Hello out there is there anyone starting or who has started Epi recently. I will be having my first of 4 treatments this wednesday, followed by CMF and finally radio therapy. I have written down all the advice, and I am now off to super drug, the pound shop and home and bargain to get my supplies. The question is should I take senocot before the 1st treatment as a precaution, I do feel that constipation and piles are horrible side effects and if I can prevent it before the event then I will. I have to say that the best comment I read was the drinking of Cava after the treatment to help relax, so therefore I may pop into Odd bins as well.
Anyone been through or going through or about to go through chemo good luck
Tre
Hi tre
I’ve now finished my treatment (except for hormone therapy)- started July with 4 x epi, 4 x xeloda and then 19 rads which finished 3 weeks ago.
Like you I went out and bought all my supplies for every eventuality and ended up using very few. Went through a few bottles of mouthwash though but they were supplied by the hospital.
Everyone reacts differently and whilst constipation is a very common side effect, I actually suffered from the opposite problem. Was often glued to the toilet even after a glass of fruit juice and I couldn’t touch any alcohol. So be careful about taking anything beforehand. Wait and see.
I hope your side effects are minimal but just go with the flow. Mine are a blurred memory now. It’s a bit like labour - you soon forget (that’s the wrong word. You don’t forget but it’s at the back of your mind after a while.)
I’m sure loads of ladies will be starting around the same time as you and it’s such a help having people to talk to who are going through exactly the same.
Good luck
Mal
Hi there, I started Epi-cmf on 5th Jan, had 3rd lot last week. So far all the drugs they sent me home with have worked, therefore no sickness at all. Constipation is an awful problem, I sufferd before I started chemo any way, so despite taking various tablets I’m still suffering. The taste in mouth is also bad but mouthwash is provided by my hospital. I have gone completely off alcohol, but everyone is different. Good luck with the first lot. Keep in touch.
Alison
Hi Tre…you’re having the same treatment as me…I had my 4th and final epi yesterday…I just wanted to wish you as easy a time as I’ve had with epi…It was very kind to me and I hope CMF is the same…I just took Senocot as and when I needed it,which wasn’t often…the worst thing for me has been the fact that tea and coffee tastes vile…but hey ho it’s a small price to pay…
Good luck with your treatment Tre
Linda x
I seem to have missed this thread, but I started Epi on 25th Feb too. I’m doing 4 x Epi and then 4 x CMF. I found the anti-sickness meds very effective, not so much as a nauseous twinge afterwards, but the constipation has been pretty bad despite the meds I was given for it. I’ll have to ask for something stronger next time I think! Other than that the main problems I’ve had so far have been feeling really tired, horrible taste in the mouth and also feeling very miserable for a few days (although that’s passing now).
How have you been?
Hi everyone,Im about to start the fight with Epi on Tuesday.Read all the info tips and hints,found it really helpful and a bit less scary.Decided to go for the G.I Jane look holding a party for friends and family a clipper/hat/scarf shindig soon so we might all end up laughing or crying into our beer…Hope all you Epi fighters out there are ok and i look forward to sharing our stories good and bad at least I will now have people who understand. Hope to speak soon and keep safe all.
Hi Tacy’s…hope you’ve been ok since your first Epi…I go to get my bloods done for my first CMF on Tuesday…really apprehensive about CMF after I had such an easy time on Epi…still…it’s one step closer
Hope you’re all coping and keeping well
Linda x
Hi Linda,first epi out the way have to say not as bad as i thought. Though felt like i had a nasty hangover for a few days so maybe like you its bearable. Still found it very stange to have drugs pumped into you,and then sitting waiting for something to happen…all very strange. Hope it goes well on tuesday, Good luck chin up. Let me know how it goes.
speak soon xxx
Hi every one
I started e-cmf on 30th Dec and had my last epi about 12 days ago. I start cmf on 25th March so I think that you’re a few days ahead of me Linda. I must say that I feel a bit apprehensive about it too but have been assured by my chemo nurse that it is a lot " kinder" than epi in which case the worst is behind us. I’m looking forward to my hair coming back although even that hasn’t been as traumatic as I imagined it would be.Good luck for your CMF.
Tacys I’m glad to hear that your 1st epi wasn’t too bad. I did feel a bit sick with the epi but I think that for me the worst was the bad taste and going off coffee for about 10 days each cycle. Today is the first decent coffee I’ve had for this cycle. Not sure what to expect from the cmf which I start next week.
Take care all
Nicky x
Hi Nicky,glad you got through it now its onwards and upwards…hoping the next stage will be kind to you. But its reassuring to know i have you and Linda two experts!!!Ha.
Im just feeling my hair, got to say feels as dead as a dodo…and as for the taste in my mouth…enough said.
Good luck Linda for today.
Enjoy your coffee Nicky.
Speak soon
Tina xx
Hi
Tina how are you doing and how is the hair? I’m feeling really good this week and getting out and about enjoying myself whilst the going is good. I went out for a tex-mex meal at a local pub the other night and it tasted soooo good. Spicy enough to get through the lack of taste.
Linda, how did the CMF go? Hope that it’s being as kind to you as the epi.
Take care all.
