Well that was eventful

Oh Rach! What a long day!  So sorry that it was so eventful- they always struggle to find a vein in my hand too.  How did the allergic reaction show itself, was it a rash?  Take care x

I had a small rash on my arm and thought to myself best mention that as I hadn’t seen it before next thing I had pain in my ribs, neck and knees and I felt like I was burning up and could feel my heart pounding.  The nurses were very good and dealt with it really quickly.  I was told before I started allergic reactions are common. X

That must have been a bit scary - I am glad the nurses looked after you well.  Take care

Hi Rach_E I remember the nurses said to me at my first session to shout if anything felt weird in case of allergic reactions. Thankfully they got you sorted quickly and were able to end the session successfully. I was given a tip -  make sure you're fully hydrated, then it's easier to find a vein. I'd drunk so much before I arrived I could have been a shower head LOL!

It is a long day I agree. I got there at 9am and left at 15.30 but the time passed quite quickly I thought. I'm normally fairly good at sudoko but I must've been distracted as I made a right mess of the one I started and gave up!

Take it easy over the next few days. I felt fine the next day but of course you're pumped up with steroids and anti-nausea drugs. I was given anti-nausea drugs and steroids to take home but I did find sometimes the nausea came on so quickly it was useful to have a small bucket to hand.

Sending hugs, my next session is tomorrow! 

Barb xx

Yes I will make sure to drink plenty before I go to my next one which is on the 24th January.  I feel fine today but like you say full of steroids, I have taken my two lots for today so got tomorrow and Saturday left on them.  I was a tiny bit sick this morning this morning so took an anti sickness tablet this morning just to be on the safe side but I have a cough still from my cold and if I cough too much it makes me sick so it was probably that lol.  Good luck for tomorrow x

Thanks and hugs, Barb xx

I found that after my first chemo session I suffered from terrible constipation that I plan on mentioning this at my second chemo session in a week's time.  Barb (or anybody else) do you have any tips to ease constipation?  I drank lots of water the day before my chemo and lots every day until my constipation eased (5 days later!)  I walked around, also ate prunes, had a stool softener and took laxatives and that finally moved things along.  

Does anybody have any other tips to help with constipation from chemo please?  

My GP had prescribed me with Laxidol because of the constipation caused by Co-codamol and I've almost got the timing right - if I haven't passed a motion for 2 days take 2 or 3 sachets and that seems to work. Dulcoease didn't work for me, just made me feel queasy. I have tried prunes, haven't had them since school days - crikey that was an age ago. The trouble is as I've developed diverticulosis I've had to move away from the previous healthy diet I used to have as basically anything with a skin on i.e.chick peas, kidney beans, wholegrain rice and bread, fruit etc. created a fermenting pot in my gut.

I'll ask the chemo team tomorrow what they recommend.

Hugs, Barb xx

That would be appreciated Barb thank you if you could ask the chemo team what they recommend xx