Hi @wibbles and welcome. Citrus cordials, fizzy water to dilute them, kombucha, make your own fruit ice lollies….there’s a few ideas. I quite like pomegranate or cranberry juice and they’re good for your neutrophils (there I go again 
).
Good luck!
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@twink1 I have no idea about toothpaste sorry, or injections as I’ve not had them. I’d say my chemo treatment unit is definitely busy and full but seems very well organised and I’ve never been kept waiting either for a blood test or chemo. That’s at chesterfield. However when I’ve had to go to the main cancer hospital I’m under which is Weston park in Sheffield I’ve had to wait almost 2 hours both times as the clinic was running so late. Seems to be a bit of a postcode lottery??
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Hi @twink1 if they gave you the toothpaste id use it. I bought myself a medicated mouthwash and a very mild toothpaste thats good for dry mouth. I havent looked into teeth care to be honest but I was preparing for mouth ulcers which you might get in the next few days. Or maybe not as we are all so different.
I also failed to do my own jabs so my husband had to for me. We had to find a video on YouTube as I had no instructions whats so ever and there were none in the box. I was told if I couldnt do them myself they would provide me with a district nurse? Sounds like your area is swamped though. I get a district nurse come and change my picc dressing and I also get a nurse come and take my bloods from me pre chemo day. Maybe you could try your luck and ask for this help?
Hi @wibbles welcome and sorry you’ve had such a tough run with Chemo. I am loving the Bottlegreen Ginger and Lemongrass cordial. It’s expensive but as I am not drinking alcohol anymore I have decided I am worth a posh squash.
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Oh @sam1204 we lived in Sheffield for 10yrs - went to Uni there and stayed as we loved it so much. Firstborn was born at Jessops. Husband and I keep saying we need return trip - love the Peak District and Sheff.
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@sam1204 why does the middle aged facial hair hang on - it’s like a mad witchy conspiracy to make me look like a bald witchy hag?!?
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@twink1 yes I have been using a high- fluoride toothpaste throughout, dentist friend gave me a prescription for it. AI tells me: High-fluoride toothpaste (typically 5000 ppm, such as Duraphat or Colgate PreviDent) is strongly recommended during and after chemotherapy to protect teeth from decay, especially if experiencing dry mouth (xerostomia). These prescription toothpastes strengthen enamel damaged by treatment.
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@2kittens like most others work have been great, I’ve agreed 50% during chemo but not put days on it, and have a call with occ health next week. I was mucking about with Claude AI last week and used it to work out a rough 50% plan based on this first round of EC, with the full day off for treatment and day two, 1-2 hrs on day 3 if I felt like it (bringing me to Friday) then a gradual phase back to FT hours over the week. That made me feel more comfortable handling my own working time, as I have a structure to work around and I’ve tried to use it to plan my diary ahead a couple of weeks. I know things can change but like you I’m finding work a good release for my brain.
I’m mostly working from home now (my day job is very office based) but have been going in for group working sessions (I’m on a major project at the mo). Work policy is also to give you reasonable time for appointments so that’s being covered.
Hope you had a good sleep and are feeling okay today. I have EC number 2 this afternoon - woke up at 5am with a brain full of busy thoughts. Definitely got hair loss on my mind since it seems others have experienced the most after round 2. Wig fitting in a week’s time though, and I’ve got soft cap and a jersey head wrap thing all prepped. Need to buy some big earrings for distraction!!
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@twink1 good that they gave you a demo, chemo nurse did this and it helped massively. I managed them okay round 1 but I was really cross (had a little foot stampy tantrum!) about the stinging feeling doing it first time. Second day I lobbed on some Emla cream I had leftover from when my 6 year old had a blood test - you’re supposed to put it on an hour before but I did it when I got it out of the fridge 30 mins before. Maybe psychological but it felt like it was easier! I have not checked this with any medical professional but I assume it can’t hurt - and you can get Emla 5% over the counter in boots for £6.50!
