I swear I saw the WBC and neutrophil fairies out in the woods looking for WBC burrows. They’re very difficult to find so the fairies have their work cut out. The only way to get the WBCs OUT of the burrows is to poke the end of a wand without the star on it down the burrow and twiddle a bit. With luck it wakes up the WBCs who then come storming out of the burrows squeaking at whatever disturbed their snooze, and then WBC fairy has to catch them with super-sticky fly paper. Fly paper carries its own risks for the fairies though. I did see one WBC fairy with her wings completely stuck together and her wand firmly attached to her left ankle. I was on my way to the Jingling Merkin for band practice at the time so couldn’t stop to help. I hope that doesn’t come back to bite me on the bum next week when I too will be hoping for a reasonable blood test.
All you poor WBC hunters - I agree with CM - really pester for Neulasta (Pegfilgrastim) next time. It’s aone-off shot and really does seem to work better. I had it after FEC2 due to my nasty infection after FEC1 and my WNC was fine. They didn’t give it to me after FEC 3 and my Neutrophils only managed to scrape to 1.9 this time - enough for Tax 1 yesterday but too close for comfort and my onc doesn’t want me to drop that low again (it was 0.5 on Friday). So I’m down for Neulasta each time now.
Waiting for the aches to strike and the Tax truck to hit me now, but I’ve been sitting on the edge of the swamp in the sunshine today aiming potshots at NE’s head which is immensely satisfying, I can tell you. I think the quick setting cement has him firmly embedded in the stickiest part of the swamp now so feel free to use him however you like. I did notice some very sticky winged fairies perching on his bonce while they extracted WBCs from their fly paper so if you’re quick you might be able to wangle some off them.
Failing that I’ll be down the JM later and hope I might have some to spare for one and all. Are we up for some Twisted Nippling tonight?
Jane xxx
Laryngitis troll has got me. Any thing I can jangle or thump?
Cheryl
Oh dear Cheryl I hope it does a runner soon. You can thump Noel Edmunds if you like - I’m sure his head would make a nice hollow sound as there’s obviously not much in there.
Jane xxx
Could we line up a set of people who have made stupid remarks, and I could play them with a large mallet? I’d be willing to take turns.
Cheryl
CM - I was clippered down to a no. 1 for a week or so then shaved it off, partly because it looked neater but also it was more comfortable. When you scalp is still sore the stubble is uncomfortable to sleep on. I think it’s personal choice really. Even with my ladyshave I still have a bit of very fine stubble in the patches where it hasn’t fallen out as it’s not as close as a wet shave but you can only see those in the right light. Large areas are completely bald and shiny anyway.
Well done for doing it - I know it hasn’t been easy for you, but it is the bst way to go I’m sure rather than waiting for it all to fall out on it’s own.
Jane xxx
OH really didn’t like me pulling it out, he said it made him feel sick! Think I might go looking for some of the WBC fairies’ fly paper and get the loose stuff out with that. There might even be an added bonus if the fly paper happens to have a few spare WBCs stuck to it, but then I’d feel mean as there are others who I know are looking for them.
Or maybe I’ll just find a razor and get the rest of it off with that and be done with it. Because it’s so dark it looks completely ridiculous and rather patchy. Oh, just had a thought! For some reason I happen to have a “personal hair” styler (unused I must add, I won a basket of assorted goodies in a raffle at school a couple of years ago and it was in there along with some very nice hand cream) so I might set to work with that this evening. Or perhaps my epilady would be more effective…?
CM- Well done you for your clippering session today. It not easy but so necessary. Wouldn’t the epilday be a bit painful?I had mine done last week, my best friend did it. Looked awful to start with as we went for a number 3 but where I had my roots done the night before my first chemo, I had dark and blonde patches, really awful! Ended up using the clippers with no grade on them and a much better result. Still got some patchy hair growing through and need another clippering. By the way I noticed you had sickness problems with FEC1. I had problems too, had to go to A&E for IV fluids and anti sickness. I had emend for FEC2 and so far, so good. No sickness at all! Yippee!
