The Christie hospital in Manchester has a wig service in the hospital. They give you a voucher for a wig and some of the premium wigs have an extra charge on top.
@whataloadof, I’m sorry to hear you’re suffering. I see you like soup, have you tried smoothies as well? For the first few days of the cycle when I’m not eating well, I’ve had spinach, mango, pineapple and banana smoothies. I have it in a protein shaker type bottle so I can keep giving it a good mix because I don’t drink it quickly.
My hairdresser is coming to see me tomorrow. My shedding accelerated and I must have lost 50% of my hair now. It’s not patchy, it’s all over. My hair wasn’t thick to begin with so it’s noticeable now. I want to carry on with cold cap though.
Thanks love. I normally make a smoothie every single day & have for years but even those I can’t face. I’m completely off the flavours of the ice lollies I’ve had during the infusion so that’s banana/pineapple/mango & coconut all gone as they just make me feel completely nauseous. Also a little nervous about frozen strawberries/blueberries etc when neutropenic. I ate some honeydew melon today & stomached it. Still just the marmite that I can actually stomach so had some granary sandwiches with it today. So weird when normally I’d eat fruit for breakfast & always lots of veg. Just can’t face any of it. Going to have a very early night & hope for some rest to feel better tomorrow (stop the sweats please!!) . Thank you for everyone’s kindness today x
More nausea for me this time but just at night. Still eating lots of stodgy foods, and things don’t taste sweet again. I could actually focus with both eyes at once for long enough to finally finish my book, but the dizziness was so bad that I have to have a sit down in the middle of walking across the room! 5 mins to the local shop and 5 mins back couldn’t be done alone and felt like an expedition - this is ridiculous! Also feeling emotional which I expect will only get worse tomorrow.
I’ve been taking a cold pack to bed with me and sleeping under a sheet which has helped a lot.
I’m not bothering with a wig. Does anyone have a website recommendation for soft slouch hat and scarf please?
Hi @whataloadof, don’t suffer in silence. Why not give the chemo team a ring as they can give you more anti-sickness drugs (depending on what you’re on). My team told me this on Thursday. I’m not suffering with nausea, but just ate my favourite dinner and it tasted of lumps and nothing else.
A few of you have mentioned night sweats and waking up clammy / freezing, which is something I’ve been struggling with masses since having to come off hrt so quickly after diagnosis.
After trying lots of things, I’ve worked out the best thing for me was moving to bamboo for all my night clothes. PJs and bed sheets. Now, when I do wake up clammy I still feel ok, not frozen and horrible like when I wore cotton.
I also bought a lightweight wool duvet (3 tog) to replace my old polyester one (I bought a single lightweight duvet for myself, and my husband has his own single, warmer one (a normal cheaper polyester) - not that we share a bed often at the moment!! Wool and bamboo duvets are supposed to absorb moisture more easily - I have found a difference.
It’s meant spending a fair bit of money, but I’m finding the night sweats so much more manageable. Last night I ran out of bamboo pj tops so had to put on an old cotton top, and woke up wet and freezing again.
(I’ve heard silk works too, but that was definitely £££ too much!)
I bought Lazy Panda lounge wear from the Sock Shop.
Thank you love. The nausea is much better this round after a tablet upgrade but I just have no appetite at all & the struggle is still the headaches & dizziness & complete body weakness & overwhelming feeling of being hit for six. Is that just inevitable during chemo? I just don’t know but if I don’t even have the energy to wash myself or cook for myself or sit up to eat it’s not manageable to me? X
Hi I second @Jaygo i’m not suffering with nausea but was told that if I was and the tablets they had given me didn’t work to tell them and they will change them. It’s not a one tablet fits all kind of thing it’s good they’ve given you a different one. I do suffer the headaches though and again was told if I am taking paracetamol and ibuprofen both 4 times a day and they aren’t working then they would look at giving me something different. I was trying to hold off taking the tablets and just getting on but to be honest it was making me feel too rubbish so started alternating and I did manage to get rid of it after doing the full dosages for one day. Not sure how many tablets you’re taking but thought I’d share. I’d also taken migraleve one day that did nothing at all. X
When I said about the headaches last time I saw the registrar a head CT was suggested which just sent me into a spiral?! I have a history of migraines & low blood pressure which I suspect is what’s causing all of this but no tablets were suggested.
Btw-I only get to see a registrar not an oncologist-I’m not sure where the differences lay?
Massive chemo crash today. Food and drink tastes disgusting, listless, achey and just sitting here like a zombie. Dreading the next few days, weeks, months.
I think the registrar is one grade down from the consultant oncologist. My follow up appointment with the registrar was definitely more laid back than my initial appointment with the consultant oncologist.
I can imagine anyone would spiral at that love, I know I would. I’ve not seen my oncologist since starting treatment I’m seeing him this week. To be honest though I am finding the nurses at the chemo sessions are much more helpful. I think maybe because they see everyone more often they seem to have in my opinion better suggestions and advice about stuff.
Sorry to hear that you’re here today. I was there on Monday, and today I’m finally feeling like I’m over the worst of this cycle. Hold on, every day we’re getting closer to end of this phase xxx
I wasn’t but thank you for saying this-it’s the ability to realise when something isn’t normal or sustainable through treatment. I know it’s chemo and it’s not meant to be easy but! I’ve only been in my home or at the hospital or health centre since starting treatment & the thought of going to a shop or a restaurant or working or seeing friends or doing anything vaguely normal right now is impossible given how exhausted and weak I am. I will raise at my next consultation x
Morning ladies I would agree not even well enough to eat or wash is something they should be able to help you with as it shouldn’t be so debilitating for you x
I’ve taken the decision to shave my hair this morning it’s done it’s gone and I feel so relieved no more pulling out huge chunks x
