Hello ladies
Sue, I hope your second treatment goes ahead tomorrow as planned.
I’m 11 days post my second and it’s been a bit of a struggle this time, especially days 5 to 9. I had absolutely no energy and just getting washed and dressed was a challenge. Glad to say I’m starting to feel better now.
I hope all of you ladies are doing ok xx
Thanks Ali… glad your starting to feel better… is it usual that if your bloods are ok they DONT ring you. Or do they usually ring and let you know either way ? Xx
Hope you are all doing well.
Day 11 after 2nd chemo and quite different se this time, like you Ali, I have struggled with fatigue this time, which im finding hard to accept. Sometimes just putting kettle on seems like a huge chore, quite unbelievable when I think how busy I was pre bc! However doing better now. Really need to stop my need for control and let my body deal with treatment.
Sending hugs and positive thoughts to Aug chemo buddies , we are powering through this together. Xx
Hi All
Bad day today…cold cap hasn’t worked I’m day 4 following 2nd chemo. Hairs come out in clumps this morning got lots of patches. Trying to be brave but it’s bloody hard isn’t it?!
Going to sit my little girl down at tea time and try to explain things to her, gutted that it’s going to have to be done the day before her first day at nursery.
Side effects wise it’s been slightly better than the first time but still nauseous and light headed.
Hope everyone is doing ok xxx
Sue, I’m not sure about your bloods. I have mine done on a Monday and have to attend the clinic on Tuesday to get the results before chemo on Thursday. I would have thought that they would let you know if there was a problem though x
Thanks Ali…I will ring hospital first thing in morning… I just want to get chemo number 2 done…although not looking forward to side effects!! …hope you are ok and ‘getting there’'…!!
ClaireH81. I’m loosing lots of hair also…don’t think cold cap has worked well either for me. Lost too much hair on top although I have a lot of short thick hair so its sort of covering some very thin patches…and every time I touch my hair slightly I get loads of hair falling out…I cried loads yesterday its so hard seeing it fall out…I have lost about 40% I think so far…!!! This has all happened in the last 4/5 days I should of had my chemo 2 on Friday…but am worried there may be less hair tomorrow for me to cold cap…!! Hope your doing OK x
Hi Ladies
Thankfully my white blood cell count had improved enough for me to go ahead and have my second cycle yesterday, quite a relief to be back on track again. Felt very nauseous, light-headed and headachy as expected yesterday and a not great day today with that horrible ‘chemical’ hungover feeling and just so fuzzy and wiped out. Didn’t help that the insomnia from the steroids kicked in for most of last night! I’m hoping the side effects will improve over the next few days…
Hope everyone is going on OK. Butterfly - I’m sure you look fabulous with your shave, I still haven’t managed to take the plunge yet. I did try the cold cap again this time just to see if I can cling on the remains… Sam, good to hear your first cycle went well and it does sound like heartburn - hope it improves soon. Hope you’re geting there Sib, Ali, Cathysid and Claire and anyone else I’ve missed.
Helenp, Sue58 and Xena, good luck with your 2nd cycles this week! Sue58 I didn’t get to hear about my low blood count until I was sitting in the hospital, literally ready to go, I think that’s why I was a bit taken aback when I couldn’t have the treatment. But they told me they wanted me to go in anyway so I could be re-tested in case it had improved in the couple of days since it was tested - hope your’s is OK tomorrow…
Have a good week and hugs to you all xxx
ive just ordered some of these off here heathershair.co.uk/shop/ they look good and u only pay p and p and a donation… real hair too xx
cold cap hasnt worked very well for me very thin on top… suck doesnt it… cried buckets today xx
Your right Claire it is bloody hard going some days!! Trying to.put a brave face on for everyone. Losing your hair is hard and it really sucks. Mine was shaved 10 days ago now (number 2 they dont shave) and getting it off was easier than I expected an evil getting used to wearing my hats, scarfs and wigs. I so feel for you with your little ones. My boys are 27 and 22. My 27 hasnt seen me yet witbout hair (other than piccys) but my 22 year old finds it difficult to look at his mum without her wig on (I always cover my head with hats when he’s around) it breaks my heart to see him avoiding looking directly at me. I see fear in his eyes and want to protect him so much It’s so hard for our families too.
Sending a hug. X
Thanks fairy I have ordered a fringe to wear with my hats when walking dog or popping to shops. Brilliant idea. Thanks for sharing. Xxx
this forum is great for sharing tips isnt it… i ordered the full and half weave to try… ive got my 2nd chemo this afternoon and ur right about having young kids so hard to be patient with them at the mo, i have a 4 9 and 13 year old xx
Hi all hope everyone’s had a good weekend. I seem to be waiting ages for my deferred 2nd chemo it will be over a week and a half late. Arh well guess they know best, just worry about everything at the minute. I had an absolute mad moment at the weekend. I looked at my reflection with the patches, long bits and non-existent curls and I hacked it all with the kitchen scissors! ?I’ve discovered I’m crap at tying scarves and I find it uncomfortable where my glasses sit. Getting wig tomorrow so I’ll test that x disaster x
Gosh guys, the hair loss thing cannot be easy! I found some lovely hats on anna bandanna website with a little peak and pre tied scarves as well as beanies. I think I’m in denial at the moment that this is really happening. It seems so far fetched.
Any great tips for nausea? I’m on day 3 and on ondansetron twice daily but still feel very nauseous(not been sick yet but very close). Has anyone been given any other meds for nausea that have worked better for them? Don’t know if I should just accept it or see if I can get anything else - the hospital just advised I go to the gp but I can’t really find the energy to go!
