Morning all, Narnia, you tell 'em! You go for whatever you like, someone suggested to me I take a photo of myself with my usual hairstyle to give the wig person an idea as they wouldn’t know me. Still other people take the opportunity to go for something completely different to what they have normally and that’s the point - it’s up to you. I’m quite petite but a very short pixie cut just wouldn’t suit my features. Let us know how you get on. Jacq, yes, sun is shining after all that rain earlier so will venture out to get mum’s flowers - it’s her birthday - before physio appt this pm. Glad you got appt sorted. I too have gone for a bob, my daughter’s friend cut my long hair into the bob as soon as I knew I was having chemo, and I loved it. Will def have that style when hair returns, I think my days of long hair are gone, the bob was so much easier to look after. Well, take care all, will check in later. Love and big hugs, Pat x
Afternoon all! Have just spent the last few minutes catching up with all the posts again and having a chuckle at the mice and frog stories! My little ginger friend is in hibernation mode at the moment as the weather has been so awful-howling gales and rain but at least no snow-YET! So birds frogs and bats are safe for the moment-he is not fussy about what he catches and thinks he is bringing us presents!
Narnia glad you have got your app sorted- I thought I was sorted for Thursday and having spent the weekend food shopping ,hat shopping and filling the freezer, with app to get hair chopped tomorrow,was a bit concerned that there was no app in post today for heart scan. After several(yes forceful!!) phone calls, turns out the nuclear??? dept have had a prob with machine so my app is now for Friday, with first chemo now on Monday-aaaaarrrgggghhhhh!!! Do they not realise how it plays with your head? You get psyched up for something happening and then its NOT!
Anyway…after that little rant, while shopping yesterday cheered myself up with a top from Monsoon sale that I had had my eye on all season, and saved 70%, so wore it out to supper last night with OH! Felt really good and had a lovely meal, though the several glasses of wine probs contributed to an awful night’s sleep again.
Will have to be water from now on!
Got my presc request form in for wig today so will also have to get app for choosing that-reading all the comments about styles I am not sure what I want to get, but will probs stick with similar style to my own hair. Am going to try a really short cut simply so I don’t have to blow dry it after the cold cap.
Really just want to get the whole process started-again the waiting is the worst bit. Really nice nurse on the chemo ward today said not to worry too much- it’s not that bad…WHO is she trying to kid??? lol!
Anyway, daughter home and wanting onto computer so better go.
By for now! hugz Lyn xx
Hi all, hope you’ve all had a good day. I feel so much better today and my taste buds are actually working again! My OH cooked bangers and mash and it was great. Had physio appt ant she says I have 2 cords - she tried to massage them out but couldn’t so I’ve got stretching exercises to do and will see her again in 2 weeks to see if they’ve resolved. So pleased it wasn’t the start of lymphedema but will keep an eye on it. After appt, went up to my office to see everyone and it was lovely seeing them all, getting all the latest goss, made me feel part of it again. Showed one of the nurses my bald head and it was quite funny. Everyone’s really positive around me and that really helps to keep you going, so all in all had a really good positive day and feel ready for the next round of chemo next week. Hope everyone else has had a happy day, I’m just sooooo pleased that I can taste again - for however long it lasts. Love and hugs Pat x
Hey Pat enjoy all the meals you will be catching up on…
Wanted to get all your thoughts on when might be a time time for the OH to be around during chemo cycle, starting FEC on friday and would like to have someone around for the kids ( 13, 10 and 10) as well as for me, any thoughts?
Also had to share a “from the mouths of babes moment”…
I have gone ‘cold turkey’ on ironing, decided I have more important things to use my energy on, so last evening OH got ironing kit out to do his shirts for the week, 1st twin comes in, look of horror on her face, " Dad’s doing ironing!" she gasps, “Is that safe!” 2nd twin follows, ’ wow Dad, do you know how to do ironing?", 1st twin reassures 2nd that mum has confirmed it’s safe!
Clearly I stopped ironing not a moment too soon!
