Am still waiting for the official photos - and am getting impatient! Can’t wait to see them. I will change my profile photo to one of the photos our photographer gave us. All the others from friends ect are on my facebook. I don’t know if I can add any photos to this site. dunno.
xxxx
Great to have you back, Bird and you both looked fab!
Hi All,
Had FEC 3 yesterday and new antisickness drug which is suiting me better, was stll sick last night though.Neutropphils were low so they have given me pyridoxne to take. Took them four attempt to get a vein and i just sat their crying. But half way now. Counselling session was really good and didn’t make me feel too low, she was really encouraging.
Bird- look forward to seeing photos too!
Emma xx
Emma, you have my sympathies with the 4 attempts to get into a vein! It took them 2 attempts to get into mine at the first and second FEC and they nearly had to make a third attempt last time. They keep telling me to drink plenty of water beforehand and in fact they gave me an appointment an hour later (10am instead of 9) for number 3 next Monday to give me chance to drink more. I saw the oncologist today who told me not to worry as I have “beautiful veins” but it’s all very well having beautiful veins on the day I don’t need a needle sticking in me!
All the best,
Amanda
Back to work for me tomorrow for a couple of weeks. Yay! ‘normality’.
Saw the Onc on Friday and apart from being a little worried about a cough I had due to a cold all seems well. He said if white blood cell count goes down this time they will give me th ebooster injection. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens.
On antibiotics for the cough and a cough medicine that Doctor prescribed to also help me sleep. Help me sleep! It completely knocks me out!!
Perhaps I should not take it before work tomorrow, won’t do me any favours to be nodding off in front of a classroom full of students :))
Hope everyone is ok.
Karen
Good luck with the back to work. It must be great to get back to the normal world. Just spent an hour on the phone to my ED today and then spent the rest of the evening in tears, must be the chemo I’m not usually so weepy, just miss doing the normal things of life so much. Usually I’m a glass half full type of person but today I’m half empty thinking I have 3 FEC to go so same to go as already done, then rads after. Part of this is because when I went into work boss was so cold that I felt guilty for being off work. Sorry girls not normally so down but feeling really low tonight and just wish this b****y disease had a cure that did not make us feel ugly and totally unable to do all things we used to be able to do.
Ali.
I had FEC 3 last Thursday. Was a bit touch and go for a while as my blood count was low on Tuesday but it went up again so I was good to go!
Haven’t felt as bad this time as I did with cycle 2. I think the key is definately to keep drinking water, herbal tea, anything except alcohol unfortunately! Have felt a bit nauseous at times tho, a bit like being pregnant when smells make you heave! Anyone else had this?
And I don’t know whats going on with my periods but they’re all over the place! Is that meant to happen?
Anyway, onwards and upwards everyone. Hope your first day back went ok Karen.
Debs
x
Went to have my picc line flushed today and decided to climb the stairs for some exercise as I seem to have spent the weekend doing nothing but rest. Result…I arrive puffing at reception and end up having a blood sample taken to check if I’m anaemic so now waiting for a phonecall tomorrow to see if i have to go in for a blood transfusion. It’s a case of no news by 10am is good news. Such a pain as tuesday is the only day this week I DON’T have an appointment! Just read your post buzzy and realised that perhaps the chemo has upset my normal cycle which is why I have been tearful all weekend. I guess we shouldn’t presume that everything is se’s of chemo. Nice to know that a part of me is still working as usual, even if that means pmt!
Good vibes to all having chemo this week and hugs to all
Ali.
x
Ali when I went to have my blood test on Tuesday I happened to mention about being breathless and my ONC sent me for an emergency CT scan! I think they were just being a bit over cautious and what was supposed to be a quick trip to the hospital turned out to be most of the day spent there! I haven’t heard anything since so I presume no news is good news. Hope you get good news too.
Debs
x
Debs and Ali - I think FEC3 for me was probably the hardest physically and emotionally. My blood counts were low too and it was delayed a week. I was weeping over stupid stuff and feeling very negative.
The smell thing has been ongoing from the beginning. During the first week after treatment I just CANNOT stand the smell of bread! I feel like I can smell it all around the house.
Periods - well, I was on Cerezette contraceptive pill before all this and didn’t have them but as I had to come off it for the Chemo (and because I am Oestrogen pos)I was told that they may briefly reappear before stopping again. I have had nothing, not even the dreaded stomach cramps that I was sooo looking forward to again! I don’t know if that means they won’t happen again now or what. I’m due to start Tamoxifen after Chemo at the same time as I have Rads, so I’m guessing they just won’t happen.
