Hi,
Well had the CT Scan, should get the results next Tuesday during chemo session. Afterwards went to a greasy spoon for breakfast. How naughty!
Off to the dentist in half a hour.
Snoogle x
Hi Piper(Di)…the first tax seemed to floor me or whether is was the high a/biotics before etc??? Anyway was admitted with neutropenic sepsis sat night - temp not that high but diarrhoea etc and sore rear end - how embarassing…nasty tear that wasn’t healing due to chemo, neuts were very low so had gcsf in tummy that night - nurse said I’d feel it in my spinal area and it did twinge, here we don’t get the gcsf routinely and I’m not sure what the stuff was I had they didn’t say and I never thought to ask, will do as I have to see onc day before next tax to see re dose etc…and the iv anitbiotics too…anyway had a bit of a break in the sideroom and lazy weekend…!! mary x
saying all that I now feel better than I have done for a while so here’s hoping its all on the way up…like you Di I’m trying not to think of the next one a week on thursday!!
Hi Mary hi all,
I just posted a message but it hasnt appeared. Weird, wonder where it will turn up.
Anyway, as i said on it i am feeling a lot better bone aches are minor irritation now. I have swept, hoovered and mopped the through lounge. I feel a sense of achievement.
Now what else did i say? Oh yes, hope you enjoyed your breakfast snoogle. i had a craving for scrambled eggs and new potatoes and made them but reality didnt live up to the dream. My taste buds still acting up. I really fancy haagan das now but none in house and not enough energy to go and fetch it.
I am having my bathroom floor tiled tomorrow and planning some minor makeover projects in the house to keep me occupied. I am quite excited about it as i feel i have just existed for the last few months. i think thats what chemo does to you.
Linda
Hi All,
2 weeks since chemo and feeling heaps better,mouth alot better,thrush cleared up thanks to Nystan ,though tastebuds still not great.Back on the movicol as very sore bot (too much information I know,sorry).
My scalp’s really dry and I was wondering if you ladies had any recommendations (or maybe you still have hair!),I tried Bio-oil which is fine for your body but I don’t like the feel of it on my head,at the moment I’m using E45 cream.
Only a week till my first Tax…feeling nervous,gonna paint my nails this weekend,don’t know how else I can prepare myself.
Hope you’re all having a good week and the weather improves,
Lots of love,
Helen x
Hi Helen
Hair whats hair? LOL actually until last week i did have some but shaved it all off so it grows uniformly (i hope!!) i put some vaseline on it initially but nothing since then. It seems fine and
funnily enough i usually have a dry scalp. If it does get dry i might try some baby products on it.
My toenails need redoing, i had them done black after the first tax.
the nails on my hands are dark pink with ridges of white which i presume are each treatment i have had. They tingle but no sign yet of fall out.
All the best
Linda
Hi Girls,
Oh I so enjoy this week before chemo, it’s like being back to normal again…Just wish it was a bit longer than a week, I’m trying to squeeze everything in before Tuesday!! Even managed couple of hours work today, 3 cut and blow dry’s and a colour… so at least my clients don’t think I’ve completely deserted them…I was lucky I managed to get another mobile hairdresser to take on my regulars, so at least the weekly ladies get their hair done.
Helen, sounds like you don’t like anything slimey on your head but the best thing for it is olive oil… even for a couple of hours before bath of shower just to let it soak in a bit… E45 is good also if you find it better. I have a little drop of hair which is about a number 1 length and I still give it 1 shampoo and a drop of conditioner. Remember to keep washing it as if you had hair, you can get a build up of skin on your scalp called scurf,(cradle cap if your a baby) looks like dry skin. Olive oil will loosen it too as well as moisturise. Anybody who’s hair is starting to grow back in should try massaging the scalp regularily to encourage the hair follicles to start working again… ( oooh I love taking shop!!)
Snoogle, Hope all went well at the dentist today, and fingers crossed for scan… I so wished I had a cleaner… will maybe think about it as time goes on… I’ve lost so much in wages with not working, (every penny a prisoner!!) down side of being self employed I suppose!!
Hope everybody else is doing good this week…
Hugs
Fiona xxx
Hi Linda & Fiona,
Thanks for the tips,will try the olive oil…I only have extra virgin,what a waste! Also taken on board your point about still needing to wash your head to prevent build up of dry skin,I thought I was doing myself a favour by only washing it once a week cos I thought it’d make it drier, but what you said makes sense.