Gill x
If I lose what I’ve typed once more just before I send it … aaaaaaargh! Well done on having a good day, Pat, days like this will see you through any toughies you may have on the horizon - not that we’re ever gonna have any of those ever again - lol! Great news that it’s not lymphoedema, what is cording anyway? I hope you made a pig of yourself with those sausages. Re: the ironing, Gill, good on yer girl. I’m not one to milk this disease - unless it’s to do with the ironing issue - play dead! See what they can do when push comes to shove, we’ve spoilt them rotten. I have to go for blood tests on Friday before my 2nd chemo on Monday. Is there anything obvious we can to help boost whatever it is that has to be boosted? Love and hugs, x Jacq x
hi everyone,
Lovely to hear from you all today xxx
Pat, I;m sooooooooo excited - me old taste buds are not knackered after all!!! I can taste - AT LAST! how great is that? never thought such a small thing would make me so excited! ( I need to get out more obviously!)LOL! and that horrible ‘furry’ feeling is going - hey, i’ve just thought, maybe it’s a dead mouse thats crawled in there while i was sleeping? (LOL!)
I’m pleased you got you appt sorted Jackie,are you feeling a bit more chipper today? x
I truely hate ironing but always have that smug feeling when it’s finished, if in any dought-get someone else to do it! thats what i say - we need all our energy to get well again ( thats my theory and i’m sticking to it!)
Jackie,mmmmmm, we need to boost something? i have the same next Thursday before round 2, also been racking the old bonse for any ideas on how to? what? don’t know, but there must be something. Popped into work today, chap who is running my shop for me has a STREAMING cold, snot everywhere … arrgghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh felt really mean by keeping away from him - bless - Man flu! (yeah, right!) goodness knows what would happen if he was really ill???
Also saw a customer … what not to say…
My friends going into hospital this week… (whisper, whisper!) she has cancer… oh no says I, oh dear, it’s spread you see, liver and into the bones!!! and then she asked how iw as getting on???
Bloody great ta!!!
Have a ‘strange feeling’ in my head/scalp for the last couple of days… feels tender and prickly? anyone else had this? think my hairs thinning a bit, but does that mean it may be on it’s way out?
well, think i may enjoy another glass of vino collapso while i can taste it. Made some homemade leek and potato soup in the slow cooker … yum yum!!!
Glad you all sound as if you’ve had a positive Monday, maybe catch up later tonite,
P.S; what is cording?
luv and hugs, Lou xxx
Ooooops! Forgot!
I am hoping to get a team of ladies together to do Race For Life in W-S-M in May - I usually run it, but me thinks this year walking will be the limit… I would like to get a ‘team’ together, anyone else up for it?
Lou xxxx
Hi all, just thought I’d update, 2 weeks since 1st Epi using cold cap. Had no sickness thanks to taking 11 anti-sickness a day, then had 10 days of antibiotics which i stopped on saturday a few days early due to terrible constipation. Was given movicol for that but it just made me gag trying to drink it. have since taken senna tablets and eaten loads of liquorice allsorts. Actually feel quite normal this week, been to dentist as was suffering terrible toothache, he’s now decided that the tooth needs to come out rather than fill it. He is sending an urgent referral to hospital, I will also speak to onc on wednesday. Haven’t sorted out wig yet, and as of now have lost no hair whatsoever from anywhere!!! Keep waiting for it to clog up the plug hole!!
Taste buds are also back to normal, no horrible metallic taste. Trying to keep up to date with ironing so that I don’t have to watch may OH making a hash of it.
No doubt will be back to panicking by Friday.
Good luck to anyone having chemo this week. Will let you know how no 2 goes.
Bye for now
Alison
Hi Alison,
You sound like you’ve been having a rough time… today is the first day that i actually feel sort of normal (whatever that is!) just to know that i’m gonna be nuked again next week!
