Hi all, I had my first chemo and wow the side effects, the headaches, back pain constipation, mouth ulcers and on it goes . Ended up in hospital for 8 days, and what an awful 8 days, just home yesterday, and next treatment is the 1st April, just hoping for a different outcome, but will keep you posted.

So sorry you are struggling so much through this. AC is crappy. That’s all I can say.

Hang in there babe" i found a wet facecloth was a great tool to have with my headaches" iv only had my first chemo last week also xxx

Many times throughout the AC I despaired of getting through it and I didn’t suffer anywhere near as much as some. It’s a misery that you just can’t describe and just after my last I had a nightmare where I was told I needed one more. I was devastated in my dream. I have had my 9th paclitaxel and coping much better. It’s still chemo but having it weekly just means the side effects are still there but muted and tolerable. It’s a tough gig having chemo and no one around you can really enter in unless they have experienced it. And AC is not your average chemo either. If you look it up it’s one of the most vicious available - probably one of the most effective also which is why we sit there and let someone infuse it into our veins. I would get so down on day 4 and 5 that I would have a tear - filled melt down, mostly alone because I didn’t want to upset my kids or husband, but by day 7,8 I was able to see the end in sight again. I feel for you so much. Hang in there because it will end one day. Xx

Goodness what a horrible situation for you! What was causing the hospital side of things and do they expect that to recur? Sending you a good sleep in your own bed! Rest as much as you can. Hugs Xx

Wow you poor thing! Yeah chemo was a bit of a circus....fortunately I had a multitude of side effects but none too severeMaybe your onco can alter your dose?hugs Caz x

Chemo 1st one down what a ride | BCNA Online Network

ChezaH
Member
5 years ago
2nd chemo done, and back in hospital again on the 5th day after chemo for another 4 days, these side effects are miserable to say the least. I go and see my oncologist next Thursday, maybe a change in treatment, he did say when I was in hospital that he may just do one more and miss the last one and then start the next treatment of weekkly ones ?? I said to him that is all this worth it,and he said I will get you better ! I am not sure.
Tried the cold cap but I am not sure if the nurses had a lot of experience in it, from what I could see, and my hair is gone, and I have had a shave :) all this and it is only 2 down and months to go...... 😢 Sorry a bit of self pity today rant rant.
ChezaH
Member
6 years ago

Caz1 said:

Hi @Berchel14 I lay on the couch for the first few days. My thing was to keep moving, I went for a walk every day, some days a short one was all I could manage but without exception I got out there. Always made me feel better in my head as well as physically.....and my dogs wouldn’t let me off!!!! :D

constipation tips; drinking HEAPS of water, 2 coloxyl tablets every day, prunes, licorice, inner health ( excellent ) ,sometimes I’d make a big casserole based on beans, eg butter beans, lentils and tomato, lemon, oil and garlic

Thanks for

Caz1 said:

Hi @Berchel14 I lay on the couch for the first few days. My thing was to keep moving, I went for a walk every day, some days a short one was all I could manage but without exception I got out there. Always made me feel better in my head as well as physically.....and my dogs wouldn’t let me off!!!! :D

constipation tips; drinking HEAPS of water, 2 coloxyl tablets every day, prunes, licorice, inner health ( excellent ) ,sometimes I’d make a big casserole based on beans, eg butter beans, lentils and tomato, lemon, oil and garlic

Caz1 said:

Hi @Berchel14 I lay on the couch for the first few days. My thing was to keep moving, I went for a walk every day, some days a short one was all I could manage but without exception I got out there. Always made me feel better in my head as well as physically.....and my dogs wouldn’t let me off!!!! :D

constipation tips; drinking HEAPS of water, 2 coloxyl tablets every day, prunes, licorice, inner health ( excellent ) ,sometimes I’d make a big casserole based on beans, eg butter beans, lentils and tomato, lemon, oil and garlic

Thanks for the info Yes I am drinking lots of water, and since coming out of hospital I have been able to eep the constipation under control. Yes I will try the walk thing but with the coid19 a bit wary to go outside xx
Caz1
Member
6 years ago
Hi @Berchel14 I lay on the couch for the first few days. My thing was to keep moving, I went for a walk every day, some days a short one was all I could manage but without exception I got out there. Always made me feel better in my head as well as physically.....and my dogs wouldn’t let me off!!!! :D

constipation tips; drinking HEAPS of water, 2 coloxyl tablets every day, prunes, licorice, inner health ( excellent ) ,sometimes I’d make a big casserole based on beans, eg butter beans, lentils and tomato, lemon, oil and garlic
ChezaH
Member
6 years ago

ddon said:

AC is truly awful. I only had one night in hospital - it upset my heart and I needed to be monitored - but I spent 9 days of each cycle absolutely miserable and many days barely able to lift my head. I didn’t get sick as such, as in viruses or whatever, but oh the side effects are tough. On the upside, I did learn to ride it out because I knew what was coming.
Taxol is truly a walk in the park after AC. Hang in there - hoping your oncologist can sort it to make it more bearable for you somehow.

Thanks for your update, yes I was not in a good way at all, and cannot bear to think it will continue with each treatment. I am still soooo tired and exhausted, have not had a day without a headache, the the constipation was terrible and has made such a mess of my body, and on 🤣 but on the bright side after wed I will be half way through the first lot 😛 LOL
ddon
Member
6 years ago
AC is truly awful. I only had one night in hospital - it upset my heart and I needed to be monitored - but I spent 9 days of each cycle absolutely miserable and many days barely able to lift my head. I didn’t get sick as such, as in viruses or whatever, but oh the side effects are tough. On the upside, I did learn to ride it out because I knew what was coming.
Taxol is truly a walk in the park after AC. Hang in there - hoping your oncologist can sort it to make it more bearable for you somehow.
ChezaH
Member
6 years ago

Caz1 said:

Wow you poor thing! Yeah chemo was a bit of a circus....fortunately I had a multitude of side effects but none too severe
Maybe your onco can alter your dose?
hugs Caz x

Thanks, yes he did say he was going to do some adjustments, next one is Wed so keeping fingers crossed. He thinks it has triggered migraines, so hoping that gets a little better 😢 as I used to suffer from them years ago. How did you manage the exhaustion ? I was in hospital for 8 days in a room and only got to go out twice, so now very weak, and not really wanting to go outside the house in this climate of things. Really appreciate having somebody to talk with. xx Cheryl
ChezaH
Member
6 years ago

PV123 said:

Sorry to hear about your side effects @Berchel14.

I had a lot of different side effects and they were mostly manageable, so hopefully your next sessions will be easier.

What chemo drug are you on?

I am on AC, the oncologist said that he would modify it for the next one, which is next Wednesday, do not want to have to go into hospital again :( What about you? were you on the same one or different. I am really hoping I can get these side effects sorted out, Hope you are feeling ok XX
jennyss
Member
6 years ago
Dear @Berchel14

for next time! from jennyss in Western NSW
PV123
Member
6 years ago
Sorry to hear about your side effects @Berchel14.

I had a lot of different side effects and they were mostly manageable, so hopefully your next sessions will be easier.

What chemo drug are you on?
ChezaH
Member
6 years ago
Yes it is just awful , I had terrible side effects, I go in for my next session next week, the dr has said he will make adjustments, so I will see when I have my appointment with him before my session
Thank you all for all your helpful hints and suggestions, I really appreciate that I can talk with somebody that is going through or has been through this process. x