Hi all, hope everyone is doing okay? Anyone got any advice re insomnia? The first 2-3 nights after chemo I’ll be lucky to get more than a couple of hours. I’m wondering if taking a piriton would help as it always makes me sleepy when they done my pre-meds.
I was scared to take anything else on top of all the sickness stuff and chemo so just put up with it I would ask your chemo nurse or onc when you see them they will probably advise you better x
Hi missaconitum, I was on clarityn for hay fever and they said it was fine to continue, but I still got insomnia! Best thing for me is a small halogen bedside light that I can point at an angle so it doesn’t wake my OH, and a good book. I’ve been able to catch up on sleep during the day, but I’m lucky as I work from home and can choose my own hours. Hope you get some sleep!
2nd fec today fingers crossed this one is kind to me!! Drinki good lots of water for my veins! Had weetabix for my bowels!!! Learnt that I don’t want to be bunged up on top of everything else!
Need to ask for a wig voucher now I’m officially bald cold cap didn’t work for me but don’t be put off if your going to try it as it works for some x
Hope your 2nd round goes well mishy. I found it completely different to my 1st.
First two days I had so much energy and felt great. Since then I’ve spent most afternoons feeling spaced out and needing a nap. Chemo was last Tuesday so hoping that wears off soon.
I felt absolutely off my head walking around b&q yesterday. Sure I looked a bit odd as well as I seemed to be getting a few funny looks. ?
Once you get this one out of the way, you’re nearly at the halfway mark.
We’ll soon find out what delights the T might bring us. X
Haha, you’re right about the b&q buzz Tatyana. Maybe it was just comprehensive selection of white paints on offer that made me dizzy.
I’m trying to teach myself how to just try and go with the drugged up flow. No nausea yet for me, so I’m classing myself as very lucky so far. Viens are throbbing this time around as well. I think maybe I helped that along when I decided to do some vigorous digging in the garden the day after chemo. I felt invincible.
Yeah that’s what I thought it’s amazing when you are having treatment and finding out the difference in regimes doses and timescale between one lady was having hers daily poor woman she said it floored her and a lovely older man was on to number 4 with the cold cap and still full Barnet! He was gutted for me but like I said it’s going to come back and a skin head is def better than the golum look thats is for sure I couldn’t even look in the mirror it was making me physically ill looking at it such an awful experience when it’s falling out like that pleased I don’t have to go through it any more anyway ladies bath jammies and Game of thrones if I can stay awake hope you are all well xxx
Yes, there’s always someone going through a tougher time than yourself isn’t there. At my last session there was a lady who’d been in since 9am and was still there at 5.30. She went home with what looked like a plastic cup of something in her pocket which was attached to her arm and said she’d see them again in two days time. ??
I think I’m the only one capping so it’s a bit of a novelty for the others to watch. Or maybe they’re just staring at the amount of food I consume. The last time I might as well of taken a buffet.
I hope you’re feeling okay today and this round is as gentle as possible on you. X
I know what you mean about the food lol my good week was certainly good, I couldn’t stop eating! I dread to think what I’ll weigh when this is over!!! My onc said it whatever you like in your good week, so I did Literally, steak nd bbq pizza, fish and chips, ice-cream from Cicerrellis in Blyth mmmmm, two course carvery on Sunday as well all my normal ?
Trying to justify that this week I won’t be able to eat much!
My onc has given me a 5 day sickness drug yesterday so fingers crossed feel a little woozy but nothing too bad didn’t sleep much so will have a catnap at some point def feel better than last time xx
Hope everyone is feeling OK today it’s lovely to think only one more fec to go till the halfway mark then the T starts!!!
Have a good day everyone and take care of yourself too xxx
Hi all,
Prepping myself for round 2 of FEC next week. First round has been a mixed bag, nausea was horrendous for first week, but I feel good now and ready for the next bout. I am cold capping and so far have not lost any hair, keeping my fingers crossed but ready to deal with the hairloss if/when it happens. I have suffered some insomnia and GP has given me a big pack of Zopiclone to take as and when I feel I need it, haven’t used any yet but at least I have options.
Do get that wig voucher, just having it ready to go is strangely a great comfort. I have also found some amazing YouTube videos on tying different types of headscarves including ones that help you form a fake bun so you look less like a cancer patient. Tichel (type of headscarf) tying looks qute glam and I’d recommend a look.
I know exactly what you ladies mean about food. When I’m hungry - get out of the way! The simple pleasure of a Krispy Kreme and a tea or a big fat burger are heavenly bright spots for me.
Good luck to all, keep going!!!
Hi diamster.
Welcome to July starters. Luckily I haven’t had any sickness and I had my second fec last week. The hospital give me emend to take an hour before chemo and for two day following so I think that may have helped. I do feel like I need a nap by about 2pm this time around though and then wake up feeling groggy.
Great you haven’t lost any hair yet. I’m doing the paxman cap and haven’t lost any yet either and I’m 8 days past number two. Off to collect my emergency wig tonight. Hoping it’s a complete waste of around £700. ?
You’ll feel good once you get the 2nd under your belt as then you’re nearly to the half way mark and the end of fec.
Angela. X
Glad I’m not the only one who pretty much just eats through chemo FeelTheFear! I think it’s the sitting there doing nothing that gives me the urge to eat so I usually bring a bag of snacks then send the husband out for coffee and chocolate ?
Glad you’re doing better this time round Mishy.
This Friday will be week 5 of 9 of the Tax/Carbo for me and I’m looking forward to being able to say I’m over half way through the first bit!
