Calling all TNs

Huskerkkc

Kymn, glad to hear from you. I had #6 on Friday (delayed a week so I could go on son's HS music trip to Vancouver/Seattle). Trmt was fine, Saturday was fine (got Neulasta 1/2 dose around 5pm) and them BAM! Saturday night I was exhausted, Sunday achy, and cried all day for no reason. That is the first time that depression has really set in with the other SE's. Woke up this morning with a sore throat and that scared me, but no temp. Nurse said maybe post-nasal drip, so went back to bed with heat pack on my forehead. Am going to attempt a shower and see I can get on top of this. I decided that part of my depression is being done with chemo-I don't know how else to explain it. I still have rads coming up in a few weeks but haven't met with RO yet. I'm just plain scared still. 

But I am slogging through and trying to do what I have to do to beat this and I know you are doing the same. One tired foot in front of the other.  

Fighter_34

@Huskerkkc You are correct I was depressed the most when tx ended but it does get better. I just felt like a ticking time bomb. You should visit the hair, hair and more hair thread. The ladies offer great advice. Happy hair growing.

Funny story: I had groan pain last week and you couldn't tell me I was going to die come to find out that my underwears were tooooo tight. I put on my dream panties that didin't quite fit yet. Btwn post chemo brain and trying to move on w/ my life I figured I could fit them.

I cried and laugh all at the same time. Don't tell anyone ladies it's a secret btwn US!!

 <------These were all my emotions

Kymn

Hi Kristy, cant remember if I responded to you on one of the other boards we are one together but I feel so bad for you getting the damn SE of depression. Unfortunetly I have gotten that one every time except number 1. Number 2 and 3 I was crying solid for about 4 days. for treatment 4 it was only 2 so I guess Doxetaxol was easier in that regards but still the depression is sooo hard to get through and I just want everyone to leave me the F alone I dont want to talk on phone or the boards or anything its just awful. I hate how these damn drugs can just take over your brain . Its unfair enough that cancer got to invaid my body.

Anyhow I do hope you are reaching your way out of the fog today. Hugs Kymn

Suze35

Massive scanxiety - abdominal CT in the AM.  Ugh. 

kathyrnn

TY!

Babs37

Suze- Will be thinking of you....................Hugs.  xx

kathyrnn

Suze....prayers for you.

Fighter, (yes, I AM a blond), how do I find the hair, hair and more hair thread?

rella40

Hi Everyone,

Having a rough couple of days, depressed. Usually doesn't last.

 Prayers and hugs ((hugs)) to you Suze

Fighter_34

Under: Chemotheraphy Before, During and After or click the index form and scroll along until you see someone posting in that particular chat. That's how I discovered it.

Suze35 you rock!! Sending you good vibes!!!!

Anonymous

Suze35

You guys are awesome, thank you!  I took some Ativan, and have mellowed out a bit.  I will wash, rinse, repeat until necessary .

I have managed to get my Vitamin D up to 42 (started at 19) - yay!  I take 4000 of D3/day, my doctor still wants to see another 20 points, but it is going in the right direction.  Not sure it matters, but hey, it's something!

Bought a car today - should have it by Friday.  Here are some pictures from the dealer's website, I'll be sure to put one up of me in my new baby when she arrives:

http://www.classicauto-showplace.com/node/8110

Rella - I'm sorry you are having some rough days.  The ups and downs are so darn UP and so darn DOWN.  I had a mini-breakdown Saturday night.  I am living on such a knife's edge, it is hard to cope sometimes - I know you can understand.  I hope you are doing better soon.

Kathrynn - you're hair will be back before you know it!  Mine started regrowing when I switched to Taxol, I went "topless" about a month after surgery.  It needs a cut, but I will likely loose it with my next chemo, so not gonna bother.

Kymn - The depression sucks.  Boy do I remember that.  I didn't do much posting, I was just lost in my own little world.  I feel bad, because I didn't even want to deal with my kids.  I am so grateful my mother was able to fill in.  But it thankfully passed, and I'm hoping it stays away during my next round.  Go easy on yourself, it is a rough time, there is no right or wrong way to do things.

Heidi - that looks just like my best friend's cat, and she loves to stare at the fish too, lol.  Loves it!

bak94

Suze35, what a great car! You are gonna have fun!!!!!

