1st FEC 9TH May

Hi Angie

I think the nux vom did work and at least it’s easy to take in the middle of the night, 2 clicks and Bob’s your uncle! I also think it didn’t do any harm either so worth having it close by even if it’s just for re assurance.

I must also look into aconite, I’m sure I’ve got some in my homeopathic cupboard! I think I took it when my poor little cat got run over a fews ago and I really was upset and grieved over her (sounds pathetic I know!) and I felt it helped at the time. I am taking manuka honey each day. I started by having a teasoon just straight but it’s quite strong so now have it on toast each morning. Hope it’s helping but I’m so annoyed as I got an insect bite yesterday and I react quite badly at the best of times let alone when by white blood cells must be scaping the barrel. I’ve now made an appt to see my GP to get some anti biotics lined up in case it gets worse over the bank holiday. I’ll have to see if everything’s Ok for my next treatment on Thursday. I don’t want any delays but I’ll look at the positive and have an extra good week instead.

I use a very old traditional method to keep my brain cells up to scratch namely a Nintendo DS! I took it in with me for my 5 hour chemo session and it really helped pass the time. My BC nurse was quite jealous that I could play on it for so long without feeling guilty as she has one at home!

I had an echocardiogram as well the week before I started chemo so you may be on your way soon. It’s weird and like an ultrasound whereas I thought it was going to be all wires and a trace. They take lots of readings and your heart sounds very odd as it beats away. It didn’t take very long and I was lying on my side most of the time with boobs flopping all over the place, at least it was a female doing it!

Have a great weekend and forget about Tuesday if you can.

Nicky x

Hi guys
Interesting dicussions about alternative to anti sickness tablets.

I can’t seem to get this to work tonight so I will make this short. I hope your all well and have someting good planned for the bank holiday. My hair has just started to fall out and I am not sure if I want to shave it at this moment in time, so decided to wait and see what happens. I have had a few good days, pottering and take life at a slower pace. I will take not of the alternative stuff above and get some stock in. Thats all for now.
will try again tomorrow.
take it easy guys and most of all have fun
love
maggie

Hi homeopaths
Maggie.sorry to hear about your hair, don’t make any rash decisions. My friend dashed out and shaved the lot of and then realised that some of it was sticking and she could have had a little hair to pull from under her scarves. Anyway hope it is not too upsetting, do you have a wig or scarves, etc ready?
Lily x

Hi lilly you must be on line at this time. How are you doing? I have scarfs at the ready so well prepared. Thanks for your thoughts I have decided not to shave it.
Maggie

Hi guys
How are you all doing? Nicky I am thinking of you as you will be up for your 2nd lot of chemo this thursday. I got fed up with my hair all over the place and a friend shaved it yesterday, it feels so much better and actually not to bad to look at. Someone has lent me their buff which is really comfortable and easy to wear. I am having a good week and trying not to think what next week will be like, so enjoying that feel good factor while I have it.
Hope you are all well and in good spirts.
Maggie

Elginquine
On line at the same time again, getting telepathic. Glad you sound so pleased with your decision about your hair and that you had someone there to help. At least it is a final decision so you won’t have to keep dithering like me and trying to be really careful. What is a buff? Glad you are having a good week. I am back bouncy but about to hit the low immunity so worried if I will feel ill again or just need to take care?
Nicky have some fun for the start of this week, eat lots of good stuff and good luck for the next one
Lily x

Hi Lily and Maggie

Just got back from a reflexology session with someone a friend recommended so hoping to feel a bit less tense than I have been. I wonder what’s caused that then?

I’ve mentioned on another post to Lily that I’m on antibiotics at the moment for an insect bite so I’m not too sure if my next session will go ahead on Thursday. Will have to see what the blood counts show.

