UTI and worms

Hi Everyone, I hope you all had a good Christmas and New Year. Well mine started off ok in December, had my last chemo. Docetaxol and having Herceptin. (14 more to go). Oncologist even gave me my chemo a few days earlier so I could go and have a good Christmas dinner. Well it didn't work out like that. The week of Christmas I got a Urinary Tract Infection, so off to the hospital, spent 5 hours there, finally I received antibiotics for 7 days.

Go on my holiday and come Christmas day, staying at a lovely 5 star hotel in Hobart. I didn't feel like lunch. Ate it anyway, It had all been paid for. Two days later I spent most of the day on the toilet. Tried to let my bowels do it naturally, before I gave up and took Gastro-stop. Finished the packet. Still no relief. Then I got bad pains in the stomach and an itchy bottom. "It just can't be" WORMS !!!!!! Being a public holiday, I found a chemist open to go and get the worm tablets and a different diarrhoea tablet. Success!!!!!

Has anyone else had theme symptoms while on chemo and Herceptin. I do suffer from IBS and Diverticulitis Disease, but never had worms before.

Now all I have to do is make sure they are all out of my body, so I can have my bi-lateral mastectomy on the 18th January. So I am getting prepared for this to do by myself. My husband is sick and is in no way - capable of helping me. My daughter who was coming to Tassie to help me as informed me that she can no longer come as my son-in-law is going into hospital - around the same time. Bad timing so far for 2017.

So any advice as to how to handle myself after coming out of hospital. As I live 200 kms from hospital, I will be staying close to the hospital incase of any problems. Friends are unable to help also, as they have their own health issues.

Well getting ready for all my medical tests next week before surgery. Its full on until then.

Thanks for listening. Christina

primek
Member
9 years ago
Well lots of shelf ready meals like canned tuna and beans etc and even some pre cooked rice packs. Then there also are the frozen cous cous and veg and fish parcels...so stock up on some of this type of thing and your own home cooked stuff and will be good and eady for a few weeks.
primek
Member
9 years ago
Yeah...we don't have it here either.
Christina_55
Member
9 years ago
Thanks @Scoda, I will have a look into this. @primek. This would be a good idea except where I live we are classed as the last town and isolated town, even though visitors come to see the bay of fires and go camping. Mind you it is lovely and peaceful. Still thinking of ideas and appreciate everyones thoughts. Christina x
primek
Member
9 years ago
You could have something like Lite and Easy delivered if in an appropriate area...might make life easier for a few weeks. You can always eat extras so not to lose weight.
socoda
Member
9 years ago
Christina, just a thought - when you come out after surgery, if your husband is unwell also order your groceries online and get them delivered. I did this after my mastectomy (I didn't want my mum having to worry about it) and the home delivery staff are excellent and will bring the delivery right into your kitchen. Saves a lot of time, effort and stress and costs between $4 - $10 depending on when you want them delivered. Too easy. Xx Cath
Christina_55
Member
9 years ago
Thank you Jane for your advice Unfortunately my husband is ill also and I will be cooking some meals over the next week before surgery. Thanks again. Christina
Hopes_and_Dream
Member
9 years ago
And the rest of my post .....
i also cooked and froze which was a big help. Made it easy for my husband to just reheat.
Hope you are feeling better and the next couple of weeks pass quickly. Best wishes Jane x
Hopes_and_Dream
Member
9 years ago
Hi Christina, sounds like you are very organised.
just re the drains - I had 2 drains after my mastectomy. One was in my side and this was taken out in hospital on day 4. The other drain was in the centre of my chest just below my breasts and I went home with this one. Really simple to change the drain bags. I was home with it for 5 days before it was removed at my first post op check up. I believe many of the ladies had their drain in at home for much longer than me. If you go home with the drain don't worry as it's easily managed. If/when the time comes we can give you lots of tips
Christina_55
Member
9 years ago
Thank you all for your advice. I will be going shopping next week, so I will get extra pillows. I know that I will get Endone to go home with. (How many I don't know) .I will find out about Targin - as with IBS I can either be constipated or have loose bowels. I found PJs with buttons down the front whilst on holidays, so OK there. My Breast Care Nurse has gone on 3 months Long Service Leave. (No doubt - well deserved), So I have to meet her replacement next week when I have my next Herceptin, before Surgery. I will ask her. I believe I will be in hospital for 4 days only, and my Surgeon will not let you home with drains.
Thanks, Christina xx
Brenda5
Member
9 years ago
I was told in the hospital system if you don't ask you don't get and that has turned out true. Make sure you ask for some good painkillers to go home with. Panadol they told me to take after the first op didn't come anywhere near helping. Second op they gave me Targin which also has a laxative to help you as painkillers can really bind you up. Use a smaller lighter towel and hang it on the bottom rung as you will have trouble lifting anything much. I seem to remember too, after the drains came out which can be 4 days to 2 weeks that little hole needs a waterproof dressing on it. I got the real good ones from the chemist as the outpatients ones weren't real good.