Oh Georgie, I am sorry you have had a bad experience having you Picc inserted. Still, it will make delivery easier. My hospital gives you a permit for free parking each time you go for treatment. Doesn’t help you find a space though!!
Ladies, if your meds aren’t working phone your helpline and get them changed! You should not be being sick!! Kxx
Went to have the picc line checked this morning.
Waited 10 minutes, line checked in 2 minutes.
Ventured on to the reception desk to ask about parking charges. The ‘best we can do for you is £15 a week love’… ‘how many times do you come a week?’ I told him that this week it was 4 days in a row. Other weeks only once or twice. ‘Oh no then love, I don’t think it will be worth £15’.
I ageed and went to pay the charge. Not 'appy. ?
Thanks Jude,
Oncologist has changed a few things for next time as had such awful side effects. Will see how it goes. Told him I really couldn’t do 6 cycles. So taking 1 at a time. It gruelling! X
Hi Georgie
That’s very poor re the parking - last idea ask your breast care nurse as mine arranged my permit & we just picked it up, worth a try if you’ve got the energy
Hope today goes ok
Jude x
Hi Subee
You may find by the end of the cycle you can cope better with the idea of the next one…
Good luck
Jude x
Yes Subee, I agree with Jude; I had my 2nd chemo today. During the hard days on your first cycle you can’t imagine doing it again but by the time this time came around I faced it knowing that the side effects still do go eventually and you have better days. Mine are 3 weekly.
Thanks Jude, I will try that with the breast care nurse. The Macmillan lady said they are constantly asking the hospital bosses to give chemo / cancer patients a break. I spent £17 on parking this week, and one was for the park and ride as it’s cheaper at £2.80 but more hassle.
All went ok today with the picc. Much better than digging for veins like usual… so the journey begins for another three weeks of surprise time bombs to go off. My hair has all but abandoned me but I am enjoying scarves and accessories ?. Sleep well all xxx
Hi Georgie
Pleased the picc line worked out for you today, that’s something at least
Good luck with the breast cate nurse it’s worth another go due to the high costs
Hope you get through the next few days ok - I’m just coming out the other side ?
Jude x
Hi ladies you all seem to be doing well. Im currently nin hospital withs neutropenia as neuts were 0.1 and temp of 38.2,. So please be vigilant of your temperature and call hotline for anything!! ?
Hi Kip
Sorry to hear you have been admitted re low neuts, whilst you are in the best place it’s a bit of a bummer!
Take care & I hope you pick up quickly & are out soon
Love Jude x
Hi Georgie. I’m keeping my fingers crossed ? for a better time for you this time. I’m glad the Picc delivery worked so that is a good start. Keep an eye on your temp though!!
Just to let you all know I had my first T (after 3 x FEC) on Wednesday. No sickness, up and about. I even went into school to see my year group get their GCSE results yesterday. I could not have done that the day after FEC. I’m keeping an eye on the expected bone pain and will start taking codeine with the Filgrastim injections today. I also have had my nails painted black with sparkles!!??
Hi ladies
Gosh… not been on for a couple of days so just catching up with you all!
There are some ups and downs…bless you all.
Sorry to hear you are in hospital Kip, hope you get sorted and home very soon!
Georgie good to hear you got your pic line in eventually and hopefully it will save a lot of hassle for you now. Good luck and hugs going your way for the next round.
On the parking issue I only found out this week from another patient that if we take our ticket from the machine into the department we are attending be it chemo, outpatients or a&e the reception stamp it and we don’t pay.
This is York trust so it obviously varies depending where you live.
Jude, like you am just coming up for breath after having 2nd FEC 2 days ago. It seemed to hit me like a brick wall 5pm that afternoon. More so than last time.They changed my sickness meds which they warned can cause drowsiness…that’s all I need more spaced out than normal but they seem to be working. They also gave me lansoprazole for the gastric issues. Haven’t had the hangover type headache this time but was awake 2am on the dot last night.
We basically just have to ride through this don’t we?
Ktk it is encouraging to read you were fit to go out the day after your first T round. Let us know how you get on as I for one am dreading them.
Also lost most of hair now which started going on day 15 but have to say got used to it quite quickly. Was out and about with headscarves on last weekend and did not get too many funny looks. Got my wig too but there is so much more hair on it than used to so may only wear it for special occasions!
The chemo hairdresser told me no need to wear anything under the one I have and it doesn’t feel as though it would blow off.
To cheer you all up…My OH said he thought he had woken up next to Sigourni Weaver in Alien 3 the other morning as my sleep cap had come off.
Hope you all have as good a day as possible.
love Amanda x
Morning all
Good to hear that most of us are coping with what is being thrown our way.
It’s my 2nd day after round 2 of EC. Started to feel dodgy around 6:30 yesterday, tried to ignore it for a while but eventually gave up just after 8 and went to bed. Fell asleep more or less straight away and woke up what felt to be hours later feeling I’d had a fab sleep to find it was only 10:30!! Spent the next 4 hours tossing and turning (thanks steroids) and playing the word association game on here and being entertained by the Daily Mail and rants of various people (I can waste hours reading the comments on some articles - if ever you are having a slow day take a look ?) but then i did manage to get another 4 hours sleep.
