Me again - Jackie my hospital use hot pads (the sort you microwave) during your treatment. When the chemo was being injected my hand was literally freezing and the pain in my wrist was unreal. As soon as the nurse put the pad on my arm it stopped straight away. Also speeded up the process as the saline drip was slowing because I was getting cold.
Gl with bloods and 2nd Fec!
Margaret x
Hi Margaret
I can’t believe you have been stripping doors - what planet are you on ??? You mad fool. I am just the same though you look at a job and think I can do that no problem - then you regret it for days after.
Did you find your second FEC any different to your first ? I didn’t suffer too badly last time so I am nervous about this one.
Jackie xxxxxxxxxxx
Hi Jackie
People that know me say the same thing lol - I was the same after I had my section some years ago - drove the car 2 weeks later, wallpapered the house etc etc - I hate sitting idle lol
I haven’t had my second yet - I’m just a newbie lol - on day 7 after 1st…hoping second is not too different!
good luck
Margaret x
Hi , Margaret dont overdue it !I after my first fec I went mad gardening and pulled several muscles in my back . It was agony and was so bad it had to be a result of the chemo on the body.
Ok deep breath - Lornas question I’ll be 42 on the 21st dec. I have a twin whos 42 on the 20th (I’ve only ever met one person in my life who has a twin born on a different day unless you gals know of any )
As for the wiggy questions , cant remember now but someone has the same wig as me currently . is it you Vicky ?
erica by rene of paris .
The one from ebay is stevie also by rene of paris in the same colour - marble brown . Ok so i dont know the previous owner from Adam and may have to put it in quarantine but its a major saving. Stevie is really long down to the elbow practically and looks ridiculous on me but the crown , quality and fit is good so I’ll get my hairdresser to cut it . Its one of those filament ones where you can see your scalp through the top. I’ve had a few newies to my situation saying my hair looks nice for me to say ’ well actually its a wig ’ so it must look good
.
Oh Lord , I’m having my carpets cleaned tomorrow by a guy who cant stop talking about his dogs cancer. He cleans my carpets and before dx I would listen to him drone on about it (sorry all you dog lovers ) but this guy has spent 40 grand on his dog over the years. I may just snap tomorrow , will let you know.
Thankyou for all the vein tips. My bruise is only just going now after my 2nd fec 2 weeks ago. I’m anxious now about the next one next week.
Re question about bloods , didnt you get a little book where you have your info in ? Sorry whoever asked the question but if I scroll back to get your name I’ll lose the message.
cally x
Hi All,
Had good birthday today, OH had left presents for me as he’s away this week. My 9 year old son looked at me pityingly as I opened a new outfit for New Year from husband (as guided by me) and a handbag - what! no games, no chocolate! what kind of a birthday is this I saw him thinking!! Had nice lunch and tea and big chocolate birthday cake!
Jackie, will be thinking of you Thursday (my 3rd Fec and your 2nd) hope it goes smoothly.
Margaret - am so with you on getting on with things - good on you! We moved from old house we spent five years renovating in June, into fairly new one with nothing to do and I find myself at complete loss of things to do - no sanding, no filling! have nice finger nails for first time in years! Have been to gym two days in row tho now, am thinking if I feel okay should do things, if feeling low then rest, take each day as it comes.
No ones told me anything about my bloods and I don’t have a book - I go for bloods at 9am on the morning of my chemo, wait for an hour and if all okay go ahead.
Hope everyone is doing okay, bed is calling - take care all,
love Louisa xxx
Hi all
For some reason I am wide awake so thought I’d pop on.
Cally - I have it in my mind that I will wax tomorrow what i sanded today - however I shall see what the morning brings lol! I promise not to do toooo much!
Louisa - so glad you had a good birthday - my 9 yr old daughter is very similar lol - but only because when I do get chocolates or anything edible - its her that eats them! WD on going to the gym - I’ll stick with the diy I think lol !
I’m with Cally on the wee book - I was given a ‘Your Chemotherapy Record’ booklet after my first session - has all my contact details, contacts at hospital, my dx and treatment regime, notes on infection and how to avoid them or what to do if you get them. Also has pages for each treatment given where nurse records hb. white blood count, platelets and neutrophils - so I can see what they all were prior to dose.
