Fairydust hope the codeine has worked - you described the yukky T to a t! My bone pain has been worse this time too and am also at day 6 - feels like someone is unscrewing my legs at the hips and knees and told my OH it was like someone had put a brolly up my behind then opened it - that made his eyes water!!
Am very lucky though as between paracetamol and ibuprofen I have managed to have a lovely couple of days totally revolving around food - despite having a very sore throat now I can taste everything and boy have I indulged - healthy food regime starts next week after injections finish on Sunday so am going for it now! I decided if i was going to tax my liver with painkillers I would instead tax it with beer and prosecco so have thoroughly enjoyed being naughty - next year will be on the nice list but this has been one last blowout.
CK you describe the whirlwind perfectly of what we have been through and I have what I call emotional incontinence too - especially when thinking about nearest and dearest. For the first time in 25 years I had no children in the house Christmas morning but actually it was perfect to be calmer and build up to the lunch in peace.
As others have said coping with family members and their little foibles is harder when we are trying to keep our emotions at bay - I will need to remember this today as going to my parents who are both nearly 90 - I normally take dinner for 10 to this boxing day meal but am not making it today so will have to enjoy being the guest but I feel guilty - and will need big girl pants for the thick skin needed for multigenerational get togethers!
Hope everyone is as comfortable as possible today- for me day 7 on T has dodgy temperatures so join me floating outside in nighties to keep cool if that is you too - well done on coping with a challenging Christmas time - you are all such a wonderful support on here and I hope you have a lovely restful day xx
Fairydust, hope you got some sleep, sounds like you had a rough night. That T does seem to make your bones ache. Have a nice soak in the bath and a short wander if you can handle it today - walking a bit does seem to help if you can manage it.
Ck - hope your tastebuds start to recover soon. I’m now Day 12 and they are improving well now. Food tastes ok now, though nowhere near normal yet!
I did manage Xmas dinner - my mum and sister and my partner all helped me cook for the masses. 22 round the table! It was a lovely day, though very loud with 7 under 10’s running round like crazy. We got through the after dinner quiz without a family argument and even managed charades later on after cheese and biscuits. I think I may have broken all the rules - I had Buck’s Fizz, prosecco and finally port with several helpings of knutsford blue cheese and Stilton! Oops. No hangover but I had promised myself that I would keep my alcohol consumption minimal from now on, after several dry months on chemo. Easier said than done in my family!
Ck - we have been through such a lot this year that it’s no wonder we do not feel our normal levels of confidence. Our bodies and appearance have changed, we have faced cancer diagnosis, been through gruelling treatment, found out who our true friends are and aren’t, and are still in the effects of chemo and hormonal changes! Life will never be the same. We will get some sense of normal back though - maybe after the intensive treatment is done.
Jow - hope you enjoyed yesterday. It’s a lot to handle so soon after chemo.
Jow and Ck, hope your coughs and colds are improving. Mrs M , hope you are ok
Off for a Boxing Day walk later and hoping for a calmer quieter day,
Cx
Morning all. Ck, fairy, mrs M - hope you are all fetling better today and keeping the SE’s at bay! Cathy, your day sounds a bit like mine! I think the kids do.make the day though and help to keep our feet firmly on the ground!!
I normally have everyone - family and friends - to mine, at some point over the hols. I was just thinking last night that if i dont do the gathering then nobody else bothers! My husbands brother, wife and grown up children have been here 3 times for Christmas dinner but have never invited us - or anyohe else- there even for a drink!! Friends come every year but there has been no invites yet!! Anyway, ive told the hubby we are not doing it again - he said i will because i love doing it and will get over it - he is so laid back he is horizontal - i need to learn from him!!
Anyway after my weeks delay i am back on the steroids today ready for my 2nd lot of dox, permuzetab and herceptin tomorrow!!
I had a poorly girl.last night. I had to leave her downstairs with her dad as she felt sick then was sick! Anyway they have slept on a settee each and i am hoping she is better this morning. We all need some air!!
Hope everyone has a good day today and SE’s reduce or better still, disappear for you all xxx
Mrs M - glad you managed to have a lovely couple of days of indulgence and are enjoying food, despite all the aches and pains.
Ali - hope tomorrow goes well and good luck avoiding the vomiting bug. One my sisters little ones has started vomiting too. It started last night. We are all still sharing a house so another bug to fend off! I didn’t catch the fever virus so hopefully that’s a sign my immune system is in good shape.
Well, lovely walk by the tyne, now home to have some Christmas soup and later we will attempt to eat the buffet we couldn’t face yesterday as we were too stuffed from lunch!
Cx
Hi ladies
A lovely sunny day here in Stockport! I was invited to a corporate meal at Stockport County but a sleepess night with this cough and cold and sharp achey pain isn’t going to allow me. My cheeks are even redder from the T, a bit like the burns I got on my arm. It looks like a day at home but Im not complaining. I just want to be better for New Years Eve!
