Hi Cat
No advice as not on tax just hugs from me ((((((((:o)))))))))
Love Caz xxx
Hi Ladies,
Hope you are feeling better Cat, sorry can’t give Tax advice only additional hugs! (((((((((((())))))))))))))
Hope you enjoyed your Ruby Pheebs.
Have managed to take youngest to docs today as her newly pierced ear has an infection. God it took me all my strength to sit there and then wander to the chemists. I am sooo hot and sweaty all the time. I stink!
Have also managed to wrap all the kids pressies today so if they go hunting tomorrow they’ll only find wrapped pressies. They know about Santa (*sob*) this year so its just not spoiling surprises! Why is it when I feel like I have spent a fortune and then wrap it all up it seems like nothing???
Off to try on strappy dress, new matching shoes, wig and stick on bra for OH’s do tomorrow night and see if I feel like a dollar, if I feel like a pound I’m going for something with less worries (a chinese/mandarin style dress - no straps, no boob worries!)
If I don’t speak soon I’ll see you all on Sunday as off at lunchtime tomorrow so that I can get to Nottingham (from Weston) in time to have a snooze before dinner.
Love to all, xxx
Hi All
Sorry to hear you are weepy Cat… more hugs from me ((((((()))))))) can’t adivse either as still on FEC… what about hormones? it’s coming up to that time of the month for me… and wondering if it’s gone off on holiday??? feel grumpy as hell tho… screamed at the kids last night at the state of their rooms and the fact that they think the laundry basket is “at the bottom of the stairs” just slinging clothes over the banister and “The Maid” clears up! But a good cry is sometimes what we all need… hope you feel better and get some TLC this w/e.
Hope the curry was yummy P… I have been catching up on day time TV today + recorded stuff on Sky+ god I’m hungry watching all the cooking programmes! but can’t get rid of the GOOD AWFUL taste in my mouth.
Have Fun Ostrich at your doo… you must be stronger than me… I’ll still be in my PJ’s day 3 after Kimo! and I know what you mean about the sweating! Just managed a bath so not smelling so bad :o)
Hi to everyone else…
L x
Hi
Ostrich - hope you have a great time tomorrow and good luck with the dress. I’m sure you’ll look fab whatever you decide always wanted one of those chinese dresses they always look so stylish.
Lorna - I’m hoping my periods gone off on its hols too - there must be at least one good thing about this horrid treatment. With regards to the horible taste in your mouth, I had that too after No1 but was determined it wasn’t going to beat me ( love my food ) so I had a curry ( not too hot ) and it went!! Get it for about one to two days after now but then it goes. Might be worth a try if you can face it.
Funny, my kids seem to think I’ve got nothing better to do than pick up their clothes too!!
Went to hospital today as my arm was keeping me awake last night, wrist looks red and is badly swollen and very hot. They gave me some antibiotics but said would not be able to use that arm for kimo Monday and that kimo nurse would probably want to use other one. Told them NO WAY were they going anywhere near my other arm. So upshot is that kimo is now postponed til Thurs to give antibiotics time to do their magic (hopefully) and will meet with onc on Monday as planned. Might mention having picc line for last 3 as don’t realy want to have to worry about veins all the time. Have bruise where they took bloods yesterday, but is sort of on my vein not my skin and vein feels hard, which hasn’t happened before so they are obviously distressed.
Anyway thats enough doom and gloom, have got my neices ( identical triplets ) coming up for a visit this weekend so really looking forward to that.
Cat - hope you’re ok, take it easy this weekend give yourself lots of tlc. xx
Probably won’t get much of a chance to come on here this weekend so hope everyone has a good one.
Take care all
Love caz xx
Hello everyone - reporting that Tax still not too bad. Onc nurse told me to take Tramadol at night on day 2, so I did and wish I hadn’t - just puts me in a stupor - and pains hadn’t even started. Some aches in neck and tummy muscles today, but bearable so far, with some ibuprofen.
Bella, the party idea sounds great. I’m also thinking of taking out to dinner all the friends who brought round curries and shepherd’s pies. Nice that we are now starting to plan things for when this is all over.
Soo, I’m saving my manicure till nearer Christmas, just merrily chipping it away. OH drove us to Birmingham today to pick up our daughter (14) from ballet school. Looked a bit glamorous at the end of term carol service with my painted nails. Lovely to have my little girl home for three weeks. Her brother’s pleased to see her, too.
