Australian Sisters
Comments
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Sue, yes I sometimes go to the markets, which are 15 minutes stroll from my place.
Kate, lol about you being blonde.
I had my first chemo on 11 January last year and my hair started falling out on Australia Day!0 -
Sue, I intend to check out the Eagle Farm markets one Sunday. I have heard they are even better than New Farm markets but I think it costs $2 to enter.
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Don't worry, next time I am not leaving that place without more meds!
Small dinner, small walk, warm shower and all feels a little better...
Thanks so much for all your support guys. For a group of women who I didn't know at all a couple of weeks ago you are amazing.
Kate: I wish I didn't have to keep the seat warm for you, but I will... I hope my experience today hasn't scared you too much. So many women say that they get through this well, but I knew all along that I tend towards nausea easily and I really should have pushed that to my onc more pro-actively. If the nausea had been under better control today the day would not have been as bad.
regards Jenn0 -
Im feeling for you Jenn. Just get through it and come out the other side. You will feel better sooner rather than later if that helps. By the time you have to go for the next lot, you will hopefully feel that "oh that wasnt so bad" - bit like having a baby, you say never again during this first few days, but that fades and you will start feeling better soon.
I had all the usual drugs as listed by the others, but also metoclopramide and Ondansetson and Omeprazole, due to my unfortunate tendency to vomit for days after each round.
Are they giving you Neulasta to boost your white cell count the day after chemo? Also if you get a coated tongue despite the bicarb and salt mouthwash, theres a pill from the chemist you can get (cant remember now what it is) but it works a treat. Just tell a chemist your doing chemo and your tongue is coated and they will know what to give you.
Kate Im sorry you have to go thru it, but it is definately doable. I had the worst nausea s/e my oncologist had experienced in her patients in quite a while and hey if I had to I would do it all again in an instant, so how bad could it have been lol.
lol Trish I did have to go to ER, think it was after the 2nd round thru the picc theyd put in my arm a few days before. Blood clots would you believe. The urgent card works a real treat, got treated like a princess and kept well away from the others in Ipswich Public Hospital. 6 months of claxane injections followed. They really should just go straight for the port for everyone. so much easier and better.
Jenn and Aussie Kate Im sure you already know, but in case you dont, do yourself a favour and contact the Look Good Feel Good? Better? program (damn this foggy brain). Its a wonderful boost during chemo and in my case helped with things like where to buy a wig, how to draw my eyebrows in and they are wonderful for boosting morale.
Good luck to those starting chemo and Chrissy sorry your facing this, but thank goodness your strong . i have no doubt you will deal with everything and come out the otherside even stronger.
If its any consolation I seriously envy you having such wonderful husbands to help you through. I had to lean on my poor old mum and nearly broke her. Thankfully mum and daughter doing much better now lol
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Racy - I recently heard about those markets but haven't got around to going yet - it is $2 and that gets you a car park and entry. I would go tomorrow but DH has this fanciful idea of going for a bike ride and going to the Stafford Tavern for breakfast on the way home and I've got bacon and eggs at home - boy he's a pest.
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Well I have just returned home after a wonderful night out enjoying dinner and the company of good friends. DH's suggestion and he organised everything......such a treat! My hair has gotten so thin that tonight I wore my wig and surprise, surprise, a good friend whom I hadn't seen for a couple of months complimented me on my new do.........Such a nice thing as I was feeling a little self conscious about it but he said he would never have guessed when I told him it was a wig.......lol.....he is such a sweety.......maybe he was just saying that to make me feel better....either way, it worked!
Love n hugs all. Chrissy
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Chrissy - I'm glad you had a lovely night out and relaxed. Your DH is to be commended - lovely man.
I want to try and come and see you next June after Annie has her baby. I probably won't come down until a couple of weeks after the birth, but we must make arrangements to meet - I want to give you a big hug.
Sue
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Sue I would love that! Just say when and I will make sure I get to Adelaide, I can stay with my DD anytime so no probs there................I'd love the hug too.....lol
Love n hugs. Chrissy
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What are we doing up so late?????? I had a nap this afternoon, so that's my reason
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Mine is I am still full from dinner!........and my back is a bit uncomfortable tonight.....lol
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I'm still here - about to go to bed. I know what you mean about a full stomach - it seems to take ages for food to settle, whereas Steve will go to bed on a full stomach - don't know how he does it.
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Arie is snoring his head off and started that about ten minutes after we got home!........he is one of those people that put their head down and they are out like lights! Starting to get a little sleepy myself so won't be up much longer...............one final cup of tea and I'm off. See you tomorrow!
