Thanks girls! Reading the last few posts made me chuckle-I have problems in that area normally so god knows what I will be like with chemo?? Off out for a walk to clear my head-it’s a beautiful clear day here in costa NE Scotland. After a relatively peaceful night’s sleep I have almost certainly made up my mind to go with it as I know that I couldn’t live with the “what ifs” further down the line. Just got to come back and make that phone call…
Hugz Lyn xx
Yes Sue, it was the very opposite! What a subject! And I haven’t touched any for days, but am definitely lighter this morning! Be careful and get plenty of loo rolls in! x J x
Yes Elsie - do it - you’ve nothing to lose - except maybe the lining of your bowels! x J x
Smashing Jackie ! At least we know of something that works … u got to be positive 
Go for it Lyn, I for one think you’ve definately made the right decision, throw everything you’ve got at the little blighters. x
Ta Ta for now will post later
Sue x
Jules and Bikerbabe (and anyone else having first chemo) - just want to send you love and tons of luck for tomorrow with ur first chemo … just look back at Jackie’s post yesterday to give you strength and courage - I’ll be thinking about you and please let us know (when ur able of course) how u get on - Big hugs X
Julie, hope ur Feel Good Feel Better session was good today - all the very best for tomorrow with ur mastectomy - you’ll be absolutely fine, honestly - Big hug for u too chuck X
Narnia - did u manage to get an earlier start date for ur chemo?
Loads o love to everyone else and take care ladies
Sue x
Thanks for that sue-made the cal to the hospital so just waiting for onc to phone me back. Wasn’t entirely sure that OH thought I had made the right decision but he came home at lunchtime and said get on the phone-what are you waiting for??? Men? Honestly!
Also sending hugz and best wishes for tomorrow to jules and bikerbabe!
Lyn xx
Best of luck for ladies starting tomorrow and love and hugs to all, Pat x
Hi all - great to read all the posts (well nearly all - depends on how strong a stomach you have!!)
Lyn - so pleased you have reached a decision, which you every bit of luck.
Well, I Look Good and Feel Better thanks to the course at Christies today (despite spending half an hour trying to park). There were 10 of us there, and we all received a great goody bag, tailored to our complexion. Mine (light) contains simple eye make-up remover and eye cream, Olay cleanser and toner, Clinique moisturiser and double eyeshadow, Estee Lauder lucidity foundation, No 7 make up base and finishing powder, Max factor blusher, eyebrow pencil and 2 lipsticks, Maybelline lip liner and cover stick, Lancome eye liner and L’Oreal mascara - all proper, full sized products, in a great toilet bag - and as a finishing touch, 50ml Sarah Jessica Parker Lovely Eau de Parfum!!! We had loads of helpers there from Chanel, Lancome and free lance, and basically we all followed and applied our own make up as one of the girls demonstrated on a model. Great fun, and I’m planning to go out tonight to show off!!
I guess the contents of the bags vary, but I was so impressed, and would recommend you all to get signed up - think we all deserve a bit of pampering.
Of course, it’s also been a very weird day for me - my last one before my mastectomy tomorrow. My husband is on his way back now, and I’ve got my brother picking me up at 6am tomorrow for the hospital run. Still not too nervous - keep wondering when it will hit.
Good luck to Jules and Bikerbabe starting chemo tomorrow, and to another Elsie, from the Look Good Feel Better session today, who also has her op tomorrow.
Julie
x
So good to read all these comments . I am half way through 6 chemo sessions of FEC. You are all so right about the various ailments and concerns pre and post treatment. Prune juice for me girls ! does the trick along with tons of water espcially in the first three days.
Its good to read that most of us are lucky with the sickness. The nurses really encourage me to feedback how i am feeling to try and get the mixtures right each time. I have had the cold cap and my hair is hanging on (for dear life)! I have bought a wig in readiness and half feel that having paid a fortune for it i really should wear the thing!
I must say for me my hair loss was my biggest downer. I really had a bad day and felt vulnerable in a way that after all we’ve been through almost seemed a trivial thing to really get hung up about.
