Im day 6 of first docetaxol and herceptin and struggling not sleeping, cant get any relief from aches and pains, tried epsom salts, gabepentin , clarityn, heat pad and ibuprofen(ad advised by a&e after visit on Sunday) nothing lifting pain, also painful ‘burnt’ tongue slight sore throat and loose bowels. Any tips welcome, in tears as so tired sore and fed up. X
Sib, I’m so sorry that you are having a hard time at the moment.
I can’t help with the symptoms as, having had a good day yesterday, I had a complete change last night and am really suffering with the aching all over today. I wasn’t given anything for the pain, just told to take paracetamol so I’m struggling on with that. I’m still coughing and losing my voice. I use soluble paracetamol as that helps the mouth as well.
Am really hoping that this won’t last long… hugs to all August ladies xx
Hi Sib
Sorry to read you are feeling so bad on the T AND H. I remember this time last year feeling simmilar. Do call your GP and ask for stronger pain killers to see you through. I took strong disolving co codamol and also Oramorph for in between the co codamols. These can make you constipated so also ask for Laxido sachets, these are great and you make them up to an orange flavoured drink. I found them much kinder than some of the other laxitive.
Hope your felling much better soon.
Love V x
Ali contact your oncology unit, mine pboned today and are appalled at how im Suffering they immediately sorted me with more painkillers (gabapentin) and built in ibruophen with paracetamol for next 18 hours then they will phone me for update on pain. I was told we should not be suffering during chemo and they can sort it. What relief, feel better already just knowing i dont have to endure this. X
Ali and Sib…hope your feeling better soon and can get some relief from your pain…
try asking the lovely ladies on the July thread… as they are on to there 5th ‘T’ they may be able to advise…sending hugs. Take care xx
Hi Ladies.
Yet another rubbish week. Woke up last Thursday with excruciating pain in left side of chest and difficulty breathing in…so painful. Tried relaxing and shallow breathing. Waited for district nurse to flush picc line. She was worried about temperature and called for go to visit. GP came and rang 999, querying pneumonia, leukocyte sepsis or pulmonary embolism. Spent rest of day and evening in hospital. Xrays and bloods done and to stop the tranexamic acid as it causes clots-after almost 12 weeks of bleeding, I stopped 6 days ago (Hooray). CT scan to be arranged. Sent home with more injections to thin blood… just in case. Had CT scan this morning. Confirmed it is a blood clot on my lung and told to inject heparin for 3 months. Just worried now that I will start bleeding again because I have stopped taking tranexamic acid.
Hi ladies.
None of us seem to be doing too well at the moment. I’m currently on the assessment ward waiting to be admitted after having to call out the paramedics with chest pains. Heart seems ok but I seem to have an infection somewhere although not in my chest which, given the cough I have, they are surprised about. I’ve almost completely lost my voice and am straining to talk to the staff. They wont let me out as my heart rate is elevated. Still not been given any pain killers either and there are no beds! Hoping I don’t have to stay in this chair all night… xxx
On no Ali, how awful. Hope you get sorted and well soon. The oncology specialist i spoke with yesterday said docetaxol was very harsh and as oncologists they maybe need to look at side effects of this chemo.
Sending a hug. Xx
Hi Ladies
So sorry to hear that you’re in hospital, Ali, hope they’re looking after you and sort out your infection - feel better soon… And MAHjfarn20, seems like you’re having a hard time too, hope you’re doing ok. Fairy, you too, hope you’re out of hospital by now and are recovering well. And Sib, Cookiesim, Xena75, Sue58, Butterfly, HelenP, Soworridl and any other August Ladies - hope you’re all doing well - it seems like lots of us are having rough times recently. It’s quite reassuring in a way that we’re all going through these tough times together and are able to support each other - I so appreciate reading everyone’s comments, it helps get through when you’re feeling rotten and emotionally down…
Sorry I’ve been silent for a bit, I’ve been feeling pretty rubbish since my last Chemo, now Day 11 after round 3. My immunity finally recovered slightly, only just enough to have Chemo thankfully so no more delays, even so it was touch and go if they’d go ahead as they were worried if I had a blood clot in my PICC line, but all OK in the end. So I’m not sure if it was because I was only just over the white blood cell threshold before the treatment, but this time it’s completely wiped me out - I saw some of you also found the third treatment the hardest so far. They’ve reduced my EC drugs to 80% to see if I can tolerate them better this time - so I was hoping for less side effects because of this, wishful thinking!
