Well I thought I was getting away with it on fec. All I can say I can say is sweet mother of god, 3 days after my first T I was hobbling around like a 90 year old. I had to crawl to bed on my hands and knees. It feels like all my bones are being crushed in a vice, with an occasional stabbing for good measure. I have no strength to stand up or walk properly. To top it off I’ve just spent the day in hospital with a fever. I hope this is just a blip!
I love the “brief” 2 hour nap, Fiona! I’ve had my fair share of those too! ?? I hope hubby acquitted himself well and prepared a lovely dinner!
Mrs fingers, I too was totally unprepared for the physical bone aches that took hold a few days after T. I ended up back in the unit and they gave me oral morphine, after codeine didn’t touch it. I didn’t need much, but it took the edge off the pain. I recommend asking for it, or for some other form of strong painkiller if your team haven’t suggested it yet. I’ve had a reduced dose of T this cycle and, as I’m sure you’ll be pleased to hear, Fiona, the side effects have definitely been kinder to me thus far!!! ? I’m not out of the woods yet, and I still feel a bit crap, but compared to this time last cycle it’s a massive improvement. ???
How are you this morning, Aneeebel? I hope your feeling a bit better and that your temperature is behaving! Xox ??
Oh Mrs Fingers, just try and get through each day? We all know what you’re going through and are here for you ?? I wish I could wave a magic wand and get rid of this ? we’re all going through.
I felt pretty much the same too after my first T, my body hurt so much I couldn’t sit or lie down without being in pain. But then about day 5 I think I felt “normal” again, aside from all the other s/e I had. I’m absolutely dreading T number 2 next week.
?? I hope everybody has a good day today with no temperatures, reducing pain from s/e, no emergency hospital visìts etc.
It’s going to be a good day weather wise here in Derbyshire so I’m going to attempt a short stroll I think.
Thinking of you all ???
?Fiona xxx
Jencat that’s good to hear. My first fec was worse than the second two as well so maybe it’s a body shock thing.
As several of you have described it’s an out of the blue racking crushing pain. Paracetamol didn’t touch it. I ended up doubling up with ibuprofen. I’m trying to avoid codeine as it has unfortunate effects on my rear end ?
The worst of the bone pain has now passed though my limbs and joints still feel knackered. Bone pain has been replaced with horrible indigestion. I feel like I’ve swallowed a golf ball and my stomach is so sore and bloated. A couple of other weird things…the soles of my feet feel really tender and are painful to walk on. And also my fingernails feel painful like they’ve been hit with a hammer and are about to fall off. All very random! ?
So far I’m finding T more challenging than fec…it’s much more physically debilitating whereas I was ok and about doing daily walks on the fec.
Ho hum…not long to go and this will all be over…
Wishing strength to everyone to power through! ???
How are all of you lovely ladies getting on? Are you well enough for chemo this week, Sar_ah? Feeling ok after your spell in hospital, Fiona? Temp still under control, Aneeebel? ??
I hope you’re doing alright now, Mrs fingers, and you too, Badboob! ?
The good news is that I’m feeling pretty well, all things considered. The reduced dose has made such a difference!!! The bad news is that my little girl has come down with hand foot and mouth ?.. I think I’ll need superpowers to comfort her whilst trying to avoid catching it myself! Lots of antibacterial hand washing! ?
Love to you all. Xox ???
Fab news that you’re feeling better this time around ElliesMum… ??? Good luck with the hand, foot and mouth disease!!
My temp is fluctuating a bit actually… but I also feel so rough and unwell and nauseous! Several times today I have declared that “I’m not having any more chemo! I’ve had enough now!!” ???
I went to my allotment for half an hour this morning…not to do anything as such, just to supervise my hubby… I’m struggling to walk and breathe at the same time! I looked like I was attempting the 3 minute mile by the time I got there… I mentioned it to the Doc the last time I was at the hospital and he said because my body is at such a low ebb health wise with all the drugs I’m taking… this is how it affects you!!
I’ll be using a motorised wheel chair before long!! ???
Hope all you lovely ladies are doing well…stay strong! xx ??
???
Ellie’s mum, so sorry to hear about your little one, please do ring your unit to ask their advise darling, you can’t put yourself at any risk please, chemo is not like normal, I’m not teaching you to suck eggs just want to ensure you are safe ???
