October 2017 Chemo Starters

[karana23]

Thanks Ali...have got his sister coming to stay for 2 days then after that I've got plenty of people to call on if I need them and there will be staff downstairs until the pub closes so it's only really night time I will be on my own and I've got a big soppy Labrador to keep me company....I'm normally a very confident person...I think the drugs must frazzle our confidence a bit!!! 

Hope you all all sleep well tonite 😘xxx

[karana23]

Thanks Ali...have got his sister coming to stay for 2 days then after that I've got plenty of people to call on if I need them and there will be staff downstairs until the pub closes so it's only really night time I will be on my own and I've got a big soppy Labrador to keep me company....I'm normally a very confident person...I think the drugs must frazzle our confidence a bit!!! 

Hope you all all sleep well tonite 😘😘 xxx

[Ali49]

Jencat wishing you luck for tomorrow. You have evetything you need to cope and you will be fine. We are all here remember.

Shi my bcn just hapoened to call me to see how i was after my first treatment. She didnt know i had been in. My daughter is slmost 13 and at a very sensitive age. Ive told her we are thinking my hair is going with the autumn leaves and coming back in the spring with the flowers.

Chafginch so glad you are feeling better.
karana, i cried when my hubby went to work and kids went to school and left me in the house by myself. Our confidence is knocked and we need lots of reassurance. Call on people if you need them have a back up plan. Big hugs.
Lots of love everyone xx

[Runnerbean]

I’m feeling ok now, going to get myself off to bed with a good book and start again tomorrow. We all have a little cry every now and again Karana we are only human. I only seem to do it in public places can’t seem to wait till I get home xx

[karana23]

Thanks Shi ✨✨

Jencat I agree with Chaffinch....if I knew I wld feel as well as I do now I'm sure the first few days of feeling poorly wld have been easier!  You will be fine 😘 

You will all be pleased to hear that after last Sunday's experience after eating Chinese, my hubby is sitting eating it on his own!! 🤢 Xxx

[Chaffinch17]

Best wishes for tomorrow Jencat, first few days were a bit rubbish for me but gradually got better and have pretty good for the last 3 days. If I’d known how well I’d feel at this stage I wouldn’t have been so down during first days. It’s the fear of the unknown that’s the worst. It really is doable x

[Shi]

Karana, sending you love and hug 💕💕💕we’ve all had a cry, the brave mask we all put on since diagnosis can slip from time to time 💕💕💕it’s ok love shi xx

[doylejill58]

Hi Meesh73

I bought comfort bras from Peacocks at £5 each. In theory they are supposed to go over your head like a sports bra but I simply step into them and pull them up. They are very stretchy as I'm a size 18 and I have no problem. I've spoken to other people (without surgery needs) who wear comfort bras and several have said they step in and out of them as well

[SueW]

Jen sending positive vibes for tomorrow
Will be with you in spirit xx

[Shi]

Thanks jencat 😘 she’s been on hear earlier and been out and about and all ok, I was worried about her pering, seeing as that’s what floored me. Hope you are ok for tomorrow and lollies at the ready, then survival pack of bottom help etc that we’ve all been swapping today. Don’t forget tho anything that you don’t feel is right even if no temperature rapid response it, don’t take any chances because apart from burning per, I felt fine and no temp, yet I was down to 0.5 when admitted. Days 7-14 A’s May ladies advised are when things are at their lowest, but keep eye on yourself anyway. Wishing you love and sparkles for tomorrow 💕💕💕✨✨✨✨shi xx

[Jencat]

I should have read the rest of the thread, I see Chaffinch has been on here now! xx

[Shi]

Hi ali, sound like we’ve had similar experience are you on fec too? Sorry to hear daughter been upset, if she’s young you could try and say mummy will need help to grow hair, like things grow in the garden and get her to help with scalp routine? Just an idea if she’s young and it could help her? I’ve not spoken to my bc nurse about it, did you ring yours and let her know yourself about the reaction to 1st treatment? Love and sparkles 💕💕💕✨✨✨✨🦋🌈 shi xx

[Jencat]

Shi, Chaffinch was on the 'Just Diagnosed' thread earlier, so she's ok xx

[karana23]

Hi Chaffinch I've got the same going on in my mouth....it's like a dry line right across the front bit of the roof of my mouth....I've got the toothpaste but think I need to go get the mouthwash tomorrow!!

just had a bit of a meltdown.....hubby asked if I was gonna be ok wen he goes away tomorrow and I burst into tears....really didn't want to do that....bloody stupid emotions!!!!!

xx

[Ali49]

Chaffinch i have been using biotrne mouthwash and toithpast too but i still got a sore mouth. It imptoved wuickly after my gp prescribed biozytene mouthwash and daktarin oral gel for thrush so might be worth you getting some. It is on repeat for me now so i can just get it when i need it xx

[Ali49]

Oh and my auntie has bought me live well honey which i have to start having the day after treatment she said her friend took it through treatment and never got any infections. It is about £40 a jar thougjxx

[Ali49]

Geez 6 pages of updates tonight! Its been a busy day!!

