MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

MinusTwo

Eli - congrats on the 'versary'.  I know what you mean about males.  My 44 yr old son was in town and didn't even comment that (miracle) I have hair 1-1/2" long.  Since my hair has never been shorter than my shoulders you think he'd notice.

Cheeto crisis !!!  For all you fellow Cheeto lovers - Cheetos were one of the foods I had to put away during chemo because they tasted so terrible.  Mty last chemo was in December so I tried a small bag for lunch today.  So disappointed that they still don't taste that great.  I was once known to eat a whole bag just reading.  The orange fingers were semi-permanent.  So a question for you experienced ladies - please tell me there's hope that I'll get my Cheeto's taste back after Herception is over???

elimar86861

luv, That's funny, I am only seeing your "sign post" now.  Guess we overlapped.  I'm ready to exit onto Happy Life road now.  It a real long road, isn't it?

MinusTwo,  I think most of my taste came back by 6 mos. PFC, but the Herceptin could be extending that time period out for yout.  What made the biggest difference was that the saliva slowly returned.  When the saliva came back, I could not only taste the flavors correctly, but had that protective layer again so that I could eat a few hot spices without burning my mouth tissues right off.  I had a few Cheetos during chemo, but it was more grease than flavor.  (Confession:  Although they taste normal now, I only occasionally get them.  I have been trying out a lot of whole grain crisps.  I really like falafel chips too, made with chick pea flour.)  Don't feel too disappointed.  I think the flavors will return in time.

Footballnut

Hi All!

I love my MO!!!!! Here is my update;

Today at
8:15 I was at the hospital for my appointment with my MO and his Nurse -
Angel #2. I was in such pain this morning having woken up at 2:30 in
the morning for yet more diarreah which has just about ripped me open
and left me with a burning stomach and more pain elsewhere.

In
walks the Dr. I start to cry and he hugs me. I open my diary and tell
him the hell that I have been going through - trying not to cry.... I
felt like a little girl talking to my dad. I told him everything. The
aches, the pains, the constipation, the diarreah, the minimal eating and
drinking, the percocets. Upon review, the pains really kicked in last
Friday night. I told him that I had lost 5 pounds since Saturday and
that last night my temperature spiked to 100.4 for approx 2 hours last
night. He listened to everything - did a physical exam; asked a few
questions. My hubby said that the Nurse had tears in her eyes.

He
explained that my body was reacting negatively to taxotere. He
explained that he would have me feeling like myself again very soon. I
even asked him if I was going to die. He said absolutely not. I was
sent upstairs to the chemo area with an order for an IV. When I got to
reception, I lost it and just started crying. I was in so much pain. A
Nurse held me for atleast 10 minutes, then rocked me and hummed to me.
Then I cried even more because it made me feel like a little girl with
my mom.

Once they calmed me down, they took me to a stretcher,
gave me warm blankets and I was put on a 3 hour IV of fluids, a bit of
morphine and zantac. They also took some blood. I slept a bit, ate a
bit and was told that I would also get Home Care for the next 3 days so
my port was left active. My hubby wanted to stay with me but I sent him
to work. My girlfriend picked me up and we went out to eat. TO
EAT!!!!! I felt approx 80% by that time - I had half a veggie omlette
with some potatoes and white toast with strawberry jam, apple juice,
water with lemon and a green t. That was at 2:00 and I haven't run to
the bathroom yet!!!!!!!! I was told that I should take a percocet every
6 hours and that I should be at 100% before the end of the weekend.

A
week from this Tuesday, I will meet with my Onc to discuss how my last 2
chemos will be managed. At this point, he anticipates that I will be
given taxotere weekly with the herceptin still being every 3 weeks.
Weekly! Ugh!!!!!

The Nurses were awesome, my Onc was awesome - I
can't believe how much better I feel in such a short period of time. I
swear to you that I was ready to die. I couldn't take anymore agony!

Now
I look back and say why did I wait so long? My answer - I always
thought that tomorrow would be better - that I had to endure a few days
of hell. I would wake up feeling a bit better then get kicked in the
teeth later in the day. Plus I dreaded the possibility of having to
have an active port and to be hooked up to an IV. Well, it happened
anyways!!

Thank-you to all for holding my hand, giving me hugs and
for sharing your kind words and sentiments. I might not be completely
out of the woods yet, but am getting there!!!!!

