Tamoxigang New Year, New Thread, *46*

[BetsyBoop]

Hands round a for everyone.

Updating, I now don't drive on day of treatment, and 2 days following. I found steroids make me a bit hyper/manic, and I found my judgement/concentration was not the best.

I recommend you plan NOT to drive day of treatment, at least for the first cycle. You will have premeds of steroids and strong anti nausea. It is not unusual to feel sleepy/groggy.

After that perhaps have another driver with you the first time to see how you go. First time I drove on day following chemo, I didn't realize my judgment was impared until I was actually driving. I had to super concentrate, and really pay attention at roundabouts and junctions. Felt like I was a bit drunk, I got a bit of a fright, especially as I had my Dds in the car. Luckily it was non-peak light traffic.
That was cycle one, I decided to not take that chance again.

But SEs are different person to person. So you might be fine. But I highly recommend you make other arrangements for day of treatment.

Another thing to note, chemo appt takes hours. My first 4 cycles took 4.5-5 hours. Sometimes delays in starting if all nurses busy, sometimes delays in getting bloods back. Tax appts are taking me 6 hours. I start at 9am and am out around 3.

I agree with not driving on the day or a couple after, hopefully people will help out with lifts

My chemo appointments didn't take that long mom even with the cold cap. I was in and out in a couple of hours, 6 is horrendous !

Thanks KitKat for the reassurances about SEs disappearing (eventually). Foo hopefully your hot flushes will disappear in time too.

Updating re driving, for my first 3 chemos (EC) I absolutely couldn't have driven on the day of chemo or even for 2-3 days afterwards. Too sick, woozy, drugged up, feeling crap. When I moved onto Paclitaxel (aka tax) I was absolutely fine driving the next day. Everyone reacts differently, but I would recommend having a back-up plan in case you're not up to it.

Malt I'm going to LGFB tomorrow with 2 lovely ladies I have met during chemo. Very excited, especially about the bag of goodies! Do we all have to whip our wigs off? Hahaha!

I thought I'd had a good day.
Walked unite a lot - albeit like an old lady, not so faint, great BP, friends visited. Now this:
I've been sitting in the loo for an hour enough trying to push out poo number two (in a week) to now know it's helaemarroids. Bad case. From drugs causing constipation. It's shit. Literally.
Laying on bed feeling v low.
Waiting for doc to examine my bottom!

I know I've got to see wee doctor (chronic stress incontinence), physio, bloods guy (calcium, Vit D, thyroidy stuff), back man, tumour man, etcetera.and am waiting for results to see whether I bed to meet Rare Fucking Aggressive cancer treatment-needing tumour Lady... But now, I've got great big mega-poo sized haemorrhoids.
These ones ain't gonna shrinky dink away in a hurry, apparently. Nurse reckons it'll be treatment necessary for it.
Felt so happy today. Been making so much progress. Upset. Could burst into tears. But no ones here to give me a hug.

Handbags hope you enjoy it ! At mine it was a real mix of people with hair and without, some did take their wigs off I was too self conscious which was a bit silly !

goodness. A huge virtual hug from me.

That's a pity. I had haemorrhoids after childbirth and recently during chemo one cycle. Really a pain in the arse, pun totally intended.

It sounds like you are making great progress. Take comfort from that. But there us nothing wrong with letting go and having a good old cry. Great for releasing tension.

Malt, how long did your Tax take? Mine is going in over 3 hours, and I get about an hour of premeds on IV too, these need 30 min break before Tax. And bloods are taking 40 mins to an hour. 6 hours is really long...

Huge great big hugs to you Goodness.

I had bloods taken 3 days before so didn't have to wait for the results of those and didn't have any premeds either, so that's probably why mine was a lot quicker mom. Had the cold cap on for half an hour before and after and the actual chemo took about an hour.

I drove all the time through chemo, and to the hospital etc. but I was lucky with few SEs.

Hugs n puns gratefully received.
Sooooooo exhausted that I can't text but can't sleep as meds n doc coming

Goodness, hope you manage to get some rest. The old piles sound horrid :-(

Big gentle Hugs for goodness

Mom my experience was similar to malts, bloods day before, premeds about 15mins then an hour or he tax infusion and a unified flush through after, two hours max. I would have hated 6hrs... (they may speed tax up a bit after first time - some places do first one slow in case you get a reaction)

unified quick, damn autocorrect and fat fingers

Morning all

I could do with a hand to hold today have a brain scan this morning. Been having headaches for weeks and now I have been finding I have a weakness on my left hand side. wasn't going to mention it until I knew what was going on, BUT I'm a bit scared! Okay I'm SERIOUSLY scared! I haven't told my family as I don't want to worry them, so only you lovely ladies and my stuffed mouse for support!

I am just hoping and praying it's nothing serious and just the Chemo causing issues!!!

really here's my hand to hold . Squeeze as hard as you need to.
Did your headache coincide with Tax treatment? I had headache for over a week on my first tax. But it wasn't severe, and was gone by week 3.
Fingers crossed for you. What time is your appointment?

Oh really - i'm here too - hang on for as long as you need. I think a few here have had scans for similar reasons and all has been well so I've my fingers crossed you also get an all clear.

Really I'll take your other hand. I also had lots of headaches on tax, as well as aches and pains in lots of places, not just joints. I was constantly popping ibuprofen and paracetamol combos. I hope your scan turns out to be non-eventful and nothing is found x

Lovely nurse told me I'd woken in pain and called every 30 minutes.
I asked why this was happening.
M. "Have you lowered/ lessened the painkillers?"

N. "No, darling. It's because you were more mobile yesterday. You had lengthy Physio and did some walking."

So ladies, this is what I get as a reward for daring to walk.
What a slap in the face!

Big hugs really I'm glad you've told us so we can hold your hand. When will you get the results ?

I have a spare pair of hands for anyone that needs them. Goodness and Really I am squeezing you both tightly.

Squeezing your hand very tightly really

Goodness I would ask them to reassess your pain relief, no excuse for anyone being in pain in the day and age.

really, I will be thinking of you today and sending warmth and hugs your way.

goodness, when I was in hospital it was very much one good day, one bad. As my nurse says, you feel good so you do lots, then it hits you the next day. But it's all part of recovering. Just your body telling you today it fancies resting up a bit more.

Thanks for all the hands. I'm squeezing them tighter than you will ever know Feeling so sick this morning not sure about butterflies, think there's a herd of elephants in my tummy.

At work at the moment, just about to take youngest to nursery. Trying to take my mind off things and failing!

Scan is at 11, which means it will probably be nearer 12! oncologist said he would try and get the results through ASAP, so possibly I will get results by end of today, or more likely at my Oncologist appt tomorrow!!

I keep telling myself that it'll be fine, but why is there always that little voice saying 'But what if'

But there's nothing I can do, what will be will be! Helps to know that I'm not alone, so Thankyou xxxx