G-CSF injections dreadful pain & heartburn first chemo session

Ps typo  infections should read injections!

I’m sorry you’ve experienced so much pain and diahorrea on your first session. Carry on with the Imodium and ask for a prescription of omeprazole from your gp, I found it not only helped the acid but eased the nausea too, I doubled the dose, it is safe to do this for short periods, one tablet with breakfast and one with lunch, really helped. Have they given you any metoclopramide? If they have try taking it from the off and just keep taking it, don’t wait to feel sick. Buy a couple of wheat bags that you can heat in the microwave, safer than the hot water. I took paracetamol and ibuprofen, I bought it myself from savers, 49p a pack, that way you can have a dose every 2 hours, eat something with the ibuprofen and take your temperature before taking the paracetamol as it can lower your temperature masking an infection. Your doctor might also prescribe you codeine for the pain, that can cause constipation, might sort your other end out too! Eat something regularly, I found a couple of ritz crackers an hour helped regulate the nausea, if I got too hungry and ate I was worse. We’re all different and the solutions don’t work for everyone. I would also contact your BC team and make it plain how many issues you’re having, they may be able to help further x

Hi PinkJ

Your side effects sound pretty severe. My BC Nurse and the nurses in the chemo suite told me to phone the help line if I had bad side effects. They do want to keep you as comfortable as possible. I did this due to migraine headache (don't normally get these), nausea and vomiting. Also spoke to the onc about the nasty SE at the review appointment before the 2nd dose. They tweaked my support meds and for the following cycles I didn't gat any of these SE.

I did get the bad tummy with the docetaxel when I started that. Onc prescribed Loperamide up to the maximum number per day. I had to take this every day right through each cycle They also tried adding in Codeine, not for pain, but to control the looseness. Unfortunately I couldn't take the Codeine as it made me feel more ill.

They really do want to control your side effects, however we are all different and need slightly different solutions. If you tell them, I am sure you will get help.

Wishing you all the best

WallyDug

Aw Anna thank you so much for your advice, yes I've got metoclopramide but I waited til I was sick & it didn't help so Iwill take it from the off. I do have codeine for frequent pain relating to gallbladder surgery but I didn't know if I could use them. I'll get wheat packs as I used hot water bottle for the back pain but skin must be so sensitive I sort of burnt my back & caused a small sore but it's healing ok. I really was going up the wall with the pain, I was shocked as so unexpected.

Many Thanks

Thank you so much for your advice & support. My next chemo is next Friday so I'll speak to the nurse about the side effects I'm having. I don't have a specific BC nurse but can contact the emergency number which I possibly should have done or asked my husband to when the pain was unmanageable. I wasn't sure what to do. At least I know we're a little more prepared for the next treatment but I will definitely need help with the severe pain.

Many thanks

Definitely ring the emergency line if you have any symptom that is so severe. I have a book that tells me when to call, one extreme symptom which they call a red, which it definitely sounds like you had or two ‘Amber’ symptoms. They will never mind you calling it. I’m being treated at Wycombe and we also have an email and telephone for breast care nurses if there’s an issue too. I found that I could have quite different symptoms from one treatment to the next btw so you may not have a full repeat I’m in hospital myself now and don’t have it with me but I’ll see if I can find the list on line x

https://be.macmillan.org.uk/downloads/bemacmillan%20pdfs/MAC18344_kit_Alert_leaflet_lowres_20210203_LK.pdf

this leaflet covers it much the same, I’ll try and remember to send a photo of the actual list when I get home on Monday, if I forget remind me! X

Thank you so much Anna, it's so kind of you. I'm really sorry to hear you're in hospital and hope things are going ok. My Very Best wishes

I’ve just had a mastectomy and diep reconstruction and axillary sweep so it was a planned trip, all things considered I’m really not doing badly, surgically they’re pleased and I’m well medicated!!  Xx

I'm so pleased your surgery has gone well & well medicated! Hope your recovery goes ok with plenty rest. Take care xx.