1st chemo

thank you so much, my son keeps telling me one day at a time and to stay focused so I sure am going to try. I will look forward to the day I can look back on this year and say good riddance!

andrea x

hi , thanks for your info on the farts! That made me smile !! I will remember to warn my friends that's for sure. I will remember the salt water as well. I'm feeling a bit better tonight but I'm not sure if it's the calm before the storm again! 

Andrea x

Thank you so much for all your kind words and advice and encouragement. It's like being on a roller coaster of worry and sickness. To be able to hear about others reactions to this dreadful chemo is giving me heart. I'm just hoping I can be as strong as some of you guys. 

Andrea x

Andy you received some wonderful informative replies.

So I don't have much to add.  Please make sure you look after yourself as you are the "number one" most important person now. Take one day at a time, meditated if you can and when you are ready take in some sunshine with small walks to start with. 

Thinking of you and sending hugs.

Anne-Marie ??

Andy Pandy

Sending you the biggest hug!!! Its tough going!!! not going to deny, BUT after being through it myself I absolutely understand those fears and anxiety. The absolute best thing you can do, is day at a time...take your focus back to this moment, this day...don't look at the whole thing or how long. Focusing back to this day, you only have to get through this day you see? let tomorrow take care of itself. It really helps take the pressure and anxiety away.

Its completely understandable to get overwhelmed with it all...I just found this was how I managed one foot in front of the other. 

We're all here anytime you need to chat.

Hugs

Melinda xo

LOL... Do not say 'no wind' too loudly ??

First gew day you burp mainly BUT then arround day 5 or 6 the Earthshattering farting begins.  OMG I remeber when it hit me the 1st time... I thought it was end od the world and I swear my neighbours couod hear it outside...

By the way I am not saying this to feeak you out - just to say it is absolutely normal (I am never gassy but on AC was an absolite windbag and no control over it but the good newas is that the windstorm is not smelly - just loud ??????). After the 1st round I realised that was to be the new normal and I told my friends about it as had no control over it so did not want to feel embarrased if it hit when I had them arround. As embarrasing as I found it to explain what they could expect it really surprised me how they took it - as something perfectly normal and completely OK so I really was not embarassed after that.

Chemo sucks at times but it has taught me I am human and how to accept I am in fact human so that if an odd 'embarassing' episode happens so what ?? - not the end of the world...

Great U R using bi carb as a mouth wash - in weeks 2 and 3 it is also good to gargle with salty water once every couple of days. I developed mouth and tongue ulcers with every round (thry lasted a few days) and salty water gargling prevented infevtions and helped them heal quickly with no complications

Hugs

Jel.

and so sorry about all the typos - long day and no glasses plus a temperamental touch screen

The 1st Chemo is a bit of a shock to the system for sure. Body is in absolute shock so completely normal to have all sorts of weird reactions. Make sure you keep on taking movicol.morning and evening until you get lose stools... Probably will take 4 days to get there... And do not be surprised if you hit the runs arround day 5 or 6 - make sure you have some gastro stop at.gome as probably will haopen andnwhen ir does you will need it.  Need not have the conpletely restricted diet as not food poisoning but will need to eliminate all fruits but bananas and most veg - basic lettuce is OK... Just keep stick to low fibre diet and do not panic. Happens to everyone and need not mean it will happen with subsequent rounds.

And as far as being anxious and scared goes it is absolutely normal. Honestly I would think there was somwthing wrong with you if you were not affraid or anxious.

First round is the scariest as body is reacting rather strongly to the shock of the chemicals - especially that 1st week is the pits. And not knowing what to exoect it ia damn scary... It was for me and I wasnjumping back to the forum here telling everyone what was happening to me the previous day and pleeding they tell me if that was normal or not.

If you go to my profile you will.find my initial 4 weeks have been documented day by day and can give you an idea of what can happen. Mind you my body reacyed unusually strongly so do not think you will be anywherr as bad as me - can only be better than me as even my Oncologyst who is Head of Oncology at a major Sydney Hospital, as old as can be and has been teaching Oncology for the past 20 years claimed half of my reactions have never been documented in anyone - so take my exoerience to be as drastic as can be so only can be better ??. And I survived...

I promise as scary as it seems and as horrible as.some sideeffects can be you will be OK. Just take care of you gut (and if you have been contipated or if you get the rins make sure to get hemmoroid cream and suppositories and use them regularly). As long as you take care of your body it will get through all the sideffects and will recover with next to no pain. 

Even if you do not take care of yourself you will be OK... But I promise that it need not be overly unpleasant. Just take it easy and do whatever feels right to you at the time. Your body knows what it needs so just listen to it and you will be fine - we have all been there. As horrible as some rounds can be they trully are not the sign of things to come as some rounds are easy as can be...

And you trully will be OK. Just hang in there.

Hugs

Jel.

Hi,

yes I think Friday was one of the worse days of my life, so many thoughts and not enough headspace to keep them all! I'm looking forward to feeling better again even if it is only for a few days! Am using the bicarbonate as a mouthwash. Don't have much wind or burps, think it's stuck and I. Going to pop!!!

andrea x

hi, thanks for sharing and some good advice. I was wondering about taking nexium as last night I had quite a bit of heartburn type pains. Will definitely let the team know how I've gotten on. My dr is so kind and told me to contact her on Monday to let her know how i am. I  could just eat a cheese and chutney sandwich right now! Have tried sparkling mineral water with a squirt of lime juice. Will definitely get some jellies.

andrea x