Don’t wory so much about ‘T’. It turns out some of my worse symptoms are an infection. Back in hospital on IV antibiotics
Hi ladies
It sounds we are all really going through it with the T, thanks for the tips regarding claritin, I will be deffinately trying that… anything to help with the pain. Dreading my 5th session this Thursday but after that I have one more to go like many of us August starters we are getting though it… we are doing so well and yes it’s doing its job.
Hugs and love to you all…
Hi ladies
This is my first post having been just lurked around many threads since my diagnoses in June (49 years, dcis, grade 3, lumpectomy in July, FEC-T, cancer in 1 of 3 nodes, further node removal and rads to follow). Had my first T last Wed having got off quite lightly with se on the FEC. I too worried about starting T. My experience is ivwas fairly good in day 1. On day 2 I decided to have a day shopping as it was wa daughters 18th and didn’t want to let her down followed by an evening meal. Day 3 & 4 pretty much in bed all day with no energy and pains in my feet, knees and back (felt like I had been touching an electric fence). Didn’t sleep too well either. Night sweats and numerous toilet visits to follow. On day 4 I called the hosp who recommended taking ibuprofen and paracetamol alternatively every 2 hours which I did. Having read on this forum about Claritin, I also took a single dose of that. As a result my symptoms improved during the day and I had a much better nights sleep Today is day 5. Felt very tired first thing so took 2 paracetamol and a Claritin. Forced myself out for a dog walk. Walked really slowly (about 2 miles) but felt so much better for getting out. With a slight spring in my step (very slight!) I then decided to do a bit of gardening and then go shopping. Feel so much better than the previous 2 days. Maybe it was the Claritin that helped. Who knows, but I’m certainly going to continue taking it. Good luck to everyone else. X
Hi ladies and welcome Sweetbrire1,
Hope we are all holding out ok.
I am still in hospital on the iv antibiotics for neutrapenic sepsis .
it’s day 8 from my T and just starting to feel I am getting better. Still on pain relief for stomach cramps and slight fever.
Hoping to get home Wednesday.
I was moved this evening from the single room on the receiving ward that I have been in since Sunday morning, (which I cannot fault) to another single room different ward/part of the hospital. Fine I thought. Better visiting times. The room has not cleaned from the previous person. Floor all dirty. Bits of loo roll on toilet floor and poo on the wall all round the paper dispenser. Stains on bedding. Bins not emptied. I fear touching anything in this room. TOLD the nurse about it… it was not her fault. It’s the cleaning company. She cleaned the poo and I got fresh bedding. Someone may clean the floor tonight or tomorrow. ? You just wonder how the same hospital can be so different between wards ?
Anyway, the oncologist came in to see me this morning. It looks like I have a choice for next rounds. Ether reduced dose of next 2 docetaxel. Or change to weekly dose of Paclitaxol x6 .
No idea what would be best ?
Hi Vintage,
i got out of hospital yesterday with oral antibiotics. They think mine was a chest infection. They’ve said the oncologist needs to check my chest again next week and my breast care nurse says I may get a reduced dose of the last 2 ‘T’ or longer between doses. My white cell count is lower than when I went into hospital. It’s hard to tell what are SE and what’s out of the ordinary when you’re changing drugs.
Hope you get out soon
xxx
Thank you Julie and Blueash x
I will update you what I decide. Bit feel I have no idea at the moment what would be best. A bit eachy peachy. I wish the oncologist had more information on it.
Hi Seesee
Glad you are home but surprised they let you go home when your white cell count is worse. Take extra care honey. As to the se, I agree . I don’t know if the pains were worse because of an underlying infection or not ? doctor did say these infections can come on very quickly.
I am hopefull to be going home today ? have to have more bloods checked before they will give me an answer?
Hugs to us
V xxx
Not getting home today .?
Apparently white blood cell count up too high now!
This also means could be an infection or virus.
HI lovely ladies…
Awwwww bless you Vintage and See See… Hugs and love to you you both
Let us know how you get on… I may be out of it for a few days as I have my 2nd T tomorrow not looking forward to it after last time but at least this time I know what to expect, I have also been taking claritin…
I was hoping you ladies could answer a concern I have… over the last couple of days I have noticed a few lumps on my lower ribs (breast cancer side) they are painful to the touch, in certain positions and when I lift my arm up it really hurts as though there is limited movement… has anyone else suffered with this? I must admit it does worry you…
Love and hugs to us all
Hi Julieg,
Hope you are better this time round. ? Did they change any of your meds to help?
When I had my masectomy I had alot of lower rib pain on that side. I was very distressed about it and found a lump between lower rib . I was sent for a bone scan. Told it was to put my mind at rest. And it was clear. The lump and pain still had me worried. So I had another ultrasound. I was told it was just a fatty lump nothing to worry about.
The rib pain has now settled.
I would get it checked just for your own peice of mind. we have so many worries that randomly pop into our minds. Best to put them to rest.
I got home tonight ??
My nose is dry and bleading a bit inside. Sweaty head that comes in waves . Very strange.
Hugs and love
V xx
Hi ladies
Hope you are all doing better than we were on last round.
I seen my oncologist today and I am having an extra week to recover , so a week on monday ? and then having the T reduced by 20% for next round. Hopefully the side effects will be much kinder.