I decided that I would have a portacath inserted into my chest wall by my collarbone for my chemo.It was done as day case and has healed over completely with a scar and slight raise that is hardly noticible. The benefit for me is that the nurses can draw the blood from it as soon as i get to the unit and get a result in 20 mins and get the chemo going through it.It might not suit everyone but for me its great. It will come out as a daycase procedure at the end of my treatment so its not forever. So much good luck to every one starting off on this chemo lark. Just count down as soon as you get going and the weeks will pass and we will all be back in control. best wishes
Julia
Hi ladies, good luck to everybody having ‘stuff’ done tomorrow! Having just started chemo., I have been on a mission to find bits and bobs for my soon-to-be shiny bonce, and thought you might like to check this website out - www.scarfhut.co.uk. I’ve just bought 5 different items - head bands, sequined bandanas, sleep hats, etc., some really pretty bits, all for £21.50 - and however much you order it’s only £2.00! What value! I’m sick of all those American sites that try to rip us off with the postage.
Hi all. Another good UK site is hats4heads, or else i found buffs to be very comfortable (and polar buffs in this weather!). I have also worn hats on top of my wig (with care, as I know this can lead to Barbie hair), but be warned - you can’t feel the extra layer, and can forget you’ve got it on. Still, at least that’s better than thinking the wig is a hat, and whipping that off when you don’t mean to! Hasn’t happened to me yet, but have come jolly close.
Julie
x
Good luck for tomorrow Julie, soon be over and done with then onwards and upwards. love and hugs Pat x
Hi all, having had a reasonable night’s sleep after making the decision, I am back to sleeplessness and mind all over the place, so thanks for the tips on sites for headwear, better put this time to good use and go have a look at them! Considering giving the cold cap a go but going to get my hair cropped in preparation. Also going to find out about the look good feel good sessions locally -sounds really good! Lyn xx
Morning everyone,
Loads of hugs to all the ladies having surgery/and or treatment today - our thoughts are with you xxx
I’m just going to ring the onc again, have felt sooooooooooooooooo sick ever since last Thursday, wondering if they can give me something different to help? I’m sure they can.
I have just read back through the posts… i reckon it’s just about the only place we could discuss the poo thing!!!
Some of the stories are very funny… bikerbabe… we used to camp at superbikes ect, and cos of the privacy thing,didn’t go for 4 days and not a prune or apricot in sight!!!
anyway, going to tempt the old taste buds ( if possible - my mouth feels like a budgie cage - feathers and seed and all!)
Post again later,
Lots a love
Lou xxx
Morning all, everyone sounds so busy, I have tried to start on a cupboard clearing session but have now got distracted by Internet! It’s all your fault!
Saw my onc con yesterday and have menu for FEC-T ie x3 cycles FEC then x3 taxetere, so all coping tips gratefully accepted. Now chasing chemo nurses to get Planning appointment, seems to me is 1 long wait between each event. The waiting bit is awful as I just want to get on with each stage to get it over with and then when I get to start each stage I wish I wasn’t there!
Woken last night at 4.40am by dog, barking at imagined bogie men in garden! Bless. OH said yes he’d heard him too but thought he’d stop before waking kids/neighbours! Haven’t slept to badly through this although still not fully comfortable following op ( bi lat mastectomy and RNS Dec 08) I try different combinations depending on situation ie night prior to appointments/special events I take Zopiclone 3.25mgs, other night I wash 3-4 Kalms down with a glass of red! Although I’m sure that’s not recommended!
On the ‘poo’ front, this is a topic I’m more than used to discussing as in my professional life I have been a nurse ( between jobs at present but that’s a whole other story). Loads of my patients have benefited from using Ortisan Fruit cubes from health food shop or chemists. They aren’t that great to take if you are feeling sick though.
