Wednesday 10th January day 7 after EC infusion

3 minute read time.

Well today I'm going to try and speak to my tablet because it's easier than typing. I didn't sleep too bad again last night after taking a Phenergan after my injection, I even managed to stay up until 9:00pm but only just yippee.

Managed to eat some porridge this morning and it actually had quite a nice texture little bit of taste but at least texture is something. My husband's gone off to play bowls this morning which will do him good giving a break from me he is such a love, it will be our 40th wedding anniversaryin Jul. Fingers crossed we can celebrate. I just feel its so much for both of us especially after his big op in May and my elderly parents not being good either.

I have a friend coming around later for coffee and to try and help me sort out the sewing machine which I've never used but since being diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer maybe it's time as started doing some crafts I've taught myself via YouTube how to crochet well anyway the granny square atleast.. 

I'm still trying to get used to the picc line which is in my right arm and being right-handed is a bit of a pain but I'm sure by the time I come from my second chemo in a week's time hopefully it's settled down and not so noticeable. It's really sore where my dressing has been changed three times since the initial picc line insertion because of bleeding on the day of my chemo, I had an extra dressing change. 

It would be nice if others that are reading this and have pick lines and the same sort of treatment could tell me how they felt. So far apart from being a bit tired probably feeling sorry for myself and losing most of my sense of taste I've felt fine. I suppose tiredness is one of the main things and I'm glad I haven't had vomiting yet. I have found I've been constipated but took stuff yesterday and today I seem fine.

My hair although hasn't fallen out yet does look very sorry for itself I've told my husband I want to take it off but he said just wait a bit longer he can wash and brush it for me while I still got it. I have a couple wigs one which is pink and his favorite Plus some bandanas and headbands to change the looks. I really struggled this morning to wash, brush my hair and clean my teeth today, I sat down in the bathroom to do it. I put a little eye make-up on but that's all.

We are going to visit my parents later on as I've not seen them in 9 days and it's Mum's birthday tomorrow but today it's a better day for me to visit because I won't know what I'll be like tomorrow. It's beautiful here today the sun shining but I think it's quite chilly but I don't care it's not raining it's better if it's not raining makes me feel better seeing the sunshine and watching the birds in the garden.

My husband took me over to visit my parents this afternoon, we stayed a lot longer than I was expecting, it was lovely to see them and I could put their minds at rest a bit as they were worried about what was going to happen to their little girl. I left with 2 pkts licorice allsorts and a bottle of Bombay Sapphire Sweat smile

Just had beens and sausages on toast, with brown sauce and happily I could taste it a little. Banana and yoghurt for pudding.

I will try sleeping without the aid of Phenegran tonight as your not supposed to take for long  as your body just gets used to them. 

Injection time soon approaching, let's hope all the horrid side effects that ppl mention still stay away from me. I am feeling really lucky at the moment, unless it's only the bad things that people ever mention. 

Have uploaded a picture of my crochet so far. I'm feeling quite proud of it. 

Thank you anyone that reads my blog, I'll update again tomorrow. Love and hugs to you all xx

Anonymous
  • Hi Alison, me again! Grin

    Just to share my experience with the PICC line, I really struggled with it for 7-8 days, pain everywhere around it, shoulder,  back, that side of my chest, etc. It's also on my right and I'm right handed like you. Not sure if it was just a coincidence,  but 2 days after the last injection,  around day 9-10 I started feeling much better pain wise, sickness/acid reflux and even the PICC seemed to start getting better. I still have a bit of a light itch in the area but that's just the dressing and the weekly changes I guess.

    I really hope yours gets better soon too!

    Ps. Love your crochet!

  • Hi Jess, thanks for the info about your picc. So if my cycle follows similar to yours hopefully by the end of the weekend things will all be settled. Did you lose taste too? Mines bit better tonight. 

    My picc this morning, where the dressings been moved is still a little sore

  • Hello, everyone's cancer is different, I have been told! I opted to not have a pic line and had tablets instead (four three week cycles, hospital drip session, 14 days of pills, 6 days off and repeat) I was squeamish about the pic line. But the pills were no picnic and I truly hated them by the end of the three month treatment. While I can't share experience of pic lines, I can share that my appetite was affected quite markedly. I developed many food aversions and my advice on that, is eat what appeals - hopefully something will! I mainly ate 'beige' food for three months; poached eggs were a staple for me. I could not eat fruit but some cooked veg were just fine - shepherds pie was pretty good. The food aversions did get worse at the very end. Do talk with your specialist nurses, they can help and if nothing else,, it can feel reassuring to (literally!) share the pain!  Good luck, I hope the chemo is bearable and works for you.

  • Hi Dignahtee

    Beige food can be good, sometimes. I find yoghurt goes down really well, plus I am trying to eat high protein, calcium, snacks. If I  concentrate on the texture, and hot cold etc rather than the flavours it make a totally different experience eating. I haven't had any caffeine and have some nice herbal teas that I can actually still taste.I will ask about build up supplements if it gets to a point where I just don't want to eat.

    I suppose having tablets can be really had going especially if you start feeling sick as you don't know what's got in your system and what hasn't. 

    I'm expecting things to hit the fan sometime sooner or later, but I'm trying to keep positive. 

    Big  hugs xx

  • Oh bless you, that looks sore, I hope it heals soon. Mine is now clear and the buising is gone, I had it put on on the 27th December. The pain is also gone in the area, so hopefully it will go the same way for you.

    I had my second chemo cycle yesterday,  and wanted to share that so far I feel way better than last time. I never fully lost taste but I got food aversion to some things but by day 10 I was able to eat them again, still think it could be the injections,  when do you get your last one, was it yesterday?

    Jess xxx