white cell count drop post chemo - ? symptoms

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Hello All

Just a quick query - post chemo when the white cell count falls, are there any specific symptoms that any of you have been aware of?

I seem to have developed a ‘heavy’ thumping heart periodically at rest. Been getting it on minimal exertion like bending down, with some breathlessness, which I expected. There’s no chest pain and it does resolve on sitting/laying but I wasn’t sure if it is ‘normal’ Due to have MUGA scan on 30th and 2nd FEC 7th Jan.

Many thanks

Love & Hugs to all Leigh xx

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I think it is normal for FEC. I also get a racing heart and can feel it beating more than I did before. I had a 60% MUGA scan result after 2 FEC which is normal, so I don’t think it is anything to be overly worried about, but ask next time you go to clinic.

Hope you’re still feeling otherwise ok.

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Hi,
Like Flora, i get the racing heart even while resting sometimes and have to take the stairs quite slowly these days as i find I am very out of breath easily but I think that is the low red blood cell count which carries oxygen around the body??. Worth mentioning at your next appointment just so that they are aware of this side effect but hopefully if you are feeling well in other ways you should be ok!
karen xx

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HI Karen & Flora

Thanks for the reasurrance and I will ask the Oncologist on 4th Jan. I keep getting a bit of a headache as well but I’m not sure if that may be the antibiotics I’m on or the chemo - Oh the joys!!:slight_smile: Head very sore today (day 10 post ) so me thinks if it continues I will be shaving soon.

Hope your Xmas was a good one and that you too are both okay - despite racing heart and head the appetite is surviving which has been an unexpected but pleasant bonus :slight_smile:

Hugs and Regards Leigh xx

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Hi Leigh,
Glad you are coping well despite headaches! I had them last cycle but think that was the anti biotics I was on for a tooth infection. The chemo nurses had said only to take paracetamol but oncologist said it was fine to take neurofen if that worked better, if thats any help! Its hard to know what to blame all these things on isnt it - the chemo, the steroids, the anti sickness or just us!
Karen xx

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hi girls - I get a headache towards the end of week 2 after chemo and I am sure that for me it is a sign of low white blood cell count - I just take paracetemol and it goes away however the timing and natuure of the headache have been consistent - so far my bloods have always recovered in time for chemo to go ahead and fingers crossed that remains the case cause I really want to finish on 15 March and move on :slight_smile: xx

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Ooh, well I’ve been waking most (but not all) mornings with a headache (regardless of whether I have had a drink or not), and today found out I do have a low white cell count (just) - 0.9. Needs to be 1 to be given my next dose tomorrow, so will get re-tested in the morning.

Apart from that, I feel absolutely fine! NOt ill, not tired, nothing. Weird.

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Hi Flora,

I hope that your bloods are up enough tomorrow. I didn’t feel ill either when mine were too low…strange! But I was very emotional, which maybe another SE off low bloods. I know that I felt much better the following week and my bloods had risen alot.

I had my 4th lot last week and although had a very bearable Christmas, have come out of the unexplainable ‘chemo induced fog’ today! Also have a mild headache… but think that may have more to do with my 3 boys (+ 1 husband)and nerf guns rampaging the house!!

Take care

Hope everyone else managed a good Christmas… xxx

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Hello All

Flora - hope it went well today and your blood count allowed for chemo. Can someone pelase tell me where the time goes - it seems like only last week I had 1st chemo (really it was the 17th) and now I am a week off having the 2nd!!!

Had MUGA scan today - had a spot of trouble - firstly trouble with veins, has anyone got any tips for getting the little blighters to ‘rise to the occasion’. I really do not relish the idea of a PICC and again if anyone has one can they let me know what its really like - just in case I have to go down this route. Since my 2nd WLE my veins have played up and are quite hard in wrist and elbow area. Been treated for thrombophlebitis but my veisn sure do not like being poked at!! 2nd problem I had was falling asleep whilst scan being done and my heart rate dropping so low they had to wake me as the scan can only record/scan at a certain heart rate and mine had gone below!!! Wish I could sleep like that at night at home!!

Whilst I’m whinging - my head was so sore last nite (and beginning to come out in little clumps), I got hubbie to shave it to a number 2 for me. I honestly thought losing my hair was not going to bother me too much but… I wept the entire time he did it and got quite a shock at the reflection in the mirror - I really don’t know the person now looking back at me - I’ve got through today wearing a woolly hat to the hospital and even did a trip into Asda, avoiding eye contact with everyone (not like me at all, where I live saying good morning etc to complete strangers is the norm). Am I coping??? Is this normal???