I find prunes in the foil self seal bags work really well.I had the reverse problem at the weekend, piles, sort of nappy rash thingy and thrush from going to the loo so much - the grass isn’t always greener on the other side, John wayne eat your heart out! (lol!)
that’s settled now, thank goodness. I also haven’t sorted the hair thing either, had an appt, got fitted, chose something (not the right colour admittedly) but on the pretex of getting the right colour, and have felt sooooooo crappy since have not been back, even though they have arrived…maybe i’m putting it off? hairs is thinning (i think) but still holding on.
Toothache is the worst… I was a dental nurse for many years… get it sorted asap - it will be something less to worry about - and of course you will be pain free which is very important ( especially at the mo)
Ironing - YUCK! but i also can’t bear to have wrinkly clothes OR watch someone make it look painful while doing it-Thats even worse!!!
I think feeling sick is worse than being sick… i’m taking cyclozine - wow do they work well!
When do you have your next chemo Alison? mines on 30th
Keep in touch, must get something else to eat, got the munchies!
Lots a love,
Lou xxxx
Morning all, Gill I can only speak from experience but I find the first few days after having chemo the most difficult, and I found the second cycle a bit more difficult than the first. After 10 days or so I tend to feel pretty much back to normal - whatever normal is! I would just accept any help wherever you can get it. I’m lucky as my children are in their twenties so can do anything that needs doing. The ironing story made me laugh - I actually did quite a bit of ironing a few days ago, and have had a swollen wrist ever since so will just do little bits at a time - I hate ironing anyway. Alison, glad the cold cap seems to be working but sympathise with the toothache - me too a few days ago but I’m just brushing and flossing for dear life! Glad the anti-sickness drugs work, if we can control the nausea, it’s not half as bad, is it. Lou, so you’re hairs holding on, that’s great. The cording in my arm is caused by having had all lymph nodes removed in right arm. They don’t know exactly why it happens but it’s literally a think cord of tissue or something that can run from under the armpit right down to the wrist. I couldn’t completely extend my arm and at the bend in the arm, a thin cord could be seen. It made arm feel very tight. Over the weeks, with using it more normally and stretching, I can now exten arm but it is uncomfortable and makes the wrist swell a bit. The physio found 2 cords yesterday and tried to massage them out - apparently when they release or break it’s like a ‘ping’, not painful. She couldn’t do it so I’ve got exercises to do and go back in 2 wks for her to see if they’ve gone. I was just worried about lymphedema so was just pleased that it wasn’t that. I too have the cyclizine now and it works for me too. Well, all have great day and will check in later. Love and hugs, Pat x
Lou, Where’s WSM? Not Western is it? Have you heard of that Moon Walk BC thing that happens every year? Women walk for about 4 miles or so but at night in London. They wear their bra over their clothes (I think some do it with just the bra!). My colleage at work did it a few years ago to raise some money and I’d kinda like to do that. And as long as they give you loads of time to do it in, I think I’d do it, just! x
Strike that last post - just checked online and the Moonwalk is over 26 MILES!!! Not something I think I’d even attempt! But I think I’m gonna start walking more, just as exercise as reading about power walking on the MW site has made me realise that’'s it’s a really good way to get fit and feel better at the same time. Def food for thought but there’s no way I could do 26 miles, I think on average it takes about 6.5 hrs. The next MW is in May and it’s already full but they do lots of events around the country to raise funds for BC, great charity. x
Hi all! And delighted to hear you are getting a positive result from the cold cap Alison. Good luck tomorrow Narnia!
Re ironing comments-I would far rather get someone else to do mine and if she wants to earn some money younger daughter is quite good but only in her own time, which usually means I end up doing it!!
Following all the posts from you ladies that have started chemo I have been busy stocking up on things like dried apricots, prunes and laxatives, but think I took it too far when I wore one of my new hats round the house to get used to it…daughter looked at me like I had completely lost it!
Commented that my little ginger friend had stopped hunting…until 10.30 last night with a wail from daughter that Ginger had a mouse in the hall! Think she expected me or OH to do something about it but I was comatose after taking a sleeping pill and he was ignoring her-she was none too pleased and said she could hear him CRUNCHING until midnight! Lol!!
Pleased to hear that all the non-too pleasant SE do get less so hope you enjoy the respite Pat and Lou.
