September 2017 Chemo Starters

Day 8 that should say x

Hi Alu
So glad to see you feel better today. We just take a day as it comes! Now you can feel ‘normal’ for 2 weeks and do what you need to do b4 next circle.xx

Hope so Ck. How are you feeling?

This is horrible!

 

i finally had my first chemo on Friday and I really don’t think I can face the next one.  Was very flushed when I got home on Friday, on Saturday the palpitations started (thankfully gone now) and on Sunday I came down with an infection.  Went to hospital Monday and although they couldn’t properly confirm infection as they were not able to get enough blood from me to test it was assumed to treat as infection.  Once home sore throat started and I’m still in bed today feeling a little better though (Im on 5 days of antibiotics - today is day 3)

 

Last night the diaarea started - only 4 times in little bursts (tmi lol) but definately not pleasant.  I was given anti sickness tablets but nothing for diareah - should I be taking something?

 

Tried the cold cap and lasted 3 minutes !

 

I didn’t think it would be this horrible - I don’t know how everyone copes.

 

xx

My chemo starts next Friday so can’t vomment yet but I am sure I have seen ladies say take medication for diorreha call chemo nurses if you are unsure I know if I am given high dose antibiotics it has that side effect so could be from that rather than chemo
I send big hugs and I am sure one if the others will be along soon with advice xxx ?

Hi tattyed. yes for some of us its totally horrible. I’m worn you on that. …BUT…when I was admitted with infection after my first one, I was reassured that ANY side effect that I was struggling with in the smallest way, that I must seek advice/ intervention as most are manageable. I had been trundling along in what felt like a horror movie thinking I just needed to get a spine and deal with it!! not at all! my second one was SO much better…really.other than done weird flush as the chemo was going in, the new cocktail of meds they gave me (namely emend) has worked in combination with other drugs of course. There will be a concoction that will work for you. You must get something for your diarrhoea or else you’ll get dehydrated which can lead to even more probs an dc also you need a settled tummy to get your tablets working for you. speak to someone in your team/ preferably the ward/unit where you get your chemo. …they’ll sort you. hang on in there. I felt exactly tne same and was terrified of the 2nd cycle.when you get these side effects managed you will feel that it is more doable. really feel for you. I also felt slightly intimidated (stupid now I know) by all the ladies who seem to be sailing through it! they’re not! they’re ‘managing’ it in many different ways.
lots of hugs tattyed …so hope u get sorted urgently. Jacqui xxxxxxxo

Hi Tattyed,
You are right - it absolutely is horrible! I have had two chemo treatments now. Each time on day 5 or 6 I hit a massive low and felt I couldn’t possibly put myself through it again. The good news is that on day 8 I started to feel better and by day 12 it was all behind me and I had a couple of weeks of normality ahead before the next cycle. Once you are through the worst of it, you will start to feel more positive again. It just seems so awful when you are in the midst of it.

You will be on your way back up again soon,
Love Cath x

Hi Tattyed

i was similar you, first round. Sore throat, temperature, palpitations, sore mouth, short of breath (due to a clot in lung) and like you felt totally pathetic compared to everyone else. I only had a few days feeling vaguely better and then got a cold and started vomiting 36 hours before the second chemo was due.

This seconds round has been so much better. Still not pleasant and spent Monday back on the unit with my lungs but otherwise so much more manageable. 

A friend who had chemo 5 years ago and has 4 kids, apparently just carried on her routine as before through the chemo.!. I have so not been like that- even this easier round. I guess we are all different, have different dugs, doses and have different side effects.  I used to think I was so tough but have given up that idea.

Anyway, sending you love, and support.  This is tough, no two ways about it but life will get better… 

 

And Fairydust, hope your scalp is getting better…?

 

jo x

 

Tattyhead i echo what everyone else has said. It is horrible. Our bodies have been pumped with drugs and we dont know whats hit us. I am on day 8 today and have felt so much better. The last 7 days havent been horrendous but they have been challenging with a couple of real lows!! Phone your nurses anytime - they are so helpful and want you to ring! Keep going Chick. Hope tomorrow is a much better day xx

Fight on ladies! Unfortunately some SE are worse than others but we find a way of coping for next cycle. I remind myself that having some side effects means the treatment is working and actually talk to the drugs as they go in to go easy on me as they are ny allie.
I talk to my nearly bare head saying I know its working! In fact I talk to myself a lot lately telling myself to pull myself together!

