Friends needed please!!!!

Hi Pat and Lou,
Just taking a break midst frenzy of cleaning and cooking-need to keep busy today! Like you Lou I just had surgery in 2006, and they said I didn’t need any further treatment-also said that this is completely unrelated but you can’t help but wonder…?
I have never been comfortable with hats either Pat but going to have a trial run tomorrow as I have to go from hospital to home with hair covered in conditioner after cold cap and as they are forecasting snow for here it could be a bit cold??
Anyway off to tackle ironing now before I have major attack of panics aaaaarrrgggghhh!
Have a good weekend all,
hugz,
Lyn xx

Hi All, hope everyones okay and enjoying their day. I’m like you Lyn, I’m trying to get as much done as I can before Thursday so that I can feel like poo in peace without worrying about h/work and ironing etc. So you have to put conditioner on, is that just after the chemo or before? It obviously helps the process I guess, you’ll be fine with a hat, now I don’t even think about it and my daughter’s always been a hat person so we go well together when we’re out! Let us know if it snows. Today in London it’s just drab, damp and miserable but had a walk to shops to blow the cobwebs away. So you had previous surgery too, it does make you wonder. Lou, hope you enjoy the rugby, the tea afterwards will be nice - it’s heaven when you get your tastebuds back, isn’t it? Well, I too am going to tackle a bit of ironing, hand permitting but not before I’ve read the papers, we have to get our priorities right ladies!!! Have a good day and will check in later, love and hugs, Pat x

Hi all
Feeling human again after 2nd chemo earlier this week.Taste much worse this time. Didn’t like chocolate yesterday which is a first for me. If only that could last without any of the other bad tastes. I would just like to have a fresh feeling mouth for a short time. Hair, eyebrows etc gone but shock horror yesterday morning. Looking in the mirror I discovered that I’m now sprouting a beard! Slap in the face or what. I now have teenage spots and post menopausal stubble. Didn’t know the two could coexist. On a positive note though I had a visit from my sister yesterday - the first time in almost 7 years.She has been in this area to visit her children without letting any of the rest of the family know that she is here. It was wonderful to see her and felt like old times. Long may it continue and at least some good can come out of all of this. I decided to try a new way of tying a scarf last night only to have it slip off during the evening. If my brother-in-law can cope with that the first time I meet him he can cope with anything. (Current husband is not her first).
I’m being taken out for a shopping/seaside day out tomorrow. I’m looking forward to having some cobwebs blown away. Hopeully we won’t have any of your snow, Lyn. Hope all goes well for anyone having chemo this week.
Nicky x

Hi all, well dinners prepared for tomorrow beef bourgionne( or howevers it spelt) beef in red wine with mushrooms shallots etc. All the ironings done, well enough shirts for a week and a bit.
Hair is now departing quite quickly, will talk to them tomorrow and see if it’s worth continuing with cold cap. Have a large bald patch on top of scull, OH says I’ll have to do a Bobby Charlton and part it somewhere else. Anyway think I’ll have an early night ready for Epi no 2, just as nervous as the first, here’s hoping no sickness, ginger biscuits at the ready.
Nite all, will hopefully be on tomorrow nite.
Alison

Hi Alison and all,
Like you I think that’s me ready-or as ready as I will ever be! Pat, the conditioner goes on before the chemo, apparently to make your hair lie flatter so better contact with cap, and you don’t wash your hair for 24 hours after-just as well I will be coming home in the evening! Just realised that I have bought hats but no scarves so probs better get some ordered just in case!
Going to need a sleeping tablet tonight as I can feel the panics setting in and couldn’t cope tomorrow with no sleep. Hope all goes well for you tomorrow Alison.
Nite! Lyn x

Hi all, Nicky glad you’re feeling a bit better - enjoy your trip out. Alison and Lyn. lot’s of luck, love and hugs for tomorrow. It’s one step closer to finishing the chemo, you’ll both be fine. Love and hugs to everyone Pat x

