Starting Chemo October 2009

unklezwifeonty

For neuropathy, try l-glutamine, b-complex and massages with lotion/oil. Works for me. No neuropathy and I got every other known side effect from AC and Taxanes!

unklezwifeonty

Dear Mary,

Yeah mall walking is a good distraction. 

Claire_in_Seattle

Mary, I actually lived in the NYC area for most of my adult life and grew up in Vermont.  And it was colder here in Seattle than in NYC recently.  Went out anyway.  I just wear a ski parka and wind pants when it gets that cold.  Plus Smartwool socks and a really warm hat, scarf, and gloves.

I had to buy new hats to keep my head warmer as no longer have my long hair, but that is about all.

The big thing is to take a hot bath post exercise as you get overheated and then cool down.  Found that out when I did a walk around Green Lake prior to dentist and then needed a blanket to warm up.  Of course, I had left my wallet at home, so didn't get the chai latte I had planned on

I gave a couple of friends Smartwool helmet liners for Christmas....has been a lifesaver.  Still need to pony up the $$$ for cycling shoe covers as feet tend to get cold.  I had one day when I had to thaw out my feet OVER the bathtub until warm enough to immerse.

txstardust

Alicia and Mary, sorry you are not feeling well.  Let's hope things get better for both of you as the week wears on. 

Speaking of exercise...we got a Wii for the family Christmas present this year, and I got the Wii Fit.  I actually exercised for 35+ minutes today, and had fun doing it!  Granted, I'm finally feeling a bit of energy since I'm going on 2 weeks post-treatment, but I am just glad I could exercise and have fun at the same time.  It's too cold here (for me and my bald head) to go walking outside.  Yes, it's probably tons warmer here in TX than it is for most of you, but I get cold very easily these days.

Have a great day everyone!  Gotta get ready for the game tonight...GO REDSKINS! (Just so they beat the Cowboys...)

Peace,

Shelby 

micheleboots

Hello again.  I have been taking it easy since my treatment last week.  this one kicked my ass.  I still have bone pain, but can now use Tylenol..The doc phoned in a prescription for percoset, but it only makes me sick...

I managed to make xmas idnner but we ate on our everyday plates, no gravy boat, or crystal candle holders.  The stuffing was boxed, and cranberries caned.  It was all yummy.  I am a queen.  Watch out Jojo.

Hope all are feeling well.

JustmeAlicia

Glad to hear from you Michele, hoping you are feeling better each day !

Shelby ~ we got the WII fit too.  I have yet to give it a try !  Go REDSKINS ~ I need the Cowboys to lose !! 

arby

maybe I'm the only one on the plains, but we were snowed in for Christmas and our kids snowed out.  We will all gather tomorrow after my 5th chemo, if all goes as planned.  Hope I'm not too weird/wired from the steroids.  This treatment was postponed due to skin issues, rash and temp from radiation recall.  Thanks for all the good wishes for the holidays.  We shall overcome in 2010.  We will all be able to walk taller and think outside the box from all the experiences we gleaned on this journey.  I'm more than happy to turn the calendar page!  You too?  I appreciated the testimonials about exercise.  And altho I know and have benefitted from its ability to keep depression at bay, it's been an uphill struggle with a fast pulse and being short of breath from the chemo.  I shoveled snow today with my hubby and eldest son, so we could get our tractor out of a shed with an 8 ft drift right outside the door.  It was invigorating!  And my hubby maneuvered the tractor to finally get off an ice coated approach so we are dug out!  Its been a memorable holiday here in NE.  God Bless you all with the time left to celebrate family before the New Year when the old school and work schedules kick in.  Just enjoy your time together.  arby

joanneasiata

HI ALL

Well trying to get out of this horrible  feeling this one #4 has kicked my ass as well  its been bad, i am going to make a effort in the excise Dept as well , i do know it will help me exp in my mental state and the bit of weight  gain doesn't help with things either  mmm i can remember saying something like this about one month ago mmm

MICHELE

ILL  be glad to SHARE my throne with you , i think you deserve it , i recone everyone should try and squeeze in on the chair we are worthy of more than a crown !!!!!

