Has anyone started a forum for Chemo in Dec 2008?

Texas357

Checking in with everyone. To add insult to injury, in the last week I've suddenly picked up about 8 pounds of water weight!! I have been thin my entire life, and never had to worry about clothes feeling tight. I feel so bloated! My ankles and fingers are downright pudgy.

Ironically, I'm also still feeling very dried out. Go figure.

How is everyone else doing?

Lainey64

Texas, drinks LOTS of water.  That might help with the bloating.  Sounds weird, but it always helps me.

Weird, yesterday was 6 wks since I ended chemo and today my fingers are really bugging me.  They are getting that numb, tingling feeling in my fingerips.  I've had to run my hands under cold water a few times.  Grrr... I thought I was getting better and then have this relapse. 

Happy Friday everyone!

Lainey64

Sonia, as far the hot flashes go, I asked my oncologist what I could take and he didn't recommend anything.  I asked him if because I'm trip neg if I can take some estrogen stuff like "Estroven" to maybe help and he said he'd prefer it if I didn't.  Even though we're trip neg, he said he still didn't want to take any chances.  I don't want to go on any anti-depressants though.  I'd rather suffer with the hot flashes than do that.  I never thought I'd say this but I'm hoping my period returns too!!!

Texas357

Wish I could stomach water, but it still tastes like sewage to me. That's been a big problem throughout chemo. It's not just "no" taste, it's absolutely disgusting taste to most liquids.

I suffered horrible hot flashes for months after I went off the estrogen patch. I'd had a hysterectomy a year before my BC diagnosis, and my gyn. had insisted that the risks of my using the patch were far outweighed by the benefits. Yeah right.

Anyway, I was told that my body would adjust eventually on its own, which it did. It seemed like forever but it actually only took about 3 months for me to stop waking up with the sweats several times a night. Hopefully the hot flashes will ease up for you ladies just as quickly.

BonnieK

Colleen -- thinking about you and your mom and glad to hear she is doing a little better. 

My rads will start on Wednesday of next week.  Simulation was Thursday and was pretty easy.  I have developed mild lymphedema in my left arm and the rad onc is sending me to a lymphedema specialist for PT. 

December does seem like a long time ago and we have all come so far in our journeys before and since then. 

Take care everyone,

Bonnie

Firni

I am finally getting normal taste back.  I've eaten a few things that just made me sick during chemo but they tasted pretty darn good.  One step toward recovery. 

I noticed some hairs on my arm yesterday when I was out in the sun.  When I rubbed my arm it all fell out.   I don't know if it's just been there or if it's new growth that isn't staying.  I know the hair on my head still isn't growing at all.  My eyebrows continue to fall out.  I went to Sally's and bought an eyebrow kit with the stencils.  I can't seem to draw them on freehand.  I don't like that after 4 1/2 weeks after chemo, I'm still losing hair!

Has anyone heard from Bold?  I'm wondering how she's doing. 

Bold

Firni:You are ridiculously wonderful for asking. I read the post here everyday. I just do not write. I am on the her2 board and now the rad board. I keep up with how everyone is doing. I am 13 days out from last TX. Beat up and coming back to life. Starting to work again and looking forward to summer and everyday getting better and better. I know that rad take a toll too, but somehow I feel that the worst is over. I still have hair on my arms and legs and face even have a Brazilian (so to speak) but bald as a cucumber and hoping for hair by late summer fall. I still have eyelashes (about 40 on each eye hope that they stay (you never know). I am fearing (alot) that I am going to loose some of my fingernails and toenails. That sooooo sucks. I wear sandals all the time. I will look diseased. I think if I do loose them I'll try those press on nails when I am out in public. How is your energy? I'm still pooped.

I do not know what I would of done without the love and prayers of many of you on this site. I continue to care and pray for all of you and watch each of you get to the other side of chemo. I hope all surgeries go well and you are better than ever.

Peace out

Firni

Hi Bold,  Glad to hear that you are getting thru it all.  Are there press on nails for toes??  My finger and toe nails are getting better.  I'm sure now that I won't lose any of them.  I know rads will suck the energy right out of you.  I'm not doing rads and  I have good energy, but I still have such terrible muscle weakness, I can't do much.  So, one day at a time.  Any time I notice a small improvement in anything, it is a victory.  Who ever would have thought this road would be so long?

Texas357

Good to hear from you Bold. My nail count: I now have 5 nails being held on with bandages. A couple more are "iffy".

