D day tomorrow I’m off for my 1st E just been today for my wig fitting and decided to go for a shorter style than my own. I was so surprised how real they look but I need to go back next week to pick it up. I’ve got stocked up on pineapple chunks, pear drops, Haribo’s, and various other things I found mentioned on here. Hospital bag packed and at the ready not that I will need it. Bum bag filled with all the essentials mention. Thank god for this site I feel more in control just by being organized. This may sound stupid but by doing this it was like getting ready for a very strange holiday and by making sure I have got everything ready it has keep my mind off tomorrow. Off to the doc’s today to get my sick note for work, can’t believe I have to go to see him for it but hay ho.
Hope everyone is doing okay and keeping well, thank you all for your support, hopefully after tomorrow I will be able to help someone else.
Hi Everyone
It is amazing how the se vary so much from person to person. I am on day 7 after my first FEC and have just eaten a proper meal for the first time in six days.
Days 5 and 6 my worse but I am ashamed to say I have suffered worse hangovers. I felt “sad” on pm of day 5 and downright miserable-unlike me.I haven’t’had a decent nights sleep yet and may resort to sleeping tabs next time round!
Good luck to those of you who have yet to start and hang on in there the rest of you.
Love Andi
Hope your 2nd fec goes better everyonne has a story 2 tell will look 4ward to read next one I also did the same thing realy fed up with myself at that time i just stick to a few beers now A bit of what you fancy does you gud thats my motto you take care hope yr feeling better now
Hi Everyone
Good luck to Icequeen for tomorrow. I will be thinking of you, and follow you with my first treatment on Thursday.
I agree that if you are feeling organised it helps to keep mind off it all and am grateful to this site for advise on various things. I too have stocked up on pineapple chunks etc. I have my wig as when I went the one I had was in stock, but now not so sure about when to shave the head , will see how it goes.
Hope the doctor gave you a sick note ok and was same as mine which was don’t even think about working while having treatement, risk of infection in office means that what is supposed to take 4-6 months might take 12 and it is just not worth it.
best wishes
carol
Good luck girls!
I’m 18 months out from chemo and never thought that I would get through it! But you do. When you feel rough, just batten down the hatches until you feel better. Go with the flow! You’ll feel rough sometimes but you will get over it.
I feel for you but now… life is good. Yours will be too.
Mal x
Im day 7 from my first fec & the first 3 days werent to bad,apart from feeling down at the weekend because it just didnt feel like the weekend & feeling queasy from time to time. Been feeling weak & tired last couple of days & woke up with a mouth ulcer this morning! Got myself a lovely head scarf so decided as soon as my hair starts to fall out im guna get it shaved off.
Cromercrab can i ask why you had to have a white cell boost injection? They metioned this to me at hospital but that was as far as it went?
Positive thoughts to everyone
Claire x
Noticed there were some posts about weird dreams while on chemo and thought I would share this one as it made me and my daughter laugh this morning. Couldn’t sleep last night and finally realised it was because my head was cold so put one of my sleep hats on. Managed to sleep the night hthrough and dreamt about swimming (and winning gold obviously) in the 2012 olympics!
Well they do say having bc can lead to life changing direction but at 47 I think that’s a bit of a stretch.
Will be thinking of you today icequeen and carol tomorrow
Ali.
x
Fitz, the injections are to boost your white cells. They are at their lowest around day 10/11 when you are at most risk of infection. Then they should start to pick up again. The injections are one a day for seven days after chemo. They don’t hurt, given in your tummy. My son is diabetic, and does this 4 times a day, so it helped me through it. I am going on holiday Monday, so I hope I shall be ok cos thats when my cells are at the lowest, I didn’t know i was having chemo when I booked it. My onc says its ok to go, so I will. Do you have a thermometer? I have been told to take my temp every day. My district nurse says that if I am going to take a turn for the worse then i will begin to feel dodgy around day 4. It’s nice to have her to talk about stuff to.
Have you got mouthwash for your ulcer? I was supplied with some from the hospital, and have given myself a precautionary swish at bedtime.
Andifloss If your nausea is troubling you tell your BCN or district nurse and they will fiddle around with your anti sickness drugs. Where you given tablets to take afterwards? I have two sets, one lot finishes after 2 days and the other after 3 days. I told my onc that feeling sick was not my idea of fun, and so far I am ok. My motto is to shout loudly about SEs cos they have a whole arsenal of stuff to help, no prizes for doing stuff the hard way!
