Hello

Hi Rubes,  Nails grow back please try black nail polish as it protects you from sunshine which is what seems to enhance their deterioration.  How are you going?

Hello there, Biotene products help with dry mouth and help prevent ulcers, it comes as a mouth wash, toothpaste, mouth gel also a mouth spray, I used all of these and had very little trouble with mouth ulcers and it did relieve the dry mouth heaps.

The frozen gloves are supposed to help with the burning you get from the chemo, i can't help you there as they were never offered to me so apart from using the nail polish I still had trouble with my nails, finger and toes.

Unfortunately it is a bit late for me with the hair advice I did have it shaved off as soon as it started to fall out as I just couldn't stand the mess and also my head was sore, but it is growing back now, it came back in very tight curls and wispy on the ends I have just had the ends trimmed in the hope that I can have some control over it, found if I blow dried it to try and straighten it out it puffed out like an afro hairdresser told me I would just have to be patient and let it grow out and it will be more managable as it gets longer, it is thin but that is also a side effect of the Arimidex.

It is a buggar the weight gain, and I am still having trouble losing it but still early days main thing is to get better and feel better then I think everything will fall into place.

LOL Jacqui xx

Thank you Chris, I have added Biotene and the eye drops to my shopping list.  The local chemist is going to rub his hands together when he sees me walking in the door soon, hee hee.  Hopefully you are doing well in all areas on your journey and you sound so positive.  Curly hair would be nice as I have always wanted it to be curly but it has always been as straight as straight.  I have had a mouth like the bottom of a cockys cage since day one of chemo so I am sure it will get worse over time.  I clean my teeth after every meal with a soft toothbrush and rinse my mouth with 1 teaspoon of baking soda in warm water to cleanse or alternate with 1 teaspoon of salt in warm water for any infections etc.  It does seem to help a bit with the feeling in the mouth. 

I am also washing my hands constantly because of concerns of infections especially after playing with my beautiful dog or seeing to the chooks food and water etc. and then I try to put hand cream on afterwards when I remember.  I think I am going to get OCD disorder (think that is how you say it) from washing my hands so much........I know I am a nutter but got to keep your sense of humour I guess :-)

Mich x LOL

Hi Mich,

I can only answer for me but here goes! The frozen gloves are applied to reduce the amount of chemo going to the fingertips, thus reducing the risk of nail damage. Mine went a funny yellow colour, but didn't go black or fall out like some peoples do. I got a bit of nueropathy (numbness) in some fingers and toes, but it went away after chemo finished.

My partner shaved my head when it started to fall out in clumps, about day 12 after the first chemo. I had a hairdresser run the clipers over it when it was about an inch long (growing back) just to tidy up the different lengths. I am 9 months post chemo and my hair is about 7 - 8 cm long when you stretch it out, because it has come back curly. It is lovely. I had my first trim last week to tidy up the split ends and shape it.

As for pain killers, YES! I had Panadeine, Endone, MS Contin, but to tell you the truth, most of them made me spinny in the head, and I found heat the best remedy. As in heat pack, and warm showers and baths.

It sounds like you have a lot on your plate, so remember to rest a lot and rely as much as you can on other people, as much as you probably don't want to.There are no medals for doing it tough!! Take care xx

Hi DEb,

I have finished my chemo now thank goodness!! I used a good strong black nailpolish and it saved my nails. I have had pain in my finger tips and toes but it is gradually easing. My chemo knocked me around terribly - for about ten days after each dose. It was very frustrating as I hate laying around doing nothing, but that was all I could do! Now that I am finished chemo I am incredibly weak and tired. My muscles just don't want to work and I get puffed out just walking to the letterbox!! I know it will get better (so everyone tells me) but at the moment it is an awful feeling!

You will get through it, as we all do, so stay positive and focus on the end.

Best wishes,

Mel

Yeah Tonya I am stocked up but we are out of town and that town does not have 24 hour chemist or anything like it so we can get caught and it is a 40k round trip mind you that is better than where we used to live it was an 80k round trip to the same town, so have halved the distance, but it is still a long drive when you don't feel well so better to have it in the cupboard or the freezer just incase.

Wonder why I wasn't offered the chill pill that would have looked good in my pharmacy!!!!!

Well really enjoy your posts Tonya and have always found them helpful, thank you.

Cheerio for now,

Jacqui xxx