Anyone want to be my chemo buddy? Start may 9th

[Tanyette]

Hi Paprika, I have had my hair cut short ready for losing it, I also have my wig which was ordered in a similar colour to my own and then thinned out and cut to my style. It's not too bad actually but am leaving it as long as possible before I wear it because I think it will be warm to wear. I've been so reassured by everyone on this forum as I was very nervous pre treatment last Thursday, it's just nice to know we are not alone with going through this. Now the first treatment is over I feel better I think it's fear of the Unknown and I'm sure you will too. Good luck for Tuesday, let us know how it goes, take care xxxxx

[Tanyette]

Hi Bottyboo, glad everything went well for you. Are you by any chance having treatment at The Christie only you are the first person I've seen that seems to be on same regime as me. I haven't been nauseous only had heartburn but gaviscon seems to work. Hope you get a good nights rest xxxx

[Tanyette]

Hi Bottyboo, glad everything went well, are you by any chance having your treatment at The Christie only you are the first person who seems to be on exactly the same regime as me. I have had no nausea, just heartburn but gaviscon seems to work with that. Hope you get a good nights rest xxxx

[Sue H-S]

Mmm - lol -might just need the wash - AS I have an extreme short crop - has the odd itch before first treatment. Been told shedding starts as of week 2. xx

[Guest user]

Woohoo in that case bring it on!
....whys my head so bloody itchy! Is it the dreaded start of shedding or just cos it needs a damn good wash! X

[Sue H-S]

Lol - Life begins at 50 - trust me I know! xx

[Guest user]

Ooo yes bottyboo! Gosh were wishing our lives away aren't we! Xx

[Sue H-S]

Hi Paprika, two 'Northerners' then, lol. My mum lives in Bad Bederkesa, not so far away from Bremerhaven. How long have you been over here - and where roughly to you now live - ? Perhaps pm me? Might be better when sharing information like that? xxx

[Paprika]

NO 🙂 lol

Hi Sue, how funny, I am from Bremen x

[Bottyboo]

Tina i'm 50 on the 29th April next year! We should arrange a get together of our little group. Xx

[Sue H-S]

Hi Paprika, I am, too!!! How surprising! I was born in Bielefeld - NorthrheinWestPhalia xxx

[Guest user]

Isabelle are you ok now hun? Xx

[Guest user]

Thank you paprika!
Its certainly a birthday i won't firget! My family say they'll make up for it next year when im the big 5 0! And hopefully this will all be a distant memory xx

[Paprika]

Hi Isabelle,

Why you feel so ill...hope you are better soon x

[Paprika]

Hi Sue,

I am from Germany, where are you from? x

[Sue H-S]

Hi Isabelle, So sorry to hear you are so ill - what happened? Pm me - if you rather. xxx

[Sue H-S]

Hi Paprika,
your English is great! This is my second language, too, but I have been here a very long time now. Well done on being so brave re you hair - I did mine last Saturday as prep for the treatment.
Curiosity killed the cat - would you like to share, where you originate from?

xxx

[On a diversion]

Hi, 

As I've been so ill I haven't been able to read or post so haven't kept up with who is where but noticed a few new names, Tanyette, Chelsea and Paprika, a warm weclome to May starters 😊

Well done Bottyboo, you did it!! 

And Tina your story made me smile too 😊 Honesty is always the best policy, I'm sure they'll understand!

Cheesy chips and wine Sue, my goodness! I wouldn't get away with that combination at the best of times!

Hope you all continue to do so well. 

Isabelle X

[Paprika]

Hi, you very brave girls!!!

Sue, its so great to hear you got the treatment and have no side effects...fantastic...hope the next days/weeks will be the same easy peasy xxx

Hi Chelsa...all the best for you xxx

Hi Tina....H A P P Y  B I R T H D A Y (belated)xxx

Hi Tanyette...xxx

Hi all to all xxx

Its good to hear your experience, I lost my fear, thanks. I have my first treatment on the 24th, at lunch time, in the morning I get a hair cut, I thought very very short all over apart the top a bit longer (a different hair style until I loose my hair)

By the way, apologize mistakes in writing, better in talking...english is my second language. x

[Guest user]

Haha well you have to laugh don't you! I wish I liked melon lol.
Well you may get away with no effects ....you never know. Fingers crossed. I'm not stupid enough to think that ill just get those few nasty days n side effects each cycle. ..but I never know either! Xx

[Bottyboo]

Oh Tina I'm sorry but I had to smile about your daughter. I'm glad your head has finally settled pain wise.
Keep forgetting I've had chemo. Drove and picked daughter up from work. Now eating some ice cold watermelon yum! I know side effects are going to kick in but considering I almost had a panic attack this morning things could be worse xx

[Guest user]