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Thanks! Really that’s what i wanted to know… I have to allow 45 mins to get to the hospital as well which adds to it all. In future I may be able to get the dressing checked at a van that comes round once a week 
i thought there was a chat as well as bloods at the preops? But that’s just three weekly anyway. I can see that the tiredness is kicking in today - probably why i was so fed up yesterday! I have a lovely non-needle acupuncture booked in this morning ….
Thanks for the help. There are some advantages to my delayed start! X
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Thanks - good tip!
Ill get going with it - mine is Duriphat 2800x thanks
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@joodles we love it here. Been in Derbyshire for 19 years minus a 4 year time out in North Yorkshire (which is also lovely). You should come back! 
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Hey @felineoptimist hope EC #2 goes well this afternoon. I had my 2nd EC yesterday and I’m only the 2nd day in but it doesn’t feel as bad (not that last time was awful) but I’ve made it to the gym for a light workout this morning which I definitely couldn’t of done last time! I slept much better last night too, last round I was wired on the steroids from 2-6am which exhausted me!
I’m cold capping but have lots of wigs/hairpieces/hats lined up as I had a big shed on day 21, although I’m lucky to still have a full head of hair I’ve heard there’s lots more shedding to come this round!
Thinking of you today 
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Well done getting to the gym @katie91 . Hope the rest of the day goes well for you x
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Well ive not made it to the gym haha you super women you! Instead I am very grumpy today. I wasted a day wallowing in bed yesterday feeling sorry for myself. Not physically ill but mentally feeling beaten. I did not like seeing my bloods drop, no doubt this is just fallout from my old health anxiety.
Hopefully a better day today. Take all my meds again, get some good smoothies in me and ive got my first meeting with my actual oncologist. Atleast I hope it’s her and not her assistants like last time.
Wishing you all good day today 
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Thank you for that suggestion. I am going to try to walk up to the supermarket at the top of the road and buy some, that and extra plain hula hoops and maybe a ready made cream pasta sauce. Currently living on plain pork medallions, pasta spinach, carrots and peas curtesy of husband with forays into smoked haddock chowder. If I try and cook from scratch I loose the will to eat. I have enough sense to keep eating little and often though. At least the bliss mascarpone yogurt has stopped tasting utterly vile today and I managed plain home made porridge. Will speak with both oncologist and chemo unit about impact on taste as it’s been a shock to find even water tasted awful.
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Hi all, I’ve been looking at this forum for a little while and decided to take the plunge and join in. I started my chemo (x3 EC x3 Dox in 3 weekly cycles) on 16th March. I’m also cold capping and trying to ensure I eat lots of fibre and protein to keep myself well so you guys have all inspired me to come in board. I’m actually at Weston Park for my treatment so seems like I’m near to one of you too. Anyway - just wanted to say you’ve all been buoying me up
with your stories and strength and I wanted to say hello x
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Hey @clarabelle1 welcome to the thread!!
You’re on the same regime as me, I had 1st EC on 3rd March and 2nd EC yesterday. How have you found your 1st cycle so far? How’s cold capping going for you? The 1st one made me feel abit sick to my stomach for the initial 15 mins then was fine but the 2nd time cold capping was fine, think it helped knowing what to expect
This forum and this thread I think has kept alot of us going, I often lurk in the Jan/Feb chemo threads to take inspiration from some of the people who are further on than us and it’s so nice seeing people at the end of their treatmebts, really reminds me it’s temporary.
Hope you’re doing well
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First one not so bad. I had a reaction to the dressings for my Picc line so ended up with the cold capping on a hour and a half before any treatment started while they checked it all out. I was pretty glad to see the back of it by the time I’d finished and was the last person to leave the unit. Haven’t lost any hair yet but expecting that any day now 
. I’ve mostly been well and trying to do what I can and also listen to my body. Feels like I’m using the first one to understand how I might react although I truly expect they’ll all be different. Good to hear your 2nd was OK and long may it continue that way
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