldn’t wear make up! If you do notice numbing fingertips or tingly toes, mention it immediately to your oncologist, as you would any side effect. In fact, I’d mention that I can’t apply mascara because… Most of it means something to the oncologist!
All the best with the rest of your chemo. It’s not pleasant but it’s all manageable and look on the bright side - you may not have eyelashes for much longer. I didn’t mind losing hair but losing my eyelashes (all but 3) made me weep. Have a look at the website for the Look Good, Feel Better. They run regular online sessions about makeup during chemo and the goody bag is great! Xx