Riding and yard duties with a PICC line

Good luck CJ, hope it's gone well.

Humbled by some of the stories on this thread, it's incredible how resilient some of you have been. x
 
Kick it's ass CJ, sounds like you have some incredible people to turn to on the forum who have been through it. Hats off to all you brave, inspirational ladies x
 
Thank you to everyone for being so supportive. I got back home about 2 o'clock armed with more drugs than I think I have ever taken in my whole life. First side effect was my wee has turned pink not at all a problem, and they did warn me about that. Had a lazy afternoon reading Horse and Hound back to back. Great coverage on the Europeans! Went out for a pony fix, groom, cuddles, muck out and turn out. Feeling a little tired now but that is it so far feel very lucky to date. If I still feel this good tomorrow will have a ride in the ménage. Fingers crossed.
 
Hmmmm, not over confident about the riding tomorrow. Court Jester and I are chatting on email and she is being very upbeat. Same drugs as I had and we are all very different of course. I really hope she climbs on board tomorrow. Day 2 for me left me just about able to climb the stairs whilst clutching a bowl. But the anti sick drugs were not the right ones for me. This was righted on the second cycle and I felt brighter and much less sick.

Court Jester is saving the thread about Ted to read when she is bored and she will read about me riding whilst having treatment. I managed on week 3 of each cycle as that is when the white and red blood cells are rebuilding and there is some energy and strength available. Wearing a crash hat was odd whilst bald and itchy. Ted was fascinated by my bald head, and being able to walk around the yard and fields with no one gwaping and not feeling awkward with the handful of people who supported me throughout made the situation bearable.

I had masses of support on HH when I went through the mill and I am sure we can all support CJ through her difficult days.
 
I am in awe of you ladies, such strength and determination and such kindness.

I hope you will be able to ride tomorrow CJ but if not, I hope that at least you find some simple pleasures to make your day as good as possible. Good luck and warm wishes.
 
Well done CJ, 1 down and you will know your own body's reaction on certain days so you can plan your life a little bit. You don't mention if you are buying a wig? I tried my lovely hospitals wig department, at least it was a laugh, I managed the dead cat on head look! Went to Trendco and bought a good one, have a look at them online when you are in the mood. Thinking of you x
 
cavalo branco said:
Well done CJ, 1 down and you will know your own body's reaction on certain days so you can plan your life a little bit. You don't mention if you are buying a wig? I tried my lovely hospitals wig department, at least it was a laugh, I managed the dead cat on head look! Went to Trendco and bought a good one, have a look at them online when you are in the mood. Thinking of you x
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My NHS trust referred me to a private wig company and they were fabulous both in wigs and staff in the shop, all free too. I had a gorgeous wig - Wendy Wig, still here in its box, but wearing it was another story. So hot and odd feeling, I didn't use it much at all. There was one memorable moment though, right at the end of the chemo, I think I was about a month post final treatment. My very best friend had bought tickets to the Cheltenham Literary Festival. An lovely dinner, I think there was less than 50 in the room, followed AP McCoy, Luke Harvey and another jockey whose name eludes me.

I love racing and the evening was much looked forward to, it was the first time I had been out in the evening and I proudly applied mascara to my 6 eyelashes and donned my wig. Food, whilst one is having chemo, is a tricky subject and I had basically survived on pineapple, tomatoes with ladles of salt on them, ginger beer and peas in their pods raw. This evening was a lovely soup, followed by mushroom risotto and a rich chocolate brownie. It was all rather lovely and of course it never occurred to me that my system might not be quite ready for such fare. No alcohol of course.

Half way through the hilarious speaking I was so hot the wig was unbearable, so I toddle off to the ladies to take it off for a cool down, in there is Mrs McCoy so I can't take it off, so I disappear behind a tree and take it off for 10 minutes, replace and return to the table, my gut is then protesting at the incredible feast I had just provided it with after months of nothing like that type of food. 'You are fine' my brain was telling me. I really enjoyed the evening and was proud of myself, it had helped my confidence. Sadly, just minutes from home I had to rip Wendy Wig off and tell my friend to stop at the next ditch where I deposited the not so lovely, on the return trip, meal.

We still laugh about that evening now.

I haven't as yet heard from CJ today. I hope she is ok.
 
Sorry for being a bit slow on an update today I can't believe how well I'm feeling. Felt a bit wobbly when I first went to the loo in the early hours and that was it every time I woke up after that I had to get up to see if I could still walk! And each time felt a bit better. Had a lazy day but did get the boy out for a spin round the ménage he was a superstar. Didn't put a hoof out of place and even the pesky pigeons who usually roost in the hedge and dive bomb from the fence stayed away!

I took your advice AdorableAlice and practised getting off onto the mounting block. Not that I need to do that yet but will be more comfortable post operation which will be on my left (near!) side.

So I have been incredibly luck with the chemo side effects so far

1. I am on EC. There is no F in EC (hope that is ok with the censors!) from what I hear the F in FEC can cause the worse of the side effects.

