Hi I’ve been diagnosed with Follicular Non Hodgkin Lymphoma and I start chemo on 17th March, I feel so nauseous all the time and the nodes that are around my throat are making it difficult sometimes to feel comfy when eating or lying down, is this normal and is it just a case of tolerating this until the treatment starts?
Hi again Ice cream girl ….. when your lymphoma is presenting in your neck this can unfortunately be totally normal.
As you know I have/had 2 different types of Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma but in late 2013…… by the time I went for my first Chemotherapy it looked like I had swallowed a brick!!
It was something out of a Tom and Jerry film. My jaw had seized, my gums had swollen and we're coming up to cover my teeth. I was having great difficulty eating and was living on a liquid diet and my breathing was being restricted and the pain was off the scale.
For a period of time sleep was a mystery as I could not lay down so I slept sitting up propped up with an L shaped pillow.
I had an initial 15min blast of Vincristine and that got me through our family Christmas. It was amazing the difference that first a Chemo blast made to the point I actually had some Christmas dinner.
Ice cream girl ….. are you in the UK?
It’s amazing how quick the treatment can work. I got the first 15 min infusion at about 8pm (I was an inpatient) and the staff kept coming in looking in my mouth as over the first 6 hrs (not much sleep that night) my gums receded back to normal and my teeth re-appeared 
As you are in the UK you may want to also check out Lymphoma Action. Lymphoma Action is the main UK Lymphoma Specific Charity who have lots of good reliable information, videos..... basically all things Lymphoma....... pre, during and post treatment.
They run various Support Platforms… I highly recommend these groups as this will widen your support base and there is nothing better than ‘talking’ with others who have walked or are walking the same journey…… I also volunteer for Lymphoma Action.
They also have a great Buddy Service where people can be linked up with someone who has walked the same treatment journey.
The LA helpline is open every week day from 10 till 3 on 0808 808 5555. This is a safe place to talk things through and get support.
It's a balance and each organisation will set their own parameters with regards to these subjects but good that you have found this community a safe place.
A plan is always a plan in my book…
