Starting chemo October 14

[Lah21]

What did the doc give you for indigestion Linzz?  I suffered really badly after my first FEC and now take an Omeprazole capsule every day and haven't suffered since. (Frantically waving about now trying to touch wood).  New York not being re-booked and due to a long boring story wasn't fully insured.  Basically date of booking and call back too close. My surgeon did mention having to sell the house if I went to the States even with insurance.  However as she was telling me I would need chemo at the same time I wasn't really taking it in.  I think a weekend in Portpatrick (beautiful fishing village on the south west coast) is about the height of my ambitions just now but I know it will change.  Had my second hypotheraphy session today.  All geared up to do my St George but dragons not even mentioned this time.  I am not sleeping due to anxiety so it was all about sleep and not being anxious.  In the midst of all this two workman were ripping up the floor in the room next door.  The therapist just kept talking louder and louder to try to cover the noise.  I don't know how the sleeping will go tonight but I certainly heard some choice language when I was under. The workmen were certainly very graphic in their description of what they were doing.  I am a youth worker so used to a certain about of swearing but this was something else. Just hope hasn't imprinted on my brain.  Must admit wanted to swear very loudly and strongly at the next person in the hospital at the weekend who lowered their voice to talk about the lady in bed 54 with BREAST CANCER!!! One day I will be able to look back at some of this and laugh.....  Please someone agree with me.xxx

[Peta]

Hi Anx56

It's good to see you back here, I'm glad you are feeling a bit better. The first week post chemo is hard isn't it? Are you sticking with FEC all the way through or switching to T?

The gaps between treatments seem to get shorter - I'm in for the next a week on Friday, it seems like I'm only just coming out of the fog of the last one.

Still, I move house two weeks tomorrow! Something nice to look forward to, a proper bed! A bath!

Hope your week continues to go as well as possible pork crackling ladies. Xx

[anx56]

Hi everyone just popped back after a good few days off radar but feeling much better now!  Sorry to hear about those of you that have suffered this week and those who have ended up in hospital, really hope everyone feeling much better.  Next treatment isnt til next fri but starting to think about it already dont want it to spoil any good days I have coming, but just seems like such a long road ahead.  Hoping to do some dreaded christmas shopping this week but feel so tired! 

Love and hugs to all having treatment this week and those getting over last session xxx

[Linzz]

FEC3 yesterday and I suffered all night with the the worst indigestion ever, despite taking the two prescription meds my GP gave me. Yuck.

Yesterday in the unit I was talking to a chap about insurance for trips. To put into context this his not his first fight with cancer and I think is on on-going "comfort chemo", unlike us lot first timers who have an end date for treatment in sight. But nevertheless I think it is something we should all take into consideration - he was quoted, for insurance cover for a one week trip to Florida - £29,500

To anyone thinking about booking a trip out there I'd say definately get a quote first from a specialist company. And perhaps replace NY dreams with somewhere equally iconic like Paris or Venice for the timebeing!

A friend is getting married in Vegas next year and everyone is invited. After hearing that chap's quote I don't think I'll even put myself through the bother of getting a quote (painful going through questions about your health and especially prognosis) and just give my apologies for the trip.

[LainieG]

GeeG Hope your cold 's better and you haven't caught the trots from your OH and your dog. You even make illness sound funny!! Seriously tho hope you're better soon.
Lah21 what a shame you've been having such a hard time. Don't feel foolish about the cramp. It could've been a DVT and its better to be safe than sorry in this situation. It's rubbish that you were labelled in hospital. I suppose they don't think do they? Is your trip to NY being cancelled or are you rebooking?
Xxx

[bettypoppit]

Oh 'Greg', are you a writer? I just love your turn of phrase and your positive vibes. thank you from the bottom of my heart for bringing a smile, giggle and smirk to my life 🙂 xxxx. I should add mind that I'm truely sorry you have had such a rough few days.. dodging and dealing with all sorts if nasties and I hope you have survived overnight with an acceptable temperature. Hugs xxx

Lah21, glad your scare wasn't DVT .... cramp is by far the better ailment and no matter it took some consultant to decide, they are ordinary ppl just with learning and experience in a particular field..not demi gods.. so I'd say nowt to be feeling foolish about 🙂 ..not nice and insensitive how they labeled you, they should know better! I guess for staff it all becomes a numbers game and they forget that it's ppl they are dealing with. Shame tho. Agree we are lucky to have this group - I recon I would have gone to ground without it!

