and Snap again - seems we are all at similar stage - I’m now on day 5, (counting wednesday) after 3rd Fec - and I have to say this has been the worst so far. My mouth tastes like nothing on earth - I can’t find any food that tastes remotely like it used to - even pineapple isn’t doing it for me anymore.
I am sooo tired, and so utterly utterly down in the dumps it’s unreal. Have spent all morning either crying or on the verge of crying, have snapped at everyone. My eldest daughter is away for a few days and send me a text this morning to ask how I was. So I replied -‘down in the dumps’ - her response - “why, whats wrong” - in my frame of mind I’m afraid I just replied ‘I’ve got cancer - what more do you need?’ - then felt bl**dy awful.
Bless her - she then rang me and apoogised, so I apologised etc etc etc - don’t feel any better though - think I’m going to bed till 4th chemo lol!
Sorry to be so depressing - sure I’ll be better tomorrow
Dear All,
I am starting my first FEC tomorrow…and I have only recently started to read the forum (diagnosed in October) and just wanted to say thank you to everyone who posts here because I have learned alot of interesting advice.
As I am on the starting line as yet, Im afraid I have nothing I can offer at present myself but I bet Ill learn pretty quickly!!! To be able to visit here and share is a big support.
I am ready with my water and all manner of other things that I read up on. So it`s just a matter of diving in tomorrow.
Best wishes to all of you at whatever stage you are.
If you need further information or support at any time please do get in touch with us via our helpline on 0808 800 6000, the line is open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm and Sat 9am-2pm. We also have an ‘Ask the Nurse’ service and other support which you can read more about via the ‘Support for you’ tab at the top of this page.
Margaret thank you for the advice again, invaluable as always. My OH is hoping to stay with me the first night but he is definitely not a substitute for ginger biscuits, DVDs and sweets which are on my shopping list for tomorrow! I’ll make sure that if I am feeling a little worse for wear, I will get in contact with my hospital. Did I read somewhere that you shouldn’t drink alcohol the night before? (Going to a friends for dinner and just wondering if I need to take a bottle of shoer along, something I have never done before!!)
Jan, it might be good to start a new thread. With regards to the cold cap. I have decided against it. My oncologist advised that FEC pretty much guarantees hair loss and for me going ‘head commando’ is preferable to a few wispy bits. I had long curly hair up until 2 weeks ago. I am now sporting a 1920’s flapper style bob which I really like. This has been the final of 3 haircuts I have had over a 2 week period just so I could get used to my hair going. I have to say I’m really pleased with how my hair looks (at the moment). I have never had short hair and I thought it would be harder to adjust to than it has. And for me, it’s a great way to see how my hair will look as it’s growing back.
I’ve just tried on some of the head scarves I had pre-ordered and somehow they looked better when I had hair! Back to the drawing board altho I do plan on getting one wig just to experiment.
I’ve just remembered that I was considering taking Zoladex with my chemo. I’m not sure the chemo nurse knows anything about it. My oncologist was saying that she was hesitant about it because whilst the ovaries are ‘sleeping’ they are unable to monitor whats happening to them during the chemo. (I also have BRCA1 gene which might be a contributing factor). Has anyone else been warned off of Zoladex?
Oh Margaret,
Hope you are feeling slightly better since the last posting. Don’t fight the tears because I really think a good cry helps to make you feel better. I looked in my diary from the last cycle and it was exactly the same. I phoned up my brother and said to him ‘sorry about this but do you mind if I have a really good moan’ and I managed to cry and i felt a bit better. The trouble is you don’t want to ‘moan’ at anyone. All my friends and family phone and you feel like you should say you are ‘fine’.
I wish I could say something to make you feel better. How about forgetting about all the chores. Why don’t you just take a day to ‘rest’. Actually my diary is a really good thing because when i feel very down I check how I felt last cycle and it usually turns out to be the similar. You bounced back last time so you’ll bounce back this time.
A little bowl of pasta sometimes works wonders for an energy boost.
On the Sunday night after treatment (ie last night) I wake up with such a horrible mouth. Like I’ve been drinking and smoking all night.
Nadiya: I was really proud of myself on the night before my first chemo as I went out with my husband for a meal and a large glass of wine (might have been 2). My normal reaction would have been to stay in drinking water and ‘preparing’ but I decided to throw caution to the wind. As long as you don’t drink so much that you feel dehydrated then it should be fine. I was also told not to drink for 48 hours after chemo as it can make the nausea worse.
Hi Jackie: Hope you have a good lunch! Changing a bed i like a marathon effort and so is everything else. I cleaned half the bathroom yesterday and it was really hard. My husband comes home and says ‘what have you been up to today’ and i’lve just about managed to clean up after myself and feed myself.
