It was fine ange it stung a little when the local anaesthetic went in otherwise didn’t feel much at all and I’m a baby good luck love x x
Oh Carmia what a day indeed! Hope you manage to rest up a bit before tomorrow. You take care xx
Ange - honestly don’t worry about the picc it’s absolutely fine Im quite squeamish and I didn’t feel anything mind you I didn’t look at all either!! I’ve forgotten ice even got it now apart from covering it in the shower. You’ll be fine xxxx
Thank you ladies. Sounds good to me. Xxx
Hi September starters!
HAIR DYE WARNING
I am posting this to the attention of those who are still under chemotherapy as a warning, I had the most awful allegic reaction to a hair dye, which was, I believe, “recommended” by women posting some time ago.
I finished my chemotherapy in August. I waited almost two months for my hair to regrow, it was white, and I couldn’t stand it any longer. I had the cold cap and a handful of shortish dark brown hair left. I wanted 1 colour.
Last week, I dyed my hair with NATURTIN, it said no armonia, no resorcinol, no parabens.
It did not seem to mention PPD, a chemical which can cause intense allergic reaction. Apparently black henna can cause the same reaction. PPD is in most hair dye where you have to mix the content of two containers.
I had three pin points tattooes put on my chest for the radiotherapy, and I don’t know whether the tattooes had made me more sensitive. I did the strand test for allergy, and as nothing happened, I use NATURTIN the next morning. The reaction was slow, it flared out two days later, I thought I ate some bad cheese. I got my radiotherapy appraisal with a nurse, and both of us decided that with some Piriton the rash at the corners of my eyes would clear up. Two days later I was at A&E as “priority”, I still thought it was the cheese! I was prescribed steroids for 4 days and antihistamine. My eyes had closed up almost completely, my cheeks were raw red, my ears had double size and I was so itchy I could not sleep. Not what I wanted after 6 cycles chemo and in my second week rads!!! Today (in my fourth week rads) I had an emergency appointment with my GP, heavier antihistamine, cortisoid cream - and more steroids “just in case”.
I am pre-diabetic and steroids can topple me into diabetes. I am trying to avoid them, but if things don’t improve, I might have to take them. I researched the web, and it seems that PPD is the culprit. It is in a lot of hair dye, even those which are advertised as “natural”. Black henna can also cause allergy (in hair dye and tattooes). Apparently I can have weeks of rash, itchy skin, puffy eyes, and I am writing this so that others don’t go through this - I am not even concerned about my 4 weeks rads (!!!). This issue is now dominating my life! Chemo is pretty awful, but so is hair dye allergy. I don’t think that if I waited another month or two, it would have made any difference. I dyed my hair before, and this is the first time I use NATURTIN.
Sending my best wishes for your ongoing chemo, Egret x
Thanks for the warning and info Egret hope you’re ok! Xx
The prisoner has escaped after 4 days. I am now home and rattling due to the antibiotics. The ward staff were amazing and my onc has been so sweet. They are reducing the dose next week and also giving 10 days of GCSF injections. Things are looking up.
I am so sorry to hear all the different things that have gone on.
All the hairdressing money going on a weekend in Edinburgh. Never been and looking forward to it already. Still a long way away. Going to lie down now. Glad to be back with all you lovely supportive ladies. xxx
Carmia. Bless you, what a horrible time. Hope you can both rest up and feel rested soon. Xx
Hey Suzy, glad you are back at home and your plan is in place for next time. Sarah-d good luck tomorrow for chemo no 3. Thinking of you xxxx
Egret sounds awful. Hope you are ok? Suzey glad to hear you are home 
ange thank you you must be feeling better. Chemo on Thursday just found out my mother in law thought it was weds too I must have given her the wrong date lol hope everyone is ok xxxxxxxx
Welcome home Suzy much love x x
Thanks for The info re hair dye Engrit. My hair salon wont colour Any body’s hair who has had chemo for at least a year after treatment has finished. Sorry your suffering like this x
Love to all I’m going back for number 2 tm. Glad your home Suzy. Loosing hair EVERYWHERE except flipping legs. Shaved the head fed up of it falling out all over the house. Hopefully wont be back in again like Suzy. Xxx
Good on you TC. I am bald apart from my eyebrows and eyelashes. Never wanted to try a brazilian but got one for free. Very strange sensation. I hope your second chemo goes better than number one. I am sure it will.
Sarahd I hope your chemo goes well tomorrow. You are a little ahead of me so I follow your experience very closely. Just think this is halfway through chemo. Sleep well. xx
Exactly what I did TC got fed up of hair all over the place, Richard shaved it off well most of it, I now have little sharp shards of hair everywhere so think it’s time to take the lot off, but I think I read somewhere that you could get infected hair follicles that way, but think I’m going to take the risk. FEC 2 today ticking them off, thank goodness, when the eyebrows and eyelashes go I might have false ones done, has anyone considered this? Good luck today to all those having chemo hope SE are manageable love to all Carmia x x
Good luck Carmia hopefully you will find this easier as you know what to expect. Hi Suzey how are you feeling today? I will keep you informed about tomorrow. Halfway through! I hope I can deal with the T part next! Ange how are the mouth ulcers? I have been using cordysol everyday to try and prevent it and I’ve got diff lam for chemo days as I can’t stand the taste of the other one for the first 5 days also I’ve got a diff lam spray which numbs it. G.p should give you all of those things. How are you t.c? Hope scaredchelle shazza and val ok too how’s number 2 been for you? Xxxxxxxx
Morning all. Just popping in from October to wish you all luck this week whatever stage you are at.
I have my meeting on the unit and bloods appointment today in advance of first Fec on Friday. I have a large A4 sheet of questions. Poor nurses.
Sarah, do you mind if I ask how things are going with your brows and the Talika Lipisils (hope I’ve spelt that right)? Wondering if I should invest in some. Cheers.
xx
Morning all good luck to all those on chemo today one more down. Ulcers not too bad today just hurt at the back of my mouth. Got the leg aches back today, I have now taken last injection is that why?? Xxx
Morning everyone.
Madange, don’t know what you’re using for mouth ulcers but Iglu is amazing stuff. Feels like painting plastic film over ulcer but it works. I felt quite fortunate with the injections as no se. Not sure how it will be with 10 injections post chemo.
I am in week 3 and feeling well. However I now have some cysts down below that make sitting painful. Onc said directly related to chemo effects. Are there no end to the indignities that this poison inflicts? l am going to fight this the whole way.
Be thinking of all you wonderful supportive women as you head for your next session of chemo. xx
Morning ladies!
Good luck for your second fec today Carmia hope all goes smoothly. Sarah you’ll be half way there after tomorrow!! Hope all goes well for you. I’m doing fine after second fec apart from a real lack if sleep, I’m really tired only managed a could of hours last night … Hopefully will improve now steroids should be out of my system! Good luck to all other ladies who have appointments and treatments in the next few days! Take care xxxx
Thanks Sarah. That sounds very promising. Hope the eye irritation improves. Good luck for tomorrow if we don’t correspond again before then. x