Also lists the drugs they injected and the quantities in mg’s. There is then a page opposite for me to record any side effects (sickness, energy levels, ulcers, Hair, constipation etc, on a scale of None to Very severe.
I was advised that I should carry it with me at all times.
I had bloods done at hospital 1 hour prior to first Fec, but only because it was first. For future doses I have to have bloods done at GP 2 days prior to treatment - these are transferred direct to hospital who then contact me if treatment can’t go ahead.
Right, I’m going to try and get some shut eye - see you all in the morning
Margaret x
Hi Everyone.
Good luck to those of you having second FEC tomorrow. I was also geared up for my second treatment tomorrow but had blood tests yesterday and platelet count is ‘a bit low’ so they won’t treat me this week.
This has made me really miserable. I wasn’t exactly looking forward to the second treatment but I was mentally prepared for it. Now I’m in limbo and wondering what I can do to boost those platelets. (I’m already on a mega healthy diet, taking a herbal supplement which includes all the things which are meant to support immune system recovery, AND taking vitamins and iron).
I’m also miserable because my hair is starting to come out. I used the cold cap so I’m hoping it might just be thinning but I don’t feel very confident and think I should check out some wigs just in case.
I can’t remember who but one of you said you were planning to wear a different wig for every course at a New Year dinner. What a great idea! Hope you have a great time.
My OH has just said, “You’re so much more than your hair. I love you what ever happens.” (He’s wonderful and I’m very lucky.)
Margaret and Cally, the little book you have sounds a great idea. The hospital where I’m being treated is very good but they don’t do that. I’m keeping my own diary of side effects etc but I don’t have the full picture about blood test results. I think I’ll ask for a bit more detail. I don’t really know why this seems important but it’s my blood - my body - so I feel I want to know exactly what’s going on.
Now - time to do some wig research…
Take care, everyone.
Caroline (2) xxx
Hi Caroline(2)
Snap, snap, snap and I can’t believe we are in exactly the same position - I was due second FEC tomorrow and it has been cancelled due to my low blood count. What a strange feeling that is - all geared up and now nothing to do apart from rest - fresh air and good food, thats what I have been told to do, thought that is what I have been doing for the past 3 weeks and it obviously hasn’t worked, maybe we shoudl jusy try partying hard and see if that works ???
My hair also starting falling out today and I also used the cold cap, we are like mirror images of each other how spooky is that ?
Have any of you ladies got any tips in how to boost our blood counts - I have now been re-scheduled for next week, what if its the same or lower than this week.
I think my OH is probably gonna confine me to the house, I’ll be stir crazy before my next chemo session !
Caroline I also have a book from the hospital that records all my appointments and drugs that I am being given plus also lists the results of my blood counts - don’t make for good reading at the moment.
What a wierd feeling - complete limbo…
Anyway Caroline lets keep in contact and compare notes with our limbo status
Love to you all ladies
Jackiexxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hi all
Feeling absolutely lousy today!! This is day 8 after first FEC and my back and hips are aching like crazy - is this normal, or is it the diy do you think ??
And having felt so good yesterday, was absoutely knackered today - slept from 11.45 to 3.30 - only woke up cos daughter came home from school!!
My hair has gone to feeling really brittle and I can’t do a thing with it - the way I feel at the moment the sooner it falls out the better!!
Sorry for ranting and moaning - guess I’m having an off day - will hopefully be better tomorrow!
take care all
Margaret xx
Hi Margaret
I felt the same way about my hair , couldnt do a thing with it , was scared to wash it too much or blow dry it so it didnt look great anyway . I did wonder what the point it may as well fall out sooner rather than later. I pre-empted it by having a cut and blow dry that basically made half of it fall out but it looked good for a while.
i cut my hair off after around day 17 as I was fed up of it falling everywhere . I dont know if anyone else has the same . in that I am not completely bald i have a smattering of furry bits. My chemo nurse said that as some falls out some will grow . I didnt realise this and looks like he’s right as I would really have to pull them hard to get them out.
I would put the aches down to diy . After 2nd fec I didnt have the sore back I had after the first as I learnt my lesson . thank god for ralgex.