It wasn’t my first day back at work since starting the treatment. I have been going in for two weeks out of every three. Today was just the first day back since FEC4 just over a week ago. I’m sure it’s what keep me going.
Hope you are all ok and coping well.
Karen
My periods haven’t stopped either. I have had two since chemo started, one a week late and the next a week early! They have been heavier than normal too. I asked chemo nurse about it all. She said that any change was due to chemo, they don’t necessarily stop. And yes I have had sore boobs, pmt, as usual.
Now that’s one SE I wouldn’t have minded!
X
Rusty
Hi All,
Can agree with all your comments, I got my second period since been on chemo only a week late and its one of the worse i’ve ever had- but I’m grateful as I really want children in the future. Also completely out of breath when walking but sure that’s due to 2 months of no activity and nothing else. And I’ve confirmed after FEC 3 that the day 4-7 my hormones go crazy and i’m unable to cope with anything - have told OH to put it in the diary for nexy time! I really struggled with sleep this time even taking sleeping tablets only helped for 3 hours.
Is anyone else finding they have sore arm pits? Not sure if its my lymph glands up.
I have some good news to share that the house we are buying has gone through and we get the keys on monday…HOORAY.
Love Emma xx
Hi All,
Well, no phonecall by 10am so had the day to myself and had loads of energy today and at last no headache! Decided to ignore the ironing pile and spent the morning finishing the painting in my bedroom as the new carpet is due to be fitted on Friday. Been in this house 5 years and decorated everyone else’s room except mine.
Emma - Congrats on the house move, hope everything goes ok.
Hugs and good vibes to all
Ali.
x
Hi everybody
Had FEC number 3 on Monday - hooray, I’m halfway through! Though I don’t think I will feel completely halfway until I’m at the end of this cycle. I had a long wait for my drugs to be ready as they were very short-staffed in my hospital pharmacy, then we had the usual performance of getting the needle in which this time took 3 attempts and 2 nurse despite my best efforts to drink plenty! Had to do it on my own as well as my friend who’s been coming with me was full of a cold. So not the best of days, but haven’t been too bad since then - bit of nausea but no sickness, up and down physically and emotionally.
On the subject of periods - I’ve had 2 since starting chemo, both a week late. The oncologist told me last week that this is quite normal, and that they might stop at some point during the treatment or they might just go on getting more irregular, so I think it’s a bit random as to what actually happens.
Emma, hope all goes well with your new house.
Love and good thoughts to all.
Amanda
Hi
Had a good day, more energy than previous 2 weeks but then noticed that I have a red mark on my R breast, bc was in the left one. I thought I had caught myself somehow as it looked like a blood blister but when I took a closer look realised it was not round but had rough edges and there is no pain there which I would espect if I had bruised myself somehow. I’m probably overreacting but all the “what if’s” keep going round in my brain. Being a single parent I haven’t got anyone to hold my hand tonight and don’t want to panic my YD, she’s only 17 so would worry if she heard me discuss this with my brothers or SIL’s. They have also been my rocks and I could be worrying them over nothing. Luckily I have to go to chemo unit tomorrow lunchtime for picc line flush so will ask them about it.
Here’s hoping it’s nothing to worry about,
Ali.
Hi Ali, just wanted to wish you all the best for tomorrow. I hope everything turns out to be okay. Sending you a big hug! x
Well, had bloods taken today ready for chemo tomorrow and asked about the spot I found on Rbreast. It turned out to be a small blood blister (huge relief!!) but then had rest of me checked for other ones as this can sometimes be a sign of low platelets. Dr thinks as it’s the only one and that I may have knocked myself but may have to have chemo delayed if they are low but at least it’s not as the bad news I was half expecting. off to sb this afternoon and going to treat myself to something yummy that I know my digestion won’t be able to cope with after chemo tomorrow, blood counts permitting of course,
Good vibes to all having chemo this week and may all se’s be copeable,
Ali
x
Well, bloods ok so had FEC4 at lunchtime, so now just waiting to see what se’s it throws at me this time.
Ali.
x
I hope it’s not too bad for you Ali. I have FEC5 on Friday so know that the following week, which is also half-term week, will be spent mostly in my bedroom away from everyone.
We’re nearly there though, stay positive.
Karen
Hi
Just shows how bc takes over your life, only realised yesterday it was halfterm next week when my YD asked if she could have a sleepover next Friday. I said ok on the understanding it would have to be a takeaway for tea as I would still be feeling tired by then… shame eh!
That’s my thing to look forward to,
Ali.