*** NOVEMBER CHEMOTHERAPY CHAT 2019 ***

Hi everyone 

I had my last chemo 11 days ago and for the past week I have been struggling with my anxiety. It is so unbelievably reassuring to see that I am not alone. I’ve been having minor panic attacks and couldn’t understand why when it feels like I should be celebrating. 

Starting radiotherapy on 2nd December so it seems I shall see some of you over there

I also had my last chemotherapy on 5th November, I thought I would feel great, my anxiety is also off the scale.  All thinking is completely irrational at moment! 

Deb 

Hi everyone, been a while! Hope you are all doing ok!

After a horrendous week sickness wise and a few days courtesy of Hotel NHS, I’m starting to feel better!! And that’s only my second cycle!!! 6 days of not tolerating food or even sips of water...had to sip from my fingers...finally allowed my other half to call the doctor and spent 3 days in hospital on a drip and anti sickness meds. Funny thing is the first cycle wasn’t too bad, obviously led me into a false sense of security! Is this normal? Have I to look forward to this another 4 times?

Anyhoo, I’m glad to be back!! x

I wish to say thanks to all here who shared their experiences during the last months while I had chemotherapy. It's now behind me, and I'm happy about it. I would certainly have been much less prepared without this thread, all the good advice, and it helped so much to be prepared for side effects.

I was lucky to have had no serious complications, no infection, just annoying constipation, taste change, tiredness.

Yet, I too found chemotherapy much worse than mastectomy and lymph node clearance.

I admire those of you who deal with worse than me, or with other difficult situations such as sick family members, anxiety and whatever stress life brings to you.

I will have three-weekly Herceptin injection until next summer, and radiotherapy next..

And I wish all of you well for their treatment and after.

.....I am so sorry you have experienced this kind of sickness. Are you having FEC-T? If you are.... you may find you are less sick with the T. Not many people actually get as physically sick as you have. You have realised nausea and sickness are two very different things. Like you, I was very sick. Like you I struggled to take in water. There was no chance of taking anti sickness pills of any description. I laugh when helpful comments suggest Emend or equally strong courses. If you are really sick only the IV works. I'm afraid it's  more than possible you will continue to be physically sick. I was still sick with the T but it wasn't the same.....definitely less severe. However, this sickness will be on your notes now. I was given IV anti emetics with my chemo. It helped delay the sickness a bit to enable me to take fluids in for a few hours. I also went to bed prepared with bowls etc and I tried to stay as still as possible and sleep as much as I could. I think I probably had some sedative in my meds.

I want to stress to anyone reading this who is waiting to start chemo or has only had one or two cycles that this not what you should expect. It happens as poor Bramble has discovered but it's much less common and certainly weekly taxanes which have been introduced for regular use since I had chemo in early 2016, cause much less reaction.

I can't offer you a magic cure and I'm afraid I can't say this won't  happen again but I can tell you that it will be over and the time will start going more quickly. Suddenly, like me, you will be waiting for your 4th year  mammogram on Dec 2nd having remained clear up to this point.

Fingers crossed the next cycle will be easier even if it's  only because you know what might be happening and that it does pass.

Enjoy these next few days if you can.

Love Karen

Hi everyone. I too seem to be becoming more and more anxious. I’ve had one FEC  and was due to have my second on Monday but my bloods aren’t playing ball so it’s been put back a week. I had a hard time with nausea which eventually got sorted out, followed by a visit to hospital due to a low temp. Then last week I had a pain in my jaw, a lump in my cheek and a gland up in my neck. I had antibiotics and within a day all was back to normal. Unfortunately tonight I’ve got a toothache back again even though I’m still on antibiotics. It’s not bad but it’s there if you know what I mean. I just feel really low. I feel like it’s winning. I just want to crack on without any weird goings on in my body ... it makes me fear the worst. I’m sorry I’m so negative but I know you guys will understand my stresses. Di x

I have been going by bus to visit hubby in the same hospital that I go to for my chemo and I feel exhausted, sitting around in uncomfortable chairs for hours on end, struggling to understand what hubby is saying due to the mass pressing on a nerve in his chest that affects his larynx and wondering what comes next, as I've not seen any doctor there to tell me what is happening so far.  His arm is still very swollen from the restricted blood flow and I had thought that after a week, the blood clot would have dissipated by now.  I feel so exhausted and tearful on and off, that I'm having Sunday to shower, put cream in as my skin is flaky and dry, wash my balding head that is distressing, put more Evonail on my nails after cutting and generally recharging my batteries before visiting him again on Monday.  I plan to cook some mini chicken breast fillets with sweet potato and parsnip in the oven and boil some fresh cabbage to put with this and gravy for Sunday lunch to build myself up in preparation for the coming week.  He gave me his debit card, but the machine swallowed it and I only put the pin in once, he must have done it wrong himself previously, as he swears it was the correct pin and now we've to wait five days, basically a whole week, before he gets a new one.  In the meantime I have groceries to buy, so I managed to use my card, but as I pay the bills, that's an inconvenience I could have done without when relying on a pension.