I am having my bloods done friday for chemo next wednesday 12th . Most people seem to be having theirs just prior . I am wondering if this makes a difference ? Dont know why I am just expecting to have it . I would also be pretty upset if it didnt go ahead as especilally at this time of year I have made a lot of plans around my dates.
Hi Jackie out of interest what has stopped you having chemo , is it red , white , low platelets ?
Cally x
Hi everyone
Well what alot of activity - this thread is just so supportive.
Good Luck to all those having 2nd and 3rd fecs this week. Sorry I can not name you all - chemo brain and feeling c… .
Louisa - glad you had a lovely birthday.
Had 3rd fec - feeling c… - seems to take longer to recover. Hopefully will be ok by week-end as have date with Santa!!!
My daughter is a star in the nativity play - so just finished making the costume. Not sure I will ever be able to fit working back in - mind you usually in bed by now.
Caroline(2) and Jackie - sorry your 2nd fec has been postponed - it is amazing what we wish for now. Just want to get it over and done with.
Cally - I know what you mean about dates - amazing what we wish for. Just want to get to the end of chemo and then I can start thinking about the rads. Would love to book a holiday but need to know when I will be free!!! Need something to
look forward to. Was hoping for a few days away between end chemo and rads - will have to see.
Hope everyone is well.
Take Care,
Anne x
Hi All
Im hoping!!! for my 3rd FEC tomorrow it was cancelled last week due to cough/cold and abnormal liver function, like everyone else i just want to get it over with, hopefully i will find out the dates for my 3 TAX ( i have to swap hospitals for this which is in the middle of sheffield, 3 major hospitals together so parking is a nightmare ) then like you anne 5 wks rads so no holidays for us either plus my OH has been using his holiday days from work so that he can come with me on chemo days, going every day for 5 wks for rads is going to be a pain i wonder if you can choose your app times as he is a shift worker, well i can but ask!! i think they are going to start HERCEPTIN with the TAX i will find out tomorrow hopefully, anyone else on this thread had these?
ROLL ON SPRING !!! LOVE TO ALL MIZZY*****
Morning Ladies
After another disturbed nights sleep - all I want to do is sleep and it seems to be another thing I am having a problem with …
Cally its because of my white blood count that it has been postponed, immune system is knackered !
My hair has also developed a life of its own - think I might just go and have it cut really short today, its heart-breaking seeing it all over the bath when you try and wash it.
Bad morning so far - tears and tantrums, why me, all that rubbish. Sorted out my wardrobes yesterday and that didn’t help all my lovely tops and dresses that I can’t wear now due to weight gain and loss of boob, why do we do these things to ourselves ?
OH has suggested a shopping trip tonight after work - that might work, I might be persuaded ? Don’t even know if I feel up to it today, very low.
Anyway think day-time telly is calling me, god my life is sad at the moment, think I need a new hobby, any suggestions ?
Take care my lovelies
Jackie xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Morning all
Sorry you’re having a bad morning Jackie - I had a similar night last night. Sometimes it seems so difficult watching everyone carrying on about their business - I know it is completely irrational but sometimes I want to just scream at them to stop behaving as if everything is normal - but on the other hand I’d be afraid if they did behave differently, if that makes sense.
Shouted and screamed at hubby last night that he has no idea what I am going through, doesn’t understand the enormity of it all, accused him of thinking that now my mastectomy is out of the way, it’s all over - just a bit of chemo & rads and it’ll all be ok, told him he was insensitive and should try and find out more about it so he can understand…and I felt awful afterwards. He has been so good, he’s read all the books and leaflets I keep thrusting under his nose, he’s done all the cookng, washing and ironing since treatment started - unfortunately he isn’t a ‘talker’, tends to keep things to himself rather than burden me with them. But now I just feel like I’ve really hurt him, when he was trying so hard.
On the upside, I don’t ache as much today, so hopefully I can get something done today - even if it’s only wrapping my christmas presents!
