Hello all
I was recomended Movicol for the constipation - I take it just for the 3 days on steroids after chemo, and it works well. 2 doses a day, and I stay comparitively ‘normal’. After that I’m ok.
Hope it is good for others!
all the best
Ann
Hi again
Lactulose is a ‘softener’ it helps the absorption of water and keeps the pooh nice and soft!!! LURVELY! My breast care nurse said senna might be needed as well. I have stocks of things for constipation and for diarrhoea… having prepared for all eventualities I haven’t needed any yet. I guess it may depend on what ‘habits’ one had before… ah, the joys of bowels… drink loads of water nd enjoy the pretty pink wee!!
Lynn – the chap all but blushed when I relayed your comment!! He’ll be getting big headed – my secretary told him he was young and handsome the other day and he hasn’t let me forget it since!!
Best of luck to new starters – it certainly wasn’t as scary as I thought so i hope it is Ok for all of you
Jennifer
Hi Lyn
My hair is well… hard to say - its not like hair thats for sure - sort of straw like and you can see the outline of my scalp …hee hee I don’t care - it’ll grow back thick and curly -I hope! I’ve half an eyebrow adn hey ho this morning at the nose end there are tiny tiny hairs appearing!
Milk - must be very cold and only with a wheatabix! I drank lots of rice milk - it was the only thing I coudl drink fro a while and again had to be cold - the cold seemed to take the taste out!
I read that aloe vera juice helps with the stomach problems - so I shall ask my onc on friday and if he says yes - I’ll pass on that tip . good luck everyone. :))
suex
please do let us know what the onc says re aloe vera, I’ve used it before when dealing with thrush and it was helpful.
Angie
Hi all,
when I was on Epi I was warned that constipation could be a problem. Rather than take conventional meds for this I just massively upped my fruit intake (I hate veg!). I used to do a homemade smoothie every morning for the first few days after and I’m pleased to say I never suffered with constipation. I also drank a lot of water which is obviously important too.
Once I switched to the CMF it was quite the opposite! I was then warned that I may suffer with diarrhoea! My chemo unit gave me ‘Loperamide’ to take home after each session to take if required. Whereas on the Epi I ate a lot of fibre, on the CMF I ate very little fibre for the first few days and this really helped.
Hope that helps and good luck to you all (not that you’ll need it of course!),
Take care
Kelly
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I think you can get Aloe Vera already mixed with juice but I suspect it’s an expensive way of taking it. If diluting it with fruit juice, what concentration do you use? I haven’t tasted it but it’s on the (growing) shopping list…
Thanks for tips Kelly, I love smoothies and can’t wait until soft fruit is in season here, I hate buying things like raspberries that have been flown in and never freeze enough to last all year! Luckily we like veg and soups too so I’ll get some batches in the freezer during next week. I’m desperate to avoid constipation and all tips are welcome. Lyn xx
I’m just bumping this up because i think it is a really good thread
Bumping this up for a new user, carrieann.
Bumping this up for newbie daz x
and me too for someone else
have contacted bcc re can we make an abstract from this and do a thing on web page… they are suggestign Vita mag but i think more people see the threads and stuff u read on site as info. I don’t know - i just thought that pages of ideas from people who are doing this might help others because we are/have been doing it… so people going throught chemo can say hey try pineapple when your mouth feels bad (i think we would have to miss out most herbal/homeopathic or give a huge warnign re checking with hosp).
If we want to make a page of info they will send me a proposal form. we can keep bumping the page up but we could make it shorter.
Another page idea would be what to take to hosp…
I’d like to follow top tips thru - best and most help thread i have read but what do you all think?
Jennifer
Bumping this up… brilliant tips for everyone, thanks to all contributors, and Jennifer, go for it!
I agree that this is an extremely useful thread. So much more insight here than the briefing session I had today with the Chemo nurse. I haven’t started chemo yet but have already made a start on turning the key info in each of the tips into a Word document with exactly the same thought in mind as you Jennifer. Happy to forward it to you or to collaborate.
Hazel
Hi all, I have had an email from BCC saying a page from us based on this page would be a good idea to go on new website! Am dead chuffed for everyone who has put ideas and tips on here… keep them coming!!!
I bless princess18 aka kelly for starting the thread and I’m guessing she has moved on from chemo now because she ahsn’t posted on thsi thread for a while - if anyone sees her on here tell her she is an icon!!!
jennifer
Hello! What a lovely thread! I was shattered and came to bed to watch crap tv on my lap top, but got reading this instead and feel very comforted and have had a few laughs, so thank you.
I’m on my 3rd round of Epi before CMF. My main bug bear at the mo is runny eyes - they just stream every time i go outside - have taken to wearing shades which takes the edge off, but wondered if anyone had any top tips? Also wondering how anyone’s found CMF compared to EPI? Have been a bit tired and spaced out for a week after E but no nausea.
Managed first yoga class since chemo last night and was pleased to keep my wig on throughout!
Love and strength to all,
H xx
I am just bumping this up - if you have anything you would like to add on what has helped you either what you found by your self or something on here … please post and hey Princess18/kelly… you started this!!! I am so glad you di - i think you should be proud
Jennifer
One wee tip - have a heat pad at home. My vein went into spasm, and it was sore for some days afterwards. The microwaveable heat pad eased the cramps/feeling of swelling. Ibuprofen gel was also useful.
Best of luck to all with their chemo.
Sue xx
Hi all,
I’m so pleased that this thread has got so many great top tips on it now. I had no idea how it would go when I first started it, just wanted to help chemo newbies like others helped me.
rjenr2 - I’ve been called many things in my time but ‘icon’ is not one of 'em, LOL!! Thank you so much for your lovely comments
Take care all,
Kelly
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Kelly,
This thread provided me with so much desperately needed information, and I agree with Rjenr. I just thought you should know how incredibly helpful it has been to me and many like me. I think it’s all about control. If we know quite a bit, we aren’t ignorant about it all and we can pretend to be in control of what is happening to us! Many thanks to you for starting this invaluable thread. 1 chemo down, 7 to go!
Thanks
Sue xx
Hi Sue,
I’m so glad the thread has helped you, and I wish you all the very best for the remainder of your chemo. You’ll be amazed at how quickly the time goes!
Take care,
Kelly
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