Have had the usual ‘chemical’ hangover but also have been suffering from those horrible bone aches this time which I know several of us have had - although I’m not sure why I’m having them already with my last EC, thought they were only supposed to happen when you have T? I’ve never had pain like it, and paracetamol/nurofen doesn’t seem to touch the surface - seem to have spent most of last week sofa-bound, it’s so frustrating and really gets you down that you just can’t do anything, doesn’t it? Thanks for the advice of Epsom Salts, have ordered some… Just starting to feel a bit more human now so hoping that’s the worst of it over until the next onslaught - just hoping my immunity doesn’t plummit again…
We’re all getting there Ladies, there’s light at the end of the tunnel and only a few more cycles for us all to get through. Big hugs to you all and take care xxxx
Thanks ladies. It’s so nice to be able to pop on here and share what is happening to me and know that you all understand and don’t judge.
I’m home from hospital thankfully. Despite my chest xray being clear and the doctors not being able to hear anything, they are convinced that I have a chest infection. To be fair it does sound like I’m coughing up a lung at times and I’ve completely lost my voice. I have 5 days of antibiotics so hope to feel better soon.
Absolutely no help with the aching/pains though. Just told to keep on with paracetamol. I will be talking to my own oncologist about this before my next cycle.
Mary-Kate, hopefully you are turning a corner on number 3 now. A few of us did find it very difficult but once I was through the worst I managed to have a good week. I find that the Epsom salts do help with aching and hot weaty pads as well. I hope it passes for you soon.
Hope all you August ladies are doing well xx
Glad you are home Ali, hope you feel better soon. Im doing better since they changed abd modified pain relief plus hospital says as its dsy 8 im now over worst and they will manage SEs better next time. Also have bright red palms of hands, fingers that are no longer agile and a really rotten taste in mouth which is discouraging me from eating ( that may be a good thing) all SEs i believe. Tnis drug really sucks as alot of us are seeing,but we are getting it because they believe its our best chance. My oncologist actually apologised to me today for SEs im getting,!
Ive also had further bad newsz, ive tested positive for brca2 gene (my sister and i were diagnosed with bc a week apart with no family history but gene testing was done as precaution) this means my journey will continue after chemo with further surgery to remove my ovaries and a further mastectomy! A blow but i have to do whatever i can to live. It also means my sons need to be tested as they too may have it and it carriers implications for them and there future
Wow tbis certainly is a rollercoaster ride of a journey.
Sending hugs ladies and positive tboughts, we will not let this beat us. X
Ali and Sib…my goodness you have both had a tough week…hope your feeling better now and are on the up…
Sib…sorry to hear your news, but like you said…you will take whatever treatment to get rid of cancer and I’m sure it will work out good in the end…I hope so… Ali, hope your feeling better too and your on the up…
Mary kate…lovely to hear from you and so glad you got number 3 chemo in…I won’t miss FEC at all but am not looking forward to T either…!! I found that number 3 has been the worse…I’m a bit breathless this last week although both my grown up kids had a cold last week and I’ve picked up an annoying tickly cough. So maybe that’s why in struggling with getting warm and feeling run down… bloods tomorrow, then the dreaded T on monday all being well…
I hope all August ladies are well. Fairy , hope your doing well. Butterfly and Helen hope number 4 chemo goes well for you…love and hugs to all…this is a hard slog for us all…but were getting there…keep strong and positive…there is light at the end of the tunnel…xx
Oh my goodness bless us all on this **bleep**e chemo journey. I know in a few months we will all be looking back saying wow it was tough but we did it!
I now have painful piles to add to my list, bloody constipation. How’s everyone on taxols coping now with the aches and pains? I’m getting the best relief from ibuprofen gel and heat pads at the moment, trouble is I get my pads in position then I have a horrendous hot flush and everything gets chucked on the floor. I have noticed also my ankles are very puffy, I imagine the inactivity doesn’t help, anyone else a bit puffy?
i so hope everyone can feel a bit better this weekend.
(((((hugs)))))
?
Just had bloods done ready for chemo on Monday…hopefully! Girls’ night out tonight at our local Italian and I think my taste buds and stomach are settled enough for me to enjoy a couple of glasses of wine…hopefully!