I’m also getting fed up with my hair as, up to Friday, it was looking good and ‘behaving’. Now it’s turning ugly and falling out a bit. The cold cap obviously worked to some extent so I need to see what the fall out rate is over the next day or so to see if it’s worth continuing with. It’s good to hear you’re comfortable with your newly shaved head, Maggie, I think I could well be joining you!

Overall I’m feeling OK but a bit fed up with the side effects of the antibiotics. Things have calmed down now but felt nauseous when I started them - where have I had that recently? Also I was hoping for a good weekend before my next chemo and didn’t get one, so that will be 2 fairly rubbish weekends on the trot when I have my chemo one. Just have to make up time afterwards.

Lily, I didn’t feel bad at all during the lowest immunity time, I had expected to feel a bit tired, but was just careful what we did. We had been invited to a charity dinner but when I felt so rubbish earlier in the week just after chemo I cancelled it. I was glad I did as I could have caught something being in such an enclosed space with alot of strangers. I did go to our local pub on the Sunday as I felt I wasn’t mingling with too many strangers and also got some fresh air walking down there - that was my excuse! I have felt really tired these last few days but think this is more down to the antibiotics than anything else - or at least I hope so.

Hope everyone having treatment this week or next is feeling OK and at least we can all tick one off the list which has to be a good thing.

Nicky x

Hi Maggie

Hope you are feeling OK and not too bothered about your next treatment which I think is on Friday. I’m due to have mine today so may not be around for a few days if it goes ahead. Take care and thinking of you and any others going through this as well.

Nicky xx

hi guys
lilly a buff is soft jersey cotton tube, bikers and walkers wear them in all sorts of ways, it very comfortable and I tend to wear it in the house as my head is cold without my hair. I seemed to be ok in my low immunity week although i did keep away from choir in that week. I belong to a community choir and sing world songs of peace…gospel stuff and anything that we enjoy. I also for most of the time have a good diet which helps.
Nicky I hope as I am writing this your fit enough for your 2nd dose. Who would of thought an insect bite could cause so much illness. Did you get longer term effects from your reflexology?
I have not slept so well in the last couple of nights due to the thought of next session. I have been so well this week and know that we are in for a rought time in the next few days. I am off to do some shopping for my brother coming up tomorrow, he is coming on his own and It will be good to spend time with him. Then I am off to have bloods done!!!
ok girls probally check in tomorrow before I go off to have the red stuff poured into me, I only wish that red stuff was wine.
take care
maggie

Nicky
Lots of luck today and hope all goes to plan so you get another one done and dusted.
keep us posted how you go. thinking of you
Hugs
Lily x

Maggie
sorry meant to add hope yours are ok and go to plan too.
keep us posted, another one down pretty soon
Hugs
Lily x

Hi

Glad to say 2nd dose went ahead yesterday but what a lot of faffing around, must have been very lucky the 1st time. My bloods were absolutely OK and I was surprised to see some had improved dramatically since the 1st dose! Must be doing something right. Got home and daughter cut the hair off (as described on the Who’s got hair left’ thread!) So a bit cold on top but covered it up with jersey cover. Felt really tired this time but that could still be the after effects of the antibiotics as I’d only finished them the day before. Slept (if that’s the right word for it) badly last night - no doubt the steroids but coping so far with nausea. Will sleep as and when I need to day which is the nice bit of being at home. The only good bit about not sleeping so well is being able to keep my fluid intake up. Because of my strong sense of smell/taste last time I’m sure I didn’t drink enough water which probably caused some of the headaches I had. Must try harder!

I’ll sign off for now but wish you loads of luck for you treatment today Maggie, and anyone else on the recovery trail from this week. Anyone not having treatment this week make the most of it and have a good weekend everyone.

Nicky xx

ps Maggie, I had a very gentle relaxation session for my 1st reflexology but I may go back for a purging one later next week if I’m still feeling rough or go for a stronger session next time, not near chemo, to get rid of more tension and be prepared for the side effects after that.

Angie

Just a quick note to you (and anyone else who maybe interested) about homeopathic stuff.