Love and Hugz to all. Lyn xxx
Evening All!!!
Very busy enjoying having no sickie feeling and having the old taste buds back! Like i said -yesterday…I need to get out more! lol!
Had a couple of glasses of wine too, making the most as next week were off again!
Pat, weston-Super-mare is where we’ll be doing Race For Life.I’ve run it the last 3 years and was hoping to run it again but greater forces have decided otherwise this time, i find the whole event incredibly moving, so many people are affected by cancer, PLEASE god lets hope one day that this terrible disease will be a thing of the past, i know that since i had cervical cancer 6 years ago things have changed dramatically treatment wise.
OH LYN! yuck! I love cats but they do so some awful things… I looked after a friends cats a few years ago, when i arrived they’d caught a rat and were proudly all sat in a circle looking at it! i threw it outside only to discover later they’d bought it back in! aaarrrgghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
My friend did the moonwalk thing but i have always missed the booking dates. I entered the London Marathon this year but wasn’t selected and also went for a golden bond place with cancer research, they put me on short list to hear no later than Feb, obviously now it would be out of the question but I WILL do it oneday! Pat, glad the physio helped a bit, the cording sounds quite uncomfortable, hopefully over time this will get better.
Having real problems finding hats at the mo, maybe it’s just me but i think they make me look really funny??? i must sort something out - anyone any ideas where i can look???
anyway, i will love and leave you for now, have a date with Holby - as if we hadn’t had enough oh hospitals!
Love to all, Lou xxx
Hi hope you don’t mind if I join you. I started e-cmf on the30th December and had my 2nd dose of epi today. So far so good. My hair has gone - I gave in yesterday and had it clipped ad I was sick of it all over the shoulders of my top . Still getting used to the new look. I have a good wig provided by the NHS but my scalp is a little tender. Eylashes and eyebrows also departing. Thankyou to the ladies who have mentioned Look Good Feel Better. I will be looking into it tomorrow.
Cass141 I’ve done the Moonwalk 3 times and it is a brilliant atmosphere and something to consider for the future. If you don’t want to do the full moon you can always do the half moon(half marathon). I wanted to do it again this year but had my diagnosis 2 days before applications opened. If you do want to do it you need to apply on the day applications open as they get oversubscribed many times over. I will be settling for my local race for life this year. Sadly nowhere near Weston.
Time for anti sickness meds. Likely to be a couch potato for the next few days, but hopefully thing s will be as comparatively easy as they were last time.
Thanks to everyone for the advice thats been given.
Nicky
Hello lovely ladies! When I asked about what we could do to help boost it back to being stronger - I meant the white cell count in our blood. Anybody? Lou, got my nice 20’s style cloche in TKmaxx. Love it - but I know I’m gonna feel really self conscious when I wear it for the first time. I think I need a hat really 'cos I’m so frightened that the wig is gonna go walkabout. Also got some nice hats in Miss Selfridge - who said we have to look old? Going to have to be brave sooner rather than later 'cos my hair is coming out in handfuls - literally - tut, I don’t like it. I think that 'cos it’s quite ‘oophy’ and very curly nobody else can notice it yet. Went for back dressing today and some hair fell onto the nurse as she was doing her stuff. “Oh dear” she said, “how do you feel about losing your hair?” “Ecstatic” was my reply “Really?” she said. God help me … if one more moron crosses my path this week … I will, I really will! And if one more ‘friend’ rings me with the ‘doom and gloom/funeral’ voice telling me that I need to talk about ‘it’ to someone, I swear they’ll be collecting me for my second chemo from Death Row. A nosey neighbour (full of them down our street), ran out in front of my car the other day and banged on the window so that I was obliged to wind it down. She was demanding in almost a scream of a voice to know what was going on and what was happening to me (obviously seen the weekend district nurses calling on me). I assured her that everything was absolutely fine, and that - no - I wasn’t ill! (I’ll get struck down with lightning one of these days!) But - in the words of Catherine Tate’s nan - what a f**king liberty! My daughter said, well - why don’t you just tell her? And I said because it’s nothing to do with her. Sorry, but if I want to talk about it - I will. And when Keyhole Kate spots the wig in a few days time, I shall still plead ignorance - what fun!!! Sod 'em! x Love to all (except my neighbours) x Jacq x
OMG love it Jacqui! Think that’s part of the reason I am lying low at the mo! If someone else says to me that I am so strong or that I have the right attitude-I will hit them! And I am NOT a violent person!! Hats… some nice ones in Accessorize, but the nicest one I have got so far was from a very well known supermarket for £5 and I really like it!! Black fine cord but very wearable. Would name the sm but post would be censored which took me a wee while to work out…?? Don’t know why when it would benefit other people?
