EndoCa: new post-chemo problem

I've been in the hospital since Friday. I started feeling bad last Wednesday like I had some sort of flu virus or something-just really tired, low-grade fever and chills, loss of appetite etc. But by Friday night I was feeling a lot worse and my fever was running about 101-102 and I starting voimiting.I also had abdominal pain.

I told my husband that I felt like I needed to go to the ER and get checked out. When we got there they did blood tests and a CT scan and told me I had developed Diverticulitis and an abcess! I've never had any sort of bowel problems before. I had a CT scan back in Jan. and it didn't show anything wrong with my colon so all this has developed since then.

I think it's directly connected to the Chemo I've had. I don't know this for sure but it seems pretty likely. It's just so hard on the body that is affects all kinds of things. I have tom have a drain tube inserted today to drain the abcess. The doctor was also talking about surgery to remove part of my colon where it was infected but I may not have to do that.

I've been on IV antibiotics since Friday and am feeling pretty good-no pain and my temp is normal now. I was wondering if other ladies had post-chemo health issues, too.

Heart & Home, I am so sorry to hear that you're hospitalized with diverticulitis. I'm glad you're feeling better and hope you'll be discharged soon. You've had a rough time!

Can't help you with the chemo question. I don't know anyone else who had chemo and developed diverticulitis, but I do know a number of people who developed it in their 40s and 50s who did not have chemo, including a doctor for whom I worked who was hospitalized with it.

Will be praying for a quick recovery and some answers for you!

Oh my goodness. I am so sorry to hear this. I hope you feel better soon!

I'm glad you seem to be feeling better, and I hope you can avoid a surgery. I'm sorry you have this, really you've been through enough. I hope you are better and home soon.

Packerfan, I'm so sorry to hear you're going through this. As if the chemo and cancer isn't enough -- this is just insult to injury. These drugs just wreak havoc on our GI systems. Thankfully, they've got you diagnosed and you're on the road to recovery. Sending you a big hug!

I'm back home now! They discharged me this evening. I got the drain tube taken out this morning. They said they didn't find any infection in it! I'm still kind of puzzled about this whole episode and have questions I'd like to find answers for. Anyway, I'm really happy to be back home and thank you for your kind well wishes!

So glad you're home and feeling better! I hope they can figure out the answers to your questions. You've been through enough without having to deal with this as well.

So glad that you are back home! I always thought diverticulitis was first treated through diet changes before considering surgery. Your body has been through so much with chemo and I would think that recovery from surgery would be so hard this time. Hugs for successful healing!

Glad you're home & feeling better. Chemotherapy can have a variety of differing affects on people.

You can go to the website http://www.chemocare.com/
and search for your particulary chemotherapy. You will get a list of side effects, both common & uncommon. It might help you find the answers you're looking for.

When I was going through chemo I had side effects that my doctor didn't know about, but I saw them listed on the chemocare information sheet for my particular drug. They were uncommon.

Best wishes on an uneventful recovery.

Heart & Home,
Talk to your doctor about radiation side effects. I had a lot more side effects (thankfully short term) from radiation than chemo, and bowel issues were number one. Hopefully things will improve for you, and glad to see you're back home!
Hugs!