Day 19 for me and my hair has all but gone. Still had a full head of hair on Wednesday but has literally fell out over the ladt couple of days. Wore my wig all day today and it was fine. I have worn a cotton hat in the house. My daughter has really cried!!

Shi i ended up in hospital on my 10th day. Felt great day 8, felt fluey day 9 and had really bad thtobbing back pain early hours day 10. I also had hot wee but didnt really think about that. Anyway went to A and E, had no temp but my white cells were 2 and neutrophils 1.2 so i was kept in and given tazocin iv evety 8 hours. There was no sign of infection and my urine was clear but the treated me as a precaution! My white cells went up and were 4 by monday and my neutrophils were 2. As i went in on friday , i had to wait til monday to see tbe specialist oncology nurse and she said i was fine to go home.

My bcn said my treatment may be changed as this happened after my first chemo. I will find out on wed when my 2nd chemo is due. I did have 7 gcsf injections which finished on day 9 and they think they were the cause of the back pain which were around my hips and pelvis. Bones working hard to boost white cell levels. Obviously it dodnt work though!!

I am now eating kiwi fruits and drinking coc9nut water to try and boost my immunity and i am going toavoid people this time round between days 5 and 12. Hope you get out soon Shi xxx

[Chaffinch17]

In the subject of bikes. I cycled everywhere as a teenager because we didn’t have a car and lived in a rural area so the only way I could get about and see friends. I then moved to a couple of miles outside Chester when I left home. I worked in the centre so cycled to work for nearly a year before getting into an argument with a concrete mixer on the way home one night. He didn’t see me on his inside while we waited at traffic lights and as he started off he headed towards the kerb, my only way out was to jump off, just as well I did because bike got mangled. Put me off cycling which is a shame. The roads are too busy now, only went out with the kids a few times and found it terrifying

[Chaffinch17]

You can use the Biotene 5 times a day so I have been using it after eating to keep everything clean. Also have the gel and the toothpaste.
My wee is fine thanks Shi just need to go quite often and isn’t quite as comfortable to hold but not a problem. I am drinking loads so probably down to that.

[Meesh73]

I bought biotene but haven't needed to use it yet. I normally use corsodyl daily mouthwash so have continued just using that and so far so good 👍🏻

[Jay68]

Hi Dizzybrummie - I'm from May thread and I see from your posts you're suffering with constipation - I avoided meds when I suffered this nasty side effect - mine was sorted with regular prunes in natural juice - I had 3/4 on my cereal and the same again in the evening - got quite a taste for them in the end! - they did work well.  I did mention to onc and was given some senokot meds in my next package - but I never used them - prunes everytime!  Also, lots of water to drink that helps! 

[Shi]

Hi chaffinch glad you’ve had a lovely day 🤗😘is your pee ok now? Love shi xx

[Chaffinch17]

Can’t believe how many posts on this thread since I last was here...66!!
I’m good thanks, had a very busy but lovely day. Got up cooked beef roast and apple crumble with our special ground and flaked almond topping for diabetic hubby. We eat low carb most of the time and avoid sugar. I eat loads of fruit and veg and amazingly managed to avoid post chemo blockage issues although I think metaclopramide anti sickness has slightly opposite effect so maybe helped a bit too. Had a nice long walk after lunch and had a coffee and a naughty glass of prossecco in the pub beer garden half way. I’m just making the most of feeling well, we never quite know how long it will last!
I’m on 6 x FEC and didn’t get injections to boost white cells either. I too can recommend Biotene mouthwash and toothpaste. I have two dry strips like sandpaper on the inside of the top of my gums and have had a couple of small ulcers right at the back corner on each side but otherwise ok and my tastebuds have been largely ok too and I’m still managing to eat spicy food which I love.

[Shi]

Anyone know how chaffinch and runnerbean are? Hope you are ok. Jencat ✨✨✨✨✨sparkles for tomorrow. Dizzybrummie get some sudocream too for sore bum after constipation, helps 😘love shi xx

[DizzyBrummie]

Thanks ladies. I have post op lactulose kicking about

[Meesh73]

I'd think about getting on to it asap. Karana said that peppermint & licorice tea helped her, if you've got any of that? I'd try the lactulose if you have it, was told not to leave it too long. Should be ok if you haven't got anything to get some tomorrow.

