That explains the black nail polish in my chemogiftbag!
Sorry last line should have read pumpkin carving for your family, predictive text changed it again. I’ve still got lashes and brows too on day 11. ?shi xx
Oh. On post surgery bras. I bought quite a few from Marks but have only used one as my surgeon insisted on vests only for the first four weeks. I’ll dig out the ones not used if anyone is interested. No charge as they’re no use to me. Probably around 36Bs to 38B or C.
Chaffinch are you ok? Just checking to see how you are. Love shi ??
xx
Hi jencat, is painted mine ready for when I started fec, I met mai7 who was just finishing hers and had kept all her nails and she said it’s the t part, but the fec can give you ridges and things and discolouration too, also mai7 said to massage oil into your cuticles to help preserve nails through whole fec-t. I’m using vitamin e oil from H&b, good luck with starting tomorrow, don’t let my stumble at 1st chemo put you off, the May chemo ladies have been my saviours thank goodness I met mai7 as she was finishing chemo and I was starting, they have really saved me and so lovely and kind and knowledgeable and amazing helping me on this chemo journey. ???love and sparkles shi xx
Hi everyone, big list below of some of what my lovely mai7 from May chemo ladies passed onto me no grapefruit during chemo and no garlic on the t bit, fever tree aromatic tonic tastes like g&t but has no alcohol, keep spreadsheet during chemo so you can keep records of temp how you feel etc each cycle, Epsom salt bath for aches and pains on t bit, mai7 used cod solar oil on her cuticles and a couple of books Emma hannigan all to live for, she’s seen it off 10 times in 10 years and Patricia prijatel surviving tn, she is tn survivor. Like I said, thank goodness that I met mai7 at my first chemo and she took me under her wing and the May ladies have been kind and let me join their forum too. Hope this helps anyone out who’s interested. Love and sparkles shi ??? xx
Karana, thanks for the tip off about tropics I’ll definitely give them a look. My mascara is paraben free not sure what make it was (nit tropics though) but bought it in Superdrug. I also read a while back that castor oil is good for lashes and eyebrows I’ve bought some so might try that. I’ve been using weleda products for quite a while now as I was concerned about parabens and sls. I also found a website (living naturally) that also do some good products and where I get my deodorant and shampoo.
Dizzie, I too am cold capping and only washing my hair once a week, I use a weleda shampoo and conditioner and do it in the shower using a jug so it’s gentler. Like Cherry I am a curly and so my hair also doesn’t really get greasy. I also looked into the “no poo” thing a while back but settled for washing twice a week (once with just conditioner and once with a natural shampoo & conditioner, as washing with just conditioner is supposed to be good for us curlies). For styling I’m using a homemade concoction (coconut oil, shea butter & aloe Vera gel) that I’ve been using for a while but I’m just using a tiny amount to take the edge off the frizz. I’m day 12 after chemo and due to wash my hair again tomorrow, wish me luck!
Cherry, I’m doing fecx6 and seemed to have got away lightly so far, so fingers crossed it continues!
Sorry also meant to say, Welcome Shi, sorry to see you here on the chemo train but thank you for the tip off something to keep in mind! Chaffinch hope you’re ok! How’re are your tingling fingers now?
Meesh, I’m curly too but have gone short. I got some shampoo in the gift bag too so might try it. My curly hair got greasy on day 2 normally.
I’m going to go no shampoo for now and see what happens. I might only be able to cope for a few days ?. If the cold cap doesn’t work I guess it won’t be an issue.
Just been out for a walk with the dog. It’s nice out but a bit windy. I could imagine my hair blowing away with every gust lol.
Excited about Look Good Feel Better course tomorrow morning. Got my remaining good days before back for chemo 2 on Thursday.
Hope everyone is having a good Sunday
Cassie x
Oh also meant to say about post surgery bras. I hadn’t found this forum at that point, no-one gave any advice about post surgery bras at all! Knew they couldn’t be wired so bought some wire free ones from Tesco (only place I could find any in my size). They were ok and I’m still wearing them now, but I wish I’d known about the zip up front ones in m&s. I found them about 3 weeks after surgery and Shi is right I did find them more comfortable as they offer more support. I had tried to wear a normal sports vest with built in bra but it has to over your head and that can be tricky post surgery.
Hi everyone another tip for fec that mai advised, start taking a senokot on day 3/4 at night after chemo, stops any back up, sorry everyone no other way to put it. Mai advised t does the opposite and i’ll Share tips on that when mai tells me, she’s getting us through the fec bit just now, thank goodness for mai7 and all the May chemo starters is all I can say, they have been a godsend ???love and sparkles shi xx
Dizzie, I too have gone short, although not ultra short (back is short, bit longer on top and on the sideburns) look a bit like an imp! Everyone seems to think it suits me and I’m fairly happy with it. My low poo regime prior to all this certainly improved the condition of my hair and it was super shiny too!
Hi jenkat, I’ve just left on and massaged, think mai7 took hers off during fec but she did say nails fragile and discoloured on fec. Yes I’m tn, have you been Barca tested. With my mum being braces neg and it’s bc that’s on that side I thought I’d be ok. Because on dads side it was lung, bowel and liver I didn’t suspect for a send I’d get poss gene from dad. I get results in dec. I’ve already had op in Aug, but if I’ve got the gene then it’s everything off please doctors and ovaries out too as soon as they can. I want to do all I can to keep it away. Do your family have history? Love shi ???xx
Shi, I was given laxido to take and told to take twice a day the day after chemo if I didn’t go as normal. Was told to keep taking them until it was back to normal to avoid the “back up” as you put it. I did as was told and didn’t suffer with any problems.
Cassie, I’ve also been out this morning it’s lovely and warm if a little breezy. How is your hair faring? What day did you start losing body hair? I’m day 12 and so far everything is staying put!
Sam34, how is your hair, you cold capped like me didn’t you?
Hi Meesh. Body hair started to go about day 14. Head hair started to go a couple of days ago. I’m now on day 18. In particular the hair around the edges is falling out first. My widows peak and flattened out. Trying to resist the temptation to touch it tho it is starting to feel a little itchy and the follicles hurt a bit.
Cassie x
Meesh73 you were lucky to be told, if I’d not met mai7, I’d have been backed up. Hope everyone else already got told about things for that, might be just where mai7 and I are that they forget to mention it as mai7 found this trick out for helself at the start of her chemo trip and then kindly told me so it didn’t happen to me. Wish I was out walking instead of casa nhs, still just got told neutraphils up to 1. That’ll be the 2 nhs shepherds pies and puddings I had yesterday, so hopefully they’ll continue to rise so I can go home. Love and sparkles to everyone ???shi xx
Thanks Cassie, so I’ve get a couple of days to go!
Shi, yes was good of them to tell me and supply the laxido. It was the only thing that they gave me (along with a thermometer) from my oncology appointment. I was a bit worried as quite a few on here were given anti-sickness stuff to take prior to their chemo and all I got was some laxatives! Hope you’re stay at casa nhs is brief and you can get back home soon.
Hope everyone’s having a good day and enjoying the sunshine!