EleanorJ

Jello, were we discussing the use of Jello for nail on this board or was it else where? Eating Jello is supposed to help with nails! Who knew!

Firni

I ate a lot of jello when my taste buds were really bad.  Maybe that's why my nails didn't get real bad.  Just a little loose.

colleen1960

Hello All - Just wanted to say my mom is out of the hospital and back at my sisters house.  She will have a nurse come in a few times a week.  She looks well and is feeling a lot better.  Got to see her this weekend in Jersey.  My niece had a party for me.  Just all the girls in my family.  WE had a great dinner and a few drinks.  Around 11 pm the doorbell rang and it was the police.  They said they had a noise complaint. My sister told them we were having a cancer survivor party and they apologized and said just to keep the noise down a bit.  I guess somebody did not like our singing LOL.  My mother said in her 87 years she had never been to a party where the police were called.  She was great, she stayed at the party until midnight!!!!!  I hope everyone else is doing well and a nice weekend.  The weather is GREAT

Colleen 

Firni

Colleen, glad to hear that your mom is doing better.  Good for you all for the wild party.  Must have been pretty crazy to get the police there.

Texas357

That gave me quite a chuckle Colleen. I'm sure the police enjoyed telling your story too! I'll bet that was one disturbing the peace call that didn't turn out as they expected.

horsercn

Hi everyone.....hope all is well with all of you....Yesterday was my last chemo.  Been real tired lately and weak.  Next step for me is the exchange surgery on May 19 then I start my 33 days of radiation in June.  I still have to have herceptin every 3 weeks until Feb. 2010.  I'm hoping that radiation is not so draining.   Has anyone had the exchange yet, if so let me know what to expect. I'm getting my port out the same time.  How are rads going for everyone?  My finger nails and toe nails look disgusting, hopefully that won't last too long. I have no eyebrows or lashes but the hair on my head started growing back a couple of weeks ago and still coming in strong.  Hope you all have an uneventful week with the side effects and I will talk to you soon.

Tricia

swest

WAY TO GO TRICIA!!!!!!!  Last one!  Hip Hip Horraaaaay!!!!!

Colleen - It sounds like you had a great party!  How fun to have you mother there.  I am so glad she is doing well.

Everyone - How are rads going?  I hope they have not zapped your energy!  Thinking of everyone!

Sonia

Firni

Congratulations, Tricia, on finishing chemo.  Sure is a great feeling.  I'm having my exchange tomorrow, so I'll let you know how that goes.  I know Lisa  has had her exchange.  I'm not sure who else has.  There is an April Rads thread that Lainey started.  Lots of good info there on rads.  At least your hair is coming back in.  Hope you don't have lingering SE from your last TX.

Texas357

Congrats Tricia! Another milestone!!!!

I went for my rads planning session today. Guess I'll be in the May group.

colleen1960

Tricia:  I had my exchange surgery on 3/26.  It was not that bad.  I also had a reduction and lift on the left side.  I was pretty sore for the 1st two days or so, but each day it got much better.  I went in the AM and was home early evening.  Then I am not allowed to lift anything over 10 lbs. and have to wear the support bra 24 hrs. until the middle of May.  But congrats!!!! on finishing up your chemo.  Each stage we complete is a milestone and we should celebrate. 

Firni - Good Luck with your surgery tomorrow.  Another step will be completed in your journey!!!!!

Colleen

bobcat

Firni - good luck with exchange tomorrow.  Mine was in November with a little update last month when I got my nipples. 

I have my first tattoo nipples session on Friday.  These girls take a little getting used to.  They pop out of bras and tops and I can't feel them!!  Small price to pay.  Still can't believe that I might be cancer free - when does everyone date their survival from? Insurance still treats me like a risk although I'm probably safer than those that have not yet been diagnosed.  It's a dilemma and not looking forward to the insurance fight over the summer and the next four years.

Texas357

Wonderful that so many of us are actually finishing up with exchanges! I won't be there until December or January 2010 because my plastic surgeon wants me to wait six months after rads. Is anyone else having to wait?

I'm feeling overwhelmed this morning. It's been 3 weeks since my last chemo, and everything still tastes so bad that I'd rather go hungry/thirsty than eat or drink. Ironically the food cravings are enormous!

I've now bandaged 9 fingernails to keep them on, which means I can't feel anything in most of my fingertips. I'm breaking things, having trouble opening things, and it will be 3-6 months before my nails grow out enough for me to unbandage them.