[SueW]

I was told lactulose too but I got some anyway as had a problem after taking codeine after surgery x
Read this one before I pressed send so hope no typos 🤣🤣🤣

[DizzyBrummie]

Thanks. No 💩 so far 😳

[Meesh73]

Dizzie, have you had trouble with constipation? If you're on ordansetron it'll be that causing the problem as that's what they told me bungs you up. It's the strongest anti-sickness they gave me. They gave me laxido to take if I didn't go as normal the day following chemo. I also put a tsp of ground flax seeds in my porridge  and ate a few prunes every day, drank loads of water and didn't have any issues. If they've not given you any laxatives you could try sennakot, you can get that over the counter.

[Shi]

Dizzybrummie senokot worked ok for that so should imagine any would do, ask at next visit if you get any blockage from the fec 😂😂😂Sunday night and were all talking 💩💩💩tips. Love and sparkles 💕💕💕✨✨✨🦋🌈everyone shi xx

[DizzyBrummie]

Meesh, I got 3 types of anti sickness and steroids but no laxatives. I’m wondering if lactulose would help...

[Meesh73]

Ha ha another case of clumsy fingers! Love your posts SueW they're always entertaining!

[SueW]

That should have said are harder to find than others lol x

[SueW]

Meesh thank you for asking
This is my fb post for today as I post a positive every day (some dayscharfer to find one than others but do my danmedest

Positive ... 2nd day after chemo been Xmas shopping this morning and napped again this afternoon just ate a lovely dinner or at least I think it was taste buds a little bit off
Woolly head seems to have cleared a bit now I know I can manage coffee with coffee mate
Everything seems slightly beyond my mental grasp eg I asked sian to get me the milk out the porch instead of the fridge but she knew what I meant anyway good job the family are used to me lol xx
Love to all x

[Meesh73]

Hi Shi, I'm 44 and don't Facebook either, nor had I ever posted on a forum! Anything that can help any of us is a good thing. I haven't thought about rads yet!

Karana, yes I guess it is different in Norfolk, seem more with our number 2's than puking during chemo! Although they're probably keeping it cheap and only giving stuff to us if we end up needing it. Although I did get 3 days of dissolvable steroids and 2 other anti-sickness plus the lorazepam (which no-one else seems to have had), they obviously think I'm a jittery basket case that needs a bit of chilling out! 

Ruth, my OH is 52 and he's still in full Lycra! He insisted I bought it all when I started cycling to work, I felt a bit  of a fool and was convinced I looked "all the gear, no idea"! 

[Shi]

Katana, it’s quite an eye opener how different we are all having it isn’t it, but could be helpful if things don’t work for us and we are aware of other things from each other to get us💕💕💕👍👍👍😁😁😁all through this chemo time. Suew, glad you are ok after trying the bike, hope you got a good price on gumtree. And Ruth, don’t men just love their cycling Lycra, I’m sure it’s because the like showing off their legs which are usually better than ours are😂love shi xx

[karana23]

Shi, I was only given an anti sickness tablet before they started sticking my chemo syringes in, I dropped it on the floor coz I was so nervous 😩 Maybe they do things differently in Norfolk, hey Meesh?

Still no hair loss for me yet (anywhere!) I'm on Day12 and I've been washing my hair everyday as normal!! 

As for laxatives  I got given dioctyl to take if I needed it but my peppermint & liquorice herbal tea before bed seems to be doing the trick!! 

Xx

[Ruth07]

Lol SueW 😊Glad you were near the grass!
My OH also cycles everyday and wears all that lovely Lycra at 46 😂 I think he may have put me off cycling as I cycled everywhere when I was younger.
Dizzy I am nearly 7 weeks post surgery and only did run 1 last Wednesday so it definitely took time to be ready. Also gave me something to do as they seemed to take ages to get my chemo organised. I know what you mean about being in the right mind though.
Shi will def look up those recommendations - sorry to hear about all the bc in your family but glad to hear the survival stories too. xXX
Ruth

[Shi]

Thanks meesh, i’ll Check my setting when I’m home, I’ve not used pm yet, mai7 did well getting me on forum as I don’t Facebook, twitter or anything. I was 45 at diagnosis and just turned 46 recently. Because I only had sb when had therapeutic mammoplasty got arm range back well too within 6-7 weeks of op too. I used Superdrug aqueous cream on my scars, and I washed in hibiscrub pre and post surgery to stop any infection, everything healed ok. I’ve been advised the aqueous cream works well during radiotherapy which is next but after chemo, so if anyone else has any tips for cream forcehen we start radiotherapy after the chemo let’s share👍👍👍it😁love and sparkles everyone ✨✨✨💕💕😁🦋🦋🌈chaffinch, runnerbean hope you are both ok. Jencat✨✨✨✨✨extra sparkles for tomorrow. Love shi xx

[Meesh73]

SueW, how're you feeling this evening, still ok?

