Chemo Cycle 1 not much fun x

3 minute read time.

Hi guys, havn't been on here for a while so thought i'd stop being lazy and update. We had the most fantastic holiday in Italy and it was so what we all needed. I felt completly recovered from the surgeries, relaxed and got a lovely healthy looking tan. Most importantly we had so much fun together as a family. If anybody wants an Italian reccomendation let me know. The only problem was that we had to come home.....Boooo!

6 days later was the 1st chemo, i was nervous but yes not nearly as bad as i expected but still not much fun. The worst part was the steroids i could feel my pulse pounding for the 1st 24 hours, felt spaced out and didnt sleep most of the first night. I didnt fancy 3 more sleepless nights so i only took 1 of the steroid tablets. I felt nausea for the 1st 5 days wasnt actually sick but the yellow anti sickness tabs kept my food sitting in my stomach and just felt that it was going to come back up. So swapped to the others that help empty the stomach quicker sorry cant remember the names. Also the yellow ones gave me Niggling headache for 5 days. Food and drink tasted strange and couldnt think of anything i wanted stopped drinking tea for a week and had hot blackcurrent instead and had loadsa baked beans! Had Jelly mouth day 4 but it settled. Just felt gutted felt fab after hols and now it seems a step backwards.

So i had 5 days of feeling rough and tired not too bad i thought....5 days out of 21 I can cope. Felt back to normal until day 10 (except bad acne evil face spots-steroids again)....Then during world cup final my temp went up, down a bit up again, up again OMG couldnt eat anything not my fav chinese. Watched rest of the footy and tried to go to bed i know i know! I laid there not daring to sleep thinking im going against all they have ever told me so i got up and rang hospital. They told me to come in 1.30 am yawn! Had bloods taken, neutropenic so was admitted on IV antibiotics. Tempreture went quickly but wouldnt let me out until thurs as my neutrophils were Very low 0.13 then 0.16 then 0.12 no infection fighters! They relented and let me out because apart from the counts i was well so came home with oral antibiotics and told to return if felt unwell. (St Jame's hosp Leeds top place). The onc told me that i will have bone marrow injections for rest of chemos to prevent blood going as low as it did and hopefully no more hospital stays. The chemo totally wiped my immunity and she said i must be v sensitive.

HAIR started to come out day 12 and every day since in handfulls. Now on day 18 havnt got much left at all. Think this is happening quicker then it should nurse said id notice something before chemo 2.....understatement of the year id be dead not to notice this. There is hair everywhere even in the mash i was making yesterday rrgghh. My scalp was sore as hell. I would of shaved it all off except i havnt got wig yet..ive been twice but cant find 1 i like ive got 2 more ordered so 3rd time lucky i hope im getting desperate now. Got 2 more school runs to do(hair cling on pls). Ive been brave tho no tears shed id accepted it was going to happen.

I was tired day after i came home from hosp so whilst kids at school i went to bed and woke up 25 mins after school finished OMG dashed there with bed head, parked and forgot to put on handbrake(chemo brain) car rolled slightly into another no damage done and was sooo late nobody saw thank god! Ran into school with big apologies!!

So next chemo meant to be friday but cant see my neutrophils will have risen from 0.12 to acceptable in a week but you never know they might and the rollercoaster will start again.. hopefully a smoother ride this time.

Best wishes to you all xxxxxx

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anonymous
  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    Morning Kate91, well you are one strong lady - please don't let your temp stay up again - ring that h ospital - could be they just save your life.  I didn't bother with wigs as they would have cooked my head - hot sweats are bad enough!  I just bought some nice scarves from Accessorize, couple of hats from Next and off I went.  The wigs I have seen on people in treatment look so obvious I couldn't be asked!   You must get through your treatment - I know the side effects aren't welcome but they are fighting for you.  Good luck with no.2 and keep us blogged.  Oh, I would love to go to Italy it sounds so romantic, maybe one day - if  you can some pics would be nice! Keep well, Ann xx

  • Hi Kate good luck with the rest of the chemo but do take the steroids they can help shrink any tumours or mass that cancer patients get. I did the same as you as I did not like the side effects and got a right telling off from my specialist nurse.

    best wishes

    john

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    Hi Kate

    Glad to hear you had a good holiday, you must tell me more!

    Naughty girl, not taking the steroids, you must, they do give them for a reason.

    I also had a stay at Hotel Jimmy's after 3rd cycle, they are lovely aren't they? Your count can come up quickly, I came out on Mon as 4th chemo due on Thurs. In hospital they told me no chemo that week but when I kept my appointment with onc for the Thurs they decided to give me it. So don't assume you won't get it anyway.

    Remind them about the injections because I was supposed to get them and they forgot and my 5th chemo has been delayed due low counts. Hopefully I get it this Thurs.

    Like Ann I am not bothering with wig, looks so fake, I just wear scarves and hats, even nothing if it suits me, but its not for everyone. Hope you find the right one!

    Good to hear it wasn't as bad as you feared, most things seldom are, are they?

    Wishing you well

    Love Maxine

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    I start my first cycle of TAC chemo on Monday and I am feeling rather nervous. I go on holiday on the following Saturday and my husband is doing the injections so we don't have to worry about finding the local hospital.  .  I feel more nervous about infections as I live on a small holding and also have a four year old son who starts school in Sept.

    Wishing you well

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    Hi Kate,

    Good to see you back. So you had a good holiday in Italy. Never mind the holidays watch your treatment. As Nutcracker said if that temp goes up get to the hospital,or you might not be going on any more Hols. Just Stick to the rules and you will be fine.All the best.

    Take care and be safe.Big Hugs Love Sarsfield.xxx