1st chemo yesterday ! Had my support crew in place and dr and nurses were so supportive. However the tears still flowed, anxiety, fear and just wondering how I'm ever going to get through it! The portacath was used so I'm glad that I made the decision to have this put in place. I don't think I would have been brave enough to have the worry of constant vein collapse. Was given lots of medications to help with the nausea but still feel like crap.trying to drink plenty of water but that's a bit of a mission, trying also to manage small meals. Feeling very bloated, is that normal??? Think I've forgotten what normal is though! It just seems such a long journey ahead of me and keep wondering how I will ever get through it. I cant believe it's already been almost 5 months, 2 operations, numerous infections and what seems like a never ending number of Drs and hospital appointments to get to this point! I know I will eventually get through it though as I've got too many things I am wanting to do!!

Hi Andy pandy, Girl you are already doing it... Breathe in and out... what chemo are you having? Do you like juicing fruits or vegetables, I had lots of those through chemo... Tears are good that is our bodies way to release some stress... Glad you got a portacath in it will make things easier... Do you enjoy herbal teas? It doesn't have to be just water..... You are sounding tired I was introduced to mediatation when I was going thru chemo... petrea king has some specifically for people going through cancer...I found them helpful. We are hear happy to allow tears as you type and we respond.... Alice

1st Chemo fornme.had the worst sideeffects - or should I have the highest number of them. Yes, bloating is absolutely normal. I was an absolute gasbag feeling nauseated and as soon as I would start to walk I would burb like crazy but that brought relief... Make sure you have movicol twuce daily to stay regular during steroid times as being regular will help you greatly keep the bloatiness down. Half a lemon squeezed in a glass of col.water sipped over time helps too... And make sure you write down all sideeffevts as Oncologist can help you manage them better as they can tweak and change your meds. The main thing to remember is that YOU WILL BE OK. You CAN do this and you yes it can be unpleasant but you will be OK. Water after a while tastes like mud so I found it helpfull.to dilute juice with water and drink that. One fifth of a glass of juice and the rest water works when water is yuck. Also vegetable stock powder is good. One flat teaspoor in a mug and then bpiling water as if making coffee - let it sit for 2 min then sip slowly. Helps keep you hydrated. Grapefruit helps keep nausea at bay - I would.suck on segments of them as if they were lolipops in the initial 24 hours post Chemo... Also I lived on soups in the initial 3 to 4 days post Chemo. Dietitian at the hospital said lots of soups with heaps of meat and veg and keep carbs like potagoes and noodles down those initial few days. Helps the gut, helps hydration and is nourishing. All in all - 1st Chemo honestly has the most for you to deal with and every next Chemo is a lot calmer as will have lesser number of sideeffects. Just do whateber feels right as whatever yoir body craves is the right thing to do. Rest, take all the meds regularly, eat and drink what your body wants and you will see that the sideffects will die down soon enough. Hugs Jel

I had terrible bloating on AC chemo even with water. I lived on toasted cheese and chutney sandwiches as that is all I fancied. Even water made me bloated. I just ignored it and put up with the feeling as you just need to eat to heal. I still got some bloating on taxol towards the end and very upset bowels. Can't wait until no longer on neutropenic diet and can have some probiotics. ..another 2 weeks. I found slightly flat mineral or soda water good. ..even with a dash of juice for variety. Constipation was an issue for me for first few days also which worsened the bloating...movichol sorted that out. If nausea continues make sure you let your team know.. medication tweaking is vital to improve it. I also took nexium to assist with the reflux and gastritis. Zantac didn't work on AC and required both on taxol. I needed both stemitil and ondasetron for nausea on AC plus additional steroids. Jellies are an option if finding fluids difficult...it is just thickened water.

Probably info overload ...sorry. hope things go well next few days. Take care. Kath x

Congrats on your first chemo. I mean it, as it does take bravery to front up and have it done in the first place, even though having it isn't that bad. Who wants to get medicine to make you feel sick? No one. Just accept for perhaps 10 days or so you will be under the weather but you do pick up for a while before the next dose so its not all doom and gloom. Look after yourself and rest when you need to and your body will thank you for it. Eat if you can but just go liquids if you can't. No one ever starved to death in 10 days so don't panic. If you don't want medication for bloat, try soft drink (watered down if you like) or a half teaspoon of bicarb in water to bring those burps up. I still have bloat troubles and I finished my chemo months ago.