Nicky x
Hi ladies…hope you’re all doing ok…My CMF on Tuesday was ok…one of the syringes going in gave me a strange feeling in my stomach kind of like butterflies…but it soon passed…the worst thing was my appointment time…6 hours in total I was at the hospital…they were running really behind…a nightmare…hopefully it won’t be like that this Tuesday…I’ve felt a bit sick the first few nights…but that’s passed now…Not looking forward to having more chemo so soon…but at least it’s one step closer to it all being done…I do feel really lucky that my side effects aren’t like some have on here…my calcium levels were high this week…but my onc thinks I’m maybe not drinking enough…hopefully that’s all it is…but I really must stop googling!
Stay strong everyone…we’ll get there
Linda xxx
Hi Linda and Tina
Glad to hear that the cmf hasn’t been too bad Linda. I must admit that I was hoping that the nausea would be better on the cmf as other posts that I’ve read reckon that it’s better than epi and I was quite bad after my last epi. I start my cmf on wednesday and like you I’m a bit nervous about having 2 doses so close together. Once the nausea setlled after last time I’ve been feeling really good and have been making the most of the weather, getting out and about. Unfortunately that has meant I’ve spent too much money!
Tina how are things going? Have your taste buds resumed normal service yet?
Take care both of you, Nicky x
Hi Girls
Well I am now the proud owner of a peanut head,the hair has left the building!!! Out with hubbie yesterday and as he said we looked like two geezers holding hands, Got some strange looks,but feel ok until next week when I have my next hit.
Have to say not as bad as I thought…Hope your ok Linda,good luck for today and I hope your not waitng to long.
Good luck for tomorrow Nicky, fingers crossed as Linda says one step closer.
By the way ladies are you scarf wearers wigs or just bald and proud.Have got an appointment on fri for a wig, but still unsure. Hubbie told me to get long black one (Some kind of weird fantasy MEN!!!) told him where to go unless he wanted to sleep next to morticia out the adams family,ha ha.
Take care both I will be thinking of you.
speak soon
Tina
Good luck for tomorrow Nicky…I’ve just had my CMF part 2 today…so that’s 3 sets of 2 left…I feel fine…lol fine enough to go to McDonalds right after chemo…
I’m a bald at home, bandana outside person Tina…I’ve never taken to my wig…lol me and my hubby look like twins as he’s bald too…Your head will get cold during the night…the wee toweling turbans they give you are great…lol a secret…I wear the blue one in bed…and my hubby wears the white one…he says he’s never slept so well
Gennie and Alison…I hope you’re both doing ok too…
Linda xx
I’m glad to hear everyone is feeling good.
Tina, I tend to be a bald and proud person. I wear a cap outside because it’s so cold otherwise but inside(including pubs etc) I go bare headed. I have a wig but it’s never been out of the box. I bought a few scarves but don’t look good in them and I got sick of hats which fitted when I had hair slipping around on my shiny head.
My scalp has become very sore again over the last few days, just like when my hair fell out. I’m hoping that that means that my hair is on it’s way back as I have been promised it should be. I’ve had goosebumps though and that is painful!
Linda a person after my own heart - I detoured to Mcdonalds on my way home after my last chemo. I’m not particularly keen on the food but so love the milkshakes. I like to get a treat in before the nausea hits and tastebuds go on strike. Hope evything is stilll ok.
Nicky x
Hi All
I’ve got my last Epi next Tuesday. It’s not been half as bad as I thought, but that constipation thing got me too. I’ve tried two types of med and they don’t do a thing except turn it the other way either side of being constipated anyway. Pooh (literally)! Lost the hair in the third week although I’ve still got stubble from wispy hair that held on but I shaved off, and I think parts that were smooth have stubble. Looking forward to the cmf in the hope the hair gets its act together quite soon. I’m a scarf wearer. Not taking to my wig at all (that’s it over there). I don’t like how it feels on my head. And on no planet will I go out bald. Not a good look for me, nope.
The Epi gives me 2 days of feeling depressed, but no sickness, and overall I can’t complain really. I get a funny rash on my neck and chest in the second week that disappears in that week too. Not sure what that’s about. And I have an achey drug wrist. All in all, while it’s not exactly what I’d volunteer to do for a few months (or is that what I just did. lol), it’s not the monster from the deep that it could’ve been.
Have a good day everyone.
Evening
Well had my 1st cmf today and so far so good. I had extra steroids and they seem to be doing the trick with the nausea. I was warned that I may get a tingling nose or feel a little light headed while the cylophosphamide was going in but was given a glass of cold water and had no problems. The thing I’m not looking forward to is having to set my alarm for 1.30am tomorrow night to take a tablet to stop my mouth getting sore. It’s only one night though and it’s a small price to pay. Also been and bought a tub of cream for my hands and feet to help prevent them getting sore. What a coincidnce that the shop was next to a McDonalds Linda and I just had to have a large strawberry milkshake. Did someone mention loss of appetite? I wish.
Nicky
Hi im jackie, just going through the same treatment im on my last epi on friday then start cmf after.I been a bit constipated but if you eat lotsof fruit it does help. Ho have you gone on with yours. jackie
Hi
I hope everyone is doing ok. Things have been ok since cmf last week but I’m not so sure about this promise of hair returning during cmf. The last few strands of my eyebrows seem to have departed overnight. Thankfully I haven’t felt as sick this time which means I haven’t had to take as many meds and so constipation hasn’t been as bad.
Still got the bad taste though and I guess that as I’m about to be blasted again tomorrow that my mouth will still feel pretty awful for a little while. It’s at this stage that I long for a decent cup of coffee. Never mind, in the greater scheme of things it is a small price to pay - but I’m still going to moan.
Hope that you’re all in a position to make the most of the weather.
Nicky x