Love n hugs. Chrissy
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Chrissy - I went to bed at 12:30 and then woke up every hour for hours after - hot flushes and bathroom visits and I took a melatonin tab before I went to bed. Finally slept better from 3 until 7. I really have to watch those afternoon naps- they really stuff me up.
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Mornin' all!
You know you are addicted when you get up and instead of surfing the news sites like you used to, you jump straight onto BCO to catch up with your friends over the first coffee of the day (it's 5.30am here btw).
I hope everyone has a good/better day today.
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I read the news first today, but usually don't - just thought I'd switch things around for a change - the news was boring
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Suzie - those hot flashes are just the pits aren't they?
I suffered tremendously from them when I went through menopause about 4 years ago, hence I went onto HRT and they worked an absolute treat. My Dr kept telling me it was important to have a mammogram whilst I was on them. Did I listen? No. I was bullet proof I thought. Wrong.
They said I would have to take medication for 5 years after I finish Herceptin in a year. I might seriously have to think about that. I was having upwards of 30 hot flashes a day and night. They literally nearly drove me around the bend. I couldn't cope and it ruined my life until I took the medication. Anyway, that is way down the track. But I sympathise with you over yours... and hope they are manageable.
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Kate - you don't look old enough to have gone through menopause. My hot flushes back then were mild but I did do HRT for 4 years until the bc diagnosis. It is important to take the Arimidex - both of my tumours were very highly hormone receptive. To me they are now a blessing because I know the Aromasin/Arimidex is doing it's job. I don't have that many a day but they are more severe than before - small price to pay for prevention.
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(gulp) I've been found out!!!!
my pic is 3 years old. I would like to think I haven't changed that much since. Heck who am I kidding here?.. I'm a lot heavier now. I think when and if I loose my hair, I might change the pic to post one without hair or in some glam turban. I will do it after the Look Good Feel Good course I've registered for.
I was 95% ER and 5% PR. Guess that means that hormones have definately been driving this C bus.
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Good lord! You ladies are up at all hours of the night!
Chrissy - what a lovely man your Arie is, I'm glad you had a nice night.
Sue - tell Steve that bike riding on a Sunday morning is sacrillegious!! Markets sound much, much better lol
Jenn- hope you are feeling better today, we are all holding your hand and sending you big hugs.
Kate - I'll make a confession too - my picture is a couple of years old too. I too am a bit older and heavier, hell a lot older looking and too heavy now lol. I had really bad hot flushes when going through menopause, they were very strong and I was getting a couple every hour - made sleeping almost impossible. They tapered off, and interestingly once I started on the Arimidex they aren't quite so bad. They are still there, and occasionally they are horrible, but not all the time. The worst one seems to be as soon as I get into bed, and it feels different to the pre bc ones. But I wouldn't say they are a big problem. Don't worry about Arimidex until you start to take it, and then see how the se's affect you. Remember - everyone is different.
Lyndal - great suggestion about the Look Good Feel Good, Better?? I'm not sure either classes, I didn't go to one, but wish I had. I'm glad the priority card works for ER too - I was sure it would help - but good to know that the system does work when it's supposed to. Of course you were treated like a Princess - and so you should have been! lol
Racy - how's the gym going? I think you are going to be an inspiration to us lol
Trish
xoxo
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Lyndal - thanks for the LGFG jolt. I registered online last night and I'm looking forward to it. I hope you are feeling better now.0
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Trisha - Well good morning to you MIss sleepy head
I just love the early mornings. Just me up, everyone else sleeping (including the wupples - 4 dogs) and I water the garden while it's still cool and in shade. It's been so hot over here. 36+ for the past few days.
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Good morning Kate - I did sleep well last night thank you lol. Have been out in the garden and deadheaded roses and dahlias! But must admit, not up as early as you. On the weekends we sleep in till 7.00am :-)
We've had interesting weather over here as you all know. But it's warmed up a bit over the last couple of days - yesterday we actually got to 23! :-) I'm not complaining though, it's great gardening weather. Problem is we have lots of tomatoes in the veggie patch that will think that winter is coming and I'm not sure we'll get any this year :-(
I think we should all try to think about how we can all get together at some stage. Once all the chemo is finished. Of course, trying to find a city that we can all get to at the same time will be a problem. What do others think?
