Starting Chemo in July 2009

lorijo1993

Gillyone, I also had to resort to magic mouthwash b/c of all the sore, I know that we use mylanta based medications to heal bedsores, don't know why benadryl, and of course lidocain for pain, it tastes nasty, but. it is nice not to have the pain.

Lori

sheila888

Hi Gill, I don't remember the name but Dr gave me a prescription pink liquid mouthwash it tasted like bubblegum. Keep it in your mouth swishing ( I don't know how the spell this word ) then swallow. It was a miracle think, in 2-3 days my mouth and my throat was free of all the sores.

Maybe someone has the name for it...........

I hope it works for you too.

Good Luck        Sheila

PauldingMom

Gilly- did the doc. tell you to swallow it? I had to ingest it a couple times before it kicked in. Yucky stuff but kicked the sores. Also, use it right before bedtime and don't drink anything. You want it to sit on those sores and soak.

Hope you heal up real quick!

sheila888

I was told to do it at least 3 times a day. But the one I was taking was very tasty sweet. All I remember it was pink after sitting on the sores for few minutes I use to swallow it

PauldingMom- Maybe you were prescribed something different.

 Sheila

gillyone

Pauldingmom - the instructions DO say to swish and swallow. But I have not been swallowing it. I think I may throw up, but I guess I can try. I thought the swallowing was for people who have sores in their throat, but perhaps not!

Sheila - your stuff sounds different.

gillyone

DH buzzed my head today. I am so glad it is gone. Tried my wig on - gave us a good laugh. I got some fake bangs, and with a scarf or turban, I really like the look. I just look so weird with a bare forehead.

So another milestone done.

SallyMae

Hi everyone.  Well I did it also Gillyone.  My daughters buzzed my head also.  Had a great time with my daughters for 3 days,  the visit did us all good.  Paulding Mom should have some pictures to share of the two of us showing off our heads.  What a hoot!!  Monday is Paulding mom's #3 and Wed. is my #2.  Wish us both luck.  My prayers and hugs are with all of you.

Anonymous

Hi,

I had the mouth sores, thrush, ect. with the second round of AC. I used the magic mouth wash it worked great (along with the baking soda, biotine mouth wash) I used it all LOL LOL.

Edie

pdaw

glassist - March 10 is my BD - what about you?

Hopeful-1

Hello and Happy Sunday Triple J's,

Just catching up reading all the posts.  I've been out of  the loop working on a high priority project and had visitors from Maryland this week.  My friend from FDA drove to CT with her husband.  It was wonderful to see her and she gave me a huge box of Fuji apples. 

Well tomorrow is a milestone for me... my last AC.  After Monday, I will have reached the halfway mark and next will be Taxol every 2 wks for 4 cycles.  I dread tomorrow, but I also welcome it. 

Thanks for all the well wishes. I think so far I've done pretty well with chemo and I think I had minimal SEs due to my mother's wonderful advice.  She is a 12 yr BC survivor and her chemo nurse was so good that Yale Hospital created a position for her.  To those that are starting chemo, please don't be too afraid.  It will be over before you know it and there are things you can do to minimize SEs.  The most important thing I think is to embrace the chemo and hope it does its job.

Dianne and Joanne- Congrats to both of you too!

Meg - When I read your posts they crack me up - too funny!

As for the staring people..I had my share too.  I do have hair aroung my face, head and neck, but I'm mostly bald on top.  Wearing the wig and scarves is too hot so I wear some hats my sister got for me.  They are lightweight and look almost like a painter's cap.  When I brought my friends visiting from Maryland to a restuarant with my family, I got some stares , but there was a young girl who kep talking to me and smiling.  All those adults could learn a thing or two from the young little girl who smiled and probably liked my bright pink hat with the jeweled star on the front.

I hope to have the braca gene test in the next two weeks and I'm asking my Onco doc to recommend removal of my right breast and my ovaries removed as a prophylactic measure.  I plan to try to have reconstruction in March or April of next year and hoping for the DIEP flap.  Don't know if I have enough fat on my body.  My blood counts were all good and WBC was 16.4 thanks to neulasta. My Onco doc was very pleased with how well I did through AC.

Here's some tips.  As you'll see belowexcept for Emend, I try to stay away from prescriptions when possible.

Suck on ice through chemo.  I never had mouth sores or white tongue or any problems with my mouth. I never had metallic taste and food doesn't quite taste normal the 1st week after each chemo.