Hoping today is an improvement for us all 🙂 xxxxx

[Lah21]

Morning Ladies.  Not been on for a while so just catching up on everybodies posts. Alot of things to think about.  I should have been off to New York on the 8th Dec.  Never had any desire to go to the States apart from NY.  A couple of girlfriends and I had been saving for four years to go to celebrate their significant birthday. Side effect wise thought was getting off quite lightly this time.  Oh how wrong I can be.  Been climbing the walls for days.  Ended up in hospital on Friday with suspected DVT.  Was all set for a stay but by some fluke there was a consultant still on the premises at 7.30pm on a Friday evening and I got sent home feeling rather foolish because they decided it was cramp. What I found the most upsetting was the way the staff kept referring to me as the lady with breast cancer.  I felt such a object of pity. I do like the idea of getting a baldie/spikey posse together to sort certain people out. I was reading a post on the November thread from a lady from Sweden who had joined them as she could not find this kind of support in her own country.  Feel so lucky to be with you all.xxx

[geeG]

Count me in for the posse too - also with the Pork Crackling Head-Look! In addition I shall be wearing a facemask until I meet your ex - then I'll take it off to give him my cold ( so make sure you have left the room before I get there!) - by the way - you'll be needing a Rather Large Room AMDriver! Hope you'll get the Cookbooks out for us coming round… as a reluctant cook I always appreciate home cooked goodies!

Finished work early today re this cold - great to get the things done I intended before The Big Boss comes back tomorrow - but sore head, sore eyes and all other usual Upper Respiratory Tract Infection signs and symptoms were beginning to take over - tho temp staying less than 37.5 so far (and hoping…) … will see how I am in the morning but suspect I may be back to bed tomorrow… with OH having the trots right thru the w/e, then dog getting same yesterday, we've been a barrel of laughs for the w/e - luckily we have a spare room so I put some (overnight) distance between us in hopes of avoiding trots as well… so far so good… 🙂

Meantime I hope our neutrophils are rallying (especially for blood test pre chemo) and that all SEs are as minimal as possible and in full retreat… sleep well Ladies - and hugz… x x x

[nicnac15]

Hello ladies not been on here for a while so ive got a lot of reading to do and catch up. I attempted one night away with ny kids and hubby not too far away but had to cone back early due to my ongoing problems with constant bleeding. Last night taken to a and e and gynae ward for checks and given tablets called tramax acid i think, but got to check with oncolgy this morning to see if i can have them they did let me home which is one good thing i suppose so stuck in bed at mo. Getting me really down as cant do anything or take the kids to school.

Welcome home jingo theres nothing better than being in your own bed. Xx

Nice to see some of you are booking holidays i cant wait to do that i had to cancel my holidays this year aug i was taking the kids to majorca but had surgery 3 weeks before i was due to go and on the 26 dec was going to cuba and cant go due to chemo gutted. But i will rebook as soon as i can i bloomin need a holiday in the sun. Keep going ladies were strong and tough we will get through this xxxx

[Debtex]

Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while having treatment with docetaxel as it can make the side effects worse.
Just seen above on cancer research site xx

[AMDriver]

Thank you to all the ladies in my Posse - it's really cheered me up!

Going to start tomorrow with a more positive attitude.

Murphy, hope that things get better this week...... and to all you lovely ladies with treatment this week - may the force be with with you and get you through it...

xxx

[Murphy1963]

AMDriver, defo count me in as part of the scary posse. What a horrible, horrible man, to kick you when you are already down. How can someone live with the guilt of doing this, it beggars belief. You are well rid, that's all I can say.

