first week after Chemo

The side effects from my chemo have had a severe effect on my bowels and I need to be close to a toilet. Thus I am unable to work. I understand it is only one week, but I am not coping. I see all these people who are having/had the same chemo as me and continue to work. I find this frustrating. Why can't I be like those other women who continue to work. I feel too tired and worn out now, to go to work.
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I had my chemo on a Monday. I possibly could have worked the next day because of the steroids but I could not have worked for the rest of the week because of the fatigue. It knocked me out flat. The first two cycles I could have worked the next two weeks, with difficulty, but I could not have done that in the last two. I had TC.
I had the runs terribly for my first chemo and then locked up solid for the rest of it!
We're all different luv. Try not to compare yourself to others; it's a dead end. You'll get through, one way or another. If it's getting on top of you, give one of the BCNA nurses a call on the helpline, 1300 500 258. They're wise women who've heard it all and can be a great comfort and source of information. Hang in there, K xox
Kmakm is right. No body knows how you are going to handle things. You shouldn't compare it will do you no good and it may get better as you go along.
I had ACT. Through the AC I carried a lot of those dissolvable immodium tablets in my bag. They work very fast. It got better the next time around though.
I also found that the "Hey, I need to pee" was only giving me about 30 seconds warning. Not cool the first few times before I worked it out. That did get better as well.
I did go back to work but I only work part time and there were a couple of days I thought I was a bit tougher than I actually was and had to go home half an hour after getting there.
All the best lovely.
sososos
As for your gut symptoms, ring your oncology centre and ask what you can take to make it more manageable. Don't suffer in silence.
Check out this thread for lots of hints and tips if you'd like to:
https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/search?Search=TC+Chemotherapy
Might be best to wait until you're feeling a little better though Ali! Yep, it all sucks.
You'll start to feel a bit better soon. Hang in there. K xox
I hope you're feeling a little better or at least found ways to manage your side effects as best as possible.
I am working on a project at BCNA around work and breast cancer. If there is any support you need in the workplace please let me know and I might be able to offer some support.
Good on you @alibrien It's a long haul but there is only one way through it. I've been through the BC wringer twice. The first chemo--AC-- was fine. Not pleasant but manageable. V2 was TC. Nup. Nup, nup, nup. What a nightmare. Like you I lived on the blandest of bland food (just starch and sugar, really) and suffered the additional indignity of blowing up like a life raft after someone had pulled the cord.
Onwards from here! Mxx
Well done on getting through @alibrien! And on making the hard but sensible decision on removing stress from your life round the work issue. K xox