re anti oxidants, I am drinking something called AOk. Its grape juice, cherry and ginger. Sounds grim but tastes really nice and gives you your daily intake of anti dioxidants in one hit. I found it helps with any lingering nausea also.
x sarah
Sarah
That sounds lovely.Where can you buy it?
Andi
I go to Waitrose for it, but I reckon you can probably get it at Holland and Barret, or Sainsburys. Its in the chilled fruit juice section.
Hope all is well with you all. On day 2 now from second FEC and have just had a superb night’s sleep cos onc has knocked back my steroids a bit. However, I have had some epic hot flushes last night and during the night. Anyone else?
I am feeling full of energy today ( watch whilst i hit the wall tomorrow) so I am going to get on with the laundry. Nice to feel a bit more normal as all i did yesterday was sit on the sofa and watch TV.
Does anyone know when it’s ok to drive after treatments, re tiredness and vagueness? The issue didnt come up last time cos I was at the hospital for tests in the first week, OH drove, and then was on hols for a week.
x sarah
I was told by the oncologist that it would be OK for me to drive myself to/from chemo so I guess there’s no issue - just go with how you feel. (Having said that, my OH insisted on taking me.)
Had second FEC yesterday and felt really wiped out afterwards. Despite losing handfuls of hair at the weekend I still opted to use the cold cap. I don’t find it bad at all and if this is all the hair that I lose I may be OK. And if more goes, well at least I tried it.
I went to a Headstrong session a few weeks ago and it was quite fun. I tried on loads of hats and was surprised to find that most fitted me. I have a very small head. So I went ahead (ha ha) and ordered one online. It arrived yesterday and is HUGE! Too big even for OH - not that he’d wanted it 
I was _really_ disappointed and will be sending it back.
Today is OK (so far, so good) and I have just done my first DIY injection which seems like some sort of achievement. Guess this is the pattern from now on.
HI All
I have just found this thread, I too started fec x 6 at the same time as most of you (10th Sep). I am sorry to read that so many of you are having such a difficult time with the treatment. I just wanted to post a some words of encouragement to anyone still going through it and who may be starting chemo soon and to those who may be considering the cold cap.
So far I consider myself extremely lucky as I can hand on heart say I have felt pretty normal and suffered little SE. I have the usual nausea for the first 3 days but it is very mild and the domperidone (my don perignon I call them) sort it out straight away. I have been determined that I would go on with my everyday life and I have been able to do that. This month I have still managed a 13 mile hike and did a 14 mile cycle today. I really believe that exercise boosts your immunity - my blood results were all back to normal pre my second fec.
Any tiredness I have felt has been down to me probably doing too much workwise and going out with friends to the early hours of the morning. My profile pic is me 1 day after my second fec. That brings me to the cold cap. I have used it both times and so far so good. It has thinned a lot ( my head felt itchy in a few spots on day 18 and fell out in strands for about 10 days then it slowed) but not enough to notice and there are still strands coming out so maybe by fec 6 I will have lost too much and will have lost the battle but its worth trying.
There are a few things that i have done which I don’t know if they have helped. When the cap was put on I pushed it hard on to my head as I read about people getting bald patches. I kept doing this throughout the fec going in. I have also only washed 1 or 2 times a week and left to dry - but have lightly straightened ends. Then I have used dry shampoo in between times. I have used ph balanced shampoo and conditioner and I switched to deodorant without aluminium (tip from penguin cap site). I asked for a cap change every 20 mins so it stayed cold.
I have taken to becoming a water guzzler (was rubbish before). Particularly on day before, during and after chemo. On day of chemo alone I get through about 8 litres! I believe this really helps to flush everything out quicker and prevent bladder problems and cold water in mouth wards off issues there. I have had no constipation or mouth issues at all. By the time my fec has been administered I am busting for the loo and it is red from the epi sraight away - this happens once which I think illustrates how quickly it is being flushed out.
The only other thing I have done is to have manuka honey in warm water (not hot as this negates its benefit) with lemon each morning before and after chemo. On the days that I take the anti-sick I eat a banana with it and this seems to have staved off any bad sickness. I also wear travel sickness bands for first 4 days ( i forgot them one day and felt a bit weird and then realised)
I realise I may have had a lucky escape so far and I am under no illusion that each fec could bring me a new surprise/s and I could be on here next month wearing my wig and feeling crap but I am doing my best to stay positive and will deal with what comes as all you brave women clearly have.
