See I have missed a few words out in post.Major one being No SE!!!
P
X
Hi There,
had a very bad 48hrs. Sick as a dog!! In fact I don’t think dogs get that sick!! Well 3 antisickness injections later and here I am, a little battered and weak as a kitten! Don’t know what I’m gonna be like with the last one but I know I’m gonna want to run away!!
Glad to hear everyone is coping ok, good luck with medical Sharon, sorry to hear about T in the park Lynda that’s a real pain!!
Will be back on soon as I’ve got more strength.
Hugs
fiona xxxx
Hi Girls
Well, I hope you’re all impressed – after several minutes staring at my injection this morning I eventually managed to stab it in. I’m so proud of myself and I can’t believe it didn’t even hurt, but that was maybe due to a slightly flabby stomach and having no sensation there due to 3 sections!
I’m feeling a lot better today, remembered to take the anti-sickness so not too bad. My hair has also stopped coming out (I’ve still got a full head, just very thin on the crown) and my eyebrows and eyelashes have survived the epi so hopefully they’ll last now. Had to do my legs the other day, which was a bit of a shock after not having done them for so long.
Fiona – poor you, you’ve had such a hard time with the sickness and SE’s. Stay positive and remember this time next month your chemo will be over with. I’ve still got 3 more cycles (6 chemos /11 wks) till I’m through. How are the boys coping see you so sick?
Lynda – What a same you’re having to miss T in the Park – but as you said ‘always next year’. You were lucky you had your bloods done. Are you going to get injections to boost your wbc?
Pauline – I’m glad you’re doing OK and your arm is on the mend. Fingers crossed the zoladex and tamoxifan SE’s will stay away. I’m dreading going onto Tamoxifan, as I’ve always had problems with hormonal contraceptives. I know Tamoxifan doesn’t introduce hormones, but just worried about what a change in hormone balance will do to me.
Sharon – hope your medical went OK today.
Sheila, Annie – hope you’re both keeping OK and not over doing things.
Hope everyone has a good weekend. Don’t have anything planned – apart from the kids driving me mad!
Lots of Hugs
Helenxx
hey all…
not getting injections at the mo… as was realy just an extra blood test to see if my bloods were good enough to go to T… i think if they are still low when i get them done on tuesday prior to next chemo then they may want to give it… but hopefully by then it will be back to normal.
Fiona sorry to hear your still bothered with sickness… but glad to hear the injections helped though.
helen i didnt find the tamoxifen that bad… it did take a few months to settle down though… had hot flushes and irreg bleeding for 1st 6 months or so but then settled down after i got mirena coil in… i found some brands less likely to cause SEs like woerkhatd and aps were better than sandoz (the green pack). hope you and pauline dont find it too problematic.
lulu xx
Helen…
Well done with the injection.Fire it in fast…way to go.
P
X
Hi All
Thanks for the advice Pauline - I think I was a bit slow putting the injection in this morning; nerves,so felt it going in. Will just fire it in tomorrow.
Lynda - Fingers crossed your bloods will be up by next week. Hope you don’t mind me asking, but have you stil got your Mirena in? I genuinely believe that my was responsible for my BC. Had 6 horrendous months of side effects from it and finally got it removed after I found my lump and within days I was back to my normal self. I think Fiona had hers in for 6 months before she was diagnosed too. It does actually say on the packet that conditions reported by Mirena users include BC, but a common link has not been established and from memmory there has only been one large study into the connection that reported that they isn’t an increased risk in the general population - but what about the exceptions!
Fiona - I hope the sickness is subsiding and you’re getting your strength back.
Anyway, hope everyone else is doing OK.
Take care.
Helen
Hi all
Medical yest wasn’t too bad, doc I got was really nice, waiting room was full of people who you could tell were junkies. Just need to wait now for a decision.
Had a wee visit to Beaston today trial run for Monday, everything went well everything lined up perfect.
Fiona - sorry to hear your having a really bad time, I only felt sick about 2x as I drank too much water.
Helen - WELL DONE YOU!! giving yourself the injections just remember to grab some skin its alot less painfull. My hair is coming in fast, only thing taking it’s time is the eyebrows still drawing them in. Can’t believe i’m not allowed to shave armpit while getting Rads, hair there has grown in just as bad as before, 5weeks without shaving/waxing is no good!! Apparently tho when you’ve had lymph nodes removed you should only use electric razor which I have been using.
Linda - you’ll miss TITP but you can always watch on tv and there is always next year, I usually go but didn’t think I’d be up to it after surgery. As usual looks like it’s going to rain for the weekend.