Good luck telling your little one Claire. Try not to worry. Kids are so matter of fact and seem to take it all in their stride. My kids think it’s so funny my hair will be falling off - so we’ve turned it into a bit of a joke and they enjoy trying all my hats and scarves and wig on!
Take care all, cx
Hi guys, chemo number 2 done… bloods were really good so no worries there. Phew…supposed to be in at 2 but finally had cold cap put on at 3.15 !!! Very busy ward and short staffed. Those nurses work there socks off…so by the time chemo went through and head defrosting from cold cap was done I got out at 5.45… a long afternoon sitting waiting… we dampened my hair down first then put conditioner on. Something we DIDNT do first time…(dampening hair first) my hair is still shedding and I have a large bald spot right in top of head but still have a decent covering everywhere its just so thin and fine and loose…lol. my hair was very thick and short and dark brown…but now is much greyer and lifeless… I’m going to persevere with the cold cap as long as I can. But because its a lot thinner on top it felt so much colder this afternoon… very painful for 12 minutes then it was ok… I’m not ready to shave it yet. Will wear a scarf over the bald bit for now…I just wish my hair would stop falling out at the slightest touch…I can cope with thinner fine hair…just !! … I have the same tablets as Butterfly…the emend are good… hope the other ladies due today were ok… and thank you for messages of support it really helps…those that cold capped especially pacman. Apparently its very common to get bald patches on top of head so my nurse told me…its just how the hell do you cover them up. Can any shampoo help to thicken the hair ? Love and hugs to you all xx
i also had my 2nd today and swapping to thp next time… i also perservered cold cap again and head was much more colder and uncomfortable as i also have sparse patches on top… been the worse thing losin hair i think x
Hi everyone
Thank you for your words of support re hair. My little girl was fine about it I’m booked in on Thursday evening for it shaving and taking her with me.
Thank you for the link fairy I’m looking for different scarfs online now to wear around the house and out if I feel confident enough. I currently look like an old man with a bald patch on top lol. Sib sending you a big hug I think sometimes it must be harder with older children as they understand so much more and therefore worry more! I’m sure your boys will get used to seeing you in your wig and they will be so proud of you! Cookiesim Im using a kind of pre tied scarf at the min, the inner part is like a hat with the scarf already tied around it - I know I won’t be able to tie them! I hope it goes ok today getting your wig.
Cathysid definitely go and ask for alternative meds for nausea, they gave me different this time( I haven’t the name to hand) but they were fab - I took 1 at night as they are also a sedative - took for 2 x nights and it’s been much better
Sue58 & fairy I hope you’re both feeling ok tday following number 2 yesterday, sue I’ve heard nioxin is good for helping thinning hair but not sure if it’d work whilst having chemo, I’ve asked my hairdresser to get some in stock for afterwards tho lol!
I hope the SE for everyone aren’t too bad today. Good luck everyone heading for number 2 xxxx
Morning ladies!
Had chemo 2 yesterday, they took 5 attempts to get the canula in, my veins have gone into hiding! Am thinking they want to try a picc line or port for next time. What’s the difference? I want to be well informed before they broach the subject, I’m reticent about it all really.
Helen - there is a lot of discussion on the September starters thread about picc vs port so worth a read.
Can’t believe I was naive enough to think I could eat salad on chemo! My tastebuds have gone haywire and any fresh food tastes vile! Chicken soup was ok though. Hoping the nausea and fog lifts soon.
Well done everyone who has got through the second - a third of the way there now!
X
Hi Ladies,
Feeling headachy and a little nauseous today but also very tired…those pesky steroids are also causing insomnia for me to !!
It seems like all of us that have cold capped have bald patches on top… whereas my hair is very thin on top its stronger at the back…the cold cap was done right yesterday as my sister supervised it to make sure it sat better than the first time…lol…it sat a little further down at the front unlike 1st time.!! This might have been why the cap didn’t touch the top of my head as it should have… the 1st chemo nurse I had didn’t seem to bothered about the fit…as if it was a chore…!! Which is sad when its our hair that’s at stake… ClaireH81 I feel old with this bald patch and a lot more grey around that area…lol…I can just to say cover it with hair around it…but as I’m 5’10 only taller people will notice it… !! my nurse yesterday was lovely…very supportive of cold cap …she put argon oil conditioner on after we dampened it and my hair does feel less sensitive this morning…I’m going to try and hang on till the weekend to wash it next… the nurse was saying coconut oil is good too to help tingling and itching and also regrowth…!! I can’t wait to start feeling more human next week, I hate feeling blah… cathysid I know what you mean about the taste of food now after chemo 2 . Last week everything tasted good for me… but not today…plain biscuits and toast today…!! Fairy are you going to try cold cap for chemo 3 ? Or are you going to shave it off …
Claire ,
I’ve read up about Nioxin it sounds good especially the scalp spray. No4 which they do a starter kit for chemically treated hair is for us and you can get it for about £20. …I think I’ll wait a few weeks and see if there is any hair left before I spend £20…!!! Lol.
Hope you get your date soon Cookiesim its horrible to just be hanging on for a date… hope you get a date soon…
I also had two attempts to get the cannula in. My veins didn’t seem good yesterday also…normally they put a heat pad on to help. but because they were so busy I didn’t get one, the first attempt hurt a little.!! 2nd one better…
Big hugs to August ladies were all 1/3 through now. ( well nearly all !) Xx