Try and go shopping Jackie - sometimes even when you don’t feel like it - making yourself get up and get out can make all the difference. As for hobbies…I have no idea lol. Knitting…jigsaws…tae kwon do??? My main activity at the moment is just trying to stay awake lol
Mizzy - you’re ahead of me with the tax and herceptin thing - I have 4 weeks of rads next feb, folowed by tax & herceptin - so I shall be watching you with interest - please keep us informed how it goes
take care all
Margaret xxx
Good morning everyone,
Feel like I should say something uplifting as everyone is down in the dumps. I’ll just have moan instead though. There’s no rhyme or reason to anything. Sometimes food makes you feel better and others it makes you feel really bad. Sometimes a walk makes you feel better and others it just make you feel worse. I am on day NINE today and have been staying in bed all night (sleeping a bit) and staying up all day but not really doing a great deal. Maybe I should be resting more! When I feel good I feel great.
Sorry about the chemo delays. Maybe its the winter. It could be you know as things just don’t function as fast when it’s cold. Maybe our bodies are taking longer to bounce back to normal.
I was feeling a bit breathless yesterday. Has anyone experienced that. I don’t know if it’s just me having a bit of a panic or if I am really breathless. It happened first just after I had eaten lunch. Maybe it’s just part of the tiredness. If anyone else feels even slightly breathless then please let me know.
I do admire you Margaret. You certainly like to set yourself goals. I thought I might do a bit of knitting.
Jackie - Someone was telling me yesterday how she had great fun one Christmas making stuff out of papier mache. Plates, bowls, etc. She said you simply need a balloon and yesterday’s Guardian you can make beautiful fruit bowls which can be painted and glazed and given as Christmas presents! Why do a jigsaw when you can create bowls and solve all your christmas present worries in one! I am so bored I might just have a go. The whole place will be in such a mess all your wardrobe trouble will pale into insignificance.
Seriously - You should buy a fab outfit. Even if it’s only one. There’s nothing worse than that stupid feeling when you grow a bit too big for your clothes.
Anne - hope you are soon feeling better.
Love Lorna xxx
Hi again all
Feeling slightly better now. Postman just delivered what is (nearly!) the last of my christmas presents - so I’m going to go and wrap them.
Lorna - as you will know from earlier threads - we started together so I’m on day 9 too, experienced some breathlessness yesterday, but i think that was more connected to the back ache (which I am certain was not chemo related and more to do with over exerting mysel with the diy!).
I am definitely going to have a go with the paper mache - I believe it’s better if you use a diluted pva glue solution to stick the paper ? I have no idea how I know that - assume it must be a throwback to Mollie’s playschool days lol
So it’s a busy day for me - present wrapping, bowl making and I might even wax another window frame - slowly !
Take care all
margaret x
Hi Lorna
I have alsoi experienced the breathlessness, would take a short walk to the shops - about 5 minutes walk and really struggle to get back, felt like I had walked about 10 miles, really struggling to catch my breath.
I think maybe all of us are doing a little too much, our bodies are trying to tell us something. Have you ladies had mastecomy or lumpectomy, I had a mastecomy and my wound is stil swollen and very hard, surgery was on 3rd October and it still seems to be retaining fluid ?? Any ideas ladies ?
Its 12.30 and I have still not managed to get washed and dressed, have done some christmas shopping on line and by phone, had ordered myself a couple of sparkly tops for christmas and just about managed
to change our bed - which was well overdue !!!
Margaret - sorrry to hear about your fall-out with your hubby - did you see “Tricia” this morning ? They had a couple on there who were struggling with breast cancer, she had a double mastecomy and the reason for them appearing on the show was that he said he felt very isolated and felt as if no-one ever asked how he was - it all made a lot of sense, I suppose we do forget about how they feel, they musy also be sacred and worried. It made me think about how my OH must be thinking.
I think you are right about the fact that they don’t understand - why should they, they have not had the dx, the surgery and the treatment that we are all having, but on the other side I suppose we don’t understand how they feel, we are not the partners of someone going through bc. We are lucky we have someone there to cuddle and hug, someone to help us in the home, someones shoulder to cry on, someone to share things with, imagine doing this on your own !!! Wow thats a scary thought.
My OH doesn’t understand either but I am so grateful that he is here sharing with me. Give your husband a big hug, make up and be good to each other.
Think maybe i’ll get dressed now - or maybe I won’t. Take care my lovely ladies.
