Cold capping pain

Hi Natty

I am sorry to hear about your Mum's pain during cold capping.

I did scalp cooling during my own chemo in 2022. 

It is common to feel more pain as the cycles progress as there is normally some shedding so there is less hair between the scalp and cap. I was given a theatre cap to wear and it did protect a bit. I found the first 10-20 minutes the most painful and if I knew if I was distracted during this time- it helped. I would talk to the nurse, watch the clocks, count down the minutes- knowing it would soon pass. Having a cosy blanket from home can help as it keeps the rest of you warm. 

With anything herbal it is always best to check with her consultants before giving anything as some things can react with the chemo medication. With the pain relief it is also worth mentioning in case they can give Mum something else to help with the initial pain. And of course if Mum is finding that it is becoming more painful and she does not want to continue- the machine can be unplugged straight away. 

I empathize with the nausea. Thin ginger biscuits helped me. Anything lemon tasting. Barley sugar sweets too. 

I found it better to eat little and often and to take my anti nausea meds 30 minutes before any food. With food it was whatever I fancied. I also ate my main meal earlier in the day. During my chemo I had ondansetron am and pm and then domperidone before meals- however there were other medications that could be prescribed. It is worth Mum speaking to her CNS also. 

Jane

Can’t comment on the cold cap as I didn’t do it- I have fairly short grey hair anyway and it’s come back as it was before after a very thick crinkly interlude. I’d had 2 friends who’d endured the extra time and the discomfort/pain with patchy results. 
Of the post chemo anti sickness meds I found ondansetron very unhelpful, but domperidone quite good. I loved ginger and lime in fizzy water and discovered really strong bottled ginger ‘shots’ which I diluted with the water and squeezed lime juice into. Mint tea with lemon helpful too. Drinking plain water in the first few days, I made myself do, but found it nauseating so those drinks helped with fluid intake.