After my lumpectomy in august, and before I knew I would need chemo, I booked a big family holiday to turkey in July. My oh and son (9), my daughter her daughter, my mum and her friend and my brother, his oh and his two daughters. I am so looking forward to it. I know I won't be able to do my usual lying about the pool sunbathing all day, but I'll be able to sit in the shade and will enjoy the normality of it all. My rads will be finished in February so there's 4 months in between. Wonder if I'll have hair by then?!?!

Hope everyone has had as good a weekend as they possibly could. I have to say I feel knackered, I just haven't got back to feeling 100% normal this cycle. I just keep thinking if this is how I feel after 3, what am I going to feel like after 6!!

My 4th fec coming up on Wednesday. Looking forward to getting it over and done with. I'm having fec right the way through but I think quite a lot of you are changing this time. I've heard the se are slightly different to the fec. We're getting through this peeps 🙂

Love and hugs to all xxxxxx

[bettypoppit]

I'm defo joining the bald and spiky posse too 🙂 xxxx

[Linzz]

AmDriver having surgery after the chemo means you will get exact news of how much the nasty shrunk as a guide to how effective the chemo was - I'd say that's a good thing

Sounds like you are well rid of your bloke, your fresh start after treatment really will be fresh without him.  Everyone who knows him must now know what a [insert expletive of choice here] he is.  And by the way sign me up for the scary, bald (spiky) posse!

[LainieG]

AMDriver so sorry to hear you're so down. What a horrible man to dump you at that time. I'll definitely join the posse to go sort him out. I'm very scary looking right now with a patchy head and my right eyebrow is half gone lol. Your cancer is shrinking so you have less and less cancer after each treatment so think of it like that. Plan that party! It's a nice thank you to all the friends and family who gave stuck around to support you. I'm impressed will the all the cooks in our group. I'm useless in the kitchen. My son is a chef as well. Don't know where he got the cooking gene lol. 😊😊

[bettypoppit]

Oh AMDriver, what a despicable and cruel thing to do ...pardon my bluntness, but once you are comming out this bc rubbish next year, i hope you get to kick your heals and gesticulate in his general nasty direction!!!! No comfort I'm sure, but I have heard this happen to others - an old work colleague in fact last year, and I REALLY cannot get my head around it 😞 😞 😞 Enough said, true friends and family about you are what you need and what you have 🙂 :). Party planning.. Mmmmm food....way to go :). Junash is also spot on, your BC is shrinking and we're already well on the way to next year. Xxxxxxx

Zelda, well done you for getting out with poppy....day 7 for me and exactly like cycle 2, I can hardly move today I'm sooooo exhausted and fed up of feeling such a lazy woos! I know, it's the se & the chemo moody blues so ignore me ladies! Spain sounds great...small steps get you to the top of the mountain, so you can do it 🙂

Eyebrows and eyelashes holding on.....just mind 😉

Looking forward to meatloaf for supper....OH just a bit annoyed as he had to mix and is now cooking it! Lolololol. He'll survive 😉 xxxxxxxx

[AMDriver]

You could say that Peta! Not the kindest thing and coming 2 weeks after I lost my job - then the diagnosis 3 weeks later - it was a triple whammy.

The thought of everyone turning up with various hairstyles and sorting him out is most appealing though and made me laugh for the first time in a while!

I'll ask about going away between chemo and surgery but have been lead to believe that there will not be much time between the two.

So far on the food front I'm thinking a lamb roast (get a man in to do that) with a variety of salads and loads of delicious desserts (I'm best at cooking those but need to choose what to do!)

