I think I should count myself lucky then, although I feel very nauseous, at least I’m not vomiting.
Thanks to you all for your comments…
Richard
Are you taking your anti-sick tabs i found eating a hard boiled sweet helped its a horrible feeling take a few deep breaths take care
I got given emend for the first couple of days and metoclopramide to take when needed.
It’s been a few days now, and a lot of the side effects have been and gone, the tiredness over the last couple of days was incredible, I don’t think anything anyone could have said would have prepared me for that, it feels like the jet lag you’d get coming back from the moon! And yet, I still can’t sleep?
I feel better now the tiredness is getting better, is there anything else I can expect, or will the next couple of weeks until the next session be ok?
Richard
Hi Richard,
I’m on the same as you, 4 x epi and 4 x cmf, over 28 weeks, I had my first epi on the 1st oct am due 2nd one this fri, had a fair bit of nausea day 2 - 6 but then just waves every so often, so feel quite lucky really, will let you know how things go after fri, nice to compare notes !!! take care,
Belinda xx
Hi Richard,
I’ve only had Epirubicin as part of FEC so different but my SE’s from it were pretty much gone by day 8-10. From then on I would be pretty much ok until my next session. I found I got a little more tired than normal but that was it. Each time I felt I had completely recovered by the time I had the next. I went back to work each time after the SE’s wore off and managed fine.
I would have to say that I thought my first session was by far the worst one of the whole lot. I didn’t get Emend until my second session and I can’t tell you how dramatic the difference was. With my first chemo I had uncontrollable sickness and had to have injections to stop it, where as with the Emend I had only nausea.
When I went back to my Onc I told them each time what my side effects were and they gave me a new bag of tricks to help with them. By the third FEC it was 85% easier than the first one.
My best advice would be to do the complete opposite of man up. I finished my chemo last week and honestly I think you really have to feel emotions as they come or else you will drive yourself nuts.
I find it hard to talk to my family and friends too. I have used this forum as a place where I can be completely honest. Everytime I’ve felt like crashing I’ve come on here and blurted the lot! I joined a thread for people starting chemo in June and it has honestly been my complete lifeline. Having people who are in exactly the same place in treatment has been great as it helps me feel ‘normal’.
All the best and good luck,
Joxx
Hi Richard
You may find it helps to ask your onc for zopiclone for sleep. If they give you the stonger ones ie. 7.5mg, you can take half and then build up a stock. My gp refused to give me any more as they are mildly habit forming but they were a Godsend during chemo!
Julia xx
Thanks, I’ll ask for zopiclone and see what they say. Also, did any of you get headaches? For the first 5 or 6 days I had a headache which I couldn’t get rid of, it’s not a huge issue, but it’s something that I’m hoping they’ll be able to manage to make the whole experience a little less unpleasant.
Although I’m only a couple of weeks into chemo, I’ve started to lose my hair, but it’s not somewhere that most people will see, if you know what I mean! I imagine now it’s started, it won’t be long before the rest goes, I think I need to buy some hats.
Richard
Hi Richard
My hair went around day 16 it seems to be the ‘norm’ so beware!
Good luck with your treatment, and yes great source of support this site
Denise x
Whilst watching tv last night I scratched my head and a clump of hair came out. All day vie been trying to decide whether to shave it now, or wait a bit longer. In the end I decided to go for it, so I now have very short hair.
I know it’s meant to be different for men, and I suppose it is in a way, but it was still difficult and made me feel sick. But now it’s done I feel much better, I’ve taken control, when for the last 2 weeks I’ve been waiting for it to fall out, so it’s nice to turn it around. It’s very cold though!
Richard x
Hi Richard I just realised that you were on this thread .It sounds as though you have had your share of trouble.You seem to be a fighter and thats what you have to be of course.Short hair is in vogue at the moment so Im sure you can wear it well.I am a hat man myself and now could be the right time for you to invest in a stylish Hat.Hang in there.
all my best wishes
John
Hi Richard
Hope your doing okay? I didn’t get Emend until half way through treatment and i cannot say how much of a difference it made to me. I would say just be careful what you eat for those first few days. Anything acid or rich upset my stomach so i kept to quite plain things salad and baked potato was one of my favorites and i loved tomatoes on toast. I think we all go through the same emotions male or female. There are some great hats out there for winter i will keep wearing hats now.
Hope your well
Jaynex
meant to say i found Ondansetron a really good anti-sickness and other people talk about Domperidom, not sure about the spelling.
Hi,
I’ve seen domperidom mentioned quite a bit, but not come across ondansetron, I’ll add it to my very long list of things to discuss with the onc tomorrow.
I don’t think the hair thing would have bothered me expect I decided to try a longer style about 6 months ago, before that it had been quite short anyway. Having said that, I quite like it now I’ve got used to it. However, a lot fell out last night so it’s very patchy, and my scalp is very sensitive, almost sore. Is that normal?
I’ve never really been big on hats, that’s changed now, my collection is up to 5 and will probably grow.
As always it’s great to hear from you all and get some words of wisdom.
