I ordered an eyebrow kit and keep trying to practice
As like you it’s the no eyebrows or eye lashes that will make it look worse xx
Sals, I’ve been working on and off - I had two days off for the chemo, but since then have been working from home (3 days) and going in to the office (2 days). Luckily my work have been brilliant and are letting me decide what I am capable of. I’ve been much more tired than usual, so have only been doing 4ish hours in the office - I’m hoping to build that up a bit over the next 10 days or so until my next chemo. I find that if I don’t demand too much of myself it’s much better all round! Doing this amount of work has definitely been good for my mental health. But, as with everything, I think it’s going to massively vary from person to person, so, if your work are sympathetic, you need to find a system that works for you, whatever that is. Good luck!
Hi all, starting chemo at midday, getting myself worked up but lots of positivity on this thread so think I can do it (4 rounds of EC and 4 of Taxol to come, with some carboplatin thrown into the mix if Olga isn’t shrinking). Had so many supportive messages on WhatsApp this morning, really have some lovely friends. As I’m not commuting into work for the winter (going to try the company’s lovely clunky remote network from home) my colleagues gave me a mega Amazon voucher ONLY to spend on books and pamper goodies ?. And one of the football mums from my son’s team turned up on my doorstep last night with a big tub of bolognese sauce to put in the freezer for rainy days. Took a photo of it to put in my ‘joy jar album’ to give me a boost when I’m feeling down. Liza x
Hi, Harkes sorry to hear about your infections, hope A&E didn’t keep you there too long. My first chemo was ok, the staff were so lovely and caring, especially about my needle hang ups. Didn’t do the cold cap as didn’t want to be there any longer than necessary. Got to chat with a lady who had the chest portacath, I’m booked in to have that implanted next week and still a bit undecided about whether the surgery is worth it. However… started feeling really nauseous about 6pm and had a horrible night, not actually sick but horrendous nausea (worse than morning sickness or back seat passenger on a mountain pass)?and sleepless. Still feeling really grim but have 30 anti-sickness pills to take over the next 3 days (the timetable is doing my head in) so hopefully will ease it. Worn out just after writing this message. Think today is mostly going to be bed. ? Have others felt like that at the beginning, does it wear off?
Hi Liloc, sorry to hear you’ve been unwell ?
I was quite poorly as well that first night, I was only given anti sickness tablets to start taking the following day, for the next 3 days, and I think the antisickness that they gave me intravenously just before the chemo must have worn off by the evening. I discussed with my oncologist and he is going to prescribe some extra tablets for the next round.
The nausea did wear off for me, I was in bed the whole of day 2 after chemo with sickness and nausea, then day 3 I felt a little better but stayed in bed, still a little queasy but mainly exhausted from the ordeal and feeling sorry for myself ?, day 4 I was up and about with just a little queasiness if I thought about the wrong foods (it really put me off some things, temporarily!) and the nausea was pretty much gone the day after that.
Try and remember to keep taking small sips of water if you can, my nurses kept stressing to me that it’s important to stay hydrated. And if you can, eat little and often, I found something bland like dry crackers or toast were easiest, then plain clear soups when I was up for it.
All the best, hope you feel better soon x
Thanks Pigeon, that’s encouraging, I hope I go the same way as you. Will talk to the team before the next session to see if they can adjust cocktail for the first night as I really don’t want to undergo that again another 7 times ?Thanks for the food suggestions, I’ve just had some toast today. Liza x
Hi ladies
I had my second cycle yesterday, I’m feeling a bit rough today, almost the same as the first one.
I was told yesterday that my chemo cycle had been changed from once a week in January to every second week for 18 weeks, so that cuts the chemo down from 22 to 14, but as it has already been changed once, I suppose it could be changed again.
It took four hours to have my chemo yesterday, it should have only taken 1hour, but there were only 2 nurses on instead of 6, they were under so much pressure, I really felt sorry for them, there was just so many patients.
A tip I was given by one of the nurses when my hair started to fall out, was to keep moisturising the scalp, it has made such a difference, no discomfort at all, I would highly recommend doing it.
Don’t forget to make sure you moisture all over as well, every day you bath or shower, chemo drugs really dry the skin out.
Hope everyone is doing ok, at least we can all say, “I know how you feel and what you’re going through”, because we all do.
Let’s keep holding hands and we can all get through this together.
Liloc I felt horrendously sick but it did improve
I’m seeing my oncologist tomorrow and will talk to him about how awful it was and hope he performs a mirical
But it does get better I promise I’m on my third week and feeling pretty much like my normal self
Probably tire easier and my mouth still gets the odd little ulcer but I have even managed two days work
That I’m extactoc about
Second cycle approaching now not so looking forward to that
I love this forum
My scalp has been driving me mad so tomorrow I will moisturiser and see if that helps
I shaved to a number three on Tuesday and today I have some lovely bald patches appearing so at the weekend what’s left is bloody going xx
Hi Ladies, just saying hi, and a recommendation to those of you suffering with the after effects of the chemo, I read somewhere that day before day off and day following chemo drinking 2-3 litres of water makes a huge difference in how you feel, I don’t know if I was just lucky but I did this - it was hard work but I managed 3l each day and my nausea was manageable as were other symptoms, just got to remember to do it each time, don’t know about you guys but the brain is definitely a bit fuzzed!