Cat, sorry you are feeling weepy. Let it all out and have a bawl is the best way. Apart from the tiredness, any other TAXing problems?
Ostrich, I envy you having somewhere to go worthy of putting on a proper frock. Can’t remember when I last had the occasion for anything like that.
Off to buy tree in the morning - or to wait at home while the rest of the family get it if I feel to cr*p.
Hope no one has too horrendous SE’s over the weekend.
Liz
Evening All…
Have to be quick…Cat - Huggles from me and a big lick from 4 Legs…cry all you can and get it out.
Ostrich - have a fabby knees-up. You will look the dogs bo**ocks - go girl!
Liz…You seem to be coping well with the tax…sorry (once again) about the tramadol.
Cazz…enjoy the weekend…seems we will be partying together on Thursday.
My curry was lovely…thanks all. Drank too much Oyster Bay Savignon but the doctors were all on form and we had a great time. Spent today in TK Maxx at Lakeside and spent too much on too little - fabulous!
Will catch up with you all ove the weekend…have fun
Pheebster
PS: These weeks go so fast…this is the one time I am grateful for time flying
Morning ladies
Yes, Pheebs, thank goodness the time seems to pass easily enough between chemos, and glad you had a lovely curry and fun shopping, I used to love Lakeside when I lived near there.
I’m struggling a bit, but it’s the steroids that are causing the red rage mist, not suffering from the Tax as yet (touches wood fast just in case). The boys are off to Kent to visit the dentist then to spend the day with James’ parents, so I look forward to a duvet day of peace and quiet with nothing but the sound of my cat snoring gently in bed with me. Might do some Christmas wrapping if I can be bothered, much easier if the rugrat’s not around attempting to investigate!
Hope the SEs are Ok for you all, and sorry I’m not saying hello to everyone, brain’s a bit too addled after being up early to get everything organised for J&N’s big day out.
Love to you all!
Hi all,
Sorry, haven’t read all of these posts 'cos I have an ancient computer that goes at snails pace! Am starting FEC on 22 December and am really NOT looking forward to it as I think I will react badly - I did to being made radioactive to check on the sentinel nodes and then came up with a rash after the general for the lumpectomy. Have bought 4 hats from headcovers which seems to be the best site as far as I can tell. I guess everyone is different but any general tips for getting through it - April/May seems like a lifetime away …
Thanks for any info and love
i’m down for chemo now, as microscopic cancer cells found in my sentinel node…have to meet oncs early new year, and am,f rankly, bricking it.not looking forward to it at all, but it’s ameans to an end, i know.I shall be picking your brains once i know what they propose doing to me!!
Hello Ladies…
Cat…how was your day? Even though we know its that damn dexa that hits us hard, there’s no way of controlling the emotions. I hate that bloody stuff, but there’s no alternative…
I had a nice snooze this avro - then got up and put up the crimbo decos…my door wreath is absolutly awesome…even if I do say so myself. John reckons I could get £60 each for them, maybe next year I will try and knock some up to sell.
Hope you are doing well girls - welcome to our two visitors. You will be fine. Chemo is not easy but you will get through it… mid-way is the hardest point, as we can all tell you. Good luck
Bye all my lovely girlies…settling down to X Factor Final with a bottle of the cold stuff
Love to all
Hi guys
Welcome to Clarabella and Narnia. FEC isn’t that bad, ladies, it’s not the nicest but you’ll cope. We’ve all been through it and will support you as much as we can. The time will pass incredibly quickly, Clarabella, and I know that sounds crazy but it just whizzes by - the three weeks between each cycle disappear in a flash. Ask any questions you want and we’ll all try to answer them for you both. As Pheebs says, I think we’ve all found that FEC3 hit the hardest, but if you’re prepared with that knowledge, I think it’ll be easier. None of us expected it to wipe us out so much so it was a bit of a shock.
Pheebs, I’ve had a bit of a crap day, haven’t been able to settle to anything thanks to the buggery steroids, didn’t even get a nap. So my lovely quiet house was wasted on me. Still, at least I didn’t have the rugrat jumping all over me and demanding non-stop attention and games. I managed to write all 30 of his preschool Chrimbo cards so a good job jobbed there. Defo want to see a photo of your stunning door wreath, please, missus. James has just gone out on a lads’ piss-up, even got a lift to the pub the lazy so-and-so, and has ordered me a Ruby to be delivered. Am feeling a bit sicky on the Tax and nothing tastes right, even water tastes tainted, but if it’s hot and spicy enough, I might be able to taste a bit of it. Going to drown my sorrows in a glass of NZ Sauv Blanc, know I should be indulging so soon after Thursday’s party room but sod it, half a glass won’t hurt, and God knows I could do with something to knock me out to sleep tonight.
