February 2016 starters

[Daisy63]

Morning all, yet another early morning! I can't seem to sleep past 5 am have to get up. 5 days after my second chemo sore mouth , throte and so tired. I was very weepy yesterday need cheering up ladies. I know I don't come on here much but like reading your threads. I keep asking myself is all this chemo worth it. I want to feel normal again. Not this old tired wreak I seem to have turned into. 😢😢😢😢😢

[Coxleonie]

Good luck Carol looks like u are a week ahead of me.
Do u have a PICC/ portacath? I've ended up with phlebitis thrombosis (inflammation of he vein and blood clot) it's very sore but generally I'm well... Gutted as this is my normal week before treatment starts and i have plans! 😡

[Coxleonie]

SE side effects
Don't wait for them to happen as they may not... Enjoy every day u feel good/ minimal SE. X

[Cag61]

Hi all, 

Well here I go again......off to hospital for bloods and see consultant the 3rd FEC tomorrow, and Jan we'll be half way through😄👍.

I have found this one has made me more tired but every afternoon I have a sleep for an hour after lunch then ok for the rest of the day. I have cold capped twice and although hair thinned by about 50%, I still have eyebrows and eyelashes. I wear a hair band which looks ok. I am defiantly going to persevere as my stepson gets married in October so want to try and have a decent hairstyle for then.

Jan, so glad you had a lovely break, bet you feel better for it and good luck for tomorrow. Hopefully they'll give you something for your eyes. 

Wow, we are busy on here..it's frightening the amount of us that are having treatment for bc, is it because we can get early diagnosis nowadays or is it on the rise. 

Thinking of you all and hope you can enjoy the sunshine, anyone else get hay fever? I was sneezing away yesterday but can't face taking anymore tablets.......👎🏻

Big Hugs to you all. Carol XXXX 💐

[Emmajane]

I'm feeling ok day 4! I hope tomo even better except I look like a hamster bloody steroids... 🙊Start injections today what is SE?? Sickness?? Ask for stronger meds they will give them u. I'm hoping next time isn't as bad going on what u said D...?! Nite ladies xxxxx

[Kayak Jan]

Hi all
In reply to Sue thought I 'd give a quick update .
Well cycle 2 was definitely a lot more challenging for me. SEs were worse and lasted basically 14 days as opposed to the 5 days first time around. Have recently developed very sore swollen eyes and a very painful area on my head! It appears to be a swollen vein?.
Ok boring stuff over. I had an absolutely brilliant time in Amsterdam with my daughters. We went to Ann Frank 's house and then did a walking tour around the city. Enjoyed the various entertainments provided on the ship and had some excellent food. The best part was spending quality time with my girls. 😊.
Spent Saturday helping ED decorate , a good laugh. Managed a beach walk with youngest today before taking her to the train back to London.
Reality strikes - chemo 3 on Tuesday 😞.
Nevermind off to Ikea tomorrow.
Hope everyone is doing ok. Carol good luck I know you are having number 3 this week too.
Hugs everyone as I actually enjoy a glass, or 2, of my favourite wine. 👍
Jan x

[Daisy63]

Hi ladies it seems very quite on here, how is every one doing X X X 

[Emmajane]

That's great to hear. I had my first one on Thursday its now Saturday I still feel tired u like a hangover just took sickness pill. Good to hear it soon goes xxx

[Coxleonie]

Wow great news Lellie!!
I am mid through my second FEC and also SE weren't any worse just lasted a couple more days. Feeling relatively normal and a bit of a fraud as I can't work... But socialising is a full time job 😁

[em32]

*sal not sale stupid autocorrect x

[em32]

Thanks for your reply sale. I'm feeling great now. Had my first dose two weeks ago and vomited first night just couldn't stop. Saw consultant yest and he said if it's happened once it'll happen again so let's give you other meds to stop it.
I have a picc line it's great not being prodded and poked and my mum cleans it for me (trained nurse). I was advised by consultant to go straight for the picc not only because of getting access with a cannula each time it's the damage chemo can do to your veins.
I'm not cold capping resigned myself to the fact my hair was going before offered cold cap. Chemos tough enough without having to go through another thing in the hope it 'might' help but no guarantees.
Congratulations on your son's exam results lellie and enjoy your bubbles if you can x

[Tulily]

Hi Helen. I used the cold cap on my first session. There were three sizes of caps, the nurse spent a long time finding the right one as, in her words "if you don't get a good fit you may as well not bother". Well the large was too big, the medium didn't come down the sides and back far enough. We decided medium. I didn't tell my nurse as she'd done her best but at the end I'm sure it had ridden up and there were gaps on top. Anyway since then I'm losing hair everyday (which I expected) as its not a definite - I have a lot of hair so people can't tell. It's now driving me crazy and I can't stand not being able to style it and am in fact doing so twice a week but In between it doesn't look good! I'm undecided whether to use again as I'm an all or nothing girl. It does give you a brain freeze every so often and obviously takes longer.

