1st chemo

Thanks for all those helpful tips. Have had a movical but nothing has happened, will try another one and hope for the best! I think just the overwhelming fears and anxiety and information overload caused me to have a bit of a meltdown, don't feel quite as exhausted today so just hope that is a good sign. 

Andrea 

Hi Alice , thank you for your words of encouragement. Feeling slightly better today and have managed to do a short walk to the corner, better than nothing. I might get a juicer sounds a good way to get some good stuff in when food isn't appealing. I like a herbal tea called Gorgeous Geisha so will give that a go. 

Andrea

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.

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

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.

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

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