Chemo

Thank you Tracey, I've got nilstat and caneston, rash driving me bonkas!

my temp is misbehaving fluctuating from 37.2 to 37.6, monitering every half an hour, ughhhh my hubby is away interstate, I'm solo parenting 4 kids, seems way to difficult to go to hospital if it hits 37.8. 

Behave body, behave!

I took nystatin oral drops for oral thrush, canes ten cream for vaginal thrush after every. Chemo, just turns into thats what happens. Has resolved once chemosynthesis have finished. Also hot an undescriptive rash that would only be more comfortable with panadol. My head also got itchy before hair loss. Am really feeling for you Honey. Sending you a big cuddle, Trace ♥?????

And the side effects keep rolling in, now I have a itchy rash thru my hair, under my arm and lady hair lol, I guess in next few days hair will fall out so will be easier to treat rash at least, lol,  a little scattered rest of body, thrush mouth and fanny, blood noses continue, aches and pains still need endone to manage. Surely this has to get better soon! ??

OMG you are having a tough reaction. I have had blood noses and peeling skin also. Even my eyelids peeled. I found that warmed prune juice at night did the trick for my bowels along with taking a probiotic each day. I hope that your next chemo is not so bad. Cuddles and care, Trace ????

Today I saw my gp he's prescribed endone, it's helping! Also taking a laxative to avoid constipation hopefully!  ?? it's  day 4 after chemo I'm hoping worst of pain will settle in next few days, effects seem to be hitting hard from  crazy tired, nose bleeds, flaky skin,  random vomits, my temp was a slightly up today so just monitoring so far no higher then 37.5, bloods taken today, see gp again tommorrow. Now pain is more under control I feel able to continue, this morning I had decided I had enough and didn't need chemo Thankyou!

Flutter by

I had terrible bone pain and it was due to the neulasta and neupogen injections I had to take to help keep neutrophils up.  Where you given that before or after chemo?  If so I'm sure this is the culprit.  Like you the pain came in waves and often the worst had passed before any pain medication could kick in.  My oncologist did give me a prescription for Endone but I found the constipation worse than the pain.  So I stuck with the Panadol plus panadiene combo.

Good luck buddy

AnnaB

Hi Flutterby, I found that panadol didn't cut it for the aches and pains, so on speaking with the oncology nurses I took 1 panadol with 1 panadiene as I can't take strong pain killers. This worked much better, and the pain days amounted to about 3 per chemo round. I hope that this helps. I also had long, wavy brunette locks before chemo and lost the lot ( my husband likens me to the Nullarbor plain lol) I had my last chemo on the 21st July, and am now starting to sprout some tufty bits on my head, just starting to get some eyebrows back, so it's interesting. I have a long wig and a short one, and it's interesting to change them over every now and it's really fun. Keep smiling Honey, things will improve. Sending you a big cuddle, Trace ??????

Hi flutter by,

I agree with the earlier comment. Losing your hair is just so confronting and really gives a public face to what you're experiencing.  After my first cycle of AC, my hair started to fall out in clumps from day 14. By then I had already had my shoulder length hair cut to a pixie cut (which I've had before, so not that much of an adjustment) but having hair actually come out in your hands is horrible.  I got my hairdresser to shear it completely to 'take ownership' of my bald head.  Invest in a wig similar to your own hair if you wish or see the wig library facilities at some hospitals.  I did the Look good Feel better workshop where we all sat there, bald, experimenting with makeup and wigs.  I now wear a fringe wig with turbans and scarves which I'm happy with. Since I've finished chemo 2 weeks ago I've now noticed I'm still losing my eyelashes and eyebrows, so just as well I went to the workshop to know how to find them!!

It sounds like you're having a hard time with the aches. I'm not sure what chemo you're on. I do remember some times feeling like I'd been hit by a truck but not as bad as you're experiencing.  Remember to record all your side effects and let the chemo clinic know  (you don't need to wait til the next cycle if you're really uncomfortable)

It's ok to cry too. I've done a lot of that.

Be kind to yourself during chemo, little steps

Karen xx

Hi Flutter By. Losing our hair is so confronting, it's one of the biggest adjustments we have to make. I had collar length hair, and when it started to come out in handfuls I had a buzz cut, and then shaved the remainder a couple of weeks later. Having had no hair for close to 2 months now, there is a certain liberation to it. And it certainly saves time!

On the issue of the aches and pains, I can't offer much help. What chemo are you having? I started taxotere for my 4th cycle, and got some aches, but not as severe as yours seem. We all react differently. One thing that did seem to help a bit was a warm bath, but it's not always practical.

Hope the pain eases soon for you. Don't forget to let your oncology team know how it's been for you. They may have some useful suggestions.

Take care, Lyn