Another aha moment - thanks ladies!! So my drippy nose, sore feeling throat and headache are not a cold but due to Tax!! I stayed away from visiting my very frail father this weekend as I did not want to give him my bugs but did feel ok for nearly 3 mile walk in fresh air of the Peak District and could not understand why (reminder - must keep walking now as very breathless at end of 6 FEC so sounds like it could come back with Tax). So will now keep on visiting him which will help as I feel very isolated and know “it won’t be long for him…”. Thanks - AGAIN - for all sharing.
Am also much more motivated today, after a counselling session, to refind my book on EFT since I now remember it having physical and mental focus on energy healing and think I need all the help I can get with energy flows. Does anyone else find this complementary therapy approach helps?
I had 3 EC which is to be followed by TAX and had my 2nd treatment last week. I too had the constant runny nose after my first TAX which ended up in nose bleeds. I had achy joints for a couple of days and nights and had the tingly finger ends. The worst was for the first 4 days after chemo.
Before my 2nd TAX I cut out as much sugar and fat from my diet as possible and have forced myself to go out walking. My taste buds have totally gone but I am trying to eat as much fruit & vegetables as possible which seems to be helping so far - I think that it is also helping with the flushes. I am 45 and pre menopause.
For the fingers, I slap on as much hand cream as I can - I have a tube of hand cream in every room in the house. Fingers don’t seem to be tingling so much this time and nails are still growing, so just hope that they can survive the last TAX at beginning of Feb. No achy joints but I did take paracetemol for a couple of days after the 2nd dose.
Fran, I often use EFT very good for controlling sickness on FEC and now tiredness on TAX. Cant beat it for all sorts of things.
redrobbin i also keep diprobase in every room of the house lol
Thanks Hatty for this advice about EFT - will certainly go back to trying to use it.
Must get some Diprobase with all recommedations from you guys since one finger is already cracked at the end - think I need to use gloves for all the washing of the healthy fruit and veg that I do to help to protect them rather than just using them for washing up… I do have some handcream in each room already but seems I might find the Diprobase is better - is it available in Boots etc?
Hi, you should be able to get diprobase on prescription. I was given diprobase at the hospital and collected it when I went to get my meds for chemo I was also given vitamin b cant remember if it was 6 or 12.
Just to reiterate about the whole diet thing… I’ve had 3 out of 6 tax and my first was definitely the worst. However after the first I changed my diet, no sugar no diary or red meat I only eat organic chicken and all my food is organic now. I juice most days and have to say tax 2 and 3 have been ok am even able to go out for 3 mile runs so can only put it down to the change in diet that had really helped me.
I walk at least 3 miles a day…don’t have any achy probs…I think the first is the worst…as a food producer I can say there is nothing magic about organic…and standards world wide on organic vary.
I think side effects can vary from person to person with tax. My main poroblem has been sore mouth, tingly fingers and general tiredness…but since I run around like a maniac its not surprising I get tired LOL
Your right lif there is nothing “magic” about organic it’s what’s NOT in it that makes it good. I buy all mine from our local farm so good local produce with no articifical growth, I also grow a lot of my own. You only need to look at the carrots in tescos to see their artificial colour, largeness and size to know it’s not natural…
I also feel like I’m doing something good in a situation that’s totally out of my control.
Sarah
I know what you mean sarah…mind you i grow bloomin great bright orange carrots…and white and purple ones so who knows! Just about all food grown in UK is mostly ok…its what comes in from less regulated countries thats alarming! Stuff like growth promoters and hormones are not allowed to be fed to uk livestock and you cannot beat uk grass fed beef and lamb for natural uninterfered with produce. British milk and cheese likewise…I know this is a bit off topic but its the sector I have a lot of inside knowledge about!
Anything that anyone feels good about doing however is good in my books!..and that goes for eating!!! :-))
Due to have my first Tax tomorrow after having 3 FEC so I’ve read through your comments and hopefully have everything stocked up. Probably a bit late to cut out the sugar etc so I’ll just have to take it as it comes. Sounds like the first one seems to be the real kicker.
Good luck Reeb -yes, all this advice is really helpful isn’t it in making preparations! I’m now two weeks after my first dose and fine except for drippy nose, sore throat and tingley head and have more energy than I had pre first dose. I could actually feel the Tax working on my liver tumours (it felt like a war zone there for the first week) so am really positive about the treatment and an actually ok about having 2nd dose next week and feel much more confident about managing my side-effects and am realistic about how I might feel. Just planning to make the most of the days before that dose…
So hoping you get on ok tomorrow
Fran
im just through the first week and things are getting better but didnt sleep well last night my feet so hot and itchy. rang chemo ward and they say there is some cream to help with the itchy. so will get some of that.
I’m starting TAX on Thursday, so will be a day after you Reeb. I’ve had an eight week gap after 3 x FEC so it is going to be a big shock to the system. Like you I’m stocked up with all sorts. Looking forward to my last good night’s sleep tonight before I start the steroids tomorrow. Hope you get some sleep tonight Reeb and good luck for tomorrow.
stella, i had loads of energy on the steroids so did more in the day and slept well. The advise i was given was take the lunch time steroids before 2.00pm if you want to sleep. If it wasnt for the chemo bloat (half a stone) id be looking forward to steroids for some energy lol…
Well I am 13 days post 2nd tax and feeling great now…cept still cannot taste a thing! All other side effects have departed…and long may it stay that way until next dose next thursday…the last one woo hoo!
Chemo bloat…this is a new one…I thought I felt a bit inflated esp legs and tum…really weird…is it fluid retention? dosent seem to stop me doing anything and dosent feel odd just looks a bit odd!
They really don’t tell you about all these side-effects do they - they might seem minor it without this site I’d be really worried. Good luck Dancing Girl - my experience is the TAX is much easier than FEC - it feels more gentle whilst being administered and I’ve not had the nausea/queasiness that was bad after FEC - so hope you get on well forearmed with all the info on this thread.
Fran
