So the queasy feeling is passing 👍🏼 but trying to sleep solid with random pains in feet, bottom, hip and shoulder is a pain! No pun intended. Been told this may happen. Anyone else? Eating well, drinking plenty, just tiredness and sore mouth with what looks like thrush is the only things that are holding me back. On the upside no where near as bad as last regime! Oh and smelly wind and loose bowels but rather that than constipation.
Hope your all doing ok 👍🏼🌸☀️
Hi so pleased that your first week is over . I’m due to start my first session of carboplatin tomorrow. Very scared. Any more advise would be appreciated 😳
The best advice I was given was to drink plenty during and after chemo - so I always had a bottle of water on go or a jug of squash near bed - soft tooth brush was better on sore gums and mouth and I had tin of fruit pastilles to suck when the weird taste got too much - I was given mouthwash to use and this helped though still got thrush several times - it’s not the nicest thing nice but you do get through it x
Yes I’ve been drinking lots this time, didn’t last time and ended up dehydrated and poorly. Made a jug of lemon barley with ice cubes in, or water with sliced lemon and orange made sure I drank it!! Yes I need to get some soft brushes for guns, funny but raw carrot or melon and pineapple helping.
The thrush is worse than the sore mouth sometimes. Im gonna ring docs Tomoz for some thrush drops like last time.
Yes we always get through it xx
I was given difflam mouth wash to use routinely as well as antibiotics for the thrush - lemon barley good as it also helps with bladder side effects according to my onc nurse practitioner - pineapple does help mouth too - I also bought packets of cheap ice lollies and would suck one of them.
I never thought I would do it but you do x
Yes I’ve got that mouthwash too but bit harsh on thrush I think. Yes I was told about lemon being good for the bladder. Yes got some ice pops and lollies too.
We do what we have to don’t we to get through? X
I follow a lady on twitter with secondary breast cancer and she’s onto her 4th yr of chemo for it - I think how does she do it, but she just does and I think for a lot of people the desire to hang round gets us through a lot of stuff we’d not otherwise endure - I’m being investigated for possible recurrence and part of me thinks I can’t do it again but I know if it comes to it , I’ll have to - wishing you well x
I know I’m the same, when found out reoccurrence I thought I can’t do this, and when feeling crap I don’t want to do it, but then I think even if it’s a week or so of crap for few more years living I’ll do it.
Yes you will cause we all have each other’s backs and support is fab on here xx
First of all: Apologies for derailing the thread a bit.
@Manchesterlady :
- Drink a lot, at least 2 litres per day
- Try not to eat too much / too fatty on the day or at least evening before chemo and on chemo day but have some small snacks (banana, fruit, biscuit, soup) available when needed
- Bring a pillow and blanket to chemo (just in case your chemo ward is one of the chilly ones)
- Ask for sufficient anti-sickness meds (e.g. Emend)
- Try 'Sea Bands' (Acupressure wrist bands) to help against nausea. They work for me
- If worried about constipation, consider starting with a stool softener the day before
- Get a copy of your chemo protocol and blood results to keep track
- Keep a diary (which meds do you take, what is your temperature, which side effects occur)
We're thinking of you. All the best, Maus.
The random pains were the pits - I had weird electric shock pains in back and neck on two cycles that freaked me out as well as usual bone pain- glad that your first week behind you - is this a three or four week regime? X
I can’t believe how random they are and seem worse at night! 4 week regime, I’m glad it’s passing too slowly but surely I will get there! Xx
I was convinced I had mets everywhere as so many random aches and weird pains - hope the next three weeks see you improving - mind that was bit I hated - feeling ok then having to go again !!! X
Yah I get those pangs too. They wake you up in the middle of the night and then thankfully disappear again. Only now you've got to figure out how to go back to sleep.
Hang in there SamJane. I'm glad that the stomach has calmed down at least. Should get better every day now.
