Are you ladies using alternative hair wearing a liner underneath? Do you need to wear a liner under hats also to keep head warm?
Also for all those who had lymph nodes removed-can you lift your arm up enough to shave it? My armpit has a tight cord running down middle of it making it impossible to shave(not that theres any feeling under there). Will this improve? I had my mx 4wks ago.
Sorry to all you girls feeling grotty, hope things improve soon. XX
Cannot get on with altenative hair…will def wear a liner if have live sheep on my head…sorry bad sense of humour tonight!
Cords…Weena, the more you stretch it and massage it the better it will get!..and that tight bit that makes shaving hard will disappear…honest!
Thats reassurring Lif cause cant cope with no shaving when summer comes. Can nearly plat it now cause immac wont really touch it! XX
deb - mine was 12 weeks ago now - OMG really!!! - and I have full movement back but it is still numb. I think it can stay that way quite a while cos of the nerve damage & may never fully recover but the cording does pass esp with massage help. I’ve given up on shaving for a while that side cos I am too scared i’ll do something & I’m not exactly in sleeveless tops at the mo!!
did anyone else have steroids BEFORE FEC or is it just TAX?? - I just had mine on the day. think effects kicked in though cos I crave strange things & have to be so careful not to eat too late cos of chronic indegestion. that on top of having the antibiotics which have to be on an empty stomach 4 times a day I virtually have to timetable all my eating!!! OH went shopping last night & it was packed & they had run out of loads but he did get twiglets - prob go off them now!!!
hey
nottsgal, love your jokes and songs xx
wenna, i had cording, and it takes a while for it to settle, keep doing your exercises , have ibuprofen first, stretchability will eventually clear it up. if not they can give you physio. 12 weeks my node removal, and its still numb, and odd shaving.
i managed to get home yesterday, then andy rang to say he missed me loads and would i go back over. lol, xx bless., so i did
however as i was getting ready to go i fell down the stairs and really hurt my ankle.
so im back at andys now wrappin up pressies. xx
Kaz, you poor thing - rest up that ankle. (Lovely that Andy missed you and wanted you back so fast - what a fab man you have there xx)
Weena - I had my mx almost six weeks ago, and have almost full movement in armpit (had full node clearance), but totally numb and I’m not shaving it yet - part of the worry is the fear of nicking myself and causing lymphedema - another thread a few weeks back recommended using an electric razor as a safer alternative. I’ve never, ever cut myself under the armpit when shaving (or at any other time, funnily enough), but I just know that I’ll go and do it now - and then worry, so may have to invest in electric razor. Eventually. With a bit of luck, the chemo will do the work for me for next few months!!! I can feel a couple of thin strings in my armpit, but bcn yesterday was really pleased with the movement I had, so don’t think they are anything to worry about. A friend of mine is 3 years post-op, and still has no feeling in her armpit/down the back of her arm, so don’t be surprised if the numbness remains.
Millykins - I got steroids on the day - about half an hour before chemo began. Timetabling eating is awful - bad enough having to have food before/with meds, without scheduling empty stomach tablets too! I do not envy you. xxxx I want twiglets now.
Reeb - haven’t noticed scar becoming tight post this first FEC, but it does feel weird when I get cold - I swear my chest shivers along the wound line!!
LiF - real sheep could be nice n cosy, but poss. a bit heavy…
Sophie xxxxxxxxxx
Morning girls. Its reassuring to know that the cords may dissappear cause the one i have in the armpit is big and tight.
Sophie i know what you mean about damaging the armpit but my hair is so dark and coarse that nothing really shifts it. I dont think an electric shaver will do it, immac is pants, we cant wax…theres no hope for the poor armpit. I read somewhere that radiotherapy can cause the hair to permanently fall out…now that would be an appreciated side effect. XX
Morning girls, hope everyone is keeping warm and snuggly, reeb my wound/scar becomes tight post fec, must remember to ask bout it next time, im day 6 post fec2 and still feeling yukky, still popping the anti sickness, feel very nauseas, i was fine after fec1 so bit of a shock this time, hoping it will pass in time for xmas day as lots of eating to do (groan)!!! hope everyone who is having or had cocktails this week managed to get it, hugs to everyone, love julie xxx
Started the huge doses of steroids today ready for tax tomorrow…now I know why I feel giddy and weird with the Fec as I am feeling that way now…its the bloomin steroids! Don’t feel like eating anything…
Nurse has said I can play with the steroids as much as i like AFTER the tax and don’t need to take them…as they are used as an anti sick afterwards whereas anri allergy before and with…so why dont they tell you that to start with???
I am getting known in the chemo unit I think…possibly becoming notorious…hehe
So did she say you didnt have to take them after the tax i thought it was to stop a reaction?
Hi Kimme…apparently yes!..the reactions occur whilst ur having it so they steroid you to the eyeballs beforehand…so 4 at 6am this morning 4 at 2pm this afternoon and 4 more 6 am tomorrow before I go in to start herceptin at 9am and probably another 4 with the tax…will be walikng on ceiling by then!