[Meesh73]

Ha ha SueW, you really make me laugh (probably shouldn't laugh at you falling off your bike really though). It reminds me of the time a few years ago when I tried to show my friends girls how to do a cartwheel, well my arm just gave way and I ended up in a heap on the floor. Couldn't believe I couldn't do it anymore, kept trying to no avail was really in pain the next day, felt like I'd done 10 rounds with mike Tyson 

[SueW]

I bought a bike as an adult convicted i coulf still ride fell off it the first ride fortunately on grass was on gumtree next day lol x

[Meesh73]

Ruth, I have 2 bikes a shopper and a hybrid (OH is a cycling nut and has about 9 bikes). I used to cycle to work, hence the hybrid, it's about a 30 minute ride and there's no way I'm doing it on a shopper (even if I do live in one of the flattest counties)! Not sure I can manage a cycle to work but I could probably cycle to the local shops. Downside of having a cycling mad OH, his legs are actually smoother than mine at the moment, so not good

[Meesh73]

I used to run and tried to take it up again last year, but had a problem with my leg so gave up on that entirely! I am now 10 weeks post surgery, have full range of movement in arm. So thought it'd be ok, haven't gone mad or anything. Do think it's probably lack of use of the muscles but will check it out with bcn, avoided weight bearing yoga poses today just in case! 

Shi, I can pm the recipe for the face cleanser if you're interested it's really not difficult.

[Shi]

Sorry just replying, just had food and husbands been in for a bit. Ruth and jencat tn’s like me get Patricia prijatel surviving tn it’ll really help also look her up online and also Joan lunden, shanen Doherty and robin Roberts all tn survivors. Runnerbean, is ring rapid response about that swelling days 7-14 is when white blood count low and risk of infection higher even with no temperature just rapid redponse everything even a mouth ulcer. Meesh That rose water and witch hazel sound lovely and i’ll Be looking up that tropics when I’m home. Mai7 told me about green people too as well as that beauty despite cancer both online for products. Whyte fawn, steroids only no injections, I’m turning green, lucky you no jabs😝when I’m home while I’m chemo I’ve been on xtrainer. When I can get out and about I love walking at weekends. Ruth my gran had bc at 44, she was 93 last Monday 😁and I’ve 2 cousins doing battle with it for 3rd time in 15 years, but with Mum testing neg on Barca, I might have got it from dads side but like I said earlier it’s lung, liver and bowel that side not bc, I won’t knowctill Dec what’s what. Love and sparkles to everyone and jencat, tomorrow will be fine, let us know how you get in, don’t forget your ice lollies to suck on while they are giving you the red injection, suck them throughout that one have someone giving you them like a conveyor belt, helps prevent mouth sores on fec. Has anyone heard from chaffinch yet? I hope you are ok chaffinch. Love and sparkles ✨✨✨✨✨✨💕🦋🌈shi xx

[DizzyBrummie]

I’d been running up to diagnosis for 30 minutes two or three times a week. I haven’t been able to since July due to mindset then surgery. I’m hoping to get back to it now I’m 5 weeks post op but still under instruction of loose bra only. It’s a bugger. 

[Ruth07]

Thanks Meesh - I am also a bit of a yoga bunny (and definitely not a runner!!) just restarted my daily practice about 10 days ago. But have been avoiding Downward dog - hope your arm feels better soon.
Have also been thinking about getting a bike just to add in another way of getting some exercise 🙂

[Meesh73]

Wow Ruth I am truly in awe! I have been doing morning yoga for the last week but have developed an achey bruised feeling in my side under my armpit (side of my surgery). It isn't bad but am going to check with bcn tomorrow. Hoping I might have just overdone the downward facing dogs, as haven't done any since before surgery beginning of august. You may inspired me to get my bike out though!

[Meesh73]

Runnerbean, sorry to hear you're still suffering. Have you phoned up about the swelling? It's so difficult for OHs I think they feel terrible that they can't do more. They also want to try to reassure you but are not so sure of things themselves I think. Hope things sort themselves out for you soon.

I'm only on fecx6 so wondering if that's why I'm not getting the injections?

[Ruth07]

Hi Runnerbean so sorry to hear about your complications - sending healing thoughts and hope you get better soon.

Meesh yes dragged myself around for about 20 minutes 😉 a long way of 1/2 marathon standard lol but going again tonight. At least my boobs are smaller now (diet inflicted not surgery) so they don't bounce around as much as they used too!!!