Good luck for today Jo x
Thanks for the summary of your Docetaxel side effects - I have 6 cycles of this to look forward to!
Hugs, Linda xx
Amber I got my bracelets from Amazon, two for £8.
amazon.co.uk/Mediband-Axillery-Pressure-Silicone-Bracelet/dp/B005S07TCE/ref=sr_1_149?ie=UTF8&qid=1364482923&sr=8-149
Hi Valentines,
Today didn’t go according to plan. Had my appointment to see the nurse and went through my side effects this time (mostly about my bum). She got my blood results and I am neutropenic again - so my chemo was cancelled and re-booked for next week. It’s just rubbish - I am on week three post chemo having had 7 days of GCSF injections and I am still neutropenic (0.7 on Monday and 0.9 today). I was so dissappointed - had a short cry pulled myself back up. I can’t have every cycle delayed - something has got to be done!!! They talked about changing my injections or lowering my chemo dose (all lead to lots of questions). Why why why???
SO to cheer us up my OH and I (along with pup) went for a pub lunch and then a walk along the canel. Pup had his first trip into a pub and loved it. We took a hide chew with us and after having saying hello to everyone he could he settled down and we had sausage sarnies and a shandy. I felt much better after that. I plan on having a G&T tonight and sticking my fingers up to chemo and bloody neutropenia. It means that I cannot take any time post chemo as safe - I have to assume that I will be neutropenic all the time. I am lucky that the fungal infection healed really considering I had this before Monday and my neutrophils were probably lower before then. Bloody Bloody Bloody…
After feeling down yesterday I treated myself to some dead sea salt bath salts and am just off to have a long soak followed by a lazy night in. I hope you all have a good Easter with your families - eat loads of chocolate and cake (Simnel cake is one of my favourites so feel free to send me some).
Alison xxx
Hi all. Have been in a bad space for last few days but have been reading your posts… in fact they have kept me going. It all started with a horrible nosebleed last Thursday, then one of my scars got infected slightly so went on to anti biotics which just made me tired, emotional and grumpy. Tried to post a couple of times but the gremlins got in & I lost a load of personal comments to you so I gave up. I’m sort of back to normal now & FEC 2 has been postponed to next Tuesday so at least I have an extended chemo-free Easter weekend to look forward to. Sorry not to write any more, but have been feeling like I don’t have anything positive to contribute. Will try and be in a better place next time.
Caroline
x
Oh, and have had some really hideous & gory nightmares recently… what on earth is going on in my subconscious mind!!
Cx
And my hair’s started to come out… in handfuls!
Ok rant & misery guts over (Pulls on happy smiley face).
Cx
Caroline, talk about hideous and gory nightmares, last night I dreamed I was getting married to Nick Clegg!! Half way through the ceremony he changed into another man altogether, nobody I recognised though!!!
Fec T
Fec 3, day 8
Feeling a bit better, but this afternoon my eyes have gone all funny again. 
Linda, thanks for info on steroids with Tax, I did know that, it’s just that my bloody onco hasn’t given me any yet and if I remember correctly, I think Karen was given hers to take home after Fec 3, in readiness for day before Tax…Grrrrr. But my the Maggie’s online community site says that different hospitals do it differently - don’t we know it!!! 
Gill, 6 months, don’t they think we have enough to put up with? Hope heat pad works.
Paula, glad you are feeling better today, and the sun did shine here for a while, although still bloody freezing. I can’t help worrying about the ozone layer with all that burping and trumping. 
Ami, you’ve worried me now, about having no tax. Did you have nodes affected? As I keep repeating ad infinitum and boringly, my onco didn’t give me any steroids either. Hope she’s not decided not to give me tax (double negative, is that grammatically correct?)
Lisa, that would be the answer if I had transport, but with a 30 mile round trip on two buses there and two back, it’s easier to wait until onco appointment on the Tuesday.
Alison, sorry you are neutropenic again. We’ll have to wrap you up in cotton wool. Good job you have the pup to cheer you up, glad you enjoyed your pub lunch.
Sticking the poem on here today. Another old one, as my brain is still a bit foggy.
Jennifer Bream
I used to envy Jennifer Bream
her long red hair and skin like cream,
her eyes that sparkled like Emeralds fine,
I used to wish these things were mine.
