1st Chemo help

@Piccme Hey!! Welcome!!! and totally understandable the freak out over it all, its so normal and yet nobody really tells you apart from in the safety of the forum :) So Ive been doing this 6yrs and been through it twice. Like you I don't tolerate opiate pain relief, so its been incredibly hard especially through my recent mastectomy/diep flap recon. Barbaric really isn't it?? I have nothing but panadol osteo and nurofen to get through any sort of pain and really it doesnt do much. I did 4.5 months of chemo 4 FEC 3 weeks apart and 8 Taxol. My Oncologist said I'd blitz it no worries even mapped out when he thought I could work...ummm yeah naaaah LOL unfortunately my body didnt cope and was in hospital after the first 4 infusions. Mine was compounded due to fibromyalgia which I forgot about but chemo brought back with a vengeance. 

Everyone absolutely is different, and most likely you will be more than fine, I find the best thing is to have no expectation at all...once I let go of that I could deal with my path, because I was so upset not being able to work or do anything through it. I guess the Universe had other ideas, it wasnt about pushing through being strong and working etc., it was about stopping and nurturing me. That's what made the world of difference :) 

You'll do great, you'll see. :) Hugs Melinda xo

I am on my third dose of FEC. Just had the third one this morning. That is FEC finished - happy dance.
I guess your side effects will depend on what chemo cocktail you are having having.

My first dose affected me the worst.
towards the middle of the last bag I started to develop a terrible headache. I was given Panadol and clarytyne by the nurses but it didn't really help.
I get migraine and of course it developed into that when I got home.
I have combatted that by using icepacks on my head for all the last bag, the nurses supply them. I also have little hair and I take my turban off during chemo, this helps to keep my head cool.

The second time I still got the headache (it lasted 2 days but didn't turn into migraine) It was managed with Panadeine forte.

This time (so far) I don't have much of a headache. I was given two doses of Panadol by the nurses this time. I will take more at the 4 hourly mark to make sure it doesn't gets worse.
Ask for things if you think they will help.

The other things that caused me problems the first time were stomach pain and nausea.
This was helped a lot by taking Nexium 40mg every morning. I continue this all through Chemo.
you need a script for the 40mg, you can get 20mg over the counter.

Another problem was rthe constipation. I underestimated how bad this would be.
I took Movicol the night before and for 4 days afterwards but it was very bad and it also makes you feel sick all over, not just bunged up.
My solution that worked very well for me.
Movicol the night before.
Fruit drink made of pear, apple, nectarine (remove cores but leave on skin) kiwi fruit (remove skin) top up with some prune juice and a little water and blend until you can drink it.
I drink about a litre of this during the day for the 4-5 days after chemo.

Movicol and 2 Coloxyl and Senna at night for the 4-5 days after chemo. 

You will know when to stop, you start to get a bit soft.

The jaw, joint and neck pain were there but manageable with Panadol.

If you have to have the Neulasta injection for white blood cell boosting, take a Claytyne the morning before and a few days after while the side effects are worst. It made my bone pain manageable with just Panadol, sore to touch but not enough to make me miserable.

I gave my Oncologist and the Pharmasist at the hospital lots of feedback about my side effects and that helped us work out a better plan for next time and to manage what I was going through at the time.
The severe headaches were not on the list of side effects I was given, but the chemo nurses knew about them and said they were reasonably common, so lots of asking questions is a good thing.

I kept a diary for the first two weeks detailing everything.
Temperatures three times a day, every little side effect and whether drugs helped.
It surprised me how much I forgot once I started to feel better, especially as the chemo left me in a fog for the first 5 days, so writing it all down helped when I had to give feedback.

I also had a chemo kit in a box.
I compiled it from all the blogs and posts from this website on products that helped and made a list of what to take and when, from other ladies experiences.
This meant I had all the things there for when I needed them.
Kennelog is THE best stuff for mouth ulcers or even a rub on the tongue which refuses to heal, but as the pharmasist said, only use it at night, it is sticky and sets like a rubber seal over it.
So I got a different one for during the day.

I was given a Chemo diary which also had good hints, a bottle of mouth rise, anti nausea tablets, Dexamethasone and information on who to call, out of hours and office hours.