ARBY

Glad your Christmas was nice thats the main thing  even if we ate of paper plates ,and hey were aloud to get away with things at the moment  so lets make the most of it, wow snow ,we are in summer here  I'm kinda glad I'm not into cold weather ,give me a tropical island  with sand ,water palm trees and blue Sky's any day

ANITA

Good luck going into untrod territory is the scariest part hope its not bad for you

CLAIRE

Thanks for encouraging me to get of my butt  please keep reminding me you are amazing

JOJO JUST

Scoobydoo

I hope all of my cancer friends had a wonderful Christmas.  Sending all of you wishes for a blessed New Year and a healthy 2010! 

 Unfortunately I have some well bad news.  My oncologist canceled my last tx that was scheduled for today and rescheduled for 1/4.  I am really bummed about it and already had my cry.  My WBC and neurophil counts are too low to receive chemo.  To be honest I have been suffering from extreme fatigue over the last several days.  Makes sense now that I know what is going on with my body.  I am still suffering from fatigue and it is even difficult to type because my hands and arms are so fatigued.

Mary - ask your onc about a med called neurontin (sp?) it is supposed to reduce the affects of neuropathy.  I am taking it and it has started to take away some of the affects of neuropathy in my fingers and feet.  I only wish she had suggested it in the beginning.  I am also taking Vit B6 and L glutamine.  I am still functioning pretty well even with some neuropathy.

JoJo - I also developed a sore in my private area and had to go to the dr.  Can you believe they would not believe it was due to chemo.  They tested me for herpes...which I thought was a joke.  It came back negative.  They have not prescribed me anything to get rid of the sore.  Can you please tell me how you got rid of it.  I am using desitin which seems to really help with the pain.  It is my fault, I got lazy and stopped using the squirt bottle after chemo.  I got arrogant about the whole thing thinking I did not need it anymore. Well much to my chagrin I was wrong.

Anita

Scoobydoo

Juanelle - Congratulations for finishing chemo!!!!!  I am so happy for you.  Please celebrate by doing something special for yourself.  I am right behind you.  Unfortunately my celebration will have to be postponed for a week.

Anita

jeanl151

hi ladies,

   Christmas was a nice day, good time with family.

I have a neuropathy question.  I am having weird feeling in my fingers and don't know if this is what it is.  The top third of my fingers are puffy and tender (not tingly). It hurt when I tried to use my fingers to peel an orange. Would neuropathy be the reason?

   I start steroids again tomorrow with next treatment on Wednesday. It will be #4 out of 6. I am glad to be half way done but not looking forward to feeling lousy again.

   Jean

Scoobydoo

Hi Jean.

I have neuropathy and have not had any pain.  I get help when I have to open a bottle or peel an orange just because of the slight numbness.  I would call my onc to find out what this is.  You do not want to play around with anything that is causing pain.

Anita

JustmeAlicia

Hi girls,

My first taxol treatment was today.  It went smoothly.  Now I await what SE's I shall be blessed with.  3 more to go and I am done with chemo... woo HOO !!!!!! 

Jean ~ sounds like neuropathy to me.

My oncologist said when the pain kicks in for me to take warm baths and tylenol.  OH BOy ~

txstardust

Alicia, I'm hoping you sail through Taxol treatments! And just think, Jan. 2 is just around the corner...(no more holidays!).

jean, after Wednesday, you're 2/3 of the way done!  That's where I am right now.  2/3 sounds like so much more than 1/2, doesn't it?

Anita, I'm sorry your tx was delayed, but it's for the best - you don't want to get sick.  I'll be cheering you along next week!

JoJo - you are still a princess, no matter what!  Sorry that you're having trouble, but this too shall pass.  That's what I tell myself, anyway!

Hope everyone else is doing as good as can be expected (or better!).  I have been dealing with bloody noses the last two days.  Onc said if I got another one, to go in and have platelet count done.  If it's too low, I'll need a transfusion.  I'm crossing all my fingers and toes that it does NOT happen again!  Other than that, I'm doing pretty well right now.  I went out for a 20 minute walk today, and did a little post-Christmas shopping at the bookstore.  I bought some travel books for Italy, where the DH and I are planning our honeymoon for this coming May.  I'm so excited!  Has anyone ever been there?  Any tips or ideas?

