@marymop maybe speak to your oncologist. I had awful reflux throughout made worse by steroids. Anyway my oncologist upped my omprozole to twice daily so that may help.
This will pass 
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Thanks @naughty_boob, I hadn’t seen the prediction tool on the paxman website.
It’s coming out at 33% to keep 50% of my hair, so think I’ll just cut my losses lol.
At the moment it’s the not knowing whether the cold capping will work that driving me crazy (isn’t it always!), and not being able to style it. I’m thinking ‘what’s the point’. I know it helps with regrowth, but I’ve done 5 sessions so far, so that’s got to help.
In my mind it’s just one more thing to stress about, so am def swinging towards stopping now…
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Your idea to tell them at the beginning is a good idea. I found numbering my questions and leaving a small space to make notes after they have answered. Then ticking them off when I was happy they had answered.
From reading many posts, it seems that the doctors have what they want to say and will ask if you have any questions but it’s more about they have to rather than they want to know your questions. Do you have someone who can go with you to support and maybe ask the questions aswell? As long as you have given permission for the. To talk for you that’s ok or if you have a health Power of Attorney, they can legally act for you.
Talking of Power of Attorney, we had watched Martin Lewis say it’s more important that a Will but never did it. Wills written originally as soon as my son was born to ensure he was cared for should anything happen. But it took getting cancer for me to get the Power Of Attorney sorted. We did it all ourselves it was about £80 per attorney (health and welfare as well as finance) if you are a low earner or you can get it half price or even free. I decided it would help for further health issues should they arise.
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I’m pleased the link helped. You have to do what is right for you and I’m sure having the cold cap for the time you have has helped. Paxman do have a contact page so you could see what they have to say.
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Thanks - I’ll be bringing my husband with me for emotional support but I’m generally the talker so I might assign him the role of note-taker while I ask the questions! It’s so frustrating for someone like me who needs all the details to have to basically beg them to tell me things though, I have not had a good experience so far with communication during my diagnosis so really hoping the oncology folks are a bit less chaotic, though from reading on here, I think that might be a false hope! 
And the POA thing is a good shout - my sister and I already have it in place for our parents (my mum insisted after a total nightmare when my gran got dementia so we all wanted it in place just in case!) but I hadn’t considered getting my husband and I sorted too. Will look into it!
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Let your team know you need to know the nitty gritty, hopefully they will be more forthcoming.
Many people will go in and just nod and say yes to whatever the doctor says but you are like me and need to know. So tell them.
Good idea to get your husband to be your ‘secretary’!
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I will do!
And he’s been so supportive and lovely, but apparently me telling him he also needs to wear a pencil skirt to the appointment to be my secretary is ‘no bloody way, that’s a step too far’! 
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You made me laugh out loud 
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Hehehehe I keep being told my sense of humour will help me through this and I think that’s true lol
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@carrie5 I’m glad you took it out on your grass as it signifies to me that you have some fight in you which is a good way to be. I also started taking notes and would recommend it to anyone now. At least you are experienced and know how things should be done. Definitely here for you to vent or just for some company.
@lilyanne How you are feeling is quite normal. Once you are on the treatment pathway your confidence will build and you will start to feel better. Sure, chemo is gruelling but mentally you know where you are and feel that those cells are getting zapped so the fear subsides somewhat. Sorry you have had to undergo so many surgeries. I also had to have a load of surgeries, 5 in total. It’s very unusual so I think we were just unlucky. Are they going to do another lumpectomy or a mastectomy for your 3rd surgery? You are on the rollercoaster but it starts to smooth out soon.
@leelee1 I cold capped all the way through but by the end I had so little hair that I had to shave it all off anyway. Still, it was what I needed to do so I’m glad I did it. It’s growing back so thick, dark and curly that I like to think I protected the hair follicle and this is why it’s so strong and healthy. Not sure if that’s actually the reason why but I like to tell myself that! Then again, @arty1 didn’t cold cap and look how fast hers is growing back. @naughty_boob did brilliantly with the cold cap. It’s an individual thing, isn’t it. Just like treatment.
@marymop Big hug coming your way. Can you get something to help you sleep? You need sleep but those horrid steroids and all the other side effects can make it hard to come by. Always rant away. We are here for the good and the bad. Hope 5th chemo goes smoothly today.