My OH brought me breakfast in bed before he went off to work and I’m just willing myself into the shower but dreading being vertical incase the sickness hits.
Like others my hair is coming out so I’m wearing hats and scarves. Ive had a wig for about 5 weeks now - loved it in the shop, tried it on Monday for the first time - couldn’t get it to sit right and had a complete meltdown (Monday was a bad day for me as I was really low due to the hairloss which has been the most difficult thing for me to accept - the other SEs I’ve had have been fairly short lived up to now but this is a longer-term thing to deal with and even though my hairdresser says my hair grows quick I reckon it will be 9-12months post treatment before it’s back to how it was).
Im planning to go back to the wig shop to see if they can help me position it properly and maybe do something with the fringe which is the bit I’m really unhappy about - I did speak to the chemo nurse y’day and she said it would probably sit better on a bald head - at the mo I’ve just got a general thining of hair - no bald spots yet but who knows that could change once the sleep cap comes off and I’ve showered - but I can’t bring myself to shave - I don’t know if I’m clinging to a false hope that I won’t lose if all so that when it does start to grow back I’ve got a head (no pun intended) start and whilst I understand at lot of women feel as though they are taking control by proactively shaving - I just feel as though I’d be admitting defeat and I’d be left wondering what if. I’m no longer traumatised by my hair coming away so I think whilst ever thats the case I’ll leave as is. Apologies for the ramble but I do find it cathartic.
So I hope you all have a good day and that you manage to enjoy the bank holiday weekend with family and friends.
Good luck to those of you that are on chemo day today and for those of you struggling to get a parking concession agreed - keep asking and nagging until someone comes up trumps for you.
Happy days everyone
Sue xx
Hi Sue
I got so upset when I tried my wig on with hair as, like yours, it just looked and felt wrong. Once I’d shaved it went on easily, felt secure and, so everyone tells me, looks fab. I’m about to wash it for the first time so fingers crossed it comes out looking ok!
Jacq x
Hello
Kip and Jacq - thanks for your support - I do know I’ll come around to it and that I probably just need a bit more time - on the positive - sleep cap off and no bald spots today ?
I know this is just passing thing and I’ll either get along with this wig or I’ll just get another one!
Jacq - Glad to hear your wig feels secure as that is a concern that I have that it’ll slip or get blown out of place or that I’ll brush up against something and it’ll get snagged. Let me know how the washing of it turns out. Also another worry of mine is that it’ll come out looking s complete synthetic mess. I really do need to get out more and just stop fretting about stuff - my OH often says I’d worry about not having anything to worry about . Good luck with the wash!
Sue xx
Hi all you Lovely Ladies,
Just catching up after a few days…
Kip - I hope you are feeling better and are home very soon.
KtK - Sounds like I am on a similar path to you, 3 cycles of FEC and then 9 weeks of T (I will also be having Herceptin). Pleased to hear you are getting on so well!
AMB67 - Loving the Sigourney Weaver reference, made me smile…especially as I shaved my hair this afternoon!
SB1610 - Totally understand where you’re at with the hair loss thing. I took a decision to shave mine today after the very first signs of it coming out last night. Not easy but I felt better afterwards. We are all different and should do what feels right at the time. I have the same fears about wig blowing off but will test drive the new wig tomorrow, first stop will be the hair salon to get the fringe chopped.
JacB - I washed my wig yesterday (decided to wash it before wearing it for the first time), I was a bit nervous but it looks exactly the same as it did before I washed it - result! And it’s a helluva lot quicker than doing my own hair……every cloud 
Georgie - Good news about the PICC line and I have my fingers crossed that you get some positive news about the parking…sooo frustrating.
I hope you all have a good few days and find time to relax and enjoy the BH weekend
Stay strong….
Cat x
Hi Ladies
I do agree that the hair loss is one of the biggest things & very hard to come to terms with along with all the nasty side effects
I’m not feeling too bad today other than being really tired & flat - I don’t know if it’s because I finished the steroids yesterday but feel very deflated
Made myself go for a walk even though it was raining on & off as well as being cool but it blew away some cobwebs
Hope you are all coping ok & sleep well
Jude x
Hi everyone, somehow I seem to have started a new thread! Not really sure what I am doing! Will try and delete it.
Thanks for all your encouragement, definitely one cycle at a time. I braved the shave last night as my hair was coming out in handfuls and my head was so painful. Once shaved the pain went. Now rocking the scarves.
Have a good weekend all. X
Hi Amanda
My sleeping patterns are rubbish!
I normally wake up at 4am & read until 6ish ??
Then doze for a couple of hours
I’ve no idea how I’m going to sleep normally when this is all over!!
Take care
Jude x
Hi Sue
My wig survived the wash ? took a tip from YouTube and rinsed with a little fabric conditioner. I will now be scented with jasmine and orchid blossom!
Jacq x
Hello Jacq
Good to hear it survived - I bought some wig conditioner in the shop - it came as a package deal with a fake head for the wig and some wig shampoo. To be fair he did tell me it was like fabric conditioner but I’m not sure it’ll be as nicely scented as what you’ve used!!
How long did your wig take to dry?
Sue x