Trish
xoxo
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I'll be in Adelaide in June some time
Kate - I went to the look good feel good class but didn't really get much out of it - just a bag full of cosmetics I'll probably never use. I didn't wear a wig but used these things called Buffs www.planetbuff.com - they are SO good. They breathe no matter what the temp and you can get nice girly ones from the US web site (much cheaper). I got a couple over here from a shop on the Sunshine Coast as I needed them quickly. BCF have them but more men's designs. They aren't cancer head wear, which is one reason I was attracted to them - you can use them after. They have been discovered by cancer patients - even my onc knew about them. I got one with the NZ silver fern on as I'm a Kiwi - I loved that one. There are different ways to wear them too. They have similar things for cancer patients, but the fabric of Buffs is way better. Their website has a pdf for cancer patients showing you ways to wear them.
One tip with your pending chemo, I waited until my hair just started to fall out and then went and got it buzzed - made it much less traumatic. My hairdresser didn't charge me for that visit or subsequent ones - they were wonderful. Will FEC cause hair loss anyway?
Sue
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So my pic is only 3 weeks old - taken just after I had my long hair cut short for this "race". But I will admit to deleting a few before I chose that one. I'm a tall, solid girl really... ;-)
Hey, I've managed to shower, dress, straighten my hair and put some make-up on. But that was so exhausting I'm now glamourously draped on he couch under a blanket...
Sssh, but I managed to get my hands on a zofran wafer and so am covered a little more than expected today....
Jenn0 -
The Buff website doesn't seem to have the pdf that I can see. If either Kate or Jenn are interested, PM me your email address and I can send it to you.
I kept updating my pic after each hairdo when my hair grew back, so I look much the same
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Susie - I'm a kiwi girl too :-) Auckland...
FEC definitely means bye bye hair. I'm only 3 days from the first one and I can tell my hair has changed and strands are moulting already...
Kate: I had the Wigs on Wheels lady come around. She was lovely. Prefers to see you before you lose your hair. I phoned and she was able to come the next day. I got two wigs for a total of $800 and our health fund gave us $600 back.
Jenn0 -
Morning ladies. My avatar was also taken a couple of years ago LOL. I confess the pic is not really me. It's a white (very rare) thoroughbred mare named The Opera House. As my name indicates, I am interested in horse racing. I'm not at all racy in the other sense LOL. When I joined the site and had to think of a screen name, I looked around the room as I was typing and I was watching the races on tv at the time. That gave me the inspiration for the name and I thought the double meaning might make me sound alluring LOL.
Re the hot flashes, mine aren't too bad. The hot part is only about 0.5 on a 10 point scale but the sweating a few times a day can range from 4 to 9.5. My onc said he thought I could be one of those people for whom the flashes reduce after the initial months, and I think he was right. I have tried a lot of remedies that didn't work. Am currently on Efexor. Don't know if it helps but am afraid to stop. I was pre-meno before BC.
The gym is going great. I am there every day and do 45 - 60 minutes cardio plus use several of the muscle building machines. It's easy for me to get there as it's about three minutes walk from my place and I don't work (yet).
This week I will be seeing my lovely onc and the coordinator of the wellness program that I am doing. I'm sure they will both be impressed at how well I am doing.
The thing that has made a huge difference in how I feel was getting hair extensions and being able to toss the wig. The extensions feel just like real hair. My real hair is growing back but almost noone knows about my BC so I need to hide it.
I am a private person so hope noone I know will read this. That's why I don't write too much personal info.
Ttyl.0 -
Sorry girls - can't find that file - bummer. The website does show you ways to wear it. The pdf was good because it showed how nice you could look.
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Jenn - I'm from Auckland too but 49 years ago!!! I was only a wee little girl when my parents moved to Oz - I cry every time I go back. I didn't go back for 39 years and now I love it SO much - no snakes
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Yes - FEC defenitely means hair loss. I think it typically starts to fall out around day 12 or 14 in a big way. I've always had short hair, so not the same as the girls with long hair. I buzzed my own hair with the dog clippers - LOL - just before day 12. I wanted to have some control in a whole process where I had absolutely no control. I had a wig, but only wore it a couple of times. Mine cost $250 with a stand and the shampoo and conditioner. I generally wore a hat, scarves looked awful on me, and at work or at home went topless. Work was very supportive and I didn't have to deal with the public, so going topless was comfortable for me. Whenever I went outside I'd put my hat on.
Racy - here I was thinking you were "that" kind of girl :-) We used to have a Clydesdale and two donkeys. Don't have them now, as feeding and looking after them was getting too expensive for us, but they are with people not too far from here, so we can visit whenever we want to.
Jenn - so glad you were able to get something to help. Stay on that lounge and be glamorous lol!
Trishxoxo
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