@millie7 you’ve got this! Hugs xx
Thank you so much for your support it means a lot my daughter keeps telling me that I am a strong person have been through a lot lately heart attack, skin cancer with opp and skin grafts, diabetes, plus many more but still here to tell the story bless you all xxx
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@millie7 Good luck today, we are all rooting for you. You sound a formidable lady and will deal with it in your own way. The first one is always stressful (fear of the unknown), we’ve all been there. The nurses are fantastic. Let us know how you got on.
Thank you so much xxx love to everyone 
Xxx
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Good luck today, you’ll be fine. We’re all here for you x
Morning Ladies… I hope you are all doing well. It’s been a while since I last posted… I just wanted to update you all on my experience as it may help others in the future. Some of you will know that I developed a very dry hacking cough after my second EC. It started on day 4 and it was now day 10, progressively getting worse. I didn’t feel unwell at all, just had this awful cough that was keeping both me and my poor hubby awake at night. I eventually called my BCN and she said that she wanted me to go to A&E to get some bloods done. When I arrived at A&E, as some of you will know, they treat you automatically for neutropenic sepsis, so I was put onto IV antibiotics. They performed a multitude of tests, checked for flu & covid, sent me for x-rays, did sputum cultures etc. but couldn’t find anything indicative. My chest and lungs were clear and I had no fever. They sent me home 7 hours later with oral antibiotics. Still the cough persisted. The next day, I started looking through my journal and spotted that on day 4 of my first EC treatment, I developed acid reflux. My consultant prescribed Lansoprazole and my symptoms disappeared.
I started wondering whether this cough could be another manifestation of acid reflux, as it did get worse as the day went on and was particularly bad after my evening meal. That same day, I started paying a bit more attention to the cough and how it progressed during the day and sure enough at about 8pm, that evening, about an hour after dinner, the cough started and did not let up. The coughing was so bad that I ended up with a headache, so decided to take paracetamol. I took my temperature beforehand as were told to do, and found my temp was 38. I waited a while and took it again, still 38, so I called the hotline and ended up being admitted to the Marsden. When I arrived, they put me on more IV antibiotics and repeated many of the tests that I had had the previous day in A&E. There was still nothing obvious… but I couldn’t let go of my theory re. Acid reflux, so when the doctor came round to see me the next day, I spoke to her about the cough and whether it could be acid reflux and she said that it was very possible. The long and short of it is, that they changed my meds from Lansoprazole to Omeprazole and overnight the cough disappeared.
This all happened last weekend and the cough is no more. I was well enough to have my third EC on Tuesday and although I’ve been more tired than usually, I’ve been doing OK. I’m not sure that I’m a fan of Omeprazole though, as I feel that some of the original symptoms that I got are coming back and I feel very bloated, so I may have a chat to my consultant about moving back to Lansoprazole, but I will give it a few more days and see how I fair.
I’m so sorry for the very lengthy message, but I thought that it would be worth sharing… My theory could have been just that and not led to anything, but the reality is that I was able to help determine the cause of the cough. Advocating for ourselves is so very important… we know our bodies better than anyone, so if we feel strongly about something, please don’t be frightened to speak up.
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Happy to hear that you feeling better and well done on speaking your mind.
Thanks for sharing and I’m so glad you got to the bottom of it. You’re right we do need to advocate for ourselves. I had some numbness in my fingers and also leg pain on my first pac so I phoned my nurse on Friday so my treatment on Tuesday could be adjusted in time (as it’s bank holiday Monday). The nurse spoke to dr and it’s been reduced. I like journalling and it really helps to see any patterns, especially when moving from one treatment to another. Take care. We’re all doing so well in such a horrible time x
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@maria1970 so pleased to hear that you are managing to disentangle the possible causes of your SE’s. Thank you for that very clear account, I have filed that insight away for potential future use. I didn’t have EC but went straight to Paclitaxel and I’ve struggled with feeling bloated and as if I constantly need to ‘burp’! That and the lack of taste mean I just don’t want to eat, and my usual diet of lots of fresh fruit and veg I can’t manage any more. However due to having nice veg sitting in the fridge going off I made soup. If I put it through the liquidiser just to break it up a bit I can manage that much better. It’s even quite nice! I only have a slight cough and that feels more like a slightly sore irritated throat so again feels more digestive than respiratory. Keeping notes is so useful or I’d never keep track. I do hope you have an easier time going forward.
