Sorry, Jackie… Omeprazole comment was for you… works fab for me (and I’m a Gaviscon addict in my former life!!)
Hi ladies,
I’m not really sure to which group I belong as I started my chemo on April 29 and do not quite practically fit to the group there as some of the ladies having their third chemo already and I have just started. Luckily I have my second session today and hope it is much better this time than the last one. I should not complain much though as I did not have nausea (which was my biggest nightmare), but had some big troubles with fever, pain all over, no sleep for 8 days, terrible night sweats (had to change my sheets 6 times a night). Well, in any case, it’s all doable, hard but doable. And I’m so happy later today I will be able to say 1/3 is done! Wishing you all luck and health and I’m very grateful you are all here (well, that sound super weird, I know). xxx, Julia
Hi ladies! Thanks so much for your responses! I really hope it goes much better for all of us in the future. I’m back home from the second session. Yey!!! My chemo brain is all around me, no concentration whatsoever. But luckily no nausea. Tomorrow I’m having the neulasta shot, that’s gonna be painful but doable. No sleep still. But tonight I’m going to take a sleeping pill to try and manage it. My hair started to fall out day 13 after the first chemo so I just shaved it off. It’s not yet gone completely, I look like a leopard ))) but every day I lose more and more of it. My lady garden has gone completely, which is handy as I may save up on waxing now ). In any case I hope I can keep my taste and smell for a couple of more days as then it will be gone and everything will taste like paper for a while. But still 1/3 done!!! Yey!!! Even side effects font matter anymore 
I did my own shot… (Neighbour is a DN but was out when I needed the shot doing so no choice!)
Don’t worry ladies, does not hurt at all if you grab your spare tyre firmly! (Sorry, one time having a jelly belly helps 
The needle is super fine.
Goes in really easy, don’t fret.
Hi Ladies, well, no sleep second time around even with the sleeping pills. The dexamethasone is really strong, keeps nausea away but deprives any sleep at all. The Neulasta shot itself is fine, it’s the pain I had for a couple of days after it last time. But it is of course possible that this time it’s different.
Kate, good luck next week! I’m very sure your good week will be good. If it is ok now, it will only get better until the next infusion. Try to enjoy as many things as you can especially good food
La-La, well done one your shot! wow. I also did the shots of different types for my self for several weeks because I was going through fertility preservation treatment. It was a bit scary at the beginning but later on I became a real pro and could do that with my eyes shut.
Let this all treatment bring us a lot of health and long years ahead. xxx. Julia
Hi ladies …can i join you for the ride In the lovely month of May, and hope youre all habving a comfortable day.
Investigated 23rd of April and diagnosed 30th April, now started my first lot of FEC yesterday…having x3 cycles then have docetaxel + herceptin x3 after…all neoadjuvant for stage 2 IDC,HER2 + ER +…prior to surgery and Radiotherapy.
Well after slight nausea and tingly hands and feet last night, i took my ondansetron and slept like a baby…awoke briefly at 2am and wanted to clean the oven…steroid effects…but soon back off again.
Today pleasantly surprised as eaten ok, been for walk thru village then had picnic lunch in park with hubby. A bit of light housework and now feet up on sofa…im not kidding myself tho, i know i wont be as lucky with SE throughout.
Havent any lines in as yet but gonna see how i go…was a bit sore initially via cannula but eased with warmer to arm.
Anyway, hope to contribute and gain info from you guys as we go on, have read this forum frequently and loving the support and valuable advice, but due to IT glitches my posts havent been displayed till now.
take care all.x
Wise indeed.
I kinda hate the ‘kicking cancer’s arse’ ads too, because on a bad day I don’t feel terribly warrior-like at all, and makes me feel a bit of a failure if I feel sorry for myself.
(Allow yourselves to feel whatever you are feeling ladies… Mindfulness training taught me that)
I messaged a lady who had posted something at Christmas (exact same situation as me, about to have double mast and recon)
What was THE best thing was that she messaged me saying ‘God that seems so long ago now’
THAT is where I want to be.
This time next year this will all hopefully be a dim memory ladies.
Roll on 2016!!
One cycle at a time.
Where are the like buttons here? ))) I totally agree with you, guys.
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Hi All,
Just wanted to say good luck to everyone starting chemo this month - my thoughts are with you.
