Hey, first post ever on these chats and thats cos I'm out the other side - you'll get here too..  Hate to say but I'm glad to read you've had infections all over the place too - bloody hell, it was unreal how many anti-biotics I took last summer!  I'm different set-up for treatments as Triple neg but those awful side effects that you dont find out about as I think we get a smattering of different ones. Those brutal days with the advance of another round approaching, you'll get through them and think of yourself as a boxer, you get knocked down but you're getting up again - tbh you dont really get the choice not to!  My first round of docetaxol was so painful afterwards and like you I was in total fear of the next one, but oddly it was the only round that was painful, I was fine the next two.  A friend a few months ahead of me in treatment suggested warm bubble bath if possible, that helped ease the aches.  Keep on top of the paracetamol - I just used to take as if I had a headache, as and when, but you need to get in your system.  I hope the charity services are kicking in now to give you guidance, the support over lockdown was  non-existent for me. To give you some hope, I finished my chemo in october and I noticed yesterday I have wee tiny 2mm eyelashes coming in, OK my hair is a bit akins to Chris Witty (no trolling just a reference as we all know what he looks like).  Its a god awful time to have this awful disease but keep a now and then journal and in a years time you'll realise what a trooper you've been behind closed doors.  Sorry I cant give you much advice but you'll be another round closer to finishing this chapter xx

That's very reassuring thank you for posting!

I know it's a long journey, only 3 more cycles and I should survive this, just want to ease it down somehow. The antibiotics seem to be my solution every time, even though I'm sure my liver & stomach suffer being bombarded monthly by them. Paracetamol is king when it comes to body aches, sometimes I take Ibuprofen too but try to avoid it due to reflux. A lady doctor suggested applying Oramorph in the mouth when I have the mucositis cause it's so bad.... managed to get it on prescription but haven't started it yet as I know it has its nasty side effects. Just pray that I can get through this for another 2 months and still be in one piece

My eyebrows and eyelashes are extremely thin at this point, won't last for much longer I'm sure, proposed myself a treatment with Retinol& vit E gel after all this is finished. Can see some puffy duck hair on my scalp, shaved it all when it started to come off in pieces, couldn't stand it! 
 

So nice to hear from you and your experiences with this!

Hi Victoria

I cried reading your post. I feel for you so much. I had my first Docetaxel a week ago. Feeling dreadful. Having very similar symptoms to u. But so far infection free. Dehydration is a battle. Struggling to drink or eat. Bloods show high haemoglobin levels. Trying to describe symptoms to Doc is hard. Cant help Feeling that they don't reaaly understand.

Sending lots of love to you. I can be a lonely place, this journey