Glad it all went well @gromit12 and it’s another one done, hope this week is kind to you 
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That made me laugh…. It feels a bit like the friends episode where Rachel made the half shepherds pie/half trifle dessert because the pages were stuck together:rofl:
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@isthisreal - OMG, that would make you lose your appetite permanently 
. Since being on docetaxel I’ve really struggled to eat - I’ll be very disappointed if I’ve not lost weight by the time of my next chemo 
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I’ve actually lost some of my appetite since docetaxel too but I also have never sat down so much as I’m shattered all the time so I’m still not expecting any weight loss
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Well I’ve been buzzing most of the night! Didn’t go to bed till 4am and woke at 7am- lovely steroids!!! And I have tomato face this morning. Otherwise feel ok 
tried Kefir this morning - honey and ginger one- it was nice 
also started omeprazole this morning-jist in case! and whoever recommended polybalm for nails thank you - the difference it’s made. Expensive yes, but as a long distance runner who has lost toenails, a couple of trips to podiatrist cost a fortune - so prevention methinks.
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The joy of steroids 
chemo the gift that just keeps giving 
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It’s amazing isn’t it! Every time my nails hurt, I put the Polybalm on and they feel fine within about half an hour. I did it daily (sometimes twice) during EC but I’m doing it 3 x a day during Docetaxel since that’s the one that eats up nails and nail beds! Plus it just smells nice and forces me to moisturise my feet and hands (which have started to look like old lady hands since cancer struck!). I don’t even know what to do about my face but I swear I look 10 years older since January!
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I’ve absolutely lost weight on Docetaxel. Neutropenic Sepsis and my mouth being sealed shut with infection helped. Unfortunately I’ve been eating two meals a day since leaving hospital and am basically a slug all day so I’m not sure I’m managing to continue to lose weight
Today (Day 15) is the first day since steroids that I’ve been able to move. I did the school run and went to a shop to buy my daughter some riding leggings and had lunch with Matt. I’m home now and not completely screwed so I may actually be back in the land of the living. I would like to be a micro-Gromit12 and manage a walk tomorrow. Lame but will feel like a half marathon compared to the last 11 days.
Bonkers as it is, I’m nervous about bloods on Monday. Not my WBC but my Liver bloods as they were horrific at the start of the week and wouldn’t qualify for chemo. The prize if I pass the bloods….more poison…woohoo…
On hair, I didn’t cold cap but shaved after 1st EC. I had continual splinter stubble left that never fell out. Probably covering about 30-40% of my head (original hair i shall call it). Then between 2nd and 3rd EC, my hair started growing back and it was grey baby hair basically. It was almost 2cm long going into Docetaxel and, quite frankly ridiculous looking. Had Docetaxel and while in hospital in isolation, overnight, every single original splinter hair just fell out onto my pillow. It was like mass hair suicide overnight (this was probably Day 10/11 of 1st Docetaxel). Now the baby hair is also falling out but at a slower rate.
Bottom eyelashes are all gone and probably 50-60% of top lashes and eyebrows are hanging on by a 1990’s thread and barely visible.
So I think Docetaxel is living up to its reputation of being a massive hair killer compared to EC. Facially I’ve not looked that cancery until now. Now I look like the poster child for chemo. Luckily I’m too tired most of the time to care though which helps!
Can’t believe it’s time for chemo AGAIN (maybe) next week. Time flies when you’re having fun though, eh? 
(need to change that emoji really….damn…Apple is so baldist…they don’t have a bald facepalm!) 
@isthisreal Good Luck tomorrow!!! I hope it goes well. Out of interest, which bits of your bloods only just limped over the finish line. Liver or neutrophils?
You’re not alone in feeling like you’ve not bounced back. I definitely think it hits your whole body much harder than EC did! Just totally different! I hope the steroids aren’t too horrific tonight and you manage to get a decent sleep x
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Also bought some cooling socks and gloves to try on 2nd Docetaxel. The peripheral neuropathy was soooooo painful after the 1st so spanked yet about £30 on Amazon on trying to prevent it. Fingers crossed they help. @elle16 i know you had it badly too. Has yours suddenly improved over the last few days? A friend still has it a year on so I’m trying anything to prevent long term pain in hands and feet!