Pauline - I’ll look out for you on mon but you will prob be finished by time I get there.
Roll on monday for last leg of treatment then I can just concentrate on Herceptin.
Hope you all have a great weekend.
Love Sharon
xxxxxxxxxxxx
sharon i still shaved under arms when i had rads think it depends how close to arm pit your getting them… mine were totally on my boob so just used my buzzy shaver rather than an actual razor… but no way i could go without shaving for 5 weeks… also they said not to use deo… but used roll on cas you can put it on accurately where as spray goes everywhere.
helen your brave injecting yourself i dont think i could… as for the mirena i got it put in after i had the first cancer which was hormonal and was a bit concerned regarding it but as a family planning nurse i researched it thouroughly before going for it… my most recent cancer is hormone negative so it wont have made any difference to this one.
how do you like my take on T in the park… T in the lounge!!!
Lulu x
Hi Girls,
I’m up!!! Wey hey. Still dealing with the nausea but hey ho! What can you do?!! Very nice weather today, getting lots of nice fresh air wafting in through the patio doors.
Lynda, love the tent!! And the wellies. Get the telly on full blast when it’s on and you’ll think you’re right there!!
Sharon, Good luck for Monday with rads and glad everything went ok at your medical and hope you don’t have any probs. I’ve got a school friend who’s wee boy is 8 and is downsyndrome and also recovering from leukemia and his dissability stopped on Monday as he doesn’t fit the criteria!!! She devistated. He’s on antibiotics indefinately as chemo damaged his lungs!! Makes u wonder doesn’t it? Sick people don’t get looked after, just the noisy ones who are well enough to pretent to be sick!!
Helen, Glad you managed injections! Well done!! I couldn’t, I’m a big woose!!! It’s good the chemo has been kind to you as well. Being sick and young kids definately don’t go together.
Pauline, Good luck to you also for Monday, another hurdle to get out the way, I got a date of 17th Aug for my rads along with Tamoxifen. 8th Sept for herceptin. All ticking along nicely!
Well I’m off out to sit in the shade till I start shivering!
Big Hugs to you all
Fiona xxxx
Hiya Everyone
Great to hear from everyone, forum was so quiet for a time there!
Fee, sorry that FEC is giving you such a kicking. With me, it got cumulatively worse… The oncies kept telling me is was a harsh treatment. I kept the nausea under control with crystallised ginger, didn’t leave the house without it. Have you tried it? Or even ginger ale? Still, only 1 more session to go. At least you have your treatment schedule in place. It’s quite motivational to have a timetable - you can see the end in sight.
Helen, I self injected too. I wish I was still getting the boosters, as I felt so much better on them!!! You seem to be tolerating you treatment splendidly. The fatigue is something else though. I am more tired now than I was on chemo!! Mr Murphy said last week that that it can take a long time to get your energy back after neo-adj therapy, but I am getting so impatient with myself. Everything is such an effort and life seems joyless just now. I wouldn’t tell any of my family that, as they are so relived that my prognosis was good, so it’s a godsend that I can say that here. Worry about money isn’t helping matters. I can’t understand why Sharon had to attend a medical when she is undergoing cancer treatment! I daresay they’ll be summoning me soon. All of this at the time when we just don’t need it. They should do a program on the financial and emotional impact of cancer, and the additional stain it puts on us. I still think you are a hero for taking care of 3 kids - you have a backbone of steel Helen and a great attitude. And you have kept your hair. Mine is growing back, but colourless, kind of dust coloured and feels more like fur than hair! Looks awful but feels nice, like stroking a puppy’s tummy. Getting my new wig tomorrow so will get it shaved then.
Bummer about missing T in the park Lulu. That would have cheered you right up, but you can’t take chances. TV coverage is usually good - they covered Gladstonbury wonderfully. and next year you’ll be all better, we all will!
Yvonne, where are you? Are you still going to Maggies on Fridays? I haven’t been able because of appointments etc, but will this Friday. I didn’t manage to get away as I had hoped. My cousin is staying for a long weekend. He has been great craic. His daughter is off to T in The park with my nieces! So we are getting lots of updates about the festival. I went to the first 2 T in the Park when it was held in Hamilton
I am seeing my Onc consultant, Mr Yusef on Thur. Hope he concurs with the breast surgeon!! I’ve got this lingering doubt that I have got off too lightly with the surgery!! Anyway, he will arrange for the rads and Herceptrin. The underarm wound is healing well. Had it drained a couple of times and it’s now settled down. Can anybody suggest anything for energy!! It’s been over 3 weeks since the surgery and 2 months since my last chemo so surely I should be getting stronger!
