How’s everyone feeling after their first doses by now? Had mine Monday, felt well and worked yesterday and still feeling pretty ok today with the exception of my heart rate is quite low at rest. About 45bpm, has anyone else had this issue? I’ve spoken to oncology helpline and GP and they don’t seem too concerned but it just gives me anxiety.. like I don’t want to rest as need to keep it more elevated. Was hoping to work today but feel a little apprehensive with my heart at the moment as I already have a cardiomyopathy and was always going to worry about it.
Hope you are all getting through it though safely. At least first ones done.. now to tick the next 5 off successfully
I’ve been using something called yoga nidra by Ali boothryod on YouTube..if you listen to her whilst your in bed , and listen properly to her she can send you into a beautiful deep sleep.. switches your brain off and calms your Nervous system. I’ve been doing it for years, just to keep stress levels down but she does sleep/insomnia videos that I feel work so well. Can only try?
Hey! Mine was Tuesday and feeling not bad today, I’ve had multiple mini issues that I’ve had to deal with! I think for me It’s learning what’s what, like all these new sensations what are they.. how to deal with them.. are they normal… are they an emergency…. So I’ve got alot of questions to ask Oncologist tomorrow just for my own clarification!!
As for the heart rate mine is the opposite! Mine is higher than usual, they told me ti take certain medicine which lowered like yours and that’s also not nice as your right you wanna do things to keep it up! Hopefully for you it’s just a one off and re-right itself …have you had any other side effects?x
Hi, I’ve not had much by way of side effects yet, eating ok, and no sickness thankfully, yesterday felt really well like nothings changed but today my brain feels so so and wired but my bodies slightly lagging behind. But then it’s asking me to slow down I think as I’ve been carrying on quite normally.. did get little tingles yesterday in my mouth and my head and I also have like a whooshing noise in my ear like I have static in my ear after a phone call if that makes sense, but I read that it can happen as your hearing becomes really sensitive at times.. not sure what meds you’re having? I’m on docetaxel and carboplatin. I’m sure there are lots to come..
what have been your main side effects? Did you say yesterday was your first infusion?
I am on day 9 now and hardly able to eat my mouth is so uncomfortable. I found this list and I wish I had it before I started. These foods are all soft and bland, I’ll definitely be sticking up for next cycle.
@LittleBitBrave Im going to GP to ask about exactly that this afternoon. I was not coping at all mentally between days 4 and 7 between how I felt inside my head and the insomnia
I had mine last Thursday and Friday and suffered with nausea since but presume it’s because I had a reaction. Everytime I take a sickness tablet it makes me so tired. Hoping this will pass soon. Have managed to work from home but mainly part days. My sense of smell is crazy - I’m sure yesterday I could smell every single flower in my garden . Yes only 5 more to go - we can all do this!! Hope your heart rate improves.
Anybody got the constant nose-drip? That’'s a joy and a half, not! Caused because your nostril hairs - which warm and filter the air you inhale - fall out. I’m getting through boxes of tissues but just given in and taken an antihistamine, which might help and was ‘okayed’ by my chemo nurses.
I’ve found that even decent sleep doesn’t help much with the fatigue, and I have it for over a week, after each chemo cycle.
How are you getting on with your belly-jabs, if you’re having them?
IF your GP is not helpful speak with your oncologist.
My GP refused to help when I walked straight into hospital based trauma from hell. the oncologist took on everyone till the local CMHT provided setraline ( used for PTSD) Ìt was a good stop gap whilst my local charity centre sorted out trauma counselling and trauma therapy for me and started in April.
IFyour struggling reach out for help from your GP, BCN and if that does not help your oncologist as they do tend to view you as a whole person as they deal with real people whose real lives have collapsed and if you are facing anything that makes it harder to engage with chemo they will do what they can to help you even if it’s providing details of local charitable support.
My GP was really helpful. I explained how the anxiety and insomnia were unmanageable throughout the peak phase of side effects. She has given me 5mg diazepam tablets to take throughout those 4/5 days only when I feel I need them. They’re not a solution to long term anxiety as they can become addictive but for an acute phase due to chemo effects they are fine. I feel better already just knowing I have a safety net if I become like that again next cycle.
I’m so glad they helped! That’s a relief for you , I got exactly the same as you though the first week for me was awful and I do think half of it was anxiety and no sleep so to have anything that may help is great.
The steroid crash on day 4 has a lot to do with it as they leave your system. I was given a higher dose of pre meds since I had a reaction to docetaxel in 2010.
It’s a relief to know that I’m not the only one that felt like this as I was so low I didn’t know how I’d manage to get through it again. Just to feel comfortable will be a huge improvement.
now to tick the next 5 off successfully 
. Yes only 5 more to go - we can all do this!! Hope your heart rate improves.