Rabbiting on tonight but just home from night out with my pals when I felt almost normal AND had e few vinos!! No doubt will suffer tomorrow…? Night all. Lyn xxx
Back again! Jacqui-post on another thread suggests Lifemel honey for boosting white blood cells-might be worth a try? Also has anyone heard that you shouldn’t eat grapefruit or dring g juice while on chemo and if so why?? Just wondered as I need my juice in the morning-usually grapefruit but can make do with orange…?
xx
Hi Jackie and Lyn,
well, the taste buds are great so managed to stuff my fizzog wth some chocolate and more vino - great! Now i’ve got bloody raving indigestion!!! gggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
Jackie, your just so funny! you tell ‘em - don’t they just get on you bloody wick? always so keen to know what’s going on.When i popped into my shop the other day, i saw loads of customers i obviously haven’t seen in a while, most asked iff i’d been on holiday??? I flippin wish, do i look like it? soon as you say ( had me evil head on, so told them to shut them up!), ooooohhhhh, your looking well? yeah?, well i feel like crap! they then immediately look at your chest, i swear i’m gonna flash one day!
keyhole kate! lol! what is it with people that they think they have some right to know your business. I have the reverse problem at school, no-one speaks to me at all - I stand in the playground on my jack jones while the rest of the mums stand in theyre little groups. I had (yet another evil edna moment!!) and felt like screaming… it’s ok! I don’t have leprosy, it didn’t drop off! it was removed… ok??? Just decided theyre all to shallow and not worth giving them the time of day, so i stuck whats left of a good chest out and strutted out of school head held high!, but on a nicer note, the teachers and headmaster have been absolutely brill with us and especially his knibbs!
Still can’t find a hat, panic setting in a bit, as i think the hair will suddenly be gone, still thinning but on hole it’s hanging on!
I must tell you this funny story… I have a friend who works in a shop not far from mine, ( not sure how old she is (bless) but guessing in her 50’s, she’s divorced and her daughter is at university.A few weeks ago around 2am someone hammered on her door,so after much ’ who the hell is that at this time of night?’ she opened the upstairs window.When she looked down, outside the door was a gentlemen, completely starkers except a tea towel around his bits… what do you want she says, i’ve locked myself out was the reply. she lives in a terraced house, so offered for him to go through so he could get in the back of his house… back was locked as well. After giving it some thought, she asked him what he did, ’ I’m a dr at the local hospital’, oh thats ok then she says, you can sleep in the spare room for tonite… apparently he was eternally grateful and she keeps finding flowers on her doorstep! it could only happen to her!
Now i think the dogs lost the plot now, i gave her two dog biscuits earlier, and Thomas has just come down stairs with them - she’d buried them in his bed while he’s asleep - he rolled onto them and it woke him up!
Lyn, don’t you just wanna scream? ahhhh, don’t you look well? NO! if i look well now, what the hell did i look like before??? doh! sudden bursts of violence allowed on this occasion i think!
well, i think i’ve probably waffled on enough tonite and sent you all to sleep, gaviscon here i come, see if that helps,
nite nite ladies,
Lou xx((())
Lyn,
just read your post, i haven’t heard about the juice thing at all? will make some enquiries, i’ve been drinking fresh orange as i couldn’t taste much else, keep you posted,
Lou-lou x