However rather than taking the 2 in the evening and the following day I can adjust them if I want to…very interesting!
Have been down for more blood sucking and echocardiogram this morning…all fine neutrophils apparently shot up to over 5…thats higher than they were before I started…???
Will report back tomorrow evening…wish me luck!
I see. I am due my second tax next wed so might ask if i have to take them all as i was luke a zombie when i stopped taking them all.
Good luck you will be fine its not to bad. Takes an hr for the drip to do do its magic x
Hi pinkies well finished all the shopping im gonna do if ive forgot anything then tough it’ll have to wait till boxing day ( shops are all open anyway) going to wrap tonight and got my xmas table sorted got some lovely large bling diamonte napkin rings for 1/2 price they like a big engagement ring collected turkey delivered daughters xmas hamper ( i make her up one every year) just need to take my dad for a haircut and sorted going to do house while OH is at his xmas night out tomorrow.But iam actually knackered now and this morning could feel a sore throat coming on ( its all these crowded places im now going to ,im not used to all the bugs)so think i might have to take something now before it gets hold bloody hell that would be a turn up when iam due to go back to work after hols and i got flu ha ha
PS Reeb yes my scar used to get red and hot and a bit tight after FEC aswell x
not been here for a bit - had a really heavy cold since monday - tried to keep going but ended up in bed - reallly feel alone then cos kids just don’t seem to care - my 18 year old girl has yelled and sreamed at me cos i asked her for a cup of tea and beacause i asked her to ask her boyfriend (who works in a pharmacy or else i wouldn’t ask) for olbas oil and lemsip.
i am in catch 22 - i need to go out to have company - (i am so unhappy at home and feel so unloved by my daughhters who fight all around me even when i was in bed the other day) yet, i don’t have the energy to get myself out to get company. i tried to go out to see some friends last night but had to come home cos i felt sick and so weary. i didn’t want to go home to my feuding unsupportive kids
i managed to get myself to the forum - i feel sad that i can’t be one of the positive upbeat ones amongst us. i love the poems and jokes etc - thank you they help. i am just struggling with this whole cancer/christmas/being on my own thing at the moment, I can’t get out to get the support that i need cos of snow and feeling unwell and just feel v low.
Little angel…I think…and I’m being bold here…that you should tell them in no uncertain terms to behave like adults or find somewhere else to live! You really do not need to be bullied by a couple of teenage girls of that age!
Take some time out for you…can you go away over Xmas? can you spend it with some friends or family or even just rent a cosy cottage somewhere on a last minute deal?..then take your fav books, music, dvds food and become a hermit for a few days of peace!
The kids are old enough to cope and feed themselves and may see that you are not a doormat…
Big hug my love…i’m thinking of you …is there anyone on this forum living near who can offer some support and a coffee n cake? xx
L angel
Hang on in there. We all have bad times despite the humour. You are entitled to feel down especially if your kids are not being supportive. I think you should stay snug in bed or on the sofa and try and rid that cold you have it will help you feel stronger
I feel down somedays as everyone gets on with their day to day life and im stuck in limbo waiting for chemo to end. Its a hard journey but you will be ok. Sending you a big hug, you will be ok x
Little Angel - big hugs to you. Living with teens IS hard, but your 18 year old should be ashamed of herself - and I do agree with Val that she needs to be told to get a grip, but I’m also certain that right now any confrontation is the last thing you feel you could cope with. I’ve got no answers at all, just sending you big, big love, and remember, this will end xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I’m having a sorry for myself 24 hours at the mo
My mouth is disgusting, every time I go for a wee I can smell this revolting chemical smell (and I did have a shower first thing, honestly!!), I have a headache, I’m more tired than a tired thing who stayed up all night… and I LOATHE this whingeing snivelly useless pathetic heap that I’ve turned into!!
Please, please tell me that this is not a permanent state between FECs… and that there is just the remotest possibility that by day 8 (Christmas Day) I might be feeling ok?
I’ve told the littlies that we’ll do our best to have a fab Christmas this year, but that we might just have to have a second celebration in late spring/early summer when all this horridness is done with and I feel like cooking and shopping and presents all over again! They have been brilliant, but then OH has been doing all the mince pies/gingerbread men making/decorating etc etc, and they have been so sweet to me that it makes me feel worse for being so utterly crap at the moment.
RRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!
Sophie xx
Big hugs little angel, think ure daughter is being a little selfish but also she could be scared and afraid to show it so lashing out is the way she can get it out…maybe!!! val good luck with the tax tommorrow, will be thinking of you, triphazard i know exactly how you feel ;( i just vetured down town feeling lightheaded and sick, got back home and remembered what i went for aaaaaaarrrrrrgggghhhhh, will have to wait now… oh well xxxxxx