Hi mummybear45
I went to collect wig yesterday. Although I started my journey with long hair I had it cut about 3 or 4 weeks ago and its really short now. I did it cos I’m a bit of a control freak and it seemed to be one of the few things I could control in my life. I also thought it might be easier to cope with when it fell out and hopefully a bit less traumatic when it did fall out. [And I wouldn’t have to hoover up great long strands of shed hair!] Have to say I love it short! when I went for first wig fitting it was short. I tried on various lengths of wig from long to short and stuck with the short as I preferred it. I am quite a light blonde colour and its natural [at least thats what it says on the bottle - natural light blonde 
] the wig I chose was a champagne colour. In reality it is darker than my hair and when I tried it on it looked like I had had low lights put in, but its a similar shape to the crop I have now. Biggest difference is the texture, I have really fine hair and the wig looks fuller. The wig man has told me to try it on and ‘play about with it’ then give him a ring and he will trim it for me if I want it slightly different. At first wig fitting I loved it, then when I picked it up I hated it but think that was just reality setting in. Tried it on again last night and its ok. Not a style choice but I’m sure it will come in handy and help me feel better at times.
Get your appointment made and have a play about with the wigs, try different styles and colours, thats the fun bit. Let me know how you get on and good luck!
Keep calm and carry on sparkling!
Shazza
well day 2, had a bad night, very headachy and nausea, got up this morn and been sick but after that was fine. still feel woozy headed if i move to quick. but just taking it easy. might even go to zumba tonight. x how are you all today?
Day 2 and oh boy do I feel rough! Vomiting all night and no sleep. Have just managed a banana under mums orders and taking my tablets. Didn’t think I would feel like this. Mum has a walk planned for this afternoon… I can just sit up. Jelly you are good to plan on going to Zumba tonight! I hope you start to feel better and make it Tonight.
People, drink lots water before treatment as my veins were too flat yesterday So caused minor problems which can easily be avoided.
xxxx
Hi Jayne M you were right about not driving for 24 hours after a portacath being fitted. I managed to get a lift in though and did a few hours in work,despite having to go to hospital for 4 hours in the middle of the night as I’d woken up covered in blood coming from the portacath wound! Not good. Like you I had my first chemo by canula yesterday, it was easier than I expected. I’m glad you think the portacath was worth while. The nurse mentioned Herceptin possibly being given by tablet form soon, so am wondering if it was worth the discomfort but there we go.
hi dealbeach
a little shocked to read about you bleeding in the night it does get much more comfortable, I had my portacath fitted last Friday, it is still sore but healing!!
My chemotherapy nurse took my bloods on Wednesday via the portacath, it didn’t feel uncomfortable at all and it does help protect our veins from hardening, please keep me posted about your recovery.
Stay strong and try to find something that makes you smile everyday x
Hi fellow sparklers I send you all positive thoughts today 
I start my first FEC tomrrow, thank you all for your preparation tips I am drinking lots of water and healthy food.
Luceypenney and jellymoud you both have been so brave and strong, thank you for your advice and progress, I hope you are well enough to walk and zumba today. good luck! 
Thank you Shazza your advice is very much apprectiated, I bet you will look fab in your wig. I have mid length dark hair, I had a bob/pob a couple of years ago so I will look at a bob but I think I may try bombshell blonde or racy red!! 
Col 123, jenny and Moonandmoon I am sending you a big hug and I hope you are feeling a little better today.
Fingers crossed for you all waiting, had and having chemotherapy today, sleep well x
Hi sparkling ladies, just reporting on my experience following round 1 of FEC 75. Started the day with a boiled egg and toast, which was just as well considering we were 5 hours at the hospital, partly due to an admin error adding extra hours to the time sat there getting a numb bottom.
Taking Beryl’s advice on board I determined to get through a lot of water, tea and coffee are more my usual, but I stuck it out and maybe it made the difference. We had potato wedges and salad in the evening with no ill effects, but I still took two anti sickness to be on the safe side. I dreaded waking in the early hours to be sick.