Shi xx
I’m sorry to hear you’re still having such a rough time, Aneeebel! The effect that chemo has on us is really horrible. I tried to look half-decent this morning (make up on, wig, nice clothes) as I have an important day at work. I felt so depressed looking in the mirror! Face is pudgy and swollen, almost no eyelashes, skin breaking out, ulcers, cold sores… I feel like a mess! And yet, I bet that at least one colleague at work will tell me how “well” I look. ?♀️ I will try hard to resist the urge to hit anyone! Keep your chin up, and keep mentioning how you’re feeling to your team. Can they offer any other medication, or review your treatment schedule? I hope today is a better day! ???
Thanks, Shi, for the advice. I will call my team this morning to ask about how to try to avoid catching HFM from my little one! Xox
Ellie’s mum compeed patches for cold sores, but again please ask your unit too it’s all about minimising infection risk and keeping safe ???Shi xx
Afternoon Ladies
How are we all today?
ElliesMum, I hope you got through work today without bopping anybody ? I know what you mean though. For me, losing the eyelashes seems to be worse than the hair. And how’s your little girl doing with her HFM ?
Aneeebel, I hope your granddaughter has a lovely birthday ?. How are you? Temperature behaving itself yet? Do take care, you’re so close to the finish line, we don’t want you being poorly between now and then.
Sar_ah, is chemo on this week? ?? let’s hope we’re celebrating another one down.
Mrs Fingers, how are the bones today? I’ve got the issue with fingernails too. My first T affected 3 nails on my left hand which still hurt and 2 on my right which seem to be better.
I went for a walk today. Nothing unusual in that, except it was up a little hill. I think I went a little bit too high, felt sick and dizzy when I got to the top and thought I was going to collapse. Hubby will go mad when I tell him. I jyst had to push myself that little bit extra. Stupid girl ?
Other than that and always feeling like I could sleep for England, I feel a lot better than this time last week ?
Not much longer to go, Ladies, on this ?
Take care and stay safe and ??
?Fiona xxx
Hi, hope you are all well, for some reason I can only see up until the 4th! I’m sure there has been messages since!
Fiona I’m hoping your home now! Such good news the chemo is doing it’s job 
I’m so pleased for you!
Elliesmum how are you feeling now?
I had my 5th today, feeling ok at the moment but no sleep in sight!
Love to you
Sorry me again!! Doesn’t post for ages then twice!!! As you can guest found the rest of the messages!!
Aneeebel so sorry you are having such a rough time! You’re made of strong stuff to keep going and getting though!
I hope your granddaughter had a lovely birthday and the sleepover went well
Elliesmum mum that’s so positive to hear you’re finding things better but sorry to hear about your daughters hfm!! I should imagine that’s very tricky to say the least!!
It’s been a long night here, three hours sleep,very unsettled daughter good thing the steroids are on top form and keeping me very awake ? they’re got there good points!!
Great to hear, Sar_ah, that chemo number 5 is done! ? Sorry to hear that your little one is unwell - it makes everything so much tougher. Fingers crossed you can catch up on some sleep today and the side effects are kind to you. ??
Good work on the hilly walk, Fiona, but make sure you don’t overdo things (says the stubborn person who’s not good at taking her own advice)! ? I survived my day at work yesterday, but will need to spend most of today in bed to recover. Very pleased I managed to avoid lashing out at anyone! ?? It was a super productive day, actually. Yay! First day I made it in to the office since mid-Dec; I’ve otherwise been working from home as and when I felt up to it. A little surprised at how totally wiped-out I feel today. I guess I should take my own advice and take things a little easy…?
Aneeebel, sorry again that you’re continuing to feel so rough. ? I really hope your team can change something to help you through this rubbish. Are you scheduled to have one more round of chemo? You’ve done so well to make it this far with all the horrible side effects you’ve had to deal with. I hope your granddaughter had a lovely birthday. It’s great to have some little things to celebrate, and 10 is indeed a “big” birthday! ???
Xox ???
Hi badboob, think a lot of us found either fingernails or toe nails did one on the t, think some people did use plasters and stern strips to aid fingernails, it’s pot luck as to whether you manage to keep them, not useful I know but you’ve got to try whatever you can. I think jencat or buddyfan on oct17 thread also rubbed some type of oil into cuticles too, might be worth jumping on that thread and asking? ??Shi xx
Morning all, how are we today?
Aneeebel, I hope you’re starting to feel a bit better and your temperature is staying in the right area. How was your granddaughter’ s sleepover?
Sar_ah, I hope you’re ok after this week’s chemo ??
