Forum Discussion
Is that a light at the end of the tunnel??
To me a journey is getting from A to B at a leisurely manner....stopping off for a bit of sight seeing and long lunches.....what I have been through since 28th March has been a fast track nightmare heading for the chasm that has lost the bridge!! Oh I know that sounds melodramatic but I honestly don't know where last 4 months have gone. Started with Breast scan bus and the lovely technician explaining that if there is any problems I will called up for further investigation ( this is while she is holding my hand and patting with the other one - I smiled and said thanks and was thinking uh oh..oh well!! :) ) Further investigations the next week, 100k away, Bilateral lumpectomy followed, then oops DCIS hidden lets go mastectomy on one side...other was fine...just scar tissue from Lumpectomy 25 years ago! daughter and I decided to call breast that was leaving the building "Doris"..texted son post-op and said...Doris has left the building ..he came back...who is Doris?? Oops forgot to tell him her name...lol Last drain out a week following discharge...damn..infection and fluid build up...Iv Antibiotics and who needs needles to draw fluid out...its decided to gush out by itself!! Arm exercises not good enough...get thee to the Physio!! Oh the pain!! I'm sure the Physio degree includes a Unit of Fiendishness 101. :) So next step is Chemo .....and its starts today. I've arrived at the chasm but I'm seeing the bridge over it!! I am surprisingly calm (at the moment) I am not prepared to leave this world without a damn big fight! So lets see where I am after 6 treatments over 3 months! I haven't been alone with support from sisters , mother (shes 88 god love her!) friends and of course husband and my kids. - Even grandkids (4 - 10) know I have a "sore arm" and I get so many more hugs and kisses :) So my purpose in writing all this is I guess I needed to put it out into the universe that I have had pain, tears, fears and felt alone. I think this is my letter to me saying...get going girlfriend the next step has arrived and its time to take it...the bridge is there....trust!!
79 Replies
Fuckity! If you were not given a Neulasta shot after the first chemo, you can probably expect one next time. It boosts your white cell production but it gives some of us a full body toothache. I found Loratadine very helpful when dealing with that. Ask, before you go back in, if you are going to have a colony booster (how revolting does that sound) and if you are, can you take an antihistamine. Thing is, this little hack works best if you start the day before treatment. Some practices prescribe the loratadine as part of their usual procedure, some have never heard of it.
Hang in there. Marg xx
- Bugger! @Scorpio101 There's some great clips on you tube for scarf tying.
- Well ladies, I am feeling quite lost at the moment. Went in all ready for # 2...well as ready as one can be, and side effect still hanging around associated with raised WCC got me cancelled and sent off for tests, and rescheduled next Thursday. I so appreciate the cautions but its a high of readiness to boom...on my butt tripping over big girl pants and saying SH**T!! My hairdresser is chasing me (through communication with daughter) so I'm off to see her tomorrow. And right now I am going in search of awesome turbans and scarves - spending money will make me feel better, momentarily... :D I have another week of "normal" to enjoy as long as dreaded WCC behaves!!
- @Scorpio101 good luck today, hopefully tinkering with the cocktail helps (though I have a sneaky suspicion they say that to everyone just to keep us going)
- I'm glad the onc has been onto it and I hope things will be better for you this time.
Are you going to get rid of the hair or let it all come out in its own time? Either way, the sensation of a shower on a hairless head is a marvellous one. No compensation I know! But it's a small pleasure in the storm of chemo.
Yank those big girl undies up to the chin, you've got this! Good luck. K xox - Thanks sister. Hope all is going well for you xx
- Hope today goes quickly and side effects minimal!
- Sooooooooo dear self, Heading in today for Treatment #2. Seen oncologist and elements to be adjusted so it wont be so horrendous has been promised....can only hope! Hair falling thick and fast. Hands, ankles and knees swollen..this is fun! I so do not sound positive! Tired I guess worrying about husband cutting fingers in a bench saw last week - dope! :) Big girl pants on...and thank goodness for family and friends help.!!
- I am SO feeling for those of you going thru hair lost at this moment ..... my hubby was lucky - his hair sort of 'thinned out badly' over 3-4 weeks & just stayed really thin & scraggy for some months ..... he just wore a warm 'beanie thingie' (as his chemo was straight thru Winter) and eventually his hair started growing back again - curly this time tho!! But he still just looked SO thin & scraggy over the period (him being only 50kg!)
All the best to all going thru this difficult time xxx - @Scorpio101 it's awful when your falls out , such a horrible feeling. I'm at the point where mine is just (only just) starting to grow back. I have the beginnings of a five clock shadow . I'm quite excited and inspect it every morning now.
Take heart it will be back. Sending you hugs. Take care. Xxx