Proudly went commando for chemo yesterday and again today shopping with my 17 year old son. I said do you mind if I go out bald Brad? He said if you don’t mind, I don’t mind! So we didn’t mind together.
Sarah, if you haven’t got 6 numbers, could you add ‘40’? since we will both be hitting this number this year. A birthday that I had been dreading and hoping would pass by quietly. Feeling a little bit diferrent about marking the occasion now!
If there aren’t enough numbers, have a 22. It’s my favourite.
<helps herself=“” to=“” a=“” large=“” glass=“” of=“” something=“” in=“” the=“” jm=“”></helps>
And 47 because I am and because my Ex OH and NE both tell me it’s my luckiest year ever… So it must be… Right 
Sorry about WBC and hair disappearing all round camp. I am in Scotland working for couple of days Pre rads starting so am going to virtually join Margaret in bagpipe playing and see if airport has any tartan merkins on sale for campers xx
Welcome to Hipchick - please don’t loiter around the edges if you don’t want to, pitch your tent, collect your flamethrower and get yourself to the JM for a drink. Rubbish news for you today and worse somehow because you thought you had a plan but now it’s all changed.
Have just called in on NE and it’s lovely to see how well he has settled in, he makes a super water feature and i’m sure the bruises from alto’s pot-shots will fade soon.
SB - 26 (my b’day in may think that’s yours too).
Where have all the flippin’ WBCs gone? Do they migrate? have they gone to Canada because of the warm weather we’re having? Maybe they were equally p***ed with NE’s inspirational speech and have done a mass walk out in protest, they could all be huddled around a brazier muttering about being treated with respect.
In my guise of ‘inspirational cancer person’ I have had a splendidly super holier-than-thou day. I have walked on water (but think that might have been NE’s head in the swamp), turned water into wine (by demanding that the barman took the water back and get a shiraz) and made the blind see (i’ve just made that bit up) My halo is gleaming beautifully in the late sunshine and i’m sitting smugly in the knowledge that I AM BLESSED because, children, I HAVE CANCER. Hurrah!
Ok SarahBeara,
Your 6 are in: Adi - 23, Wandy - 17, CM - 21, Lisa - 40, Amber32002 - 22, MaryGrace - 47.
Wandyx
Thanks girls,numbers duly noted. fingers crossed for a MASSIVE win then… that would cheer us all up wouldnt it.
SCACO, can’t believe we have the same birthday! I was planning a big 40th shindig lasting all weekend, lots of family, friends, beach bar-b-q, copious amounts of alcohol and debauchery… that was back last october, funnily enough i was designing invites the day before i went to the GP with my, ‘oh its nothing to worry about just a little cyst probabaly’ lump…
6 months later all i want is to be chemo free and lying on a sunlounger with a view of the sea and a nice glass of pinot grigio in hand… (Wandy, seriously tempted by your place it looks fabulous)and a gentle breeze blowing on my sunkissed body…(Bollocks just remembered the whole no sunbathing advice…)
If the WBC fairy doesnt buck her ideas up and start doing her job properly(what a slacker),at this rate i shall have fec 6 to look forward to on my big day.
I am definitely going to ask about the expensive jab tomorrow when i’m at the hospital, i shall flick my headscarf over my shoulder as if i still have hair and pronounce that I am worth it!!! GGGrrrrr
XXXSB
Hi SB,
If the WBCandneutrophils fairies don’t pull their fingers and wands out I’m going to be missing my BonJovi gig in June and I’ll be a seriously unhappy bunny over that one!
NE makes a great noise when you jump on him… now who else can we add to the swamp to build up the percussion section? The rehearsal was great and I’m now slurping a very cold Frascati and as I haven’t got to get up for work or lunchboxes tomorrow I’m making the most of it!
Good luck at getting the different injection - let me know how you get on and maybe I’ll try it on Monday!
021210 - hope you’re feeling OK after FEC3 - I’ll try and catch you up on Monday.
XXHXX
Got the neulasta injection with both fec 1 and 2 but developed neutropenia on day 9 of fec 2. Neutrophils quickly recovered but now to have 7 days jabs with fec 3which I have tomorrow. Better make most of the woods tonight then!
Still haen’t found what NE said- I’m really curious now!