Loving the pork crackling analogy!

xxx

[Peta]

Hi everyone

Iwas feeling blue earlier in the week AMdriver, the first week of chemo seems to do that to me, I think day 4 is my worst. I'm on day 8 now, so starting to pick up a bit. I hope you feel better soon too. Your partner dumped you between referral and diagnosis? That isn't the kindess thing to do is it? Blimey. Do you want us girls to go round and sort them out? I think we probably looked suitably scary. 😉 You definitely do find out who your friends are with this one. I hope you can go away with some of your lovely friends and family instead, maybe you can do a break between chemo and surgery? Tell me about your party food too when you decide what you're cooking, I love cooking and thinking about food. Xxx

Oh and,

My hair is growing a bit, I have very blond spiky bits poking up between the bald shiny bits. My husband says that I look just like a bit of pork crackling. 😄

[Zelda]

Hi Ladies Having read the comments I too have felt low during this treatment and it lasted until I managed to get myself out of the house I wonder if it is a side effect. As regarding holidays I have a son that lives in Spain but I'm not sure about booking a holiday in advance because I will be having Herceptin every three weeks and I would have to get the timing right. Not sure about insurance,it's something I will look into.
Hope all you ladies are having as good a weekend as possible, myself just walked Poppy otherwise its a quite weekend.xx

[Junash]

AMDriver - that sucks and I'm sorry that you're down but bloody perfectly understandable.

Your cancer is shrinking and February isn't far away - hang on in there.

Has anyone heard from Sue recently? Have I missed a post from her? Xx

[Junash]

That's great - we HAD not HAVE - I'm using that.

Talking of hols - I've booked flights to Portugal for May - maybe a little early so I'll change flights if necessary. We have a tiny apartment there so it's 2nd home so I can just chill!!!! Need to be sitting in the shade at the beach bar sipping a sangria - that thought keeps me going. Have never been to Valletta but have heard good things. If we haven't won the lottery for Mauritius there is always Portugal :-). All welcome. Especially looking at the weather today!!!

[AMDriver]

Hi Ladies

Back from a couple of really poor days, down in the dumps and totally fed up of being out of control of my life.

I've been looking at all the holiday talk and wishing I had an OH - mine dumped me after 9 years between referral and diagnosis - it would be so nice to have something like that to look forward to.

I'd also like to say I "had cancer" but unfortunately my chemo is neoadjuvant and I won't have my surgery till February so I still have to say I "have cancer".

This is all so dark and miserable that I have  decided to plan a party for all my family and friends who have been helping me through this grim time. That should give me something to look forward to and time to decide what to cook etc.

I hope you are all feeling well and are going to have a good week

xx

[bettypoppit]

Oh yes LainieG, loving the 'had' and 'preventing a recurrance' and 'not fighting the disease' xx

[LainieG]

Hi Linzz nice to hear from you. I think it's a great idea to book a holiday. It's something to look forward to and something to think about other than bc and chemo. We're all getting so depressed with the constant rounds of treatment and SEs that we need something fun to focus on. Hope you have a fab time.
Jingo my OH has been telling me for a while that I don't "have" I "had" breast cancer and it does make me feel a bit better. Much better to think of it in the past tense and the treatment feels more like a positive process as it's preventing a recurrence, not fighting the disease. It's not always possible to be positive obviously, especially when in the midst of SEs but I find it does help. Glad you're feeling a bit better.
Love and hugs to everyone whether having treatment this week, suffering SEs or in a "good week". Hope to get back in the thick of it with you all this week. 💖💖

[bettypoppit]

Hi Linzz, lovely to hear from you and FAB idea to book a lovely escape to look forward too...."seizing the day" is THE thing to do I now think...truely believe in fact :). I'm getting on with learning to bake scrummy pretty cakes.. not quite 'Bake Off' more, farm house kitchen.. I love cooking but not following recipes always challenged my baking efforts, unsurprisingly. Well, it is a tiny thing but I have made 12 mini cakes on Friday...took all morning and ALL my energy, but I'm chuffed as they aren't bad. From acorns come mighty oaks 😉 Comforting thing to do too. mind I could have done without OH's complaint about the lack of buttercream. I had run out of energy so it was tough! I'm hoping to remember of other things I've wanted to do and had put on the 'when I retire list' to get cracking with, when the chemo fog and utter fatigue that has enveloped me dissipates 🙂 I just know I need to go to 'that big French palace outside Paris with mirrors' at some point....just wish I could drag the name from my memory!!!!! lololol

I'm just loving all the great posts from you lovely ladies and getting the low downs on what's occurring. Hope all that are under the weather more than most are on the up and feeling the <<<<< BIG HUGS>>>>> I'm sending you xxxxxx

Heading for another low cal fizzy orange and soda now, ONLY thing I can taste and drink!