ElliesMum, well done on a day at work. Since changing to T I seem to have lost the confidence to go to work. I’m supposed to go in next Wed but we’ll see how I feel, I may chicken out.
Badboob, sorry to hear you’re feeling the effects of EC. I wonder if it’s the change to EC (or T or anything else) that makes us all so tired. Our bodies have got used to one form of abuse and now have to deal with some other form of domestic.
As for the nails issue, I’ve been using vitamin e oil (like Bio-oil but cheaper from Superdrug) and also Palm oil. Nails seem to be ok but 3 are still painful on left hand. I’m trying to keep them fairly short too.
So I had my gynae appt yesterday. Yay, I’ve got fibroids ? I have to say I was relieved to hear that. I’ll have another scan in 6 months but they don’t want to do anything as they’ll likely shrink with chemo induced menopause (if that ever happens).
Are we all getting lots of hospital appointments coming through now as we approach the end of chemo? I’ve got onc and chemo next week, genetics (results hopefully) the following week, then breast care consultant then back to Onc and last chemo ?? A busy 4 weeks. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m going to take hubby away for a weekend in March just to celebrate the end of this grim stage (once I’m past the danger zone).
Well, Ladies, I hope you all have a lovely weekend. Stay safe and warm and ?
?Fiona xxx
Hi Fi get that holiday booked 
We even managed a few days in the lakes between chemo finishing and rads starting sending you for results next week ?? elliesmum hope your little one is on the mend and you are keeping safe. Everyone ??Shi xx
Hello lovely ladies,
I’m a bit all over the place at the moment!? After a productive Thursday and a quiet Friday, I suddenly felt really unwell this morning. It was the push I needed to accept help ? and my little girl has now gone to stay with my in-laws. I feel a lot of Mum guilt, for abandoning my little one and abdicating my parental responsibilities. I know she loves staying with her grandparents, and they love having her stay, I just feel like I should be looking after her when she’s unwell! ? Hopefully we both feel better tomorrow.??
Fiona, I too seem to have an endless list of hospital appointments. I’m trying to not let them overwhelm me and am just taking things one appointment at a time. I love the idea of a holiday to look forward to - great suggestion! ? My husband has arranged a 5 day trip to New York to celebrate the end of chemo, which I’m really looking forward to. Everything can be cancelled/rescheduled (so I don’t stress about timescales changing) and he even booked the “comfy” seats on the plane, which will make travelling with an 18 month old easier (although everyone else will probably hate us ?).
To cap it all off, my wonderful Mum has arranged to come and stay with us from early Feb until the end of rads. She had offered to come earlier, but I resisted as I didn’t want her to have to put her life on hold for months. (My family all live in Australia.) I’m so pleased that she is coming to stay! I feel silly for not accepting help sooner.?
I hope you all have a fabulous weekend. Xox ???
Hi Elliesmum - I just wondered what medical insurance you’ve been able to take out for travelling to the States. I know lots of people have been refused cover until after the end of all treatment, so it would be really useful to know of a company that’s more flexible. Cheers.
Hi kathyx, we have had travel insurance with HSBC (through a certain type of bank account) for years. They have been brilliant: fully - and quickly - refunding all expenses for a holiday that was booked for October 2018. They offered to continue to cover us on the existing policy, with anything related to breast cancer excluded, or we could upgrade to have breast cancer-related issues covered. It was surprisingly easy to arrange (one phone call). I don’t, however, know what third-party insurance provider HSBC work with ?.. I hope that’s a little bit helpful. Good luck! Xox
Hi Everyone…
The Birthday Girl had a lovely day, Thank you! ??
ElliesMum… how lovely that your Mum is coming to help out! You’ll probably wonder how you managed without her! And now your little girl has gone to her Grandparents you can have a rest! (Try not to feel
too mean… it’ll probably do you good!) ??
Yes, one more chemo to go! Ours are on the same day I think! ?
Thank you everyone for thinking about me… I still feel ridiculously yukky! My temperature still isn’t ‘behaving’ altho, it hasnt gone over 38* today so maybe it’s settling down at last!! ???
I only have my routine appt with my Oncologist and another appointment for an echocardiogram… nothing else as yet!
Maybe they’ve forgotten about me!! ?
Yes Fiona… not long now until the ? chemo is finished with!!! Yippeeeeeeee!
I hope you Ladies are coping with your horrid s/e… ?
Have a lovely evening xx ???
Stay strong! ?
???