Good luck to all the Wednesday feccers! Sorry for late night post am always a bit of a night owl. Could I just ask why a satin pillowcase - is it a must have? Thanks x
Thinking of everyone starting treatment today xx I’ve been reading everything whilst distracted by my two girls who go back to school today. So kitchen clear out for me as i start FEC on Friday. My dentist said the same about not using a too harsh mouth wash, I’ve ordered biotene as I saw it mentioned on here and soft brushes. I’m like you lots of you, ordering things people mention to try and make myself believe I’m prepared!! Wig fitting today, PICC tomorrow. Good luck ladies x
Morning Annie
Maybe I should cancel the appointment then with the hygenist and stop flossing. Not sure how I will cope though as I’ve always flossed. Maybe just lighter instead? I forgot two days ago and couldn’t sleep. Maybe I’ll give my chemo team a ring. My chemo notes say I can continue to use my electric toothbrush.xx
Michelle 627
Good luck with the wig fitting
I’m having a number 2 later today when my hairdressers close as don’t want anyone around apart from her and a couple of friends…and a glass of some kind of alcohol.
I have my conditioned satin headcap ready to wear tonight to protect my follicles. Getting nervous but needs to be done.xxx
Morning all! Hope all of you starting today are doing ok so far. We can do this ladies!
MrsMeow - you made me lol at the thought of our Ant and Dec seromas - thank you! I wonder if we need to check which is on the right side? 
Regarding dentistry, my dentist and team were happy with me using an electric toothbrush as long as it’s a gentle one so I binnned my rather old one and bought a new Oral B genius 9000 one from Amazon which has a sensitive setting and heads. Not cheap but it really works and has sensors to make sure you’re not brushing too hard. I was also told to not floss but use a very soft interdental brush (the ones with fibres not wires) as good dental hygiene is very important during chemo. I’m also using Corsodyl twice daily (non alcoholic). I’ve had no mouth or taste issues yet so hoping it stays that way. No frozen pineapple required just yet!
I’m also using a silk pillowcase as am cold capping and my oncologist told me it is less likely to damage my follicles by hair catching on it when sleeping. I’m starting to get nervous now about how much hair I’m going to lose as sure it’s going to start soon. I’ve not shaved legs etc since chemo due to clotting and infection risk so would be just my luck if I lose my head hair but stay hairy everywhere else! Trying not to obsessively check my pillow and clothes every hour is my new preoccupation.
Good luck today Rhona, mrs meow and fairy dust - you will be fine! Having the chemo should be uneventful - take lots to entertain yourself - books, iPhone, research … you will be going home again in no time.
Post chemo I’m on day 5 and finding nausea and night diarrhoea the biggest issues. Going to get more anti nausea meds today from my gp. If you have friends you can rope in to cook for you over the next few days I would recommend it as thinking about food is difficult!
CK - how are you feeling now? Hope you continue to feel ok.
Daisy, Jaquie, hope the worst has passed no and you are fully recovered from round one.
Keep strong cx
Fairydust - am 1pm too best of wishes to all today xx I packed a hospital bag when had to dash across with a haematoma yesterday as the hosp is almost an hour away and takes an age to get there! Last time I packed a hospital bag I came home with a baby!! Good luck and hugs today x
Omg my brain is like mashed potato! I can’t keep track of what’s what or who’s who at all today!
Geordie - have you had your first chemo? How are you doing?
Jow - good luck today - your preparedness is amazing!
Michelle - good luck Friday
How surreal that life for the next few months is going to revolve around chemo, side effects and online forums! Finding this forum has been such a blessing - I don’t feel alone in this!
Unjoya - how are you doing? Hope you have managed to get some more support to help you through this. Lots of love x
Xxx
Fairy dust - I didn’t take an overnight bag and I wasn’t advised to, but I did have my partner on hand who could have popped home for stuff if it was needed. X
FairyDust that sounds like a good list. I took a few bits just in case as well. The nurses will look after you well and keep you company so sure you’ll be fine. Maybe after this first one you can start calling in favours from friends/family/colleagues to help you out. One of the harder adjustments for me has been realising it’s ok to ask for support even from people you might not know well and many people have surprised me at how well most have responded. The best thing about cancer is discovering the kindness of strangers.
Hi Cathysid. I’m on Day 7 from first chemo now and still doing well. Hoping it carries on this way! Hope your nausea and diarrhoea stops soon. I had constipation but no nausea. And now I’m talking about pooing habits on an online forum… that’s a first ;-)!
Good afternoons in ladies, a couple of you mention corsodyl mouthwash, you need to be a bit careful with that as it can stain your teeth.
You can get Difflam on prescription and that reminds me don’t forget that as you have a cancer diagnosis you are entitled to free prescriptions (England) for 5 years - get the form from your GP x
CK
How are you doing today?
Rhona xx
Hi,
glad ur doing ok Fairydust (so annoying re missing that delivery) and Rhona boat. And others?
i had a pretty awful evening after I posted. Nausea was very severe, but couldn’t even vomit to get relief
took a sleeping tablet and thankfully managed 6 hrs kip, then woke 4am by sore PICC again
nausea is creeping up again now
perhaps I didn’t need to worry about weight gain- can’t bear a thing (other than queasy drops sweets) ad black currant squash. Tried ginger beer, fresh ginger & lime tea, water, lavender oil etc.
just 3002 hours to go. Most people told me it wasn’t as bad as they expected. Perhaps my expectations were too good!
hope ur all sleeping soundly. Jo xxx
Hi all thanks for sharing the ups and downs - especially from yesterday starters. Getting my chemo was interesting the epirubicin made the vein go into spasm but we managed in the end and got an ice cream headache with the chloro too so needed a long flush. Got home ok and piggged out on tea wondering if I would regret it - when I was sick at 11 I still secretly was glad i had eaten! Sick again at 1 even after a metoclopramide. Up and swallowing antisick drugs now as plan. Anyone else’s feet a bit tingly? My main issue at the moment will make you laugh - I can’t look at a screen at all without feeling sick - and I live on one gadget or another! So not going to post too often until this shifts- but still thinking about you all and sending hugs. X
Morning ladies
I didn’t come on yesterday as the in the middle of the night on day 2 I woke up at 2am and couldn’t sleep because of a lower back pain caused by the GCSF injections. Injections are easy peasy ro do btw if you need them. They are to build up immune system and sort white blood cells! Paracetomol did the trick!
