My chemo week is coming to an end, and I could not be happier. The last few days have been a challenge between the nausea, the fatigue, the weepy eyes and, of course, the hand-foot syndrome. The skin on my feet and hands has been getting worse with each chemo session, so I am trying to keep the skin intact with applications of various creams and lotions. I will admit that I have little patience for anything greasy, though at least on my feet I can cover it with loose socks, which I do for several hours each day with the application of the Aquaphor®. Being that I can’t do much else than read, write on the computer, watch television or nap, I can’t very well do either of the first two with gloppy hands. I try to time it all by applying my creams of choice, watching television, which often means napping, too, while it absorbs somewhat, and then wiping off the rest so I can either read of write. When I go to bed at night, I use Avon’s Foot Works Healthy Cracked Heel Relief cream with lidocaine, which seems to ease the pain along with absorbing well into the skin rather quickly, meaning I don’t have to wear socks to bed, which I hate.
Although I take my last dose of Xeloda® tonight, the side effects will continue for another couple days before they begin to subside. Usually, by the fourth day off chemo I start to feel the relief from the side effects, and I can start getting out again and resuming activities. Till then, it’s a lot of napping and watching television (though right now I am enjoying watching the Olympics).
5 6 7 8 © 2004–2012 Donna Peach. All rights reserved.
Bless you dear Lady! Wishing you dreams of dancing, as always!
Have you tried Jean’s Cream? I don’t know if it will work for this but I bought it for my niece (5 yrs old and terrible patches of eczema that she will scratch until she bleeds). It worked wonderfully for her. I like it for my dry elbows and heels. I hate that you are dealing with this.
Giant hugs,
AnneMarie
http://www.jeanscream.com/
xoxox
Praying that relief will soon be coming. ~Sandy
My hands look just like yours.My experience is different from yours, tho. I am on one week on, one off, and some weeks the h/f is much worse than others. My onc says it’s important to use a cream containing urea. Eucerin has a new product called Professional Repair, in which the second ingred. is urea. It absorbs quickly and does help the pain.
Oops! You can tell this is an on week because I make lots of typos. My last name is actually Rustad. Funny–an example of the object of our discussion!
How about asking your doc for a prescription for lidocaine ointment? I got some of this from one of my docs and it really helps with open/raw skin. I put it on before I shower, so the water doesn’t sting.
Hope the side effects taper off quickly for you. XOXOX Rebecca