September 2017 Chemo Starters

Hi all…day 5 of chemo. Surgery boob feels really tender…got a sore throat as well…anyone else had anything similar? Thanks xxxx Sarah

Hi Sarah I am day 4 and I went into chemo with a new haematoma in wound and yes is so sore - more like a pulled muscle in spasm than a wound- the team said it would possibly get more sore and it has - I’m allowed ibuprofen I think. I don’t have a sore throat and much less nausea today so have managed more than the last few days. We are all so different - I have tingly hands and feet and a scary hearing loss - it is like symptom bingo ! Hope you feel better soon and don’t forget to notify if your temp goes up as they like to know x

Hi Meow…keeping an eye on the temp. The boob thing is horrible. Thought that pain was gone for good. Ive been less nauseas today as well. Other random things include red face and ears (try getting a normal temp reading when ur ears are on fire!) Twitchy eye…transient pains…blurry vision…sore thumbs…WTAF!!!

Yes Sarah the random bingo continues! Are you still on steroids? they can make face and ears burn. Hope you have a good night and get comfortable x

Hi ladies
Had a very tight chest and neck and back earlier today and was quite breathless when I talked and just wanted to lie down. Temp also a little high so I rang the Christie hotline and they sent the Paramedics who did a DCG at home which was fine so no heart attack but they wanted me to go to hospital to get checked over. Another DCG fine, X ray fine, Bloods fine and they were happy to let me come home. They feel that with it only being day 6 of first cycle of chemo it’s a big shock to the system so things can go a bit haywire, plus I do panic! Anyway home now and seem to be fine. In a weird way it was kind of good to be out for 3 hours this evening so my sleep pattern may get better orherwise I wouldve been napping!

Came home to another home made Shepherds pie which went down quite well.xx

MrsMeow symptom bingo nails it I think! My face was also burning Sarah, yet my temperature was under 36 last night (day 1 only) with night sweats. Also now have a sore throat and dry eyes. If it’s steroids there’s obviously more to come, so thank you for explaining x I thought I might try some eye drops, plain sterile saline maybe.

Hi everybody, I’m new to the forum. I had my first chemo last week. My treatment will be neo adjuvant with 4xEC then 4xPtaxol, every two weeks.
I had constipation the first few days after chemo, indegestion, and sometimes feel heavy in the chest but it’s all gone now. The thing that bother me now is I’m having a tender vein near to the canulla placement, went to see the nurse last Thursday to check incase there is a leakage, she doesn’t think so by the look of it but I might have sensitive vein, and been given the leaflet about PICC line incase I decide to use it… it looks so scary…,Is anybody have same problem with me or/and use PICC or port ? Quite like the idea of no more needle for chemo and blood test as I hate needles !! But on the other side not sure how it goes with PICC either.
Vee78 xx

Reabsci, sorry to hear that you are having lots pains, hope the meds help and you can get enough rest. I started my chemo the day before yours, so it’s my 11th days now. Thinking of you, hope the effect of your next chemo won’t be too bad…xx

To all of us who did the first chemo, well done !!! Yeepee, one down !!..

I only have slight nausea until day 5. I found lemon and ginger tea helps. I also nibble lots of ginger biscuits. I kept taking the antisickness until day 7 eventhough I didn’t feel sick, I forgot I could stop them lol… stupid me…

My energy level is up and I managed to go to the gym on day 9. It’s important to keep active and get your mind out of it. It helps you to feel good too, don’t over do it tho.
I had the cold cap as I want to keep my hair as long as I can although I cut my hair bob short just to make it lighter.

Keep the positive attitude ladies… chin up ! We’ll beat this !!!
Lots of love
Vee xx

CK, What a day for you… I’m sorry to hear that, glad you are ok now. Can I ask what did they do to make you better or are u still having tight chest and pain ?
I do have trouble sleeping eventhough I haven’t nap during the day. I thought it was because steroid at the time but now the steroid finished but still had rubbish night.

Good morning all,
You will be pleased to hear that I managed to leave the house for a full 5 hours yesterday- I even risked a meal! - with no embarrassing gut issues at all!!!
In fact, the nausea has even passed and my tastebuds, though slightly numb, are nearly back to normal. Now I’m going to try and get in a good 10 days of healthy food to set me up for round 2.

Sam 34 - I am also on Neo adjuvant chemo(before surgery) as I am her positive too. I am on herceptin and pertuzamab - both block her2 and damage the tumours ability to grow. I have them by injection at the same time as my chemo.
The good news today is that on day 10 after my first chemo my boob lump has visibly shrunk!!! As has the massive lymph node in my armpit - it must be working!