Oh that's good to know. I might say I didn't like it so they'll not give it me lol! Xx

[Sue H-S]

Hi Tina, They can adjust what they give you pre treatment and how fast/slow they give it, as well as what you may need when you go home. It is best to discuss with your chemo nurse before you start. There should also be a piece of paper, which the receptionist should give you to complete, before you go in. Should they not have the details from your treatments over the past few days, you can record it there and they will adjust to minimise/avoid this happening again. xxx

[Guest user]

Thank you.
So they adjust the meds next cycle? You mean ones you take home?
Xx

[Sue H-S]

Hi Bottyboo, so glad it went well for you and fingers crossed it stays that way! - and Tina - so glad you are through it - here is to positive thinking - next time it will be easier, as they adjust the meds. Cara has struggled a little bit - but I am supporting her privately - she is ok now, resting at home. xxx

[Guest user]

Hi.
Thanks for asking. ..yes I'm hopefully through the rough patch. Just a bit tired and did something really daft today. ...I convinced myself that my daughter had the day off school for an inset! I'm positive I read it somewhere! So lunch time I get voicemail asking if I can call school regarding her absence! ! Omg...I'm mortified. ...I'm not sure that she hadn't got a last sats test too. I'm keeping my head down and not fessing up..surely my heads not this bad! I'm gonna go in monday n explain it somehow. X

[Bottyboo]

Hi lovely ladies. Am home. It was fine in the end. Got ondansetron twice a day for 2 days steroids for 2 days and injections for 7 days starting tomorrow. I was going to ask when the nausea kicked in but luckily you haven't had any 😊 hope I'm the same. Xx

[Sue H-S]

Hi Tanyette - sure will, Yes, I am easting normal - as no one around, do things myself and thankfully have no one stopping me. I fell asleep on the sofa last night and when finally in bed slept well until the crows in the tree next to my bedroom window woke me at 05.20. Ate normal list night - breakfast was a double fried egg sarnie - loads of protein and some carbs. Lunch out with a friend - cheesy chips and a glass of wine, interspersed with glass of water. - Still feel absolutely fine! Bed stripped and re made up - washing done and hung out - some work stuff resolved - yes - normal! So very lucky I think - and very grateful, too. I am aware that my energy levels will fall over the next week, especially once the steroids are gone, but considering that I am a very high energy person anyway - it will probably get me down to more average levels, lol! I am also aware of cumulative effect over the course of our treatment and am doing everything I can to support my adrenal glands - especially with regards to chemo brain. So already know that it will not be like this all the way through. Just knowing that, when I receive my treatment, I will be ok, makes a massive difference. xxx

[Tanyette]

Hi Sue I migh ask for lanzoprazole as heartburn is quite troublesome. Great that you can carry on working I think the more normality the better. My husband is off today and wouldn't even let me go to town with him! Says I need the rest!! But haven't stopped since he left got all my jobs done which he won't let me do!! With your temp being lower maybe chemo does lower no concerns anyway as long as we feel ok! I don't know how I will do with injection tonight but hopefully ok have to get my husband to do it if not! I have got he burping problem every I eat or drink at the moment! Anyway Sue keep posting speak soon xxxx

[Sue H-S]

Hi Helly - thanks! I hope so, too - will make my life so much easier. I think all this 'pricking' and cannulas for the various tests and now treatment, lol - has made it more challenging for me - I just do not want any more off it - bar what I really have to go through - ie. bloods and treatment. But I know how important these injections are - and really hope she can enable me to get on with it myself. 24 hrs later after first FEC - still - nada - nichts - nothing - feel so very lucky - but lets see what happens when the steroids stop, lol....... xxx

[helly18]

Sue, the injections really don't hurt and are so quick it's point and press, maybe get your practice nurse to go through with you it will save so much faffing around? Xxx

[Sue H-S]

Have sent you message on WhatsApp. xxx

[Sue H-S]

Hi Tanyette, glad to hear you are coping well - Lol, my baseline temp is usually around 36.5. Measured this morning and it is 35.5 - feeling absolutely fine for now - who knows what will happen over the next few days. As long as I can keep nausea off my list of side effects I shall be a happy bunny. They have given me Lansoprazole, which I take once a day 60 mins before breakfast to keep heartburn, etc at bay. Started burping just after treatment in the hospital, lol - more 'windy' than usual. I have also been given the G-CSF injections to take home 8 x day 3 onwards. Completely not able to administer myself - so have been spending time this morning sorting slots with the practice nurse to get this done. It will be challenging the first time - to schedule my work around the injections, but hey - bring the challenges on - so many dealt with already - and at a guess a few more to come. Yes one down!!! xxx

[Tanyette]

