Had my first chemo ❤️

[Heart12345]

Hiya lovely ladies I had my first chemo yesterday for OC a Taxol Carboplatin one.

With the great advice from this great community it went really well so many thanks to you all 🥰. I had a very kind nurse who was sweet going through everything with me and I must say I felt a sense of peace for the first time in a while to get started.

They have decided with me to do a picc line next time as my veins were shy 🙈. So that will be good, it’s great there are options.

It’s funny every now and again I feel little prickly feelings in different places in my body not unpleasant and they last a second weird I wonder if anyone has felt that as well.

Only day 2 but good lots of love and positive thoughts to you all xxx

[Mammi]

Hi so glad that everything went well for you, the thoughts in your head definitely worse than the treatment.I also got those feelings you mention so sounds weird but each treatment I marked on a body sketch where they occurred.It became clear that there was a pattern & I believe that it’s possibly areas that the cancer is being targeted by the chemo 🤔whatever it’s quite interesting to look back on as I’m now 9mths post chemo! Take care of yourself, there is a light at the end! Hugs Dee x

[Heart12345 in reply to Mammi]

Hi Mammi that’s a good idea I might try doing that I wondered if it could be zapping the dodgy cells , a great idea of looking at it 👍. Glad your through your chemo it’s good chatting on here with people who’ve gone through the process. It’s true that are mind can go in overdrive and create situations that don’t actually occur. Watching comedies or detective shows normally switches it off 😊. Xxx

[Mumsie13]

Yes. I used to get that feeling too especially around the area where I knew my main mass was on my first recurrence. I used to tell myself it was the cancer getting it's but kicked. Don't know if that was so but it made me feel better.

[Heart12345 in reply to Mumsie13]

Interesting it was especially around that particular area , I reckon it is the treatment doing it’s job 👍. I like the idea anyway 😊xxx

[RainbowC]

Hi Heart, really glad that it went well. Take it easy for the next few days and listen to your body! I was completely wiped out and barely able to walk 20 metres for a week after each round of carbo/taxol, but then got rapidly better over the next week, and felt fine for a week before the next round.

Hope you’re not getting any bad side effects - you can get through this!

X

[Heart12345 in reply to RainbowC]

Thank you Rainbow C, I’m feeling tired but not too bad with nausea as have the anti sickness tablets which are good. I’m still on a few steroids until tomorrow so probably will get more tired after that but good to know from you that that will pass. I have a pleural effusion that slows me down I’m hoping chemo dries it up 🤞. But really pleased to have started the treatment xxx

[RainbowC in reply to Heart12345]

I do hope the chemo works as well for you as it did for me! Before my first round I had seven litres of ascites drained from my abdomen in three separate hospital visits (one of which lasted six days, and one which was another in-patient stay and ended with my first chemo). I also had 1.5l of fluid drained from around my right lung - but after the first chemo I didn’t have any more fluid build-up and the small amount of fluid which was around my left lung cleared up on its own without needing intervention. Miracles can happen!

[Heart12345 in reply to RainbowC]

Thank you for sharing that information about the ascites and pleural effusion, Ive got ascites too they couldn’t drain mine as it’s in pockets so it’s great to hear that positive post 👍🤗. Keep the chemo coming ! I believe in miracles too xxx

[delia2]

Hi. I am glad you’ve had your first cycle and fear of the unknown is gone. I had those pains on day five but a bit more intense than you describe. I recommend keeping a diary of your post chemo side effects. It helps establish a pattern and know what to expect. Xx

[Heart12345 in reply to delia2]

Hi delia2 great idea to keep diary, I’ll definitely do that 👍. Your right it’s good to get the the first one under your belt I feel better knowing what to expect now and it wasn’t bad actually I felt quite relaxed. 🤗xxx

[Riverflo]

Hi, yes I had the little prickly feelings too. I imagined it was the chemo blitzing baddies. Don't care if it's true or not, it felt good. Best wishes xxx

[Heart12345 in reply to Riverflo]

Hi Riverflo I’m thinking like you get those pesky cells! 👍It’s good to visualise them getting zapped 😊xxx

[Riverflo in reply to Heart12345]

Good for you! 😊 Hang in there, life will get better. xxx

[pants22]

Good morning Heart12345You'll be well into your cycle by now and after each one will learn the pattern and what to expect.

I have my next one on 19th..so I think we are about on same timescale.

The first 3 days are usually OK because the steroids pep everything up but I find by day 4 or 5 I start to collapse into a big puddle of feebleness and jelly.

