Hi AAA’s,
Just popping in from last year’s April thread. I started my chemo 26th April 2012 so a year this coming week. Our group of April Bunnies (as in Easter, it was a bit later last year) are meeting up tomorrow for afternoon tea at a Mayfair hotel. 16 of us keep in regular contact now through a Facebook page and 13 will be raising a glass or cup to ‘celebrate’ our year on.
All the very best to you all, hope your SE’s are not too horrid and if they are, they will pass.
Virtual hugs,
Gaynor xx
Hi Angels, Feeling a bit of a fraud at the mo because I don’t appear to have any s/es. It’s been my OH’s birthday today so he was really pleased I’d woken up early feeling well. Manage to sing him a very ironic Beatles song: he’s 64 and I’m losing my hair!
Lori , your picture is wonderful - as is yours, Shona!
Linda , so sorry you’ve ended up in hospital. I see you’re on day 11 - right in the middle of the low blood count period. A warning to us all!
Kim , have you finished taking your anti-sickness meds and steroids? My anti-sickness runs out tomorrow morning and the steroids last till Sunday. I’m staring to worry now. Perhaps I’d better go shopping tomorrow - seasick bands, liquorice, corsodyl daily and ice lolly moulds
Take care Angels, Moira x
Hi Mosiecat
great news you aren’t having any SE’s, long may it continue! If you are buying corsodyl don’t get the daily stuff, can’t remember why but think it hasn’t got the right ingredients to helpto you need the full strength one apparently. My chemo nurse said Difflam on prescription is the best if you can get hold of your GP.
kate
x
Ha good one Shona…she is a beautiful dog - and well worth blowing your cover!! 
Glad your doing ok Moira…Kate’s right - long may it continue!
Hope everyone has a peaceful night and lovely weekend.
Love Lori x
Christine, I’ve only taken the one sickness tablet so far, then I had a nap and woke up two hours later feeling much better. But I will ring the chemo today once I start the sickness meds properly today, if they’re not keeping the nausea at bay. i Must buy some sickness bands, I will try anything that may help.
My two hour nap has not done me much good, 2.10 am and I’m wide awake With heartburn and nausea. So I’m on with Hotchocolate with a heartburn tablet followed by a ginger biscuit which helps with the nausea.
Kim I think your right about eating food little and often, I don’t feel like eating at all, but little a often is working.
i had my first Fec-t session yesterday, did anyone else have the incredible itchy bottom, the moment the steroids went In? I think for the first time every, I now know what the dog feels like, when his glands are full!
TC Cycle 1 Day 2
(Taxotere/Carboplatin)
I had my first infusion of the above yesterday, I posted what feels like a million years ago when the thread was new, I’ve been an avid reader but didnt really have anything to input until I started my chemo, I was due to have my loading dose of Herceptin yesterday too but received a phone call at 6.19pm on Thursday to say that the prescription hadnt been authorised by onc, the receptionist wasnt sure whether my appointment would be delayed, cancelled, put off til next week etc, as it was the chemo went ahead and the loading dose for Herceptin will be next chemo cycle, I was slightly stressed because its a difficult enought time as it is without them ringing and changing it all, plus it was a friends birthday yesterday and I’d have felt like a fraud if I’d turned up to join the party when my close friends had all turned up to my pre-chemo drinks on Tuesday evening…!! lol
Anyway I digress, for me so far so good, afew waves of nausea last night and felt extremely tired, so an immense battle between me and the steriods ensued…so far 1-0 to me, I did wake every couple of hours though, but finally gave in at 6.45 and got up, so I will tentatively say I cant complain at this stage…too much.
Linda - So sorry to hear you’re in hospital after minimal se’s, you were doing so well too, I think we were diagnosed at roughly the same time, same diagnosis IDC Stage 2 8mm ER+ PR- HER2+, we even both returned for further DCIS removal and clear margins on the same day, I did ask to delay my chemo start date because we were planning a holiday but in the end I couldnt face the upheaval of planning and packing then flying back at midnight the day before chemo, so the holiday will have to wait, I wish you a speedy recovery and hope the rest of the journey is se free…!!
Amber - Hi there, it took me ages to relocated your post about meds and oralite in prep for Tax, was this prescribed or over the counter…?? I’ve been told to paint my finger nails with a dark polish (this is sooo not me…!!) I never wear nail varnish or lipstick, unless its clear gloss so if I can avoid it I will, did they mention what the benefits of Oralite are…??
Judy - That raised a smile, which is especially rare for me this early on a Saturday morning, I didnt experience the same se’s but I can imagine how the dog feels, my Mum shares the graphic info when she takes our family pet to the vets for anal gland clearance, well she does until the point I say, how relevant is this and do I really need to know (my Mum’s very prartical about medical issues and I think she sometimes forgets I’m abit squeamish…!! lol) makes me kind of glad I didnt pursue my initial chosen career…as a nurse…!!
Moria - Corsodyl Daily is preferable to Corsodyl treatment…I now have both as brought the treatment first before doing my research…the Corsodyl Daily doesnt contain alcohol.