@naughty_boob I don’t think it was working in a bank that gave you your extraordinary skills. I think you were gifted with a brain that works like an encyclopaedia!
@genericuser1 - Thank you, what a lovely thing to say. I’m aware that I don’t have medical knowledge or as much common sense as I’d like, but I do possess enthusiasm and positivity so it’s really gratifying to hear that my posts help. Definitely be firm and assertive in asking your questions and absolutely announce that you have questions to ask. I do it but I had to learn how after being told by good old @naughty_boob that I had to advocate for myself. Now I do it as a matter of course. I get out my phone with my list on it and shoot the questions at them! I am SO pleased to see your sense of humour is fully intact. That will help you through no end.
And now, I am off to do my training session to become a Community Champion!! I may take this opportunity to change my profile pic as well to reflect my dramatic change in hairstyle. Nobody will recognise me!
Salbert
xx
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@leelee1 I cold capped, and really struggled with it, as it was so so cold, and I had hand warmers that I used to put on my cheeks and drank hot ribena. But my hair was such a huge thing for me, and I really wanted to do anything to keep it. I was very lucky and kept 70-80% mine- it thinned on the top and I lost it over my ears but that was where I wore my glasses under my cap. I’m so glad I stuck at it but we are all individuals. I had EC X3, then Docetaxel and herceptin X3. Good luck with whatever you decide xx
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Thanks you ladies for lovely messages, I was quite shocked at how upset I was yesterday at the chemo cancellation because of the admin mess so thank you for letting me vent. Also thank you for making me smile!
Second what @naughty_boob said about look at Paxman website, There is really good information and videos on hair care and how to make sure the cold cap fits really well, worth watching. I’m going to give it a go as my grand daughters are a bit bothered about my not having hair! @genericuser1 Good idea to announce you have questions at the beginning! I think it gets better with practice and I guess they get to know which of us want ‘chapter and verse’ so to speak - not everyone does. I think if you’re used to being in control and organised this business is quite a challenge. Hugs to everyone having a bad day/ week - horrible but it always passes.
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I cold capped through all 6 tchps it was tough the first 30 mins but i stuck with it as i heard it was good for the regrowth.
I have kept about 40-50% of my hair maily round the sides and at the back, on top is where i lost alot but i wasnt sure if it was on right the first time or because of the loading dose.
Im happy i done it as my hair has started to grow back between cycles, i just finished last week and i have some hair gowing back x
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Thanks Sal, yes feeling a bit more positive now and also asked the doc for some sleeping tablets. I just need a couple of good sleeps to re charge xx
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Thanks Galdiolus, I think sometimes it’s just a bit of encouragement we need to keep going. Xx
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Coldcapping is an interesting one. I cold capped for 2 ECs then stopped for the remaining 2 ECs and 12 Paclitaxels. I lost a lot of hair even in the cold capped cycles (although I had very thick hair) but stopped cold capping before I could tell what benefit it would have longer term. My body would get shocked by the extreme cold and I actually felt worse from that than the chemo side effects. But, like chemo, we all experience cold capping differently.
I finished chemo in July last year and my hair has grown back very thick and in a somewhat gravity defying manner. I am going to continue to grow it to see how tall it gets.
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I didn’t cold cap and lost about 70% of my hair. I got used to having just whispy bits of hair. But now it’s growing again - 3 months since last chemo - most of the time I look like a cartoon character who’s just put her finger in an electric socket.
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Oops. I haven’t framed that pic very well.
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Thank you ladies for all of your responses and photos! You are all great xx and @norts you look amazing with your gravity defying hair!! 
Gosh it’s such a personal thing isn’t it… the one thing you think you have a choice on, then with all the different possibilities of if and how much you will lose, it makes what should be a simple question so much harder!
I like to make decisions based on fact, but all I know for sure is that I find it uncomfortable, it may work, it may not work, but I will also probably kick myself in a few weeks when it’s all gone.
I have a feeling it will completely depend on how I feel in the morning. And if I’m still not decided, I have put a coin in my chemo bag to flip once I’m there…!!
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You may have noticed this wonderful group now has another 3 community champions to help forum users, as well as themselves. I think this shows how fabulous this thread is. @salbert @gromit12 @galdiolus
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