Hi all,
OMG, is it just me or is this much harder to get into?? Maybe just tired from yesterday…and typically when I couldn’t sleep in the wee small hours, and thought I would post…it was shut down! Ended up phoning my friend in Canada for 35 mins, as I needed to speak to someone…!
Well apart from extreme boredom and being chilled to the bone from having the cap on for 4 hours, everything went fairly smoothly and so far apart from a bit of a taste, I feel the same as normal! Even went for a 2 mile walk this afternoon…I may live to regret saying this so we’ll see what the next few days bring?
How is everyone else doing? Or have you given up trying to log on???
love and hugz,
Lyn xx

Hi all. Maybe I’ll get used to it, but I’m not impressed with the ‘upgrade’ of this site. Why do they always seem harder when they’re changed? Well done yesterday, Lyn. I had my 2nd chemo session yesterday and have been fine - as I was with my first. You can probably expect a few sleepless nights if you’re being injected with and swallowing steroids for the next few days. But they must work, because all my bloods, etc., were back up to normal on my recent blood tests. They reckon I could have been an athlete - yeah, once upon a time. Hope they’re not looking for another Jane Tomlinson not quite up to her standard unfortunately! Got the third blithering infection on my back wound though, so yet more penicillin. If there’s any gremlins left in my body after all these drugs, there’ll have to go to rehab before they can do me any more damage! xx Jacq xx

Hi all,well I did post yesterday but was it in the middle of the upgrade and got lost.I didn’t bother with the cold cap as I had lost so much hair, couldn’t face sitting there with ice cold on my bald patch. Feeling tired, but not been sick or even felt it think the tablets help. Well must go and get the dinner started, lazy one tonight, sausage , beans and jacket potatoes.
Won’t half be glad when the cat can go outside, he has the most awful wind and always lets off when he’s sitting near me!!!
Bye for now
Alison

Hi all, Thank goodness I found you all! After not being able to login yesterday, when trying today it’s taken forever to find our thread - I’m gonna shortcut it to my desktop if I can. Well, I’m so glad everyones chemo went well, that’s so encouraging to hear. I’m having 3rd on Thursday and trying to keep calm about it. Get wig after appt so that should be fun! Lovely weather today so had a brisk walk out in the sunshine, really lifts me when the sun shines. Spent the afternoon reading, warapping pressies (for daughters b/d) and surfing the net. Has anyone heard about EFT - emotional freedom techniques? A book I bought mentioned the technique so I investigated - I think Paul McKenna uses something similar. Anyway it involves tapping parts of the face and hand - sounds bonkers I know but I’m gonna give it a go to help with anxiety. Yes, it’s true, I have finally succumbed to complete insanity!!! I’d love to know if anyone else knows anything about it. Apparently it can be used to help with any sort of emotional distress and I’m always open to new things. I’ve found a website that has free videos of how to use the technique so it’s not even an expensive thing to try although there are expensive dvds and books to buy on well-known online book retailers etc. Well, keep well everyone, hope Lou and all manage to find us! Love and big hugs, Pat x

Hi everyone!!!
AARRGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! couldn’t find me thread on this new site this morning and have not been able to get on for a few days as closed!
Just had a read through all the latest post, well done all of you that have had theyre next ‘nuking’ this week! Mines on Friday, just making fresh soups ect and trying (miserbally) to get stuff done - i’m soooo tired this week.
Thanks everyone that keeps posting, this site has helped me so much, thankyou everyone.Trying to persuade OH to have his own login he really needs someone to talk to.
Well, the hair has gone, hard to believe this time last week i had a full head of hair!!! OH shaved the remains last FRiday,but in the bath last night, all the short stuff started falling out to - i looked like i’d been chewed by ferrets!! so i’m no proudly sporting a no.1 all over! Poor Thomas was very distressed about it - found him upstairs sobbing.But oddly, my nose hair has gone into overdriev and growing madly - how odd is that? thats gonna have to go to.
Anyway ovely ladies, keep posting, will be back later to catch up - if i can find my way in!
Big hugz
Lou xxx