Caroline (2) How are you doing today my darling - hope you are chilling and taking things easy
Later ladies
Jackiexxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hi again
Well so much for my big ideas - I’ve done nothing lol! Not because I couldn’t - just because I couldn’t be bothered - I’ve mooched about the house all morning picking things up and putting them down, went for a walk (and agree with the feeling like you’ve done 10 miles!!) - came back and mooched some more, made my dinner - and here I am - wondering where the days gone???
Jackie - I plan on giving hubby a big hug when he comes in tonight - we did kinda make up of sorts last night (well we were still speaking anyway!) but I feel like my accusations are hanging between us now so we have to clear the air. I didn’t see Tricia - was too busy flicking through the shopping channels 
To answer your question about what we’ve all had done - I had a right mastectomy and full node clearance on 13 Nov - my wound is almost flat across the chest area but still have some swelling around my armpit - some days it feels like the comfie has swivelled round to there, but when i check it hasn’t! Still have some soreness in arm but can hold my hairdryer above my head now - won’t need to do that soon I guess lol.
Do you get the wound checked Jackie? I only ask because no one has looked at mine since I went for results on 21 Nov and consultant took all the dressings and steri strips off. There have been several occasions where I have wondered exactly what it should look like, how quick it should heal, whether the swelling would disappear etc - but always seems silly to bother GP when there’s nothing actually wrong. The area around my armpit is worst for fluid retention, but supposedly, in most circumstances, your body deals with this and reabsorbs the fluid gradually (though I’m no expert!)
Loved the ‘maybe I will, maybe I won’t’ thing about getting dressed. I’ve had a couple of days where hubby has come home to find me still in pj’s and dressing gown - has looked a bit surprised but said nothing lol. I have to say though, I don’t know whether it’s a mindset thing or not - but the days I don’t get showered and dressed, are the days I feel the worst?
Anyway - I have to go and do something or today will have been wasted…
And…??? 
Margaret xx
Me again,
I’m washed, dressed and wearing lipstick! (1.48pm). Went for a 20 minute walk and it took me 20 mins to recover. Thanks for all your breathless comments. I feel much better that we are all breathless together!
I am supposed to be doing internet shopping but keep sneaking a look here and then I get inspired to comment again. Margaret, you are really starting to make me chuckle now. You’re always up to something. Interesting about the glue thing. I was about to start mixing flour and water. I’ll find a papier mache recipe on the internet.
Our poor partners are really getting a hard time. My husband asked me to pass a plate the other day and I just looked at him and thought ‘Do you have any idea how I feel’ and refused to pass the plate because I just didn’t have the energy. Then he got shouted at for planning tonight’s menu without consulting me. Poor bloke, I bet he’s glad to be out at Sainsbury’s on his day off.
I had a lumpectomy on September 26. I don’t know if it was a WLE, but judging by the amount of boob missing i think it must be. I had nodes sampled as well which were clear. And listen to this - It was still bleeding and oozing fluid up until a few days ago. My chemo was delayed because it hadn’t healed. It still feels hard around the wound and has only just started to settle down.
Jackie you had your masectomy a week after my operation so I am not surprised it is still on the mend. Has your breast care nurse seen it recently. Although mine took a long time it was gradually getting better and better so i was happy. As long as there is no infection there. Also, when I got fed up of doing the actualy exercises I found that Saturday Night Fever move (you know the one with the arm pointing up and then grooving down) was a bit more fun.
Better go and do some shopping.
Lorna XXX
Ladies
You do make me laugh and cry all at the same time, I love the thought of the OH going to Sainsbury for his day out!
I have also had trouble recovering from this 3rd FEC, sore muscles across my shoulders and still very tired, so I went to my doctor this morning and bent his ear about it, lovely man to listen and just let me let off steam, he recommened Sky Plus (can you get that on prescription?!) as I can’t be bothered to do anything, go anywhere or see anyone to try and lift my mood.
Just like you all I can feel a rant at my OH coming on, watch this space…not that he isn’t trying but because I am not doing it I feel like I am losing the control of my household. Then theres the household chores which taunt me with every room I walk into, is it me?
I can only think it is the weather, can’t be anything else that is making us low?
Please keep posting so I can laugh again later!
Caroline xx