 Am dreading my third FEC on Tuesday when I will be bed bound for a few days and unable to look after myself or to feed myself, as I get so sick.  Thank the Lord for letting me have such good friends who got my weekly shopping in from both Lidl and Tesco on Friday gone when I felt so bad and this was on week three of my second FEC cycle!  At least I have something in, in case I can eat it.  Must make up some jellies to pop into the fridge, in case I fancy them next week.  By the way, I was woken at 3.45am by next door again, they have something that bleeps every few seconds for over a half hour each morning at the same time, don't know what it is, but it's so annoying, what with their disgustingly strong and nasty cooking smells that leech into our bedroom around the same early times, it's so annoying.

Like others on here, I can't wait to get back to normal, I just want my life to be humdrum and uneventful again, and for hubby to be fit and healthy again, I wonder if he ever will recover from this?  By the way, is it normal for me to still feel uncomfortable with my tummy scar after the fat was cut away to make a reconstructed breast back at the beginning of August?  The breast scar seems okay and not painful, but my tummy is still bothering me.

As for Xmas, I've suddenly realised its not that far away now, so I reckon I'd better write out all the cards as soon as I get over the sickness of this next session this week coming.  Must try to wrap gifts for friends and family, if I've got them something too.  I normally buy as and when I see things I think someone would like, so I must have quite a few already, but not all that I need to buy.  Must try to find the energy to get the rest one day whilst in town, before visiting hubby I guess.  Trouble is, all the cards and paper, bows etc. And decorations are in the loft, which I find difficult to get at when hubby isn't here, as he is taller than me and can reach the loft ladder.  I need to stand on a chair to reach it, then step off the chair backwards to pull the ladder down with me, which is not ideal nor safe and I'm not keen getting up there when no one else is around, just in case.  Might ask a friend to pop round and keep an eye on me whilst I do this later on.  Trouble is, most of my friends live so far away, oh well, I will manage, I will wait for a friend to visit before attempting that chore.

Good morning Giuliella........You are doing so well in such difficult ccircumstances.

I'm so pleased you have decided to give yourself a day to recharge the batteries and spoil yourself.

I suspect next week is going to be extremely hard. I know how you reacted to the chemo and because I too was very sick.....I do know how debilitating that is going to be. Do you know anyone who can pop in to check on you? I think it is very important you tell the chemo unit about the sickness and that this time you will be on your own. 

On a practical level I would make sure you have plenty of water to sip and sick bowls to hand by the bed. If you are unwell ...,with no one to empty them .....it might be better to plan for the worst. I think you said you live in an apartment so at least you don't need to climb stairs . I agree spicy smells seeping into a bedroom would be nauseating so I'm just wondering .....while your husband isn't there.....could you make up a bed in your sitting room? 

Please forget about climbing up on chairs for Christmas decorations.  There is plenty of time for that nearer the date.....and if you miss someone off your Christmas list because you've run out of cards......so beit. You are the priority now. Christmas isn't meant to be a time of harassment or financial worry. However, have you looked for cards online. I bought some nice ones.....three for two packs....from M and S. And it's the same for your shopping if your friends can't  go although it sounds as if you have some good ones.

I hope someone talks you through your husband's situation soon. I get very cross about the ' privacy' regulations. I understand the reasons for only talking to the patient but I do think there needs to be some flexibility.  When my Dad was in hospital early October I couldn't visit because I was 1,000 miles away but no one would tell me what was happening because I wasn't a named person!

Now I must go. I'm off to church to take the children's group. We only have an English service once a month.

Enjoy your' me time's. Nice bath.....lots of moisturisers......treat your nails.....enjoy your lunch.....nice Sunday afternoon film. Netflix has free month's trial which you can sign up and cancel before payment due. That's  what I shall do this afternoon and then I shall binge watch ' The Crown' series three!

Much love. Thinking of you all the time. 

Love Karen

Lacomtekp No, won't use Netflix as I have virgin media which is enough, plus I've recorded Arrow and The 100 to enjoy this afternoon, after having a much needed nap and I like Dr Jeff, Rocky Mountain Vet on TV this afternoon too.  As for using online stuff, my iPad is so old it's packing up and can't hold the newer signals to order online shopping as I tried that last week and failed.  Tescos site kept crashing, took over an hour to load four items into my basket only for it to fail, then when I got it back, all items had disappeared from my basket again!  So frustrating, I gave up and had to go for the bus to visit hubby, but friends did the shopping for me, thank goodness, so I'm okay for a week or two now, till I feel better and can go myself.  Having a shower this morning, I have a PICC line to keep dry.  As for bed in lounge, not enough room and sofa too short to sleep on, sadly otherwise that would have been a good idea.  Got a plastic bucket at the side of the bed, I should be able to empty it each time, as I did manage before, on first FEC cycle, thanks.  No one to check in on me, but I have the phone, no worries.  I'll manage, thanks.  Will leave Xmas stuff until I feel better and someone else is here with me.  Cheers for your caring reply.

Wow giuliella you are superwoman!  Remember to cut yourself some slack and recharge your batteries.  Delete some things off your to do list and replace with things which you enjoy.  Xx