Leigh xx

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hi there

i have a real problem with having no hair so i just wanted to say your not alone
my friend shaved mine to a number 2 also about a week after 2nd fec
it stopped hurting then

i dont like my wig so wear hats, beanie hats and bakerboy hats with scarves for back of neck

but i still feel it is so obvious i have no hair

chin upxx

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sorry can i ask what that muga scan is for?
and why i havnt had one lol

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Hi LincsLady
I was given a MUGA scan as a pre-herceptin baseline, and to see whether my body could handle a 4th FEC. FEC and Herceptin can affect your heart, and this scan can look at how much blood is pumping through. With herceptin, they apparently do the MUGA scan every 4 months to check you are still OK. Are you HER2 +ve at all? If not, you may not be offered one.

Leigh, thanks for asking, my neutrophil count hadn’t risen today, but my overall white cell count had, so the oncologist approved treatment and I had it done. I can now say I AM HALFWAY THROUGH CHEMO!!! Taxotere and herceptin next time…

Had a snooze this afternoon, but was feeling tired before they gave it, so this is probably due to some early mornings and late nights (subconscious worry). Also had headaches and slight nausea this evening, but nothing paracetamol can’t sort out. I guess I will feel it a bit more if my bloods are low, but I AM still going to the party tomorrow. If I have to crash on my hosts bed for a short while, so be it!

I nearly fell asleep during my MUGA too, felt myself jerk in that ‘dropping off’ way, but wasn’t told off for it!! Hope your results come back OK. Mine was a 60% result, in the ‘normal’ range.

Sorry to hear you are finding the hair loss harder than you thought. I wasn’t sure how I would react, but was OK in the end, but I think this was partly cos I used to have it very short for a long time before (I only started growing it a year ago). This was me 4 years ago, at my thinnest and hair at its shortest: i64.photobucket.com/albums/h162/flora29/Emma/Picture194.jpg (or even slightly shorter, 5 or 6 years ago - I am looking forward to getting back to having hair this long!! i64.photobucket.com/albums/h162/flora29/Emma/P1010006.jpg)

I would say, don’t ask if you are coping. There is no normal, we’re all so different. You went out with a hat on, I think this is a marvellous sign. You may get more used to it, even if you never fully accept it. I actually forget I am bald! I am not the one looking at me all the time. OH said the other day, he has forgotten what I look like WITH hair! I wear my wig for work and when there are young children about, but a hat the rest of the time out and about, and nothing at home unless I am cold.

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Wow Flora

Those photos of you - love the hair styles will definitely consider that sort of look when my hair comes back. However I think you look stylish with no hair as well and if your OH cant remember how you looked with hair you may save yourslef a fortune!! - Day 2 of stubble for me and been out and about in my woolly hat and not thought about it. Can I ask however whats the best way to look after your head once its all fallen out? Any particular moisturizer thats good at looking after our bonces!!:)- does anyone have any tips???

Glad also those bloods allowed your chemo - half way through now you go girl and enjoy that party with a snooze when required:)

Lincslady - I had the MUGA scan because I have a heart murmur which really kicks in when I have an anaesthetic - I think my Oncol is just being careful. At least thats why I think he booked it - will check when I see him. I am not due for Herceptin but Tamoxifen with/after Radiotherapy (18 sessions).

Happy New Year to you ladies - Boldly Bald into 2010 I say!!!

Love and hugs Leigh xxxx

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I used baby oil at night before bed or my good old nivea. Olive oil is supposed to be good but whilst i used it on my baby when she was a baldy, i didnt fancy it!!

I had heart palpitations and difficulty to breath at the end of my FEC chemo. All tests normal. I got sores round my mouth and an upset tummy when my white cells dropped really low and put me in hospital.

S
X

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HI there

I had bad dizziness, a racing heart, low blood pressure and palpitations when i had taxotere and more mildly on FEC. I was having a lot of severe side effects so all of those didn’t register much with me or the doctors. Anyway I never had any tests. My pulse was still racing on at over 100 beats a minute some 4 weeks after my last taxotere.

I’m now 3 months on from my last taxotere. No more palpitations, pulse is back to normal at 72 beats per minute, some dizziness but nothing like as bad and my blood pressure okay.

I would definitely tell the doctors so they know what’s going on. The chemo is harsh and can take time for the body to return to normal.

Take care and good wishes
Elinda x