I have had 4 EC fortnightly.
The nausea feeling seemed worse day 4-7 but well controlled with sickness meds.
I felt most washed out days 4-7 but usually only 2 days but mainly day 5+6.
I think some of the fatigue is a follow on from insomnia / broken sleep day 1-3 so body playing catch up.
Generally a bit of R&R helped me loads.
Good luck with the treatment, fortunately I tolerated it quite well 
I donāt think the nurse knew how to operate the cold cap yesterday as when I got to the chemo bit I heard him move a switch and my head went warmer and the machine went quiet. I asked if it was working and heard him move a switch again and my head went colder like it does at the start. He also thought the liquid needed replacing and pressed a plunger down. He hadnāt used it for 2/3 months and thought the post cooling bit was the worst bit. I think he pressed the pump switch off.
Thanks so much and sorry about the late reply.
Many thanks Guida and sorry about the late reply.
So sorry to hear you had to go to A and E. Hope you get through the hospital stay ok. I had a fever 3 days after my first cycle, and went to hospital following advice. They kept me gor 6 days on Antibiotics 4 and gave me two extra white blood cell boosters as I turned severely neutropenic while there. Glad you got a private room. Took 2 nights in my case and I found that scary.
Sending love, Rose
PS: Our side effects look very similar and I have been extremely tired, achy and nauseous on TC for longer than in the first cycle, but Iām feeling more like myself again 10 days past it .
And thank you Sunshine and others for recommendation reg compression socks/calf compression.
I will definitely try this out on my third cycle scheduled for 19th, if the bloods are okay. Had very bad and ongoing joint and leg pains for the first eight days after cycle two.
Wishing everyone a good weekend. Had first nightof better sleep - only waking up once !!- since start of Chemo. Feeling like a (little) swanā¦ rather than ugly duckling this morning.
Also got some energy back from 9 days into 2nd cycle - but food with exception of lemon cheesecake and some fruit joghurt ts strange and bland. Canāt taste salt or sugar wellā¦
Enjoyed catching up with everyoneās posts after lacking energy and feeling low for some days. Lucky duck - loved your poem and shed a tearā¦
And hope you are āokā sharlou- treatment is so tough and can make us feel worn and low. Felt pancake-flat toon first week into cycle 2.
We might loose hair temporarily, get knocked about by the horrible āside effectsā of this onslaught treatment and get our confidence knocked but yes we remain swans incognito.like that thought lucky duck. . and very brave swans that is too! 
Sending love to all
Rose xo
Iām doing compression while Iām having docetaxel. Bought gloves and socks 20-30 strength. But i was told npt to wear glove on my left side as i have no lymph nodes rhere after my axillary clearance and conoression could trigger lymphodema. So Iāve just been doing michael jackson style with one glove!
Thanks @bluesatsuma thats interesting. I shall check with nurses but think Iāll be ok as only had a node biobsy, none were found to be suspicious. Iāve actually had this twice once back in 2010 with my original BC and now with this one. Iāve had no issues with lymphodema either time. Iām more worried about my picc line side. Someone on the Paxman group said she had used the gloves and was told that they caused a blood clot with her picc line!! Itās a minefield 
I havenāt been on for ages so catching up with all your news. I donāt like it when I read about A&E visits or incompetence but when youāre not on for a while it seems to be a common cycle. I am sorry to read of these things that have occurred over the past few weeks.
I have had a dreadful third round of EC (my last). I now feel like I got away with 2 good rounds but my god this last one has really knocked me off my feet. Predominantly my brain not doing what my head or my mouth want it to do. Everything takes me way longer to do, whether itās writing, walking, concentrating anything. I was not making sense but didnāt know until my husband and daughter told me, Iām much better now but it has been scary. My confidence has gone, I am crying a lot, so very tired and just feel like a shadow of me! But the sadness and I feel lonely, does anyone else? Itās all just so overwhelmingly sad.
I am constantly hungry, I wake up starving, I eat but donāt feel full. My nails are growing exponentially I feel like a werewolf the rate they grow. I am cutting them every week, has anyone else have this?
I have my first round of Docetaxel 18th Nov and Iāve been reading what youāve all said about compression socks (cant do arms as same as others comments) which I will do. But I am dreading it primarily because of the unknown again. Side effects I have been warned about pins and needles in hands and feet, aching bones/joints. I have also been told to discuss the difference between Docetaxel and Paxetaxel (sorry donāt know if these are spelt right) is the P kinder to the body and should I be asking to change to this? Advice very welcome. And if anyone has had Docetaxel can you share symptoms.