Take care…hope you have a wonderful se free Saturday
Laura xxx
Thank you Gaynor. Let us know what a great time you all have and have a glass for all us angels. xxxx
Linda - Sending you lots of virtual get well hugs.
Shona - Love Amberdoodle. She’s so cute.
Just a quick question. Anyone had a low white cell count yet (10 day blood test). Chemo unit rang yesterday to say mine is low and how do I feel. I actually feel quiet good but they told me to keep regular temp checks which so far are aslo fine.
Have a lovely weekend angels, and lets hope like Gaynor were all looking forward to meeting up this time next year. x
hi angels
fec t cycle 1 day day 4
good morning everyone, just to say that i have a new thermometer, all is well, i dont have to go to hospital after all, it was a dodgy reading on the old one, so panic over. not feeling great for the last day or so, rang doc and got antibiotics prescribed, feeling much better today. the food thing is my problem just now, nothing tastes right, coffee is awful, thorntons alpini chocolates (my fave) can’t eat them! Not good!
ive noticed a few of you have these anti sick bands, where do they come from, are they travel sick things?
well hope you’ve got some sunshine this weekend,
angie xx
Hi everyone, glad your all getting on ok and Linda hope you get home soon. I’ve just had it confirmed that I’ll be starting on 1 may so might have to join the may group, although will keep popping in here too to see how you’re aget getting on! Xx
Afternoon Angels, and thank you so much for all your good wishes.
The bad news is I am still in hospital and they won’t let me home for at least another 24 hours. My neutropphils are going up, from 0.1 to 0.2 to 0.6 today, and my temp is normal at 36.4. I’ve had 8 IV antibiotic infusions so far. I can’t go home untilmy bloods increase toa more acceptable level, and they want to see how I go oin without antibiotics. Doctor said if he sent me home I would probably be back in with an ijnfection. I don’t think I’ve had an infection up to now. All thetests they have done have come back clear, and my temp only spiked to 38 on one reading on Wednesday. Its now Saturday. I am sure I would be better off at home. Less people and less germs, less chance of infection. It is diabolical being here in isolation when you feel so well, ahnd the food is unspeakable. I am living off bananas, crisps, egg mayo sandwiches and haven’t had a hot meal since Wednesday. This can’t be doing me any good. The breakfasts are nice though, but why is it skimmed milk? They could at least provide semi skimmed ohn cereals!!!
Hi Laura
My chemo nurse gave me the Onicolife for my nails, it helps by controlling the mast cells on the nails and restores the capability of the skin and nails to respond and repair damage done by chemo. I have painted my nails black, using Sally Hanson nail strengther first and Barry M mosaic in gol on top which looks better than just black nail varnish. Just thought I’d do it from the start rather that just for Tax so I’m I used to it
xx
Sorry agbout messy posts etc. I’m using my tablet which has a mind of its own.
Lisa - Yes, we had similar histories, although dx slightly different. I’m on the TCH same as you and until this happened I was sailing through it. I still haven’t had any side effects worth mentioning… Funny traste in mouth but Daily Corsodyl solves that one (at least 3 x a day) Some food tasted awful, includihng tea which gutted me, but all that has gone now. Diarrohea for a few days but nothing bad, some heartburn thatGaviscon sorted, and up to now no bone or joint pains. Hair still intact. I have black varnish on my nails, which the hospital doesn’t like as it ihnterfers with their Obs, but thart is their problem. I hope it all goes smoothly for you.
TCH cycle 1 day 12.
Happy sunny weekend to you all xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Linda
Hello angels
FEC-T cycle 1 day 2
Linda
hope they let you home from hospital soon, it’s bad enough going through this without being in hospital. Fingers crossed for you x
Angie
the sickness bands I’m using are just travel sickness bands from boots. Ive had them on since this morning and I still feel slight nausea but im beginning to wonder if this is just the norm with chemo. hope your taste buds sort themselves out. I packed in smoking a day after I was diagnosed and my taste buds have been off since, but just on certain things, and I mean silly things toast, just buttered toast, … Same butter we always use but the toast just tastes wrong. I hope when I get to day 4 I don’t go off cups of tea.
just bought some fresh ginger and lemons, I’m going to make a drink up out of that, my Chinese sister in law recommended it for nausea.
hope you all have a good weekend x
FEC T Cycle 1, day 12
Afternoon ladies, feeling good today, cold almost gone just caugh left. Feel great otherwise apart from a slight hangover - can’t blame the chemo for that! I had a great day out yesterdsay with friends and had one too many vino’s, if only chemo could cure a hangover 
Lori - loving the ‘do’
Amber - or should I say Shona, you’ve confused me lol!
