Had my second session of chemo last monday. Got folliculitis again! Started on Friday. Temperature yesterday. More antibiotics. Very painful. Went to GP today he prescribed antibiotics. Out of hours doctor came last night because of high temperature. Said it was shingles! Rang chemo nurse this pm. She said most probably reaction to chemo and didnt see need of antibiotics. But both GP & out of hours doctor want/wanted to admit me if it doesnt clear.
Has anyone else had this. Lost nearly all hair just before 2nd FEC. If you have how did you prevent it coming back.
All advice most welcome.
Starfish x
hi starfish
so sorry about your folliculitis, i had exactly the same thing it took a while to clear and i had a lot of antibiotics, a word of advice because of the chemo and all my antibiotics knocked hell out of me and i ended up with an infection in my bowel , it didng give me a temp just chronic pain and i was admitted to hospital, the dr said i should have been eating live yoghurt to help , it cleared up on its own and i hope your does also and my hair has grown back lovely and thick so it didnt effect any hair growth
hope this helps
galen
Goodness Starfish this sounds awful. My hair always grew a little before each session, I hope someone has an answer for you.
When I developed a serious problem from the effects of the steroids, I too was told it was a reaction, and although I have no complaint at all about their treatment, they were very slow to realise that the problem was significant. It was only when I visited my gp that I was referred on for the appropriate help.
Thinking of you
Margaret
what is folliculitis please ? … just being nosey … love FB x
irritation of the hair follicules…
i only had sore head when hair wa sabout to fall out and yours sounds v different… the reason i am commenting is i was told not to eat live yoghurt or anythign actimel typw… isn’t weird how different hosps say different things!!!
I do hope it clears up soon - it sound v unpleasant
all the best J
Grrr. I am so going to question the whole yogurt thing. I want proof that we shouldn’t be eating it. I had a really bad skin infection in a delicate place.
Anyway I was given a lovely course of antibiotics and took them without asking questions which didn’t clear up the infection but it did bring on the most wonderful full on attack of thrush. I was so ****d off words don’t decribe it but that’s another thing. Anyway after I had finished on the evil drugs I took advice anout nutrition figuring somethign was wrong with my health overall and was told I needed to repopulate my gut with probiotic cultures (normally there in everyone but can get depleted) these are often advertised as friendly bacteria.
I didn’t do actimel as that is loaded with other stuff that I don’t want to consume and found this yogurt making kit that’s organic and extremely live (about 100 times the bacteria of actimel). When I was told I shouldn’t be eating it because the bacteria could be bad for me during the chemo I was quite suprised because I would have thought that with all the bombardment our whole bodies are getting we need that extra support.
I now want to see the evidence and am going to google it because I’m half way through and wondering if I’m putting my body at risk of fungal infection etc because of some mix up of understanding over bacteria.
I can understand that where acidophilus grows is a warm environment that could nurture bacteria we really don’t want but that would be really simplistic as it’s hard for anything to compete with the good bacteria when it’s in a nice culture… that’s rather the point of it.
Still don’t like to argue with my onc… hmm. maybe that’s not so true anymore.
Hi starfish
I had folliculitis, onl not on my head unforunately, the affected follicles were mainly on my thighs (bu righ up near the groin), my bum, and one on my tummy. It was the most painful thing I’ve ever had, and because of he locaion I couldn’t walk, drive or bend, and the had to postpone chemo no 3 until it got cleared out. My oncologiss were quie baffled as hey hadn’ seen anything like it before…I thik I was on 3 courses of anibiotics plus and antibiotic cream, and of course I also developed thrush at the same time…I totally empathise wih you, it was definiely the lowest point of 24 weeks of chemo. First lot of antibs didn’ do anything so they took a swab to check what baceria was causing so they could give me targeted anibs. Ask for this if it doesn’t clear up!
It didn’t come back again, but then I onlyy had 2 lots of fec left. so sorryy, if I don’ have any advice, but just wanted to let you know that I completely understand!!!
good luck, hope they sort it out soon!
take care
Chiara
Many thanks for all your comments. It is truly painful and not what I expected from chemo. No one mentioned it and it isnt listed in side effects. This is the second month. I nearly landed in hospital yesterday because of it. Went back to GP. He siad I had temperature at 11.00 in morning. I didnt when I woke up. He wasnt sure it was responding to antibiotics… I said I do not want to go into hospital. He said I dont want you to. He then rang hospital. Spoke to a registrar who said she had better come in. He said go home and pack bag. I thought I was done with hospitals after two ops and heard and experienced so many dreadful stories of people hanging around for bed and then being admitted to cancer ward. Decided to stay at home. Took paracetamol. Temperature came down. Took antibiotics and started treating scalp with tea tree solution. Couldnt see it would do any harm. It is less painful. But a total mess. I cannot wear wig. I am angry as I mentioned it to two oncologists before last chemo and no one seemed to take it that seriously. It seems to kick in on day 5. I am washing all pillow cases. They are covered in blood from sores anyway. Sorry!!! Sheets. Towels. Everything. Everyday. Do others find that it takes more time. And you do not feel well either. Mouth washes. Last month I had it on my face only less so. Face wipes. I feel the support after chemo is poor. They give numbers to ring. But weekends it is A&E. It all adds to the stress. Do others find this. Why cannot they have a walk in clinic each day after chemo for about an hour so if people have problems they get sorted. Like they do with Seroma. And chemo is by far the largest part of it all and the most traumatic.
Sorry to moan. But the pain has been awful and I look a dreadful sight!!! I have hardly slept for about 4 nights with it as I cannot put head on pillow. It feels like needles all over head. Am thinking of one of these chillow pillows. Anyone had experience of these.
Once again thanks for all your wonderful support.
Starfish
I have chillows but they are a bit chilly on the head so use mine on my back when watching TV and reading as it helps with the blasted hot flushes.
It is worth investing in one though and other people do tolerate it under their head or just inside a pillowcase.
I hope you can find some relief very soon.
Best of luck
D
Dahlia
Thanks for comments.
I am definitely getting one. As normal pillows do feel hot on my head. Thankfully pain has subsided and things are a little better.
I went out today with scarf on head and everyone stared! I couldnt stand being in any longer. I cannot wear wig as head too sensitive and also I suspicious it is contributory as it seems itchy anyway.