Hi all! Well it was a bit easier to get into this time but why do they have to change things that work???
One of the probs is when you are posting you can’t refer back to who’s said what so apologies if I get it wrong!
Good luck this week Pat with next one and with trying your “tapping”. I came across something similar at an Indian head massage demo we had at support group-we all got a mini massage with tapping and it is incredibly relaxing even after a short try so a full session would be worth a go. My panics have receded for the moment and don’t think I will get sooo worked up next time-know what to expect now.
Hope everyone else feeling ok today? Have to agree it is great having this forum to share experiences-nearly panicked when I couldn’t get on at the change!
Well 2nd day and still feeling fairly normal-went for a walk this morning again as it is a beautiful day here again. Hope I am not getting lulled into a false sense of security?
Alison-had a laugh at your windy cat!! My one just wants to lie on top of me whenever I sit down and he is the size of a small dog! Mind you they are great company when everyone else is out of the house!
Take care ladies and keep posting-my day wouldn’t be the same without it!
Hugz,
Lyn xx

Hi All,
getting ready for 2morrow to see the dr and having bloods ect taken -have a long list of side effects that i hope she may be able to help with(?)
been a very long day today as very tired - just cannot keep up the pace like i used too - has anyone else had this?
lol!!! the windy cat -how funny is that! Tillie often gets a touch of gas - then looks at the rear end to see where it came from -we just laugh like crazy, she always looks totally bemused!!
Hope everyone is ok today? still can’t get used to the new website, aaaarggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!
much love to everyone, off to see if i can get some sleep, see ya tomorrow,
Lou xxx

Hi Lou and all, hope you get all your probs sorted out tomorrow-remember to write them down-I forget about things even with them written as I get sidetracked!
My problem just now is not lack of energy but that I simply can’t stop OR sleep-must be the steroids? Anyone else have that problem? What worries me is what happens when they stop…?
Other than that still feeling fine apart from the old bowels ceasing up, despite eating dried apricots and dates-have taken a lax so hopefully tomorrow??? Reminds me of some of the earlier posts on this thread-lol!
Suppose I had better try and get some sleep-may have to ask doc if I can take sleeping tablet if this continues.
nite all,
Lyn xx

Hi Lyn,
Bless you, i’m awake also at stupid o’clock and have now been awake since 3.50am!!!
The minds just whirring round and round as so much going on at the mo.
Where i’ve lost my hair my scalp is still really sore,when i turn over in bed it feels like little pins digging into my head - ouch!
I might have to wear a hat in bed to see if that helps.
Sorry to hear you have poo trouble again, i;m the reverse actually and have had quite an upset tummy!!! nothing like variety i s’pose!
well, i’ve just hung out some washing ( really am off my trolley now) - seemed like as good a time as any, wow is the dog wondering whats occuring.I could do the ironing but may save that joy for later on,i know how to live!!!
I was in my sister-in-laws shop yesterday,(sporting my new trendy beanie hat), chap comes in and says he didn’t think it was that cold that i should need to be wearing hat, so i politley said that it was iuf you have no hair as you having chemotherapy and then whipped my hat off! what an idiot he felt, didn’t know what to say- maybe he won’t be so quick to judge in the future.
Right, seeing as i can’t read the previous post aaaaaaarrgghhh!! i’m going to try and get a bit of sleep although OH will be up soon!
Love to all,
Lou xx

Lyn
I too have that complete lack of energy but can’t settle to do anything (?) - could sleep on a clothes line it feels like but then can’t - i feel another thing going on my list to ask the Dr later today!!
Lou x
P.S; may end up with lots of little posts now as can’t see what been written before!