Drink tons of water to flush the toxins out during the week of chemo.  Vitamin water really helps me feel good.  I try to dring 1/2 to 1 gallon per day.

Milk of Magnesia works like a charm for constipation. Activia also helps.

Emend - Works great.  I never felt nauseous and I had my steroids cut in half since they caused most my SEs. 

Benadryl - Finally realized 2 pills will give me a good nights sleep.

Tylenol - is good for headaches, neck aches and slight bone pain. Only needed it a couple times during the last 3 AC treatments.

Prilosec is good to prevent heartburn, but you may end up with gas at the other end.

I-Glutamine powder also good for bone pain.  It's also the purest form.  I didn't use it yet, but other patients and my doc says it is very effective.  I'll probably need it during Taxol.

Well sorry for the long post and I hope and pray everyone has minimal SEs.

Connie

PauldingMom

SallyMae on the Left, PauldingMom on the Right! To much fun! Had a great time with my sister, Mom and Dad in town. My daughter got a sore throat so Mom and Dad left a little early. Yes, Mom, I am wearing a mask around her. (ugh) 
We ate to much food, and laughed to much. Cried when sis left on her plane this AM and I am not looking forward to tomorrow but 3 down 1 to go with the Chemo. 

KarenVW

Hi everyone!  Hope you are doing well.

It is day 3 after TC #2 and so far not too bad.  I find that late in the afternoon my eyes ache and my head starts swimming - so I just need to lay down for a bit. 

Hopeful - Thanks so much for the summary of what you've been doing to prevent/manage side effects.  I too have found many of these preventive measures to be very effective in warding off side effects - specifically, sucking on the ice chips during chemo, regularly rinsing my mouth with salt water or biotene, drinking tons of water, emend is really amazing stuff, taking prilosec to prevent heartburn, etc., taking claritan before and after neublasta shot and lots of Tylenol.  I have also found that the more I am up and moving around, the better I feel.  It is when I lie down in bed that I really feel the numbness and body pains.

PauldingMom/SallyMae - love the pics!!  I'm sure this is not how you ever imagined spending a family visit, but glad to see you made the best of it.

glassist

pdaw - March 31st!

Eph3_12

The picture is too funny girls!!  You can sure see the family resemblence!!!

Joni2

gillyone

Question - ladies taking prilosec for heartburn - do you take it all the time or as and when needed.

KarenVW

Hi Gillyone!

I start taking Prilosec after my last emend pill on day 3 and then continued taking it everyday until about day 8.  I tend to be prone to heartburn so I didn't wait for the heartburn to happen.  Prilosec works to 'prevent' heartburn, etc. when you take it on a continual basis.  It is not something that will work immediately if you only take it when heartburn happens.  For that, you need to take something else like Gaviscon, Malox, etc.  Hope this helps!

Eph3_12

Gilly,

I have never had heartburn until TC #1-woke up night #3 with severe pain.  Took Prilosec then and for about 3 days, then I forgot to take it after that.  After round #2 I took it for 2 days, but never had a bout of heartburn so didn't take anymore after that.  Round #3 is this Thursday, not sure what I'm gonna do.

Joni2

josybee

Hopeful-1, Congrats on your last AC, hope you have a good week!!!!

gillyone

thanks for the prilosec info everyone.

PauldingMom

Okay! 3 down and one more to go. Doing well and I can feel the steroids kicking in now. Tired but wired all at the same time. 

It's great to see some of us ending this part of the journey! I can't help but feel like we just kicked a field goal in the first game of the season! (pictured a squad of bald cheerleaders in my head cheering on the team)

Well happy Monday to you all. I have a friend bringing over dinner tonight! I think all I have done is eat the past 5 days. Time to take off the itchy wig and put on a soft scarf.

Hugs and Prayers tonight to you all.

Lisa 

o2bhealthy

Hi Triple J's - chemo brain is kicking in already...#2 is on Wednesday took steroids today thinking it was Tuesday...I should have know since this was my first day back to work since surgery 6-23.

My hair started falling out like crazy this weekend so family shaved my head...I had a total freak out starting last night as I was trying to pick out what to wear to work (especially on my head!!!!)  I hate hats, scarves, do-rags, etc... anything on my head gives me major headache with 1 hour (couldn't even do pony tails before cancer because of headaches). Worked myself into a total tizzy and this morning I finally decided "FORGET!  I am going COMMANDO!!!"  I will not make myself sick (headache) or uncomfortable for the sake of other peoples feelings...I had a few customers come in who couldn't seem to look at my face (ie bald head) but otherwise was able to put in 4 hours before the MX muscle discomfort was just too much and my boss said "go home", she could tell by my voice and how I was holding myself that I was hurting.

