I've been having such trouble logging in and posting. I tried posting in the breastcancercare forums and had trouble there too - is this a sign I should be avoiding online communities! Anyway, I'm here now. There's lots I wanted to respond to but e main things were to thank you all for your support when I wrote my miserable whiny post. You really helped me pull myself up a bit. And I wanted to add my voice to say to Sacha rose - don't you dare leave us! Just to update ... Things suddenly went really fast! I had the meeting with the chemo nurse on thurs and she said I was beginning chemo the very next day! I wasn't prepared like I had meant to be ... A big shopping list, plans in place, work things I had wanted to have sorted out. Anyway, I spend the first night (FEC) incredibly nauseous and vomiting great quantities. Anti sickness pills clearly not effective. Snce then, tiredness and a slight queasiness but nothing like the first evening. I have something like ME so I'm not sure if my aching and sore throat is to do with that or the chemo. Please remind me - is there worse to come in terms of side effects this round? what will happen when I stop the steroids? The nurse said that was usually hard on people. And will I start feeling rubbish as my blood count drops? I suddenly feel like I dont know what is likely to happen. I am muddled .. And right now, very tired. Steroids woke me at 5. And I'm stressed about managing work and sick leave and everything. But my daughter is being lovely and I am very grateful for that. And my partner is also being lovely, Have to go now .... Sleep. Fingers crossed I will actually be able to post this ...

Hi Pollycat,

Firstly, sorry you had such a horrible time... It will get better & it is do-able. Next time tell your Onc whom I presume you will meet before your next treatment & tell them your s/e's. If they feel the need they will alter your anti sickness meds. Tiredness is what got to me as well but you must listen to your body & do as it asks - Rest, rest & more rest as needed... The worst for me with the steroids was lack of sleep. I norm got around 3 hours a night which really got to me. Well I hope your feeling much better now, make sure & do something really nice & spoil yourself week before your next treatment. It will give you something to look forward to each time. Take care & stay strong... Hope you get good night sleep. ;)

Patricia xxx

Received..... You are back Pollycat. Hope you are reading this post on the morning after a decent nights sleep. My chemo nurse told me to take all my steroids in the morning... Even though the label said 3x a day, she said it would help me get some sleep and I didn't have too many problems. For me FEC 2&3 were better. They changed my anti sickness tablets and whilst I still felt unwell on night 1 I was much better afterwards.Tiredness does increase as you go along, well it had for me, but as long as I could take little breaks, stop and do nothing for a while, I seemed to recover well. On Doxcetacel now and that is a different story..... Maybe some other time !!!! Sleep tight. XxxxX

Hello!

Glad to hear from you but sorry to hear you've had a rough time of it. Sending you lots of virtual HUGS!

xxx