[jingo_x]

Hi Linzz - I know what you mean about OH bag-packing - I asked for a couple of t-shirts and some underwear and he managed to bring in a top that I thought I had lost as I hadn't seen it for 6 months.  Can't imagine how he even found it!

Good for you booking a holiday I thnk it's important to plan stuff, not just to look forward to, but also to be doing something normal and putting things in the diary that arent hospital appointments. I am about to be even more foolish and book flights for the end of March.  I think my own deadline is a bit tight but by September I am sure you will be raring to go!

BTW ladies I was talking to a nurse in hospital this week who asked me what was wrong with me - I found myself saying  'I have breast cancer...well actually I suppose you could say I HAD breast cancer seeing as it has been taken out now and I don't even have a breast'. In theory it is the surgery that eliminates the cancer and the chemo that stops it coming back I think, so I have decided that going forward I might start saying 'I had' breast cancer see if it makes me feel any better!

Petran - nice to 'meet' you, thanks for hopping over and hope you find our thread useful!  Whilst I was lying in hospital the last couple of days I decided that this pain in my scars and surgery areas is logical because this chemo attacks dividing cells and I assume that where the skin is healing and repairing the cells are more active and dividng more than in our 'normal' skin, so maybe thats why it gets aggraveated. 

Was good to be in my own bed last night but at 9pm I found myself in agony with lower back pain - not an ache but a sharp throbbing pain all across my back.  Was worried I might have to go back to A&E again but at 2am I caved in and took paracetamol and it eased right off so I think this must have been the SE pain that I had been waiting for with Tax.  Who knows!  I hope it was my bone marrow churning out lots of white bllod cells 🙂

Sorry bit of a rambling post, but feeling a lot better today, hope everyone else is having a SE minimal day xx

[Linzz]

So glad to hear you are home Jingo! After reading about Lainie's epic admission I have been living in fear of getting a sore throat or a temp. Good to know it IS possible to only be in for a short while. Though I know even a short while is hard to deal with. It is my personal goal never to spend another night in hospital, EVER. Yep... not very realistic, but one can hope! Good idea about keeping a go-bag packed though. My OH had to bring me a bag when I had my car accident and he brought all sorts of random things he felt were essential, including my full set of "going-out makeup". Not sure what he was thinking!

After our discussions about "seizing the day" I have gone and tempted fate - I have booked a holiday for next September. I was going to hold off until after treatment, but I saw that the apartment in Valletta that we've had very happy holidays in previously was available AND that there were very cheap flights... so I just had to book it. What's the worst that can happen? NOBODY answer that please! My only real concern is insurance, but I'm already covered for everything except the BC with my annual policy plus the EHIC card covers Malta. I always love having trips to look forward to, and although this one is a long way off that will hopefully mean that I am well over any long-lasting SE's like fatigue. I sure won't have a beach ready figure so it's just as well I'm more of a tramping about the place and visiting museums type. I am also hoping I might have enough hair by then for a short, funky holiday do 

It is fair to say I am VERY fed up with this treatment nonsense; I just want it to be over and get back to my life.

[Petran]

Hi Anx! I'm in the November group but taking a peak in here as well! I had my first FEC Monday (on day 7 tomorrow) and I've been having lots of pain and tightness in the scaring and healing areas of my surgeries. My guess was that it could be SE from my Neulasta shot that was more prominent in sensitive and injured area. Supposedly muscle pain is one of the SEs. My BCN said it might be the case when I suggested. I'll make sure to ask onc as well. Just wanted to let you know you aren't the only one 🙂
Take care XX

[Junash]

GeeG - I love your posts they make me smile :-). Am taking my beanie off to you as well - but am nagging you, along with the others, to take it easy!

