First chemo yesterday

Bless you Nelly , that’s the first one done and dusted . Just take it easy . One thing I forgot to say , I bought some cotton thin gloves to wear around the house ( those white ones you see people wearing on tv holding delicate antiques ) and keep up with the anti sickness meds even if you don’t feel too bad just in case XXX

Well done, Nelly1955, that's one under the belt!! Xx

Hi Nelly 1955

Thanks for the update. It’s great news that you’ve started your treatment. I’ll be thinking of you. Keep posting 

Well done Nelly1955. Glad the tips helped and feel free to add any of your own to the thread x

Hi NellyB. Hope you don’t mind me asking, because you talked about your anxiety. I’m starting to feel really low. I’ve finished my 3 day of steroids and I take the anti sickness for another 2 days. I still have the tingling in my fingers if it was just that it wouldn’t be so bad. Still getting the 1 st bite. I have done a bit of tidying, and a went for a little walk in Hyde park, I can’t do what I was doing. Just getting a bit of strength after op then back down again. My doctor is reluctant to give me diazepam again but I did get off them. I going to ask if I can take them now and again just to have a bit of relieve. I feel tired already on this chemo. I’ve had the tablets before when I was on radiotheraphy. The nurse was hoping that it was the radiotheraphy was then main cause of the tiredness. Is it worse at first at first, I know it gets stronger with every cycle. Was yours mop up? Sorry don’t want to bombard you with questions. There are questions I need to ask because before surgery I was on three month surveillance, I don’t know what happens after surgery and chemo. Nelly 55

Hi Nelly 1955,

it could be down to the steroids . On my 4 day  my anxiety flew off the scale . I went into complete meltdown . It turned out I came off the steroids too quick . Oncologist stretched my time for coming off them to about 6 days ( I think it was) I also kept taking the ant sickness tabs all the way through as I took a bit of time to build up . I also struggled with tiredness . Even cleaning my teeth wore me out . Again oncologist said it was normal but ii it got too bad they would lower my chemo dose . My dose was lowered on my 3rd chemo by about 20% which did help . To be honest I was panicking about the unknown. By the time I was having my last session I was used to it and just went with the flow . If I didn’t want to get out of bed I wouldn’t beet myself up and let the chemo do it’s job . Hope this helps a bit . Basically if your struggling give 24 hour oncology a ring . They are great , they don’t want you to struggle and they will give great advice . Lots of love to you XX

Thank you Nelly B, I think my strength was coming back a bit. After surgery, now it’s gone again. I have had a few crying spells today. My appetite is going, but I have plenty of weight on me. It’s 4 cycles at first he said 6 months then his boss said 3. Have you had lasting side effects, I didn’t after chemoradiation. It took a while to feel back to normal also I had ablation to a liver mett. Then surgery for the tumour that had regrown on my bowel. The oncologist said this was the last tier, praying his right. Just thank you again for your reply. Sending hugs xx

Sorry, meant to say, I think that is my problem is the unknown, I’m doing affirmations, and I’m catholic so I pray a lot. Still taking antidepressants, but I think I need diazepam. Xx

Bless you Nelly , you’ve really been through a lot . The hard thing about being on this never ending roller coaster is that our anxiety never gets a brake . You can’t say “ can you just give me a couple of weeks to calm my anxiety “ . I think it took me about 3 months until I started feeling normal . It was the tiredness that took the longest . I finished chemo almost exactly a year ago and I’m back to walking about 2 to 4 miles a day with the dog and a couple of on line zumbas a week . After I finished chemo I was out in touch with the hospital psychiatrist . I had to get my head around what I’d just been through . I’ve managed to come off antidepressants and diazepam now but It took a while . I still struggle mentally some days but I can cope a bit better . I’m also still struggling with my bowels but that’s to do with the surgery . As my colorectal nurse said I have to get used to my new normal which I am XX

Hi NellyB I’m getting councilling, I did manage some normality after my liver ablation, I’m so glad your energy is back and your back to new normal.. I was hopeful if I was so tired I would really sleep but that hasn’t happened as yet. Thank you for replying, I really do appreciate it. Sending hugs xx