Tax girls - how many steroids are you on? I have to take 4 morning and 4 afternoon the day before, then 4 and 4 for the following two days. Do you reckon we could cut the last 4 out if we’re feeling OK, they’re killing me with red rage and insomnia. Sorry I am a moaning minnie today, truly thought the Tax was easier to go in than FEC but it’s sure making me feel shitty and restless.
Enjoy the X Factor, am going to catch up with it now on the recording, once the rugrat’s asleep that is.
Love to all xx
Hello everyone,
Sorry haven’t posted for a while, I was in trauma-land about the Hickman line and FEC 4 as you know.
Once I decided to go ahead with it, it was very easy - I had sedation and the nurse at Christies who put it in was amazingly calm and kind. The tube itself - which can be tucked inside a crop top - is not that long and there is only one.
But the main thing about it was SO much less hassle with the chemo. Unscrew the bung, attach syringe, blood comes out - totally painless, no needles. Attach the epirubicin syringe, inject it in much faster than usual, then attach the others, inject them all in, attach the saline drip, give it a good flush through, wipe the end, clamp it, put a new bung on and the only contact with my left arm at all is to look at it and say how shockingly bad it looks. Wish I had gone for the line when they first suggested it and I wouldn’t have all this vein damage.
Thanks for all your support when I was so scared, Tanya was so calm and positive about her PICC line and took time to talk to me from her hospital bed when she was poorly, it calmed me down so much - and thanks Cat for putting me in touch with your friend.
FEC 4 has been the best so far, I even managed to go to IKEA with my Dad this morning - and eat a full English breakfast (veggie version.) Can I really be 2 days post-FEC?
Cat, hope you aren’t feeling so sick later - really feel for you Tax girls with all those steroids.
Going to watch rest of X Factor with my Martha who is back with me now,
Love to you all and welcome to the new girls,
Irina xx
Hello to Clarabella and Narnia. As someone else said, you will get through it. And some people have a really easy time on FEC - us moaners on the website are probably a bit self-selecting.
Cat: sorry you’re still having a crap time. The only effect of the steroids on me was a raging thirst. I also think i mixed up my last time and this time dex so only had 6 left, not eight, to take on day 3 (day 2 after Tax). But blimey, I spoke too soon about Tax not being too bad. Thought I woke up with toothache this morning, but it was bone pain in my jaw, which has since gone on to my pelvis and legs. Just had a really loud bawl whiile OH was out dropping daughter at a party and collecting son from Waitrose. Taking Nurofen and paracetamol so far for it, but it’s getting less effective. May have to resort to Tramadol. Just feeling so miserable: washing piling up from Weds, daughter’s stuff from school all over sitting room, and we are supposed to be getting our Xmas tree tomorrow and decorating the house - how can that happen with stufff all over the place, and people who don’t even seem to see it???
Phew, that’s better out than in.
Irina, glad your line was a success.
Hope to be more cheery next time I chat
Good night to all
Liz
Bloody hell…I’m getting really scared about the move to tax now. Sounds worse than the damn FEC. Liz…I wonder if the cause of your pain is the mix up with your dexa? I know my worse days are the ones following the ‘come down’ from steroids. If you’ve not had enough of the drug it could be the cause of the bone pain? Just a thought…
Cat…I am on same dosage as you as regards the dexa. I am seeing my lovely onc on Tuesday and will be bombarding her with all the questions I can think of as regards the TAX - if anyone can think of anything they want to know, I will be pleased to add it to my list.
Irina…so glad you are pleased with your Hickman. Everyone who has them seems to agree with your view that they are the best thing ever.
Have a nice sunday ladies
xx
Hi Ladies,
Welcome to Narnia and Clarabelle. I’ve just done FEC 3 and survived!
Irina I am so glad the line worked for you, I might be facing one next FEC and to hear your reports I am not so worried.
Cat I hope you settled in the end on your steriods and enjoyed your wine and Ruby.