But you wanted a girl with cheeks like a Rose
and freckles across the bridge of her nose,
with glossy brown hair and dark chocolate eyes.
You wanted me - much to my surprise.
So now I don’t envy Jennifer Bream,
her near perfect looks are no longer my dream,
because Jennifer Bream doesn’t have you —
but I do.
Hope all have a good night without nightmares (especially not about Nick Clegg)
Love Kath xxx
Ah Kath that has cheered me up no end! Apologies to everyone for my previous moan(s). Saw onc this evening & hopefully full steam ahead on Tuesday providing bloods are ok. Have a lovely Easter everyone with gentle sleep fairy dreams, minimal cleaning duties and LOTS OF CHOCOLATE!! Cx
FEC-T: FEC3 day 1
Well ladies, I have been given the mighty Emend, so we’ll see if it lives up to it’s reputation!
There was a slight delay due to pharmacy not returning my chart, but once it was back the administration went smoothly, got home about 6pm, feel slightly fuzzy headed, but not ill yet.
How frustrating that your chemo has been delayed again Alison
Sorry to hear you’ve been feeling down Caroline, cyberhug coming your way.
Kath that really does sound like a nightmare! I love your Jennifer Bream poem, you’ve got such a talent.
Jo
x
Evening Valentines 2/6dayD14 c/cx
Oh dear Alison,we just cannot predict what our blood results will be,has no bearing on how you feel either.I felt fine last time and they were only 0.4,so you can’t tell.Nothing we can do about any of it,just have a good moan.We will get it all in the end.At least you were able to have a nice lunch and will be ok over Easter. 
Caroline sorry you suffering nightmares,maybe you should think of your most fanciable celeb before you go to bed,might be a different dream altogether then LOLxx I find the constant shedding of hair a total pain in the a@se!!!too.Glad I got the wig for in the daytime,like a nice warm hairy hat,keeps the strays in too. 
Kath loved Jennifer Bream,sorry you still not up to par.Think nice thoughts before bedxxx<3
Got up with headache,not had enough water.Hubby took me for a ride out to where he does metal detecting near Maldon,by the Blackwater.Saw some wonderful country houses,quite a few new build and renovations,barn conversions,you know the sort"when I win the lottery!!"Then we went onto a place called Tropical Wings,school kids go there for day trips.Had lovely lunch there then looked around at the animals and birds etc.The sun was shining and as we got to the Meerkat enclosure,which is circular,we looked over the wall and there were fifteen of them standing up against the wall sunbathing and their masked eyes looked as though they had sunglasses on,we did laugh In the tropical house a gentleman was photographing the butterflies,when one landed right on the tip of his nose Beautiful huge butterflies in there,and pretty birds that are nectar feeders.We stood on the bridge over the Koi carp pool and the prettiest,colourful bird sat right next to us on the balustrade.Was just like being on holiday in malaysia for a moment.I shall be so glad of a holiday after all this.
Well everyone try to keep your pecker up(our cousin in Canada is Harry Peaker,he was called hairy pecker at school LOL Love Chris xxx<3
Evening Ladies
Amber my oh is a Unit Manager but he’d like to go the H&S route eventually.
Karen I have been following Angie’s advice & using the hot water bottle on my sore arm but i didn’t realize i couldn’t straighten it, so will try & work through the pain to keep it straight now & again. Thanks for that.
Alison I too am neutrophenic again! im hoping for round 3 on Wed.
Caroline moan as much as you want, that’s what we’re here for, to get each other through the dark times.
Jo my district nurse hadn’t heard of Emend so maybe it’s not available here(?). i was admitted on day 1 of Chemo 1 due to severe vomiting & got a syringe driver fitted for Chemo 2 but still no Emend. Strange.
Hope everyone is doing ok today.
Dyane
FEC 2/2 day 16, Antrim Area Hospital
Kath if you are on FECING FEC-T and you are due the T next time then you should have been given double steroids to take the day before your chemo. when I say double i not only mean double amounts but double dose too. They may give them to you when you go for your bloods just before your 1st Tax but I was given mine yesterday when I had #3 FEC in readiness for the next cycle. Make sure you ask when you go for your bloods X
Alison and CEA49 that sucks! so sorry for you both having delays x x
Jo well done! hope you get some sleep tonight X
Hi Dyane,
Emend is the registered trade name. The correct name is Aprepitant, so maybe that is what it is known as over there. It is relatively expensive so not used by a lot of hospitals as a prevention, but normally given on subsequent cycles if there was severe vomiting on previous cycle, or at least that is how I understand it. Some people are lyucky and get it automatically.