Peace to all,

Shelby 

micheleboots

Shelby, Italy, sounds great...never been but would love to go.

Alicia, glad to hear you made it through today...it is always scary trying something new.

MarieK

Hi All!

I'm sorry to read that some of you are still suffering from fatigue and SEs.  I'm in the same boat - I'm still so tired and unmotivated to get anything done and this was supposed to be my good week.

Tomorrow is my 5th (out of 6) FEC TX and I know I'm supposed to be drinking my water and prepping for the infusion.  But I'm not.  I'm tired of drinking water, packing my bag, and going to the chemo clinic. 

I'm feeling a bit defiant today and it doesn' t make any sense to be feeling this way but it's the way I feel.  Not only didn't I drink my water, I didn't shower, AND I'm still in my pjs!!

I know and I'm only hurting myself but I'm just so tired of this.  I want to be done with chemo, I want my PICC line out and I want to get back to normal!

Sorry it was not my intent to get on here and whine - I was only going to say Hi and ask what others did the day before chemo to prep for TX.

So I'll get back on track and ask "What do you all do the day before chemo?"

Hugs to all~

Marie

one-L

marie, I took my roids and tried to drink as much water as possible.  I also started my regiment of anti-constipation, I have not suffered at all this time.  But I know how you feel, I had trouble packing my chemo bag to go last week.  It was just not something that I wanted to do.  Now, get in there and drink that  water or you will be sorry.  Good luck to you.

Alicia, hope the SEs stay away, but that is probably just too big a wish.

Anita, it feels good to know  that I am through.  I am so sorry yours got pushed back.  I know how disappointed you are.  We all just want to get over this part.

Shelby, Italy, what a wonderful trip it will be.  Good thing to top off all the chemo and radiaiton and such.  I know you will enjoy the trip.

Princess JoJo, I am not sure any of us could share the chair with you.  You are our princess and you have the wand, it would  probably not do anything for me or any of us, only you.

Jean, I don't know much about neuropathy, but I know I have some tingling in my fingers and toes, but no pain.  You need to check with the doctor, could be something else going on.  Good luck on you tx  on Wednesday.

Arby, too bad you had to postpone Christmas, I know you did get lots  of snow.  We are getting ready to have ice tomorrow.  I guess  we will be iced in for a couple of days, because we Texans do not know how to deal  with ice and snow.  We just do not have the equipment.

michele, hope you are feeling better. 

claire,mary and everyone else I know that I am forgetting, I hope you all had a good Christmas and are all able to get some rest this week.

I am finally beginning to feel human again.  Yesterday, the fatigue set  in  and my taste buds were so far off that I could hardly eat.  Today the fatigue was still there, but I am feeling much better tonight.  But all  I did today was lay on the sofa.  Tomorrow, I will lay around again and maybe by the end of the week, I will be on the road to recovery.

Hugs,

Juannelle

MarieK

Juannelle - thanks for the kick in the pants!

one-L

Your welcome, I am always glad to help.

one-L

Your welcome, I am always glad to help.

maryk88

Hey All,

This is my first post, but I have been following you all through this wonderful journey.(HA!)

I have my 5th (of 6) TAC tomorrow, and I just want to say that I am with you Marie.  Right about now it just feels like it's a little too much to ask to make me go back to that place.  I don't want to take my steriods.  I don't want to drink my water.  And I really, really, really don't want to feel crappy for the next week.  Been there, done that, and I just want it over.

So, to answer your question.  I get ready the day before chemo by bitching and whining and feeling sorry for myself.  Then I get up and go get the stupid treatment over with.(because I am so brave and strong - at least that is what everyone keeps telling me)

one-L

maryk88, we are all brave and strong, we don't need anyone to tell us that, but it is nice  to hear.  It takes lots of strong will to get through all we have to go through.  Just think you are 5 of 6, that is an accomplishment.  I just finished TC x 4, and I certainly don't feel brave and strong, but I do what to beat this stuff, that is what keeps me going.  By the way, welcome to the group.