Today I cannot detect any after effects,still trying to drink sufficient water just in case.
Group hug to everyone on this November thread. Don’t forget to call upon your guardian angel when you have the need, they can’t touch you for it, we all have one apparently who are with us throughout our lives. I tried it when I felt paralysed with fear, and somehow I did reach a calmer place - I like to think it could be angelic intervention.
Also just to mention the cold cap, I took the paracetomol as advised, no headache and it really was not too bad at all. Our hospital keeps the caps in a freezer, and as the nurses are busy, my husband took over the job of changing it every 45 minutes. I got through 5 in total, but if it helps I think it will be worth some discomfort. I am also going to try a wig next Tuesday for when the hair is no longer presentable.
Love to you all
Susann x
Hi everybody,
I have finally been given my start date for chemo 23rd of november so i guess that makes me a sparkler. I’m doing TCH and getting very nervous. I keep telling myself that i was scared of the Mx and I’ve managed that so I can do the chemo.I mean it’s only 6 and 6 is not a big number or it’s never felt as big a number as it does right now, can’t wait for the 8th of march 2013 which should be the date of my last one if all goes to plan. I know i shouldn’t wish my life away but I just want to get it out of the way, then there will just be the completion of the herceptin.
I also think i will give the cold cap a try, it would be nice to keep my hair even if it is thinner,
sending you all best wishes for your journey through treatment
Lynne
Welcome newstart. You’re right about the number 6 -we have to think its not such a big number. I finish chemo just as my little oneis turning 6 so it’ll be a double 6th celebration time!!
dealbeach and Susann - so pleased to hear it wasn’t as bad as maybe feared.
Lucy and jellymould - sorry it turned out a bit rougher for you both in the night. Hope you’ve picked up a bit.
Mummybear - I’ve decided not to cut mine short. I’ve got shoulder length brown hair and I can understand why many people get it cut short - I can forsee the difficulty psychologically dealing with big clumps of my hair coming but I’ve decided to go with a wig that I have to say looks pretty much like my own now (except its got no grey coming through and isn’t frizzy ) so didn’t want to be long, go short and then be long again. I’ve never had short hair and have always been boring by never even colouring it so I thought the wig shopping was an opportunity to try something shorter and lighter but when she put the wig on me that I’d picked out of the catalogue (that looked quite funky on the model) I burst out laughing bacause I looked like Rod Stewart!! I think when it starts to go, I’ll just grit my teeth, get it shaved and don my wig. I haven’t got any scalves as yet but looked at the Annabandana website and there’s loads to choose from. The nurse said to get some sleepcaps too as it gets quite cold!
All the best sparklers!
Love, Col xxx
well girls i feel that good today on day 2 that i have just slogged my guts out at an hours zumba class, feel great, it defo does you good to still be able to do the normal things. not even tired. xx good luck to all those who are still about to have there 1st dose. i drank about 2 litres of water as i was having my chemo and i was fine, as susan did i suggest taking the extra sickness tablets before bed, as that was when i felt sickly. it can be done and im glad i can give this advise as all i seem to hear are all the bad side effects. sparkler hugs xxxx
Hi Jellymould and everyon, some of you may remember me from earlier threads. I have finall ygot my date to start FEC-T on the 15th, so will be joiing the Sparklers. I has been good reading your posts from those who have already had 1st round of Chemo. Really impressed by you Jellymould of doing Zumba on day 2!!! I will take on board advice about drinking lots of water during and after, think I had aslo read that somewhere else before. Was feeling really nervous before but after speaking with Dr at Hospitalthis week she told me it really is not as bad as I think and that I shouldn’t be sick and If so to let them know. She also said that there is no reason not to carry on with your normal activities and not lock your self away. It was just what I wanted to hear as I have young kids who will still want to be taken to the park etc also I am planning to continue to work throughout hopefully. To all those who have had chemo this week hope you all continue to feel well.