Hugs for all,
Pen x
Morning ladies. Just to report back on my first session yday. Apart from a nasty side effect from the steroid injection which meant the chemo drugs glad to be put in more slowly all went well. Felt pretty grot thanks to reaction but my chemo nurse was lovely and after about an hour I started feeling better. Have had waves of nausea and a headache but trying to drink lots to flush it all through. Not even wanted to look at food but then that’s not unusual for me. Am taking anti sickness pills religiously and hoping things get no worse. Had a pretty good night, 4 hours solid sleep (that’s good for me normally) and don’t feel too bad this am. Just glad to think that’s one down. I have found ginger ale (slightly flat) and pineapple cube sweets both good so far. Have a good day all xxx
Hi ladies. Well yday was a grim day with relentless nausea and feeling in a state of fogginess thanks to the concoction of pills. Hoping that was the worst one of this cycle and def asking for the stronger anti nausea drug next time. Two nurses thought I should have it from outset given my history with sickness but Oncologist thought it best to see how things went! Managed to clean the house but then had to sleep for an hour but tiredness might be down to the broken nights I’m having. Not so nauseous this am (long may that cinyinue) but tummy gluggy , bad head and very sore mouth so guess it’s still working through system. Hair also very itchy so reckon an earlier than expected trip to hairdressers could be on cards, just glad I got hats and wigs sorted! Hoping for another sunny day as that always helps. Hope everyone else is doing ok and enjoying the weekend xxx
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Hi I’m having trouble accessing the face book group, can any one help, thank you xxxx
Shirley, would you like to join our May starters closed Facebook group, if so send me your email address through a private message on here. Lucy x
Hi, I had my 1st FEC chemo treatment on 21st May, and survived the 1st week of extremev tiredness and nausea, but will definitely seek stronger meds at next oncology appointment. My main trouble is now suffering from chronic heartburn/indigestion at all times of the day at times pain between shoulder blades is horrendous, does anyone have any tips to ease symptoms??
Trying to send you private message Did7855 but setting not enabled on your account, would you like to join our may fb group? Lucy
DD, We are all now comparing meds as some having a terrible time, others almost zero SEs… what were you given for sickness?
I was very lucky and had zero nausea, but had a LOAD of drugs (I was drug free after day 10):
Emend 125mg x1 an hour before chemo
Emend 80mg x1 day 2 and 3
Ondanestron x2 breakfast/bedtime for 3 days
Dexamethasane (anti sick steroids) x2 breakfast/lunch for 3 days (made my heart race but gave me energy!)
Levomepromazine (optional) 6mg at night (still have but haven’t taken since day 10. Good for sleep
Also took co-codemol too, for portocath pain; (slept like a baby but totally constipated for 3 days! Ouch! Stopped co-codemol day 3!)
Metoclopramide 10mg optional up to 3 per day (I keep these on hand just in case now.)
ACID:
I was given Omeprazole 20mg antacid to take each morning as needed. I normally really suffer with heartburn but had none. If you do not have this ask for it.
I stopped taking it a week ago because it made me very ‘windy’ (son complained! Was awful!) and soft stools (ouch after constipation!!)
Sorry to ramble, but think it’s important we compare notes on meds. I know I was very lucky. Maybe just my constitution, but I think it was my meds. (I suffered badly with morning sickness, so expected hell as my Onc said it would be similar. Maybe that’s why I got heavy duty meds? But I took EVERYTHING I was given religiously (nurse advised me to!) and no regrets.
If you are suffering speak to your oncologist, they want to help. Don’t struggle through.
And GP has a duty of care to issue whatever to overcome SEs.
PS: I drink Ocean Breeze Cranberry Raspberry squash all day! Lovely flavour, sweet (glucose for energy) and good for you (cranberry) Tried other stuff but this is really drinkable. Important to drink as much as poss to flush crap out of your system and ward of headaches etc.
Hope this essay helps!!!
Search me on fb Lucy sadler with Troublsome Tits tshirt and I’ll add you and transfer you that way x lucy
Love Anabandana! Plys, we get a fiscount there ladies, type in ‘Headstrong’ when doing checkout. Goves you a discount
I need to get the clippers out now, looks so straggly, OK on too (I sat with frozen peas on my head all weekend!) but peas did not cover underneath at tge back and sides, so all underlayers gone!
Picked up my fabulous wig today (even my very stressed 11 year old son loves it!) so a lot happier. Also have some lively scarves and did the shopping today bold as brass in a lovely lilac patterned silk one. (Looks very Monte Carlo with big sunglasses and lippy on!)
Too hot today for the new wig!