Babs37

Suze- WOW!!! Nice car........

Stupidboob

This is HORRIBLE!!!   Today has not been good at all.   Did any of you have eye issues along with everything else?   I am just not handling this well at all.   I thought I would be able to do this but I am not so sure.   Neck pain, stomach pain, nausea and being off balance and then the lovely dizziness that makes the nausea worse.   How long did you all go before seeing improvements.    My surgical area needs to be drained again and that is only adding to the mess, because I can't go get it drained due to nausea and diarrhea.   There is no way I could have gone anywhere today.    Tips to help please.   The meds they give me for the nausea makes me more nauseous (sp).   I just over all feel weird and don't know how to even explain what I feel besides horrible and weird.

Suze35

Are you doing AC? I did have some eye issues my first round, but it went away when I ate so probably blood sugar related. AC was hard for me the first 3-4 days, then I would just feel exhausted due to low WBCs, and would struggle to even eat. I would rebound by day 8 or so.



Tips - water, water, more water! I hated plain water, so drank selzer, it went down much easier. I also scheduled appointments for a bag of fluids at the end of my first week. That really helped. The aches, pains, flu-like stuff is likely Neulasta SE's. You can start taking Claritin the night before and keep taking it for a few days, that can help with those symptoms.



Be sure to keep calories coming in - I found a decent chocolate protein drink that I mixed with lots of water, that helped me a lot.



Sometimes the steroids are causing symptoms...see if you can reduce your post-chemo day doses. And don't be afraid to push for more nausea drugs. Ativan worked fantastic for me, Compazine not so much.



Even so, I struggled with AC. I got through it by sleeping as much as I could. Taxol was much better.



Hang in there, it is terrible, but worth it in the end.

Titan

Hey ladies going through chemo...you WILL finish..YOU WILL!!!...

Seriously..I thought I would never be done and looked enviously on the ladies that were done.,,I was so freaking jealous of them..they were DONE..

Soon enough..you guys will be done too..and looking back and helping others..really, really, really.

Hang in there ok?????

MBJ

Chemo sucks but if it can get every last cancer cell you just have to go through it. Talk to your Onc as what I was told is I shouldn't have nausea, shouldn't have pain and if I did maybe I needed a different medication so don't be afraid to ask and drink lots of water.  We did it, we survived and thrived and so can you!  Big hugs!!!

Suze:  I am hoping you get a clean scan and that car OMG she's a beauty and I am soooo jealous!  This time next year you will be driving around with the top down and your hair in the breeze. Congratulations!!

fighter:  Your underwear did all that huh??!! Lol!  Ain't life grand?

MBJ

Heidi: Great picture!!!

Sugar77

Suze - good luck tomorrow!  Love the new car.

Kymn - hang in there...you're almost done.  I think the steroids mess with us in such a big way and contribute to the depression.  Hoping for minimal side effects for your next Tx.

Heidi - where do you get these funny photos!  They are always a treat. 

Titan - my onc didn't seem too concerned about triple negative either.

It's a beautiful day here in Toronto. Just took my doggie on a long walk and it felt great. I hope everyone's having a good day. 

Titan

Love the car Suze..good luck on your ab scan tomorrow...does it ever end for gosh sakes.

blondelawyer

Anyone have their tumor not respond to chemo?  I'm early in the process--just had my 3rd infusion, but my doctor thinks that my tumor is growing. My entire breast is red and swollen (probably a DDD instead of my normal DD).  He doesn't think that it is infection, but is treating me with abx in case.  I have an MRI scheduled for Thursday (because of the study that I am on), so I'll know for sure then.  He said that usually they don't change courses of action this early in treatment, but that we probably will if the MRI confirms growth.  It seems like my tumor is crazy-aggressive!

beccad

Alrighty, it seems that I am adding more Dr.'s to the payroll.  I changed my primary care Dr. & he fouund microscopic hematuria (blood in urine), so now I go to a urologist in 2 weeks, AND he wants me to get a colonoscopy so I see the Gastroenterologist next week.  Just when I thought I would have a month off from seeing any more Dr.s except at work.  I did make it through Radiation just fine and then had blisters pop up a week after finishing.  Now that really sucked.

