Well done with the hair. I am still not ready ? hanging on for a bit longer. How short have you gone? I had a short cut at at Easter but it needs a colour and a trim again…i just don’t see the point.
I put off having hair cut before, was 4 weeks over due for chop and thought it would fall out days after 1st chemo so was reluctant to pay for a cut before. I thought you can’t dye your hair when having chemo or for 6 months after?
Well done Heather. It’s a relief in a weird way isn’t it!
Picnic sounds lovely Mai7. Just a shame you couldn’t find gin and tonics to go with it. They were a pack of 4 in the seasonal bit rather than with drinks and alcohol.
Managed to take Dog out and been to Asda. Couldn’t decide what to eat for lunch. I seem to be needing to eat like when I have a hangover. So had a pasta salad. Will try and have a nap after nurse has been. Hubby taken boys out for a few hours x
Thanks for the welcome, I also had a big decision earlier this week as to whether to have my hair cut as it had started to get a bit tatty around the edges. I hadn’t got a lot but it had got thinner from previous treatments. I went for it and glad I did rather than wait for it to fall out. I also treated myself to a couple of hats from a well known store which were in the children’s department and fitted well.
Bloods checked yesterday and whilst there asked the nurse if she knew about my treatment plan. She said that it was indefinite or depended on how I tolerated SE. Feeling a bit anxious this morning after I have thought about this, does this mean I will be on this treatment forever as there is no alternative. I have had 2 different oral chemotherapy’s and was unable to tolerate them and Tamoxifen failed. Ann
Hello everyone,
Silly me used a different thread, thanks for the tip to join this one!
My 1st Chemo was due 15th but blood levels were all over the shot and been taking Vitamin B12., Folic Acid and Thiamine Hydrochloride. Platelets went from 70 to 160 in 10 days so I started last Thursday after having a Picc Line fitted. Taken all the anti sickness drugs they sent me home with and so far not had to take the Metoclopramide, dont feel sick but have a very sore throat and no temperature. I have a prescription for Omperazole(Gastro resistant capsules) so hoping will have that by Wednesday to help relieve the burning feeling.
Going with a friend to Force at Exeter hospital on Wednesday for a wig fitting. Very nervous, had 6 inches chopped off about 3 weeks ago but the BCN thinks need go shorter still so its not such a shock.
Any tips and chats would be most welcome, I have a partner but my kids live miles away and feeling a bit lonely.
Trisha
Hi Trisha, welcome to our group we I hope we can stop you feeling so lonely there is normally one of us on line at most points during the day / night. Glad your coping fairly well with your first session I am just a couple of days ahead of you I starterd last Monday (a week tomorrow) I like you am relieved that I have been lucky not suffering sickness however I am struggling with smells even lovely smells like fabric softener or my sister sitting near me after a shower with bee creams on are making me feel uneasy. I can constantly smell a kind of burnt toast smell around the house - wondering if anyone else has experienced this? Is this a normal side affect?
Regarding the wig (bit of a toutchy subject for me at the moment ? So I will let one of our other lovely ladies give you some advice on that, as they did me and I am starting to feel better about it now) I will be having my final fitting on Monday 5th and at the same time I will be having my hair shaves so that I come out of the fitting wearing the wig and will not have to experience the actual hair loss.
Xxxxxxxxx
Trisha I had a B12 injection. I was low picked out on a blood test prior my diagnosis. It must have been ok as it hasn’t been mentioned since?? So they check b12 each cycle?
Welcome Trisha, hope you will find this as helpful as theasy rest of us x
I’m really struggling with these daily injections today. (Day 4) . Really aching. Under Arms, hips, every where. Any tips? Parcetamol not really helping. Know you suffered quite bad last time treehouse . Did it just ease when you stopped the injections? X
Hope you have all had nice weekend ladies
Hi Trish. Glad you found us. Katie dat 4-9 I had pain and like you paracetamol did nothing. I am getting better painkillers for found 2 Tue so will let you know. I had a lovely date night with husband yesterday but have had niggly pain in my right abdomen. I was putting it down to a bruise from my first jab but it moved lower . Today we went for a mooch around a car boot and I was getting stabbing pains so went home. After a few hours decided to call hotline as was getting worried. They told me to see out of hours GP. After many phone calls and a visit to hospital they hope it is not appendix and have given me 3 days antibiotics for mild water infection. Mai you had a much better day than me 
Oh treehouse, hope your ok xx
Sounds like you had a lovely weekend Mai7.
