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Hi poodlepatch,
I finished my chemo back in May but just wanted to send masses of hugs and good luck to those just starting out. It's not nice but it's do-able and it will come to an end - and of course the end justifies the means!
Jane xxx
The same from me - this will also 'bump' it for you.
My last chemo was this week - hurrah! Rads to come next - the journey continues.
Hugs to all new starters.
Dx
Up again this morning at 5.30 think my body is now getting into this pattern. Lay there for a few minutes started having a weep so decided better to get up. Mopped up all the tears and went on to the worry tree again. Am going for a MUGA scan this Friday, apparently will need 2 injections for this 15 minutes in between each one. Always have a job to get needle in last week tried vein in arm, no good, tried in hand no good, and I now have such a bruised hand dont think they will be able to try it until bruises cleared. Anyway went back to arm and got it. This week I am panicking where else will they try, am a bit of a baby when it comes to needles (that sounds very wimpy and pathetic). Apparently have very small veins.
Off today for a nice pub lunch with OH, making the most of getting out before chemo starts.
Poodlepatch
Sorry to hear you were weepy this morning believe me have had a lot of moments like that myself it sometimes does you good to have a good cry so let it go!!!!
Just a thought you may want to start this thread again in the undergoing chemo bit so people can find it I am sure if you put it there you will find other ladies starting in August to get in touch with??? Just think it may not be seen by many in the waiting results bit?
Hope you have a lovely lunch today and good luck with your first chemo
Jill x x x
Thanks for that Jill have now posted under starting chemo. Am still getting used to this site, but its great
Hi Poodle, I will be starting my chemo second week of september, so not much further behind you.
xx
Hi, hoping my chemo will be in august (mx was 2 weeks ago) but not got a date yet.Thanks for starting this thread poodlepatch x
Hi Poodlepatch.
That 5.30am alarm clock is a bummer isn't it?
I find I sleep in 1 + 1/2 hr stints during the night then when 5.30 comes around I am wide awake. I sit up and try to decide.... a drink? the loo? try to sleep again? It's been like this since the diagnosis in April.
I don't have vein problems but I am a proper wimp over needles so I know where you are coming from. I asked for a Hickman line to be fitted. It is a 'Canula' type tube sitting in a vein in my chest. I had it fitted on Tuesday and had my first Chemo on Wednesday. It was fantastic.... no needles. The tube tucks away in my empty bra cup. (I've found a use for it already)
So ask for more information and explain how your veins are so bad. I have met 2 ladies with a collapsed vein from chemo and considering our 'bad' arm is out of bounds that only leaves legs and feet....YUCK...
I am day 4 post FEC 1 and all OK so far, had flu aches and pains yesterday but no sickness or nausea.
Good Luck to you all for when you start.
Love and <<>>
June
Hi Poodlepatch,
If you're having vein problems now you really need to ask about having a central line fitted before you start chemo. It would make it so much easier for you - chemo really goes for your veins and if they're small to start with (as mine were) then they'll give up completely with chemo. They get very painful indeed and they won't be able to get blood at all. My arm looks awful where the veins are as I only got my line half way through.
An awful lot of us here have had central lines - I had a Hickman line which was in my chest and there's also a Picc line which is in your arm. No stabbings, no pain with the chemo going in, no nasty looking thrombosed veins. Chemo is also quicker and a lot less stressful which is a big plus. You just have to be prepared to go to hospital once a week to have it flushed out (or sometimes a district nurse will come to do it).
Speak to your BC nurse or onc. as it's best done before chemo starts and any damage is caused. I had chemo through my line the day after it was put in so it didn't cause any delay.
Good luck with it all - just remember that you're ALLOWED to cry whenever you need to - we've all done it and will probably do it again. Be kind to yourself!
Jane xxx
oops - June leapt in about lines whilst I was typing - great minds think alike!
Sadly I have several collapsed veins and they're painful and not pretty.
Jane xxx
thanks for all replies. is it very painful having the hickman or picc put in and does it mean this can be used all the time so no more needles?
Am going this Friday 29th for MUGA scan where I will need to have 2 injections 15 mins in between each one before they do the scan.
Will talk to nurse and ask for advice about a line. Have seen pictures about this in a leaflet all looks a bit scary. Someone please tell me I am worrying over nothing.
Am going to bed soon will read book in bed for as long as I can (fortunately light on doesn't bother OH) If I can read until the early hours perhaps I won't wake at 5 a.m. Early in morning worst time for feeling weepy.
Hope you all get a good sleep.
Read book until 1 a.m. still woke up at 5.30. Will ring and hopefully get results of bone scan, perhaps I will feel a bit more settled after that.
Hi everyone
I have big smiley face this morning, results of bone scan all OK.
Heaved a sigh of relief. Just MUGA scan this Friday and then start chemo on 5th.
Thinking of you all, the waiting for test results is so scary.
Hello again,
Huge congrats on the bone scan!
They put the lines in under a local anaesthetic and sometimes a bit of sedation as well. Hickmans are often done as a day admission as they're usually done in an operating theatre (so it's completely sterile) but Picc lines are quite often done by a blood nurse (not a very technical name, I know!). They had problems getting mine in which is unusual and it wasn't very nice, but it usually feels peculiar rather than painful whhilst it's being done and once mine was in it was fantastic and no trouble at all.
They can use it for all your chemo and also for taking blood so you shouldn't need any more needles. If you need to have a CT scan with an infusion while you've got a line in they can use it for that as well. Also it you get admitted with an infection and need IV antibiotics (which unfortunately quite a lot of us do!) they can use it for that.