Kudos to those of you who have worked since the beginning of their tx...I am constantly suprised (and upset) by how limited I am with what I can do physically .

I hope everyone is have a SE free day and for those who are not feeling well, I am sending Big Healing Hugs!

PS73

Michelle, you are my hero!

 I did loads of gardening today, and am trying to get it all in before I start to feel like crap agin.

..my nails have officially turned grey and are about to start peeling.  lovely.  has anybody tried the garlic stuff?  

tx 4 wednesday.  ugggggghhhhhh 

lorijo1993

I am so excited, My local BC Ribbon Run is Oct 17, which is 1 month after my last chemo, so i have started a team for the Suvivors Run and in 2 days already have 10 people on my team. I am blessed with so many supportive people in my life.

I also want design a t-shirt that says... Saved by the Grace of God and a Routine Mammogram, any body know of a cheap web site to creat the t-shirt

God Bless you all

mnikityger

Hi all you BEAUTIFUL Triple J's !!!    Hope all doing their best possible.  Hope all who have tx's this week have no or at least minimal SEs. I had tx 2 (A/C) today,  all went well, used port for the first time.  Had hair buzzed when I got home, just couldn't stand it falling in my face any longer.    My mother is having a blast making me scarves.  She has made me one with my favorite NFL football team logo on it.  She has gotten 2 different Halloween prints to make for October.  She got a print for our Red Hat meetings. And I am sure she will find several prints for Christmas. I didn't pick this journey but figure I might as well have fun when I can.  And the scarves are one way I can have fun.  I do have a wig and a couple of nice hats for important outings.  Will stop rambling and say GN  GB   You are all in my thoughts and prayers.

o2bhealthy

PS73 - I haven't heard of the garlic stuff...my onc told me to use Tea Tree Oil on my nails to help protect and save nails.  Hope that helps!

PauldingMom

lorijo, check locally and tell them why you are doing the Ribbon Run. I would bet you could get a good price. Lots of people do machine embordory. Run an ad on your local paper or message board.

minkityger-am am going to totally steal your idea for a scarf for my favorite NFL team. Go Bears! My mom is having one done for her fav. college team too.

Gonna try the tea tree oil. My nails are not turning gray and peeling but are braking way back in a most unusual way.

Steroids kept me up most of the night. This might me a southern thing but we have heard that when ever you see the number 1 repeated it's a sign that Angels are watching over you and holding hands. Well yesterday I received a letter from both my Chemo. Angels. and then when coudn't sleep last night I woke up at exactly 11:11 PM. Got up to read for an hour and tried to go back to sleep. After the dog and husband grumped at me that I was keeping them awake I said forget it and went to sleep in the spare room. It was exactly 1:11 AM. I think someone is surely watching over me, all night and all day.  

Sending prayers that the same is going for you all. Have a great Tuesday! Lisa 

gillyone

Good morning fellow TJs

I have been feeling so well this past few days. Got  my heartburn and mouth sores under control and have been eating well. Food tastes like food!

TX #3 DD AC tomorrow and I get to go to the Look Good Feel Better class as well. When the lady called to confirm I said I was bringing a friend and she said great they encourage us to do it! So we will have dinner between tx and class and have a fun time.

Good luck everyone with tx in the next day or so, keep the SEs to a minimum.

Stay as well as possible everyone.

LindaSueH

Gilly:  I am also having #3 AC tomorrow....have been dreading it all day today.  But after tomorow, only one more to go, and I CAN DO THAT! 

Our Komen Race for the Cure is 3 days after my last trmt in Sept, and we already have over 20 people on our team, "Fight like a girl".  I am hoping I will feel up to being there.

Good luck to all having trmt this week.....Prayers for NO SE!!!!!!

Hugs,

Linda

stef58

Hey Everybody, I have not posted in a few days. I have an amazing story. i was having a really basdnight last night, feeling sorry for myself. Wondering why me, was doing alot of soulf searching  etc.,I was sitting on my deck( live in the country) so no other lights about,  Praying alot and out of the blue I look up and there is the brightest falling star. I do not meaning to preach but wanted everyone to know that it all going to be fine. Hugs Dianne

PS73

Dianne, that is really beautiful