Hi Lally,
Yep I’m 8 days after 2nd Tax, I’ve still got FEC to go through later on. My hair came out 2 weeks ago, about 80% gone so the clippers saw to the rest… Get Nystan for thrush and corsodyl mouthwash after each chemo but no antibiotics, had them last chemo as GP thought I had infection, don’t think I did as it was just flu like side effects. But I suppose they don’t take any chances. My mouth is horrible, all swollen and sore and of course white. I am now rinsing with cooled boiled water (mug) with 2 teaspoons of salt about 4 times a day after meals, it’s working and keeping everything at bay and it does sooth a sore tounge… Taste is awful.
wee tip for wine!! get some blackcurrant cordial, I buy Lidl blackcurrant Hi Juice, it’s lovely. Get a nice chilled glass of white wine, put in a small measure of blackcurrant, you will get to know you’re own taste, give it a good stir. I defy anyone to deny if this makes a glass of wine much nicer. (sorry, no tips for red wine!!)
Take care girls
Fiona xxx
Hi
Only had the tax yesterday and the steroids keeping symptoms at bay. Will start the granocyte Friday when i expect bone ache and fatigue to kick in. I have had the horrible white tongue too. My mouth was horrible for about 4/5 days last time and i found eating a chore. I will try your cooled water and salt to see if that helps.
I was a bit on big side to start with, I had put weight on over the last couple of years but I havent put anymore on with chemo so i am pleased about that.
My hair is not growing back and i have lost a bit of eyebrows and eyelashs with tax, something that i hadnt with FEC. I hope it will start to show after last tax.
Alchohol has been a bit of a nono for me although i have had the odd one. It just doesnt actually appeal the way it used to although i might try the blackcurrent wine drink at some point.
I have actually gone a bit mad doing housework today. I am taking advantage of the steroids as they do give yu tonnes of energy. i have hoovered and mopped, well I wont feel like again for at least a week and husband and boys bless em - too much nagging involved…
At least my fatigue symptoms are going to coincide with a spot of bad weather as there is nothing worse than feeling ill when the sun is shining.
All the best
Linda
What is it with housework…I’ve been doing the same this morning despite having so little energy. My fella thinks I’m mad there is no way he’d be doing it.
Thanks for the white wine tip I will give it a try we must treat ourselves from time to time. Not sure about the salty water mouth rinse think I would puke!Fresh pineapple is suppossed to be good?
At least I dont feel so achey today I might even go to Tesco…blimey how exciting my life is!!
Have a good afternoon girls.
Hi everyone,
Good to see we are all chatting again…shows we are coming out from behind the moon.
Lally…welcome, as you can see we are all at about the same point here which is really good.
Like the cotton wool analogy re the horrid white mouth senario. Been trying to find something that sums it up and that fits the bill nicely. The worst bit is cooking a meal only to find you might as well have got two Rivita out of the cupboard and saved yourself the hassle! Hopefully though this will sort itself out towards the end of the week and although it won’t be back to normal I should at least be able to taste some things.
Linda…my thoughts excatly re the wig. The one I have looks just like my hair did and is very ‘work like’. I’m not at work now so will go or something a little more adventurous this time round. Saw someone today who had a scarf with a fringe…it looked fab and great for round the house when the postman rings etc. Might have a look at one of those tomorrow as well as I think they are quite cheap. Re the tiredness…don’t forget this is culmulative and it catches up. So after six doses it will take longer and longer to get over it. I know how you fel though. I am desperate to walk the Race for Life on 31st May and have delayed my chemo for five days to allow me to do it. Will be really upset if the Tax beats me on this one.
LGFB was great…goody bag fanastic and picked up loads of tips. Have to put the mascara away for a while though!!
Appears to be lunch time so better try and find something to eat…will look in the cupboard and see if I have any spare cardboard.