Sat in bed with hot water bottle and lemon drink as can’t stand taste of anything else at the minute! Oh have times have changed.
Katie I found sweet things tasted sour. Everything goes a bit wrong with this chemo. It does pass I promise. Visitors help keep your mind off it. X x
Hi Trisha, I started on FEC on Wednesday. Finding smells a challenge but so far the injections aren’t too bad. Glad you had a good picnic Mai7. Getting out and doing normal stuff helps me feel like a person not just a cancer patient. Hope you’re ok treehouse.
Thanks ladies. I think I’m ok. I just don’t trust my body. Getting a bit paranoid about everything.i expected the side effects but nothing quit prepares you. Hair falling lots but still not noticeable unless you look at my shoulders or pillow. ?
My throat feels like I have eaten glass :-( been aboit 30 hours now, temp is ok at 37 degress, but so sore x
Is this normal?
Trisha
Morning Trisha, sorry bout the throat. Do you think it’s actual sore throat or dry throat? if you have a drink or some ice cream does it ease it for a while? The thing is a sore throat could be the start of an infection (please don’t panic it’s probably not) but dry uncomfortable throat is sideaffect. It’s hard I think knowing what is acceptable (hahahah as if any are acceptable) and what is of concern. I’m hoping as the days pass we will become less paranoid and able to know the differences.
Do you have any hot chicolate or horlicks? I have found that I have gone off coffee (I’m the biggest coffee lover) but I can drink hot chicolate, I try and have one in the morning as it does help my throat. Maybe try a milky drink?
Keep checking your temperature throughout the day. X
Treehouse, gosh I don’t know how sometimes I think I miss messages when I’m reading through and catching up but just noticed you were at the hospital yesterday with the shooting pains.
I hope your feeling better and the antibiotics are doing their magic already.
Speedy recovery and I hope not appendix
Xxxxxxxx
I haven’t done this yet because I need to check it out but… have been told that although we shouldn’t drink or take extra vitamin c we can gargle it around our mouth because it can be a great help with sore throats and mouth. So dissolving an effervescent and doing a swish like a mouthwash could help but until I’ve asked about it don’t swollow. This tip was from a lady who was trained as a chemo nurse.
Hi Trish. I was given Difflam oral rinse in my hospital goody bag. It is to relieve mouth and throat pain. I have not used it yet but might be one to ask for. I drank lots of camomile tea with Manuka honey ?. Back on the steroids today. X
Hi I use honey, just the usual type for sore throat, a spoonful and let it gently coat your throat. Also gargle with dissolved aspirin or warm salt water can help. My husband usually drinks OJ in warm water and honey if he has a bad throat but for me during chemo OJ tastes like TCP.
Hope your throat is better soon.
I am enjoying the last few days of wellness before next poisoning Thursday. Shame about the weather today!
Heather
Blimey I’m getting serious goody bag envy. I only get steroids, anti-sickness meds and injections in mine. Although not sick this time the meds left me seriously spaced out. Day 5 for me today and feeling better but highly emotional. Have felt fairly in control of emotions since diagnosis so guess it had to come out sometime.
Have heard that my mum’s sister has ovarian cancer (she is elderly and frail so not being treated) So that means that my mum and two sisters have all had ovarian and myself and sister tnbc. Understandably, rest of family stressing re genetic test results. Had tests 5 weeks ago but they said can take up to 8 weeks for results. Counsellor thinks likely it is BRCA1. Mum and sister diagnosed 25 years ago within six months of each other at a very difficult time and cancer not so openly talked about then so lots of buried emotions coming out now across the family.
Oh well feel better for writing that down - hope you all don’t mind slightly depressing post!
Plan for today - get hubby to drive to coast for picnic - inspired by you Mai7. Although weather has turned a bit so may have to eat in the car. Enjoy the bank holiday all!