@skye2 - I’m staring to feel a bit nauseous and head achy now. off for a walk and natter with my amazing neighbour shortly who had stomach cancer during Covid .
I’ve taken domperidone for the nausea and paracetamol for the headache , am forcing myself to walk as I’ve heard it’s so good for chemo recovery.
I’ve been doing my filgrastim injections myself but I’m used to it having injected insulin during pregnancy and mounjaro weekly over the last 6 months. If the injections hurt going in it’s worth asking for some emla cream- you put it on an hour before the injection - I use it for my daughter. You have to apply and cover with a waterproof bandage
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Thanks for asking. Yes, the dentists squeezed me in this afternoon, so am starting tomorrow. Mad bag packing now, kind of expected a delay.
I’m in awe of many of you who are responding so directly to others, I’m nowhere near that organised right now. Cold turkey hrt not helping my brain power.
Thinking of all of you and sending love x
One day at a time we’ll get through this.
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Hi @healed, just popped in from August starters to say I too am 65, well, for another 5 weeks anyway, and i had my surgery in June a therapeutic mammoplasty, then had to wait until August to start chemo. So far had three EC out of 4 x 3 weekly, they lowered my dosage after first one by 20% to make it more manageable and it seems to have worked. All the usual side effects are there, nausea, bit of upset stomach, but I’m pushing through it, and find keeping a daily diary helps (didnt do the treatment book as too confusing), so I can look back at previous chemos and see what to expect. The help line is always there if there are any queries, and they dont mind what you ask, better to be asking than letting things escalate. Think I rang them frequently after my first chemo. Wishing you all the best x
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I’m also too brain fried to do direct replies but reading this thread is helping me!
I had my first EC on Friday - felt fine until this lunchtime and am now shattered and headed for bed. Luckily the anti nausea meds have kicked in but feeling very tired now. I made the mistake of eating sweets this evening as mouth felt bad but I’m type 2 diabetic so that wasn’t very sensible…
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Thank you so much @pips12 for popping in to write to me, I have been sitting here petrified and your message helped, I’ll do that, keep a diary and give the helpline a call if I’m worried. Wishing you all the best too x
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Hello All
@emsd2025 I hope your first session went well. I was thinking of you.
Good luck to those starting tomorrow, I’m sorry I haven’t got everyone’s names in my head yet. But thinking of you all and those who are past the first post.
I had my first session. Did not finish until after 6pm (4 hours from start to end). So far so good. The relief to get started is such a good feeling and all the angst, uncertainty etc has really eased.
I did the cold cap and it was OK, it was fine. For the last hour it started to feel a bit heavy but it was fine and not a problem. I will definitely keep going the next time and see how it goes.
They had the mits and slippers for the neuropathy, I think the ice cold on fingers was probably the worst. But I think a lot of was down to being sat down for a long time and just generally becoming a bit twitchy in the chair. I just need to work on getting more comfy and I think that will be so much better.
I did get cold but had a thick scarf that helped.
The staff in Manchester are just lovely and I just wanted to share for those beginning tomorrow I am thinking of you and good luck and also to those going for their next treatment. To @healed and @buggeringon and all the newbies I feel your anxiety, I have been living it the past weeks but for me it really eased today and I hope it does for you all too. Sending love and hugs. Take care all xx
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Hi @cathie2 how are you feeling today and how did it go? Was thinking of you too! I’m well impressed you did the ice hands and feet, there weren’t any at Guys.
I’m feeling ok - a bit tired and bloated. There was a 3.5hr delay with my Pembro so was at guys for 9 and didn’t leave till gone 5! Long!
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Hi @emsd2025 Great to hear from you and so glad all went well except for the long delay. Goodness, hopefully next week will be shorter. Glad you are feeling OK other than tiredness and bloated. I feel fine at the moment but I guess the pre meds and the anti sickness and steroids etc are still doing their work. Not venturing too far from home at the moment just to see how things go over the next few days. I am so glad you are done with your first one. Cross them sessions off!!! How did you find the cold cap?
I hope others are going well having their treatment today. xx
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Hi @cathie2 so glad you’re feeling ok! I hated the cold cap, nasty headache but we move! Did you get any injections for after?