Hi Chelsea, I had a similar feeling to you last night! Very little sleep but hoping to grab a sleep today. Have took morning dose of steroids so waiting if they have same effect! Welcome to the forum, it has been a great help to me to talk to other people going through the same experience and sharing tips, hope it is for you too xxx

[Tanyette]

Hi Tina, hope you are feeling better today sounds like you have had a rough few days. Happy belated birthday, hope your day wasn't too bad and glad you weren't admitted. Speak soon xxx

[Tanyette]

Good luck Bottyboo, i was given injection to give myself from tonight which is 24hrs after first chemo I finished at five yesterday then I have them for 7 days. I've been a lot better than I expected and hope you will be too.xxx

[Tanyette]

Hi Sue, great news that you have side effects at all! I've been a lot better than I expected. I had a lovely nurse who was so calm and reassuring that it made the experience so much easier! Felt like body was racing last night probably the steroids have just took the morning dose of them so waiting to see how it goes. Got heartburn duri g the night but have gaviscon at the ready if I need it but seems to have gone this morning. I took my temp last night and it was 35.5 so thought that was low but didn't feel unwell and as was told to ring hotline if it was below 36 and felt unwell. Anyway just think I must have a low baseline temp as its 35.6 this morning. Been given injections for 7 days have to have my first one at 5 tonight 24hrs after my first chemo, not injected myself before so will see how I go. Anyway Sue one down!! Onwards and upwards speak soon xxx

[Sue H-S]

Hi Cara - I noticed!, lol If you are on Facebook by any chance try and find me. If you click onto the Avatar you should be able to see my full name - and if you search for it on Facebook - and ask to be added to my friend list I can message you on Messenger. Otherwise look for me on WhatsApp - I am there, too. Hopefully that will work - and then it will make it easier to communicate, if you are ok with that. xx

[Cara0165]

Sue my emails aren't working for some reason 😕xx

[Sue H-S]

Good luck Bottyboo! Hope you will be ok - Still no problems 16 hours after 1st FEC. x

[Sue H-S]

Ho Bottyboo,
Yes, day 3 for 8 days - but apparently ok to start up to day 5. So need to re- organise a few things, so my GPs surgery can do it.
And still doing fine 7 hours after treatment.
Xxx

[Bottyboo]

Hi Sue. And welcome Chelsea.
Great news Sue about your lack of side effects. First one for me tomorrow. Terrified earlier but quite calm now.
Did you get given the injections for around day 3 (?) onwards?
Hope you continue to remain so well xx

[Sue H-S]

Hi Chelsa, welcome to the group. I started today, too. The first of 6 x FEC75. Lol, high on the steroids then! - For me, so far, so good! lets see how I am tomorrow..... I actually fell asleep on the sofa at 9 tonight - yay - rest at last! xxx

[Guest user]

Hi paprika xx

[Dotty79]

Hello all new to me this I'm Chelsa and I've just started chemo today so far I feel like I've been raving for two days with no rest lol X 

[Sue H-S]

Hi Tina, happy belated birthday! And so sorry to hear about your head and glad that they are looking after you. As to constipation - I went home from my first chemo with a huge bag of goodies - including drugs for indigestion and cinstipation. It appears that they just want to make sure I have all I might need - which I think is absolutely fantastic. Well - now I am listening out to see how the next few days and weeks will develop. So far, so good, but only 4 hrs after treatment. xxx

[Guest user]

Hi. Well I did have my scan so at least that's over. Headache didn't go so they asked for me on the ward and checked me over. ..gave me tramadol to try n some oral rinses too. Tramadol didn't shift it so took paracetamol too and it lifted a little. Nearly admitted though cos my temp was borderline abd they didn't want paracetamol masking it. So I had to call them in the night with an update and thankfully it'd gone down. Didn't really fancy hospital stay on my birthday! Heads still there but manageable. Distraught hubby had to get me something for constipation today lol....he was so embarrased silly man.
Well done those of you who've now had yours x

[Sue H-S]

Hi Ruth, thank you for your thoughts - so very much appreciated. I was not frightened or worried - as so well prepared - just a little apprehensive, waiting for reaction to the various drugs and for nausea - but---------nothing. So really happy of how that went. So now we shall see what the next few days and weeks bring - so shall be listening to my body very carefully. xxx

[PeggyCat]

Well done for getting through today Sue. I was thinking of you today. 

Ruth x

[Sue H-S]

Hi Paprika, First FEC done!!! Saw a possible new client late this morning and then took myself off to my first session. I was only in for 2 hours - and much to my absolute pleasure can report back - that I have had no adverse effects whatsoever?!?! And according to the nurses that should remain to be like that through my other 5 sessions, too - which is fantastic news. Of course, now waiting to see what happens over the next few days and week. And shall report back, should something come along. Hoping you are lucky, too! xxx