Jingo hope you're snuggled down in your own bed catching some Zzzzz - welcome home.

today I've had a constant drippy nose, twitchy eye and a soapy mouth - chemo really is the gift that keeps on giving. Got a meet with my oncologist on Thursday to chat about the T part of chemo, Jingo has given me some reassurance by her SE so far - also want to ask him timeframe for next part of treatment - so great to be even talking about treatment after chemo - half way through 🙂

Night all xx

[geeG]

I remember from school chemistry that charcoal 'adsorbs' gases/smells/colours - (I think this means the gas molecules kinda stick to the charcoal - so get rid of 'noxious odours'! )… I checked with 2 different chemo nurses who both said these are ok to use - get them from larger Boots stores.
Jingo and Lainie - So glad you are both home this w/e!
Bettypoppit, Junash and Sorbet - how are y'all so brilliant at keeping up with us all? I would take my hat off to yous - but my head gets cold without it!
Peta, Linzz, Anx56 - and Everyone Else I have missed - so glad yous are all here on this thread - and I know some of us keep our heads down sometimes, or don't get here as often as we would like, or don't think we have anything to say - we are all important to each other, and both inform and encourage one another in ways we just don't realise…
Thank Y'All … hugs… x

[bettypoppit]

Jingo_x, wooo hooo welcome home and enjoy your own bed tonight xxx 🙂 🙂 🙂

[LainieG]

Hi Jingo so glad you got out of hospital. There's nothing like your own bed is there? Poor you being there while having SEs too. At least I was past that when I was in. That must've been horrible.
GeeG I agree that you've been doing too much. You need to try to rest more. I know that's easier said than done but your poor body can only take so much. Hope you start to feel better soon. Xxx

[jingo_x]

Hello Ladies

happy to say I got let out early for good behaviour, so have been switched to antibiotic tablets and will be sleeping in my own bed again.  God that was a long two days!  

Tricky with SEs too as I realise I need to be able to wander around the kitchen sniffing things before I know what I want to eat! not something you can do in hospital, and poor OH had to bring in a load of bits for my SEs, mouthwash, hand cream, eye drops etc.  Have decided to keep a bag packed for the next few months in case I need to go in again.

Apart form my ongoing sore throat I am feeling ok - as usual a bit tearful on day 6, have finished injections, tablets etc so have two weeks to get prepared for the next cycle now.

GeeG hope the throat gets better xx

[bettypoppit]

Hi 'Greg' ;), you too then....albeit only occasionally... not the geezer going on here tho 😉 !!! I'm sorry to hear you're fed up, but you have done SUCH a lot! Maybe a little too much maybe?!!! It's really difficult to just sit around, although that is pretty much what I've been up too this week. Miserable also if your OH is off side too 😞 mine works shifts, so is mostly sleeping in the spare room...although I suspect that he doesn't want the disruption of my insides keeping him awake ;). Gets a bit lonely (except for lurcher girl keeping me snuggled) but I'm soooo not sleeping its the best thing really. What are charcoal tabs and where from may I ask? ....used to give charcoal biscuits to my first dog! Loving the "demoralise an angel "...such a way with words 🙂 xxx

Jingo, wondering how you are doing and fingers crossed you will be on your way home tomorrow xxx

Sweet chilli chicken noodles tonight....hoping to get moments of something other than soapy taste in my mouth....yumm

Take care lovely ladies xxxxx

[bettypoppit]

And40, I'm sooooo relieved it's not just my se...I was really beginning to think how VERY weird my body is lolol Thank you for putting me out of my bemused misery 🙂 I would really be interested to know what's what, but it has always been at the bottom of my 'ask onc' list at my reviews and to be honest, I always wimp out!!! I wait with baited breath. Fantastic that you are on the home straight now and thanks sooooo much for dropping by 🙂

[geeG]