I find that reading through the threads and being prepared helps and I can also offer advice wirh my experiences!

When I had diarrhea I just thought its getting rid of any unwanted s…! and stayed away from milk and dairy! When I was constipated I then drank milk and ate more cereal any time of the day and it helped!

Mouthwashes even if no sores are still needed as prevention as much you need to cream your whole face and body before it goes dry and wrinkly.

Anyway chemo 2 and felt ‘normal’ from day 7, same as first cycle! Pineapple cubes are great for the strange mouth and murry mints! Cheese and toast has been a hit this cycle and Mince and tatties!

Now enjoying a yummy custard tart whilst watching Benidorm b4 I put my head down!

No caffeine after 6pm for me to avoid veing wide awake.

Hope tou all have a good sleep ladies.xxx

I seen to have some opposite side effects. Whilst people are are struggling to sleep I’ve been getting 10-12 hours some nights. My skin seems to have become really greasy for some reason rather than dry. Just shows you can be all prepared but you never know what it’s going to be like until you’re there.

Cassie x

Hi

what mouthwash are people using please?

last round mine was sore and I got a lot of ulcers and I was using difflam

this time my mouth is very dry but not sore.  I have biotene toothpaste.

 

Thanks

Jo x 

Sorry that the symptom bingo has been so crushing for some of us - thank goodness for this forum as is so reassuring that lots of different side effects are still shared even when they seem so random! Round 2 for me has had a few dickey moments where I got fed up -more so than round 1 which I wasn’t expecting. My mouth is worse this time with some pesky ulcers does anyone know if Difflam is available over the counter? Is such a long way to gp and hospital and I am not driving still as my surgery wounds are still troublesome so things without prescription are a godsend. I have been drinking hot pineapple juice with manuka honey melted in which is literally like nectar.
You will see from my other posts that I like to demedicalise things when I can so I actually use instead of dioralyte one of the sports juice mix powders from science in sport - does the same job, tastes better and make me feel like an athlete when mixing it not a patient (even though I look more like a mascot haha)
Hugs to everyone for today the support you all offer is tremendous take care x

Hope I’m not speaking too soon but Ive done a little today. I’ve cooked and hoovered and walked to the end of the drive and back. - not much I know and I’m now resting but a massive improvement from not really being able to get out of bed for longer than a few minutes. 

 

Can an I just ask if anyone has experienced stomach pain from the daily injections?  Since the last one yesterday I’ve had a constant achey/uncomfortable stomach (not relieved by going to the toilet). 

I have had the uncomfy? Gurgling tummy and today feel a bit fluey which the nurse said could be the injections. Last one today though so good. I have used Biotene mouthwash and toothpast but still got ulcers, sore gums and thrush. My doc gave me bezydamine mouthwash and daktarin gel and within 24 hours it was miles better and beter again today. She also said pineapple in pineapple juice is good too xx

Hi
I got some Antiseptic mouthwash from my chemo team and some Benzydamine for if I get sore mouth and ulcers. Ive stoppex any deep fried foid and crisps as can provoke ulcers, sore throat and sore tongue for me. Frozen pineapple cubes have done woners when I started with 2 ulcers last cycle.

Today Im day 9 chemo 2 and feel normal but was very anxious this morning as needed to go in for a Coloscopy. Onc and Gynacologist said it was 9ok to have as long as only Bopisy and Coloscopy and no invasive treatment. Well, the nurse and Coloscopist were brill and chatted to me as she was doing it and when she did the Biopsy she asked me to cough and I didnt feel a thing!
Its just the thought of going through chemo treatment and rhen faced with another probing rhing but if any of you ladies need to have it, its not as painful as we imagine! Just not very ladylike with legs wide open up in the air!

Taste buds seem to asking for Mince and Tatties again!!!xx

Oh well after thinking i was doing well i now find myself in hospital on an antibiotic drip! Didnt have a temp but felt fluey and had awful back pain. Have low white blood cells so being treated for an infection - and this is after 7 GCSF injections. The joys xx

Oh no Ali. Hope you’re ok. At least your in the beat place to get it sorted xx

Take care Ali. Hope you’re out soon and feeling ‘normal’. love and hugs Jacqui xxoo

Sorry to see you’re at the hospital.  Take care - hope you feel ‘better’ really soon xx