As Carhysid says, my body and appearance has changed so much and I cant help it but keep loiking in the mirror! Bald head, red patchy cheeks, veins on forehead sticking put, dark circles under eyes, red eyelids, red nose from blowing…not a pretty sight! All the more for not wanting to go out! Alrhpugh a bit of make up and a wig nakes a big difference to look and confidence.
Watching the old Titanic now, bit different to the latest and looking forward to Travel Man in Hong Kong 8pm C4 tonight.
Merlot the cat made some really strsnge noises in his sleep last night and today he seems on edge and keeps looking at rhe door. Im wondering if he can see things we cant see! If you believe in that kind of thing:0 My psychic once did say does he go beserk now and ten as if hes seen something…otr maybe its just a cat thing?
Ali
Well done for putting yourself first and you would have rhought that someone whos been to tours for the past few years would have invited you this year!
Anyway, so what if not! Relax and chill at home and prepare yourself for tomorrow. All the best with treatment.xx
Cathysid
I was hoping to go for a walk but feel too tired so Im going to laze again today. Regards alcohil Ive just not wanted any at all which is a good thing as I have a huge bar with everything and it doesnt appeal to me. Maybe a whisky with honey, lemon and hot water later!
Gosh, cant imagine cooking for 22!!! Ive always had chefs to do that. I wouldnt be able to cope at home with my small oven. Well done you!x
Mrs Meow
See you flying by soon in your nighty. Did you get a new one for Xmas wirh all this flying?? I think we are going through similar SE and emotions. The sore throat and cough is a pain at night and the aches and pains are as you described to your OH!!!
Hope your parents enjoy their rime with you.xx
Fairydust
I hope you feel better soon. Codeine should help and lots of siaks. Ask OH to give you a light massage. It does help. No moving furniture through this T. I was up to in the middle of the night too but switched my phone off. At the moment there is no day or night. I just nap and eat when I feel like it.xx
Anyway, wherever you are and whatever you are doing, tey to enjoy the rest of the festive season.
Lots of love ladies! Hang in there! We will get through this with the support of each orher??
I did my final injection today! Yay!!! Cant believe I did 42 of rhem on my own when I used to dread needles! Aling with taking bloids I think Ive had ebough practice now???
Hi lafies, not 8n bed yet but thsts steroids for you!!
Well.i got to lunch time then phoned family and said come round!! They are all getting old so i couldnt not do it. We had a lovely afternoon and evening. I cooked the turkey, did a buffet, we ate and drank (schloer for me!) And played a board game. I love them and they love me - so all good!!
My best friend who lives in Aus but has been home for Christmas, came round too. He flies to Spain tomorrow to meet his partners family. It was lovely xc
CK hope you feel better tomorrow. I have been using blistec extreme moisturiser on my lips and nose and it has been brilliant. It really helped my sore nose. I have also been using my hubbies big cotton hankies instead of tissues or balsam tissues - just a bit more gentle on the skin.
I went to the shops for a walk today but i just cannotbuy myself anything as i just dont think i look like me!! I have put a bit of weight on and whilst my wig does the job i just dont think th8ngs look right!
I am ready for number 5 tomorrow.
Hope everyone gets a good sleep and has a better day tomorrow xxx
Xxx
Been up half the night with heartburn after 1st day of steroids! Took omeprazole!
That sleepless night has cost me a good bit 8n the sales! Geez!!!
Good luck today Ali - hope everyone has a nice day hopefully resting and catching up after overdoing it for the last few. I made it to my parents yesterday for the evening which was lovely and was driven by one of my children as wasn’t quite up to driving myself on day 7- was fine being driven but they have a huge jeep thing and I don’t think they realised that in the back I was bouncing around over every bump so today I feel like I have spent 3 hours in a washing machine haha- had to take painkillers in the night but as of today have only 5 injections left in total which is fab. Mouth is improving yesterday was probably the worst day for cardboard taste and temp is down too so not having to go Out in the snow in the nightie just yet. The mission in the next few days is to eat all the leftovers in the fridge before the health kick starts next week- my body will go into shock when I stop just eating whatever I fancy but it has to be done as I am huge!
One nice thing that happened on Christmas Day was when we were playing a game with cracker hats and my daughter noticed my hair has started to grow back! My head is always covered and neither me nor OH had really spotted that I have about 3mm of dark hair coming through - I was so excited to spot this on Christmas Day - it has coincided with the bulbs coming up in the tubs in the garden which I planted before I started chemo as a friend said by the time these come through you will be sprouting too- it feels like a lovely beacon of better things to come
Hope everyone’s SE are waning - and Cathy you get down the road more gently than you came north - Geordie fairy dust Jow and CK and loads more ladies I have forgotten thanks again for being there and for the tremendous support xx
Fairydust - hope you managed your food last night, must keep the strength up! How are you doing today?
Ali - sales on steroids! Could be dangerous! And well done rounding up your family and feeding them all. Sounds like it was a lovely day.
Mrs meow - apart from the bumpy 4x4 ride it sounds like you’ve had a nice Xmas. Great to hear your hair is returning! I have no sign of any regrowing but maybe it’s the carboplatin with my T that’s keeping it away.
