17-08-2008, 07:15 PM
Hi Sue, sounds like you're at the weary stage! Keep on persevering, it's not too long to go now.
Yes, I lost all my hair, eyebrows and lashes, I don't think I was left with one hair on my body! But it's nice to take a break from washing hair, shaving legs etc..
Showers were quick! Make sure you moisturise your skin well. Don't forget how therapeutic the warm baths are!!
As for recovery afterwards, especially if you're still to have radiotherapy, you will be incredibly tired, and often with radiation it can be a delayed reaction and you'll get tired months afterward. I'm glad I was warned about that. The main thing is to let your body rest because it takes at least a year for the chemo to totally leave your body, you'll get sore feet and knees, and odd other symptoms. It's the best idea to make a habit of taking a daily nap for an hour or so and that helps to get through the rest of the day. I still do but I'm on morphine for un-cancer-related pain. Don't overestimate your body, as you say it's really going through a massive assault.
The poison: just eat and drink well (which I didn't really and felt the consequences) - if you like water that's such an advantage. I don't. I drank lots of skimmed milk with 1/2 teaspoon of low calorie choc drink powder in it and that helped a lot. You just have to NOT push yourself to work hard, it'll have bad consequences. And I hear how hard you work!! :tired:
I was thinking of your upcoming trip after your treatment is over, and want to (kindly) warn you not to expect being able to do much in that time. You'll be so tired, especially with the long plane journey and back. I did that, went to SA (summertime there) and was disappointed to not be able to do much at all, and the heat really hit me. You may find the cold here difficult too. (Extreme temps affected me and still do) I didn't feel like going out for evening meals with the family at restaurants but made myself do it every now and then but regretted a lot of it. Rather do lunches. Go to Cheffie's place and have a nice specially-made meal. Try to avoid very spicy food even now and afterward for a while.
It takes quite a long time for your hair to grow back, and it'll be very soft and very curly (all my grey showed, which I had previously coloured out!) and you can't use normal colourings but must try to find natural ones. And a gentle shampoo. It eventually gets stronger and back to its original way, except mine has never become as strong as it was before.
Lots of info but I hope it'll be helpful. Knowing what to expect helps.
By the way, when you're going through the chemo-week shakes and spasms and discomfort etc, take 1/2 a sleeping pill to relax your muscles. That with the bath worked wonders for me and helped me get going.
Bless you, take care, leave the fires to other people, and take time to read and write.. or whatever.
Love to you
Jen
Yes, I lost all my hair, eyebrows and lashes, I don't think I was left with one hair on my body! But it's nice to take a break from washing hair, shaving legs etc..
Showers were quick! Make sure you moisturise your skin well. Don't forget how therapeutic the warm baths are!!As for recovery afterwards, especially if you're still to have radiotherapy, you will be incredibly tired, and often with radiation it can be a delayed reaction and you'll get tired months afterward. I'm glad I was warned about that. The main thing is to let your body rest because it takes at least a year for the chemo to totally leave your body, you'll get sore feet and knees, and odd other symptoms. It's the best idea to make a habit of taking a daily nap for an hour or so and that helps to get through the rest of the day. I still do but I'm on morphine for un-cancer-related pain. Don't overestimate your body, as you say it's really going through a massive assault.
The poison: just eat and drink well (which I didn't really and felt the consequences) - if you like water that's such an advantage. I don't. I drank lots of skimmed milk with 1/2 teaspoon of low calorie choc drink powder in it and that helped a lot. You just have to NOT push yourself to work hard, it'll have bad consequences. And I hear how hard you work!! :tired:
I was thinking of your upcoming trip after your treatment is over, and want to (kindly) warn you not to expect being able to do much in that time. You'll be so tired, especially with the long plane journey and back. I did that, went to SA (summertime there) and was disappointed to not be able to do much at all, and the heat really hit me. You may find the cold here difficult too. (Extreme temps affected me and still do) I didn't feel like going out for evening meals with the family at restaurants but made myself do it every now and then but regretted a lot of it. Rather do lunches. Go to Cheffie's place and have a nice specially-made meal. Try to avoid very spicy food even now and afterward for a while.
It takes quite a long time for your hair to grow back, and it'll be very soft and very curly (all my grey showed, which I had previously coloured out!) and you can't use normal colourings but must try to find natural ones. And a gentle shampoo. It eventually gets stronger and back to its original way, except mine has never become as strong as it was before.
Lots of info but I hope it'll be helpful. Knowing what to expect helps.
By the way, when you're going through the chemo-week shakes and spasms and discomfort etc, take 1/2 a sleeping pill to relax your muscles. That with the bath worked wonders for me and helped me get going.
Bless you, take care, leave the fires to other people, and take time to read and write.. or whatever.
Love to you
Jen