TC cycle 1 day 15
I can vouch for similar side effect to Penguin, I wasn’t prepared for any bone pain so really suffered with this but I will make sure I have something for it before next round for sure. I had a sore mouth with a bit of thrush but the tongue itself felt too big for my mouth! And like I had eaten/drank something too hot and burnt it. I’ve still got a slight feeling of it now. I’ve managed to return to work this week which has been a godsend to me a bit of normality. I was starting to think morbid thoughts while I was at home! I’ve been extremely tired and I have found it hard to take it easy until it’s obviously too late where I physically can’t do any more. I’ve learnt the hard way, I’m not a failure to say I can’t do anymore but just need to put it into practice. My scalp has been even more sensitive these last couple of days and I thought it was the wig causing this but no, hair is falling out – all over!
Alison so sorry you’ve been delayed again, that’s just big ‘Bridget Jones’ pants big hug to you x
Sorry to assume Kath about picking up meds just like that, I have a similar transport issues ¾ hour on the tube. So I dread to think what I would do if my temperature spiked in the early hours! I am pleased I’m not having the sort of nightmare you’ve been having although still having difficulty sleeping (not sure which is worse lol)
Got my next round next Friday so I’ve everything crossed all will be OK.
Sweet dreams all xx
Linda i think you’re right about the vomiting, which is why i was surprised i wasn’t offered it for no 2, after being admitted for servere vomiting within hours of getting my 1st Chemo. No doubt it’s the old ‘different hospitals, different routines’ again. I must try & remember to ask the district nurse if she’s heard of Aprepitant next time.
Thanks
Dyane
FEC 2/6 day 16
Fec-t; FEC3 day 2
Well I can report that the emend on top of my normal meds does seem to have lived up to it’s reputation, I slept till 4.30am not kept awake by nausea and haven’t had any significant nausea yet, have even managed my early morning cup of coffee which I can’t usually face for about 5 days after chemo. Dyane, my packet of emend says it is specifically for nausea and vomiting post chemo, and 1st dose has to be taken an hour before the chemo, perhaps that’s why the district nurse hasn’t heard about it, might be worth asking one of the chemo nurses or your onc about it before your next round.
Kath, I have been sent home with steroids to take starting 24 hrs before next chemo, do you go to the hospital for pre-chemo bloods? Perhaps they’re planning to give you them then…
I agree with others this thread is such a lifeline though this thanks everyone.
Hope the sleep fairy visited everyone and se’s aren’t too severe
Jo x
FEC 2 day 10
Morning Valentines. Today is first time I feel a bit more like me. I have had Emend from the start but the nauseous feeling is still quite bad and I have backup pills as well ! The total fatigue also knocks me for six. But hayho it’s day 10 and Im climbing out of the tunnel just like last time. I think Im a bit of a whimp because reading how so many of you have hospital stays to contend with I have got off lightly.
Have been reading all the posts and it feels like stepping in to a group of friends because we are experiencing a shared history together. I was reflecting on “group” experiences and I thought of the tough training regimes of recruits for special forces !! We are being tested to our very limits and rely on each other to make sure we each pass with flying colours!
Hmmm think I better reign in my ‘reflecting’ . Think I have too much time on my hands.
Hope all Vals are able to have a SE free day as possible.
Tup x
FEC-T #3 day 3
I gave up using the cold cap after my 1st chemo for 2 reasons 1. It added extra time to my chemo session and gave me a terrible headache and 2. I lost so much hair that i didnt hold out much hope of having much left if I continued. I had my hair cut short the night of chemo 2 and was told that it would all come out in the next few days however, I manage to hold on to it until #3 on Wednesday and then most of it fell out the morning of day 2. Last night my husband took the rest off and I was expecting to have a complete meltdown as losing my hair bothered me the most about this whole chemo journey. I didnt cry or have a meltdown, I just sat and watched him in the mirror and realised it was hurting him doing it more than it for me losing my hair. It looks horrendous but not as bad as I had imagined. At the end hubby kissed me and then kissed my bald head. That was when I lost it and cried. I love that man so much