Day 11 after first chemo cycle. Feeling absolutely wiped out. Can’t fancy any food at all. Retching and diarrhoea when I do eat. I spent 5 pointless hours at A&E on Monday when my temperature hit 38 so went in as advised. The place was heaving and they couldn’t find me a separate space for 3 hours. They seemed to think I shouldn’t be there. The doctor said I had mild gastroenteritis and although they wouldn’t normally prescribe antibiotics she gave a 7 day course but told me to check with the clinic in the morning. They were bemused but said I might as well continue with them. Checked with my Macmillan nurse and she said she would get the clinic to bring me in . I can’t really face leaving the house. I know I should probably chase but haven’t got the energy. There’s nothing I want to eat and getting fed up with the few things I was eating. Feeling very sorry for myself and now dreading the second course ( if indeed I am well enough). The only positive is that I can barely feel the lump now. I am on neoadjuvant therapy with the prospect of 6 sessions of chemo and phesgo, followed by lumpectomy. The lump was ductile 2.66cms with no spread to nodes. (Triple positive)
Sorry to whine.
Any suggestions for food. Can’t eat bread, it tastes claggy. Thinking of trying some white rice. I don’t eat fish. Tried a bit of red meat and felt dreadful.
Firstly sending you a big hug, you certainly need and deserve one. I didn’t have chemo so cannot relate but radiotherapy knocked my appetite for six. The only thing I could manage was soup. If you don’t want to make your own don’t buy the tinned soups, they really do taste of tin when your appetite is naff. Buy the fresh soups, there’s a whole range of them out there to suit every taste. A little and often, put it in a small bowl - large amounts put you off before you even taste it - and use a tea spoon, small slow sips. Don’t just gulp it down, let it slide slowly down. Savour every spoonful and tell yourself things like 3 spoonfuls is better than none and I’ll manage 5 next time. The same idea goes for ice cream too. Buy one of the better brands, there’s normally one on special offer, again a little and a small spoon, savour it and let it melt in your mouth. Most importantly don’t push yourself, treat yourself to nicer brands, take it very slowly.
Just in passing if you have some kind soul that would make you some soup roast potato soup is the best. I know it sounds weird but oh my it’s amazing.
I wish you better days and easier reactions to your continued chemo, we are all here for you xx
Thank you. My husband went out and bought several of the soups but I tried one and it’s put me off them. I do like the ice cream. About the only thing I fancy. I’ve just cooked myself an omelette but struggling to eat it. He’s going to get me some jellies to try later
I am sorry to hear that you feel so wretched. As @nannabee said, if a little of what is palatable is all you can manage that’s fine. I ended up living on cuppa soups, hot Ribena and Farleys rusks on the difficult days when everything seemed to have the texture of eggboxes and I craved beige. I ate better in the week before the next course. When I felt really shite I reminded myself that if I felt that crap then the drugs were doing what they were meant to be doing. The treatnent isn’t kind but it’s doable.
I too had neo-adjuvant therapy (TCHP) as like you HER-2 positive. Had my surgery in June. I’ve four trastuzumab to go. I’m counting down. Feels better than counting up!
Have you read or joined the monthly chemo thread or read through the HER-2 need some buddies thread? I found the latter invaluable for our long treatment path. Lots of useful tips and sage advice helped me. Reading the stories of those before me who have got through it really helped, especially during those times when I felt low. The chemo thread was useful as we were all sharing similar experiences, usually that loperamide and haemorrhoid cream was our best friend and Vaseline up the nose for the dryness and lack of nasal hairs xxx
Most importantly don’t force yourself to eat anything you really can’t face. I’ve hated cows milk since I was allergic to it as a baby and am now 79, since my radiotherapy I have porridge made with semi skimmed milk every day - I crave it, still can’t take it in tea though. Unfortunately with all of these necessary treatments our taste buds change, it’s just going for whatever you fancy. I can’t tell you how many dinners I’ve really fancied, cooked and thrown straight in the bin in the past two years. I’m still trying things I would never normally eat. I promise you it will get easier xx
I was blaming the Filstagrim injections as that was when I started feeling rough. Relieved not to have to do those any more. My blood results at A&E didn’t seem too bad. Things out of range but not horrendously so. The two days after treatment I felt absolutely fine so was lulled into a sense of false security. Keep hoping to wake up feeling better
I’m finding milk is palatable though normally I don’t have it in anything. However I am worried about drinking milk because of the diarrhoea. Nice to hear from another old lady. I am 74
Bless you, I’m just off to the hospital for my second year follow up. As they had to change the appointment due to the doctors strike last week they kindly told me my mammogram was fine. They are probably going to tell me off for stopping the letrozole but it was with my oncologist’s agreement.
Things will settle for you and get easier to understand, prepare for and control. Keep talking here and there’s always someone to help. Xxx
I had 3 EC and 3 Docetaxel. After the first EC I ended up in A and E with diarrhoea every 30 minutes and a temperature. I thought to myself that I couldn’t do it again, ever ever, ever. But I did and it wasn’t ever as bad again. Yes I felt rubbish but it felt more doable.
With the Docetaxel I totally lost my sense of taste for about 10 days. Food either tasted of nothing, of cardboard or as if it was rotten I just ate what I fancied and tried to keep up with fluids - water tasted horrible so I added a bit of squash. Ice cold if possible. Hard boiled sweets, especially lemon flavour, helped and green tea.
Have you got Loperamide for the diarrhoea? If not your chemo unit or GP should be able to give you some, though you can buy them.over the counter. Let the oncologist and chemo nurses know what’s going on as the may be able to tweak thinhs next time to make things better for you.
Thank you so much for your kind words. I thought I was strong but this is hitting me for 6. Feel sorry for my husband who keeps trying to find me things to eat but everything I try turns to card or worse in my mouth
I have Loperamide though the nurse at the out of hours clinic suggested not taking too many “ as you don’t want to get constipated”
Have you tried stronger tasting things? It seems counter intuitive but maybe if you just have a small amount and can tolerate it then it could be the way forward?
They will weigh you when you go for the next chemo and if you’ve lost weight then they’ll adjust your medication. I lost 2.5kgs during my first chemo but never lost again.
I tried a small piece of steak and a tiny jacket potato. It made me so ill. ( It didnt help that following guidelines it was overcooked and I like rare meat!)
I have some Bolognese sauce in the freezer but can’t bring myself to try it. I’ve lost about 9 or 10 pounds so far. About 4.5 kgs
It sounds like you need to contact someone in your treatment team. Do you have an emergency chemo number you can phone? Alternatively have you got a Breast Care Nurse you can phone? Lastly you could phone the unit where you had your chemo. I think if you’ve lost that much weight then you need to be seen urgently before the weekend
I told my Macmillan nurse how I was feeling. She spoke to the oncologist and said the clinic would phone to see me. Though Tbh I really can’t face going anywhere
I’m barely eating so it’s hardly surprising. I am well overweight to start with!
I remember my mum having the worst appetite during her first treatments. Everything felt like poison to her. She could stomach shop bought juices though. You know the fruity kind? Strawberry and banana. That kind of thing.
I think someone said above, don’t force yourself. Maybe your body wants a day or 2 to settle down. Lots of hot tea, get as much fluid in you as you can.
Have a great big hug 
I just ate what I fancied and tried to keep up with fluids - water tasted horrible so I added a bit of squash. Ice cold if possible. Hard boiled sweets, especially lemon flavour, helped and green tea.
and hugs