Thank you so much everyone. I thought I’d report back especially in case anyone in future reads this thread! So much of your advice has proven to be golden ✨✨✨
I did indeed have to go alone due to lockdown restrictions but that was actually fine. The nursing staff were incredible, my doctor popped in a few times, and I felt very well attended to and cared for.
The port insertion went smoothly. Basically a light sedative made me relaxed but awake, plenty of local anaesthetic meant I felt nothing in the arm as they put it in. It’s fairly bruised and sore on Day 3 but that’s to be expected.
I decided to try to the cold cap and found it fine - not as unbearable as I thought it would be. However I was given another light sedative so I could have been a little cuckoo. Round two might tell the tale!
The chemo itself - I didn’t feel anything as it went in. With the “Ferrari red” AC chemo, I ate ice chips throughout and the nurse stays with you on that one to make sure it all flows through continuously. The second bag takes about an hour and they leave you for that one.
The cold cap stayed on for an hour and half afterwards which is a bit of a pain but nothing terrible. I just read and dozed like many of you said above.
I had an overnight stay for observation as this was my first round. Slept absolutely terribly between the sore arm and the hospital environment, but that could also be the steroids.
In a piece of good news, I’ve become part of a clinical trial looking at chemotherapy and heart health in women with breast cancer, and whether increased exercise support leads to better outcomes. As part of the study an exercise physiologist will do three sessions a week with me over the next four months, either via zoom or in person, as well as bringing some equipment to my home. I feel so lucky to have that opportunity and support - especially as I am already starting to feel GROTTY and I can tell I am going to need a big push to exercise through this!!
Grotty but doable. Loving that mantra so much!!!