Hope all of you getting chemo this week are feeling fine. It’s a bummer, but it will end. Gonnie try and do a bit of light gardening today, I love it and have missed doing it, but I was too sore.
Looks like the weather’s picking up again!!! We had torrential rain last night!
Love and best wishes to you all.
Annie xxxx
Hi girls - good to see so many posts again.
Sharon - hope first rads went ok
Helen - brave girls to give yourself injection. You should feel so much better once you’ve had them
Fiona - you’re having such a horrible time with sickness. is there nothing else they can do or do you just have to suffer it.
Pauline - i was on tamoxifen and zoladex - no problems
Linda - did you manage to watch TITP on tv. I’m sure not the same as being there but hopefully you’ll make it next year.
Annie - hope you get OK when seeing Dr Y - how’s the energy levels. I am feeling so tired just now. Been on chemo since October so this is my last lot of Xeloda then break for a few months.
My grandaughter doing great - crawling now and walking round furniture. She’s such a joy to me. See her every day as I stay 5 doors away from daughter.
Weather 's been so good
Take care girls
Sheila
hi girls
wasnt quite the same atmosphere watching it on telly… and the weather was great… will probably piss down next year lol.
OH and daughter were camping with a girl who got sent home by the TITP medics with glandular fever… so im glad i never went… going to see if i can get a blood test to check if im immune to it as it has a 7 week incubation period which is a long time to be quaranteened from my family.
sharon how are the rads going? hope your not finding them too problematic… i kinda got a wee bit burnt towards the end but wasnt really up nor down with them.
fiona hope your feeling a bit better by now… getb your friend to appeal for the DLA… i get it for my daughter who has dyspraxia… get her to go to the CAB as they are great at helping with the forms… i would imah=gine a child wuith downs needs a lot more support and help that a child of the same age without downs… its just so sad that the form is all about you opicking faults and finding the negative aspects of you child when what you really want to do is praise the positive points.
good to hear from the rest of you.
Lynda x
Hi guys
Lulu, my 3 nieces came back from T unwell, throat infections. Little consolation, but you couldn’t risk that. Got caught in the downpour yesterday, and quite liked it. God, got to recover
a life!!
All you nurses out there, I was advised by an American friend to take 1000mg of B12 per day for fatique. I am a veggie, so take Marmite to get my B vits. Is 1000 mg even available here? Or safe
Hi Everyone,
Weather’s nice till the rain comes!!! I’m feeling better and I’m sure the injections are giving me a boost. my chemo arm is very sore and I was worried about a blood clot, the DN had a wee look this morning and she doesn’t think it has but will keep my eye on it!!
Sharon, Pauline hope all went well with your radiotherapy yesterday.
Annie, why don’t you email Kirsty at the Maggies centre? she has a very good knowledge of supplements… fatigue is such a pain in the a**e! can take a good few months for your strength to return!!
Helen, hope you are doing well? how are you managing with the whole brood in the house?
Sheila, it’s lovely to hear about your grandaughter… she sounds at such a fun age. You are so lucky to be 5 doors away from your daughter, my family is all over the country, which I hate…
Lynda, good job you never went to T in the park!! all those bugs flying about… my friend is appealing DLA… just such a pain that people have to go through all this rubbish!!
My sister in law is up till Thursday which is nice, I’d love to go out and about more but am quite reluctant especially this week…
well hope everyone is fine…
Love
Fiona xxxx
Hi Everyone
Where is this rain coming from? It almost seemed tropical today it was coming down so heavy.
Well, I gave myself my last injection today, I really do think it has given me a huge boost energy wise, but maybe too much, as I’ve felt really hyped-up since I’ve been having them and have probably only been getting a few hours sleep a night but aren’t tired, which is a first! I’ve also got really bad back ache and aching muscles, which is down as a SE. Has anyone else had any se’s from the injections?
Fiona – How are you feeling now and hows the arms? what a worrying time you are having with your chemo? I hope your sister-in-law is looking after you.
Sharon / Pauline – how are the rads going this week? I hope its been OK.
Sheila – It must be lovely living so close to your granddaughter, how old is she? I wish my mum lived closer to us. My wee girl is just 14 months and is now toddling about the house, shouting Hiya, mummy and dank-you. I’ve started putting her hair in 2 wee bunches, which stick out from the top of her head like an alien’s antennae, but it looks so cute!
Lynda – I think you had a lucky escape by not going to TITP, last thing you need it to catch something. When’s your next chemo?
