Hello everyone,
I am waiting for my second FEC on wednesday, the same as Margaret. I had my bloods done on day 13 (they do it as routine to check the nadir count) and they said that all was OK so hoping the pre-chemo bloods will be OK.
Have been feeling fine generally - but trying not to overdo it.
My work colleagues surprised me on Thursday night by calling round (six of them) with wine chocolates and nibbles. It was all very exciting and I drank quite a bit of white wine. I have felt very tired ever since though.
Margaret - glad to hear you are feeling better after the infection. The antibiotics must have worked then. You really should slow down now but I know just how you feel. You want to get it all done before wednesday.
Only yesterday my hair started to really fall out. Today it is worse and coming out in handfuls. Still lots on my head though. What should I do now. Will it stay for long or will I wake up to find the whole lot on my pillow tomorrow morning.
I know I was expecting it but it is horrible.
I am feeling a lot better now - had my bloods done on wednesday - white count dropped from 9.6 to 0.6 so no wonder I was feeling a bit ‘under the weather’ lol.
The lalst two days I have felt fantastic - have done soooo much,and not got tired at all (much).
When my hair first started to go, for some reason it started with the parting and seemed to be working it’s way outward - parting got wider every day ol. I got OH to clipper it because it was falling everywhere. I now have a grade 2 all over - well at least I did - what I actually have now is a grade 2 in places with several very large bald patches and lots of stubbly bits of hair all over the pillows!
Good luck with the 2nd Fec - I will be thinking of you as I have mine ! I have to got and get blood done again tomorrow then hospital will confirm whether it will go ahead as planned - I hope so!
Hope everyone having their fec this week goes well, and everyone that had it last week os recovering from the side effects.
Due my tax on friday - will let you know how it goes as I know many of you will be following soon.
With my first fec major side effects of drowsyness/fatigue and nausea lasted approx 5 - 6 days - so I’m hoping they are no worse with the 2nd tomorrow, as this will take me right up to xmas day!!! Busy today trying to get everything done and sorted ready fro xmas just in case.
Hopefully the first one is a good marker for the rest???
I am supposed to be going away between xmas and new year for a few days to a cottage we booked. I have just realised we leave on what will be day 10 post chemo and are away for 3 days. Given that my white blood count dropped from 9.6 to 0.6 with the first - I’m a bit worried about being away from my own doctor during this time? But I’m determined I’m going lol
I quite often get the ‘bursts’ viv - usually completely out of the blue and in the strangest places - though it is usually hubby that cops it lol.
Weather is atrocious here (I’m in scotland) - it is sooooo cold.
I had my second FEC on Monday and was dreading it after my side effects from anti sickness pills last time. Miraculously I have felt really good. Went home after and was waiting for it to kick in. My friend came over to stay the night to look after me. Quite funny really as by ten pm she was knackered and wanted to go to bed and I felt fine
Yesterday I was up and went christmas shopping! I used the cold cap the first time round but a few days ago a bald patch started appearing so I though sod it, did not have cold cap tis time and a friend shaved my head yesterday, I could not be bothered with it anymore and I feel so much better for it. Not particularly lovely to look at but it is only temporary and have a great wig and bought a really nice hat yesterday.
I cannot believe how good I feel compared to last FEC, just a bit tired but still got my appetite. I had a chat with a lady at the hospital who is having Herceptin at moment and she said when she was on FEC her side effects chnaged every time.
Anyway I hope everyone else is feeling reasonable too and fingers crossed for the next one on the 7th Jan. Cannot believe I will be half way there then. It is going so quickly.
I have just had my second fec today at 12.30. With the first one, I got home, felt sick (never was) and then intermittently slept,woke with nausea, slept etc for 4 - 5 days.
Fingers crossed this is one different - I have had slight nausea, but nothing major so far, had a bit of a sleep earlier but I was up late last night so that may account for that! - and otherwise feel absolutely flippin wonderful - so here’s hoping,
I never used the cold cap - so lost most of my hair around day 16 after first fec. Now have more bald patches than hair! But I find the hair loss quite liberating - no idea why!