I’m definitely a big fan of eating through chemo. It helps with the boredom and it’s a nice distraction. I also send hubby out for extras. ?
Costa fortune/coffee cake and cappuccino.
I thought about fasting through chemo initially but it seems I’ve gone in the complete opposite direction. We’re even trying all of the pubs out on route to the hospital and are eating at a different one on the way to each session. I read somewhere that eating carbs before chemo helps with nausea, so I’ve decided to grab that advice by the horns. Seems to be working. ?
Hi ladies yeah my nurse told me eating is definitely the key, keeps body stronger and yeah cars so following there advice, toast, I’m finding jacket potatoes helps me too, chicken and rice, Murray mints help with the vile taste in my mouth, fruit I’m finding difficult just doesn’t taste right oh and weetabix for my bowels worked last time for me so Im eating one with plenty of milk for breakfast daily definitely more sleepy with this one mind it was only Monday pottering in garden is helping hoping I’ll not feel as full up when I have a poo tmi sorry but I’m really bunged up again ? well hope everyone has a good day today welcome to all you new girls xxx
Morning mishy. Constipation is the worst for me too. Chemo ward gave me something for it this time which worked, can’t remember what. I find eating very spicy food helps.
I don’t know if you’re considering a wig, but I picked mine up yesterday from tribeca in boldon. Oh my goodness, I’m totally in love with it. And it was half the price I expected. You can also use your voucher against the price. I couldn’t as with Gateshead you can only use in certain shops and I was adamant I wanted tribeca. I’m wearing it today and I haven’t even lost any hair. It feels fantastic to have my long hair back and feel like myself again. My family were stunned at how realistic it is. I’ve got a scalp and everything. It’s absolutely wonderful. X
P.s. It’s real hair and you can treat it as you would your own. Wash, dry, straighten etc.
Angela x
Hi everyone,
Like many of you, I have been lurking on these forums since my diagnosis in May, yet this is my first post.
I started the first of 4 + 4 FEC-T sessions on Jul 26th at Warwick Hospital’s Aylesford unit. I felt fine throughout the session itself (3pm-5pm), ate a big meal when got home (hindsight error) and printed out a spreadsheet to track my meds (pinched from a chemo chum).
Side effects kicked in about 8pm with lead heavy legs and burping! Felt very nauseous and only managed to sleep upright for an hour at a time. I was given Emend pre-chemo and 2 x subsequent daily doses but was told to take them at a similar time as first one (i.e 2pm). That was a mistake. Take them first thing the day after chemo!
Day 2:and despite the steroid anti-sickness Dexamethasone, Ondansetron & Domperidone in my system, because I hadn’t taken the Emend first thing, I had awful nausea and was sick a couple of times in the morning. I called the emergency number and a prescription for Omeprazole was prepared straightaway and the nurse told me to take my Emend immediately.
Omeprazole is a really good anti-gastric reflux tablet apparently. The rest of the day was ropey but by the evening after taking both the Emend and Omeprazole, I started feeling more human.
Day 3 and I had a bad headache which made a vein in my forehead mimic a Harry Potter scar! I spent the rest of the day with a wet, black flannel on my head (I shaved my hair off week before chemo) but at least had graduated from the bed to the sofa (albeit looking like something out of ‘A Handmaid’s Tale’!) PS. My husband saw the dark flannel over my head from the garden and thought my mum had suddenly come to stay lol! (She’s dark, I am normally dyed blonde).
The nausea pretty much went on Day 3 as a result of having the right meds and taking them at the right time. The headache gradually eased off by end of Day 4 too. Like a lot of people describe it…it is rather like a very unfair hangover.
Obviously felt drained and sleepy too, but the bonus of not having the nausea meant I would take the other effects gratefully!
Well it is a week today since #1 session and I was virtually bouncing off the walls with energy and renewed zest for life again yesterday! Today my stomach is gurgling a bit and feeling on the loose side, but overall I happy that if this is my pattern… I shall take it!
It’s really interesting to hear that it is the FEC combo that creates the nausea and that it isn’t the case on the T sessions. I had been dreading having 4 of each because I thought T would be far worse.
I have or should I say HAD … HER 2 - / ER+ Invasive Lobular Cancer 5.2cm, with 33/37 malignant lymph nodes. Had a LB mastectomy 21st June.
Bone scan came back yesterday as ‘Nil of concern’ though, so I am currently euphoric!
Have asked to join the fb group under my pseudonym of ‘Lorna’ thanks Carole 
Oh dead happy for you x cancer certainly strip you of you identity so it’s important we do what we can to look our best x I might look them up!
My mams wigs are really good as hers are real hair I suppose I could give her mine when I’m done with it as her alopecia is permanent so she likes to mix her wigs up a bit! Water brash is something else I’m struggling with got rinatadin from onc to try to help, may need to do a lax if the weetabix don’t work!
Hi Carole, welcome to the group.
I take my emend at 6am, maybe that’s how I’ve dodged the sickness. I also had lymph involvement, 7 out of 26. Also 5 cm invasive and 10 cm of pre cancer. ?
Gone now.
Great news about your bone scan, I cried with relief when my ct scan came back clear. We popped a bottle of bubbly.
Mishy, id definitely suggest making an appointment with tribeca if you’re considering a wig. He’s renowned for them. Even my chemo nurse says his are the best she’s seen by far. He’s a member of the Trevor sorbie ‘my new hair charity’ and also a very good hairdresser.
Hi Carole. It’s not me. ?
I gave up on Facebook years ago. I only lurk on my hubby’s these days so can’t join the group.
Angela. X