Linda - I wasn’t online yesterday so missed the fact you are in hospital, so sorry to hear that, it sounds awful particularly as you feel well and the food is dire. Hope you get home soon
Laura - welcome back, nice to hear from you again
Judy - welcome, what time are you taking your last steroid as it may be affecting your sleep? I was awake the whole night on my first day as my last stertoid was at 6pm. I phoned the chemo unti, after getting lots of good advice from the AAA’s, and they advised if I wasn’t feeling sick to take my last steroid at 2pm which i did and slept fine the next night
Hope everyone else is doing well
love Pauline xx
Pauline,
I took it at about 4 yesterday, but I’ve taken at 2 today, but we’ve other things going off too with my eldest daughter (15) so I’ve not slept properly for a month now. Fingers crossed tonight will be a better nights sleep. So far the S/e today are very doable.
hi girls
poor lola , that hospital food - well - what can you say? i found a wonderful cold trolley in my hospital with snacks and cakes and lovely sandwiches, but i found it on the day i checked out! it would have been nice if someone had told me about it before. maybe you should ask if your hospital has one.
judyd i’m going to get some bands on monday when i go bk to work, worth a try, never heard of them because ive never had travel sickness or anything. it just seems to be there in the background, that sickly feeling. i’m devastaed about the coffee and i dont like tea anyway, might try hot choc because i’m starting to feel a bit sore in the mouth. i do think nibbling ginger biscuits helps though, pleased with that at least.
is anyone back at work with these s/e’s, i was hoping to go back monday, which will be day 6. hoping i can get a few hours without too much trauma anyway.
angie xx
EC Cycle 1 day 5
hi everyone
Feeling so much better today…in fact I feel pretty much back to normal. i’ve found eating a little something every couple of hours has kept the nausea and heartburn at bay. Yesterday evening I managed my first proper meal since the chemo, well it was about 1/2 a normal portion on a side plate but it stayed down with no unpleasant SE’s.
Moira I finished my steroids and the ondansatron anti-sickness tablets yesterday, I just have the additional anti-sickness tablets left, i’ve about 10 days supply. Hopefully I won’t need them anymore. I found sucking fruit sherbets has taken the strange metallic taste away and the liquorice really helps with both the mouth and any constipation.
Pauline - re steroids I must be on a different type as i had to take 2 tablets after breakfast every day for 3 days therefore there was no effect on sleeping .
Linda - sorry you are still in hospital particularly as you are feeling much better.
Pauline - glad you had a good night out, sometimes it is lovely to do normal things
hope everyone else is coping ok with the SE’s and making the most of this good weather
Kim x
Hi Angels,
Kim, it looks like we,re on exactly the same regime - 3 days of 2 x dexa in the morning so sleeping not a problem. Ondan…sick tabs finished this morning - worked well so eating like a horse - food still tasting reasonably OK. Chemo nurse told me I’d put on about half a stone on steroids - didn’t tell me that most of it would go on in the first three days! Still got the metaclopramide sick tabs as back-up and managed to blag some lansoprazole antacids as have always suffered with reflux - took one at about one in the morning cos felt like I was burping up Sarsons.
Sorry Kate and Lori but today I’ve felt a bit woozy but a doze at lunchtime and a trip to the garden centre and Sainsbury’s has helped. Got the strong corsodyl - I’ll save that for last thing at night. Also bought a bottle of ginger and lemongrass cordial - tastes earthy!!! Constipation is staring to bother me - know what I mean by rabbit droppings! Got some strawberry liquorice laces.
Linda, poor you! You must be dreadfully fed up - sorry wrong expression considering the hospital food. Hope you make your escape very soon. Since I’m on the poor man’s regimen - only EC I’m unlikely to have nail problems so I’ve had acrylics put on painted bcc pink - better than the little stubby flaky ones pre chemo but expecting hair to be gone in two to three weeks.
Judy, meant to say welcome the other day. The support from the April Angels is, without a doubt, Awesome! Make sure you take your anti-sickness as soon as you wake up - don’t wait to see if you feel sick.
Best of luck for May 1, Zuzy, If you keep checking in here at least you’ll get a good idea of what to expect.
Wishing us all lots of warm, sunny days with sunhats at the ready
Moira xxx
Angie, I really do feel for you having to think about going back to work, just be careful of picking up any bugs. I think the travel sickness bands are helping, I’ve definitely felt less sickly today. The test will be on Monday when I have no tablets left to take, I only got three days worth of tablets.
Kim it’s good to read that you are feeling back to normal on day 5, fingers crossed it continues for you x
Hello Moira, thank you for the warm welcome, Im doing a bit like you, if I feel woozy or ill, I’m trying to take a nap, which really helps but it’s hard when I would normally have to be dying before I would sleep through the day. I’m trying to lit it to an hour at the most, I can’t expect to sleep on a night if I’m napping through the day.
AC cycle 1 day 4
Hello to everyone,
Glad to hear everyone is slowly managing the SE’s. Hope you are home again soon Linda.
I had a great sleep last night and have been out and about all day today, with a short 20 min nap at about 5.30pm! I have been for a walk at Nymans Gardens, National Trust site, sat out in the garden for lunch, been to the garden centre and bought 3 hats! I can’t believe how well I feel with so few SE’s…I feel like I’m going to be hit by a storm at some stage as I’ve been relatively SE free so far and I’m praying that it doesn’t get worse tomorrow as I’ve finished my steroids and main anti-sickness tablets. I think I’m going to sleep with my fingers and toes crossed tonight!
Hope you all have a good nights sleep tonight and the nausea goes away for you all asap.
Kate
x