A bit of interesting info I found out by accident two weeks ago ladies. I was at the jobcentre with my son who was enquiring about volunteering work, I got chatting with the lady and my current situation came up. She told me I am entitled to receive PIP allowance which is the old disability living allowance. Her colleague claimed it last year while having chemo and radiotherapy for BC. It’s not means tested and you can claim it from diagnosis date. The payment can be anything from £22 to £149 per week/month (I’m not sure) according to your needs.
I would never have known about this had I not had the chat with the lady. May be of use to some of you ladies. It’ll go to good use for me, paying towards petrol to/from apptmnts and the heatpads I’ve bought to relieve pain so far! Not to mention headscarfs and the additional cost of the wig after using the voucher.
Afternoon ladies
Cookie, sorry to hear about the piles I know they can be horrendous. I’ve not got any puffiness but did have the aches and pains. I didn’t try the gel, but will try that next time. I used heat pads and Epsom salt baths. The doctors said mine might have been from my infection but we shall see next time.
Sib, I’m so sorry to hear your news. It must be hard to know that you face further surgery but at least you can take comfort in knowing that you are doing all you can to beat this. I’m interested that you were offered gene testing as I’ve been told that I probably won’t be even though I’m under 50 and triple negative and my sister was diagnosed 2 years ago. It seems to be down to the postcode lottery again.
I’m still struggling with my chest infection. My cough is slowly disappearing but i still can’t speak. I feel better in myself though and managed to go out for lunch with a friend. These small things keep me going. Currently on my side effect bingo card is hot sore feet, painful finger nails, sore veins and a sore rash down below…
Fingers crossed for all you ladies waiting for blood results. Hope your treatments can go ahead next week. Hope you all have a good weekend August ladies xx
Hi all, sorry I’m always weekday awol then catch up at weekends. Oh my goodness what a tough week some of you have had.
Sib, I’m sorry to here your news, I’m sure it must all feel never ending. I am going for a genetics consultation in a few weeks also, feeling a bit nervous but I need to know as I have two daughters and a sister.
Ali, im glad they have acted swiftly and got you in. It’s awful having extra in top of the chemo and its side effects to deal with, hope you feel better soon
All you other lovely ladies, hope chemo 4 has been good to you, especially those swapping over to tax. For those suffering with the horrible “burnt mouth” se, there is a green mouthwash, difflam I think, they can give you to help with that.
I have my fourth one next Friday.
Hi. Firstly an update. No pain in chest and finding it much easier to breath. Heparin injections for 3-6 months but hey-ho.
Not sure if I mentioned last time but I have my mri scan in November on right boon to check for changes in ‘dodgy looking area’ on last scan. Surgeon did bring up double mx last time we spoke.
Had first cycle of T yesterday and the sickness hasn’t been nearly as bad as with the FEC, thankfully. I had taken just 2 anti sickness pills…just in case but fingers crossed, I seem to be ok. Taste has gone off quicker though compared with the FEC.
No other side effects at present. Hope everyone has a better week/cycle this this time. X
Hi all…sorry to have been a bit quiet! They let me home tuesday and i seen oncologist thurs. They are reducing my dose of tax and perjetta as they that was the cause of severe diarrhea so fingers crossed! i was rather concerned about the dose reduction but it was explained that to of had that sort of reaction they were potentially overdosing me so it shd be fine…Now some tips for u ladies moving onto tax, i started taking cocodomal and ibuprofen alternatively every 4 hrs and also nystatin 4 times a day from the day after chemo and must say i hardly had any se apart from the diarrhea! i took a sennokot as was constipated 1st few days but will not be doing that again as may have contributed to the diarrhea…i also took clarityn daily for a week! Epsom salt warm baths were nice for the mild pain i had and also some ibuprofen gel… i have my 4th one tueaday and prayin for a better reaction… good luck to u all… onwards and upwards… 44 days ill be on my last one xxx
also my oncologist is referring me for genetic testing as i was telling her how my daughter who is 4 asked me the other day would she have a lump when she was bigger, that really hit home. I also have 2 boys. She feels it is necessary as im only 31, they will also give me a screening age for Princess Pheebs then which will be awesome to know she will be monitored xx
also my oncologist is referring me for genetic testing as i was telling her how my daughter who is 4 asked me the other day would she have a lump when she was bigger, that really hit home. I also have 2 boys. She feels it is necessary as im only 31, they will also give me a screening age for Princess Pheebs then which will be awesome to know she will be monitored xx