First AC Chemo

It is a great place for us newbies being able to get advice and support from the pros that have been there done that. I'm very grateful for all the good people here. Everyone is just truly amazing.

Ohhhh boy hindsight!!! LOL aha!!! absolutely, but you know what? I think things happen the way they are meant to, and we make the best decisions for ourselves at any given time. Yes youre doing the treatment the other way around, so in a way it may be better in terms of nausea, fingers crossed! and I totally agree, I joined the forum well after my treatment so didnt have much support at all really. The Forum has been wonderful, its an extremely isolating time I found, family tried to be good but they just couldnt possibly understand the complexities of it. Here? we're all going through it at different stages and different treatments but we get it, so its so comforting. 

Oh haha!! thats a pleasure, I hate seeing anyone suffering like everyone here, but the courage and resilience is breathtaking! So hang in there! M x

Melclarity, you are a sweetheart. It's nice to just have someone reach out when feeling alone. You made my day. The taste started on taxol but this first round made things taste even worse. I've read a lot of your story and you've certainly been through the wringer and come out the other side. It's great your feeling so much better after going through so much. Health really has to come first and I wish I hadn't left mine go so long before going and getting checked out but hindsight is a  beautiful thing lol. Thanks for your kindness Mel.
XO 

Hey Lisa,

Oh yes great you got onto Coloxyl, I never had probs either prior, but coloxyl helped quite alot, so keep that up, oh fissures, yes I can relate OMG very painful, I also found it incredibly hard to hydrate and I needed to for that reason. The taste is very ordinary, good thing to remember is it will not last it will all come back to normal. Awww yes nothing is sacred thats for sure through this!! It is horrible, I totally agree. You are right though, my Head Nurse said my first infusion would dictate how I will go for the rest, unfortunately I was very ill and put in hospital after the next 3 of FEC. You're doing absolutely fine, so I don't think it will be any different to this one. Incredibly frightening of course! I was petrified when I began, but you soon become a pro uuugh! I did 4 FEC then 8 Taxol and it was so so hard. Just take a day at a time, thats the only way I got through it all, I took away all expectations of myself and just let myself be what I needed to be for me. I couldnt work after about 8 weeks so I succumb, as the Universe had other ideas of what I needed for me. First time in my life I put me above everything, and I will never put work in front again. Im 16 months post chemo now, and whilst some side effects honestly, though am 10 weeks post mastectomy/diep flap recon Im doing so so well and I feel well. So hang in there, dont look how far you have to go...look how far youve come...big hugs xo Melinda

Melclarity, how kind to check in on me. For the first four days I hardly ate or drank much. Couldn't stomach anything and I had no nausea touch wood, but the taste in my mouth was so gross it had me gaging at times. Today is day 6 and the fatigue is incredible so much so I've been on my bed all week. Constipation got me too but is easing now thanks to coloxy. I never had any problems with the bowels before chemo but by god I have now lol. I have fissures to add to it all and in agony. I had put up with it for weeks because I was too embarrassed to say anything to my oncologist.well I talked to my nurse while having chemo and she says I'm telling your doctor. To add to more embarrassment my oncologist came saw me during chemo and had to bare my butt to her lol. Omg  I hate all this but I know others are fairing worse. I actually cried when those red syringes came near me and my nurse was awesome. Not looking forward to the next treatment but am hoping if I didn't get nausea this time that it will be like that with the others. All so scary this and I'll be glad when it's all over. Thanks so much again for checking in, I wasn't expecting that and I'm just so grateful for all you lovely ladies and the support.
Lisa xo 

@LMK74 Hey Lisa, thought Id check and see how you are going?? how's the eating?? I did FEC and couldnt eat much at all but still put on weight uuugh go figure!! all taste goes so it was just a matter of what you could get in really. Hope youre ok. Hugs Melinda xo

@LMK74 re feeling nauseas because of taste. Try the maxalon and see if helps. I found veggies just bitter. If I didn't eat I'd feel sick because of that. I lived on toasted cheese sandwiches. Seemed the only thing I could tolerate.

Lisa..in terms of eating or not I went to my local health food shop and spoke to a nutritionist there about something to help if not wanting to eat...she sold me a good quality whey protein powder tnat u make with water and boost it up by adding bananas and berries...also got a good quality magnesium powder to combat restless legs etc.

Thanks socoda, anything is worth a try.

Sorry lost the rest of my post.  Now it could be the stuff of urban legend but I'm hoping it works for you.  Xx Cath