im awake to steroids but at least it is my last lot and last tax today yeaaaa worth being awake for
Morning Campers,
Jane- So sorry you had such a pants day yesterday. At least your line is in now, so hopefully no more prodding and poking for you.
CM - loving the idea of the radio thing, we have a star in our midst. Have you got a link that you can post?
SCACO- I’m afraid I ate the sea bass but am seriously considering the bra idea, might give my boyfriend a little twinkle in his eye which I haven’t seen in months!
The BF came round last night, I opened the door in my balding glory and he said, wait for it, ‘It’s only really hair that defines a man and a women’ (gee thanks).
The WBC fairy was fluttering around me yesterday, up to 4.4 I think so FEC2 today.
Chemo nurse to assess my veins today for potential portacath. Nurses had problems last time and said ‘We’ve got a surgeon to come and have go’. Like I should be honoured. Yeah right, surgeons cannulate when people are asleep. He massacred my arm and failed miserably. Next nurse ‘had a go’ and hit the jackpot first time. Let’s hope I get lucky today.
Have a good day all,
Lisa
Only hair that defines the difference between a man and a woman??! Lend that man a picture book with illustrations of the key bits, quick! :-0
Eek re surgery line complications Jane - how are you feeling now?
How’s everyone else??
Here, tried doing without the steroids for a couple of hours. That’ll be ‘no’. Might go back to bed. Can I take the woodland extra thick duvet with me please?
Ann x
Alto, so sorry to hear you’ve been through the mill.
Make sure you get some Codine to take after you have your TAX. It dumped me in a swamp from a great height! I’ve been very teary and down all week; I hope it’s kinder to you.
Wishing everyone a good day P xxx
So we finally get some good weather and what happens? Monumental hay fever, that’s what! Does anyone else find that either it’s worse than usual or that they have it when usually they don’t?
Aside from the general annoyance, I keep wondering whether I’ve got an allergy/congestion sore throat or the kind of sore throat you’re supposed to report right away. At the moment I’m using temperature as a deciding factor and gargling the Difflam.
Cheryl
Morning Woodlanders!
Hopefully a quiet and peaceful night in the woods.
Jane, what an ordeal! Lots of tlc and time in the recovery tent for you today. Painkillers have been restocked and cusshions plumped up.
Lisa the BF had better be careful. If he loses his hair it won’t come back, but ours will. My OH is bald and he is quite liking the fact we are a matching pair at the moment. Not sure I feel the same way lol.
Peachez, I know what you mean about the TAX. Day 14 today and feeling more human. Hang on in there.
Keep checking that temperature Cheryl. Fingers crossedthe sore throat is just compliments of the season.
CM Hope you are warming up for broadcasting. Great if you could post a link.
Hello all,
Thanks for all your kind comments - I’m feeling a bit more human today (although that’ll end in a few hours!) My neck and various other regions are very sore and bruised but I’m trying to forget all about it now!
Tax 1 today, Neulasta tomorrow…
Hickman Line in - check
Steroids taken - check
Enormous supply of ibuprofen & codeine - check
Electric heat pad for aches - check
Nails painted dark vampish red (NOT my style!) - check
Comfy cushion reserved in darkened tent - check
Woodland extra thick duvet borrowed from Ann - check
Flamethrower loaded and ready - check
Off we jolly well go!!
Jane xxx
Ermintrude is getting very excited, sitting on the table waiting to jump onto my head. She’s like a little puppy waiting to go out for a walk, I just hope she doesn’t lose control of herself when I eventually set her loose! Doesn’t she know hamsters are supposed to be a bit sedate? I think I’ll have to take her to wig training classes, does anyone know where in the woods I can find the training tent?
Head hair’s copying LG’s trick of coming out in handfuls without hurting, so I’ve got OH lined up to scalp me tomorrow. I’m going to keep my hair for today but then it goes, so I enjoyed the shampoo and conditioner in the shower this morning for the last time for several months.
Not sure how the sprogs will take the lack of hair, I suspect there may be a fairly major wobble from at least one of them, but my youngest has said she wants to join in with the shaving, and please can I have a mohican even if just for a couple of minutes. Not quite sure I’m up to that, but at least she’s taking it well.
Bum is still producing weapons-grade poisonous gas, had to drive to school with the car windows wide open, thank goodness it’s a nice day out there, otherwise the insides of the car would have been dissolved in the fumes.
Jane - how awful but glad that bit’s behind you, ‘just’ Tax now! Hurrah!!
Sorry people are feeling horrible. On the way to the hosp for my last FEC someone said how much nicer it was to be going in the sunshine - they said it right at the time i was thinking how awful it was to go on a sunny day and how it’s much better when it’s grey and damp and miserable because that way i don’t feel like i’m missing out. So although lovely to look at if you’re feeling low and glum it seems to compound it. (Or is that just me being a miserable, pesimistic fart)
Cheryl - i too suffered from a ‘dry’ sore throat during FEC3, which seemed to be linked to the weather. Spring pollen plays havoc with my sinuses but have checked and used Sinutab which has helped to lift that wolly tired feeling you get.