Juannelle

micheleboots

Maryk, welcome...yes indeed we are all brave women...after all who else would go week after week to have poison injected into their bodies all to stay alive.  We are STRONG.

valeriekd

Welcome MaryK it is great to have gals w/ so much experience on the boards - I am sure you have a lot of good advice.

Right on Michelle or in my usual vernacular "No $hi+!"

Speaking of poison - my thumbnail is turning black - does it hurt when/if it falls off? 

Be well cutie gals.

Hi Jean! Definitely report any pain b/c of the LE issue!

I hope you feel better soon Jo Jo. But we love you either "Princess" status or "Just" but even Princesses have their down days.

Love to you all- Valerie 

MarieK

Good Morning Ladies!

I'm up, showered, dressed, makeup and wig on and I'm getting myself pysched to go to chemo.

It is an act of bravery to go through this each time - kind of like going into battle!

I drank a tall bottle of gatorade last night and I'm drinking another this morning.  I have been complaining of dry eyes for the last few days and my hubby suggested gatorade to rehydrate. 

My eyes feel better all ready but now they are watering!  Not sure if it's the hydration or tears?

Good luck to those of you going through chemo today and this week!

I'll be checking in as much as I can.

Hugs to all!
Marie

txstardust

Good luck Marie, you'll get through today great I just know it!  I completely understand the dread - I'm already dreading my next tx and it's over a week away!  I just have to keep reminding myself, one step closer to the finish line.

MaryK, welcome, we are sad you have to be here, but are happy to be here and support you!  Good luck with tx today.

Juannelle, sorry you're having the fatigue, but I'm optimistic that you will feel better each day.  I can't remember, are you having radiation?

Michele, keep up the good fight!  YOU CAN DO IT!!

Well, I'm feeling a little better today, no nosebleeds thank goodness.  I wish the weather were better, though - it's cold (low 40's) and raining outside, so I can't go for the long walk I was planning on.  I guess I'll get on the Wii Fit today.  At least the house smells good - I'm in the process of making a delicious pasta sauce with sausage and meatballs, takes about 4 hours but it's worth it!

DH and I are looking at getting a dog.  We already have 2 cats, but have room and love for another pet!  Maybe by the end of the week.  It will be nice to have another furball to love.

Love and peace to all, 

Shelby 

one-L

Shelby, yes I am doing radiation.  I go for the consult next week, so it will not be long.

Good luck on getting a new furball.  We have 4 and they are all hyper and we are not very good at training.  We have 2 Jack Russells, 1 Jack Russell mix and 1 teacup poodle, who thinks she is a Doberman, she weights 4 lbs.  We rescued the Jack Russells, the mix was dumped on us and someone just didn't want the poodle.  I sure hope that no one else thinks that we need a dog or cat here.

Glad that you are feeling well enough to cook.  I am going for a ride to Waco this afternoon, hope it doesn't tire me out too bad.  We are not shopping, just need to do some errands.

Juannelle

JustmeAlicia

So far so good post the first Taxol... but I know it is still the steroid high.  I took down all the Christmas decorations and tree this am.  In preparation of feeling sore and cruddy soon.  Maybe I will get lucky ~ but it's out of my hands.

Hugs to all you great ladies !

Aliciia

Claire_in_Seattle

MarieK...

I had 5 of 6 AC infusions yesterday, so dragging big time this AM.  Need to do weights/crunches plus get out the vacuum.  Drinking enough water isn't at all a problem as feel terminally thirsty.

Hoping all goes just fine with you.

Will do a three mile walk later in the sunshine.  Hope you have some in Vancouver as well

BTW - I do one day less of steroids than at the beginning.  Just couldn't take the extra day as was making me jittery and disturbing sleep.

maryk88

Thank you all for the welcome.  All of your experiences have helped me so much getting through all of this.

I  re-read my post from last night, and boy do I sound sad and pathetic.  I am not usually that way,  somehow the day before treatment the worst comes out.  Most of the time I deal a lot better. Not the best first impression.

Anyway, I put my big girl pants (and my wig) on today and got my 5th one done.  This means that my next one is the last one!!!  See?  I really am a glass half full kind of person. 

Mary K