SEs hit people in lots of different ways and I feel like I am sitting on some sort of time bomb, only 2 days since chemo and wondering what i will feel like during the coming days. I felt wierdly cheerful today.
Have a good rest of the week everyone
x sarah
Hi all, Well 1st lot of chemo over and it wasn’t that bad. So far I just have a nasty smell in my nose and feel a little nauseous, but stupid me has been up from 3 this morning. I have to travel 20-25 mins each way for my treatment so I have put done the tiredness and nausea to that. I can’t believe how quickly it’s all over. Tablets and lists, in hand so let’s see how it all goes. Need to have blood test ever week but luckily I can go to my GP just hope and pray they don’t make me wait too long in the waiting room when I get there. Had to wait ages, to see the doc for my sick note but hay ho. Carol and Juno you will be both fine honest.
Cromercrab thanks for info on white boost injections,i wont be to worried if they offer them now. Yes got myself a thermometer but i have been a bit hit & miss checking it,im day 7 now & feeling ok just get tired & my mouth ulcer is painfull,they gave me mouth wash which does help & i used bonjela this morning too,had heart burn too to add the ever growing list! My oncolgy nurse is guna call me tomorrow so will make sure its ok to take Omeprazole for the heartburn/indiegestion. Enjoy your break & look after yourself x
Icequeen can i ask did you drive home after your chemo? I have to travel about 25mins & had to rely on family last time,i felt ok to drive but nurses didnt reccommend it.
Alicats thats so funny,made me laugh! Been having weird dreams too…
Claire x
Hi All
Been for first EC today and it was quite quick and not too bad, don’t feel too bad yet. Just a bit light headed and woozy. Came home armed with steroids , anti sickness pills and mouthwash.
I have a journey of 45 minutes for treatment and asked about driving as I have a friend offering to come with me sometimes to save hubby having time off work but she doesn’t drive. I was told wait to see how first one affects you, and quite honestly I felt quite dizzy and don’t think I would have been safe to drive, not sure if this was because it was first and I was anxious and bit upset anyway but I would think as SEs get worse each session it might be better not too.
It is odd how different treatments etc are presumbaby different areas, I have not been told to have injections like Fitz has and my only blood test is for couple of days before next treatment date, luckily I too can go to my GP for this.
Best wishes to all
Carol
Hi Claire,
No I didn’t drive, my Hubby took me and hopefully will be doing so for most of the time. I think its best to go with someone at least the 1st time, saying that I won’t let him come in with me. You can have someone sit with you the 1st time if you like. Its personnal perference really how you feel. Due to the fact I was up from 3 that morning as well, I really dont think your mind would be on driving. And lastly LOL I cant drive only people round the block. Never took it up, between the boys my daughter in law and husband I have never needed to Drive. They do try to bully me into learning but up untill now I never had the time or wishes to do so. But between us when this is over I am going to Learn to Drive without telling them. So it will be a nice all down gift to them.He He
Hi Carol,
Glad to hear it was quick and you’re okay. Can’t you get the hospital transport to the hospital they will allow someone to go with you? I ended up being sick through the night and still nauseas today. The other half and I had a right laugh at me taking the tiny tablets. I have a thing about medicines and try never to take any because of it. Setting with tablets in hand last night and every time I got one near to my mouth, I heaved till the tears came, my hubby just burst out laughing and so did I. Got them down in the end but we had the same per lava today, just hope by the end I learn to control the mind over matter bit LOL. Anyone, we’re one step nearer the end now. Are you having SE for the full course?
Hi Carol,they havent said i have to have the white cell boost injections so im guessing they wait to see if you need them. I too have to have just one blood test 2 days before my chemo.I can get my bloods done at local hospital & get to jump the queue which is always huge,so theres a positive 
Hi Icequeen,i dont think i will attempt to drive after my next chemo,my partner took me last time & sat with me whilst i had it,he was more distraught than me,bless. I think thats a lovely idea you learning to drive when its all over,its a goal which is what we all need. Im sorry you had such a bad time with the sickness,at least you & hubby can have a laugh about it. Whats SE? is that the regime your on? All these abbreviations get me confused which doesnt take alot. Im day 8 from my first FEC (dont ask me what it stands for lol ) & feeling back to normal
Hi everyone, and greetings from the human pincushion! I had CT scan yesterday, MRI and bone scan today. I am on day 5 from FEC and was very worried that I might not have been able to cope. So far am ok. Bit of heartburn, but I reckon that was because I had nothing to eat for 4 hours for my CT scan.
