Hello Margaret

Without being too nosey (which I am and I hope you don't mind) what are your injections for and where do you have them?  Following my surgery, I had to have heparin injections, as I'm sure a lot of people have, in my stomach each evening.  I was given a choice to going to my own GP every day, having a district nurse come in or doing it myself.  I am one of the biggest cowards in the world when it comes to injections and after each one, I began to dread the next.  But I did it!  I used to get myself so worked up beforehand that I used to cry each time (don't tell anyone) but was so relieved after I'd had it that I used to cry again but with relief.  So if you possibly can, it will be worth trying to talk yourself into self-injecting.  Perhaps give yourself a little foodie treat afterwards (I did).

To cut a long story short, I had to go for a blood test yesterday (not Monday) with the view to having chemo also.  I had to be at the hospital at 9am (left home at 8am) and was still waiting for the result of my blood test at 12 noon.  Eventually it came through and I was started on the chemo treatment but only after 4 attempts to insert the cannula,  Because of my dread of needles, you can imagine the state I was in; I just wanted to come home and start another day.  But it was eventually done and this time I had an allergic reaction to the carboplatin. So that had to be given slowly so it ended up that I was the first one on the ward and the last one to leave.  I arrived home at 8.20pm, had a sandwich (which I was given at the hospital) and felt so whacked out that I went to sleep in the chair but did have the energy to put my little sleep cap on so that the chair wasn't full of hair this morning. More hair came out this morning and I've decided I can't go on like this so will make an appointment to have the "shave" sometime next week.  There was a new patient there yesterday who had the cold cap and seem to tolerate it very well.  She was even making and receiving calls on her mobile while she was wearing it!  I couldn't believe it.  Just goes to show.

Do take care, Margaret.

Lovve BB x x

Hi BB, so sorry you had such a dreadful time yesterday especially with your dislike of needles! I had a slight problem with the cannula mainly because I have very small veins that don't like giving blood out either! Nothing is easy on this game is it?

the injections are to boost white blood cells following the chemo, and I have them daily in my stomach. Doesn't hurt at all, the only reason i am not keen on doing it myself is it is a fil-your-own-syringe and you have to push it in yourself, now I don't think I can do that, yet anyway.  Maybe as I get used to the idea it will be ok. I am not totally resistent to the idea, so there is hope!   I also have to have herceptin injections later on. I don't feel too well after I have had it for 3 or 4 hours, nothing really specific, just unwell. I just have been curling up on the sofa and trying to sleep through it - and then spend the night awake!

i haven't noticed my hair coming out yet but of course it will. I have everything ready, little sleep cap and hats. As soon as I notice it, the whole lot can come off, perhaps I won't be so upset about it then.

please don't think you are nosey BB, I realise now that there are lots of things that want to know, just small details that you don't get the chance to find out any other way.  Ask away if I can help!

do look after yourself, and hope the next few days go well for you.

best wishes.  Hugs xx. Margaret

Hello Margaret

Many thanks for your reply.

Yes, yesterday could have been better but when I went into the Friends' shop to buy a newspaper they had packs of Christmas cards there!  I bought a pack so that's me done for Christmas and my good deed for the day all in one fell swoop (hee hee).

How do you actually have to have the injections in your stomach?  When I was having the heparin injections (already filled, sorry), I had to pinch about an inch of flesh between my forefinger and thumb and insert the needle into that.  I found that the more I pinched the flesh the more it hurt (of course) but that seemed to make the injection less painful somehow (make one pain to disguise another).  I'm sorry the herceptin makes you so whacked out that the rest you need afterwards makes it difficult to sleep of a night.  I don't know what the answer to that is.  Quite often I can't sleep of a nght, so I come downstairs, sit in the chair until I feel dozy, go back upstairs, get into bed and I'm suddenly awake again.

My hair reminds me of a doll I had many years ago.  A friend of my Mum's emigrated to Canada and before they were sold here, Barbie dolls were on sale in Canada and Mum's friend sent me one for Christmas.  They must have been the very first models because Barbie's hair, although long, was only attached to the top of her scalp.  She was bald at the side and back but you couldn't tell this at first.  And that's what my hair seems to be like at the moment.  I have fairly long layers which hide the little balding patches underneath.  All right if I stay indoors but not so good when out in the wind.

Thanks for the offer of help with any questions I may have.  I really do appreciate that Margaret. 

 I saw on a television programme the other day, a quote that Brian Johnstone made when commentating on cricket some years ago which made me laugh (I'd not heard it before).  I mentioned it to someone who told me another classic which reminded me of something that happened at work many years ago. They're all rather "saucy" so I won't tell you them now in case you're not ready for some "sauce" but they do make me smile even when I feel "yuck" so they must have something going for them.  You may have even heard the first two yourself.

Do take care, Margaret.

Love BB xx

Hi BB, gosh! Christmas - doesn't bear thinking about ha ha! All things being well, my last chemo should be 4 Dec, so that's a different celebration for this year.

yes I have to pinch an inch ( in my case, possibly more!) and stick needle in, one of the nurses who did the left side is painless, the other nurse,other side, stings like crazy.  Haven't had Herceptin yet, that comes at the end of my chemo.

Oh I remember those Barbie dolls, think I had one. You had to wind the hair in and out as far as I can remember using a key on her back. Think I'll make do with just shaving mine, at least you know where you are then.

Pity the pm isn't available, you could share your sauce.  Could do with a laugh, but don't want to offend! 

We have had some awful weather today, rain like you wouldn't believe.  Good thing I live at the top of a hill or we would be breaking the ark out. I am on the South Coast,  so we got it first and then sent it on northwards.! It is a super evening now though, a bit chilly, but clear again.

take care BB, hugs xx Margaret

Hi I have just finished chemo and had the cold cap 45 minutes before treatment started and all the while you have chemo and then 45 minutes after. The first time was the worst very painful, then a lady told me to take 500 mg of paracetamol before hand which really helped it gets easier as time goes on. And the results I lost some of my hair but kept most of it and do not have to wake a wig hope this helps.