Hi all, not been on for the last few days. Day 7 for me post first EC chemo, it has been a “clearing of my system” couple of days - temps all normal and fear it’s a chemo side effect rather than a separate issue. Had a great day Day 5 - felt energised and back to me but the last two have felt fatigued by afternoon resulting in a “Nana nap” even thought I am not a Nana! And use of the “eye of Sauron” emoji when describing my poor rear has been present in texts to friends (close ones!). However managed a short dog walk this afternoon and hopeful for improved day tomorrow. Did last injection tonight so yay - although forgot to take my paracetamol and antihistamine till bedtime and hence me awake now….i need to sort out my meds schedule and set an alarm
Hope those on second EC round going ok. And will be utilising those smoothie suggestions. I have been mostly veggie and bean/chickpea based soup eating trying to keep fluids up and food not too spiced or triggering for the old bowels!
@catlover2 everyone’s experience is different but I can honestly say the symptoms were a lot more manageable than I feared and I have so far been ok after two EC cycles. Though definitely noticing some hair shed now. Early days of course. But you’ve got this. Take the nap when you need it. Put yourself first. Everyone responds and feels differently but once you get started it feels less stressful because you’re on the path. Best of luck today we will be thinking of you. If I have a fatigued day I tell myself this is killing those cells so it is a good thing!
@foxgem I did not take any anti sickness the day before. Had the pills they gave me pre chemo then took one anti sickness tablet before bed. Then following day I take the 2 x 2 steroid tablets (still not sure what they’re for) and a sickness tablet 30 mins before each meal (even if I feel fine). Then I stop them all after day 4 I think it is? Then seem fine for rest of cycle without anything.
Sounds like everyone is finding their way through the different symptoms, mainly via cheese! No cheese craving here but ginger biscuits have helped massively with nausea before the anti sickness meds kick in.
I had my oncology review on Wednesday and as I’d been getting constipation from the chemo mixed with the iron tablets I was on, I stopped the iron tablets. I also have a primary bowel cancer so I was worried about stressing my bowel by getting bunged up. They’ve agreed to give me an iron infusion so hopefully they’ll do that with my next paclitaxel on Monday.
I’m not sure if it’s the anaemia, but the last few days I’ve been exceptionally tired. I’ve had a good few days, being active, gardening and baking etc. Yesterday and today the tanks feel empty. I’m day 12.
I spent Sunday night & Monday in a&e with a slight sniffle and bouncy temperature but it turned out to be nothing. It seems, understandably, that non oncology drs panic about high white blood cells levels whereas when they check with oncology they say “she’s fine, she’s over responded to the filgrastim" They’re reducing the filgrastim from 5 days to 3 next time as I was in a lot of bone pain from the side effects. My high performance in the blood cell department means I can try less days of it - go me!!
Interested to know if anyone else is getting the tiredness nearly 2 weeks in?
@catlover2 good luck today. As my BCN said to me on Tuesday, you only have to do the first one once. By the time you finish today you’ve done the first infusion and you never have to do that again. I found it helpful to meet myself with all the feelings I had about starting treatment and talk it out with my husband on the way to the first session. Naming what I was feeling took away some of the fear. Practically speaking, you’ve got this though - your medical team are looking out for you and we’re here in your pocket too. X
Well done bones! I hope mine over excel themselves also haha
I haven’t experienced any tiredness yet but I’m only day 12 and my chemo is every 2 weeks so I think I get a slightly less hit of the stuff. At least that’s my understanding, less but more frequent. No doubt the tiredness will show it’s head soon.
Thinking of you often @2kittens how are you holding up?
Really great to hear the 2nd round can be much the same. I have some bad acid reflux/heartburn at the moment and I keep worrying it could get worse each time and I’ll struggle to eat.
You’ve inspired me to make some soup today thank you
@catlover2 remember us here in your pocket for support today, I’m sure there will always be someone ready to respond and give you a cheer. I hope the nurses sweep you up in their arms today like they did for me. Like @felineoptimist pointed out you only have to do that first one once! A great outlook especially for me sitting here on the other side of that first. I did it! I didnt think I could but I did and I’m doing ok. You’ve got this big hugs
@2kittens TBF the tiredness and its sudden onset seems to be my Achilles heel atm. I am now Day 8 and am feeling achey in my bones. Described it to my 18yr old - it’s like I went to “der Klub” and danced too frenetically for my age and the following day wondered what shapes I had dared to pull to make my body feel this achey!! I have a consultant review appointment today to check n EC Chemo 1 and how I faired. Hope everyone is being scooped and held by a lovely person today. I am off to make more soup!
Thank you for messaging @blackcatgirl1 I did it, somehow! Was emotional at first but the ladies were great with me. Feel tired now but relieved that the 1st session is done. Is monday your first session? How are you feeling? Also i took far too much stuff with me, didnt need it all lol x
Day 10 of 21 here and for my final round everything has gone like clockwork with my side effects other than feeling more sick for longer…today is the first day I’ve properly been able to face food. Right on time the chemo acne face rash is launching tonight as the grand finale…! x
I having my first round of weekly paclitaxel on Tuesday, the closer it gets the more anxious i feel , will probably be a blubbering mess when I get there. Had my picc line fitted this morning, my arms a bit sore tonight, hoping it will ease off. Back in worki tomorrow till Tuesday, hopefully work will take my mind off it
Hi All, just jumping on from the Feb thread, have skimmed through your messages so far and you’re all doing so well through your first cycles!! You guys have got this! I have just finished my 4th and last EC and moving onto twice weekly Paclitaxel from Wed for 4 doses. I recognise so many of the symptoms and timelines you’ve spoken about, and all of it does feel more manageable as you go through, even though it is all quite shit! Just to say on hair loss it will be an emotional few days when the shedding kicks in, mine was about a week after my 2nd EC and I cried for about 3 days and felt like I didn’t recognise the person in the mirror anymore. But you do get through it and move on and embrace the new person staring at you in the mirror. Lots of highs and lows through the cycles but resilience, positivity, diet and exercise has really helped me to keep looking forward and push through the symptoms…not to mention binge watching a lot of TV when I’ve needed a rest.
Also just a note on chia seeds, a dietician does the rounds on our chemo ward and advised to have them soaked (in water/milk etc), if you have them unsoaked can cause constipation! I really struggle with this symptom day 1-5 on EC and highly recommend oats, prunes, drinking the water from soaked mustard seeds (yuck), and all the anti-constipation meds that will give you I was doing a combo of senna, Movicol and dioctyl which I only realised I could take altogether after speaking to chemo nurse. Hopefully bowels are behaving for you all
No cheese craving here but ginger biscuits have helped massively with nausea before the anti sickness meds kick in.
big hugs