Hello Bells28
glad you have found us! I agree with you about trying to carry on with your normal life as far as possible. I have just come back from a hiking weekend near the Lakes district myself. I didn’t quite manage a 13 miles hike but walked for a good couple of hours each day and felt ok about it.
I am not sure whether it’s worth persevering with the cold cap or not. Perhaps you can tell me. Yesterday and today (day 17 and 18 post first EC) my hair started coming out big time. It was ok until then. Every time I touch it handfuls of it come off. It’s off putting and upsetting. You wouldn’t notice anything untoward just looking at me at the moment but I wonder if the same happened to you. If that carries on at the same rate I won’t have any hair left by the end of the chemo sessions. Guaranteed. But did you say it slows down??
Anyway, getting mentally ready for EC number 2 on Wednesday. I am seeing the oncologist tomorrow and having my blood tested. Fingers crossed.
I hope all you ladies on this thread are keeping in reasonably good shape.
Hugs to all
Lulu XX
HI Lulu
I would maybe give it another give if I was you. My head started to tingle on day 18 and a lot of hair did come out albeit no clumps, only strands. A lot continued to come out for the next 5 days but still not enough that anyone would notice. My hair does feel half as thick as it was but as you can see from the photo it still looks pretty normal and If I can get away with this until the end of treatment then I will be over the moon.
There are still strands coming out now although it has slowed considerably and apparently (according to hairdresser) it is normal to lose about 50 - 100 hairs a day when brushing.
I know what you mean about wondering whether to carry on if strands keep falling - I have thought the same. But as I am now going into week 5 with my hair and most people seem to be at the bald stage by now then I think the CC must be doing its job. I guess I will have a better idea by the time I get to my 3rd week of this round - if head starts tingling again! But I am hoping any hair that was saved the first round will be saved again and the hair that has already gone cant fall out twice!
Good luck
Isobel
Hi girls i finished my Fec end of August and i didnt bother with the cold cap i still managed to hang on to my hair untill day of 2nd chemo but i was so sick of being like a labrador i shaved it off .I didnt bother with the cold cap because i heard some people had sores to head and because it freezes the scalp preserving the hair follicles the chemo sometimes doesnt reach the head and i didnt want to risk any cancer cells hiding there and not being obliterated,and people often lost their hair anyway( just something to think about)hope you all doing fine i was lucky aswell as didnt have many side effects and managed to carry on as normal( still chief cook and bottle-washer)take care all xx Julie
Thanks Isobel
I’ll see how it goes tomorrow when I wash it. If half of it goes down the plughole it means the CC didn’t work…
Otherwise I’ll persevere and give it another shot on Wed.
I don’t know what happens when you DON’T use the cold cap. Does it come out in big clumps leaving clear bald patches? Perhaps the ladies who didn’t use the cold cap could tell us.
Sorry to sound such a wimp over this. I know a lot of you brave ladies are already wearing your scarves/wigs with pride…
Lulu XX
Thanks for your comment too Julie
your message must have arrived while I was writing my previous one.
I have heard before people say that the chemo doesn’t reach hair follicles using the cold cap, hence chemo won’t reach all cells on head BUT I wonder if this is an urban legend.
Would an oncologist suggest the cold cap, like mine did, if it was putting you at risk?
I wonder…
LuluXX
I have patchy hair. Scalp quite cold so i wear a hat for most of the time, a soft beanie, and have a wig for when I want to have hair, if you know what I mean. It’s not so bad when it finally goes. mine is still whispy, day 7 of second FEC.
x sarah
Hi Julie
That is really encouraging to know that you got through all your treatments and went on normally without much SE. Roll on xmas - my last treatment is xmas eve (all going well with bloods) 
Isobel
Hi All
Lulu - I didn’t have cold cap as not offered it , but having read about it didn’t really fancy it. Anway my hair started to come out on day 13 of first EC and was coming out in big lumps in shower and all over pillow and loads came out when combed. I got fed up with it in 5 days so shaved it all off and I was that relieved to stop the mess it didn’t bother me as much as I expected.