1st chemo | BCNA Online Network

27 Replies

jd48
Member
9 years ago
woohoo - that is great ??

Jel.
Andrea_Byrne
Member
9 years ago
thank you so much for your support and advice. I think one of the things I have found most difficult is to ask for help and I'm so lucky to have so many people around me offering it! I'm generally always the first one to step in to offer help and it feels so foreign to be put in this position. I'm not keen on the bicarbonate mouthwash, maybe I should go with the salt. The movicol can only just tolerate but at least I had a little " movement " this morning ! Lol. I'm so glad I don't have to worry about work and really don't know how anybody can cope with that and try and raise a family. You are very brave. The breast care nurse I had before and after surgery was amazing and now I've moved on to the oncology nurses they are also very supportive. I'm so lucky to have a fantastic team of people looking after me. Still can't wait for it all to be over!!

Thanks again for all your advice and support.

andre x
Andrea_Byrne
Member
9 years ago
Thanks jel x
Andrea_Byrne
Member
9 years ago
Thanks jel, I think I'm turning the corner! X
Andrea_Byrne
Member
9 years ago
Thanks Alice x
jd48
Member
9 years ago
Soinds like you are.getting last the worst of.it - you will see - vhemicals start to exit thensystem and you start to go back to being 'normal'.

Initial few days are.the worst then all.gets better - just think - all that time to watch rubbish TV and comfort eat ??

Hugs

Jel.
jd48
Member
9 years ago
You really will be fine. You will see that all really will be OK. Another few days and the worst of round 1 will be behind you and you.move into the healing and feeling heaps better stage.

I knownit sounds weird but there are far more off good than bad days so do not fret.

Jel
SoldierCrab
Member
9 years ago
Hi Andrea,

I have lots of T2 and tea tonic I also buy from a place in Milton down the south coast .... my favourite is Southern Sunrise in summer chilled I drink it all day

Take each day as a new day and relax you can do it.

Alice
melclarity
Member
9 years ago
Andrea,

You absolutely will, I remember in the depths of chemo...begging for it to be over at different points. You definitely manage and you definitely will get through...I look back now 8 months post chemo and wonder how on earth I did it, but I did with very little support. I now know there's nothing I cannot do, I balanced work at the beginning of chemo but had to stop half way completely, plus am a single parent and the responsibilties were just too great to juggle it all alone. Unfortunately my children have endured this twice in 5yrs...but boy are we stronger for it.

Can give you a huge amount of tips, but the biggest one is communicate constantly with your Oncology Nurse and dont be scared to for any little thing. Its by them knowing everything going on with you and side effects can they get you other meds to counteract and keep you comfortable. I had a hard trot through it, but after trying so many things!!! Was allergic to Maxolon, so anti nausea meds were useless but Ativan helped go figure LOL. In the 2nd week, gargle salt water morning and night, if you do get ulcers and are painful Kennalog is amazing! Constipation ummm that was a trial and error LOL, the best I found was Coloxyl tablets and what the hospital recommended. Heartburn?? OMG and Nexium is the bomb!!!

The biggest advice I could give and I learned through it was to have no expectation of treatment, how it will go, how it will affect you or your normal living. As I got into it, it dictated how my life would be for the next 4.5 months. How I thought Id plan it around work etc., didnt go to plan at all. I have no regrets, in fact I learnt to put work last and me first above everything and everyone. A massive lesson in life, to honor and nurture yourself. Im an incredibly selfless person and Id forgotten how to give something back to me. Believe it or not there were positives amongst the horrible lows...I dont view life the same anymore, I feel so blessed for my wonderful children who had the courage to walk my path twice.

So be flexible let go of any plans or expectations and let yourself be whatever you will be, and I promise you will be at the end before you know it.

Hugs

Melinda
Andrea_Byrne
Member
9 years ago
thank you Anne Marie. People are so kind and helpful, I'm so glad I've finally been able to talk about it. Will definitely try to keep a short walk up even if it's only to the next corner.

Andrea x