Hi Ladies - bit low this w/e - had a really good week & did 4 full days at work! - but now have a sore throat and watching my temperature… 37.4 last night but 37.2 this morning - yay! - OH has been off work with the runs… luckily we have a spare room so I could breathe fresher air (LoL!) - keeping everything crossed meantime… he seems to be making progress today… bubbling brook catches me too occasionally - which is a bit disconcerting! … also nail beds get a bit red and damage easily… and the eyesight focus is often iffy… falling apart - LoL… but mostly it is the noxious flatulence… charcoal tablets help brilliantly ( but stick in your teeth if you chew them!) … and it is a great relief to get to the end of my second week of the cycle and find the guts getting back to usual behaviour… taking laxatives to try and maintain some 'regularity' in function does not feel good… all in all I guess these are things that we will all get to move on from … but just now these SEs would demoralise an Angel…
Making myself have a quiet w/e … (after doing 3 lots of washing, ironing and shopping - LoL!) … so feet up in front of TV… cat on lap … OH on sofa … dog working her way thru a new fibrous jumbone sort of thing…
Hugs and all very best wishes for minimal SEs… and more hugs… 'Greg'… x x x

[And40]

 Hi Bettypoppit

Just jumping in from the August thread if that's ok.

I just wanted you to know that you are not on your own.  I too have the bubbling garden gate!

I had my last chemo on Wednesday and all the way through after each one I've had quite a lot of bubbling.  At first it kept me awake at night!  I've also had a lot of noisy wind through the gate too.  Only yesterday just walking across the living room, there was quite a lot of  wind.

I see my oncologist on Thursday so I'll ask her about it.  I'll let you know what she says.  A very weird SE!

Take care to you and all the ladies here.

xx

[bettypoppit]

Oh dear, yes Murphy seems only to be me blowing bubbles 😉 lolol

Glad you have managed to get out with poppy Zelda, I'm totally pooped too!!!!

Great idea - that has escaped me, sucking sweets. 🙂

Let's hope we all have an OK weekend with minimal se xxxxx

[Junash]

Twitchy eye on and off for a week - didn't occur to me treatment related, also thought contact lens perscription needs updating as things not as sharp.

Soapy taste is awful this time around, only goes when food in mouth - am getting through sucky sweets like no tomorrow.

Zelda hope you get some relief for sore arm

Betty are you still bubbling - think you're the only one with extra special side effect 🙂

Hope everyone has a nice evening - IACGMOOH beckoning along with a can of Guinness - rock n roll xx

[Murphy1963]

Interesting, the eye thing must be another side effect. I'll mention it on tues when I have appointment with oncologist.

Bettypoppit, I've not had the lady garden babbling, sorry!!! You made me smile tho, but I hope it's not too bad for you. Was it you who had the problem before, I can't remember?

Spaghetti bols done and dusted. I think it was good but if I'd blindfolded myself I would never have known what I was eating. Taste buds to pot 😞

[Zelda]

Hi Bettypoppit Feeling a lot better thanks been for a walk with Poppy but haven't strayed far from home getting a bit bored now but still getting tired. My arm is still painful and stiff I'm rubbing the gel on it , hope it recovers before the next treatment but I fear my veins arnt to good. Hope your side effects are minimal xx

[LainieG]

I've noticed the eyesight problem too. It comes and goes. Some days I can't focus when trying to read. I wear glasses for distance. Reading has never been a problem before.
Sorry Bettypoppit I've not noticed the babbling Brook lol. Xxx
Hope everyone is ok and not suffering too many SEs today xxx

[bettypoppit]

Hi Murphy, great to hear your doing well and I'm trying to up my iron intake with spinach and black pudding....yumm 🙂

Strange you should mention eyesight as today I feel like I cannot focus on any text for longer than a mini micro nano second!!!!

Worse se for me now and probably for a good few days yet is the absolutely VILE soapy taste in my mouth, yak, yak, yak....cannot get rid and it's getting me a bit down....eating far too much rubbish - grazing now - in an attempt to mask it!!!! Will defo be needing to get back onto 5:2 diet at the end of this!!!

Also, without wishing to put any of you lovely ladies of your T or supper tonight.... am I really the only one suffering from a babbling brook at the lady garden gate ? If you get my drift. it too is driving me mad! 😉 lololol

Hi Jingo, thinking of you xxx

Zelda, how you doing....arm any more comfortable?xxx

PETA, hope you got your trip out into the big wide yonder and are planning your new garden xxx

[Peta]

Murphy - eyesight changes, yes.