In no way am I an expert, whereas I think you know more about this than me, but I used the following this time round:

Big dose of Arnica tablets before treatment (90c but not as high as recommended for pre-ops)
Arnica cream rubbed onto veins when got home, they were a bit sore this time and last.
Another 90c dose of arnica when got home.
Nux Vom (30c) whenever I needed it and could take any anti sickness drugs, especially at night when I can report it did help.
Milk thistle to aid liver function (will take for 7-10 days)
Will then take Ecinacea for 2 weeks when immunity is diving to cover lowest time.
Manuka honey daily (or as and when I can stand the taste!)

Also I’m using seabands on the accupressure points - that’s if I’ve got them in the right place. I wish you were born with a mark on you wrists to show where they go!

This all make sound like ‘quack’ stuff to some of you but I have found all of this helps and I’ve used homeopathic remedies in the past to good effect. But I’d no way leave it up to all this to help deal with the BC, it’s all to help with the side effects, I need the big guns to cope with the nasty stuff!

Good luck for Monday, try not to worry too much about what may happen, and ask us any questions that might come up over the weekend.

Nicky xx

Hi Nicky,
Oh well done, another one over and ticked off your list. Hoooooray.Sorry to hear you were there for so long and hope this one is not too bad as the next few days unravel. Mind you from that list I don’t expect you ta have anything wrong - very impressive knowledge and list. Hope your planning pays off, keep us posted. Improved bloods, well that says yes to your theory about supplements. I don’t take any, hate any tablets or unusual tastes, working on food power, so will be interested to see what mine are like. Not that I wawnt to get to that day just yet! If food power does not work I will get you to give me some tips and give it a try.
Lily x

Hi Lily

Yes, I see from the later May FEC thread that the power of the meringue is being tested to the limit! Maybe it will become a recommended ‘chemo’ food, after all it’s mostly protein isn’t it? As long as there’s a few berries etc in the vicinity it must also be counted as a health food surely?

I found after the 1st FEC I was having to drink water with cordial and things in and I really don’t like sweet drinks so I think this has put me off food such as meringues, cakes etc I’m much more of a savoury person anyway, or unsavoury as some people might say!

Take care and keep up the good work!

Nicky x

Nicky so glad it went well for you and hope the next few days arent too bad
xxx

Nicky

Thanks for sharing that info. Arnica at the ready. And I must refresh my supply of echinacea. I always have nux vom next to the bed (apart from new years eve, when I’m handing it out around the village, quite a queue nowadays).

Hi guys
I have been off the thread for a while so thought I would check in and see how your all doing. I am south at my daughter who has 8months twin girls, enjoying every minute of being here. The sun is shining and I am feeling good. I had a bad week after 2nd chemo and trying to sort out my stomach which looks like its 9 months pregnant. I am going to see my daughter’s homeopath on wed so hopefully pick up what I need while I am down here.
Nicky how are you doing? did you keep your hair? Lilly how are you doing?
I hope your all slapping on your factor 50 while sitting in the sun & enjoy the warmth.
Love & light maggie

Hi Maggie
Nice to hear from you. Bet you are having the best time playing with the twins, are they identical? Perhaps your tum is in sympathy! Hope you get sorted out. I am back for epi 2 tomorrow if bloods are ok. Another go at accessing my port, woopeee, they plan to lie me on a bed this time and do darts practice, with the veins as 2nd resort. I am booked in at 9am to give them plenty of time, being the last to leave the unit from a 10.30 appointment last time. My hair is starting to slide off but not enough to make an easy decision either way about the cold cap tomorrow. I really hate my hair going as it makes me look just like my younger brother so I just think bloke when I see my face. I sat in the sun for a while and it just bounced off me so no extra effect at all, but did wait till the very end of the cycle to try it.
Have a fab time with your daughter and the sweet babies, it will fill you full of determination to battle through the tougher bits
Lily x