Hi Diana and welcome to this thread. Sounds like your all good to go now. I have a Picc line and do have a few ouch moments when I catch it but I’ve had it in for three weeks now so am used to it. Hi Nellie prior to having my hair shaved it felt just like yours spotty and itchy I thought when it came off It would be full of spots but I think the fresh air has helped as I’ve no spots now. I found it quite a strange sensation when you pulled on it and it came out with no pain, very odd. Have lots of hats and turban like things from Anna bandana they seem to have gone down well and have had lots of compliments. I feel ok about it going as I remember Sue saying it means the chemo is working!! It can’t half get drafty though when I have nothing on my head. Taran have you done the big shave yet? Xx
Morning everyone, hope everyone is doing ok.
I saw my oncologist yesterday and told him exactly how poorly I felt for the first 48 hours of chemo with the nausea, retching and sickness. He was quite disappointed that I had had such a grot time! Anyway he is now giving me another tablet as well as all the others to help with this. So I will now have: Emend, Dexamethasone, Ondanestron, Metoclopramide, Omeprazole and now Lorazepam. He did say if Lorazepam doesn’t work he has one more drug up his sleeve! So I have been booked in every 3 weeks to see the Head Chemo Nurse re medication before each cycle of chemo. Let’s hope this works, although reading the leaflet it says the drug is used for anxiety! Didn’t think I was stressed and wound up after chemo, I was just retching and had nausea. Perhaps this will make me sleep through the first 48 hours!
On on another note, I’m started to get a bald area!!!,?
Thanks Bellaboo.
The PICC line isn’t sore this morning. I have had fun online at Hats 4 Heads. The lovely man helping with the insertion of the PICC line told me about how his mum had got some head coverings from there. I have ordered a sleep cap, a wig liner and a turban. Am hoping to get my hair cropped today. I hope the hairdresser ( she is a neighbour and is doing it for free ) doesn’t find any nit’s as my gorgeous granddaughter as come back from pre school with them and I can’t see the point in wasting nit lotion on myself ?
Hi Nellie55,
sorry you have been having a rough time. Hope the new meds do the trick and you don’t have such a hard time of it with the next cycle. I have no idea yet how I will react. The chemo nurse I saw yesterday said everyone is individual and they can’t predict what combination of side effects we will get. She said some people sail through with mild ones whilst others get everything possible. They do seem to have lots of drugs to throw at us so I guess it’s a matter of letting them know and not suffering in silence.
Hi ladies, hope everyone is having a good day!
Bella boo, I haven’t done the shave yet but with the amount that came out in the shower this morning I think tonight will have to be the night. Dreading it slightly because after burning my head at the beach on Tuesday, I’m worried the clippers are going to feel really sore!! Fingers crossed another day for it to recover a bit will help. I agree with the spotty/itchy feeling too. Can’t decide if it’s from the sunburn or the shedding!!!
Nellie, the lorazepam is used for anxiety, but lots of drugs are used for multiple reasons so that’s why it is being given as an anti emetic. Much like the dexamethasone is actually a steroid, but has been found to work really well to control sickness caused by chemo. Then if you go onto tax the steroids aren’t needed for sickness, but are important to stop allergic reactions to the oil used to mix the drug. Does that make sense?? I know what I mean. Lol.
T, let us know how your massage goes. I’d love reflexology, but so far have only booked myself onto the look good feel better course. I’m going to wait for anything else until after the school holidays as I feel really guilty leaving my parents with all 4 children while I get pampered!!
Suze and Pookie, thank you for the lovely compliment, but I’m really not supermum!! Just trying to keep things as normal as possible for as long as possible. I’m really lucky and have great support from my parents who are both retired ?
Wishing good days for us all. I’ll report back later on how the shave went. We have the celebration evening in my son’s school tonight so will see what’s happening when we get back from that. Might be a late evening shave by the time we get them all sorted and into bed!! xx
Well everyone I did it! The hair has all gone! It was driving me mad with the itchiness and clumps coming away so my hubby very bravely shaved off my hair. He gave me a mirror so I could see the gradual change, whilst our daughter knelt beside me as the locks began to fall, holding my hand. It was quite emotional for us all but afterwards I felt better it had been done. After a shower, weird feeling washing my head, I donned one of my new hats which actually matched my pjs and felt amazingly better. We’re off out for lunch tomorrow so I will put one of my scarves on as well. Looking forward to wearing my sleep cap tonight.
Thank you all for the information about the lorazepam, you ladies are so helpful in so many different ways and for your support. Hopefully this next cycle will be better. Hope you are all doing ok in your different stages of chemo and for those waiting to start all the best.
