I’m glad I could be of some use.
It’s great to hear you have a good support network. It’s so important x
I find the 3 weekly treatment, where I have immunotherapy, carboplatin and paclitaxel are the weeks where fatigue kicks in the most. For the first 2 days after treatment, I’m on steroids. My treatment days are Fridays. On the Friday I’m usually tired but feel ok. I quite like treatment days.
Saturdays are mixed., but mostly I feel ok, the steroids keep me on a bit of a high.
Sundays even though I’m still on steroids, I usually start to feel more tired. Sunday, Monday, and Tuesdays, I take the gscf injections to increase white blood cells. I’m finding I’m out of sorts, a bit irritable, and achy these days, mostly Mondays and Tuesdays. I feel a bit nauseous in the mornings, but this eases when I eat breakfast. I do take anti sickness meds if it lingers and this also seems to stop it. As the weeks go on, and the body gets more tired, I’ve had a couple of days where I just chilled in bed, but these haven’t been many. Even when I’m not feeling great, I can get up and about and do some stuff, but I get tired more quickly.
Each week is slightly different. The hot weather makes me feel more tired and irritable.
Wednesdays are mixed. Sometimes I feel good, other times I’m still tired but I can do more things.
Thursdays are usually good days and I have high energy
The weeks I have just paclitaxel are easier. I feel less tired but the routine is similar, I just don’t feel as exhausted. The injections seem to affect me with bone ache, which is why I’ve started to take them in the evenings, to hopefully sleep through the worst of it, and I take paracetamol if needed. I had one week where the bone pain was quite bad so I told the Dr and they gave me cocodamol, which I haven’t needed to take, and don’t really want to as they make you constipated, but they’re there if needed.
I hope that helps. Everyone is different so you may have a lot more better days that I have.
Last week I had the start of neuropathy, which is damage to nerve endings in the hand and feet. I bought some suzie pads, which are ice packs for the hands and feet and I used them for the first time Friday. The pain hasn’t been as bad this week. I use the foot ice packs if I start to feel pins and needles and tingling, and this is helping as well. I spoke with the reflexologist at the hospital, and she said those who use these from the beginning of treatment, don’t seem to get neuropathy at all, so it might be worth looking into it. You don’t need to use the brand suzie pads, ice gel packs inbetween 2 pairs of socks and gloves will do the same thing. You won’t feel silly wearing this stuff in the hospital. Everyone is in the same boat and it’s a friendly safe space.
I try to eat a really healthy diet to keep my kidney function good, which is important, and to keep the bowlels moving, which again is important. So I make a healthy smoothie each morning. Berries and red grapes are good for the kidneys, and plums for the bowels. I buy frozen fruit from lidl which last longer and is cheaper.
I also try to get enough protein, by eating natural yogurt (which goes into the smoothie or with a bowl of fruit). Or have an omelette for breakfast with tomatoes, onion and mushrooms.
I also eat chips and chocolate… got to have some treats
.
I do find if I have a day where I just want to eat rubbish all day, this does make me feel worse, so I try to eat a healthy breakfast every day, and I make up a large bowl of salad to eat over a couple of days to snack on and to have with my dinner.
I hope this helps.
Good luck with your treatment. I hope it goes well for you
xx