I have to pay attention to constipation especially if needing Ondansatron or other anti sickness pills. I have a tangy fruity smoothie with chopped fresh ginger(frozen from Asda), lemon juice, organic carrot, organic kale and spinach and loads of fruit. This concoction definitely helps me through and feeds my cells the right stuff.

It's funny how us ladies can adjust and grit our teeth... But we all want to survive as long as possible eh?

I also had a PICC line half way through my chemo.. Made everything less traumatic. I've since had that out and have a portacath on my chest.. Under the skin and I put numbing cream on before I go for anything... Amazing.. I'll keep this one for good.

Wishing you well on your journey.. And remember Big girl pants on and chin up. Xxxxx

[Heart12345 in reply to pants22]

Hiya pants22 thank you for replying, we are on the same time frame as I’m due second cycle on the 19th, fingers crossed bloods are good. My first chemo cycle was different to how I thought I’d feel. I thought I’d feel all full of chemicals but anti sickness tablets worked generally well. And ginger helps me too, your smoothie sounds lovely I’ll have to give it a go 😋. I’ve had the opposite problem with my tummy I’ve been up and down (to the loo) like a fiddlers elbow . It’s only been the last few days that it’s become normal phew! So I’ve been making sure I get enough nutrients, fish, greens and orange/ red veggies. I’ve also become gluten and dairy free which helps. It was the achy body, legs mainly especially after the white blood cell stimulator that got me but my husband gave me an electric heated blanket to cuddle up in and watch telly that helped. This last week am feeling more normal 😊. But all in all I feel very fortunate to have access to treatment. And definitely will keep my big girl pants on 🥰. It’s the only way we are going to get through this 👍😊. I’m sitting here with my little scruffy poodle and tabby cat and am feeling blessed to have met you all on this site. Wishing you a good chemo pants22 🤗xxxxx

[pants22]

Good luck to you too....we are all in it together. it is the best and worst of times Im finding. I also had the GCSF injections for the first time this time and I got very deep bone pain between the hips etc...but thats all better for now. Im vegan/veggie...and I really think Im eating as well as i can but i still have a treat if i fancy it...I hope we can keep in touch...it helps.

Hugs Linda xxxx

[Heart12345 in reply to pants22]

Yes I got that pain between hips too. We can definitely keep in touch, birds of a feather 😊. It’s easier embarking on this challenge with another warrior whose fighting the same foe 🤗. Hugs Mish xxxx

[pants22 in reply to Heart12345]

Hello MishI can't sleep.. Just made a cuppa. I forgot to say when I was first diagnosed this time last year I also had a pleural effusion which seemed to disappear after a few chemo s. I had 2 drains in total for ascites.. which I hated doing but no sign of ascites either now although there is still some residual cancer in there.... Scan for me this week.. So I'll know if its sprouted up anywhere else. Flipping shitty disease. Its raining outside here in Ramsgate.. So I'll just slurp my tea. Nighty night.. Or good morning. Xxx

[Heart12345 in reply to pants22]

Hi Linda I’m sorry you had a bad night sometimes our brains just don’t want to switch off. Waiting for your scan and results our probably playing on your brain. But remember your chemo is there on Friday to help pulverise the bad cells. I wish we had a button that could turn our brains off for a certain time. Actually telly normally does that for me a good detective show or comedy film 😊. I let my mind disappear into it. It’s easier said than done though at times. Interesting about your ascites and pleural effusions, fingers crossed mine goes .

I’m seeing surgeons tomorrow and having echocardiogram as I went into atrial fibrillation for 24 hours two years ago when under a lot of stress but it’s been good since.

Bloods and Dr on Thursday then hopefully I’ll be having chemo like you on Friday. Let’s kick that shitty disease together 🤗.

I’m going to have some gluten free cornflakes and rice milk in a minute . I think weather is drying up here hopefully for you too. Let me know how things go for you, wishing you well xxx

[pants22 in reply to Heart12345]

Hi MishGood luck and fingers crossed for tomorrow. I've got some counselling starting at three today.. On the phone. I'm not sure I'll get anything from it though.

But, again I feel lucky to have got any. Have a lovely day and a lovely week. Xxx Linda

Ps are you on Watts app?

[Heart12345 in reply to pants22]

Thank you Linda and I hope counsellor was helpful today and you too have a good week. I am on WhatsApp phones are super useful these days. Good luck for Friday too xxx