Sorry for the long post, Iām making up for my absence. X
@nicnac17 Iāve only had 1 docetaxel after my 3 EC. EC was easier. I had a terrible 1st cycle with docetaxel and was in hospital 3 days, with 3 further related visits. This was all due to high temperatures and severe aches but I felt very ill too. No infections found, and my neutrophils were good. Iām sure most people donāt have a bad time, but it didnāt agree with me. Iāve had diarrhea whole time and sore red skin, rashes. On bright side, Iāve lost weight, my hair isnāt falling out any further than EC made it, and Iāve slept better on docetaxel. Iām seeing oncologist on monday and Iām expecting a dose reduction. Only 2 to go, so Iām reluctant to switch to the weekly paclitaxel, although Iāve heard itās kinder. Good luck but make sure you report any side effects, as most can be treated. X
Ah I feel you @nicnac17. Iām not myself at all right now and feel utterly isolated and alone. If one more person says āyou should do this, you should do thatā or ācheer upā Iām going to lose it. I feel like no one gets it. Yes the hair will grow back and I can lose weight afterwards but the here and now is just utter miseryā¦thatās how I feel, anyway.
Also apprehensive about paclitaxel which starts next week. Like you say, itās the fear of learning a whole new set of side effects.
Anyway, really sad youāre suffering 
Try to keep telling yourself weāre halfway! Easier said than done at times I know xx
Iāve had 4 docetaxol in 2018 every 3 weeks and 9 Paclitaxol weekly so far and got 3 to go. I had more seās with Docetaxol but coped OK on it still managing to work in an office most of the time.i had a sore mouth and upset stomach.
Paclitaxol again not too bad still working at home every day but spend weekends relaxing. I had to miss a week as my neuts were low so am now having injections to boost them although they arenāt needed this week. This has confused when Phesgo is being done as found out that will be next week yesterday so 4 weeks due to missing a week of chemo. I have feet that feel like Iāve run over hot coals sometimes (neuropathy). They seem to be worse when I have been for a walk. My mouth is sore but I think I have a wisdom tooth that is on itās side so as my gums are more sensitive it is catching on my gum. I have had an upset stomach, my orifices hurt and when I blow my nose there is blood. Itās intense as weekly but more effective. My tumour may have gone when I had an us after no.7 but itās now 5.9mm (scar tissue as in SLNB?) and was 17mm. I am HER2 so they expected it to go after 6 weeks. I was told Paclitaxol is more doable.
Oh girls 
I think we are all feeling it at the mo. My mood is matching the weather outside, grey and dull and unpromising!
Maybe itās midway blues. Weāve got through so much already but still more to face and itās daunting.
@nicnac17 @bluesatsuma Iāve just had a complete anxiety attack and a good cry. Luckily my husband is out. Iām really dreading Monday and Docetaxel. I really want to ask hubby to stay on site when I have it beacause Iām so scared Iāll have some kind of anaphylaxis reaction. But I wonāt, heās been so stressed, his blood pressure has been really high and itās mainly caused by anxiety for me so I know itās better for him to go to work for a few hours and be occupied. Iāve had a drama every round, so if somethings going to go wrong, itāll be coming for me!
And yes, my nails are growing fast and strong, but Iāve stopped wearing any nail varnish for months now so they seem to be in rude healthā¦ā¦for now!
@Linda_Corinne i hope your wisdom tooth doesnāt give you too much jip. Itās horrible having to navigate sore mouth and tummy upsets. I wonder if itās too late to try the compression socks for your feet?
@sharlou i get it hon, Iām also feeling isolated and alone and then cross with myself because I know how incredibly lucky I am to have the most amazing friends and family who are all rooting for me and thinking of me and a husband who loves me and cares and has been a complete rock for me. But equally am so tired of being told ā youāve got thisā and ā youāre so strongā. I donāt feel strong at all, I feel scared and a complete mess trying to carry on as normal and minimise the impact for everyone around me.
Iām grateful to have you all here that can understand and donāt judge how f -ing messy and scary and shitty it really is, especially when you get in your own head. Thereās no pressure here to be ābrave!ā
In other news I have my wig fitting in 2 weeks time. Iām sick of looking sick. I look like I share Donald Trumps barber! I could give his comb over a run for itās money I swear!
Good news is I am having a curry tonight and looking forward to actually being able to taste it properly.