I know what you mean about trying to cram everything into the “good week”,how come it goes so much quicker than when you’re feeling crap!
All the best
Helen x
Hi girls,
Hair definitely gone. I still use a mild shampoo on my head like Fiona suggests. I also moisturise with the same moisturiser I use on my face. It seems to work ok and it smells good. Not a cheap option though if you use an expensive brand.
I have to say I don’t miss having to blow dry my hair every day. Much easier to slick on a bit of moisturiser and a scarf.
Jan
Hi,
My fingernails are looking weird. Areas of blotchy redness underneath the middle of the nails and then darker areas at the bases of the nails. Did think about nail varnish, my daughter offered me her purple nail varnish (that never happens!), but I think I will leave it and show the nurses next Tuesday and get their opinion.
I now have my temporary crown. THe mould has been sent off for the crown to be made, but we have a complication in that I have to wear a retainer a couple of nights a week and we one day next week we have to drive over 30 minutes to the technician place with the retainer so that they can check the crown won’t foul the retainer bar.
Snoogle x
Good morning all,
Sunshine out of window, predicting a heatwave on telly (steady on>>)
Must be the beginning of BST. My aches and pains are almost gone, The omelette i ate for breakfast tasted like one, but afraid the tea still tasted like dish water. However, just feeling a bit better puts you in a better mood - we are so grateful for small mercies at this time.
I have the tingle fingers at the moment. It is slight uncomfortable rather than painful and makes opening anything a chore. It does feel like it is coming from the nails rather than the fingers.
How does your mouth feel Snoogle, I cant wait to get my teeth cleaned by a dentist and i never thought i would say that as i hate it when they do it. Teeth feel so grimy.
I am thinking of one of the heads ups of this disease and there are not many if any bar this one. What about the hundred odd quid i spent on my hair every couple of months. What shall i spend it on instead?
Anyway I am very bravely (cos thats what we cancer ladies are…)
going to tackle a bit of ironing. Oh what an eventful day i have planned…
Linda
Another wig? Facial?
Morning Ladies
Day 10 since 2nd tax and I feel good! Apart from feeling very tired at regular intervals through the day which a quick nap soon resolves. The stubble of hair I had washed off in the shower yesterday and I’m now left with a rather fluffy head, my 2 yr old loves rubbing it. I will take your advice Fiona and get some oil to rub on my scalp, keep it smooth.
Unfortunately I couldn’t afford a cleaner, I’m on half pay now, but fortunately my lovely mother is helping me out and my house is cleaner than when I’m in charge!
I’m planning a full week next week for half term, it’s the week before next tax so fingers crossed it will be a goodun.
Hope you’re right about the weather Linda, I live up in the lakes and although we’re used to the rain up here we’re in desperate need of some sun now.
Hugs to all
Kirsten
xx
Hi Ladies,
Sun arrived here on the lovely Ayrshire coast. Well… for today at least and I’m having a good day. I had a long walk on the golf course with the dog this morning. (Last few days I’ve needed full wet weather gear and the dog got the minimum) I got all my windows washed as well as some of the dog drool off the walls. Now rethinking the cleaner again!
I used to spend nearly £100 every 6 weeks on my crowning glory as well, Linda, and I hadn’t thought of the money I’m saving. I can feel a little spending coming on! Think I’ll opt for a facial. I find I’m spending a bit more time making up my face to look feminine without the hair.
As for the teeth, I bought a sonic toothbrush because, horrors… I can’t stand the dentist. It’s really great and gives that “dentist clean feeling”. Hubby has adopted it as well. Unfortunately, one thing it can’t do is take away the constant chemical taste in the mouth.
Kirsten, I hope the lakes manage to get some sunny weather, although they wouldn’t be so beautiful without all that rain!
Jan
Hi Jan,
I’m in Glasgow, and my dad lives in Ayr, that’s where I’m from originally. Where are you?
Went into the city for lunch today, was very nice once the sun came out, bit windy though! Hope the weather picks up and we get some summer. I think you ladies down south are to get some nice warm weather this week, don’t think we are though.
I’m 39 tomorrow, Feeling more like 59!! I think this illness has aged me not just physically but mentally, I remember crying when I turned 30, wondering where my 20’s went. Don’t think I’ll be crying when I’m 40, I’ll just be glad to be here!! Irony at it’s best!!!
