@louise15, thank you. Today’s been really distressful with the amount of hair lost, as I washed it. Limiting washing to just twice a week, and will heed the advice of using cool water. I have my 2nd EC on Thursday (dread), and maybe thereafter I might need to cut my hair a bit shorter. I have fine hair, but lots of it, so still hoping I have maintain enough that I don’t have bald spots, but given the amount of shedding, I’m not hopeful. Wishing you the best for the next cycle! And lets hope the shedding does ease off !!! Sending love xx
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@sunshine-smile I’m so happy to hear that you’re home. I just want to say thank you for sharing your experience as it prompted me to phone the advice line as I was struggling and just getting more exhausted, dizzy and nauseous as the days went on. They got me on to the ward and I was dehydrated and bordering on sepsis. I had IV fluids and antibiotics and some new anti-sickness meds and came home with a new mini pharmacy! After a 16hr sleep, I woke this morning with more energy than I’ve had for 5 days, an actual appetite and manageable nausea.
Throughout all of this, my temperature was fine. So I had initially thought it wasn’t anything the docs could help with!
I knew this wasn’t going to be an easy journey, but it’s way shittier than I could have ever imagined! Xxx
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Oh my goodness what a nightmare! Especially for your first one 
. I really hope the next dose is kinder to you.
I’ve been suspiciously ok apart from the initial few days of nausea/tiredness/wobbly legs, I think I started feeling more “me” on Day 6 but I was still on edge waiting to be floored. I’m due to get EC2 on Friday, so hope it stays manageable for me 
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@bramble1 Hopefully after this amount of time, you won’t get ‘floored’ 
Good luck with your second dose…with each one it’s a step closer to the finish line.
I’m hoping my oncologist decides that just 3 cycles of EC will do rather than 4 and that they’ll just keep me on antibiotics through the whole lot 
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Oh @toad I’m so sorry to hear that, but also so glad that I was able to encourage you to get support. It’s the worst feeling in the world isn’t it. I’m so glad that you are feeling better, a good night’s sleep and a reduction of nausea does wonders for the soul.
I’ve been so anxious about it happening again next week that I’ve been looking to see if I can have my EC as an inpatient 
even though I still felt ill, initially it made me feel so much safer just being in hospital. I couldn’t wait to get out of there yesterday though. Did they change the meds you were on? I didn’t bring any more meds home with me as I was feeling better, but am so scared of the next one and what that will bring. I’m definitely learning though I need to eat when feeling nauseous rather than keep avoiding food. I’ve also learnt that I need to remove decision making so we’re going to trial some easy small meals and then hubby will just put one in front of me, same as at the hospital we’ll see if that helps!
My scalp is also so itchy since yesterday. I thought it was because I’d been hot and sweaty and not washed it for a week, but it’s still there now and driving me insane. Only 3 more of these to go! xx
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@toad is just 3 cycles instead of 4 an actual option? They didn’t mention this to me at all! I’ll have to ask the consultant when I next see them xx
@sunshine-smile My treatment plans says 3 or 4 cycles of EC, so that’s why I’m thinking I could get away with just the 3. Xx
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@toad, gosh how awful. Wishing you well for the rest of the time. Im sure you’ll feel more normal after the 2 week mark, so enjoy those days. Sending hugs xx
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@amandas09, I started chemo same day as yourself, and sounds like you are experiencing the same type of hair shedding, and root pain. Spoke to my nurse today and she suggested cutting hair shorter to take out more weight, it may help to some degree. And being very gentle when washing, and limiting washing to twice per week. But I completely feel like you, that I will bald soon! Lets hope not. Best wishes for tomorrow. Mine is Thursday. Sending hugs xx
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@bramble1 I was much like yourself after the first round, and the same with my second. My main things have been tiredness and fatigue (though not stopping me doing much) a headache and major dizziness (which they’re going to try to do things for next time) so if it helps you not feel as on edge any, I didn’t suddenly get hit with any new side effects or any worsening as it went on following each chemo & my nurse told me that what I experienced the first time, likely would be how things would be as it went on (maybe just feeling more intense). Overall, I don’t feel 100%, and don’t feel like myself however I’m managing and the side effects haven’t been too awful at this point. Remember, we are all different and you may just be lucky and won’t feel too bad which I really hope for you!
My next is also Friday, so we can check in and compare how the next one is for us both 
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@toad so sorry to hear about your experience! I’m happy you’re at least starting to feel better some though. It’s such a hard journey to be on anyway, and having that sort of experience (especially after your first!) is so awful.
