53 but on the mirena coil (periods stopped as soon as I went on the coil, bliss!) for the last 5 years so no menopause symptoms apart from rubbish sleep but that’s probably chemo too.
Periods and menopause symptoms are not what we need on top of all this.
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I’m having another CT on Monday and they asked me if I’m in menopause and I said the beast hasn’t been around since treatment started so they’re waivering me having to take a blood test (pregnancy) first, last time I literally had to wait 3hours and not leave the hospital while the blood test processed so I’ll take any silver lining.
I really hope it’s over, if there’s one good thing to come out of all this I’ll take that. I’ve been wanting menopause since I was a teenager mine are so horrific.
Guess I’m lucky in that respect as I’m definitely post menopausal so don’t have that extra factor. I can certainly say I don’t miss periods in any way whatsoever! It’s liberating getting rid of them 
Understand the extra problems some of you might have though going through a menopause on top of all this!
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I’ve been blaming my steroids for messing up my sleep but maybe it’s menopause 
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I don’t know anymore when I’ll next have a period. They are literally allnover the place. I don’t know if my side effects are hormone related or chemo related. Just a guessing game.
Today has been a depressing day. Full on spot breakout, virtually bald and feeling very tired. I can’t focus on anything. Hoping tomorrow will be happier xxx
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Think that’s been the thing with me, not knowing what is causing the side effects. For me it’s been the extra things, like being also given heart meds after an issue was found, causing my BP to plummet, the injections giving me leg pains etc. This week I’ve not felt too well with stomach ache etc, then today had a cardiac MRI stress test which caused me anxiety beforehand, added to the fact I wasn’t allowed any caffeine the day before 
. All seems too much when you’re a bit below par anyway! Sorry, I’m going on a bit aren’t I but I think it’s getting to us all a bit! Good to have you all on here as I don’t think it’s easy for others to understand. Love to you all 
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Hope you’re feeling better soon. The bad days really are tough to get through. I threw in the towel on the first week and had no expectations of anything, second week of cycle energy levels returned.
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It’s rough time for us all like you say but we will keep pushing through xx
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Keep going ladies! We have this!
My mouth still tastes like butt, my gut is making me scared to fart, I’m somehow losing handfuls of hair but not bald yet (very sensitive scalp) which is causing more anxiety, I’m struggling to sleep but am constantly tired, my brain fog is ridiculous (I pride myself on my memory usually but I’m struggling with basic stuff).
Today I just want to eat like a peasant from the middle ages so my lovely parents dropped me off a rustic loaf of bread and I’m eating it with slabs of cheese and hard boiled eggs. I feel like a hobbit.
Might even get to see my niblings today (avoided it when my immunity dropped as they were going into town on public transport).
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Thanks @sez @anne3 and @songbird1. Hope youre all ok. I’ve had a wobbly day. Husband doesn’t get it. I have no hair, and my face has gone so spotty. My scalp has cradle cap and my back has spots. I cancelled my lunch plans with a friend and dinner out with another couple. Husband keeps saying that no-one is as interested in my appearance as me and that I look fine. He says I shouldn’t let cancer strip me of my confidence, but it’s way too late for that. I just want to hide. Next week is round 3 and I’m scared this will make my skin even more spotty and sensitive.
Is anyone else getting spots? How should I deal with them? I know its small in the grand scheme of things, but I feel so ugly. Xx
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Hi @bluesatsuma ,
Not small, how we look is part of who we are… simple as that and is yet another thing that cancer interferes with and that has an impact on us physically and mentally… a huge hug x
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Thank you for the giggle @sez , i can just see myself doing the same 
Not an easy road we are on but we will get there x
Hugs xx
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I’m having really painful spots on my scalp, always had a sensitive scalp anyway but they’re practically cystic.
I’m 3rd round on 3rd October and I’m building up a lot of anxiety about the following week and what my poor body is having to go through.
I’ve had a few spots, treating them with savlon and trying (but failing) to drink lots of water. How we feel about ourselves is all interlinked with our mental health and our recovery. I went to a look good feel better - makeup and skin care, online workshop yesterday and I felt much more positive after it but sometimes I just want to hide. You do what is right for you at the time. We’ll all push through in our own way with bad days that make the ok/good days all the better. If you can get to a Maggies centre, apparently they are great for the in person Look good feel better workshops. Sending hugs too xx
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Thanks all @songbird1 @sez @dhmb. I knew you lovely lot would understand. Maybe i should look into the look good feel better workshop but I’m anxious to go alone. I will ask on the Breast Mates Central group on facebook if anyone would look out for me and say hi at the next one. This evening, im going to drink more water and take my make up off, moisturise and then try not to poke at spots. Probably need to cut down on all the scones with cream and jam too!
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I went to a look good feel better workshop this week in Basingstoke on my.own and ended up chatting away to two lovely ladies and getting kicked out of the room as the venue wanted to lock up. Can highly recommend the workshop and the chance to chat to people in person who “just get it”
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@bluesatsuma Leave the scones alone and have all the ones you fancy
Just came home from food shopping (after being discharged at 3:30am from A&E - everything is ok and as to be expected, but yesterday i sure didn’t feel that way) so i kinda indulged myself in things i normally wouldn’t, but then again, why the hell not???
About 2 or 3 weeks ago i did go for the look good feel good in person makeup workshop and gosh was it woth it!! I was so nervous, no need i know, but everyone was so welcoming made me feel amongst people that just “know” and i ended having a really good time with loads of laughter
Huge hugs to everyone, we got this 
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Thanks @beckya. That’s reassuring. I’m quite a chatty person but i was worried everyone there would know each other.
@dhmb I’m dangerous on a food shop now! Came home with nesquik and chocolate ice creams, more scones, jam and clotted cream. Forgot the carrots, brocolli and rice.
Hi to fellow august buddies
Just an update really. I had my third and final EC on Monday, and I have to say that so far it has been the least troublesome. I had my usual headache, but that was only 24 hours. Very little queasiness, my appetite has been fine. I have had less heartburn and gaviscon has taken care of the bit I have had. I was back out walking the dog after 2 days, my energy has been great. Minor constipation. Perhaps it’s because I am well through the menopause that I haven’t had any spots etc. Whether something is going to hit me like a ton of bricks I don’t know, but keeping fingers crossed. Hope docetaxel is like this 
Have a healthy weekend everyone 
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I have the mirena as well has been an amazing. My consultant asked me to have it removed before chemo, however I am hormone receptor negative for both oestrogen and progesterone so I said I’m not removing it! Enough to deal with without the start of periods which I havnt had for 15 years.
However typically I have had some spotting after both cycles of chemo!
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