Starting Chemo in February 2013: February Valentines

Public Archive
2521

Well 1st set of steroids are in, next set due with lunch, I’ve painted my nails black with a different brand of varnish, seems to be sticking a little better so far, I’ve painted little flowers on top (have changed my profile pic to a photo of them, though it doesn’t show up very well) so all set for Tax 1 tomorrow.

Little one seems to be fully recovered from his bug, and touch wood so far I haven’t come down with it (I’m hoping that if I’ve not got it by now I’ve dodged the bullet on that one!).

hope everyone’s doing ok today

Jo
x

2522

Jo, the nails look fab! Much more glam than mine.
Pleased your little lad is better. My son-in-law was in bed 2 days at the weekend, unable to keep anything down at all. Daughter caught whatever it was 2 days later. The whole family is banned from my house until they are all over it! Then last night the dog was as sick as a … dog. Hey ho.

2523

Oh flaming nora my temp is up and down spiked to 38 at one point! I feel ok so why ahhh

2524

Oh Lisa, that is a bummer. What sort of thermometer have you got? if its an ear one, take it in both ears as they vary hugely sometimes. Don’t delay in ringing in though! xxx

2525

Oh Lisa, that’s rubbish, fingers crossed it settles down, Linda’s right about both ears, I often find a whole degree different between each ear!
x

2526

LOL Jo … so do I. I do wonder if one of my ears needs cleaning properly!

2527

Just a quick one Louise, I find the bone pain and aches last no more than a week. I’ve not had anything into weeks 2/3 touch wood xx

2528

I bought an ear one Linda one ear was 37.5 the other was 38!!! Don’t think ill offer that ear lol

2529

FEC3 Day 7

Angie and Sandra, I’m struggling with sleep this round too. Am exhausted all the time but never feel I’ve had a really good sleep. I’m dreading the steroid SE’s with TAX. Sad because I know i’m worrying about round 4 before i’m over round 3. I have a couple of sleeping tablets given by my GP and have taken one once when I got desparate. Trouble is I’ve felt so yuk that even watching the TV and reading has been too much effort, never mind cleaning the cooker or doing the ironing! ave done a few jobs today 'though so things are looking up.

I seem to have a lot of tissue damage from my Hickman line which feels like cording if anyone’s suffered from that. Very ouchy!

Constipation is horrid this time too. Am taking ducolax at night but seem to still be passing cacti each morning!

In fact, between you and me my friends, I had a bit of a meltdown last night. Sobbing, hysteria, self pity, the works! Then the dreadful guilt of being weak and pathetic when everyone thinks I’m being soooooo brave! Poor OH, didn’t know what to say or do. It probably did me good as I feel a lot more positive this morning.

Good job as had to have my Hickman line flushed this morning - eventually. Nurse arrived only to tell me she couldn’t do it because I didn’t have the right paperwork! FFS! Christie sent me home with the anticoagulant drugs but apparently my doctor was meant to give permission for the nurses to give it. Problem washes nurses came from a different doctor. Honestly it was a farce. Still no paperwork but they took one look at my face and did it!

Glad your leg’s turned out OK in the end Linda, glad things are still going well for you. Our hair is such a dilemma Angie, cant wait to be normal again. I have a hair question too if anyone can help. Once it started to fall out I shaved it it escape from the ‘Shaun of the Dead’ look. Since then stubble has grown back but seems to be just dead stubble. Indeed the stubble come out if I scratch at it.

Problem is it hurts when I put a scarf, hat or wig on and when I lay down. If I shave it again am I shaving of possible new growth or is it just dead stuff. An thoughts?

Morwena, one of the January Jems posted a link to a great site to help overcome the effects of hair loss. Hope it is of some use to some of you. eyelineher.blogspot.ca/?m=1

Good luck with your Onc appointment Tup. Hope you get to have some good weeks before TAX starts. I’m dreading it but feel it is doable cos it’s not FECing FEC. Please God let there be less nausea.

Chris, you are such a marvel, always so busy and now hero of the wheelbarrow world! :wink:

Hope the BC bu@@*r has shrunk Annabele. Fingers crossed your temp comes down Lisa. Can’t decide what to do about my nails Jo but yours look fantastic!. I dont know if I can bring myself to draw attention to my horrible scabby stumps. I don’t have nice nails to start with but I don’t want them to hurt…Good luck with your last treatment and PICC line Jackie, yeah, nearly there. Hope the TAX pain is under control Elaine and Kath. How are you going on Karen our leading lady?

Hope I haven’t ignored anyone in particular need. Thoughts and hugs to all having treatment this week.

Mandy xx

2530

! Sorry, I didn’t mean to write a book!X

2531

Thanks Lisa for the words of hope about the TAX pain! I think I can make it through a week, but the whole cycle would really do me in!!!

Mandy, I had nausea all the time through all three FEC’s, but don’t seem to have had it at all with the first TAX!