Greetings _ Sparklers _,
Glad to see you are doing so well _ Jellymould _. I’m only just beginning to feel ‘normal’ a week after although have been working. Keep it up, you are quite the inspiration with your zumba!!! xxx
Oh _ Lucypenny _, you poor thing, know how you feel, I went throught the same although it has got better. you’ll be OK xxx
Welcome Newstart , hopefully you will find support here with us, don’t wish the days away too much, find something positive to do throughout if you can xxx
Welcome SLM , know what you mean about MacMillan, I found it, although OK, a bit too technical and difficult to follow, at least here we can meet in the same place and pop elsewhere when we need to xxx
Special thoughts to you Moonandmoon and the wee one. xxx
Got my hair cut short today as my scalp was really hurting 'cos of chemo and I have really thick hair, was suprisingly pleased actually as I haven’t had short hair for around 18 years. Off to first wig appointment tomorrow.
Loving the top tips from everyone. Must read that book Susann , it sounds really lovely xxx
Good luck for Mummybear & anyone else starting this leg of their journey tomorrow. Will be thinking of you all.
Keep Sparkling CK xxx
Omg jellymould I’m impressed , I have not been back to Zumba since I was diagnosed 6 weeks ago, partly because I have a lot of pain in my affect boob as I have not had surgery and it has a lot of swelling around some very small tumors, both under 2cm and partly … Well I have no idea really , may be I will go back I so miss it ., I’m not at work either .
i start my 1st fec tomorrow and I came on here to try to get a bit of a boost for you guys out there that have started it , I have already had a small amount of tax last week but had a reaction so was not able to carry on, it has knocked me a bit as I was so positive last Friday to be honet it was a total breeze having it all done , I went in with the attitude that chemo is going to be my allie in this fight and together we will kick its ass, but I’m finding it hard to get that again, may be because even though I had such small amount I have had side effects. I just want to get on a fight tthis thing and move on . …
defo going to drink loads tomorrow , I have seen this every where , already got a cold bottle In The fridge ready for the morning.
Good morning spaklers, thank u everyone for your support i start my first chemo in 2 hours! I have drank lots of wafter & had oats & fruit for breakfast! Good luck everyone who is having chemo today. To everyone stay strong & positive. X
Hope all of today’s starters get on fine with starting the treatment, sending you all my love xxx
hi guys day 3 and slept like a log last night, must of been the zumba lol but still been sick this morning on brushing teeth, weird. but feel fine now. had porridge for breadfast so i can take the anti sickness pills, gonna have a chilling out day today, weather isn’t up to much so nice to be indoors. all the best to the sparklers having chemo today. just keep drinking the water before, during and after. hugs xxx
I’m on a different regime from you wonderful ladies (as I believe FEC-T is focussed on females and I’m already quite good at interior design, flower arranging and cooking ) but it turns out that one of my drugs means I can’t go into direct sunlight. Should I start reading the ‘Twilight’ books yet or see just how far this goes, my eyes haven’t turned red just yet. Anyone else been told this?
lol phil. its great to hear your status’s really cheer everyone up. not sure about which drug your on but one of the fec drugs can be sensitive to sunlight, but i dont think we have that prob at this time of year so dont think we need to worry. x
Hi All
Just had a load of bloods taken followed by heart ultra sound, more tests on Monday then Chemo Tuesday !! So intend to live it up a little this weekend.
Lucypenny I hope your feeling better KEEP SPARKLING !!!
ck1 your on the way now to recovery
Jellymould ZUMBA!!! way to go girl
moonandmoon your baby will be fine and this is brilliant preparation for being a mummy you won,t have time to dwell on this !!!
Mummybear hope it all went well today and you have a good weekend
Phil hang on in there its dark most of the time now anyway you.ll be on the road to recovery by the time the lighter evenings are back
and to everyone else try and have a good weekend and remember your still SPARKLING xx
I live at the beach on the south coast, we get some sun here just about every day of the year, even over winter, maybe I should invest in a burqa.