I shall be just behind you again next time all being well, my 3rd is on 9th Jan - we can compare notes again lol
take care all
Just had my 4th of 6 EC chemo this morning (past halway point yay). No waiting around today was straight in which was nice for a change. Only problem was that it took 6 goes and 2 nurses to get the cannula in, i am black and blue as i seem to bruise very easily now and my veins ache too.
Luckily i have had no sickness at all right through all my chemo up to now so fingers crossed for the rest of them.
I see my oncologist before every chemo and she is very pleased as she could not find the lumps which were 5 and 6cm at the start of treatment.
I hope you all have minimal side effects and hope you can all enjoy christmas, i certainly intend to eat drink and be very merry
Hi everyone,
I had my second FEC yesterday at about 2.30pm. I felt slightly more nauseous than the first time, especially in the night. But I had very heavy period and sore roof of mouth which was making me feel quite weak anyway. I feel much better today, having got up late morning.
My temperature went up to 38 today and I phoned the hospital. They said as I had only had the chemo yesterday I wasn’t in any danger and could take paracetamol. They said to call back tomorrow if I was concerned. I only took my temperature because I had been freezing all night long and couldn’t get warm and then I suddenly felt very hot.
Then, this afternoon my husband shaved my head. What a relief! It looked terrible, all thin and falling out all over the place. I didn’t even cry! Strange.
Margaret - How are you feeling today. Better than the first time? Hope so.
How’s everyone else feeling at the various stages of FEC.
I had my 2nd fec at 12.30 yesterday - and I have to say, so far… it has been so much better than the last one. Bit sleepy last night and a shocking attack of heartburn at 1 am this morning - but other than that I have been fine.
Got up this morning - cleaned my windows, finished painting my dining room, put a border up round the room, did all my washing & ironong…and I am now sitting with a very large vodka & coke toasting my wonderful day !
Just hope it continues lol
I loved it when hubby shaved shaved my head - it was quite liberating somehow. I now have just a downy covering all cover - which is lessening every day. Amazing how many people come round and say ‘oh my, don’t you suit your hair like that!!’ lol. Have to say if it was summer I wouldn’t even bother with the hat - it’s almost like this is my statement or something - but as it’s winter and absolutely freezing up here in bonnie scotland - I’m sticking with the hats!
Hope everyone else is coping with treatment
take care
Hi Margaret,
You seem to have done so much! I had quite a good day but when I finally got out of bed I only did a bit of hoovering and loaded the washing machine. I went back to bed at about 7pm to watch TV and snuggled down about 10pm. Strange indigestion feelings do seem to hit in the middle of the night.
Are you serious about the vodka and coke (LOL). I was told not to drink alcohol for at least 48 hours after chemo. I don’t usually feel like alcohol until day 4 or 5. Strangely though, yesterday I was craving a glass of wine at around 5pm.
I have a feeling your good times will continue. Don’t forget to slow down though (I think if you look back at your postings you promised you wouldn’t do too much) Surely most of the decorating must be done by now. Bet it looks lovely. Wish I could see.
I got up at 8am this morning but only to eat my porridge and take the steroids and anti sickness pills. I could have slept loads longer. Yuk the last thing I felt like was eating the porridge, but when I have eaten it I feel so much better.
Yes I was most definitely serious about the vodka & coke - only time I don’t drink it is with the antibiotics ! My BCN told me I could drink whatever Iliked, when I liked - in moderation lol
I am slowing down now. All the decorating is done, xmas decs are up, presents all wrapped, freezer stocked - so this is my winding down time now.Been a bit depressed today - keep looking round at the decorations and it just makes me so weepy - keep wondering if I’ll see them again next year. I can only assume that this is due to the ‘down’ of coming off the steroids for anti-sickness because I don’t usually feel like this. But hey ho…
I didn’t go to bed till 2.30 am last night (or should that be this morning!) and I was up at 6.45 - I’ve never been a good sleeper, not that I can’t sleep, I just never want to lol. Even this 2nd chemo hasn’t made me as sleepy as the last.
