Gosh CDC that all sounds a bit of a pickle ? Hope tomorrow sorts itself out one way or the other.
Had my PICC line fitted this afternoon. The procedure itself was painless and didn’t take too long. Bit disappointed it had to go in my left arm (my dominant hand), but they said because I’d lymph nodes out (only four ?) they couldn’t put it in my right. Feel all a bit unco-ordinated. It’s bleeding still, but the advice I was given when I rang the unit was to try and put more pressure on it and keep an eye on it. So I’ve tightened the bandage and crossed my fingers.
Roll on Wednesday, patience is starting to wear thin!
Good luck for today CDC and KTK, I am sure that Shi is steadying the plane for your boarding and you’ll soon be jetting across to the island with the rest of us! CDC - I can’t believe the problems you have had with getting these appointments sorted, I thought mine was a pickle. Still not convinced that not having had my CT scan prior to chemo is a good idea but onco’s don’t seem worried so just have to go with it, I’ve still not got an appt for that yet but I will be seeing Onc team on 27 June for follow up appt from first chemo so hopefully can ask all the questions then. I’ll be thinking of you all today, I’m day 9 now and feelling pretty good, sleeping well, sore mouth not as bad now (Cordysyll was recommened by the help line) and still have taste buds so hopefully you’ll have the same experience and just a few days of yuckiness and then some good days too. My hair’s still there, discovered the tingling is some spots on my scalp, seem to be turning into a teenager again… if only I had the face of one! Oh one new side effect today is bit of thrush down below… GP issuing a prescription for something for that, I’m definately making use of the helpline this week, I think its just panicking about everything but hey its our health at stake and they are so lovely I have decided to check anything and everything with them.
Fingers crossed everyone has a good day today…Kip xxx
Picc line in, anti emetics in. Just waiting for the chemo now. Decided not to bother with the cold cap but have been bought some pretty scarves. No idea what to do with them though!
Well done Ktk one done!! Weird sitting back at home waiting for something to happen isn’t it. Get ready for weird cravings!! Cdc I hope you got your chemo eventually, poor you all that waiting but at least they fed and watered you. I’ve bought my wig although haven’t got it home as it needs adjusting for a proper fit, very pleased with it just hope it’s ready before the hair goes! After missing my long hair I ended up getting a short one… Never thought I would. Sleep well everyone
I feel like I have a bad hangover! Bit headachey (can I take paracetamol?), and I don’t quite feel sick but a bit of a queasy tum. Maybe a G&T would help ? x
Thanks. Temp ok so I’ll take some paracetamol and my 8pm meds. Just read the leaflets. Side affects horrendous !! Then injections start on Thursday. Joy.
Glad to hear you’ve survived day one KTK and CDC - hope you have a good night’s rest and tomorrow continues well.
The bleeding stopped with with extra pressure on the PICC and I managed to sleep without lying on it! Imagine if you me and MrLJ fighting with a roll of cling film at 5.15am trying to waterproof me sufficiently to go in the shower!!! There has to be a better way!
So tomorrow is my D-Day - 9am will see me donning the cold cap so it’ll be shoulders back and best foot forward. See you the other side!
Good luck today, take warm cardigan with you in case the air conditioning is on and you are dressed for summer. I had sandals on and had to ask for blankets I got so cold!!!
Sending love,
Xx
The cold cap is doable. I get brain freeze from a mcflurry and I managed it. The first 15 minutes is really hard but it passes and you forget it’s cold after that. Make sure yoy take a book or something because there’s so much sitting around.
Morning all. I slept on and off but still have a cracking headache. Just about to take morning meds. One has to be taken with food so I’ll have a bit of yogurt, but I don’t really feel like it.
CDC the PICC is good as you don’t need a cannula every time. LJ I was given a waterproof sleeve for the shower and you can buy them on Amazon. I have also got a couple of funky PICC covers which are better than the stockingette, not so clinical!
Well done CDC and KTK and good luck to LJ for today. Welcome to the Chemo Boot Camp!! The foggy head was something I had too, although not too bad but on Day 6 I took a paracetamol and it went after that (my nurse said to take temp before taking paracetamol). As for the nausea, I took the anti sickness as instructed even if I felt ok, the first 3 days I felt nauseaous like pregnancy but was ok eating, helped to keep eating actually. After that I only needed 1 of the “as and when” sickness tablets a day for a couple of days and haven’t needed them since, hopefully you’ll feel like me by day 6/7 and back to normal. I have found it better to get up eat some breakfast and then wait a while before taking my tablets just in case I was sick and brought them back up again. I have to take antibiotics now for 10 days and I can’t take them with anything with milk so have my cuppa and breakfast by 8 then take them at 10am. Its a lot to remember isn’t it. Also I had steroids which the nurse said to take morning and noon so that my sleep wasn’t interrupted and that seems to have worked so far and have slept really well, which I think helps. My mouth started to feel sore (not dry but as if it was burnt) by day 6 so helpline suggested salt water mouthwash or cordysl mouthwash, also the Biotene mouthwash and toothpaste is good too, I have alternated between them as I felt I needed and its ok now, not quite right but taste buds in tact so thats good! My new SE is thrush (Down below) but helpline organised a prescription and getting sorted now, ring them for anything, they are great! Hope you all have restful days, take a few days to just chill, read a book, sleep, watch tv and try to get a little walk, that seemed to help with the headache too.
Cdc i have a picc line as was having 4 fec and that can cause problems to your vein.it will be left in until end of chemo. Once you get used to using the cover to shower its fine.best advice is look online as the leaflet doesnt explain it well so i got the dressing etc wet although people take the the dressing off when showering apparently. I have to get it flushed every week by a nurse whos not at the hospital.am just waiting to see her now before going to work.went to work yesterday day 7. You can use cling film instead of cover but its hard to put on yourself so i use the cover now in the shower. I do like baths though so miss them as not tried a bath yet but you could have one and just keep your arm out of the water. Also dont carry anything heavy or do yoga etc with a picc line. X
See I was adamant I didn’t want a picc line because I really can’t be doing with spending any more time at the hospital than I really have to. It’s bad enough having to see the oncologist every couple of weeks for 5 minutes! (and they’ve still not come back to let me know if they can do telephone reviews) The ANC surgery has messed up my left arm enough so Im not going to have anything that stops me using my right as normal.
Long day, cold cap didn’t go on until 11.30, drugs were finished by 2.30 and then cold cap stayed on for another 90 mins or so. With the warming up it was 5pm before we left. It’s true about the cold cap - get through the first 10/15 mins with gritted teeth and then the rest is bearable. TBH I found the downward pressure on my glasses worse than the cold, feel like I’ll never get the nose dents outs! All in all it went well, no reactions, no funny feelings. Home now, first set of steroids taken (guess sleeping might be an issue) and also anti-sickness. Have an easy evening planned.
Ref the PICC line - surprising how quickly I’ve got used to it. At the moment I’ve got a proper tubi-grip bandage on which feels more secure. I bought a shower cover from Boots which did the job this morning. And of course there was no faffing trying to find a vein. I’m happy with it now.
Oh. And you’ll all be glad to know I’m not pregnant ???