All the best. Maus
Told day 4 is when symptoms start from the carbo , then the industrial strength caelyx kicks in from day 7(you are then on double whammy for approximately 7 more days). You then may start to feel more like normal if it hasn’t decimated your blood counts. Listen to your body and rest. Info I was given xx
Thanks Mazzgib, very good advice. Last time I didn’t listen to my body, tried to be superwoman! This time it’s all about me (even if I do feel guilty)!!! Apart from the aches and pains but tired and thrush I’m sort of bobbing along ok xx
Samjane, good that the queasy feeling is passing. Same with me. Tomorrow I have treatment #2 of the first cycle.
And okay, since we're talking winds, yesterday I had such a craving for real, freshly squeezed orange juice. The craving wouldn't go away. I told myself it was too much acid. I told myself my mouth would hate me. I told myself I was courting BIG trouble.
Did I listen to myself? Of course not. I cleverly diluted the juice with water and lots of ice cubs. And I drank with a straw so it wouldn't be in my mouth so long. It was wonderful! Really settled my tummy.
But this morning! I thought I'd pass out from the smell. And I couldn't help but wonder if I'd found my own anti-constipation help.
Sorry about the joint pains. I had that first go-round. Taking Tylenol helped me.
XXOO
Ha love a good wind story! Think mine has been lemon barley and the amount of pineapple and melon I’ve eaten! It’s so weird with this one the food cravings I’ve had! Yesterday morning salt and vinegar crisps 9am! Today beans and scrambled egg with cheese on lol
Oh what’s Tylenol?
Thanks x
Once a bowel maven, always a bowel maven...
Tylenol is what's recommended here in Canada and the United States for pain management. Tylenol (acetaminophen) is a pain reliever and a fever reducer. Tylenol is used to treat many conditions such as headache, muscle aches, arthritis, backache, toothaches, colds, and fevers. It's something the oncologists recommend for us.
Could you please stop talking about salt and vinegar crisps? I am such a weak woman!
Nowt wrong with good bowel story 🤣
Ah right. I’ll see what onc says next time.
Sorry my lips are now sealed and will not talk about anything related to flavoured potato things
Xx
I’m pretty sure it’s Paracetamol Samjane. Xx
Samjane--you are so close to being your old self again--just a day or two more for you! Then a lovely few weeks but I hear you about going again....I waited till the day before to think about it (if I could do it). I had no cravings but I love yours! Sadly, I love everything food-wise.
Thinking of you and really hoping your next post is about returning to the world of feeling "normal". oxoxo
HI , Just to give you a little encouragement I've just started my 6th chemo in 4 years Carbo/Caelyx this is the second time I have had this ,the first time with good results and I managed 8 treatments one a month, my history is as soon as I go off chemo my 125 goes up it's now 340.
I know we are all different with treatment Caelyx has been the most successful in controlling my cancer, through I would like a break between treatments,I don't know how long it will be before it stops working. my oncologist is suggesting a lower dose of Caelyx as a maintenance or maybe try a pro inhibitor.
As you have had a good break before it's quite likely this can happen again the longer between treatments is a good intercater.
So I hope you manage the full treatment and look forward to good results.
As you already know the ladies on here are full of tips on how to control any side effects.
No wind story I have the opposite.
Take care Lorraine xx
Four years post dose dense carbo/taxol chemo now - and I still have the neuropathy in my feet. It sucks, but it can be dealt with and it's far better than the alternative. If you can't sleep at night, there are some things you can try. I take venlafaxine - which is an antidepressant, but it helps with the hot flashes AND makes you sleepy, so it helps at night. I've also been known to slip a benedryl or two if the pain is too much. Pain relievers help too - I use Aleve and they offer an Aleve PM that helps with sleep.
For your mouth - get Biotine toothpaste - I picked up that tip on another cancer/chemo forum. It helps with the dry mouth and really does prevent the sores and other issues from chemo. And it's gentle.
Hydrating is sooo important. I'd fill a huge stadium cup 2/3 water 1/3 gatorade and drink two or three of those a day. Super helpful both before, during and after.
Lots of rest and best of luck.
Patti
No chemo this week
Post Chemo and Pre CT Scan Anxiety
post 1st chemo
Post Op/Chemo Results
Tip for post-chemo fatigue
