thanks everyone

Hi Mariscotia

You are indeed brave as you are facing what is a very difficult situation head on and managing it as best you can !

Chemo is really rough on some people . My mum detested the tablets too and so big ! However you did exactly the right thing reaching out to your team . Getting the balance improved for some people takes a bit of time but they will work with you to achieve that . My mum despite it being rotten , with the help of her team made it through two years of treatment but it took time .

I hope today is better for you but I think it’s great you took charge of it and sought intervention. 

My mum found fluids really hard so instead of drinking a glass of water which often came straight back up we encouraged her to just take very small sips out of a bottle gradually over the morning . Not only could we then see how much she was taking but it stopped her dehydrating, we had already found out the hard way on that one but it’s tough but we got better at managing it with experience.

When she was dehydrated she was much sicker !

Hope today goes a little better for you and the side effects wear off soon .

Take care ,

Court 

Mariscotia you are braver then you think . I remember crying down the phone to my daughter saying I can’t do this any more . She said , you can mum and you will . Sending you a gentle hug , you are not alone XX

Hi Mariscotia. I hope this new tablet combination does the trick? Chemo affects everyone differently and sometimes it can be a case of just finding the right doseage and combination of meds. I was told to take the tablets 12 hours apart with/after food but then the nurses later said that just a couple of biscuits was sufficient so I used to take them at 7.30 with a couple of chocolate digestives (ginger biscuits might help with the nausea) then go back to bed for an hour before having breakfast. You could maybe check with your nurses if this would be an option then it doesn’t spoil your meal? We always eat about 7.30 in an evening so used to take them after that while hubby was washing up. I pretended they were vitamin tablets (some of those are huge too) , tip them into a bottle top then swallow with a mouthful of aired blackcurrant squash. Try to distract yourself once you’ve taken them by doing a crossword or watching something interesting on telly so your mind isn’t thinking about whether you might feel sick or not. I know this is easier said than done but you are a brave warrior because you’re still battling on and hopefully you’ll be able to enjoy some coffee and cake in the garden with your friend soon.

Take care

Karen x

Thanks Karen. I've been taking the tablets with warm water, but even that was making me feel ill. My husband has gone off to look for lemon barley water (do they still make it?) which should be better if not ice cold.I find  oatkaes help a little to nibble on. But I have nibbled on bits all around the house....oh need a spring clean!

You are SO brave, you really are! You are doing your very best & trying to make changes & amendments & not give up!

The things I am doing & have to in order to get through this are never ending (though this WILL end)  

Like Karen, I have visualised the tablets (& also the oxi infusion) as vitamins : & a vitamin drip. I’ve told myself it makes me better & my hair nice, healthy & strong. I’ve even drawn a wee like drawing sketch on each oxi appointment page telling me I’m going for a vitamin drip and it does me goooooood (with a wee guardian Angel in her pic also) 

I take the tablets with a warm cup of tea (right after the brekkie & dinner) try not to look at them too much Berorehand & WHACK them down my neck as FAST as I can!! Then thank them for helping me (yes I know I sound crazy) I take joy in marking off the back of the box with a tick & see my wee pillbox getting less & less... I usually mentally nite which day I’m on (eg round 3 day 5) followed with the thought “Once this day is over it shall never be repeated)

when i REALLY think I can’t face it or continue I sing like a drill sesrgent song in my head to get me through   The voice goes 

(YOU CAN DO THIS) & I repeat 

I CAN DO THIS

(YOU ARE DOING IT)

I AM DOING IT

(THIS IS YOUR CHOICE)

THIS IS MY CHOICE

(This song usually kicks in on the week ‘off’ the tablets when I find it so difficult to start to face the next round because I’m starting to feel good again & I know what’s coming!

I have theme tunes (don’t judge me)  Last month was BonJovi’s Wowh we’re halfway there’ & now I’ve moved onto Europe’s THE FINAL COUNTDOWN  

I do reiki, (on myself, it’s an energy healing thing) you can get good ones on YouTube you can listen to yourself.

I go on shamanic journeys, speak to my guardian angels, wear a wee bag of crystals round my neck to try & keep me calm & grounded.

I’ve even written a nee song, music is my saviour & really helping. Even just listening to some favourite music is getting me through some tough times..

I am practicing gratitude (&’often just sit repeating ‘thank you thank you thank you thank you’ & sometimes (quite often) there are tears.

i (when I CAN!!) Go outside into the garden. The sun is now like my saviour, I really crave it. 

Please know that you are definitely not alone & do whatever it is you need to get through. Sending much love, light & good vibes,

Suzy

Oh Suzy Su that is such a great post. I used to lie on the radiotherapy table with my dignity covered by what seemed to be no bigger than a piece of kitchen towel - or maybe I’m in denial about the size of my bottom! - and I used to chant Bye Bye cancer as the machine whirred around. I had a 75% reduction so maybe if I’d done it out loud at the top of my voice then who knows........? I also used to remind myself of the tag line of a guy on here which is This too shall Pass. Every day is a day closer to the end of treatment and something to be proud of x

Hehe oh that made me chuckle thank you :-)

Try the crystallised ginger ....I was nauseous again this morning....and ate a couple of chunks swallowed down with a cup of tea....made the tea taste nicer!!! And doubled up with a couple of ginger biscuits....good tips from community friends,......hope it works for you...I'm not trying anymore anti sickness tablets....well...hope I don't have to...but then there's the next round ....hope you feel better soon x  And I prefer taking tablets with tea....I find continually drinking warm water is nauseous....so I keep topping up the tea...which eventually turns into water !!!

Glad it worked long may it continue!

Court