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@swk1981 I’m wearing compression socks 24/7 for first few days after chemo, then just overnight and it seems to be helping. Can’t bear the thought of any more of me cold, particularly after that nightmare cold cap yesterday xx
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@swk1981 welcome back to the land of the living , I’m back too just a tired bald version of my former self my fingers not too bad but feels like someone dropped something on my toes I’m also getting what I can only describe as shivery pins and needles like when someone walks over my grave but lasts about 30 to 40 seconds sometimes my legs some times arms and upper body and sometimes both, it’s so strange as if my nerves suddenly become awake and tingle me 
I’m still on antibiotics that I will finish on Sunday and will be glad to have a few days off medication before steroids start on Thursday and I get back on the rollercoaster, but all in all I’m not too bad at the moment, I didn’t get the poly balm but the dr pawpaw that @pollyanna1 recomended seems to be working quite well for me a far, i agree about the face though it looks like someone’s sucked the moisture from my face and I’m now trying revolution miracle cream and have everything crossed for a miracle
Ps eyelashes are on their last legs especially the right for some reason , eyebrows a shadow of their former selves but I have still got the original 30% of fine stubble on my head that’s staying loyal but not actually growing xx
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I lost my Polybalms and then found them and had ordered more. I can easily spare one of my tubes if you want me to post it to you! I’ve got more than enough to get me through! X
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@swk1981 thats so kind thank you but paw paw seems to be working at keeping everything from drying up it’s more pain for me as if the toes are bruised, I’m trying not to wear shoes as much as I can and am going to try the croc trend as I feel my my feet need some wide fitting clown shoes
@isthisreal glad everything went well, hope you are the one that suits docetaxel 
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I just run some eyebrow pencil over it and use the brush end thing to blend it a little. I also acknowledge that Chemo has made my awful eyesight even worse so I can’t guarantee that my eyebrows actually look like anything other than a ‘5 year old with a crayon’ attempt so I wouldn’t take my advice. The last time I put glasses on I was scared at how old I looked in real life so have avoided them since
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Have you looked at your nails to check it’s not fungal underneath the nail? I had the bruised thing straight after Docetaxel and discovered a dry white crustiness under two nails that really hurt. I used some fungal ointment and they don’t hurt anymore.
Or is it your nail bed hurting from them struggling?
If you change your mind on the Polybalm, just let me know as it will be sat unused in my drawers anyway. I hope your poor toes improve soon! I’ve lived in Uggs but they’re getting a bit sweaty now as it warms up. May need to invest in Crocs as flip flops may upset the general public if my nails commit hari kari!
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@isthisreal well I’m still up and buzzing 
I do hope it’s not 4am again!! Can’t decide which way my guts are going to go both laxido and immodium at the ready. Back on filgrastin so see what that brings. Was told herceptin would just cause flu like symptoms so I’ve just taken regular paracetamol, and I still have a tomato face. But other than that I’ve been ok today got a 60th birthday party tomorrow night so hoping guts behave one way or the other!! I will go with a selection of meds!! Taking omeprazole just in case - would rather pre-empt stuff, but can’t with guts as not sure what’s happening. What a life we are leading Hope you get some sleep tonight. Laura xx
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Just caught up with all the posts. Sorry I haven’t chatted much I’ve felt really rough with this cold so sat around like a slug in bed all week. I feel bad as I know a lot of you have been really poorly too. Trying to get the energy to go to this party tonight. The old part of me wants to go, the current part just wants to stay in bed! Before I had chemo I thought I was going to wear my wig all the time, I’ve only worn it once! I actually feel really anxious seeing so many people wearing a wig I don’t know why!
@swk1981 i think you nailed it when you said you felt like you looked like a poster child for chemo I feel the same! Eyelashes are very sparse now. The thought of having 9 more sessions fills me with dread! I think by the end I will look like Zelda from Terrahawks without the hair! I’m a little worried about the peripheral neuropathy especially being diabetic, would you be able to send me the link to what you have bought? I hope your blood tests go well on Monday and your liver function tests come back OK.
@gromit12 i hope you are OK from your chemo and manage to get some sleep despite the crazy steroid doses!
@pollyanna1 glad to hear your radiotherapy meeting went well and that you are nearing the end of this chemo chapter.
@ivy-cat i really hope you are starting to feel better, diarrhoea and cramps is the worst
@isthisreal i hope your chemo went Ok, 5 out of 7 wow you can start thinking of the end date soon! Fingers crossed all your WBC and liver tests behave.
@belle1 i hope your arm is starting to feel better and the blood thinners continue to do their job
@elle16 i hope the antibiotics have properly done their job. Clown shoes you are funny! Crocs are fashionable you can be down with the kids!
@altoan I hope you are doing well too
Sorry if I have missed anyone out!
Helen x
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If you don’t want to go full croc, I’ve got a pair of these that I’ve worn through my treatment and it’s like wearing slippers out in public: https://www.teva-eu.com/en/gb/outlet/reember/1125471-SS.html?dwvar_1125471-SS_color=BCBH
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