I had 2nd EC on THursday and have been very sick. Went in to hospital overnight on Friday and they gave me some Cyclizine intraveneously and some fluid overnight. Apart from stinging like mad when it went in this seems to have done the trick. They sent me home yesterday with some Cyclizine tabltes and some extra Ondansetron to take for 7 days and not just 3 days like chemo unit said. I feel a bit better today not sick anymore just a bit nauseous. Strange how different tablets suit different people as the domperidone that Bells refers to did nothing for me at all.
I am going on a look good feel better session on Tuesday and really looking forward to it , as have seen good reports on here and have watched the DVD hope I am well enough to get there, sure I will be.
Love and best wishes to all, take care
Carol
Hi
Carol, I am off to a LGFB session on tuesday as well. looking forward to it. We should compare notes x
HI Carol
sorry to hear about the sickness…I am having my second EC today and NOT looking forward to it. Have been in denial for past few days.
Isn’t it funny about medications? What works for one person doesn’t necessarily work for another. I had Cyclizine in hospital after my big op to reduce nausea and sickness following a bad reaction to Tramadol, and I felt even more terrible after they injected me with it. Felt I was going to faint for hours afterwards. Scared the living daylight out of me. Really weird!
Will persevere with cold cap one more time but still losing masses of hair. I may be fighting a losing battle there but let’s give it another shot.
Hope all other ladies keeping ok
Lulu XX
Hello ladies
I had my first FEC cycle of 6 Monday 11/10, apart from fuzzy head feel ok but like cromercrab said in one of her posts feels like bomb waiting to go off. Been give dexamethasone 4 to take each morning for 3 days just taken 2nd mornings dose at 7am and now taken Ondanthrsane biggest fear is the nausea and sickness want to prevent any, as a nurse myself know its best way forward.
What i have been upset about is my cat who normally sleeps bottom of my bed has been sleeping in another room wondering if chemo giving of some strange smell feline noses pick up on.
Am drinking plenty of fluid got fresh pineapple put some in the freezer to suck on if needed. Have been told will lose savoury taste buds and will start preferring sweet foods.
Found getting wig traumatic have fine hair and they had nothing at all for small head in short style eventually got short highlighted blond inverted bob which my friends tell me takes years off me. What are Buffs and were do you get them from?
Never been off work for long before and daytime TV is an eye opener Jeremy Kylie !!!never thought I would be interested if the DNA results are back. But it takes your mind of things, my god other people do have problems.
Its been very good reading past posts picked up lots of tips thank you all.
Maggie xx
hi Maggie
I rememeber telling onc that I was very worried about being sick and so far no probs.On day 10 from 2nd FEC and feeling fine. Had more get and go on this one so far. I suppose its because I have done one cycle already.As for head wear, I found suburban turban a bit limited, so I went to
R & R Confidence
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It was amazing, ordered one day and they came the next. Very easy to wear, pull on caps with elasticated bit at the back for a good fit.I bought 3 ,different styles and colours.
Carol did you get to the LGFB session yesterday? I got to mine and was amazed at the quality of products they gave us. Chanel lippy, bring it on lol.
Lulu, hair loss is pants! My hair is still putting up a brave fight, without the cold cap. I was chatting to some ladies about the CC yesterday and the general consensus is that even if your hair does go a fair bit, regrowth is quicker
Hope everyone is doing ok
x sarah
Hi Maggie
Like you I am not used to being at home so have been watching lots of tele, had op end of July so been home for over 2 months now. not allowed to work because of infection risk (work at local hospital) and have found that recently my cats have got alot friendlier as with me home they get fed more often and the heating is on during the day, but it took about 6 weeks. Hopefully you will find it the same soon, or just try bribery, it can work just as well on cats as children.
As for Jeremy Kyle, while in hospital recovering from my op the young girl in the bed opposite me said she had travelled to London for the show, I innocently asked what the topic was, only to find out she was! 2 nurses just about made it out of the ward before collapsing with laughter, apparently the look on my face was priceless!!
Hope any se’s are copable,
Hugs and good vibes to you
Ali.
x
Funny you should mention your cats. I have my chemotherapy treatment at home and my cat always comes and sits on my lap when I’m having it done which he doesn’t usually do. It may be the fact that the dog is locked up out of the way and he’s just taking advantage of the opportunity of a cuddle!
As for Jeremy Kyle its worth watching just to make you feel better about yourself!
Debs
x
Hi Lulu
How did you get on with your second EC and the cold cap, hope it went better this time and that you have conquered the sickness.
x