Thank you xxxxxx
Hi ladies
i hope you don’t mind me popping in, I’m from the October 2015 starters. I’ve just had my first “all clear” since my op and chemo, got my mammogram last week and all is good. Can’t believe I’m finally here, the last year all seems a bit if a blur now. I really want you to know how positive you all are and just wanted to add a little bit more to it. You are all so brave, stepping into the unknown and holding each other’s virtual hands as you go. I hope the effects aren’t too bad for you all, and I wish you all the best for your journey. If I can offer any help or share my experiences please just ask
take care and keep strong
love
Audrey xxx
Oh Nellie, that is so brave. You’ve made me cry! ( in a positive, yeah, we can do this kind of way). You will look fab when you go out for lunch tomorrow and I bet you rock your new look. I too have really been struggling with the sickness. It really gets you down doesn’t it. I have a virtually identical set of sick meds to you with the addition of domperidone. ( not the Brandy sadly!! ;). I also have Lorazipam and although it’s often given for anxiety it’s really effective for nausea too. They have told me to take it the night before and day of next chemo which will be Tuesday for me. Take care everyone. Xx
And now I’m crying again as I’ve just read Audrey’s lovely post. I need to get a grip!!! Fantastic news Audrey and so uplifting to see there really is light at the end of this tunnel. Thank you xx
Thanks so much Audrey for your lovely uplifitng post, so kind of you to drop by and keep us all positive! Xx
Hey Pooking, I was thinking it may be good for us to chat through the direct message as we seem to be in a very simialr family set up, i’ve set up my direct messging if you’d like to chat. AJ xx
Hi everyone. I have been trying to catch up on the thread since I was last here but too many to comment on so I hope you are all doing ok, well as ok as you can be! I have my first chemo tomorrow and to say I am nervous would be an understatement… I had a picc line fitted on monday and it hasn’t been used yet so I’m bit anxious about that too. Read up lots on the whole process but have realised very quickly that everyone reacts differently so the not knowing doesn’t help the anxiety. I have also developed a bit of a twisted sense of humour since I was diagnosed, is it just me? I do find laughter is the best medicine but thinking I may end up offending someone soon lol though on a plus side my memory has gone drastically downhill too so at least I won’t remember if I have offended someone! Silver lining and all that. Bev x
Morning all, Nellie I hope you didn’t have too chilly a night minus the hair but it is a relief to get it taken off. I hope you have a lovely lunch today. Audrey thank you for your kind words all I can say is roll on 2017. Bev good luck for today the picc line really is very easy you’ll be in and out in no time. Taran did you do it? Xx
Hi all,
I’m new to this bit of the forum. I started my first Chemo (EC) on Weds 13th. Apart from the anxiety, sweats and sore throat I am not doing too bad although the fuzzy head is a constant. I know it is only early on in the cycle. Is anyone else having Chemo prior to their operation? They have told me it is very successful for younger women in their thirties at shrinking the cancer. Also, I’m not enjoying the white blood cell jabs I am having to administer, the bone pain is horrible but doesn’t last 24 hours. Anyone else have these?
Thanks,
Hi Fluffy mittens. I too am on EC but again, post surgery. I’m having it every 2 weeks and due my second treatment on Tues just as I’m starting to feel better. Great! The bone pain is horrid isn’t it. I found ibuprofen really helped. Is anyone else on 2 weekly cycles?
Hi ladies, hope you are all getting on ok.
How have things gone today Bev? Hope they put you at ease.
Bells boo, yes I have done it. Have a GI Jane look going on at the moment as didn’t take it all off because of the sunburn!! So kept a little bit of stubble for now. Feels really nice actually. Have a feeling I’ll be rubbing my head constantly while it lasts. Lol.
Hope you have adjusted to the no hair look Nellie? Mine feels lovely but I think it’s going to take a while to get used to seeing it in the mirror!
Hi fluffymittens, and welcome. I’ve had surgery before chemo, but the good thing doing it your way round is that you’ll know the chemo has worked if the tumour shrinks. Hopefully that will be reassuring for you.
xx
Hi Sue, haven’t seen any posts from you lately, do hope you are ok? I imagine your week back at work has really taken it out of you. Sending you big hugs xx
Hello everyone,
I had my first FEC today. It took ages to actually have the drugs coz the nurse couldn’t find the results of the CT scan I had on Sunday .It was written in the notes somewhere all along ( it was clear of metastatic disease! Yay!) It put everything behind and the unit was really busy. I have a sneaking feeling the drugs were administered quicker than usual coz he said I would find it would take longer next time. Anyhow, despite my meds I have had awful nausea and been sick twice. Am on a respite between the waves at the mo. I feel half human again. Hat’s ( or scarfs or wigs) off to you ladies for going through this so stoically. All in a good cause…
?
Thanks Nellie for you encouragement. I had a bad night but am feeling a lot better. Could’nt keep any fluids down at all and started to obsess about the need to flush the chemo through. Would have gladly been attached to a drip.
Sue, I am in awe! As well as slightly concerned for you. Please don’t overdo things. X
Hello ladies. I am new to this forum but have been reading ur comments with interest. I was diagnosed 29 Jun and im having MRI and Marker fitted on weds before chemo starts week after (hopefuly). I’m having FEC-T and they think they can successfully shrink it before surgery and radio. Some of ur comments could have come from my own mouth (or fingers in this case) as I too am seeing humour in things that I should be scared or upset about. I think it’s hysteria! ?. It sounds like the first sessions gonna be hard… nausea etc… so not looking forward to that. Any advice for a first-timer?