[Lellie]

I think it all depends on your veins. Although mine look good they seem to have quite a lot of valves in them and are quite fragile (I bruise quite easily as confirmed by the large bruise from blood taking yesterday). At least having a PIC line will mean they can take blood through that too.

xx

[Daisy63]

I am on fec I dont have a pic line x

[Sal]

That's great news! Hope the champers goes down well!! Xxxx🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾
Glad your ok too. I don't have a pic line in seems it's you guys having FEC chemo. Xxx

[Lellie]

Hi All,

Second FEC done! Hopefully the SE will be no worse this time. My consultant assured me that the only thing that gets worse is the tiredness so I can cope with that. Had a bit of trouble with my veins today so they have suggested a PIC line would be a good idea, just waiting for an appointment. Anyone else have a PIC line? Had some very good news while they were fiddling about with my cannula (our son passed the last part of his exam to become a surgeon!) that definitely took my mind off what they were doing! He wants to specialise in hips and knees so not much use to me now but who knows what they future holds? Going to try a little Champagne to toast him this evening (in between water+++) and hope it goes down ok. Luckily I didn't feel rubbish until Sunday last time.

Have as good a weekend as possible. Hugs to all xxx

[Sal]

Hi sue
I used some waxing strips as the few stubbly bits left hurt! Good were inventive eh! Glad your ok too after your second one! Hope everyone else ok too xxx

[Daisy63]

Hi ladies, had my second dose yesterday must say i don't feel quite as bad as the first one. i am tired and feel a bit dizzy but i do think its the steroids. 

my daughter is giving me the 5 day course of injections even though she has a needle phobia. i have another one at the end of march.

As for my hair not much left, i got so fed up with the bits coming out i now use a sticky roller i just run it over my hair and collect the hair thats loose. works well. lol lol 

Hope you ladies who had there second dose are ok.

🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺

[Sal]

Hi Emma. Yes everything except my eyelashes. I'm hoping they may stay!! It all very smooth!! Xxxx sorry you were sick how are you today?

[Ali-B]

Hi Helen,

I am 'cold capping' and you can tell if it's not fitting right as you'll notice parts of your head which aren't cold as others. You can pull it down yourself when you are wearing it and/or tell the nurses and they'll also adjust it for you. You'll get the idea when you go for the fitting. 

BBFN

Ali xx

[helen1971]

Have any of you February ladies used the cold cap. Wanting some advice about how you know if the cap is fitting right. I've read that some ladies end of bald patches on top because the cap didn't fit properly. Any advice appreciated. I go for me fitting on 21st March. Thanks Helen x

[em32]

Thanks for your reply x

[Coxleonie]

Falling out all over for me ... Seems to have stopped for the moment though (cycle 2)leaving me bald on top. I daren't shave for fear of in growing hairs/ cutting myself 😁 heard eyebrows/ lashes go at the end but just enjoying every day I have them x

[em32]

Hi all. Had consultant meeting today and he's changed my antisickness meds after uncontrollable vomiting after 1st fec dose. So that's good. Hairs started falling out today. Can I ask you ladies is it just your hair on your head or head to toe hair that's fallen/falling out?