Richard
Hi, my scalp was really sore the day before the hair went, stinging sensation, very odd indeed. Maybe you find the information on the anti sickness useful:
It’s not unusual to be given a combination of different drugs to control nausea and vomiting. Some of the types of drugs used are:
5HT3 inhibitors These drugs are used to control sickness caused by chemotherapy and are often given along with steroids. They work by blocking a chemical called serotonin (5HT) which acts on receptors called 5HT3 and causes sickness. They include granisetron (Kytril®), ondansetron (Zofran®), and tropisetron (Navotan®).
Palonosetron (Aloxi®) is a new 5HT3 inhibitor which acts over a longer time and is given by weekly injection.
Steroids are often given along with other anti-emetic drugs to treat sickness caused by chemotherapy. They can also be used to control sickness when someone has advanced cancer. Dexamethasone (Decadron®, Hexadrol®, Dexasone®) is the most commonly used steroid.
Drugs that help stomach emptying and so relieve feelings of sickness Metoclopramide (Maxolon®) and domperidone (Motilium®) both work in this way and are commonly used. Domperidone can be given as suppositories.
Drugs that act on the vomiting centre in the brain Prochlorperazine (Stemetil®) is often used to control sickness. One of the ways in which it can be given is as a tablet which dissolves in the mouth (Buccastem®). Chlorporamazine is another drug that acts in the same way, but it’s usually only used in advanced cancer when other anti-emetics drugs haven’t worked.
Anti-histamine drugs Cyclizine (Valoid®) is an anti-histamine drug that is often used to control sickness.
Sedative drugs Haloperidol (Serenace®) is a sedative drug that can be used in low doses to help control sickness caused by drugs like morphine. Levomepromazine (Nozinan®) is another sedative drug which may be used in advanced cancer when other anti-sickness drugs haven’t worked. They can be taken as tablets or given through a small pump called a syringe driver (used when someone is having difficulty swallowing).
Anti-anxiety drug Lorazepam (Ativan®)This is an anti-anxiety drug which is usually used along with another anti-emetic to control sickness caused by chemotherapy.
Neurokin inhibitor Aprepritant (Emend) is a new drug which is given along with steroids and a 5HT3 inhibitor to control sickness caused by chemotherapy (particularly with a drug called cisplatin). Aprepritant works by blocking a chemical which acts on receptors called neurokins and causes sickness.
Good Luck! Tina
Hi
Yes my scalp was sore the first cycle and i think the second maybe a bit, must be the drugs affecting the follicles. It did feel a bit painful that does go away after the first one. I had the one to one support on here and it is very helpful, it’s nice to talk to people who have been through it.
Hope your appointment goes well tomorrow
Jaynex
Hi everyone (well anyone who’s reading),
I had my second session today and a good meeting with the onc. He’s given me domperidom to try, he’s also given me some lomeprazole for heart burn and co-codamol and tramadol for the headaches but nothing to help me sleep. He’s hoping that treating the headaches will help me sleep, it’s worth a go.
I’ve had co-codamol before, so know what to expect from them, but I’ve never come across tramadol, have any of you?
Getting my chemo wasn’t as easy as the last time, it took 4 attempts to get the canula in, so my hand is rather sore no! It made me very nervous, so next time they’re going to give me a sedative to help it go a bit better.
Bye for now.
Richard
Hi Richard,
I had tramadol after my mastectomy, they are a very strong analgesic and you are advised not to drive with these ones. they may make you feel very woozy.
With regards to your veins i think they are getting to know that it is the time to be prodded about so they hide also the medication that is being put in is strong stuff. although i managed to get canulated it was the worst part for me throughout and i would cry, rself
i’m a big chicken!!!. if you feel really anxious maybe you can speak to your oncologist with regards to a PICC line/portacath and that may take away some of the anxiety for you.
Hope the se are not too bad and you look after yourself
Louisexx
Hi Richard, I had a lorazepam to reduce my anxiety before each Chemo session. They were great and got me in there! I also used a hot water bottle on the way to hosp and whilst waiting for treatment to start to TTY snd get my veins ready. Hope your side effects aren’t too bad this cycle.
Vickie
xxx
Hi Richard
I also had tramadol and found this a very effective painkiller. I usually slept for a good three hours after taking one. I had problems with veins so had a picc line put in on bloods day pre FEC3 and it has been great. No prob trying to find a “good” vein and as I am a bit of a wuss about needles it makes chemo and bloods day far less stressful. Even so I take diazepam am and pm day before and day of chemo to help keep me calm,
hope your se’s are manageable this cycle,
Ali.
hi richard
i was on epi-cmf last year… the first epi gave me terrible headaches, it actually felt like i was being stabbed in the head… like my hair was sharp and growing inwards.
it did get easier aweek or so after the second cycle… i was on domperidone, dexamethasone and laterally granisitron (similar to ondansetron but even stronger) for sickness… also needed omeprazole for heartburn… was a burning sensation at the back of my throat and felt like somebody sitting on my chest.
i usually felt quite crap for the weekend after chemo but then picked up again after this and felt a bit low just before my next one… the low week - week 2 was actually when i felt at my best.
i was on paracetamol or co-codamol for pain in my head and veins but was advised to stop it as it is makes yoru temp come down so could mask the first sign of infection… was then changed to tramadol and brufen gel (cant take brufen tablets).
hope you manage OK
Lxxx