Hi Liz, glad that Connie was accepted by not being noticed. They itch like nothing on earth! I’ve spent the day au naturel or with a fetching black scarf - I feel like a pirate. My arvo has been mega exciting - turfed out loads of clothes to make a special ‘baldie’ drawer which now contains hats, scarves, and wig. Much easier to know where everything is than to hunt around. Since I developed kimo brain I find that I absolutely have to have special ‘places’ for things so I know where to look for them when I misplace them due to my memory having turned into scrambled tofu so much of the time.
Since we’re on the subject of resuming normal relations with our blokes, we reclaimed that part of our life as well, thanks to the incredibly relaxing moxa stick provided by my acupuncturist. Things have been normal-ish since surgery but I haven’t wanted or been ready to be naked in bed until now. Gosh, what are we like, revealing intimate stuff! It is all a part of regaining normalcy, though, isn’t it!
Hi Cat, I have to ask, what is a moxa stick and what do you do with it? Glad it worked for you but curious as to what it is. I know it is imtimate stuff but this BC affects our whole lives and I believe for my partner who is having to try and support me through this when its not directly happening to him it must be nice to have a little of the old me back and it certainly helps me feel a bit more normal and a bit less like a cancer patient. Let the good times roll!
Hey Ostrich so pleased for you!! Its nice to know we can still be normal despite what is happening. I know that both me and my OH find that being intimate is a very important part of our relationship so it was good that it hasn’t been affected by BC.
I too am interested to find out what a moxa stick is - the mind boggles!
Had my hair cut into pixie cut yesterday just incase I start to shed. Am using cold cap so hope it doesn’t happen but want to be prepared just in case. Doesn’t look too bad I suppose.
Just having a couple of Baileys while watching DVD hope don’t have headache in morning as up early for scan.
Cazz, first of all, if you get the chance to read this before you go out, you’re in my thoughts today and your hair sounds gorgeous. Hope everyone else is doing well.
For moxa sticks, Google it, I don’t think I’m allowed to place links for explanations. Also, Wikpiedia gives a good explanation of moxibustion. It’s all part of acupuncture. Moxa, commonly known as the mugwort herb, has played an important role in Asian medicine. Practitioners use moxa to warm regions and acupuncture points with the intention of stimulating circulation through the points and inducing a smoother flow of blood and qi. Research, for example at Mugwort (Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine by Clare Hanrahan) has shown that mugwort acts as an emmenagogue, meaning that it stimulates blood-flow in the pelvic area and uterus.
My acupuncturist has shown James the key points to work on for my back. The stick we have is like a big crayon that you light and is smoulders away while it’s waved gently above my back, definitely not touching though cos that would burn. It’s got a really pleasant and relaxing smell - put it this way, I wouldn’t invite a police officer around because it smells a bit wacky but definitely is legal! I’m off to sleep before James has even finished the six points for moxa stick waving. You can also get moxa that sits on your back with a stick pad and smoulders away gently. Both work, it just depends which you feel more comfortable with.
I’m afraid I’m not able to add more comments on the Bedroom issues as I don’t have an OH… just me and My 2 sons. and with the new look (bald) can’t imaging meeting Mr Wonderful this side of 2010! unless it’s across the Kimoroom (Partyroom) LOL
Well… off for Bloods in a Mo… One good thing I just received my NHS parking permit (from temp job at Hospital… but have been signed off sick and contract ends next month) so can now park in “Staff” areas :o) also Uni have said I can get a Disabled permit to park at Uni! which is great as normally I have to do the park n ride… and did worry during my immune low time… so some good news! Hopefully good news with the bloods too! O and won £20 on the Euromillions… so drinks are on me!
Just had my bloods taken ready for the off tomorrow. There’s quite a few of us partying this week isn’t there? Let’s hope we sail through it (I’m really, really trying to be positive here!!!)
Got my parents coming to stay today as it’s half term and hubby it away working. Hope them being here is going to help not hinder as they have a tendancy to ‘talk at me’ which usually drives me mad after the first 3 hours!!!
Thanks for info re moxa Cat, think when I had acupuncture once they might have been burning one either that or they were smoking some waccy baccy! Will have a look on website as they sound nice. Hair not too bad, am getting used to it. Someone I know walked straight past me in Asda so think I must look quite different.
Good luck to all who are having kimo this week hope it all goes ok.
Having my bloods done Thurs as my 2nd one on 4th. Scan went ok this morning, have been told results should be in by end of week so its fingers crossed til then.
Kids are off for half term this week and have hardly seen them all day!! Been really lazy and haven’t really moved off sofa - must get up soon tho need to get tea ready and am making chocolate fondants for pudding. Have turned into a bit of a domestic goddess lately cooking and stuff. Hubby can’t believe it, didn’t know I could cook lol :0)
Caz, glad the scan went OK, keeping everything crossed for you. Can we come round to yours - chocolate fondants for pudding sounds delish!
Bella, have fun with your parents, being talked at is hard going. Maybe you should plug in some headphones, tell them listening to relaxing music is part of your overall treatment - that way you won’t have to listen to them too much.