Ck- so nice to have those horrible injections behind us!
Well, that’s Xmas done …New year next!
Cx
Fairydust id watch it with the chickenpox thing, it can come out as shingles in older people, I’d ring your bc nurse and check it out with her lovely, just to be on the safe side ???
shi xx
You can get a nasty case of shingles if you come in contact during chemo so i would stay away at least till you see onc x
Skype is a good idea fairydust, we are getting there, you can make up for it at Easter ???shi xx
Treatment went fine today. Feeling ok, just a bit tired now. Found out that i had a double dose of pertuzemab and herceptin last time (a loading dose!) and i am on 75% Docetaxol each time. So ive had half the dose of the 2 and 75% docetaxol today. We will wait and see how my SE’s are this time! Hope everyone else is ok after treatment today xx
Definitely stay awake from chicken pox fairydust - it is dangerous when on steroids and on chemo xx
Yes deffo avoid Fairydust! Its not worrh chsncing and your immune system is low through treatment so can pick up anything easily. Ive not been anywhere anyone who I know who has has colds through treatment and been able to avoid but now right after final cycle I have a cough and coold which has made me feel a whole lot worse!
Ive now also 2 massive deep red patches on both of my cheeks. They are warm to touch and look like burns. Eyelids a little red too! Had it last cycle on my face and arm but smaller area. This time it looks worse than it is. Im hoping it will go naturally otherwise will need to get to the GP tomoz.
Ali, hope SE are easy abd plenty of rest.
Mrs Meow, hair!!! Thats great! Hope mine grows back soon!
Cathysid, my taste buds are still rubbish.
Good luck for all treatments this week.
Now for cheesy catch up TV
Night ladies.xx
Hi everyone
I’ve temporarily been Geordie oop North as my husband drove me from Portsmouth to Newcastle to surprise my family on Christmas Day. It was so lovely to see them and there were lots of tears all around, particularly from my sister who has been amazing throughout all this (she came down to look after me for four of my chemos) and thought she wasn’t going to see me at Christmas. I also hadn’t seen my dad since this all started and he was so happy to see me too. It was lovely but totally overwhelming and so tiring being around so many people at once after months of being a hermit and only seeing people in ones and twos! I never thought I’d make it back home again so soon so I was very emotional too.
Fairydust - I had to ask the chickenpox question a few months ago and was told by onc that I can’t go near anyone who has been in contact with someone with chickenpox for at least two weeks as they could be carrying it even if they’ve had it before. Please be very careful as it’s one of the most dangerous things we could get during chemo.
MrsMeow - it’s brilliant your hair is coming back! I have a few wispy bits too which is great!
CK - I know what you mean about losing confidence to go out. I never used to care about germs or what other people thought but now find myself anxious about leaving the house as I feel so vulnerable. Trying to get on and do it anyway but takes a lot more courage than I think it should! I’m hoping that a few more weeks to recover from chemo and get out of the infection risk period will help! Also, I think our chemos are cumulative so I have definitely struggled more with the last one than all the others put together but I’m coming out the other side now, hopefully for good!
Love to all and hope you’re all doing well xx
Ali hope you get on better with t this time, looks like they overdosed you for sure with that first one. It’s certainly a different ball game to the fec, but the up side is there isn’t that flipping fecie smell that keep nd of lingered for a few days after if you know what I mean, I could just smell the chemicals around me could you? Rest up, drink plenty ??shi xx
Thanks Shi i will. I feel better preapared for it this time - fingers crossed ??? good luck today Shi. Hope all goes well xx
Geordie i felt emotional just reading your post! Portsmouth to Newcastle - what a journey thw happy they all must have been to see you and how emotiinal for you. Fantastic!! Well done you - now rest and recover xxx
Hi ladies
After another night of non stop coughing and no sleep and 2 massive red patches on my cheeks I got myself to rhe GP this morning. She spoke ro my Chemo nurse on the phone there and then and it could be allergic reaction to the T or Cellulitus as my eyelid has gone red too! So the same anti biotics for rhe chest and the rash, Cetraben cream(2 massive tubs) and some allergy tablets.
Jow
I had small red patches on my cheeks last time but this time cover both cheeks which is a pain as I really do look like aunt sally!!! Yummy! Vegan Indian. We have served some of this at work! I hid behind my scarf this morning and blamed it on my cold, saying didnt want anyone to catch it! I just wanted to go to docs get my prescription and go home where no one can see me apart from my daughter abd Merlot the cat! Yes, this final cycle isnt letting us off lightly at al…but we will get there! Hang in there?
Im so frustrated I cant go to work tonight! Ive gog to be sensible?
Geordie
What an emotional gathering but nice! We really do need to see more of loved ones when we can.
We arent going anywhere yet!!! Confidence Im sure will come back but will take time and there is more treatment to come.x
Fairydust, Ali, Mrs Meow, Cathysid, Shi…hope you are all hanging in there! Kick ass!!! We are getting there???