Annie – good luck with your oncologist tomorrow. Sorry to hear you aren’t feeling that great, but try to stay positive. I think it’s always difficult moving from one treatment stage to the next. How is your new wig?
We’re due to go a wedding this weekend, but I’m now panicking about going as I’ve spent the last couple of months, avoiding crowded places and now I’m planning on attending a big wedding and reception. I’m really not sure if I should be going – its now 16 days post my 1st CMF and 9 since my 2nd, so I’m not sure how the ‘low point’ is when you have 2 lots, or as I’ve had the injections, have they given my immune system a good boost. Am I being paranoid worrying about going?
Hope everyone is looking after themselves.
Hugs
Helen
xxx
Hi Helen and everyone,
yes Helen I get sore muscles from injection. Skin feels bruised if I poke it and for the first couple I feel a bit fluey in the evenings. Gets better as the week goes on, my last is Fri.
Sister in law goes home tomorrow, it’s been nice having her, boys are going away with their dad on Mon for Two weeks so I’ll get a nice rest, and I’ll be able to deal with last vomit! Chemo without having to worry about them!!
It’s hard deciding to avoid busy places, i feel so shut in most of the time. I went to Silverburn today and I swear I was getting agerophobic!!! I’m dying to see Harry Potter but will have to wait weeks till the crowds calm down!!
Well I’m feeling ok, odd nausea bout. Just have to eat liitle and often.
Good luck Lynda tomorrow with Chemo.
Love to all you other gals
Fiona xxx
Helen…
I took 2 co-codamol and a voltarol prior to injeting myself.I had really bad long bones pain.However,helped heaps with boosting immune system.
Take care
P
X
Hi girls - out early this morning and it was lovely and sunny - clouds have now come and it looks like rain. Wish we could get a good spell of sunshine.
Helen - know what you mean about pains from injection. I had them for a few days - took some painkillers which helped. Better to get injection and suffer joint pain for a few days as they really boost your immune system. Hope you get to wedding and enjoy.
Fiona - hope you get a nice rest when the boys are with their dad.
Sharon - how’s rads going.
Linda - how was chemo yesterday - any side effects yet.
love to everyone
Sheila
hi sheila second chemo was today… they buggered up my veins but apart from that went well… although feel a bit queasy already but was probably more at the thought of her poking away at my veins.
my sister shaved all my hair off last night, well what was left of it… still feels prickly and sore when i lie on it but more comfy now its away.
think all you girls injecting yourself are so brave… im sure i couldnt do that at all.
helen i would say still go to the wedding if your feeling up to it… just tell people not to have physical contact with you like no kissing, cuddling or shaking hand like you normally do at weddings… most people would understand… you could maybe do what i did before TITP and get you bloods checked today before the wedding to see how low they are… but a wedding in a hotel with clean toilets and properly cooked food isnt quite the same as camping in a muddy field, using portaloos and eating takeaways for 4 days… you can always leave a bit early if you dont feel up to it.
i have a wedding in 10 days time which will be my low week but still planning to go if im feeling well… but just gonna tell everybody to keep their distance from me.
hope you other girls are feeling ok.
Lxx
Hi Guys
Great to see your posts. Seems like you are all coping like the heros you are.
Well, saw the Oncies today, and, alas, I am to get 4 courses of Tax, combined with Herceptrin. Bit disappointed as Mr Murphy, the surgeon, thought that I might not need them. Hope I can take 4, they may stop at 2, depending on s/e and long term nerve damage. My joints are aching too, which Mr Yusef said was to be expected.
Getting echocardio on Fri next, and taking a break in Blackpool before then.
I was gearing myself for rads so am somewhat bemused at the moment. Seems like this will never end. Still rads and herceptrin. Cancer is the gift that never stops giving, doncha think!??
Any advice from you gals who have had the Yew tree poison??? And has anyone had it concurrent with Herceptrin?
I wish I had the booster jabs! I only got bone pain the one time, but I had to take painkillers. They really did help. Don’t think I will get them this time, hope I do tho’.
Going to Maggies tomorrow. Anyone else going? I’m a bit down. Sorry.
Sharon & Pauline, how are the rads going! And have you had your finances sorted Sharon? It’s too awful that we have this extra worry. Any news on DLA for you both?
Fee, the end of fec is on the horison. You have done good girl.
One bit of good news! My laptop, the repair for which I was quoted £316 + inspection fee of £25 was repaired in Blackpool for a tenner!!! Just needed cleaning and the motherboard tightened. Just goes to show eh?
Take care, and hopefully see some of you at Maggie’s tomorrow.
Love and lollipops from my fiddelly phone!!!
Annie xxxx