Thank-you all!!!!

barsco1963

Aww FBN - I had tears in my eyes reading your post. What a wonderful medical team you have! So glad you are feeling better and that you got some yummies to stay in your tummy.

Just want to thank y'all for coming out on Tues. Got CT results today and looks like Stable Boy realizes that he may need to hang out with me a while longer! Yippee!! Not sure if it was all of the shenanigans that he liked or the fact that he is needed to clean up the mess that the horses left behind. Either way is A-OK with me.

Mac & Luv - both awesome signs!

Eli - Congrats on 5 years! Keep on keeping on!!

barsco1963

Eli - here's a never ending supply of "5's" for you to use as long as you need them. Feel free to share them about (cuz it's a never ending supply)

jbokland

footballnut. Your post made weep.  You poor thing...so sorry you had to go through such an ordeal. Best wishes,My friend

HomeMom

Aww FBN I am so glad you feel better! It's such a relief when you feel normal. I sometimes I find tears running down my face on the way home from work. It just gets to me when I'm alone I guess., and I haven't had the pain you've gone through. Stay tough, we will all get through this!

Loral

Eli congrats!!!!

Eph3_12

OOOOOOOOOOOOH EMMMMMMMMM GEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! I just realized that I am at the pinnacle peak of the name of the thread.  Can we bump the age up?  Just kidding...I know that it's just an approximation of the stellar wonderful women who encompass my favorite thread!!!! 

E, I think that for family & the general public, once active treatment is done, we are cured!  Although I can go days now without necessarily thinking about it, I don't ever feel cured.  Too many reminders, starting with looking in the mirror (which I REALLY try not to do!)

Eph3_12

FBN-oh girl, I too was crying reading your post.  Hang in there.  What is that Kelly CLarkson sings?  What doesn't kill you makes you stronger?  Sometimes I disagree with this, but sometimes I think it fits!  Hang in there.

luvmygoats

FBN - What a team you have there. So glad you are feeling better and had real food. Hang in there.

Barsco - Well let's keep that stable boy around. Maybe we need to make more messes for him to clean up.

HomeMom - I miss a lot but are you new here? Welcome if you are and welcome anyway even if you've been here b4.

Eph - I'm well beyond Eli's guideline age but just try to kick me out.

3rdtimenow

So sorry for what you have been through, glad you have such a caring medical team and that you are feeling better. Stephanie

Momine

FBN, so glad you got some help.

Barsco, Excellent! 

SchoolCounselor

fbn. You had me in tears, so glad you have a wonderful team. 

elimar86861

Fbn,  So glad you were able to turn around that chemo slump with the help of a great team.  Now, with a new plan for the final two rounds, hopefully it won't hit so hard.  I think once you get to the Herceptin on its own, it will be tolerable.  Your story really illustrates that it is important to report the discomforts and not just try to tough it out.  

SchoolCounselor, I see you just had your reconstruction recently.  How did the surgery go?  Healing wishes to you.

THANKS, ladies, for the 5 Year wishes!  I'll keep trying to add up to the next five years.  Figured out what I should be toasting with:

           

(Oh look, it comes in the laundry detergent size now!)

Brwneyedgirl

FBN - glad you feel better. 

I stopped wearing a hat about a month ago.  I have to preface this with, I am not the huggy type.  People do not usually hug me at will.  However, since I stopped wearing a hat people feel free to hug and approach me.  They even ask questions about my diagnosis.  Has anyone else had this experience.  At first I was startled, now I just go with it. 

jbokland

I wore my sassy head and could not get through a store or public area without being stopped, well-wished, or had wonderful brief connections with total strangers.  I LOVED IT!  It brought a lot of awareness and open conversation regarding cancer.  I got lots of smiles, beats the crap out of the pity look.   But that's me... very social!

Footballnut

Hi All,

Friday's update -

Homecare called shortly after
9. A package of supplies will be delivered to my home prior to 1:30
today hopefully. Then a Nurse will come and hook me up to an IV for 4-6
hours so that I can get more fluids. She will return and un-hook me
tonight. This will continue for Saturday and Sunday at which point my
Port will be de-accessed and I can take a shower again!!!!! :-)

Today
I feel about 80%. Still some lingering discomfort but nothing like it
was. I ate dinner last night - chicken and coleslaw! mmmmm
Coleslaw!!! I ate breakfast this morning - I want to eat! My tummy is
still not 100% and is still loose but I am feeling so much more like
myself albeit tired.

