oligodendroglioma grade 2. Temador

Hello,

I was diagnosed with a grade 2 oligodendrogliomaon 4-20-2012.  I had surgery 3 days later.  I am now home and currently am doing 1 yr of Temador.  I have done 2 cycles of it and about to do my 3rd.  I thought it would be the same each month but that is not what has happened.  The first month I had really bad constipation the week of the Temador.  This past month I had horrible constipation the week after the Temador.  I tried everything the oncologist suggested for the constipation but nothing helped.  Before I do my 3rd cycle I wanted to know if anyone had experience with this and had a suggestions?  Also since I have been home my head on the right side still hurts.  Does it take a long time to heal after surgery?  Also for some reason my taste buds are all messed up.  I cannot taste foods or drinks for some reason.  If anyone has any suggestions on this I would appreciate it.

Thanks

Cheryl

Cheryl,

In taking Temodar this can be one of it's side affects. THe only thing I can suggest is more fiber to see if this helps. I took it for 2 years, that's all I could handle. As for your taste buds that also can be caused by the temador. JUst remember your body needs nutrition so you might need to figure out something that makes the food a little more tasty to you. I will say chemo sucks and was not the first or last to say that. Your scar should heal up fairly quick. I have for years experienced a "headache" feeling where they performed surgery. Everyone may not have but cutting all the nerves across the incision was the issue for me. Hang in there.

HOPE

Damon

Dx Nov 07......No regrets

Hi Cheryl,

I went through surgery and 3 months of Temodar, and the same constipation problem.  I increased my fiber intake along with juicing and everything came out OK.  Healing takes time, especially the jaw muscles, and my taste buds were messed-up for a couple of months but now are normal.

Steve

Steve,

Thank you so much for responding.  I will try the extra fiber.  Going to take it 1 day at a time.

Cheryl

Damon,

Thank you so much for responding.  The right side of my head (which is where the tumor is) is still in pain.  I cannot sleep on that side of my head at all.  I was just thinking it should be feeling better by now but I am sure it will just take time.  The doctor did say that all the nerve endings have yet to heal and that may be why I am having issues with taste.  All in time I guess.

Cheryl

I did a year of Temodar and constipation the end of the first week and into the second was an issue. I found that eating a couple of activia yogurts every morning kept things moving along. I also had pain at the surgical site. It did get better over time, but sometimes I still feel a little sore where I can feel the screws. I also have an Oli 2, diagnosed Nov 2010, with the deletions. Do you know if you have the deletions. I went ahead and did the radiation as well because I had a less than total resection. Wishing you the best.

Grace and Peace, Danny

Danny,

I will try the activia for sure, thank you.  I did have both deletions so they said that was a good thing.  They only have me doing the temador for 1 year and not radiation.  Thanks so much for your advise, I appreciate it so much.

Cheryl

My wife had the same constipation issues and resolved it by using both Miralax and Senokot at the recommendation of her Neuro-Oncologist.  You can pick them both up at drug stores or the pharmacy section of your local Wal-Mart or grocery store.

my husband had terrible constipation with temodar.  He took 2 colace in the morning and 2 at night but would also need about at tablespoon of milk of magnesia.  He would start that regimen about the 3rd day into his 5 day temodar and after a week then he would be regular but he would also drink a green smoothie that was made of grapes, orange, pear, banana, kale and spinach along with fresh ground flaxseed and about 5 brazil nuts.  All of this would go in a vita-mix for 1 min.  It usually gave him  energy after drinking it.  Also found that oatmeal in the  morning helped.

cheryl,i was diagnosed with oligodendroglioma in 1997, had surgery to remove it  then 5 yrs later had a reoccurence, temodar and radiation.  constipation has always been a problem for me, so i try to make sure i get enough physical activity,  alot of water , healthy and enough food.  there's all kinds of natural supplements and herbal teas for this ; things like those can be habit forming , so the best thing you can do is keep moving, God has blessed us with many herbs and foods that can help  good luck, praying for you