The white blood cell injections are a precautionary measure from my onc. My centre is great on prevention rather than treating a symptom later.
Icequeen hope you are not as sick next time. Tell them and they will adjust the anti sickness you get pre chemo. Arm yourself with some chocolate gingers… any excuse! lol
x sarah
Hi all i had a booster injection it was given the day after chemo nurse came out its just the one injection saves doing it for days after it worked for me kept getting few infections one after the other onc decided to try it was ok for the rest of my chemo
Had my first FEC last week. Have felt pretty ok so far, just a couple of days I’ve felt a bit “off”. Developed a cold sore a couple of days ago and my gums have been a bit sore so using mouthwash regularly. Came home from session with antisickness pills, senna pills for constipation, and steroids. This lot lasted only 5 days which is just as well as I hate the whole pill-taking business. Making sure I drink plenty as I dread constipation and am taking Allbran or Bran Flakes for breakfast. So far, so good.
Have selected wigs from catalogue in case my hair falls out - these should arrive with the macmillan nurse on Monday. I have to say they look fab - I might never wear my own hair again! Of course they’re modelled by Raquel Welch so I might be getting a false impression
Next chemo is 29 Sept with a WBC check on 27th so watch this space.
Take care - love to all xxx
Hi All
Had 1st EC treatment last Thursday and still feeling a bit nauseous but not too bad today, slightly better, managed 2 weetabix for breakfast. Gums starting to feel bit sore round where I have a metal denture plate so guess I might have to stop wearing that and be proud of my front toothless gap.
Reminds me of my dear friend who went through treatment several yrs ago and one night had youngsters making a noise outside window so opened it with no hair and no teeth and made a face that scared them off!
I had previously posted that I was going to hairdressers to have head shaved on Tuesday but now treatment has started and feels more real, I can’t face it so soon, so have cancelled. I have had offers from friends to shave it but think it will have to be my hubby, he is worried about hurting me though but once it starts to come out we will just have to go for it. Have wig ready and a turban and buff and some wolly hats that we wear for walking in winter anyway. just ordered a hat from Suburban Turban website they look good, so thanks to whoever it was that recommended them on this site.
Icequeen - how are you doing - hope you are OK?
take care
Carol
Hi there,
Had my first FEC (of six) on Tuesday 7 Sept so this seems like the right thread.
For me, the anticipation was the worst. The reality was fairly undramatic (thank heavens) and I hope it stays that way. I stayed in overnight and felt pretty tired, and for the next few days just felt a bit tired and a bit queasy - rather like a hangover [IIRC :)], except that it was more than a few hours. I found ginger beer helped the queasy feeling - not something that I’ve drunk in years, but easy to sip and it took away the funny taste too. The worst was the constipation which I have now sorted out (thanks movicol) but at least I shall know for next time.
I used the cold cap but am looking at wigs anyway. May place an order this week, but hoping that I will be able to return it unused.
I realised on Thursday (day 10) that I really felt normal again. So maybe another ten days of normality before I go back for session two. Although I was driven there and back for the first, I was planning to drive myself for the rest.
Actually, the other thing I noticed is an increased appetite. By dinner time I’m really ravenous and scoff down huge portions. This is very unusual for me. Normally I have a pretty small appetite, so I hope I don’t start putting on weight.
Beginning to think about number two now. I understand this might be the hair loss one…
Hi
I’m ahead of you, just had chemo 4, but thought I’d let you know about the hair issue for me.
I can honestly say the anticipation of losing it was worse than losing it, as you just cannot imagine how it will be without any hair until it happens.
I had my shoulder length hair cut short as soon as I noticed clumps falling out then about (about 10 days after chemo) and then 5 days after that had it shaved off, not the emotional experience I thought it would be took my best friend along with me and she got me through it.
You will be self conscious at first wearing wigs, hats, scarves etc but it gets easier, I wear the wig when I know i’m meeting people and the hat and scarves when I’m out walking.
Now it’s getting chillier, it’s cold for my head in the house so I’ve invested this week in baby hats as they are so snug and soft they don’t irritate the scalp.
Still shampoo and condition your scalp and put aqueous cream on to moisturise, good luck and let me know how you get on
xxxx