Then I just napped all day until the dreaded haircut which also made me anxious and towards not sleeping, but I did it and have a lovely wig! It’s just very short but not shaved as Chemo nurse advised that shaving could make my head sore and easier to get infection, so just very very short and let them fall out. I have a conditioned satin nightcap for when it does all fall out. This will help towards regrowth and stops friction and hair sticking to pillow, bit like when a baby gets a bald patch when they sleep!
So came home with my wig on and wasn’t too sad when I took it off! Had a better nights sleep last night!
I didn’t have much of an appetite yesterday so got through the day with croissants and milk and some blueberries! I think the steroids made me feel acidy so the milk kind of alkalied it out! I’m off the anti sickness pils today as had for 2 days but have been given stand-ins. I’ll see how I feel.
But after haircut I perked up again after another nap and just watched some TV to chill. I feel that I can’t cope with people talking loud at the moment and need calm. Had a much better nights sleep!
Temperature taken today which is good, as steroids were giving me rosy cheeks and I kept thinking I had a high temperature but the digital thermometer is accurate so no worries up to now.
One ulcer coming up at the side of my mouth and tongue turning white so out come the sprays and pastes and biotene mouthwash.
Been able to drive but can get tired so I advise only short distances.
RHONABOAT and FAIRYDUST
I’m glad you are doing well. Just take one day at a time and get plenty of rest. I’ve put my date on gold as don’t want him to see me at the moment. Dating is the last thing on my mind. Glad you got your digital thermometer sorted!xx
GEORDIE
I’m still using my electric toothbrush but not as harshly. I feel the ordinary ones hurt more.
HOW
I have private medical too but opted to stay with the hospital which has seen me from the start. I feel that we need a team at all times to look after us and NHS has it all. My surgeon does private ops too and has great reputation.I thing NHS treat the C very efficiently and can’t be slow anyway. Ginger drops and fruit pastilles have been good for me.xx
MRS MEOW
Hope your sickness wears off today. Just watching TV and Princess Kate is suffering morning sickness. My feet are tingling too.
Hi all,
Sorry to hear others are feeling the nausea too. It’s not fun.
It’s now day 6 for me. I picked up extra antinausea meds yesterday from my gp - I’m now on ondansetron and buccastem - a weird tablet that dissolves under your lip. It tastes vile and numbs my tongue but seems to be stopping the nausea so it’s great!
Since fridays chemo I’ve been up several times a night with diarrhoea. Was only up twice last night so maybe I’m turning the corner with that too.
I’m struggling a bit with drinking - herbal teas aren’t appealing, or water, or milk, or juice, absolutely don’t want tea or coffee … food is ok as long as it’s simple and involves no salad or fruit! Weird as I usually live I salad and fruit.
Another weird thing I’ve noticed is my face feels numb. Hands and feet are fine though. And my sense of smell is on overdrive.
I’ve had nose bleeds and bleeding gums this last day or so too. I had a cry last night as I was feeling so sorry for myself. I must try and live in the present and not worry about treatments to come! It all seems so overwhelmingly awful for the next few months though I know I will get through it it’s hard to know what will be left of me.
Once the kids get back from school I will have to pull myself together and put on a brave face again,
Love to you all and hoping for daily improvements and finding joy in the small things,
Cath x
Cath sorry to hear you are still nauseous on day 6, not surprised you are weary with it all - sometimes a wee weep is a good thing and we all do it - in my case lots!
I try to convince myself that if I’m getting every side effect going the cancer munching chemo must be working its magic on the good and the bad cells…
Joy in the small things is a great approach - I got a string of fairy lights to use as a nightlight to not disturb the OH they have autumn leaves on them and I loved looking at them all night in between running to be sick! Hope your day improves and good day wishes to all on here it is really generous of you to share your experiences x
Hey ladies. Love to all of you still feeling sick - hope it clears up soon. Just want to say that there is light at the end of the tunnel - I’m on Day 8 and feeling like myself for the first time since surgery. Off out for my PICC flush now and am even contemplating going out later to an actual bar (alcohol free and armed with antiseptic wipes however - not entirely rock and roll) to meet some other ladies locally who are on this same rollercoaster.
Hi Rhonaboat
Glad you are feeling ok on day 2.
The extra kip makes a whole lot of difference! The injections are easy (I was worried injecting myself at first) They have given me achy bones so going to try and get away without painkillers for now until it gets worse. Lying down watching TV now. Quite enjoying the rest.
One ulcer at side of mouth has showed up but see what happens later.
Off the anti sickness pils now so again see how I feel. Step in ones ready if needed
Face feeling dry so I have put a leave on mask on.xx
GEORDIE
Glad you are feeling yourself again and it will be nice to get out but you must take it easy if you get tired. Have a lovely catch up with the girls.xx
SUEC
I must get some Ibroprufen then if that’s better. Thanks for that tip.xx
Thanks Mrs meow and Rhona - I must get myself same pretty bathroom fairy lights to make my nightly visits more festive!
Geordie - so there is light at the end of the tunnel! Enjoy your night out x