If you have other health problems and take other medication, discuss this with your Oncologist and Pharmasist. 
I was not supposed to take my migraine relievers at all during chemo, but they worked out the most important days to avoid for me and I have had to use them on other days with no adverse affect. I was also not supposed to take Ibuprofen either but can infrequently if I take extra Nexium with it. 

You should have a compassionate, helpful and supportive team around you to help you through this. Make use of them to make the ordeal as trouble free as possible.

Come back when you are having chemo and ask for help, there are ladies here with loads of knowledge and little gems of wisdom that can make all the difference.

Good luck with your pic line insertion and first chemo session.
I found accessing my port the first time traumatic, not because it hurt, but it was the realisation that this was real and it was actually happening, so having someone to hold your hand can really help.

A big sisterly hug for you, Jennie

I feel that! It's just salt in the wound when your damn pain relief makes you throw up! Boo. Hiss. Unfair. *throws tomato* Get off the stage Endone, you suck.

*Huge hugs*

During the chemo itself you'll have nurses around you all the time and if anything gets uncomfortable they are right there to fix it. If you arrive for your appointment and are feeling super anxious, tell the nurse. They will look after you!

As side-effects go, it's probably better to throw the expectations to the wind. Nobody really has any idea how it's going to hit them so just take it in stride and deal with it as it comes. :heart:

Hi Piccme,
All sounds like very normal feelings, and we all understand here. Personally, the pre chemo appointment helped me heaps. I was still anxious and nervous the first time. Ask lots of questions during the process, take notes so you don't miss anything. This helped me as I was so overwhelmed I missed some things that we discussed. Luckily for me, my husband was awesome and took notes for me. 
Sending you a huge cyber cuddle, Trace xxx

I was bawling in the shower the morning of chemo. (And I once worked in oncology) It's perfectly normal to feel as you do. And a lot going on today as well. You will get through this. Positive or not doesn't matter. Showing up does. Hang in there bc sister. Kath x

Hi Piccme 
My name is Laura, I'm 37 and have 2 small children at home. I was very scared about my first chemo, which was on the 7th of April. Was so worried about what side effects I would get and how could I look after 2 little ones if I got all these symptoms etc.... To be honest it was a major anticlimax! I went in got hooked up into my port, sat in a very comfy chair for bout 3hrs drinking tea watching tv and then it was over. That night I slept really well and the next 4/5 days I felt what I can only describe as symptoms similar to morning sickness or a wine induced hangover. Fuzzy head and nauseous! I rang my oncology nurse and she got my oncologist to write me a script for better anti nausea tablets and life was good again. Apart from that I was fine. I am 11 days post chemo and feel back to normal apart from metallic taste in my mouth and 2 mouth ulcers. Next treatment on the 26th. Don't be scared you can do this. Whatever symptoms you get your team will help to manage. Just focus on the fact that chemo is clearing up and getting rid of the cancer. Each session you do is one less and you will be cancer free after its all done. You can do this. The fear of the unknown is the worst but just breath and try and have a good sleep tonight it will all be fine xx

Hey Piccme, vent all you want that is what we are here for. It is surreal at the start, especially when we don't feel sick.  The thought of chemo is scary. It is overwhelming, but even if it is hard you WILL get through this. I never thought I could do chemo but I did. I had a lot of complications so it was never a walk in the park but I did get through it. Once treatment starts you will calm down a bit. It is more the unknown that gets us so worked up. Whatever you need we will be here for you. And yes, it really got to the stage where if another person had said to me to 'stay positive' I really think I would have punched them!!! They just don't know what else to say. Come on here any time if you need some encouragement. Having this network available 24/7 when I was going through chemo made a huge difference. Sending you hugs, Nadine

Feel free to check out my blog about getting through chemo... https://carlysfighttowin.wordpress.com/

I so feel your pain. I'm hanging in there also. Good luck with your treatment. I don't have much to advise as I'm also at the beginning and start chemo in May. My husband also says to stay positive ad can't understand why I have moments of tears, but I have told him to have a diagnosis of cancer and see what it does to your psyche! Thoughts are with you x

You know your biggest anxiety will be that hair cut? It was for me, all my lovely long locks gone. Over a year later and I am still not used to short hair so it is my mission to one day get it long again.

Stick to the Panadol for pain killers. It works fairly well and keep up short walks as the exercise does your bones good. Perhaps you could look into the Ginger seasickness tabs to help with nausea? After your first infusion you will probably be thinking what all the fuss was about. Good luck with your treatment. <3