It’s so useful to read all your posts and has given me plenty of food for thought. I am thinking of chatting to my hairdresser about this wig stuff, she has cut my hair for years now and always chooses great styles so I wonder if she wold help me choose a wig then cut my hair in similar style before it goes, thought it might make the transition easier!
Julie, I do hope every thing goes well for you, don’t be brave and hold back on pain killers if you are uncomfortable, you need all your energy to heal not waste on being uncomfortable. I’m sure it will be rough at times but hang on in there and get your arse back home asap!
Julia, I was interested in you comment re: porthacath, did you ask for this or was it suggested because your veins aren’t too good. I hate having bloods done and venflons etc ( big wimps us nurses!) wondering if I might ask about PICC lines. Anyone have any experience?
Right, I must get on with this clearing up…
Best of luck to all the pre op gals
Gill x
Morning all, was just about to post a thread on here, but as I’ve just put the same on my old ‘newly diagnosed’ - ‘in a terrible tizz’ input - I won’t bore anybody by repeating myself - but a funny thing happened to me on the way to the doctors yesterday! … have a read if you want a giggle! x Jackie x
Hi all- well I am certainly not getting to mull over decision for long-first session is next Thursday! Phone call at breakfast time this morning just as I was settling down to a session with the papers, so threw me into a complete panic as I thought I would have a few days grace to get used to the idea-no such luck!! Got to go in for heart scan first then to the chemo ward to get bloods done on the same day and fitted for cold cap ( I’m going to give it a go ) and get info re dreaded wig-looks like it’s going to be a busy week! Also made app to get hair cropped-don’t know what OH will make of that!
Looked up your other post Jackie-fantastic-must have done your self esteem the world of good-lol! Just as well we have these little distractions!
Question here-just got app in for optician as I am due a check up-anyone know whether chemo affects your eyesight-should I have check up just now or wait til it’s all over?
Love and hugz, Lyn xx
Morning All, Lyn, that’s an interesting one as I’ve noticed that my vision is at times a little blurry - mainly long-distance. I wondered if it was chemo-brain setting in. Anyone else experienced this? You’ll be fine once you actually start the chemo, I torture myself beforehand which isn’t good. Lou, def ring and see if they can give you something else, no point in suffering. I’ve been feeling v bad for days and can’t seem to brush it off. I think my panic attacks of the past are rearing their ugly head because of the stress at the moment so I’m trying to not let them get me down. Just been shopping and literally felt like I was in a glass bubble, not quite there if you know what I mean -my OH would say I haven’t been all there for a long time!!! Jackie, I good do with a laugh so I’m gonna check out your story. Love and hugs to all, Pat x
evening Gill,Jackie,Lyn and Pat, et all!!!
I can def relate to the ‘in a glass bubble’ thing - i say i feel like i’m on the outside looking in?? most odd experience, heads all foggy, feel like a real wally!! (won’t ask OH about the above - he’ll just say i’m no different!!)
Got more pills!!! HOORAY!! hopefully these’ll work - says on the bottle, may make you feel drowsy, so s’pose i won’t notice the sick thing if i’m asleep-LOL!
Lyn, so glad you got your appt,it’s awful isn’t it? we wait and wait for it, when it arrives we panic! you’ll be fine, were all here for you, good bad or the bloomin dreadful!
Gill, when you’ve finished those cupboards, you can sort mine if u like, i’m sure i’m hoarding more than usual!
Here’s hoping for a good nights sleep, woke at 5.30 for loo break, leant on OH and pinched his arm when i sat up, woke the dog, who then decided she needed out!!! AARRGGGHHHHH
all happening in our house!
Brightened my day by trying on some hats in Accessorize! mmmm, me thinks i’m not really a hat person (?) or was it just the hats??? put one on and thought i looked like a ‘worm’!!! soooo funny, had some very strange looks cos i was on my own at the time! Oh well, better go, little chap is rooting through the cupboards looking for food!
Hugs to everyone,
Jackie, will read your post, could do with a good laugh!
Love Lou xxxx
Oh dear, I don’t think it was that funny really - you had to be there!