Hi all, I’m more awake today and just contemplating a trip to Tescos. I’m also struggling with constipation, despite taking 4 tablets a day, I’ve not been too bad with sickness so have not taken steroid tablet in the evening then taken sleeping tablet at night and seem to get through till boiler starts up at 4.30am, OH is up just after 5am.Have lost most of hair now, but wig tends to slip alot, think I might have to ask them to take it in a bit more when I had it fitted I had hair.
Will be so glad when I can let the cat out at weekend he tried to leg it at 11pm last night, OH managed to catch him.
Has anybody any suggestions for the horrible taste in the mouth, mouthwash doesn’t last long, it just starts to disappear and then you take some more tablets and its back.
Take care all don’t sleep too much!!!
Alison

Hi All, Alison, try sucking on pineapple, chunks or slices, they’re really good for cleaning the palette and have worked quite well for me. Also, sucking ice lollies is good, you tend to get some of your taste back and it’s really refreshing, especially when your mouth feels how it feels. Sorry some of you aren’t sleeping well - why do you have to take steroids? At the mo, with the FEC I have 4 steroids on day of chemo - morning, then 4 in the morning for 3 days afterwards. And when I’m on the Tax I’ll have steroids the day before too. Dr also gave me 2 different mouthwashes as my mouth was so sore last time. Chemo went well today, all done in about hour and a half so I had time to visit office again briefly and then had my wig fitted. The lady has cut it to suit my face and although it’s darker than my own hair, it looks fine and feels quite secure. The lady at the hosp was getting rid of discontinued wigs and, as I’d ordered a bob she found 3 that I might like, so I ended up buying on of those for £5!!! She trimmed the fringe for me which was a fiver. Bargain! It’ similar to the one from the hospital but slightly different style. Both wigs are ultra light and OH and kids seem to like them, but it’s so strange having hair again. Well, can feel the nausea creeping in so will go and drink some more flavoured water - I’m drinking as much as I can to flush it all through. Lou, good luck for yours tomorrow and I hope everyone else is doing alright and feeling okay. Will check in later but in the meantime love and big hugs to all, Pat x

Evening. Feeling back to normal. I had a wonderful day out on monday but was shattered by the time I got home.I went into work for lunch with the girls today which was really good. Took my wig with me as they were all interested but I still don’t feel comfortable in it.The general consensus was that it was really good and that I ought to persevere with it. It’s amazing how after only 10 days without hair it no feels so normal.Lou, When my scalp was sore I did find that a little cotton cap made sleeping more comfortable. The soreness has gone now. One of my dogs is petrified of motorbikes and barks like mad to try to see them off. This morning while I had them out for a walk one went past and after she calmed down she stared at it as it disappeared. Only problem was that i kept her walkinng and she didn’t see the telgraph pole in her wayand walked straight into it. I knew I shouldn’t but I couldn’t help laughing. She’ll probobly blame the motorbike and hate them even more now. I had a card through this morning and I’m booked on a look good session in April. A receptionist at work went on one while she was having chemo a few years ago and said it was well worthwhile. Hope all goes well for chemo tomorrow Lou. Nicky

Hi Nicky and Pat,
Had bloods done today, platelets just about ok for 2nd FEC on Friday.The Dr said the first one must have affected my quite badly, and i seem to be very sensitive to it - I.E all the side effects i have had.But she was also very helpful and has put up loads of meds for me to help with all the side effects, even down to cream for my face as the skin is unusually dry at the mo.The new form for the free prescriptions, she is also going to sort out for me to collect on Friday.Theyre going to see how no.2 affects me and they then may reduce the dose for no.3, but again we’ll have to wait and see.
Oh and not fogetting she’s going to give me some sleeping pills - as you will see from the time, i’m wide awake again!!!
I was having a very odd dream, i dreamt i was in a field with lots of horses, and i was walking through them stroking some as i went, and one turned round (he was huge) and bit me on the ear!!!Mmmmmm, i need to get out more me thinks,very strange!!!
Nicky, i used to go running, and take our dog with me, she did just the same thing, we were running the town high street, and she was so busy looking at something else she ran straight into a lampost- i too laughed - A LOT!!!
where did you get your sleeping hat from? they sound ideal.
Pat, hope you are doing ok? thanks for good wishes for Friday, i’m going on the theory i won’t be so poorly as last time (?) - I hope anyway!!!
Well gonna turn off the slow cooker with the mountainous supply of chilli in for the family over the next few days.Just managed to get the washing in as it;s started hacking it down with rain!
Hopefully be back posting Friday eveing,
Much love and big hugz everyone,
Lou x