Everybody sounds a bit chipper today so we should have a good night!
Going to get ready! See you there
Margaret X XX
I’ve bumped it up for you Maryam.
Hope the sleep fairy sprinkles her magic tonight. I’m yawning so no last orders at JM for me.
OK- found the NE rant and totally agree - he’s a nincumpoop! (Isn’t that a great word?)
I have my own NE living with me! You know the daughter and her son that I converted my garage for in the summer? No not the one who takes me to chemo etc.- the one who was very ill last summer?
Well apparently she’s been telling everyone I had cancer and the treatment is just precautionary!!! Obviously I’ve done too good a job making them all think I’m OK!
Anyway fec3 is going to be great(trying to convince myself) no emergency admissions to hospital for IV antibiotics for 4 days,no subsequent admissions to A&E for further punctures and yet more x.rays, ecg’s and scans!Just as well I’m not doing it for attention!
OK rant over- normal service will resume as soon as possible!Well- after I’ve hibernated for a few days!
Margaret
Please help me find my Wbc or neutro thingies, im confused and was scared. had blood test this morning, felt so tired i slept this afternoon tho was planning on working, but just about to take dogs out with my friend and hosp phoned - need to go in right then and have an injection. temp was ok but when there too high they was gonna keep me but if temp down in half hr i could go. was very hot in there and was wearing bandana so that over my ears nurse said could be making me hot. so i came home but got go back tomorrow and have blood test again and then go get results and then may keep me or inject me again. i am soooooo lost, in last 24 hours my hair been cut from waist to neck and then the wbc is too low. 0.6. please help me find my way
xx
A word of advice to anyone else who might be contemplating using a “personal” shaver to finish off the bald look - DON’T.
I really wasn’t enjoying the achy roots and the bristly stuff going on with a Number 1 cut as my head ached every time I so much as touched what hair was left. So I took the “personal” shaver, attached one of the heads and showed my girlies how it worked, just a little bit. They fell over laughing, so I looked in the mirror. Hmm… bald stripe slightly off-centre of the mohican position is NOT a good look. But then the bloody clippers decided they weren’t going to cut any more hair. “Oh F**K!!!” I thought, “I bloomin’ well hope I’ve got some disposable razors in the bathroom!” followed swiftly by a “Phew!” as I found a pack of disposable razors I’d bought for my armpits. A flipping miracle they were there at all, my daughters usually nick anything useful as soon as it hits the inside of the bathroom cupboard. (My LGFB goodies lasted not two days before 14-yr-old could contain herself no longer and dived into the bag - I’m only surprised it lasted that long!)
So four razors, two mirrors, several dollops of conditioner and about 45 minutes later, my baldy head is smooth and shiny, if a little bit tender from the shock of going from hairy this morning to a layer of skin short of complete scalping this evening. I have my bedhat on to keep my delicate bonce warm, and am now sitting up in bed doing a norberte with my broken laptop.
Not sure what OH will say when he sees the head tomorrow, he’ll think I was ungrateful for his ministrations!
Oh, meant to say! Ermintrude had her first outing this evening when we went to the pub (purely to socialise the dog, you understand, we wouldn’t go there otherwise). I also went to pick up smallest sprog from a friend with Ermintrude in place, and said friend didn’t even bat an eyelid at my new pet nestling snugly above my ears, not realising she was even there. Until daughter (who I’d told this morning about today’s planned hairdo) gave my head a peculiar look, so I whipped Ermintrude off to reveal the nearly baldy head. Friend was, to say the least, shocked.
I’m definitely not going to spend Saturday with Ermintrude in place. Just two hours wearing her and my head was very hot and sticky, most definitely not something I intend putting up with for a day at a hot and sticky swimming pool.
wat CM u had the tingly feeling today then, sorry, im a bit outa sorts had to hve injection for wbc so bit phased out at the mo.
so my tingling should come soon? still recovering from the hair cut, answered ur pm with my no too we def must compare notes and i will take ur advice re the personal shaving thingy! back to hospital in morn another blood count. it was 0.6 but now im finding out they count the wbc and neutro things, sorry head gone !
Shar x