Today is a different day fortunately - mouth still tastes like cack lol - bt my brain and emotions aree back on a even keel (well as even as they ever are with chemo!)
Having a chilling out day today - till at least 3.30 - youngest daughter at the dentist then, so might do a bit of therapeuitc shopping while i’m out lol.
Thanks for the lovely comments Lorna - they do help - I think it is just a case that you get fed up of saying ‘yea I’m fine’ - when insided you’re screaming 'No I’m bl**dy ill for god’s sake! lol - think sometimes you just need to say it out loud and accept it
Thank you for your comments and contact, had my sunday lunch out yesterday and as soon as I had finished we came home - fell asleep in the car and came home went to bed. God how tired do we get ???
Its really difficult to describe the level of fatigue - it just washes over me in a wave and i can’t even keep my eyes open. Glad to hear you’re feeling a bit better today Margaret - its crap this thing but at least we’ve all got each other. Imagine how it would feel not to have this line of contct that we have - how isolated would we be.
Well thats Jeremy Kyle and Trisha done - what shall I do now ???
Glad you got your lunch out - the sleep thing is hitting me now. I think the fatigue/tiredness must be cumulative because I am finding the further I get through treatment - the more tired I’m getting. Things like ironing - I find I can’t stand for as long, and hoovering (not that I do much lol) is definitely a one room at a time (usually one a day if I’m being honest).
For some reason, I am as high as a kite today - had a guy round from Macmillan Cancer Support this morning for a chat - he asked me what tablets I was taking, so I said ‘none at the moment - I finished the antisickness stuff on Friday’ - his response was that I must be on something to be so high !! Said he’s never seen anyone in the middle of chemo ‘bouncing’ so much - maybe I’d better check the E numbers in my orange juice haha.
I haven’t managed to get ito Jeremy Kyle yet lol - though I have seen a tremendous amount of people on tv make a tremendous amount of money from their attic - maybe that’s where I should be - though I think I’ll only find the xmas decs and some loft insulation in my attic lol
Nadiya are you having your first chemo at the Conquest - you say you are in Hastings? I live in Battle and had my first FEC last Tuesday. I was rescued the day after by my GP with some stronger anti-nausea meds including an injection, so don’t be afraid to call your GP out. I was very sick until he came and then just nauseous for 3 days but feel better this week. Am having a bit of trouble sleeping at night also. I’d give anything for 8 hours solid sleep…
Liane
Shopping complete, well almost. Ready and waiting for tomorrows new adventure to begin.
Margaret, thanks for all your honest postings. It really does give me a good idea of what to expect. I hope you are still feeling better than before and not been doing too much loft exploration!
Lorna - Yes, I live in the Old Town, so I’ll be at the Conquest too. I’ve read that getting some calming tablets can aid sleeping but I haven’t spoken with the chemo clinic yet so I’m hoping they will advise. I’ve just bought what looks like a kilo of crystalised ginger to help with the nausea but it sounds like I will need at least two !!!
And thanks Liane, think I will have a glass or two. Will be nice to have a carefree glass with friends. I won’t be going cold turkey through the chemo either but will try to cut down which should be easy given the amount I have been consuming at ‘farewell to hair and life as I know it’ parties with friends. (This chemo preparation has been quite hard work ;-).
Will certainly be in touch after my first sesh tomorrow. Hope all goes well with all of you. Take care
Well after a very lazy day - tiredness didn’t help today very low, can’t even get myself out of the chair !!! Had to send my sister to the supermarket which is a 5 min walk away couldn’t even manage that today, will let you into a secret - haven’t even managed a shower today for the first time - goodness how bad does that sound ???
Jackie - I’m so glad I’m not the only one who doesn’t shower some days lol (in fact some days I don’t even get dressed but that’s another story lol). The tiredness is really hitting me now. I had to take my daughter to the dentist yesterday - haven’t really been into town much, tend to stay local. Anyway, having done nothing all day, picked her up from school, drove the 20 mins to dentist and parked the car. Denstist is at the top of a hill (we’re talking gradual incline here, not Everest!) - I struggled to get half way up the flipping thing - my legs were aching, I was breathless - I really thought I was going to have to send her on her own and wait half way up the hill for her. Sheer bloodymindedness got me up there but omg what a shocker it was - I’m not the fittest person in the world but I’ve never felt like that before!
Apart from the fact that I have a raging sore throat, and what feels like cystitis starting, I feel much better today - but still tired. Hey ho off to docs with me again - yet another dose of anti-biotics I’ve no doubt - seems to happen every time. I never used to get sore throats but I’ve had one with each dose of fec so far?