 Beccad

ksmatthews

Prayers for you Suze and blondelawyer.

Suze35

blondelawyer - unfortunately yes, my cancer stopped responding towards the end of my chemo and I had progression. It is great your doctor is on top of this. I would also suggest you bring up IBC with him so that it can be ruled out - when do you see him next? The red, swollen breast is concerning, and IBC can be wicked aggressive - but treatable if identified early.



beccad -I'm sorry to hear something new has cropped up. I know my doctor wants me to get a colonoscopy at some point, just to rule things out. Hope all goes well for you!




Trying to get some sleep. Time to pop another Ativan! Peace to all.

blondelawyer

Thanks Suze!  I will talk to him on Thursday after he gets the MRI report and I am scheduled to see him next Monday for my regular appointment.  

Just did a quick search on IBC and note that one of the descriptions is actually the same terminology that my doctor used.  He said that the cancer could be caused by the cancer blocking the lymph nodes.  I think that I may call him tomorrow so that I don't sit here worrying for the next few days! 

TiffanyF4

Grrrrr! Wed. Can't come fast enough! Waiting on pathology results from a small place on my scar. I'm sure it's nothing, but I want to hear that so I can stop entertaining the idea of a recurrence! So exhausted spent the whole afternoon at the doctors office waiting to get my trigger point injections for my back. My doctor said radiation has damaged the muscle that wraps around from my chest to my back. Oh the joys of side effects!

Suze35

blondlawyer - It does sound like your doctor is well informed, which is great. But I'm glad to hear you are calling him today. I'm not one to ever wait for the next appointment, lol. My doctor has gotten used to it :-). I hope that you guys are wrong and the chemo is still doing it's job, but if not, know there are plenty of chemo cocktails to try. If it is IBC, there is a forum here where you can find lots of information. Good luck on Thursday!



Tiffany - the waiting is the worst! I'm keeping you in my thoughts that all is benign.



Sitting here drinking my lovely contrast for my CT. Blech. It will be over soon, the my waiting game begins. I might hear tonight, but most likely tomorrow night. Have a good day everyone!



And thanks for the comments on the car. I'm super excited to get it! I can't wait to hit these New Englad back roads :-).

Luah

Suze35 - that car looks awesome!  Fingers crossed for your scan results.

blondelawyer: Suze35 is right - don't worry about being a pain in the neck with your docs. If they're good, and it sounds like they are, they will understand and appreciate your queries. If indeed the chemo isn't showing results, it'll be time to move on to another treatment. Hugs to you!

Tiffany4: Hoping for the best on your path results too!

Beccad: Sucks to be constantly going to docs. But it sounds like yours are staying on top of everything, and that's a good thing.

rella40

Suze-hugs and prayers for your scans, and love that car.  I am also going to try the Ativan road today, I haven't used a whole bottle yet, I got it in 200?..., but life and time has just seemed to stop for the moment, so I may as well sleep. Best to all you girls facing scan/test results this week.  

Kimn-This is the last one?  I pray it is easier for you, tell your doctors, again, how you feel.  Anxiety and depression IMO can make SEs worse sometimes.  My first cycle of chemo was FEC, I had some issues with it similar to yours.  Hang in there!

MBJ

Blondelawyer:  It sounds as if your dr's are really on top of things--don't be afraid to be a squeaky wheel--your life depends on it!  BC taught me to learn to trust my intuition, or gut feeling when it came to my treatment.  If something didn't sound right, feel right or just bugged me I just kept asking questions until I felt comfortable with the decisions I had to make about my body.  This intuition saved me having excessive and additional procedures and helped me change dr's in the middle of chemo.  Bring someone with you to your dr appointments and have your questions written down and have someone writing down or recording your appointments.  This is a stressful time and we are so overwhelmed sometimes that doing these little things really help.  TN can be very aggressive but there are many treatment options, your dr just has to find the right one for you.  Big hugs!!!

Suze:  Thinking about you today!!!  Thinking of you driving New England back roads in your new car reminds me of a great short story, Mrs. Todd's Shortcut by Steven King.  A very fun read!

Beccad:  I am so sorry you are having to go to even more drs.  My thoughts are with you and I am glad your new dr caught this and hoping it's something easily treatable.  Hugs!!