I'm still battling about 5 pounds of pure water weight so my clothes are tight, and my cheeks are puffy. And even though I've got lots of energy, every time I try to exercise, my muscles burn so much that I"m in agony.

I'm so ready for things to start getting better!

lisasayers

Hello Ladies

Good luck on your exhange Firni...I'm sure it will go smoothly!

 Bobcat, let me know how the tats go!  I get my nipples done in June. 

As far as the fingernails...mine turned white and felt like they were going to fall off, but that feeling went away and they just keep slowly growing and I just keep trimming them.  They don't feel as though they are going to fall off any more....just looks like I got a little crazy with the French tip! LOL 

Hang in there with the taste buds thing...it will come back! 

My sister had her lymph node surgery yesterday.......she is doing okay!

Things will get better and there will come a day when you dont' constantly think about "c". 

bobcat

Lisa - I had the same experience with my nails.  Felt like they were going to fail and all greyish but then turned white and now growing pretty good now.  I get a gentle manicure every other week and my manicurist has remarked at how strong they now seem.  Funny - I've never had strong nails in my life - maybe it's all the supplements I now take.

Taste buds do come back and that 5 pounds will go away eventually too.  I just did a bootcamp class with kettlebells and my muscles are quivering but it felt good.  Baby steps....

Texas357

Mine are actually loose except at the quick. I can lift them up, and if I knock one it bleeds. Just trying to keep them in place until enough of the healthy nails grow to stabilize them.

Bobcat: I'm going to hold you to your promise about the taste buds and 5 pounds!

colleen1960

I saw the BS today for a quick 6 mth visit.  She examined me and then set up my next appt. for Mammo and visit in Sept.  That will be 1 yr.  I also got measured for new bras.  What a difference a really good bra makes.  They look so much better!!!!!

Lisa - I am glad to hear your sister is doing well after her surgery.  She will be in my thoughts and prayers.  Keep us informed.

Colleen

swest

Texas - I will be following you on the reconstruction.  Last Monday I had my TEs placed.  It is a bit more unconfortable than the mx.  However, pain meds are good!  Right now I'm having muscle spasms.

Lisa - I'm glad to hear about your sister. 

Firni - I hope all went well with your exchange.  I've been told it is much easier than mx with TE placements.  Let us know how you are doing.  Gentle Hugs!!!!

bobcat

Swest - I too had spasms after the exchange - valium worked great for that particular SE.

Firni - how are you doing?

Firni

Hi everyone,

The exchange went great.  I was all done in 1 1/2 hours.  We started at 8:45 and I was home by noon.  Had some nasty pain that I finally got under control by 5:00 with the help of some pecocet. I'm feeling ok now.  My PS ended up putting in 400 cc implants.  Made me a little smaller than I wanted to be, but I figure I'm a good solid B cup.  Still a big improvement from before pre-mx.  From what I can tell, they look amazing.  I'll know more when the bandages come off.  Emotionally, I feel so much better than I have for the past 3 weeks.  And yes, it is much easier than the mx with expander placement.

Texas, I feel so bad for you.  I was feeling the same frustration as you at week three.  During week 4 my taste buds came back.  A few things are still unpalatable, but most things are tasting normal and GOOD.  The muscle weakness didn't start improving at all until this week, (week 5).  I was able to get on the treadmill for a very slow stroll for 15 min yesterday and the day before.  I even did some gardening yesterday (from a chair. Couldn't stoop or bend much).  BUT that is a big improvement from just last week.  I've lost about 5 lbs in water this week too.  After surgery today, it seems to all be back but I'm expecting quick resolution on that this time.  My finger and toe nails are behaving like Lisa's.  Looks like someone went crazy with the French mannie and peddie.  But they're growing fast and a couple of them almost look normal. I hope yours start growing faster.  For me week 5 was really the magic week for noticeable improvement.  Hang in there.  It is sooo hard to be patient.

swest, the TEs are never really comfortable, but hopefully you won't have serious discomfort with them.  The muscle spasms ease up as the muscle stretches.  Pretty common SE for many. 

Texas357

Firni, I can't tell you how much your message encourages me! Thank you for giving me your timeline. Glad to hear that the exchange went so well. I know you'll be excited to get the bandages removed.

EleanorJ

Tricia - Congrats on finishing chemo. YAY!!!

Firni - Glad to hear the exchange went well

Colleen - Your party story is great! I wish I was a bird in that cop car when they left the party.

Bobcat - I plan on making my survivor date my last radiation, since it's the last time they'll be working on getting any cancer out of my body. Everybody is different on that one.