Day 10 still got all hair at the moment and feeling much better but now you’ve got me thinking that the next cycle is not far away! We’ve just got to keep ticking them off! We should make a list of things we would really like to do just small things and share with friends to do one thing each time on the good days between cycles as a reward for getting through it! Shame we can’t all meet up - for a baldies night out!!!
Kateday,
Try shaving to a 1 and if you have any, try Aloe Vera, if not, my neighbor used after sun moisture lotion, she said it was a miracle worker.
I’ve used Aloe Vera and some of the moisturizer your doctor can give you on prescription, don’t forget, you are entitled to a lot of stuff on free prescription when being treated for cancer, my neighbor didn’t find out till nearly the end of her treatment.
Hi Sal’s
It’s true about the drinking before and after, I read your post before and three days before having chemo I kept a pint glass of orange squash with me all the time and just kept slowly drinking them one after another and drinking my herbal teas as well. Did the same after chemo, it’s a great way of flushing the drugs through your system and getting rid of them.
So ladies just keep sipping a drink all day long for at least three days before and after chemo, it really will help.
Just to let you know that the free prescriptions last for five years so fill your boots!!! There have to be some perks to this hell!!! Kx
I have decided the hair is going number zero then a lovely mosituroser ??
I did drink water and more than the recommended and still suffered with nausea and vomiting
They are nicely adding another medication to help with that for next week
I have decided to break my cycles down to two half’s so next week I will half way through the first half sounds so much better hehe xx
Good morning ladies
How are we all doing
Round two for me tomorrow, so not ready to feel like poop again
I have had a lovely couple of days though, got out with kids and hubby to light switch on ???
Hi all, good luck Kateday for tomorrow, glad to hear you were out and about (you’re on the same EC regime as me but I’m two weeks behind so following with interest). On Day 5, having done my 1st on Weds. Nausea’s been crappy but haven’t actually been sick. Finished the 3 day course of pill popping so have to see how it goes, I do have some Dom Perignon (Domperidone) left to take as and when. Hot water and ginger infusions worked when I had morning sickness so I’m trying that again (with the odd ginger nut biscuit thrown in for good measure). Thought I would have lost some weight with feeling so bad but I have actually put ON two pounds. Lots of reasons:
- moving from bed to sofa sure isn’t using up a lot of calories
- steroids
- Having to take some pills on a full stomach when I wouldn’t usually have eaten
- nibbling constantly to keep my stomach calm
- comfort food ( I totally deserve those breakfast croissants my sister brought me every morning)
So going to try a bit of exercise, just a little walk as it looks quite sunny out, don’t know about a switch to really healthy food just yet ?.
Morning everyone! Got my 3rd chemo on Tues as having mine every week due to the trial. All was going so well with me until yesterday morning when my temp spiked at 38 ? Called the chemo line and they had me straight into hospital on the acute oncology ward. However when I got there my temp had come down but my blood pressure was high so they’ve kept me in for observation. Did bloods, chest xray and straight on antibiotics through a drip. The nurse has said this morning that my bloods look okay and my temp and blood pressure is back to normal so fingers crossed once I’ve seen the doctor he might send me home with oral antibiotics. A bit fed up as I feel fine apart from a bit of a cold and being tired. Thinking it’s the cold that’s messed with my temp but all is good now ? xx Thinking of you all xx
Sorry to hear that juzcooper, hope you get back home soon. My Breastcare nurse recommended keeping a hospital bag packed just in case of such situations - said she didn’t want to scare me but in the event of feeling unwell and having to call a hotline in the middle of the night, it would be good to have a bag ready to go. So she suggested a washbag with the usual toothbrush, paste, comb, moisturiser, deodorant etc, pjs or nightie, underwear, slippers & dressing gown, phone charger if you have a spare to pack away, water and snacks, your notebook if like me you have to write everything the doctors say down. So I have got out an overnight bag to do that, sure it would still be a bit of panic anyway, but good advice I think. Best of luck xx
Juzcooper , I do hope you get home today this journey can just suck
Lisajayne my foo hair started to go first , then my head hair , still have my eyebrows and eyelashes though
Liloc thank you I’m am dreading feeling rough but know it’s another I can tick of the lost xx
Hi Lisajayne11,
I’m on day 13 and no sign if hair loss yet, I did cold cap so hoping it might help my head hair but still got everything at the moment if you know what I mean, when did everyone else start to shed? I’m expecting it any day ?
Lisajayne
Mine really started coming away about day 16 I then decided to take it to a number three but now even that is like a patch work quilt x