Cyber hugs to all you girls
Fiona. Xxxx
Hi All,
Linda, how strange. I have been experiencing soreness in my fingers underneath my nails today. I have red marks under my nails. I do hope it isn’t a precursor to them falling off! Even typing this is quite painful.
My mouth is not too bad now - won’t be again for a while after Tuesday. The temporary crown is holding in ok although it does feel a bit weird (says the woman who has had both jaws broken and reset alongside slivers of her hip bone packing out areas in her chin!) I did read an article about pine nuts giving some people weird tastes in their mouths. I had a bit of a craving for them last month and wonder if that contributed to the vomit flavouring! I shall avoid them this time around and see if the taste in my mouth is as bad.
I need to buy a Beaver uniform for my son over half-term as he is being invested on the Monday after. I should have gone to the uniform shop after school today, but I was just so tired. May be I’ll ask my husband to do it over half-term.
Goodnight to all,
Snoogle x
Hi everyone
Snoogle, I have decided I will worry about my nails falling out when it happens. But like you have tingle fingers and yes i can feel every key when i type.
My taste is worse this time than last and funny enough i was eating pine nuts last week - spotted them in shop and bought a bag so maybe this is one time we cant blame the chemo. I have an another unopened bag in the kitchen and they shall probably stay that way for forseeable future. I am probably losing weight at moment because i am eating far less than usual. Its not deliberate, its just most food tastes of nothing in particular and it is difficult to get enthusiastic about it or eat a great deal. I am eating for nuitrition where i would normally expect to enjoy it as well.
I was reading the American equivalent of this site yesterday and there is a thread on side effects on taxotere. Their stuff must be worse than ours or different as they really seem to get a spectrum of different ailments on it. Made me laugh - there were some howlers there and also grateful. Its on forums on breastcancer.org.
One thing they do say and apparently their doctors are telling them this is that you must drink far more water than usual whilst on taxotere and try to go toilet every four hours as it irritates the bladder lining. Worth noting.
Going to lunch today with friends which was postponed from yesterday. I had my bathroom floor tiled instead and it looks great. The slow ascent to near normality has begun and i walked the dog at six o clock this morning.
All enjoy the day.
Linda
Hi
I have just reread my last post and realise it makes me sound as though i am laughing at other’s misfortunes which i am not. To clarify, The reason i found of lot of postings funny, is the entertaining way in which they were written and also the honesty and matter of fact attitude.
All the best
Linda
Hi Linda,
I think Americans are more forthright in their opinions and they seem to get more information from medical professionals. I did read somewhere the other day, probably the same paper as had the article about pine nuts, that if people read about the side effects of drugs then they are more likely to get the side effects. I wonder if whoever wrote that article would be of the same opinion if they were to have some chemo!
Hope you enjoy your lunch.
Snoogle x
Hi Snoogle,
I read that article too and of course the one about the pine nuts. I wouldn’t say its true about myself. I have tried to keep an open mind on SE’s and particularly with FEC, was pleased that i got hardly any of them.
Funnily enough on another thread here, others have talked about the red face from tax and until today I had only got that from steroids. however, today have a corker of a rosy glow - copious of amounts of the green liquid they gave me on LGFB and foundation and powder have ‘calmed’ me down a bit. Thank god for make-up.
I have my wig on and mastectomy bra with the lace inset to cover up the bullet hole. (thats what my ‘‘dip’’ looks like to me) look almost human. Might even take a photo with webcam and post on - we shall see.
All the best
Linda
ps I have changed the photo - this taken about 2 mins ago
Hi everyone,
Linda…photo looks good!
Good to see we are all making the most of feeling good whilst we can. Mine will be extended for a little longer as I have asked to delay the next one due to a lot going on next week ( trip to centre parcs this weekend, my birthday, our 20th wedding anniversary, a Girls Aloud concert and Race for Life!) Have to be careful not overdo things but by now I really know my body well so know when to stop.
Won’t be celebrating any of the above with alochol. Taste is much better now but still can’t manage wine which is such a shame as it always looks so inviting.
Happy birthday Fiona…good that you are well for it. I know what you mean about significant dates, they are all just a number now and quite meaningless in the great scheme of things.
Got the tingling nails as well. My finger nails have gone a yellowish colour so better cover them back up again with nail varnish.
Still raining off and on here in East Yorkshire but it is set to brighten up over the weekend. Hope you all get your fair share of good weather as well.
Julie