Hi everyone,
WE are struggling with this fatigue aren’t we. I have given into it. Yesterday was awful. I was getting out of bed to eat and I just had no energy. I felt just sick and awful unless I lay down. I couldn’t even watch TV. Having gone on a five minute walk and popped to a shop in the the car yesterday, it must have all been too much for me!
Today i didn’t attempt to get up at all. Just been pottering about getting drinks. Think I feel slightly better today. Well I’m on the computer anyway so that must be good.
Good luck at the doctor’s Margaret. Have you tried that Difflam mouthwash for sore throat?
Love Lorna XXX
No I haven’t tried Difflam - might give it a go - I do have a mouthwash that Chemo unit gave me – can’t remember what it’s called though lol - but it tastes disgusting.
Have to say that the third fec has hit me much much harder than the previous two. I have been in floods of tears for the last 3 days (the wobbles usually only last a day and go away).
Gave in today and rang my breast nurse - had a big long chat, cried some more, moaned at her, (which she took quite graciously lol) - came off the phone, cried some more - then decided it had to stop. So mooched round the house for a while, trying to figure out what was making me so depressed (apart from the obvious!) - couldn’t put my finger on it.
Then the other breast nurse from hospital rang me, to ‘check I was ok’ - so I asked if they all now thought I was some sort of manic depressive lol - to which she replied no ’ you’re just normal Margaret - but we like to keep an eye on you when we know you’re feeling low’.
I was so impressed by this caring attitude I have now thoroughly cheered up, realised that my lot in life could be much much worse and I am now on a mission to make the most of every single day (when I’m not too tired that is lol). I have even completed 2 out of 3 tax returns tonight - how positive is that!!!
Sorry for ranting - but I really have felt so crappy, guess I just need to get things off my chest once in a while (excuse the pun!)
take care all
I’m off for a very large voddy & coke before a good nights sleep!!
Margaret x
Well it seems that this third session of FEC is a real b…d, we all seem to be feeling the same. The tiredness seems to be a little better today and I did manage a bath yesterday - yippee yeah !!!
Can’t actually concentrate on anything and have even managed a fall-out with my OH which hasn’t yet been resolved. Don’t know why but actually hung-up the phone on him yesterday. thought it might be easier for him if he didn’t have to cope with me moaning and feeling poorly - think it might have back-fired but don’t have the energy to sort it out at the moment
Anyone doing anything nice today or are we all resigned to the sofa - tv and dvd’s ?
Hi everyone
had 3rd FEC on the 9th and this is my first day on computer! was really bad this time and then developed a pain on my side on Saturday night which steadily worsened and had to get GP out yesterday - half an hour before her arrival i felt a rash on my back - yip classic case of shingles!!! Has anyone else heard of this happening?
Jackie - sorry it’s hitting you the same way , though it’s nice to know I’m not alone. I am slightly better today, though didn’t get much sleep last night - then lo and behold I woke up this morning to discover it was 9.45 am !! Which wouldn’t have been quite so bad if my 9 year old daughter wasn’t also fast asleep - so she got an unexpected day off school today !
On the up side - the sun is shining and it’s a lovely day, though chilly, might just go for a walk and clear the cobwebs away!
Janice - apart from agreeing with the ‘really bad this time’ bit - I’ve not come across the shingles thng before - hope you are okay
Hi Everyone,
I started FEC last week, 5 more to go, dx in october, I just feel a bit tired, and was a bit nauseous for 3 days, the biggest problem ive had is with insomnia and feeling hot at night, only probably sleeping in 2 hr cycles maximum, and awake for what feels like hours, with snippets of sleep here and there, im working short days at the mo, but this poor sleep is really interfering with my functioning, I coulld barely speak properly on tuesday at an appointment, has anyone experienced anything similar???
Hi Juls Ris,
SNAP. I had first chemo last week and feel exactly like you. The feeling hot at night it terrible. I went to sleep eventually last night with a cold flannel on my pillow. I am not working thank god so have school hours to rest if i have to before my three get home. Still am feeling quite lucky compared to some. Sounds like the 3rd FEC hits harder. Are you South or North?
Liane
I have to say that I can agree with the sleep thing - mine seems to come in cycles, very sleepless nights immediately following chemo, then days 7 - 10 it gets marginally better - then I start getting insomia again - usually by day 16 or so I’m back to normal again. Have to say having just had third fec - the tired in my case is obviously very cumulative - i feel so much more tired this time than usual.
I’m the same as you Lian - not working at mo so can snooze during school hours - though unfortunately this morning both me and my nine year old snoozed right through school hours and didn’t wake up till nearly 10 o’clock !! ooops lol
Whereabouts are you Liane - I’n north in the scottish borders.