[Angela4]

Bit the bullet and ordered my wig today, I am cold capping but hair still thinning at a rapid rate. day 8 post 2nd FEC and certainly feel more normal but very weak. Been watching YouTube Victoria Derbyshire' s journey through chemo, I can relate to much of it and I reckon I'll cry/sleep for a week when I finish too!!
Angela

[Daisy63]

I put a picture of meself on here think
You can only see it on a l pad or computor lol i sm ok at the
Moment having hot flushes lol and ted wee x x

[Sal]

Your only trying to manage as were normally robust and get on with it! This bloody thing makes it impossible though and those tablets help lots! Mmm yummy pie always good. Hope your ok sue too! xxxx

[Daisy63]

Hi yep your head feels like your pissed and you have not had a drink i hated it the girls on here said it would go and it did its a bloody horrible feeling just keep with it it goes x x

[Emmajane]

Kim I've eaten a wait use pie n roasted veg! Thanks for tip feel less sick and I've pooped another pill was trying to mange why God only knows xxxx

[Emmajane]

Gate

[Emmajane]

I'm share crashing ur thread ladies the March ladies are a bit quieter at ni guess they're struggling... I have cut out caffein is that good?? Altho I think it's not helping my headache lol feel like I'm coming off something 😆

[SLou296]

Hi Everyone, computer issues over the last few days (don't you just hate technology when its not working properly) so haven't been able to get on-line 😞  hope you are all as well as you can be and that the side effects have been few

Sarah xx  

[Emmajane]

Thanks Kim it's like when I was pregnant lol!!!! Xxxxx

[Kim555pink]

I would say so 🙂 I found snacking helped with the sicky feeling - even just half a biscuit. Did this through the night too!!
Xxx

[Emmajane]

Having squash is that ok?? Feel a wee but sick not massively tho. I had a pill at the Hosp xxx

[Kim555pink]

It will probably come and go over the next few days. Keep drinking as much water as you can manage, I drink 2L for 3 days (starting the day before) then try and drink at least a Litre a day, that way I feel better about the junk I'm eating as well!! Xxx

[Emmajane]

So glad I have u ladies xxxxx

[Emmajane]

Thanks Sal! Xxxxxxxx 💗

[Emmajane]

My sister lives in Shrewsbury! Can't sleep how long does the fuzzy headache last?

[Kim555pink]

I'm in Shropshire (south) so my local chemo unit is Shrewsbury which is about an hour's drive up the A49.
Xxx

[Sal]

Yeahhh so glad your ok and first one done! Yeah it feels like a hangover and all a bit fuzzy. You'll feel like it for a few days. Well done on free butty! I got one last time and I got very excited! Glad nurses were fab.
Sue hope your ok too after number 2!
Damn it I never got a yogurt Kim.... I got an NHS biscuit! Hope your all ok!! Emma keep drinking water and pink wee is normal. Take the anti sickness too as they help. Don't worry what you eat over next few days ( as long as it's not walking!) your one down. Xxxxxxxxx

[Emmajane]

Sal I'm ok! Apart from this fizzy head ache but I think that's a symptom oh and my pee was pink lol!!!!! 👏

[Emmajane]

Kim where r u based? I'm in Leicestershire but from Sheffield originally. Xxx

[Emmajane]

My head feels very fuzzy like a mild hangover!!!! Gonna take paracetomol now xxx

[Kim555pink]

Well done Emma! I got a free tuna sandwich and yoghurt last time too - my next one is a 1:30 appt, so I'll miss out, but got the last 2 booked for 11:30 so that'll cover lunch!
I got the drunk feeling afterwards too - all normal! Well as normal as I get!!
Sue - hope all is going well for you too 🙂
Kim xxx

[Emmajane]

D have u taken a pill?? Maybe u need stronger ones one thing I'm determined not to be is a hero and if mine dint work the nurse said get stronger ones from GP!!

[Emmajane]

I'm home and eating toast and drinking tea with a nip of whisky in, my nan swore by it and lived to be 99! Well would it be weird to say I enjoyed it?? The nurses were lovely, I made a new chemo buddy in the next chair n she lives in the next village!! I felt a bit drunk after but apparently that's normal?! Apart from having 3 goes at different veins it was all ok!! And... I got a free egg butty and a yogurt!! Get in!!!!! Xx

[Ali-B]

Hello Ladies,

Re: headwear, I went for a couple of these:

http://www.buffwear.co.uk/buff-adult-headwear/original-buff

They are very soft and lightweight and you can double them up to make a nice snug hat in various configurations. Take a look at the 'how to wear' demo - they really are very soft. I got one slim fit one and one 'original fit' one which is just slightly bigger for conveniance. 

They are also really comfy and you can still use them once your treatment is over!

HTH

Alice

[Daisy63]

Thank you i will, feel quite sick this morning 😫😫
X x

[Sal]

Thinking of you Emma and sue today. Let us know your ok. Xxxxxxxx👍🏼🌟👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