Feeling really unwell after first dose of EC

Hi Dogmother 19 I’m sorry to hear you are not feeling well after your first EC. I’ve got my first dose on Wednesday. I too was diagnosed with TNBC in October. I’m having chemo before surgery.  I sailed through taxol for 12 weeks no nausea just a few aches now and then and a bit tired.  I’m a keen runner and cyclist and have managed to exercise throughout the 12 weeks. My oncologist warned me I may feel nausea and be very tired he also said I’d loose my hair but I’ve cold capped and it’s worked albeit my hair is thinner tbh he’s made me feel very anxious. I’m sorry I can’t give you any advice but it’s nice to finally find someone going through similar treatment to myself. Hopefully there is someone who can relate to your side effects and I hope you feel better soon x

Hi 

Sorry that you are feeling so bad after EC. I have had 3 cycles of EC & although I didn’t experience awful side effects the first few days of each cycle were virtually wiped out - mild nausea for a couple of days & general tiredness & inability to carry on even remotely normally. However with each cycle things gradually improved after 5 or 6 days & by day 10 my energy levels were back to normal and I was able to get on with normal life. Even during the first few days I was able to walk - but unable to do any of my usual exercise which I didn’t like. Hopefully you will soon start to see some improvement & will be your usual self for the 2nd half of the cycle. From what I understand & see of others experiences EC is very harsh. I am now moving to Paclitaxel & am very apprehensive but hoping it may be a little easier. 
Good luck & hope all goes well 

Could you call your breast nurse in the morning and shy how ill you are feeling? There are lots of different meds to stop the nausea. I had Amend on days 1-3 which was really good,  and I found the  domperidone (can't remember the  name exactly!) Made me actually worse.  Lots of women find different ones are better or worse.  If it doesn't improve it might be an idea to have your bloods checked.  Hugs(())

Hey Dogmother19, sorry to hear that you’re feeling bad on your EC, it made me feel dreadful initially, then got better, then not so much. It’s a bit of a rollercoaster, I think that you just have tofind the best way of getting through the effect at the time. Sending you much ️

Hi 

Im so sorry you’re having a rubbish time. You should call your BCN and see if she can organise some better meds. I was very sick the first time I had EC, also dizzy and lethargic. My body was definitely more prepared the next time and the remaining 3 cycles were much easier. The final one however left me exhausted for about 5 days, then I bounced back.

There is better anti sickness meds out there so let them know all your symptoms, and they can bring in the big guns to make the next cycle hopefully more manageable.

Just think what all that horribleness is doing to your cancer.
Sending lots of positivity your way x  

Thank you everyone for your kind thoughts and messages. I have had another bad day, but called the breast care team for advice. I've just taken first dose of odansetron to help with nausea, so fingers crossed that symptom is kept at bay a bit better. 

Still completely washed out and dizzy - probably worse than yesterday and can only just walk room to room before needing to sit or lie down again - but have a plan to speak to the team tomorrow or the day after if still no better. 

I guess the worst of it is not knowing how bad it could be, but hearing from you all has been really helpful. I am genuinely sorry if I have worried others who are yet to start this. The oncology nurse said that my symptoms were at the more severe end and most are recovering by this time after the dose, but that the response is variable so my symptoms are all still as expected. I wish I had known beforehand how bad it might be so I was better prepared, but I have a plan now. 

Yes, I'm trying to stay positive and remind myself this is all for a good reason! Thank you for your support. I contacted the nurse today and have just had my first dose of ondansetron. xx

Thank you BGTree. That's really helpful to know, although I'm so sorry you had horrible side effects too. It's like nothing I've ever experienced before, but I accept that it's part and parcel of the process now. Sending you love back x

Thank you. I called the nurse and got advice, given some odansetron now. I was given the long acting medication that has Emend in it pre dose of EC, so I guess things can only have been worse without it. Anyway, I have a plan now. Thank you for your support x

Thank you PatsyP2. I had weekly paclitaxel for 12 weeks prior to this; although I was getting worn out and mildly nauseous towards the end of the course, I was generally OK. I worked full time right up until the end and could still get some exercise in. Compared to the EC it was a total breeze! 

Anyway, I do feel better now I have a bit of a plan and another medication. 

Absolute best of luck with the Taxol. I'm sure it will be very much easier than the EC x