I’d also go. I had cabin fever yesterday and took my boys to the cinema. Wore a mask and stayed away from others. But so glad I went. Can’t sit in the house thinking about this all the time it’s dominating I find otherwise. A change of scene is good. Have a lovely time. X
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@pg92 how is your hair loss going? I know some people who cold cap can still experience hair shedding but it starts easing off again apparently. Mine is a continual amount daily, worse when I wash and dry but still isn’t too noticeable. I’m going to contact my stylist next week and arrange to go in to get more cut off. I don’t think I’m going straight for a shave, unless she thinks I should but I think I’ll just go even shorter than I am now and leave the shave until I really feel I need it.
Got my NHS wig last week though, and very happy with it!
Annoyingly, my leg and under arm hair is being stubborn and very slow at coming out 
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@schwartzwald I remember comparing my first EC pee to irn bru to my family! Are you Scottish?
How are you feeling a few days in? My head ache and lightheadedness has been the worst side effects for me, I’ve spoken to my team and there’s some stuff they can try to ease that for me next time so if you feel it’s something you’re bothered with just bear that in mind, that there may be things they can do to ease it.
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As everyone else has said, it’s personal choice but I’ve been advised to live as normal a life as I can while being safe. My son’s birthday is also Tuesday by the way! 
I’ve taken a half day from work to take him out for lunch. If you feel comfortable, just go out and enjoy yourself. Wear a mask if it helps you feel safe, sanitise your hands etc. We still need some life and joy and I plan to continue to do what I can to bring happiness & normality in to my life during this period 
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Hi @dianne3, I know junction 28, as originally lived not too far from there! I would go out, as its your third week, and hopefully immune system has built back up. Just mask up & hand sanitiser, stay away from others. But I guess its a very personal choice. I have gone out & about, & cinema. Although no meals out.
PS : I was looking at my holidays photos from last year, tinge of sadness at how unaware I was at what was happening to my body. But equally I look at them in the hope of going on holiday next Summer! Take care xx
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Hello @louise15, the hair loss seems to get worse each day sadly. I spent half hour this morning collecting all my hair 
. Its not noticeable to anybody else yet, but I feel if it carries on like this given I have 3 more EC’s, I’ll have no hair left! I have got a bold spot near temple, where I guess the cold cap didn’t fit so well. In which case I guess cold capping is doing something. Its good to know the shedding may slow down, my Oncologist seemed to suggest something similar, but said its very much dependent how strong your hair follicles are in the first place.
I think it makes sense to go for another trim, as it will stop matting. I had cut my waist length hair to shoulder, not sure I can bear to go shorter, although cutting out some more weight may help. I’ll see how I get on after EC 2 
.
Take care & best wishes!
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@louise15, I picked up an artificial hair wig last week too, and quite happy with it too… just hope it wont be needed! xx
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Hi all, so pleased to hear that many of you are getting on really well with your first and subsequent ECs. Unfortunately my nausea and vomiting got worse and along with a headache and some other issues, I ended up in A&E on Friday and am still in the hospital after being admitted that night. Bloods were all normal but they were worried that after one of the white cell injections, that was masking something. Thankfully, after a few days of IV antibiotics and a lot of fluid and anti sickness meds I am feeling a fair bit better today and managing to eat again. What a week this has been! Just have some hypotension because of the antibiotics but generally feeling more myself again. Very much hoping to be going home tomorrow to relax before we go again the week after with round 2! xx
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Hi @louise15 so glad you managed to get an NHS wig and are happy with it. Did your one from JB Extensions come? Shame about the leg and arm hair although I hear it does go eventually xx
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So glad you’re feeling brighter and hope you get to go home tomorrow 
. xxx
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Ha. Aye, I’m in the Scottish Borders. Headache was a banger and the nausea was pretty iffy. Still not 
since last week. Not good. Feeling a little better today but still taking painkillers. I’ll mention all of this at my next appointment and see if its just live with it territory.
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I’m sorry some of you are feeling so poorly!
I was starting to wonder if the chemo was even working as I’ve felt so well.
But last night, I woke up FREEZING - I haven’t been cold in bed since about 2022. Staggered downstairs and took my temperature and it was very low ( not quite low enough to call anyone, but not far off). My husband was at work so I put winter pyjamas on and threw another quilt on the bed.