Vxxx
Hi vintage
Hope your doing ok , my next bout is the t treatment pretty nervous to say the least but il deal with head on like all us exceptional ladies …
Went back to work today after nearly 4 mths off ,omg how I needed this I really enjoyed it but gosh I was tired when I got home , only did 4 hours …???
Hi Benno449
Well done you going back to work. But make sure it’s to suit you and don’t over do it. Glad to hear it gave you a boost. I have been off my work since May but looking at early next year before I return.
Hoping the T is ok for you. ?
Vx
Hi from the September thread!
Just got over the usual horrendous 12 days of cycle 3 FEC and am rejoining the human race.
If anyone needs a laugh I put a few jokes on my thread :)
Can you buy Claritin over the counter or do I need to get a prescription?
Also I have to take Dexamethasone for 24 hours prior to my first T and H on the 21st.
Has anyone else done this?
I asked my doc about Claritin when I was getting my last FEC and he didn’t have a clue what I was talking about.
My god you ladies have been through hell lately…I am really scared… I think i will have an overnight bag packed in case I have to go to hospital on short notice.
I am trying to be positive. Carpe diem is my motto and i’m trying to enjoy being at home and not having the stress of work to worry about for a while longer. My daughter has a cushion in her room that says ‘positive vibes only’ and I love that. We survived FEC and we will survive the rest…X
Hello Aine,
Thanks for your jokes. Nice to have a laugh on here as well as a good moan ?
I asked about taking Claritin also. They just said to me it would not do me any harm to try it. I will take it again for my next round but for me I don’t think it helped, but who knows worth a try. Yes you can buy it over the counter.
Great you are half way ? and hope you are lucky se wise with the T .
Vxx
Oh and yes I had to take the steroids from the day before my first T and H. And on day had to stay for 6 hours incase of an alerjic reaction. I was fine and also had lunch on them.
I found the se took 3 days before they started.
I never had any nausea on T like I did on fec, so that was good at least.
X
Morning lovely ladies
Well done done to us all getting through this roller coaster of a ride to say the least…
I had my 2nd T (5th chemo) 3rd November, due to the horrific side effects I had to endure the first time round I decided to try claritin as mentioned here… I started the claritin 4 days prior the chemo and I will be taking them until 10 days after the chemo, last one being tomorrow. The side effects I have to say were just as bad, however, they didn’t last as long so to me that is a bonus but I did feel out of sorts for the same period of time which I can cope with however it has still been a rough week. This time round though I have to say has been an emotional roller coaster for me… I suffered constipation again even though I followed a healthy diet, drank lots of water, laxatives on a daily basis and many many prunes ?I eventually could take no more and had to contact the out of hours for help as I was very distressed… and scared after the first time this happened.
I eventually was able to go to emergency walk in centre at 1am to get some surpositries which helped eventually, again this was an awful experience but we are all different and respond differently to the treatment and the many meds we are on… this has happened twice to me now so I guess 2 out of 5 ain’t bad ?
I will be taking claritin again as it really helped with the pain…
This time round I have had to endure severe fatigue, this is very alien to me as I am very independent and active and my brain was saying yes but my body no! And we have to listen to our bodies so I have stayed in a lot more this time and slept a lot more…
I guess we are all coming up to our last session soon, mine is on the 25th November yayyyyyy. … we have come so far lovelies and nearing the end! Well done to us all and love and hugs to us all too!
Well done Benno getting back to work, I think normality is such an inportant part of our journey… I am hoping to go back in January.
Julie
Hi ladies, not posted on this thread but i’m also a august starter, had 3 ec and 2 t & h so far, just wanted to add anout the t, after the 1st one i was ready to give chemo up, after having such a easy ride on ec this one floored me, joint pain, muscle pain, foot and finger pain, itchy rash all over my neck, i couldn’t take anymore. Saw my oncologist who is fantastic and was prescribed extra steroids co-codomal and pyridene for the finger pain, had mt 2nd T 10 days ago and apart from the horrible burny mouth feeling i’ve felt a lot more normal so please don’t suffer, ask for the extra steroids and strong painkillers, i’m now more than ready to get my final dose on the 23rd out of the way knowing that i don’t have to suffer xx
Hi Nikki and Wendioui
Thank you for the info about the steroids. I will speak to my oncologist about this. Can you tell me what they changed with the steroids? Was it the same type , and how long and how many a day did you take?
Thanks again
Vxx
Hi ladies
I had the dexamethasone, 8 a day for 3 days, then 4 a day for 1 day, 2 for 1 day then 1 for 2 days, worked a treat but did suffer from really bad night sweats with them xx
This is all extremely practical and useful advice about how to prepare for the T cycles.
I am trying to prepare myself mentally having had a really tough time during the 3 FEC cycles.
I am on my ‘recovery’ week now and can’t believe how much better I am - omg no nausea at all!!!
Many many thanks for all your sensible and clear advice…I am taking it all on board.
Got Clarityn. Got the Dex to take before the big day. Will ask for strong painkillers and get a week’s shopping in the fridge and freezer!
If anybody else says to me sure you’re nearly finished I am going to deck them!!
Good luck to you courageous ladies who are nearly ‘there’!
Aine
x