Hope the rest of you ladies on Tax are coping okay. I know I am on FEC but after my first FEC I had such an emotional crash coming off the steriods my Onc gave me a slightly longer dose coming off a bit slower and the last 2 FEC (so far) I haven’t crashed too bad - only a bit of red mist and sorrow.
Those ladies with pains, I wonder if its just from the Tax or maybe something hanging over from your FEC? Are you/were you having G-CSF injections? I have no idea what may be causing it, its just after my 2nd FEC Onc gave me a G-CSF injection for the next day so that I am a bit more protected due to my back wound and about ten days later I had horrid pains which started in my back and went down my legs for about 2 days. This time, the same day as FEC (and day before G-CSF) the pain started again but worked its way up from my feet to my hips. Don’t think mine can be contributed to the G-CSF due to the timing. Who knows what our poor bodies are having to put up with.
Had a pretty quiet night for a works xmas do! Me and hubby set off at lunchtime yesterday and arrived at about half 2 and went straight to the room (2 big doubles!!) and laid down for a nap (he’s got man flu). When I got up I still stubbornly had a bath and washed my few head hairs with the complimentary shampoo and conditioner (I always have to check out the bathroom and indulge in the freebies - thats what hotel staying is all about for me) and had a waist high bubbly bath!
Hubby was sweating like the proverbial and I dutifully made him lemsips whilst taking my anti-emetics so we both felt well enough to go out! Control pants worked (I have got so fat not working), wigs are great (sat watching TV until about 6 when I slapped my clothes and wig on and ta da! ready!), frock on and ready to go!
Managed a drink in the bar (why does nothing taste right? - vodka and coke could have been dishwater!) and then off to the do. Hubby felt sick all the way through and kept nipping out just to cool down as his temp went up and down. I managed to smile politely and not pull my wig off as the steroids hit in and hot flush arrived. Wine tasted horrid. Food tasted “interesting” (coriander soup!).
We got a taxi back to the hotel at 10.30 and were both in bed by 11 with him dosed up on another lempsip and me sweating out the steriods! What a pair of party animals!!!
Romantically, my hubby said to me when we woke this morning “I never, ever, want us to have separate beds”. “Why?” I asked, expecting something lovely. “Because I couldn’t reach you to shove you to stop you snoring” was his reply!!!
Home now and I have the beginnings of a sore throat and am hoping that it doesn’t turn into anything. I had a flu jab after my first FEC but there are so many bugs around at the moment I am worried whatever hubby has I might catch and what with my immunity heading low I don’t want to be ill this week!
Love to you all, xxx
Hi,
And Hi to Narnia and Clarabelle… I’m just post FEC4… and yes everyone is different. my bcn (breast care nurse) said that wino’s like me usually handle the ickiness well… afraid I haven’t as am prone to motionsickness so think that has an effect… but who knows… it does fly by and is DOABLE… a friend of mine mentioned Visualisation and to think of the Kimo (that’s what we call the poison here) wizzing around your body zapping any stray Cancer cells!) works for me… You could always start your own thread to see if anyone is starting the same time as you… on the same kimo… or in your area… must say this has been a lifeline to me… these ladies with no faces :o) O and mostly with no hair! LOL have been a god send…+ helps to feel you are not alone… and though friends and family are great… sometimes their sympathy is toooooo much. Thank you god for the internet!
Hope you are feeling better Cat… the change over must be hard… I must admit I am feeling like I am getting there now! hang on in there girl!
Ostrich - I only just managed a shower and velour suit on yesterday and flop in front of Xfactor… how you managed to doll up and put on the Wifey smile I have no idea …O and make lemsip for OH… you are one strong chick! Hope you don’t get the bug… I am worrying now as my youngest seems to have flulike going on… he had a temp of 38 this morning… trying to be caring but handing him things using a broompole!!! I haven’t had Flu jab!
Irina- glad the hickman is a positive… i’m booked day of FEC5 to have a PICC… arm is killing me today again so am happy…ish to have it in for the last 2.
Liz- hope you managed to get the decorations up… I have been very lapse and not done much…must get a wreath for the door… Pheebster can I have one of your home made ones :o)
Hallelujah… Alexandra won! think that will be the song I play LOUD on last FEC… and a song I will never forget. reminding me of this time in my life… another journey!