Hi, I just got home after my first EC!!! After a long anxious 12 week wait after surgery, finally…and it was a good experience. The unit was small, 5/6 armchairs close together in a room, very nice nurses, who explained everything, people offering tea, water and sandwiches/biscuits, complementary therapy offered. I got there at 9.30 and left at 2.30. I cold-capped, cap went on at 10 and EC injected at 12, the cap wasn’t hurting so I didn’t mind, I listened to music via an earbud. Then waited with the cap for 90 minutes and then home! Nothing so far except the red wee and some nausea. I’ll take it easy tonight anyway. I am so amazed by all of you lovely women who have had yours already or wil do soon, and I’m glad I decided to do it 
I have 4 oral meds to take away, and 5 filgrastim injections. Happy evening and lots of love xxx
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Please contact www.coldcap.com for help. I remember hearing from a video I watched that think heavy hair can affect the effectiveness of the cap. Tying it up in a loose pony may help?
I did meet a young woman at a cancer charity event who cold capped with very long hair and she lost a lot on the top and wore a hat to cover it up. She was ok with that as it still ‘looked’ like her but with a hat on.
I hope it works for you.
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@healed -well done on getting through your first EC chemo. I had my first on Friday, I am mercifully still feeling ok now - keeping on top of the nausea medication has helped!
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Hi all,
Happy to report long day now done. Got to unit at 9am, left at 5:45.
Managed cold cap. Nearly bailed at 10 mins, but persevered and from 15 mins I was totally fine for remainder. Took a paracetamol half an hour before, but don’t think I’ll bother next time.
Also did suzzipads on hands and feet. Limited sized cool bag- so took three sets for feet and 1 for hands plus an ice block. Ended up using heel pads for nails in hand, hopefully that’s enough.
Lovely staff and fellow patients.
Fingers crossed side effects non existent or minimal.
Feel so much better psychologically. In fact, a few tears on arrival, and then fine all day
Love to all x
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Well done @buggeringon
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Hi all I’m now 4 days past 2nd EC. I have felt more tired with this 2nd one, didn’t even get out of bed Saturday, finished steroids yesterday and felt worse today as day went on,. Looking at my side effects from the first EC im now recognising this as a come down from the steroids, last time it only lasted a couple of day so hopefully by Friday I’ll start to feel better.
I’ve got used to my shaved head in the mirror now and my close family have seen me bald. just need to brave going out in public but will be wearing a turban. I’ve got a wig being delivered tomorrow not expensive just wanted to test one out.
Hope everyone’s doing ok 🩷
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Thanks for your update @mrsb6 - it’s good that you can start to recognise the patterns - the unpredictability of how I’m going to feel on a particular day and what I can plan is hard for me as I am one of life’s planners - it’s a hard lesson for me to learn I can’t control everything…
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I’m spiritual, but not religious and find the serenity prayer really helpful for things I can’t control.
Grant me the courage (or energy) to change (or do) the things I can do
The serenity to accept the things I can’t change (or do)
And the wisdom to know the difference
With anything that’s stressing me, I test my wisdom! A good chunk of the time the wisdom is there (I suspect it will be for you too) and it helps me calm down about the things I can’t control.
X
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@buggeringon - thanks for this.
Woke with a a headache , im at day 5 after first EC so expecting side effects - I have had paracetamol and the nausea medicine …hoping for the best as it’s the last dry day here and I want to be outside , not in bed
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Good morning all, so sorry I haven’t been on here for a while, but have been keeping an eye on you all… After the liver scare, it resolved itself after the extra weeks delay and had come back down to normal levels, so they are not worried about underlying dormant infections now. I had my EC chemo reduced to 72.5% as they think the EC chemo caused more problems than the anti sickness tablet ( although I have been taken off that as well now). So 2nd chemo went ahead on Monday. I was very nauseous Monday night and all day yesterday, as the tablets I have dropped, is the main anti-sickness one! However, no nausea overnight and I am feeling good so far today…
Welcome to all the newcomers I have not spoken to before, I wish you all the very best with your treatment.
Morning Ailsa @molly.m , I got throught the problem, thankyou. I am sorry to see that you have been feeling unwell and I hope it passes very soon.
Morning Rachel @story1 , good job the steroids don’t keep me awake, I buy enough random stuff off Amazon on a daily basis already 
Morning Catherine @frunca , I am finally back on my feet. I am pleased you got your anti-sickness meds sorted, it is all trial and error isn’t it.
Morning Kim @cridders , you look fab with your shaved head, I have a strange bullet shaped head I have now discovered
Morning @mrsb6 , my liver reading went from 17 to 198 after my first EC chemo. I had to delay a week, give blood again and it had dropped to 44, so the liver can bounce around a bit, I was told that it does happen with chemo. My 2nd dose was reduced to 72.5% to allow for this.
Morning @healed , so pleased to hear that your first session went well, that’s one down already now
Hope you all have a good day today, Jane x
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