I hope your next treatment is better for you x
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@pg92 I’m sorry yesterday was distressing. I only hope that you start to notice a lessening in the hair fall, but of course understand the distress. Last night I randomly decided to take a photo of the top of my scalp and I can see how much it is thinning so last night was a very emotional one - waiting to hear back from my stylist to see what I do next. My 3rd EC will be on Friday, and I just feel next week is going to be an awful week for shedding but equally I don’t want to go straight to a shave so I’m hoping my stylist can give some advice on a shorter style to go for to tide me over initially. I just keep reminding myself, this is all temporary. This is just a period in my life, it’s not my entire life.
On a brighter note, decided to take my new wig out for a spin tonight when going out for dinner with my son. Need to try to start getting used to it!
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My hair is bob length, and I only wash it once a week. Hopefully the shedding slows down for us both soon. Good luck for Thursday, hope all goes well. Sending hugs too xx
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That’s very reassuring!
I’m similar to you and @bramble1 : EC on Friday, no symptoms at all on Friday, Saturday & Sunday. My temperature dropped on Day 4 ( yesterday) and I felt like I’d been hit by a bus. I’m still tired today, but feeling better than yesterday.
I haven’t any dizziness/nausea/constipation/diarrhea. I’ve also been expecting it all to hit me any day now, but so far I’ve been very lucky.
I’m sorry that lots of you are so ill.
I’m not writing this to gloat, but maybe next month’s starters will see this and understand that there’s a complete range of symptoms and it can be manageable.
I’m 54 and a bit fat, so it’s not like I’m a fine physical, superhuman specimen. There just doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to any of it.
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Hi ladies, I’ve just been catching up. I hope you’re doing ok. I had my second session last Thursday and was fine with the steroids to Sunday. I checked my diary and day 5 was the day I’d started to feel more rough last session. I was a bit more prepared with the immodium etc and dioralyte. Thankfully that settled and I’ve just been resting today. I also agree that when you can, eat. Easier said than done sometimes. A lady I know who went through this said even if it a a jelly or something to give you a bit of energy. So I bought some. Sorry for the ramble. X
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That’s good to hear. I’m sort of expecting to feel slightly worse each time, but at least I know after this first one when my good/not so good days are likely to be. I’ve not noticed any scalp tingling or hair loss yet (I’m not cold capping) but am expecting that in the next week or so. I have a hair cut booked for the 17th anyway, so if I have hair left at that point I can see what my hairdresser thinks about shaving or not - I have very thick hair so am hoping it won’t be too noticeable at first.
@preferablywithfood Similar to you, I’m 53 and a bit overweight (that’s something to worry about next year I think!) but generally “fit and healthy” as in never had any other health issues and rarely poorly, I guess you never know how it will hit you. I do feel for everyone struggling though, and like you hope that anyone lurking here from other months or with all this ahead of them can see it’s not an exact science. All we can do is listen to our bodies and keep ticking each cycle off one by one 
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Hi all, sorry to hear so many of you are well. I had my first chemo on 18th August and will have my 2nd on 8th September. I’ve found that most days I have been fairly fuzzy headed and still quite tired although I can eat small meals as suggested. I have phoned the help line a few times especially the first week annd they are brilliant no matter how many times you call them very reassuring. I’m 65 and my hair has been thinning for some time so each day is just another few strands gone. Wishing all the best for those having their subsequent chemos xx
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@louise15 Not far away. If you need a head clearing mooch around during all of this let me know. I have family near Edinburgh. I have just worked out that its the Filigrastim. I have just jagged myself this evening instead of in the morning and the headache started shortly afterwards along with a yukky taste in the mouth. That’s the last one until next session thankfully so hoping for a handful of decent-ish days. Still bloody tired though. Lol.
@toad @sunshine-smile I am so sorry you have been so poorly. We are all so programmed to just push on that we forget that we can ask for help sometimes. Hope you are feeling much much better.
@bramble1 and @preferablywithfood we all have our own symptom pool I guess. We are all suffering in our own ways. Strength with you 
Also, we are all superhuman fine examples of awesomeness.
@pips12 fuzzy headed is very familiar. I thought I was doing ok but then joined a work teams call and realised just how still out of it I am. Yikes.
I have news though, french onion soup helped with the oiling of the drum so we are on the way to being operational again… haha.
p.s. 52 and on the cuddly side these days, this photos was several years ago…
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In case this helps anyone …
Sleepio is an app that you can access for free if you have cancer. It uses guided Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) techniques to help improve your sleep. You can sign up to Sleepio for free here [Onboarding Sleep Test - Sleepio]
I’m ER+ and had to stop HRT when I was diagnosed in May. My sleep is bloody awful now, so I’m giving this a go.
(hope this link works - I’m trying to do it on my phone!)
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Hi @louise15, I popped into a hairdresser and decided to just get my hair cut shorter, to take out more weight. I took a photo of the top of my head too! The crown area is very tender, but no noticeable bald patches, other than at temples around my ears. I think I have accept that by the end of this EC range there will be a lot of thinning 
. Just tired of picking up my shedding hair, so understand why women just drcide to shave it off !!!
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