Best wishes to all
L x
Hi ladies
Thanks for the welcome messages and just to say reading your experiences and how you all cope, especially with children and OHs etc, makes the thought more bearable. About the Hickman line, as my veins vanish at the sight of a white coat or blue uniform, is it worth asking for it from day 1 or do they just wait and see how you go? The guy trying to get the general in eventually had to go up to the elbow 'cos the veins hid themselves somehow!!
Love
Hi Ladies,
just need a bit of advice please, I’ve had 2 FEC so far, felt awful for about 24/36 hours after the 2nd and am having my 3rd on the 23rd December (great Xmas present) before starting Tax in the new year. I’ve been given steroids but nurse said take them if you need them and so far I havent. What benefits do they give if any? Do they make you feel better or just give you more energy, it’s not been explained to me properly.
Thanks in advance
Wow so many messages since I last posted!
Well it seems loads of us are suffering from that awful metallic taste in the mouth.
Welcome Clarabella and Narnia, I hope you find answers to your questions here - it not don,t fret - at the very least you will find great friends here xxx
Caz - I hope all goes well with your Onc tomorrow.
Liz - Good idea to save the manicure until nearer Christmas - more of a treat. Sorry tho that you were feeling rough yesterday, hope you feel better now.
Ostrich - Like Liz, I envy you the opportunity to dress up. Dressing up here (Turkey) is putting on a clean pair of joggers!! I can,t remember the last time I put on a posh frock *she said wistfully*
Irina - I am so happy that you are now comfortable with the choice you made to go with the Hickman line, I was worried about you.
Tanya - I am so upset to read on Facebook that you may have to go back into hospital. Gawd girl, you really are having a tough time of it. You know I am constantly thinking of you.
Cat - Well what can I say?? You know where I am if you need me.
Gingery - Welcome to the madhouse LOL xx
Soo xx
p.s What are SE’s. I,m a mushroom here (kept in the dark and fed you know what!!!)
Blimey, girlies, this weekend has been a tough one for me and no mistake. James really outdid himself in the stakes of being a complete and utter bar steward. He went out for a pint with the lads on Saturday night and promised not to get completed wasted. Yeah, right. When he rolled in at 1am he was steaming drunk so I moved into the spare room to get away from him, he smelled so bad. More power to him, he got up with the sprog the next morning but I discovred he’d just gone to sleep on the sofa leaving a three-year-old to fend for himself. So even though the Tax has hit me hard, I got up to look after my son.
The final straw was when I went to fold a jumper I’d been wearing the day before. Picked it up off the sofa in my bedroom and it was wet! Mysterious. Looked at the sofa and throw, wet also. The disgusting drunken git had pissed all over the sofa because he couldn’t make it to the toilet. You’d think this would be enough but no, his reaction when I pointed it out was ‘oh, didn’t know I was so drunk, never mind’!!! FFS!!! I made him strip the stuff off to go in the washing machine but when I went to get the stuff out a couple of hours later, it was just dumped on the floor in the utility room, nothing done to it at all. I just don’t know why I bother. I try so hard to hold everything together, running a house, getting meals, doing the boring chores that make life run smoothly, and the one day I beg for help and all I get is a drunk taking a leak on the sofa and laughing about it. I swear if I’d had the energy to kill him, I’d be in police custody by now, I was so upset.
24 hours on and I’ve had to do the laundry myself and hang it up, James just doesn’t seem to get it. I feel so let down, all the things he promised to do yesterday are still undone, and to make it worse, he’s been taking his hangover and bad temper out on my poor little kid who hasn’t done anything except be a normal three-year-old. I feel so guilty that I’m failing my child by falling to pieces on Tax.
Tax is much harder to do than FEC for me. Every bone in my body is screaming in agony (and I know all the other Tax ladies will be going through the same so my heart goes out to you). My nails hurts, my eye sockets hurt, my teeth hurt. I feel like I should get a telegram from the Queen to celebrate my 100th Birthday, I feel so ancient. I am so tired but I can’t sleep properly because my body aches so badly, I just want to become weightless and float on cotton wool to protect my aching body.
Has anyone managed to do research to find out how long the aches and pains and exhaustion are likely to last on Tax? I hope it’s similar to FEC and that it only goes on for a week at most, not sure how I’ll cope if it goes on longer than this. Is anyone feeling dizzy and head spinning from it? I could hardly manage to get to the loo during the night without falling over.
God, I am defo taking the prize for biggest whinger today, aren’t I!
Love to you all xx