Not so good news, Iām am still a complete snot fest, but I havenāt heard anything from the hospital re my blood test, so Iām assuming we are good to go ahead on Monday with round 4/6.
Iām going to have a coffee and a slice of cake and my fat bum doesnāt even care! At least I can blame my red nose on my cold and not crying when hubs gets home. Xx
@Guida im so sorry to hear you are in A&E but at least you are in a private area with your own toilet. Iām hoping youāre feeling better today after the IV antibiotics.
6 days? It makes sense. I came Thursday evening and it looks like they will not discharge - or make any decision before Monday. Thank you all for your kind words. Iām feeling much better. Iām grateful for the isolated, suite room and the NHS treatment so far. I wish you all a great weekend 
Linda_corinne sorry to hear your nurse might not have known how to use the cold cap, hopefully it still worked for you 
Shi xx
Hi lovely, sorry to hear it sounds like youāve had a really rough ride side effect wise this round. Iāve got round 4 of nab-paclitaxel scheduled for me for the 19th & very mindful effects are cumulative 
but at the same time excited to get to my halfway point.
Iām also very worried about starting EC when I finish my taxol. Itās like you just get used to something, have an idea of how you are going to be & then itās all taken away from you again. A friend asked me this week why they change drugs, I mean, I have no idea but it is what it is 
My confidence has taken a massive hit too, I feel super paranoid whenever Iām out & about (not often) like Iām being stared at.
I remember someone on here mentioning they had stopped driving? Iāve not but my gosh my reaction times are not what they should be, meaning that Iām probably driving like an elderly person, super slow & taking ages to get out at a junction etc but Iām so scared to have an accident.
And yes, I feel sad and lonely. No matter how many people are there for me.
Iāve had Nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane) as opposed to paclitaxel as I had a reaction to paci so canāt comment docetaxel vs paclitaxel but personally much prefer the idea of higher dose once every 3 x weeks to weekly & having to go in less.
@sharlou sorry to hear you are feeling this way & totally get it. It feels neverending & like everyone elseās lives are carrying on as normal around me whilst mine is on hold. Did you go back to work like I think you mentioned? I think this would do me good but my work is heavily project based & difficult to dip in & out of. 
@luckyduck1 mine was to paclitaxel & not docetaxel but you are way ahead of where I was by even being fully aware of reactions. My husband was with me when I reacted & chucked him straight out until theyād sorted me out, so even if you did take yours with you he probably wouldnāt be allowed in if you have any reaction. If anything happens they are so on it.
This forum makes me feel so much less alone. Itās hard for people to even comprehend the extent of what we are going through. One of my best friends who i thought got it lives about 4.5 - 5 hours drive away & suggested I take my little one there to stay with them for a weekend. I can barely even drive my child to nursery I canāt even imagine navigating the M25 right now
Thank youšIām feeling much better. I was not sure what to expect as itās been the first time it happened (after 7 cycles). But the experience has been positive (past the reception).
I can defo remember when on FEC-T previously (I think theyāve dropped the F now as it caused heart problems prob) that the FEC was to stop recurrences.
@sunshineandunicorns my husband hasnāt been allowed past the reception desk since day 1. Iāve had to do them all on my own, the first one was scary but 2/3 I knew what to expect. This time is the unknown again and scarier with this awful allergic reactions. He usually just drops me off, goes and does a quick job and comes back. Luckily we are local and he is self employed. But he could go and sit in the cafe. But I donāt want him to worry even more. Itās better this way. Iām trying to be reassured that they will be on it straight away, but with some of the bad practice Iāve been party to first hand when they pulled my picc line out changing my dressing and sent me home not following their own procedures, Iām obviously not fully trusting. I shall make it explicitly clear how nervous I am and not let them leave me. I hope I get a nice nurse. I get someone different each time. Only the girls that do my cold cap stay the same and they are lovely.
I canāt say Iāve felt my reaction times much different on EC, Iāve been fine driving. I have adhd so have to pay extra attention driving anyway lol. I am more forgetful and loose words mid sentence though. Chemo brain is a convenient excuseā¦ā¦could just be my age 
Oh I am sorry, thatās tough. I suppose it will be a space issue? There isnāt a vast amount of space in mine which is why Iāve stopped him coming (that and my husband also self employed & I feel like at least one of us should work!). I donāt have the same chemo nurses, or the same ppl to do the cold cap each time either. Iāve heard so many ppl say how amazing chemo nurses are but Iāve not really built a relationship with any cos itās always different + they are all too busy to chat