Hi Margaret,
Sorry you’re feeling down today. It might be the steroids. It is a very difficult time of year though and those sorts of thoughts do start to creep into your head. I find with the chemo lots of emotions get trapped inside and make you feel bad and a good cry does the world of good - if you can get it out.
I took my last anti sickness on Friday morning. And then I still have steroids to take (which may also help with sickness I don’t know - Dexamethasone - ) with breakfast and lunch today. Then that’s it. I have some other anti sickness to take if I need them but I didn’t last time.
Perhaps if you have done all the chores you could find something you really enjoy to cheer you up. I’m going to wrap all my presents today and maybe think about putting the tree up tomorrow.
Not so busy on this thread now is it? Must be the time of year.
Hi Val, (Fushia)
You have done well to avoid the sickness. Have you had any other side effects or have you just been able to carry on as normal? Must be great to get number 4 out of the way. Have your bloods been Ok each time as well.
It must be awful if they can’t get the needle in first time. I have bee lucky with the first two so fingers crossed.
So you are not having the F then - just the EC?
Have a good christmas.
Love Lorna XX
Talking of getting the needles in - I had a new nurse doing it this week. Tried on one side and couldn’t get it in - so yanked it out then said let’s try the other side. managed to get it in, and attached saline drip - and went away. After about 10 mins, I said to OH that the needle in my wrist was tingling - he looked up at drip and said how come nothings gone out of that bag?
Shouted over a nurse and asked why the saline drip was so slow - she said they were sometimes like that - and twiddled with it - and I got a huge cold blast up my arm - so I assume it would have helped if the first nurse had actually set it up right and got it dripping in the first place!!!
Lorna…Yes i am very lucky not to have had the sickness to deal with, it is what i feared the most, i still feel tired and washed out and get sort of flue like symptoms on week 2 after chemo but otherwise no probs, not working as i get full pay for 20 weeks so taking my quota. Not been off sick in 7 years so think i am entitled to it now
My bloods have been fine, nurses say they are very good considering!! Not having the F part of EC, not sure why but not complaining as EC is doing just fine on the nasty bits.
Margaret…sorry you had bad time too with needles too, my hand and arm look like i have been punching mike tyson lol.
Although i do bruise very easily now, even getting bloods causes a bruise the size of a golf ball, nevermind though just 2 to go and chemo done.
Was so annoyed friday, went to the bank to find my pay had not gone in for Xmas, head office at work had lost my sick note (great) so saw fit not to bother paying me at all, hows that for timing?? Had to borrow off family to get through xmas, always somethng to put a spanner in the works isn’t there??
Anyhow, have a great xmas and roll on a better 2008
Val xx
Glad to hear everyone’s doing okay. Margaret, I still get days when the slightest thing makes me cry, scary thing this bc, makes me feel very vunerable, very mortal, but hey, we’re doing okay - shall cheers you this tonight with my large glass of red wine to your vodka and coke!!
Have just been on Anne’s 1st Tax thread, still got one FEC to go on 27th Dec before I join the Tax crew, am hoping it goes well as we’re supposed to be going to New Years Eve party and don’t want to miss it.
Hope everyone continues to feel well, take care all, stay warm,
And cheers to you to Louisa ! though I’ve switched to lager shandy now - for some reason the vodka is making me feel quite sick (I do so hope this isn’t a permanent side effect!!)
I am watching Anne’s Tax thread too - though I will be longer getting there as I have a break for rads first.
Although not participating I have been following this thread. Had 2nd FEC on 18th December and when canula removed the vein went up like a balloon! However since then the whole vein up arm has been sore and am wondering if this is ok? I have got great encouragement from all of you.
It may be worth giving your medical team a call with the symptoms you have and they can advise you further if you remain concerned. You are also welcome to call our helpline to talk to one of our specialist nurses on 0808 800 6000 which is open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm and Sat 9am-2pm.