Trust me, the thought of it was far worse than actually having it and as long as you're careful to keep it clean etc. you shouldn't have any problems. I won't deny some people can get an infection caused by the line but for the huge majority it's fine.
If I ever (god forbid) need to have chemo again I'll go straight for a Hickman line first.
Jane xxx
Hi Poolepatch
I can only echo Alto's post.
The insertion is a 'proper' operation and done in a theatre. Although under local anisthetic.
I had a lovely nurse to hold my hand for the 'scary bits' i.e. the locals.
When they fed the line in I felt a strange sensation, bit of discomfort rather than pain. The channelling felt like he was pulling at my clothes.
The weekly flushing is a breeze.... no feelings whatsoever.
ALTO - Just wondered. The District Nurse who came to flush mine today noticed a small blister on my chest, just at the bottom of the dressing where the line hangs down. I'm thinking about phoning the Unit.
<<>>
June
can anyone tell me is it possible and if so how to move this from Waiting results to Starting chemo without losing anything?
Also why at the top of this page does it say remove discussion.
Hi poodlepatch
One of the BCC facilitator can can move your thread into the chemo section.
If you would like us to do this for you just let us know.
Best wishes Sam, BCC Facilitator
Hi Sam BCC
Yes please I would appreciate this thread being moved into the undergoing treatment for chemo section.
Many thanks Val
I am starting chemo on 3rd August and they have said I will probably need a picc line, as thin, spindly veins, my brother had a picc line fitted and he said it was not painful at all. x
Hi, my mum is also hoping to start chemo in august, she's to go for an mri scan first, i take this is just a safety check and normal practice? hope it goes well for you and best of luck.
I also get weepy and emotional at times, where as my mum seems to have taken it a lot better, putting on the brace face and staying strong, i dont stay with her, so maybe behing closed doors this is diff, but when we do meet up she is amazing.
anyway as i says hope all goes well, and i try keep in touch with you, ive got really good friends supporting me, and its been good to come on to these forums, to ask questions and hear from people x
Hi Thames Lady
You are starting chemo 2 days before me. Would be interested to know how you get on with picc line. Please keep in touch. I feel we need support from others who are going through this at the same time.
Hi CPM
I also had MRI scan and CT scan and bone scan. But I think everyone is different and we all have these checks for different reasons. I just feel so glad that they do all these checks. I have 2 grown up sons who live close by and I know like you they are very concerned. Keep strong for your mum and wish her well from me. Keep in touch.
Posted on behalf of user angela68:
Hi, I'm due to start chemo either week beginning 8th or 15th August. I have triple negative with no node involvement. Have had lumpectomy and doing ok so far, just waiting to go to get Hickman line fitted as I have terrible veins.. Hope all goes well for you on the 5th x
Anyone any comments on manuka honey and peppermint oil in hot water. I presume as a drink. But what are the benefits. Anyone out there tried it? Am going for first chemo 5th August and trying to get organised and get everything in that I MIGHT need.
woke up this morning realised its 1st August, first lot of chemo in a few days time Friday 5th, don't know what to say my stomach is doing sumersaults and I feel sick. Is it the unknown and will I feel better once have had the first treatment and I know what to expect. Went out for a nice pub lunch yesterday, came back sat in the garden with some country music, which I love, but the words to all the songs made me feel so weepy. Turned it of and tried to read a book, concentration seems to have gone, mind keeps thinking of chemo. Must keep busy for the next few days and stop panicking. Come in anyone else starting chemo this week.
Hi - I am jumping over from the July thread as was due to start but its been delayed due to what feels like the slowest healing wound ever, week on Friday is my new date now. Good luck to all you ladies starting this week
Ruby.x
HI
I'm due to start chemo in mid to late August so I'd love to join this thread. I don't have a date yet.
I'm very interested in what you've all said about the Hickman line - that's really interesting. I hate needles too - complete baby - so the idea of not having injections every three weeks would be great. But does it hurt in the way that the drains did? Not hurt exactly, but uncomfortable after a while?
Good luck to all those starting.
Thanks
x
Just jumping in to say good luck to everyone starting in August.
I finished chemo two weeks ago and, while I wouldn't recommend it as a past time, it probably won't be as bad as you are now fearing. My side effects weren't too bad and I managed to work almost normally for two weeks out of three throughout.
Sending hugs and wishing minimal SEs to everyone.
Dx
thanks for that DJ007 - glad to hear your side effects wern't too bad often thinking about treatment imagination goes into "overdrive" and then its not as bad as anticipated. am keeping everything crossed.
Hi and welcome impatiens and ruby thursday, keep posting and good luck. Hugs to you all xx
I am going to try and keep away from the "worry tree" over the next few days.
Good Luck to you all starting this week. Its definately not as bad as you think. I am due to have 3rd chemo tomorrow and my veins gave up after the last session and my arm is so sore since then and I still cant stretch it out. So my advice would be to definately get the port fitted before you start to avoid any unnecessary pain. I have to say that my vein pain was the worst side effect so far, everything else is manageable and most side effects seem to have a pill to counteract them.
I cried a lot from the time of my diagnosis, waiting for scan results and after my masectomy - but now i have started chemo i feel a bit more in control and not as weepy (although obviosuly have my moments!)its all completely NORMAL.
Thinking of you all and Podlepatch hope you got a goods night sleep.
Lots of love Katie x