XXXXX Louise

2532

You should be fine nausea-wise on Tax. It isn’t a proper side effect - just occasional mild nausea easily controlled by the meds they infuse with it, and a packet of ginger creams! I haven’t had any sickness meds at home and have never even felt slight nausea.

2533

Good luck Jo for tax tomoz ( nails look fab ! ) everyone is different but take it easy on days 3-6 & have painkillers ready just incase
louise for me tax was gruesome for week 1 only & I’ve felt ok in week 2 & great in week 3 ! Like you suffered pain in my face, neck & throat then stabbing pains in my legs but only for first week thankfully . I thought FEc was easier in week 1 but now looking back defo prefer Tax overall ( would ideally prefer none but hey ho ! )
had anyone on tax had chest pain ? I felt that if I breathed in hard ( as in a deep breath ) something would “snap” or my heart would pop. It was intermittent & lasted only 2 days or so . Going to mention it to my onc but just wondered if anyone else has had this ?
I was told hairlOSS is less likely with Tax & some people have hair growth starting back . I’ve just bought the shampoo soap bar from lush which stimulates the scalp , can’t do any harm , I’m ever the optimist !!
good luck anyone else due for treatment this week
my SIL & two nieces have signed up to do the race for life with me so it’s going to be a fun family day out !
Decided to treat myself yesterday & bought a new car !! Should be delivered next week can’t wait !! Only problem is I have chemo on Tuesday & usually don’t drive for a week . My car is going to be on the drive just shining away at me !!
Love to all & hope the SEs are minimal as possible x

2534

Thanks from me too Lisa, really suffering today. Think I’m about to hit that proverbial wall :frowning: Not been helped by severe constipation caused by codeine which has caused piles to become worse than ever :frowning: :frowning: Felt like I’d been on a medieval rack last night. Nearly posted a reply to you at 4.30 am Angie but too worn out, haven’t slept through since last Wednesday! While away the wee hours playing on I pad, reading, writing lists of all the things I want to do as soon as I’m through this, planning holidays, listening to iPod - music and audio books, reading trashy magazines, thinking about cake, chocolate, bread and pastries etc! Still getting the odd tingling numbness in tongue, lips and cheeks but as its got no worse and seems to come and go, haven’t bothered triage with it yet.
trying to jeep calm and chemo on :slight_smile: ( very weak smile! )
pathetic hugs to all
Elaine xx

2535

OMG! Just realised how moany and negative I sound. I agree Karen, prefer pain to nausea, head fog, fatigue and general grubbiness feeling on FEC. Just hard not knowing this cycle when it’s likely to end. I hope I haven’t scared anyone!!!
Good luck Jo, hopefully you’ll find the SEs not so bad, love the nails :slight_smile:
Sorry, I was just feeling sorry for myself :-/

2536

Mandy , sorry you’re not feeling great but a good meltdown often helps !! We all have them I’m sure , I tend to have one the night before treatment because I don’t want to feel ill again & a second one when I’m at my worst with SE’s , pure self pity at how rubbish I feel & look , but then I pick up again
didnt have any sickness on tax or the munchies but was still given Emend & despite the massive increase in steroids didnt notice any difference in my face , weight or sleeplessness … Infact I feel like I’ve not gained any more weight on tax
my stubble is sensitive especially on a pillow, found my sleep hat helps however due to hot flushes in night that have just started ? I’ve stopped wearing it ! Not sure if its dead stubble though sorry x

2537

Wow Karen, a new car, we need a like button :slight_smile: I thought my chemo shopping was getting out of hand, but I haven’t bought a car yet :wink:

Sorry to hear you’ve hit a wall Elaine, I don’t blame you, piles are miserable as I discovered the other week, and no sleep for that long must be driving you mad.

Jo
x

2538

Hi all
Yipee 5mm shrinkage so chemo is doing something ! Hoping that when I start the "T"section it will kick some more arse !
Hope everyone not feeling too bad
Annabelle xx

2539

Whoopeee Annabelle , brilliant news!!! Get that bugger kicked into touch.

Blimey Karen , that is definitely one excellent treat! My lovely little car will be 13 this year! I’m really pleased you are doing fine on Tax. Hope it stays that way.

Elaine , you must be feeling rotten without proper sleep, and constipation is the pits. Carry on planning those holidays.

Love your new picture Mandy!!!

How are you Lisa? Did the temp go down?

I’m sending sleep fairies to you all, Linda xxxxxxxxx

2540

Excellent news Annabelle.

Sorry to hear that many of you are feeling rubbish, be it emotional or SEs - virtual hugs to you all.

Well at last im starting to feel human again, but surprise surprise, im nuetrophenic AGAIN. That’s 3 out of 3! Does everyone get neutrophenic or just some of us? We don’t get injections here just ciprofloxacin tablets.

I’ve still got a very sore arm which nothing seems to ease. Oh the joys of Chemo lol.

Stay strong Valentines

Dyane

FEC 3/6 day 15, Antrim Area Hospital