CK - hope you feel better after last nights chest issues.
Fairy - good luck with the hair cut. If it’s more than 8 inches think of sending the hair to little princess so they can make kids on chemo free wigs.
Jo, glad the picc is now more comfy.
Sarah- I have I sore throat, too. Think it’s a side effect.
Michelle - maybe ask your optician or pharmacist which drops are best - probably a lubricating eye drop. My eyes have been dry too and I have hycosan fresh drops which are fab.
Welcome to the forum, Vee. I don’t know how I’d feel without this gang of fellow warriors!
Mrs meow - love symptom bingo! Who will be first to get a full house…
Hope everyone else is doing ok,
Lots of love and positive vibes, seize those moments you feel good and really enjoy them,
Cath x

Hi could anyone tell me if the feeling of ants dancing across my scalp will stop when my hair falls out please?
I am day 6 following first ec chemo. I have camped upstairs as it is nearest to the loo.
I feel as though I pregnant all over again. Just move and I want to vomit, sorry too much information.
I am managing to eat small amounts and drink, just found hot chocolate is not too bad lol.
It is the feeling of ‘ants’ on my head that is making me feel awful.
Sorry for saying this as we are all going through it but just feel crap.
Hopefully next week I will start to feel better, I’m just feeling soo sorry for myself.
Love n hugs to everyone going through it xx

Hi Lillibet,
I have read on other threads that having hair cut short or just going for it and having it all cut off helps with that. Some people also advise coconut oil on the scalp…
I also have a painful prickly scalp - day 9 for me. Waiting till the first sign of hair loss and it’s all going to go!

The horrible morning sickness feeling started to lift for me on day 8, but do get more anti nausea meds in the meantime- they can mix and match them till you feel ok
X

Thanks for your reply Cath I’m feeling a tab better today,just want treatment to start now,then after Christmas I can hopefully go back to work x

Hi Vee
They didn’t do anything or need to give me medication but I think peace of mind helped. They think I could be had a slight panic attack. The temp went down wirh paracetomol. My chest just felt so tight and my back but I think that started with the GCSF injections where I feel achy anyway.xx

Cathysid
Well done for going out for so long and feeling good. I’m going to go into work in a bit to test the waters. Not been in since Su day and had first chemo since…not bad when you come to rhink of it but still taking every day as it comes. I’m hoping to get to Maggie’s Centre tomo or Weds/Thurs. I do hope we will meet up at some point.xx

CK I also panicked last night and they told me to go to A&E. It was horrific, people being sick, blood on the trolley. My temp had been low and my PICC arm aches with a swelling in the elbow. It’s all fine tho. I also need laxatives but my sickness has gone (day 3) and I feel for everyone suffering that x
Thank you Cath, will try the hycosan!
Trying my luck at bingo with injections tonight…

Michelle, good luck with the injection tonight. I finished mine, scare at first but you’ll be fine. I did 6 of them in the tummy but the last day I tried it on the thigh and I can’t feel a thing… x

Hi awful Michelle for you to see all that! I was taken in ambulance and we I got there I was surprised how quiet it was. I thought might be full of drunken louts but was mostly elderly people, bless em! There was a guy high on drugs with 2 security guards causing a racket though and a woman effin and blinding whilst she was waiting with her son.

Im so glad you arent feeling sick any more. Lets hope for better days and easier side effects.xx

Afternoon Ladies
How are we all?!
For those of you who are having the gscf injections…you may experience some bone/joint pain or weakness shortly after. One time, I bent down to get the washing out of the machine and my back was soooo painful, I didn’t know what to do with myself! However, took some ibroprofen and layed on the bed and within an hour it had gone. So it doesn’t last. I was relieved when they were done for the week, that’s for sure.
Sending you all hug.
Sue xx

Hi SueC

I always look forward to your helpful posts! I’ve just done my last injection until next cycle. It gave me a pain down from back of my head, through the neck to my back and just taken Ibuprofen.
At first I was worried about doing them myself and still feel funny when I’m about to do them each time but it’s actually easy peasy and I was just working myself up!!! It’s strange when we have to do something we somehow get tour head round to doing it! I chose not to have the district nurse come to do them so she can concentrate on somebody else.
Anyway, my taste buds are back thank goodness on the 8th day of first chemo but I’m eating at strange times and whatever I feel. I had Shepherds pie for brekkie at 9.30am and then went to Maggie’s Centre for Tai Chi lesson and met some lovely ladies.
Came home hungry again after tea and cake there so have had some steamed fish and rice for lunch at 3pm. It’s a very similar hunger to when I was pregnant! And NO, I’m not:D Im catching up for the 2 days I was only on Croissants and milk!!!
Already thinking what I want for dinner!!!Hmmmm!

My head is starting to tingle now, so the follicles may be starting to open up for my short hair to start falling out! Coconut oil, satin sleep cap, hats and wig are all ready waiting.xxx