Love to all
Julie
Ok this is a weird one. First tax my mouth felt strange and all food tasted of cardboard, second tax mouth stranger and metallic taste all the time. Third tax (with added carboplatin) mouth even stranger and have had taste of vomit in my mouth for about five days now. Anyone else get that? Snoogle x
hi everyone - day 7 after first tax - had the 3 fec - and just back from onc appt - got tabs for thrush and thick white tongue and taste buds have left home - can’t really find anything to drink that I like except small amounts of fizzy pop - had tax bum too but wonder if its the 2 wks of augmentin for the hickman line infection followed by 2 days cipro tabs so onc said to leave them this time - just hope I can eat now without stomach/guts going into overdrive and horrible cramping pains…not nice…just hope this is the worst of it - any ideas? When do you start to pick up??? mary x
Hi Mary, another few days should do it, once your white cells start to pick up, around day 10-14, you’ll notice a big difference… try to eat bland food for a day or too, nothing acidic or fizzy. try some smoothies(with non acidic fruit in it) or milkshakes… Try cooled boiled water with couple tsp salt dissolved and rinse out your mouth… it does soothe it and kills any germs…if only for a little while.
I had horrendous mouth infection last time with thrush and 8 ulcers, couldn’t eat at all at one point. I’ve been armed this time with as much info as poss and it’s working!!
Hope all goes well
Fiona xxx
Hi Mary,
Although you will pick up a bit, it is not like FEC in that you are almost back to normal in last week. I was still tired and unable to do as much right up till when i started taking steroids Monday. They gave me the first energy i have had since i started. Still energetic today but have finished them now so on the road down tomorrow. As Julie said earlier, and i think she is right, it is cumulative and we are feeling the effects of so much of it now. I will start the granocyte on Friday morning as Daisy reckons its better in morning rather than evening, we shall see.
I am taking comfort from the fact i have only one more to go now and you have two… We are getting there slowly…
I had terrible heartburn but hospital have given me this stuff they assured me would get rid of it. Feel a bit better already today.
Snoogle, Hate the thought of the taste of vomit, I feel for you. I know my slush mouth is on the way…
Julie, i was supposed to do race for life this saturday but i know i wont be up for it. Still did do a 5k fun run (walk) a few weeks ago for a small charity. Was pleased as it was five days after fec and i managed it in 45 mins.
Take care everyone
linda
Hi all,
I’m in the middle of 3 FEC sessions at the moment and will have Tax shortly afterwards. You lot are scaring the bejeesus out of me. I’ve lost my hair as a result of the FEC and had bone pain with the marrow boosting stuff (Filgrastim, I think) but apart from that have been not too bad so far. I’ll be distraught if I can’t enjoy a glass of wine. It’s one of the things that keeps the anxiety at bay.
Jan
Hi Jan
Sorry if i am scaring you - just like a moan about it all really.
On the plus side with taxotere, no nausea at all (at least not for me) and a lot of the earlier postings preferred it to fec, i just think i am fed up with chemo now and its the effect of all of it rather than just tax.
Also the granocite which is probably similar to filgrastim causes the bone ache for me i think…
All the best
Linda
Hi Linda,
We all need a moan at times. I guess I’ve been hoping I would sail through all the chemo and don’t really want to face up to what the reality might be. I can’t imagine how some people manage to keep working through it all! Anyhow, forewarned is forearmed, as they say. Hearing what you are all going through puts in context all the warnings from the oncologist about dental hygiene. It’s certainly persuaded me to take them seriously. I do enjoy my food (and drink) and I’ll take it very hard if I can’t comfort eat.
Hi Jan,
Ha comforting eating hasnt stopped yet for me, just sent my son out to get me a maxibon icecream, have a craving for one…
Linda
Hi,
Funny experience at the dentist today. Was laying back on the chair when I felt my wig slipping back. Fortunately he’s a really understanding bloke and we had a laugh when I had to take it off! Have to go back for a 45 minute session to have moulds taken and temporary crown fitted on Tuesday morning, after the CT scan. Then a further 15 minutes session to have the crown fitted. He has told me to ring on the morning if I don’t feel up to it and he’ll work around how I am. Will definitely be wearing the buff next time!