I’ve just woken now - temperature is normal again and I’ve a mouth full of ulcers.
At least I know it’s working now!
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Hello @sunshine-smile, so sorry to hear your experience and ending up in hospital. I hope you are feeling much better, and are now home again. Hopefully your medical team will try other anti-sickness tablets that may work better. Sending big hugs xx
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@nflk99 thank you! And yes home, bathed, hair washed as my scalp is so itchy! Clean PJs and ready to sleep for the rest of the week. I still feel quite tired and woozy but think that’s quite normal for this stage anyway xx
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Hi @schwartzwald sorry to hear you aren’t feeling great, I completely understand that! I actually don’t know how I would have coped at home so I take my hat off to you. Even if you don’t have a temperature, if you feel poorly, give the number a call - there is so much they can do to make you feel better. Make sure you check your temp before taking painkillers, so it’s not masking something. Hope it improves soon xx
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@preferablywithfood god it’s a rollercoaster isn’t it! I don’t have any ulcers as yet but definitely a more fuzzy mouth. My dentist recommended Corsodyl mouthwash - the daily one - and it has had a significant impact on the number of ulcers I was getting. She said to keep using it through chemo xx
Hi @pg92 yes all home and settled and think I will sleep for the next week! Yes I’m going to have a good chat with the team on Saturday when I get my bloods done. At the hospital they said it might not be the same the second time, but to get some other meds - definitely lanzoprasole or similar and different anti sickness meds to try and get more on top of it.
Also just wanted to flag, we have a new Braun thermometer that is actually rubbish it was a good 0.6 degrees off the one at the hospital - certainly not ideal! I’m not sure how you can check the one you have, but we’re going to upgrade and get a new one xx
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@pg92 I hope that your shedding will slow down then, it seems from accounts I’ve read of people cold capping that they do have some hair shedding and but still retain a lot of hair so I hope that is your experience! I was the same, I had very long hair and cut it shoulder length before chemo started so I understand how you feel!
I’m definitely calling my stylist tomorrow when they’re open again - while I still have a good amount of hair I randomly took a photo of my scalp and I can definitely notice the hair thinning along the top 
I’m not feeling ready to shave but want my stylists advice. If she thinks going even shorter will work and I can cover the thinning then I’ll go with that. I’m just worried as I’m due my 3rd EC on Friday so feel next week I’ll probably start to thin out even more drastically.
Why hasn’t a way to treat cancer been discovered yet that doesn’t impact on hair!
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@sunshine-smile I’m sorry to hear your experience! That sounds awful. Glad you’re home now though & hopefully with rest you’ll start to feel better. Thanks for the tip on the Braun thermometer! I had actually been looking at a Braun one as I had it my mind I needed another, I won’t bother!
My JB extensions wig isn’t actually coming till next week, I read my email wrong! I think I might give my wig a try tomorrow when going out for my son’s birthday lunch. I keep wondering when I’m supposed to start wearing it as I still have hair, but think I’ll just randomly start wearing it to get used to it and get others used to seeing me in it! I’ll report back on the JB extensions one when I get it
Sending love, hope you start to feel more like yourself soon x
@schwartzwald I’m near Edinburgh! I had a pretty bad headache for a few days on both my rounds, they think it’s one of my anti-sickness so they’re going to switch that up so please make sure to tell them everything so they can adjust if possible.
I haven’t had any issues with my bowels, but the first session I done, a lady who was near the end of her treatment told me to just take one of the laxidos I was given once a day from the day after chemo and I did and that seems to have helped. I only take it the few days I’m taking steroids and it seems to help keep things moving. Just a wee tip!
I’ve called the cancer helpline a few times with various things to check and they’re very helpful so if you’re unsure of anything at all just call them. They’re so good x
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Thermometers confuse me. I had one in the first aid box, but thought I’d better get a decent one, so my husband “borrowed” one from work.
And then the hospital gave me one.
All say something different.
I’ve decided to stick with one of them. It measures me consistently at around 36.5, so I’ll know if my temperature is going up or down, even if I’m not exactly sure what the real number is!
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