My eyes are getting much more sore and I think the focus has changed. I just wear reading glasses.

Hope this helps. x

[Murphy1963]

Hi jingo, so sorry to hear you've ended up in hospital. Hopefully you'll get out on Sunday as they've said. Just rest relax and get better xxx

Hope everyone else are ok. Was interesting to read all your thoughts about the future. I feel differently each day, depending on my mood. This week has gone so quick, do you all find this is all going so quickly?

I went into work for a quick visit yesterday. It was great to see everyone and sit at my desk for a wee while. It all seemed so normal, just like the old days. Can't wait to go back. My poor pouches won't know what's hit them after having me here since august. My pup is only 10 months old so he's had his mum home all day just as much as he's not had me here, so I think he'll really struggle. It'll be new routines all round but for good reasons.

I am craving red meat, I have done from the beginning of chemo but particularly this week I just think about red meat all the time.

Anyone else feel their eye sight is getting worse? Don't know if it's a se or just an age thing but my eye sight is really struggling.

I'm off to make spaghetti bolognaise, my mouth is watering at the thought 🙂 my appetite been back with a vengeance this week.

Love and hugs everyone xxxxxxxxxx

[bettypoppit]

Hi Jingo, really sorry to hear you have succumbed to the dreaded infection, but as LainieG says at least you aren't neutropenic and fingers well & truely crossed you'll be heading home very soon. Do let us know how you are doing xxx

[Zelda]

Jingo Sorry you are in Hospital and get well soon it's good to know you felt ok after Doxetaxol as that's my next poison.
9 days after Fec for me eating much better and walked my dog Poppy although still feel tired but The Oncolgist said its common to feel more tired as you progress to the end of the treatment,well I'm only in the middle.Have a sore gum today by one of my teeth fingers crossed I don't get an infection.
Hope everyone else is ok today xxx

[jingo_x]

Thanks for your wishes ladies.
I had my first Docetaxol on Monday so day 5 for me. Now I know I am in hospital but have to say that on balance this is the best I've felt during treatment week, so there is some hope for us all!
Everything I thought was a side effect was really the infection so now I am on antibiotics I feel ok, apart from a sore throat (probably the source of the infection). So next time around I need to avoid the infection 🙂

[Junash]

Agh jingo - sorry you're in hosp but home soon thankfully!

You've all written so eloquently about fears of reoccurrence and those dark moments - I'm so trying to appreciate all the good things but some days I fail and revert to my grumpy irritable self - step at a time. Maybe I'm waiting for an epiphany or something? Feel like this breast cancer journey should be a life lesson but at the mo I'm not getting it ?? Sorry I'm rambling!!

Now about Mauritius, can we wait till a little later in the year as i need to lose a few stone before I'm beach ready - also perky reconstructed C cup boobie is still in the shade of pendulous H cup boobie - so swimwear is tricky 🙂

breast surgeon reckons op beginning of feb followed by radiotherapy for 5 weeks........ I was thinking finishing treatment by Easter but not so sure now? We'll get there!!

Love to all you gorgeous ladies xx

[Peta]

Hi Jingo

Sorry to hear that you're in hospital, I hope you get out soon. I was thinking of you this morning and wondering how you were feeling on the T, it's just over a week since you had it isn't it? I hope you're not having too many other side effects. Get well soon.

I'm on day 7 post chemo and I've got the chemo blues! I've been bursting into tears at the drop of a hat like I was a 14 year old girl - it's really weird. I'm not normally like this. Anything anyone says, even something nice is likely to set me off, I just well up. 😂

So I'm going to try to go out later, husband is working from home today so I have to wait for him to finish up, no idea where to go as it's not very nice walking weather today, but I thought maybe something slightly indoorsy like the garden centre. I don't actually have a garden yet (I move in 3 weeks time!) but poking around the plants sounds doable.

I hope you're all having a good day and are up to nice things.