Feeling rough.

Hi Sassy

yes- I did and its really unpleasant. It usually passed by the second week. From memory, it was a side effect of the paclitaxel- a bit like the aches and pains you get with flu but worse. 

Have you given your 24 hour cancer number a call? its worth doing if only for reassurance. It will also help when you have your review as they will know how you felt with side effects at which time. 

They can offer different pain relief but to be honest I found regular paracetamol or ibuprofen helped. Also lots of rest, hot water bottles and a soak in the bath. 

Don't forget you can also give the Macmillan Support Line a call and talk to one of the nurses for further advice. 

Jane

Thanks Jane.  It definitely follows a pattern. Have been resting in bed with my hot water bottle which is my best friend at the moment.  Hate feeling so feeble. Just soup tonight cos I can't be bothered with anything else. 

Having said all that I'm enjoying being lazy but would rather feel O.K. Like you previous sessions were the same. This was my 3rd round so dreading no:4 as I know it's cumulative. It's good to reach out. Nobody knows what it's like unless you've been there yourself. 

I found that with chemo its best just to go with the flow. Some days are better than others. My mealtimes did go out the window really. I used complan drinks, soups and made smoothies. I also got some smaller sized ready meals and kept them in the freezer so if I fancied something I could do it quickly. 

Rest and fluids and do call the cancer 24 hour line at your hospital- sometimes they just provide reassurance- for me sometimes it helped just to be told- that this was normal side effect and would likely pass in a few days and I could try x,y,z would help. 

I think you are right- however well meaning and sympathetic people are- it is others who have been through the same treatment who really understand. Chemo is tough.

With chemo 4 the main thing I found was that the fatigue increased. Other symptoms pretty much followed the same pattern. 

I hope you start picking up soon and we are here if you need us.

Jane

Yes. It was awful.  I thought my feet would break off and I had difficulty walking. A physiotherapist friend advised me to do gentle stretches every day and try magnesium. Unfortunately, this was about a week later. I don’t know how much they would have helped. I didn’t get those symptoms after 2nd round maybe because I am on a high dose of prednisone due to a horrid rash. It was a reaction to the immunotherapy infusion which has been put on hold. 
Also, the chemotherapy prescribed was altered by the doctor and I was given more iv steroids and antihistamines before the first infusion. I’m told that the effectiveness of the chemotherapy is not altered.
I felt your pain. Learning to breathe thru it was exhausting but relaxing the muscles not in spasm helped occasionally.

Thinking of you. 

Thanks for the response Bellamay.

This isn't a very nice thing to say but I'm glad I'm not the only person to have this.

Thinking of you as well wherever you are in your journey. 

Take care.

Yes, sad tho it is, it’s good to know we’re not alone when experiencing such pain and misery.

Not that it makes it Ok. I’ll let you know how it goes after 3rd of 6 rounds next week. 

oh, I was told it was ok to take the strong co-codamol I had at home (broken shoulder last year, do not buy lucky white heather from me!) . 2 usually knocks me stupid. Took the edge off .

I also have some strong co-codimol for a bad case of sciatica. Thanks for that info.

I'm just about to start chemo 4. HATE all of it.

Hi Sassy

If you call your 24 hour cancer line they will likely offer you naproxen for the pain. I was told it was better than co codamol as it helps reduce any inflammation. 

Jane

Thanks Jane.  I must admit co - codamol attributes to constipation.  I can remember when  I took it I was prescribed probably a thousand sachets of fybrogel. 

I'll call the helpline. ( still find it difficult to say/write the C word) Think I need to toughen up)

the c word can be hard. I remember waiting for appointments in the cafe at my hospital and only going into the cancer centre when appointment time came- I didn't like seeing all the cancer leaflets on display- made it all seem too real.