Hi everyone,
I haven’t decided yet whether to shave mine or not. May need to do it soon or I’ll look like gollum.
Went to the Look Good Feel Good session yesterday… it was really good and I had really nice goody bag… worth to go if you haven’t… met the lady who’s cold caping, her hair start to shed like mine, it was her 3rd chemo so far and she still have hair although it’s thinner.
Chasanddave, good luck for today… 2 down !!
Xxx
Hi everyone
i had my first chemo yesterday and would love some advice on the nausea and migraine type headache.
Yesterday I couldn’t keep the pills down and this morning still can’t bear the curtians open or lift my head.
Any suggestions please
Katie
I haven’t started chemo yet but one of my friends who is a nurse has suggested maybe wearing an anti travel sickness band has anyone tried them ? X
that happened to me Katie and I thought it was normal so didn’t do anything about it until I had to go in for IV fluids and diffrent anti sickness meds SO get in touch with your unit/ BCN and get it sorted now…don’t wait! they can sort most side effects so don’t put up with anything if possible
hugs jacqui xx
Hi everyone,
Walking round Manchester today bare headed, confidence is coming on in leaps and bounds! Vee - try not to panic about the hair loss, deep breaths - I think donating my hair to the princess trust really helped me say goodbye to it in a positive way. Takes some getting used to, but You soon adjust.
Buy some nice hats, scarves, a wig, look on heathers hair too for hair on a hair band to wear under a hat - much less hot and more comfortable.
Katie - definitely speak to your bc nurse about the nausea. I got extra ondansetron and buccastem, also emend is meant to be good. It really helped.
Check if you can take paracetamol or ibuprofen for your head too. Drink lots of water - 2 litres a day to keep hydrated and flush out the chemo drugs. Hopefully the nausea will lift around day 7
Ck- lovely to see you today. Sorry I had to run. Bloods done and seen the oncologist- just waiting for the go ahead for tomorrow’s chemo.
I do advise everyone to find a relaxation/yoga/tai chi/meditation class to go to as I’ve found taking that time just for me really helps reduce stress and keep me calm and restores my energy for the week ahead.
Love to all,
Cath x
Good on you Katie. so glad to hear it’s getting sorted. I (stupidly, with hindsight) assumed nausea/ sickness was an inevitable feature of chemo so tried to ‘just get on with it’. must be the old Catholic in me!! had my 2nd cycle today and other than feeling a bit spaced, I’vw had no sickness!! fingers crossed! thru gave me emend (aprepitant) which apparently is the Ferrari of anti emetics! (their words!)
take care & best of luck hun - and to all you fab women on here. xx
jacqui xxxx
Hi Cathysid
How lovely to meet you in person and how funny it was that I asked if it was you out of all those people! What a beautiful lady you are! Hope you fly through your second chemo tomo with at little side effects as possible.xx
Ladies, the yoga at Maggie’s Centre as Cath said is worth going to. I nearly fell asleep but the two ladies on either side of me were snoring so couldn’t drift off but it still revitalised me and had a nap later on at home. My daughter came with me and enjoyed the tea and cakes and said she will come again when home from uni.xx
Hi Fairydust
Mine is slowly falling out but last night my scalp was sore. Might put coconut oil on tonight and see if helps. I too am ready and keep wandering what I’m going to look like bald and have the image of a pair of tights over my head on my phone??
My 2nd chemo is next Weds 27th. Slowly preparing myself even though still a week to go.xx
SueW
You will be Queen of Chemo at this rate!xxx
I can’t see baby oil not being ok as its gentle. I was told to use baby shampoo on bare head too as still need to wash follicles as may smell.
Yes, de stress is good. Even if you just do some deep breaths in and out every morning it gives a good start to the day!!!
Yoga, TaiChi, Chi Gung, Mindfulness are all good ways of distressing through breathing exercises.xx
Have a look at Moogoo…they do gorgeously divine chemo friendly washing lotion and scalp cream. A treat and soooooo lovely xxx
if someone has time could you remind me why at this stage we are only supposed to use gentle products on skin and hair? I have no skin problems at this stage and using normal hair products whilst I still have some on my head - I check for parabens but otherwise still going with normal creams etc - thanks and good luck to those having chemo today x
hi Mrs miaow …I’d stick with what you’re using. I’ve still got some remnants of old stuff too tne I’m happy to use. my niece bought me the moogoo as a gift…with moisturizer too as my skin is quite dry, so I thought I’d share it as it’s chemo friendly x
Day 14 and I’m shedding too…the hospital will have my wig tomorrow, just in time. It’s bizarrely fascinating in a macabre sort of way…got lots of beanies at the ready. Vee, your gollum comment made me laugh!
My head is very sore, so I’m reading all your posts on scalp care, CK thank you for sharing about using shampoo, I didn’t really understand why still shampoo with no hair!! A cream also sounds nice, rather than an oil too so thanks chasanddave I’ll look at moogoo’s site.
Mrsmeow I don’t understand fully either, I was told everything had to be super sensitive because your skin is weaker and absorbs more from the products, that coupled with tendency for skin conditions to flare up. So I was surprised when I was told that wearing make up was fine. I’ve had a lot of spots so I’ve avoided that, perhaps it’s just a case of playing to how well your skin has faired in bingo?
Love the fact you’ve met up Cath and CK, I know I’d feel a whole lot more alone without this group x
Good luck with round two everyone ?
Hi Michelle
I was told that the follicles could give off an unpleasant smell if you don’t and you are also preparing your scalp for when your hair grows back. Coconut oil is good too. I’ve put some on and it’s soothed it but hair come out onto my hands so didn’t rub too hard! After all we use shower gel on our bodies so we need to use shampoo on our scalps but only a gentle one.xxx
Butterfly free on August thread has just confirmed the smell she had from her shaven head and had to wash her hats every day as she hated the smell.xxx
I am convinced I will look like Dimentia (uncle festers partner) when I am bald x
Fairydust
Make up a must when going out!!! Treatment or no treatment! Need to look good on chemo days too!!!
Bluster and lip gloss and eyeliner!!! My eyebrows were semi permanant brush stroked b4 lumpectomy so look good now through chemo. I hardly had any anyway so rhat was a good call!!xx
Agree with make up, I can’t get out of the house without make up. It nice to hear people said you look good eventhough you are in the middle of chemo treatment.
Got my wig yesterday… whoop whoop !!! Took two friends to help me choose. And it’s nice to hear they said those wig is just you.
I’m still using my normal shampoo and soap, but I can see my skin is getting drier.
I don’t understand how some people got the wig for free from hospital, mine cost of fortune… they said I can have wig prescription but NHS only put £23 towards it ? Doesn’t it sound right ?
Hi Dee
My hospital giving me £80 towards a synthetic one. Going to choose tomorrow. I’ve already got real hair wig sorted by hairdresser and cut and coloured for £150. X