It is so true - how do you know what is a
"normal" reaction until you have experienced it yourself? I have had
pain and discomfort my whole life in my hips and lower back. I just
kept plowing on. Yesterday, the Nurse explained that I must stay ahead
of the pain. I should take the meds. My problem was that I didn't even
try percocets until Monday morning at 3:30am. Up until that point I
thought that extra strength tylenol would be enough. I just hate the
thought of popping pills and have to get over that. In my worst dreams I
never thought that things would progress to the point that they did.

I
never even thought that the burning tummy could be reflux. I have a
mild case of reflux that flares up every so often and pop a prevacid for
a week. Then I'm all good. When I chatted with hte nurse about the Dr
giving me zantac, she explained that the burning was reflux. I always
thing of reflux as acid backing up into the throat and forget that this
includes acid burning in the stomach as well. She suggested that I pop a
prevacid every day and that this well help prevent this from
happening. I never even thought to ask about this or discuss with my
Onc. All things that you learn.

What I truly love about my
medical team is the kindness, empathy and support that I am getting.
Not once did anyone point fingers or make me feel like I had brought
this on myself. Even when I said that I was stupid to ignore this like I
had, they jumped in and disputed my way of thinking. We all know that
there are some very poor bed side manners out there so I am thankful.

I
have complete trust and faith in all of them - especially my Oncologist
who leads the charge. His hug meant the world to me. I will discuss
the go-forward plan a week Tuesday. A nurse explained to me that
unfortunately, others have gone through what I did and explained why it
is so important to raise concerns early. I did contact my MO's nurse
Monday and she suggested an IV based on my feedback. I turned it down
thinking again that "tomorrow would be better".

Plus I didn't
want to be a bother to anyone. I didn't want my hubby to have to take
time off of work. As it stands, he ended up coming home from work
Monday to be with me and took me to the Dr yesterday. I worried him
sick with my pain and crying so really did nothing good for anyone.

Hindsight is always 20/20.

So, now I just feel tired. Still have some pain in my tummy but now I'm on the side of healing.

Two
more treatments!!! Can't wait for the football season to start because
then my chemo is behind me and I can focus on better things!

Love you all!!!!

Tomboy

FBN, wow, it sounds like you have a great and compassionate team, working for you, i am so glad you are feeling better. Are you getting the neulasta shot the day after chemo?

Elimar!!! happy 5th!!! i was away from home and my computer, and i think i was having bco withdrawals. i have been very teary and depressed, i know, it might be from the femara, but that doesn't make it any less real and awful. so i got home last night, and your post just effing cracked me up!!! so now, i am sitting around waiting for the aliens. it got postponed, i guess they took the scenic route, (prolly the exit to happy life), so must prepare again for the end of the month. HAH! "END of the month!!" Any helpful suggestions as to what to eat in the time leading up to this remarkable event? even the two gals at doc's office said two completely different things. normally, i eat a pretty high fiber diet. so do i go with low or high fiber? as a practice run (hah! run, get it?) i ate a low fiber diet for four days and did that make a difference in Bm's!!! much easier! i bet you guys can't wait until i stop talking about my crack..

SchoolCounselor

you guys are so funny. Eli!! Happy 5th 

Post surgery, I'm okay. Foobs are an interesting animal. 😄

barbe1958

Never thought I'd live long enough to see a bedazzled chemo head. Glad I did!!! 

cakes

FBN ~ So glad you are doing better. You are blessed to have such a wonderful medical team. You go girl!

NativeMainer

Footballnut--so glad
you are feeling better!

Barsco--Hooray for
Stable Boy staying on!

HomeMom

I live in Orlando too, I'll be on the look out for the bedazzled chemo head!

jbokland

homemom!  Keep your eye out for Fox35. They are doing an article on my head art. I started a creating designs and started my own business.

Www.Sassyhead.com.  

