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Federica's avatar
Federica
Member
12 years ago

Chemo: 1 down, 5 to go

Hello there, First chemo done! I had a great sleep last nigh and I think It helped me to feel much better today. As soon as I finished the treatment I said to my husband :" well I can do this , not bad at all" . Then I went home and I hit the wall! LOL It felt like being in the middle of the ocean , the nausea was very very strong and I was dizzy . I took two anti nausea tablets and they helped, I also had some home made chicken soup because I felt that my stomach needed some food to go throught all those drugs. I also drunk a lot of water and I keep drinking . This morning I had a peanut butter toast and a cup of green tea ( I couldn't risk it with coffee ) and 2 pills of steroids but even before the drugs I was already feeling much better , I even managed to pack lunches for school , getting the girls ready, clean the kitchen and have a shower. Now I'm done for the day ! My husband is taking care of school runs and I have dinners organised by the mums at school ( makethemameal is a great system that allows people to book a day they could help with meals). I am moved by all the kindness and willingness to help , even by people I barely know. I am usually a private and very Indipendent person but we don't have any family here to help and my husband is doing what he can while maintaining a demanding job, so any support is very very Aprreciated . Ok time to rest now , hope you are all feeling good today , here is puring with rain , a perfect day to stay on bed . Big hugs to all Federica x

17 Replies

  • Jacque's avatar
    Jacque
    Member
    12 years ago
    Hi there. I am new to this site but have been reading others stories. Great to share. I had my first round of chemo and had nausea and extreme tiredness. Then got neutropenia. Feeling good now to go back in 2 days for next dose. On FEC for 3 cycles then change. Have wonderful support. Certainly noticing the enormous change to my life from working full time, busy with teenage kids to accepting help with all sorts of things. Take care Jacque
  • c_yeo's avatar
    c_yeo
    Member
    12 years ago

    Glad to hear you are doing ok.

    I have finished 3 rounds of FEC. My first 2 days were ok. I took anti nausea tablet at the slighlest hint so did not have really any sickness trouble. 3, 4 and 5 days were a little tired maybe coming off steriods. Got the hungry thing too and acid in tummy. Controlled by zantac. Constipation relieved with coloyxl. Otherwise, travelling ok so far.

    Water is important. I did also have a little trouble drinking during 2nd round due to taste and bloatness in tummy. Took probiotic and now appears to help with bloatness so drinking better this round.

    Hope you will have smooth travel too. Keep vigilant. Be thinking of you.

    Cis

  • Deanne's avatar
    Deanne
    Member
    12 years ago
    They had very different effects for me. The worst bit about FEC was the nausea for me. With Docetaxel it was the sore throat/mouth and aches and pains. Overall I would now say that the Docetaxel was harder but this may have been because I was unlucky with getting an infection in my 4th round (1st Docetaxel). This seemed to stop me bouncing back like I did with the FEC. I generally had a pretty good 2 weeks each round with FEC. I was more worn down after the infection and never really felt good on Docetaxel except when I was on the steriods! Other people can breeze through it they told me! I hope you are one of these lucky people. Take care. Deanne xxx
  • Federica's avatar
    Federica
    Member
    12 years ago
    Hi. Narelle, I'm glad to hear you coped well with chemo. My first night has been quite heavy but luckily I managed to sleep throught it so I woke up feeling well. Today has been a very good day with a mild headache but the steroids kept me in a high all day. The nausea is almost gone but I think the pills are helping keeping it a t bay. Hope you had a good day today and you feel good And Thanks for your message ! Hugs Federica x
  • Federica's avatar
    Federica
    Member
    12 years ago
    Hello Rosanna , thank you for your message and al the tips and advise , it means a lot and it's helping so much to not what to do for someone that it's already going through it . I will try and be very careful next week , I am determined not to get sick! Food wise I'm already off coffee and I can't handle cost food , the smell makes me shiver. ;) I'm postponing my hair cut but I think at the end of week 2 it may happen . Hope you a feeling good now Rosanna and thanks again Hugs Federica x
  • Federica's avatar
    Federica
    Member
    12 years ago
    You are absolutely right Tashie ! I feel like I should do something to thank al my beautiful friends that are spending much of their time helping me , but at the moment I don't really know what to do . And even later , how do you repay someone for all the support they gave you? I can see why they say that cancer change you as a person , it's definitely making me appreciate people more and not taking for granted what or who I have around me. Hope you are well today and thank you for your message. Hugs Federica x
  • Federica's avatar
    Federica
    Member
    12 years ago
    Nice to hear from you! I thought you may like to know that I'm not going to buy neither of the wigs I tried that day at Look good feel better, great ones, but the Rod Steward hairstyle didn't really suited me that much ;) I think I'm going to visit that lady shop but will opt for a dark blonde , medium/ short length . I think that day emotions were very high , I could see from other women faces that we were all a bit nervous . I hope you are feeling better now, it's not easy to always feel positive , we are going throught a lot. I am doing well with the hunger , I'm already overweight now so I' d like to keep my weight under control, and not feeling super hungry at the moment helps. I'm trying to eat toast and nutritious soups , and I'm ok . Let's tomorrow though. And yes, up 12 am ! I went to sleep at 7.30pm and right awake now. Hope you are having a good night sleep. Hugs Federica
  • Federica's avatar
    Federica
    Member
    12 years ago
    Yes I am keeping up the antinausea pills even before feeling sick, before the nausea on the first night was very annoying , and I don't want really feeling like that again. Drinking water is helping a lot and yesterday I think the steroids made me feel super energetic, I cleaned the whole house breaking up a good sweat , but I did take breaks regularly drinking water and relaxing. I guess that has been my excercise for the day. Actually yesterday it's been a very good day , Hope you are feeling good now that your treatment is over , I can't wait to be at the same point as you are now. Hugs Federica x
  • Federica's avatar
    Federica
    Member
    12 years ago
    Hi Deanne , Yes I a trying to do all the right things, I don't think I ever drunk so much water in my life before , and no coffe , which for a self confessed coffaholic , i though it would be very hard , but my body doesn't really think I should drink it. One thing I pd like to ask you Deanne if that's ok: what did you find harder in term of coping with chemo: FEC or DOCETAXEL ? Thank you so much as always for all the support Hugs Federica x
  • rellie's avatar
    rellie
    Member
    12 years ago

     

     

     

    After reading some of these posts I'm thinking that I must either be really, really lucky or I'm one tough old broad.

    I had my first (fec) treatment last week. That night I felt odd, and after speaking to the onco unit, discovered that it was probably more to do with anxiety rather than side effects from chemo. Only took one anti nausea pill that night and haven't needed them since. I had a headache for a few days which made me feel a little unwell; I still get lightheaded and I do get tired really easy.

    So now I'm wondering if my next cycle will be far worse.

    I'm used to just doing whatever needs to be done without too much fuss so I too have been overwhelmed by the kindness, support and offers of help with absolutely anything - meals, housework, transport etc from friends and work colleagues. I'm really thankful that I have a wonderful group of friends from both work and in my personal life.

    Keep smiling and don't forget to laugh

    Narelle