2. The nine anti sickness tablets I have each day (dexamethason, ondansetron and domoeridone) seem to be doing the trick

3. The last dose of the steroid (dexamethasone) is at lunchtime

The PICC line is settling down I think it will take a few more days for the bruising to go it is covered with a sterile dressing and tubi grip. Didn't feel it at all grooming, tacking up or riding. My friend is kindly doing all the stable duties at the moment. Showering is a bit like an episode of It's A Knockout for those of you who can remember that far back! Trying to put clingfilm on your right arm with your left hand is near impossible especially when you are right handed. OH did it for me today but I have cracked and ordered some displosable waterproof sleeves from Amazon. Signed up for Amazon prime for free delivery tomorrow must put a note in my diary to cancel the membership before I get charged!

Feeling a bit bloated but it is better than being sick although if the weight gain continues I may be asking for a horse swap AdorableAlice ! When Ted is back fit and well he can probably take a bit more weight than my half TB!

(Only jesting Squiggles is with me forever)

Oh on the subject of wigs trying to get an appointment next week, I need to have a look at some and work out what to do. Enjoy the rest of the weekend everyone thank you for you support you can't believe how much it helps.
 
Yay, excellent news so pleased for you, and even more pleased you are on EC and not FEC. I had FEC and it well and truly f ec' ed me !

Ted is on stand by for you CJ, only trouble is he is also on steroids and they are making him hyper, he has just done some sort of irish jig in his starvation prison cell, the ground certainly moved.

Don't worry about the bloating, a good walk and a decent fart will sort that out....................sorry couldn't resist.!
 
Keep a diary of how you feel - side effects can be a very individual thing and being able to look back and see which days you felt best can be really useful.

Wigs are hot and not really that pleasant to wear! I wore a baseball cap, went bare headed or wore a 'hats with hair' which is a wig and cap combo with the top of the wig missing!

Ask your cancer nurse about lookgood, feel better - free make up days with lots of nice goodies. It's incredibly hard to know where you stop with foundation when you have no hairline!

Also ask your cancer nurse about the willow foundation - they arrange special days out for people with cancer - and trust me by the time you get to the last session you will need a good day out! I went galloping down a beach in Wales for mine - and I remember that more than any of my treatments!

The tiredness is like nothing I had ever experienced. One moment I was fine then next I couldn't stand up -
I'm not exagerating this.
 
Thanks for the advice Moosea. No one seems to like wearing their wigs what time of year were you wearing yours ?

If the subsequent cycles have the same chemo/drugs do you find that the side effects follow a similar pattern ? Trying to plan ahead for cycle 2 ! Thanks .
 
Just to say what a lovely upbeat thread a lot of brave people on here our horses really are a lifeline.

Good luck CJ and anyone else going through it but also a thought to those that just feel totally crap and need to curl up in a ball everyone is different.

My sister was incredible through her treatment carried on home schooling did planning and dresses for two weddings and lived to tell the tale.
 
Thanks Hobo it really helps me to hear the stories of so many of us who have beaten this and come out the other side still smiling (even if a bit balder!)����
 
Best of luck to you CJ, sounds like you're doing just fine.
I had a grade 1 lump removed last year, luckily didn't need chemo, just nuked and 5 years on tamoxifen. The blue boob is an interesting look, they inject dye to track the sentinel node, but it does fade.
Sending you stamina vibes. xXx
 
So 11 weeks in (and hopefully only 4 weeks to go) I thought it about time for an update. The PICC line has been a problem in that it gave me a blood clot within a week and I need to inject blood thinners for 6 months but that aside it has not been an issue at all. It stays nicely tucked away under a sleeve of acti-fast (like tubigrip but much more stretchy) and at least 1 layer of clothing. I have been okay with all yard duties, riding I have been hacking and competing (BD so at least 1 of my horses 4 legs on the ground at all times!) and not had any issues with movement or strength in that arm. The only problem I have had was trying to keep that arm dry whilst bathing my horse. And that is not an issue since it has got colder as I am wearing so many more layers of clothing! I know ladies are meant to perspire not sweat but I am a real sweater and have not had any problem with the dressing staying on despite sweating profusely.
Best of luck to anyone out there reading this post who is going through similar treatment and congratulations to all of you that have been through this and come out the other side. I can’t wait to join you!
 
Court Jester has missed a few things out on her update - for instance she won two BD sections !! I honestly think she is wonder blooming woman, we email and I read what she has been up to and think, how on earth is she doing it. I couldn't get out of bed at times when I went through chemotherapy. She is absolutely remarkable.
 
You are a real inspiration CJ. I love how you have seemed to continue as normal and still do the things you enjoy. Big congrats on the BD wins.

My mum has/is battling a grade 4 glioma for the past 18 months and has just started another round of chemo. She is a real fighter and I hope this last bout of chemo knocks it on the head as she has had quite a tough year, bless her.

Sending lots of positive vibes for the next 4 weeks x
 
Thank you all for the positive vibes. I do feel very lucky so far in how I have come through the chemo fingers crossed the next few months are ok - if not Jan/Feb are good months to miss out on!! Best wishes Beth206 for your Mum an 18 month battle must be very tough for all of you. I thought I had cancelled my Amazon prime in good time but the b*****s still charged me! Though to be fair they refunded me promptly through the online chat service.
 
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