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Acid reflux is/was one of my biggest EC side effects so I’m not surprised it was the root cause of your cough Maria. How unpleasant. I’m managing fine on the omeprazole thankfully.
I’m on day 4 of my third EC cycle. Another one down! Have the steroid restlessness combined with the chemo fatigue. Tired but wired indeed. Has anyone been prescribed anything for the insomnia? I feel like I’m walking out with more meds each time. Calcium supplements were added to my haul this week.
Wishing I’d upped my Laxido a bit more before treatment, the ondansetron constipation is real. I’ve mastered the filgrastim injections though: there is one spot on the left hand side of my belly that doesn’t hurt at all and the needle goes in really nicely. Hope it’s ok to use the same spot each day.
Anyway, virtual high fives to everyone. We’re getting there!
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With the injections it was advised to swap sides.
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Bah, I knew something would spoil my plan!
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Thanks for this info, I’m on 2 weekly EC and had my 3rd last Friday. I’ve got a cough which has only started a couple days ago and I’ve put it down to the common cold or hay fever and hoping it will go away, but if its something to do with chemo then its a good head up in case i get reflux, only ever had that when i was pregnant and it wasn’t pleasant!
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@greenqueen Can I ask what calcium supplements you’ve been given. I will be taking CalciumD for the next 3yrs but I haven’t been told to start them yet. I thought I may have to wait until after chemo.
I fully sympathise re constipation. I suffered Chemo1 and thought I was better prepared Chemo2 but OTC products just aren’t strong enough. I’ve been prescribed Laxido for Chemo 3 tomorrow 
Should I start taking it today???
I’ve been taken Letrozole religiously now for 2 months and only found out by my oncologist on Thursday that I must not take it during chemo! 
and only restart approximately 1 month after finishing chemo. 
I was prescribed Promethazine as a one off to help me sleep. It’s not a sleeping tablet as such but it makes you drowsy so helps you get off to sleep. I’ve found it helps me anyway.
Are you having 4 x EC like me?
I was given Zopiclone, a short-term sleeping drug. It didn’t extend my sleeping time much but I am a chronic insomniac.
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@gerbera1 they are just chewable calcium and vit D tablets called Adcal-D3. I’m probably struggling to get calcium through my diet as my tastes are all over the place and I’m eating more junk than normal. As well as being non dairy. I’ve upped my kale and almonds! I don’t know if I’ll be advised the continue after chemo. I’m not being given AIs, just tamoxifen and ovarian suppression. Just I say, like that’s not enough!
I’d start taking the Laxido beforehand personally. I did but it was still a couple of days before I managed a BM, though it wasn’t as unpleasant as previous cycle.
On the sleep front, I managed the best sleep I’ve had for weeks last night. Certainly the longest. Only trouble was, I had the car booked on for a service at 8.30am and woke up at….8.20! Husband had got up to deal with kids and completely forgot. It was all fine in the end.
Yup, 4 x EC for me. Then 4 PAC. Feels good to have almost finished EC. I would be done with them next week if I hadn’t asked for a weeks delay but I’m buzzing about going to see Pulp next Saturday and don’t want chemo to spoil it.
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Thanks for that. I’ve just been to the hospital for bloods prior to EC 3 tomorrow. I popped into McMillan’s to ask about my prescription and it will be given to me tomorrow at the chemo session, so I’ll have to take something else beforehand (
). I will start CalciumD tablets from tomorrow for 3 years!!
Enjoy Pulp!
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Hope today went ‘ok’, and you manage to avoid some of the same problems….
My wig has seen its first outing 2 nights in the trot…. Been lucky and well enough to go out for meals for my birthday, once with friends, once with my ‘boys’. Gained confidence with it but kept worrying it looked obvious. Was lucky my birthday fell on week 3 so haven’t felt too bad 
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You look fantastic, you’d never know it was a wig. So pleased you’re feeling well and have enjoyed your meals out.
Belated birthday wishes 
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