Very tired, have almost finished packing for my daughter’s guide camp on Friday. Have just got the cutlery and crockery to pack on Friday. Just hope the weather improves for her.
Snoogle
x
Hi Snoogle and everyone,
Cant wait to get my teeth fixed. In the week i found the lump in October, i had to have my front tooth (which was crowned) removed due to infection. They say everything comes in threes, well i am the baldy woman with one tit and a front tooth missing. I keep telling OH how lucky he is i am such an unusual looker!!! He takes this in good spirits.
I have gone a bit mad this morning (and no steroids??) and shaved head. I had not lost all my hair as it was quite thick and although i cut it very short, i have decided i want to see it all when it starts growing again. There wasnt a significant growth, I reminded myself of the doll in toy story.
Lets hope i see some shoots growing at beginning of summer. Intend to pay for a screw in tooth later in year when all the treatment and trauma is hopefully behind me. As for the boob, we shall see…
I dont feel too bad today but have not started the marrow booster jooster yet… Tomorrow morning i think.
All the best
Linda x
Hi Linda,
We are definitely unique and original!
Snoogle x
Linda - you’re a star, albeit lop sided but hey a star!! I feel the same though - let you into a secret…I have a little plate with 3 teeth on, got it last sept and feel lot less self conscious with no gaps in my teeth - I call it my brace - anyone calling it a denture gets a slap - now going to bed its teeth sorted, wig or hat off, hickman taped, glasses off (reading) just a pity I haven’t a hearing aid but the way I’m going there’s time yet…
About this tax stuff - anybody had bad diarrhoea - not nice subject but may as well now I’ve told you about my teeth, what is there to loose…its more really bad bum cramps (tmi)as in excruciating pain rather than what comes out…GP has given me codeine - just wondered if anyone else had it and how long it lasts…mary x
Linda - you’re a star, albeit lop sided but hey a star!! I feel the same though - let you into a secret…I have a little plate with 3 teeth on, got it last sept and feel lot less self conscious with no gaps in my teeth - I call it my brace - anyone calling it a denture gets a slap - now going to bed its teeth sorted, wig or hat off, hickman taped, glasses off (reading) just a pity I haven’t a hearing aid but the way I’m going there’s time yet…
About this tax stuff - anybody had bad diarrhoea - not nice subject but may as well now I’ve told you about my teeth, what is there to loose…its more really bad bum cramps (tmi)as in excruciating pain rather than what comes out…GP has given me codeine - just wondered if anyone else had it and how long it lasts…mary x
Hi Mary,
No really runny ones for me although last time i did have a yellow hue to it (what a subject) However codeine should get rid of that big time for you.
I am normalish at moment but eating to make it loose, as hate the alternative with a vengeance.
Oh ive got the reading glasses too, but no hearing aid yet…
Sludge gob hasnt kicked in fully yet so trying to think of something really tasty to eat before it does… Cant decide, thinking about some noodles from local chinese…
All the best
linda
Hi Ladies
Day 3 of 2nd tax and all those little and not so little side effects are starting to kick in! I am much more tired than last time and a bit more down in the mouth. Still, another week or so and I should, will be feeling better.
I did get a bit loose after my last tax, about day 10, just for a couple of days.
I am feeling much better about my lack of hair now thanks Fiona, still get a shock when I look in the mirror but my family say I look much younger, every cloud and all that!
Hugs to all
Kirsten
xx
Hi Kirsten, Hi all,
Same for me Tuesday tax so day three today. Sludge gob just kicking in. Started the granocyte today so that will affect me too. On plus side the lovely heartburn tablets they gave me at hospital are having a positive effect. None at all, whoppeeeee.
i am going to rest on the sofa now and not do too much, have a couple of romcoms on dvd i might watch. Just need to get through this weary period and then hopefully i will perk up at same time as weather.
All the best
Linda