I'm working on designs for children too. Something good after this hellish year!

lekker

I don't think I've participated in this thread before but I wanted to chime in to encourage those who are having a colonoscopy soon (or considering one). Like Elimar said in an earlier post, colonoscopies can truly save lives. When I was 30, I had one rather severe episode of bleeding with a bowel movement.  My PCP took it seriously and sent me on to a surgeon for a flexible sigmoidoscopy (checks only the lower third of the colon as well as the rectum) which found a polyp.  The next step was a full colonoscopy with a gastroenterologist to remove the polyp and check the rest of the colon.  All polyps are sent to pathology even though the GI dr was sure it was benign.  Turns out it was a 1.5cm villous adenoma with severe dysplasia throughout - well on its way to developing into an invasive cancer.  By removing the polyp (and going back in a few weeks later to check the colon wall for any additional cells) I was truly cured.  I actually look forward to my colonoscopies!  I know that sounds weird, and I hate the prep, but it's such a great test in that it finds potential problems and gets rid of them - or if you get an all clear, you can trust that you're ok.  Please don't delay if you're due!

Tomboy

thank you Lekker. That is just what i needed, a very compelling reason to proceed. it has been delayed for the end of the month, but now i am looking forward to the alien probe. i am so glad you are ok, and they caught the problem in time.

lekker

Kathec - thanks for your kind words.  I'm glad I could help.  Do you know what prep you'll be using?  Some doctors stick with older preps that are harder to get down.  I agree with the apple juice tip that was posted earlier - used as a chaser, the sweetness of the juice quickly neutralizes the salty taste of most preps.  The other tips I have are...

Eat lightly for a day or two BEFORE your prep day as well.  This should make the elimination a bit easier.

Make sure the prep drink is cold!  Much easier to get down for most people.

Use a straw to chug the prep.  It helps bypass the taste buds in the front of the mouth.  

Don't use crystal light or other flavoring unless you don't want to drink it ever again (it will forever remind you of the prep!). 

Hot chicken broth (I like Swanson organic or their natural goodness brand) breaks up the monotony of all the cold clear liquids.  It's also soothing if your stomach feels crampy from the prep.

If you normally drink coffee or tea or other caffeinated beverages, make sure to have some on prep day too (just skip the milk/cream). The last thing you want at that point is a caffeine withdrawal headache.

Jello kind of gives the sensation of eating so have some on hand in case you need to chew anything.  Just no red or purple.

I like to book a massage or other pampering on prep day - it helps pass the time and I don't mind being hungry as much.

Get the first appointment of the day!  Get it over with, eat some breakfast and have a good long nap (I love the drugs they give!).

Feel great that you are facing your fears and taking care of yourself!  

elimar86861

Welcome, lekker!  There are two reasons we sometimes digress into all things colonoscopy.  One, because it is an age-related subject for this thread.  In some cases, it could be linked with BC but we don't have a full genetic picture currently.  Two, because I got a Dx for CRC after having BC and did the whole gamut of treatment for that in 2013 so, unfortunately, I have more than a passing acquaintance with it.  You were darn lucky to have addressed (and at such a young age!) before it became invasive.  Mine remained symptomless until it became invasive, so I ended up having surgical resection.  

BTW, my CRC was missed on colonoscopy, which is why I must repeat ad nauseum:  Getting an all-clear on a c-scope exam is great, but if you get any weird and/or bloody symptoms before your next scheduled screening, do not let a false sense of security keep you from getting checked out a.s.a.p.

p.s.  Agree with all tips by lekker.  When I had an older prep (gave off mothball vapors on swallowing) I actually held my nose to swallow it down, then a sip of water (or the juice) afterward to rinse it down before unclamping my nose.  Sounds kooky but it worked.

jbok, Why not some bedazzled head-sass?  Work it! 

lekker

Elimar - I'm sorry to hear that your cancer was missed during your scope. I should've modified my comments about it being a great - but NOT - perfect test.  You are absolutely right that certain symptoms should never be ignored. I was very lucky that the polyp bled that one time and I was even luckier that my dr didn't send me away (as many subsequent doctors have admitted they would've done after hearing my story). I've been tested for pretty much every known genetic cancer syndrome and I've been negative for all.  My pre-teen daughters will have to start screening colonoscopies at age 20 (!!!) and my older one already had her first scope at age 7 because she was having some bleeding - thankfully all was well.  I'm up to scopes every three years now - how often do you have to go in?