Just had a lovely day shopping at Bristols new shopping centre and bought myself some great woolly hats and a big scarf for the cold months ahead with no hair. Also went to the Dental Hospital (think I am getting a fixation with attending hospitals) and been told I have to quit the fags so am going to give it another go from tomorrow. Start my FEC tomorrow afternoon so what with the no fags etc I can hardly wait. I wasn’t planning a glass of wine tonight but think I will enjoy my last fags with a glass or two tonight. Good luck for everyone else kimoing this week!
Hi Ostrich,
I went shopping there just before my kimo started, great isn’t it. Could have spent a few days there!! Good luck with giving up the fags, I gave up in June and haven’t looked back since.
Will be thinking about you tomorrow and hoping all goes well. Go easy with the wine as kimo can make you feel a bit light headed although as yours is in the afternoon any hanglover should have disappeared by then.
Hi Ostrich, good luck with the fags from me as well. I had my last one on 21 August, so two months now, and lungs already feel better than they have in years. I’m a bit asthmatic, so smoking was a daft anyway. Think I really have given up this time - after many tries.
Half-term is a bit of a nuisance, isn’t it, Bella. I will be relying on my mum after my second FEC this week, cos friends all either away for half-term or busy doing things with their own kids. Mums are great, but a bit like marmite, eh? Small amounts best.
Onc told me the muscle pain day 4 and 5 is down to the post-kimo injection, not the treatment itself. And also that the headaches can be lessened by drinking masses - not wine, though!
Hope you’ve all had a good night’s sleep. I am up early because some idiot (husband) set an alarm that went off at 6:15, I had to go round hunting down the beeping noise.
Ostrich, your shopping expedition sounds like a lot of fun. Best of luck quitting the ciggies and with the kimo party this arvo, will be thinking of you.
Liz, well done on quitting ciggies for so long, I’m impressed. I like the idea of mums being like Marmite…only trouble is I like Marmite quite a lot but can’t be doing with my Ma or MIL around too much.
I have to see the local practice nurse for bloods this morning, hoping the wbc/neuts will have improved. I’m dreading it, though, because my arm’s still bruised after the brutal needle stabbings of last week. I hope it’s a different nurse or there’ll be nothing left of me that’s unbruised (I’ve never bruised from bloods before).
Just hoping it stays dry today so I can take my son to the playground. With it being half-term he’ll be at a loss because he won’t be going oto preschool and will certainly need to be occupied.
Hope your bloods will be ok too Cat. Apparently we bruise more easily on kimo cos it affects the tissue and also cos blood doesn’t clot as well. Have fun at playground ( I can remember what it’s like trying to keep 3 year old occupied in hols - and I had 4 year old at same time!)
Love to all :0) x
ps read your post on thread re starting 23rd Oct. Your OH needs kick up backside!
He’s a lazy b"gger, Caz, but no amount of telling or asking makes any difference. I think I’ll have to keel over form exhaustion before he so much as puts his coffee cup in the dishwasher. Even as I write, he’s smoking a fag and yakking away on the phone to a business client, despite having taken the week off to ‘help’. Ha, chance would be a fine thing!
Just back from FEC 2 - hooray, one third through!!
They very nearly didn’t give it to me though as my counts were low, just above borderline, which I was very surprised at as I’ve been feeling very well. The Onc did say though that I might well have felt well, it’s just lucky that I didn’t pick any nasties up while they were/are down. I’m on a warning for next time as he’ll delay a week if they’re down again next time. I’m also bruised beautifully, DN had a good old dig around! What fun eh?
Parents actually being great so I can’t complain!
Love to all, I’m off for a doss on the sofa!! May not be back for a couple of days…zzzzz…Bella x
Bella, well done on FEC 2 out of the way!!! Glad parents are being great, go enjoy your sofa dossing, and so hope you don’t go through anything horrid with the side effects. I had my bloods done this morning, the nurse who bruised me last week was so apologetic that she was nice and gentle today, no bruises or even marks this time. Fingers crossed my levels are high enough to do the second FEC, will be really stressed if it doesn’t happen this time.
Just got back from my first kimo. It went well, the kimo nurse was lovely and took lots of time explaining things and giving me various bits of paper etc. Have taken my steriods and anti sickness pills and did my first pink wee when I got home (weird). Am just cooking a roast dinner as everything else for the next few days will probably be pre-made (currently in the freezer) or packets!
I wasn’t nervous at all and its such a friendly place that I don’t think I will - unless the nerves come from the fact of dreading the side effects again.
One thing the nurse told me I hadn’t learnt on here was to make sure I used condoms so that the kimo drugs dont get into my husband!?!
Being lazy have posted same post here and other thread!
Glad all went well for your 1st Kimo Ostrich… no longer a Kimo virgin… My bloods were OK yesterday… so am set for No.2 tomorrow…
Hope you are better after FEC2 Bella… you’re one day ahead of me… and yes 2/3 through makes it sound way better!
My eyes have started to sting… chemo nurse yesterday just said to get some drops… because of the nausea I did get and palpitations last time they are going to give me different anti sickness tomorrow…
Off for a nice glass of wine… since I won’t be having ANY for the next week + !
