Frightening. My nurses told me too that sometimes this just happens. Glad you’re back on course
1 Like
Hope you’re all ok in this extreme heat. Not the best of combos. Thanks for tip re PSR @runnerjen will register for that. Hope you’re better @runningandgin - glad you were able to continue with schedule. Hope your sickness has settled @warmfuzzies. I take two different types on chemo day and then one of them continues for day 2/3. I’ve used sick bands if needed to take the edge off. Thanks for tip on Feel Good Feel better @warmfuzzies @twinks77. Sounds good. @runnerjen agree no specs during cold capping is a downside for sure. @ceche rosemary sounds effective - hope its effectiveness continues 
. Had 2nd EC yesterday - more tired and some slight shedding of hair strands. Watched Julia Bradbury Cancer & Me this morning - well worth a watch if you haven’t already seen. Take care all x
6 Likes
Happy Saturday all 
Tonight is my first time out in my wig… We are going to a small outdoor gig (seats reserved at the front edge to accommodate in some small way crowd concerns).
Hair and infection risk - two things I’d never given second thought to on an evening out in the past. This all gets more and more surreal, and I wonder if I’ll ever be able to process this entire experience.
I’ve gone from long hair to bob to pixie cut to number 4 in 3 weeks. Who knows who it is who’s looking back at me in the mirror now!!
Hope you are all keeping cool over in the UK; temps are a bit more manageable here on the NE coast of Ireland.
Xxx
8 Likes
Hey everyone, I’m feeling very blah this morning. I ordered my wig yesterday, a beautiful human hair one that will be coloured and cut to replicate my own hair (pre- chemo) and I thought I would feel relieved to finally order one, but I just don’t. I just knew it was time to get it done. I’ve also gone from really long hair to a bob and then a pixie. I feel like I’ve lost my sense of identity. My outfit for a wedding arrived yesterday too and I loved it when I ordered it but wow I just felt like a boy in a dress!
6 Likes
Morning everyone
@slenderframe hope you had a fab night out and felt comfortable in your wig 
I think the first outing in it is hard because your so aware of it yourself but then you soon realise no one else knows! 
@mummybear1 it’s horrible that with everything we have to go through we end up loosing our sense of self too your wig sounds fantastic! Especially as you can have it cut & coloured to your original style. That will definitely help you feel like you again. I’m sure your dress is beautiful and I’m certain you won’t look like a boy in a dress. But I get it, we don’t look like we did. Even if we’ve not lost hair or boob / boobs we still know that fear and trauma we are going through. It’s still early days and we’re still in the thick of it. When is the wedding you are going to?
Hope everyone else is doing ok. I’m really enjoying the headscarf and dangly earring look at the minute. Although I keep seeing earrings on Etsy that I just have to have! I’m enjoying my good days before EC number 3 on Thursday. The rough days drag & the good days go so fast!
7 Likes
Thank you @twinks77 for your kind reply! I’m lucky to have found somewhere that can help me find one to look like me again.
The wedding is on the 8th August. I’m looking forward to it although it’s a chemo day so might not make it through the full wedding.
I’m also trying to enjoy the next few days before
EC 3 on Friday and then I’ll be half way through 
7 Likes
Oh halfway through sounds good! I have EC 2 on Friday so a third of the way for me. I’m also making the most of feeling well while it lasts! It’s hard accepting the changes that we are going through, it sounds like your wig will be a really good match for your original hairstyle and I bet no one will be able to tell but it must be so hard, I am convinced that I am just delaying the inevitable myself. I have a wig appointment on Tuesday after my blood test and I’m not sure how I feel about it. I still have a decent amount of hair but no idea how long it will last so I do want a wig ready to order if / when the time comes. I’d gladly lose leg and armpit hair though!
5 Likes
Ladies
After recent hospitalisation my top tip to share is have a hospital ‘grab bag’ packed and ready to go. I had a bag packed and ready and it was a godsend. I take it in the car any time I go to hospital to have a side effect reviewed.