Mmmm, perhaps didn’t think this one through. Knowing I have allergy to tree pollen are the Woods the best place to be? Where’s the lagoon? Don’t think palm trees count.
Good luck to those heading to the next base-camp. I will stoke the fires and plump the cushions, if there are any left because of people wearing them.
x
SCACO, when you get to the lagoon see if you can get some more sea bass so people can wear the fish and put the cushions back in the spa tent!
When I was having my reiki yesterday, which I highly recommend btw, so relaxing yet strangely empowering at the same time, when she puts her hands on the side of my head everything starts swimming for a bit and it’s very warming, I actually visualised myself in the lagoon, I was floating on the water and there were dolphins around me, I also made sure there was a large strawberry daiquiri waiting for me on the beach when I got out…god it was nice. Apparently I am now realigned and totally balanced, physically if not emotionally. Everyone who has the sleep gremlins at the moment, it makes you sleep like a baby… Think we need a reiki tent set up somehwhere i n the woods.
Love the idea of a wig training class - book me in, as mine is also shouting to be allowed out of it’s box! DH wants me to carry on moulting for a few more days until my own hair starts to look tatty - it is very thick normally so an awful lot can go before most people would notice, but its only a matter of time.
I think I will also have to find my way to the Lagoon and hopefully a reiki tent, a nice session by the water in the sunshine will surely lift my mood!
Its funny how it affects us all differently. I was aghast at the thought of having no hair, i LOVED my hair always have, thick, blonde glossy locks they were… spent a fair amount on the wig, at least 10 scarves or bandana type thing, beanie hats you name it, and i am actually happiest with nothing. Wig hasn’t been used once, spent a day shopping in plymouth commando, didnt give a hoot. Although have yet to do the school pick up bald, i think its more the reaction of children than other mothers that concerns me… or not, hmm not sure… But now the weather is warming up i will definitely do it soon. In fact shall change my profile pic too. “BALDIES ROCK!”…
Sod this cancer lark… am in a definite two fingered salute to it today!!!
I suspect that I might well end up going commando too - will wait to see how I feel when it all comes off (actually I would happily have my hair shaved today, but DH has been so good it seems a small thing to keep it for a bit longer to please him!)
Yes agreed re the cancer lark - I am really hating it today too.
I echo the cancer is pants sentiments!
I have hair… random considering I am having Tax also. I never wore my wig, it is sitting there looking balefully at me from the corner of the bedroom. My eyebrows are frolicking in the woods but I have managed to keep hold of my eyelashes so far.
I will find out on Monday whether I shall have 12 or 18 tax(it is weekly ).
See you all in the JM for a pint of gin. Reiki sounds good, I have been having reflexology, also good
x sarah
Despite eveything that happened yesterday, It’s official. I am deeply, deeply in love with my Hickman line.
Apart from the changing dressings on it (ouch due to it being so fresh and bruised) the Tax went in a treat - no allergic reactions and no SEs so far - they’ll come soon enough I’m sure so I’m making the most of it.
Very tired due to day surgery yesterday and steroid gremlin stopping me sleeping last night, so will head off to the darkened tent for a snooze on the cc’s with a nice cup of horlicks.
And as I’m sure you all know by now, I love having no hair particularly when you consider mine before chemo was dark, waist length and very thick and curly. The half way there patchy look was awful and upsetting but being completely bald is a total revelation to me and astonishingly has increased my self confidence and general bolshiness no end.
I wear a scarf for church because I’m in the choir and the choir hat would look very peculiar on a bald head, and also the other lady in the choir who’s just had chemo never goes out without a scarf so it jsut feels right. I wear a hat outside when it’s cold. Other than that - frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn!
Baldies rock and commando rules - get that pic up SB we want to see!
Jane xxx
It took a couple of weeks for my PICC line to settle, so it may be similar with your Hickman. It bled a couple of times, which I was assured was normal and partly due to reduced platelets. Since then I have only had occasional discomfort, generally when clothing catches and rubs. I had a sore from the clip when the dressing underneath curled away, so now the nurses put an extra gauze pad underneath. I’m not quite sure how much you have on the surface, but tell the nurses about any discomfort and they will tape things down in different places each time and so forth so nothing builds up.
I’m glad it’s made things easier for you and that you are happy with it despite everything.
Cheryl
Jane- so glad to hear that your tax today went smoothly today. Hope your bruising and soreness subsides quickly.
Yippee! FEC 2 done today and I went commando for the first time. Didn’t give a toss about it either, am joining others with the 2 fingered salute to cancer today.
I do have a lovely wig (Gordon)but I love my bald head more. Janipi, you are so right,the BF’s hair will not grow back and his is starting to recede too. He can have the 2 finger salute today too!
Am having a post chemo glass of cava, well it is supposed to settle the tummy! Any excuse huh? Sitting amongst my lovely new scatter cushions. I don’t let anyone else sit or lean on them, they have to use the old ones which are stuffed behind the sofa.