Contents:
Pyjamas
Underwear
Fresh head scarf
Washbag (toothbrush etc)
Phone Charging cable
Book
Wipes (for freshening up)
Sliders / slippers
Copy of PANTS card
Small amount of cash
Headphones.
I couldn’t have coped without this stuff and it saved my husband having to do multiple trips to go back and get anything once we knew I would be admitted.
7 Likes
My son saw my hair in its full unglory this morning. He flashed me a big smile but it still made me cry for him to see me like this. I don’t really want a wig so will just stick with the hippie hair wraps.
8 Likes
This is such a good idea, thanks! I’ll put mine together tomorrow and hope I don’t need to use it…
1 Like
This is what I did, it’s so handy to have a grab bag. I also added my glasses and contact lenses.
2 Likes
I need to check my overnight / grab bag, I had it for the first session but I have taken some bits out since then and I am back there Friday for another helping of EC. But I think you’re right keeping it packed and ready to go, so I will do mine today! And I need to remember to take that emergency card with the prescription for antibiotics on it every time I go out - I forget because I put it in my purse but don’t always take that with me. I don’t know how I will remember to take it, I don’t have the same bag every time I go out, maybe I need a note on the front door!
1 Like
I know what you mean about different bags. I have mine in my purse but i wasn’t in a state to remember and my husband did’t think to bring it (possibly a man thing). Luckily I had a photograph of it on my phone. But think I’ll print off a photo of it and keep it in the grab bag too so we’re not searching my phone for a photo either.
I need to repack mine now and check what’s still in it. Hope I don’t need it again.
4 Likes
Brilliant idea to photograph it! I just did that and saved the photos in notes as well as I always have my phone with me. Thanks for the tip!
Hey all, I am catching up on all your messages. How is everyone? Thank you for all your feedback about how your approached the ‘hair situation’. I ‘braved the shave’ during the weekend and I must say that right now it feels quite freeing and it is far less traumatic than seeing clumps of hair in the bath or leaving a trail of hair behind me where ever I go. It is a big adjustment for my two little girls, especially my 6 year old.
Good luck today @runningandgin , sorry to hear that you had an extra tough few days last week.
I hope you enjoyed your night out @slenderframe ! It is so important to do ‘normal’ things when we feel up to it (even if we don’t feel particularly normal!)
@mummybear1 it is so hard. All this change to our bodies in a short period of time. Your new wig sounds like it will be fantastic and hopefully you’ll feel a little more like you once it is done.
x x x
4 Likes
First shower / hair wash with significant hair loss today. This sucks. I realise I’m a way behind you guys and one of the few with hair left but blimey, I know how you all felt now. I can’t see this lasting long.
Plus, I went out for a nice walk / light jog and managed to graze my leg on a bramble. I’ve cleaned it up, put a clean gauze dressing on it and called the hospital helpline for advice. Just got to keep an eye on it, watch my temperature and show them on Friday. Apart from that, having a great day 
5 Likes
Hi @runnerjen
Its shocking how quick it comes away isnt it! I hope it hasnt disheartened you to much x
I was told not go out in sun reading your post makes me kick myself for not getting into regular running before this!
I hope you stay infection free and have a good week, the same i wish to all.
3 Likes
@runnerjen we’re all there with you. It’s a lot to deal with. I hung in there with a pixie cut for quite a few weeks. Then went for the clippers this week and for me at least it has been a relief, I couldn’t deal with the shedding anymore. Well done for trying a run. Fingers crossed the graze is fine but always good to check. I’ve been too fatigued and worried about being unsteady to give it a try - which is frustrating. I will get back to it at some point.
Just had EC #4 today - slightly reduced dose. Will see how we go this cycle. That’s a big tick for EC. Moving onto Paclitaxel next. Half way through.
6 Likes