February 2011 chemo pals

SpecialK

hello all - I did something very chemo brain today that I thought would make you all laugh - I had to go for Herceptin #11 this afternoon.  Remember how you put the emla/lidocaine cream on your port an hour before chemo?  I still do that for getting Herceptin.  So I go into the kitchen, open the drawer by the stove, get the aluminum foil, go back to the cream, and realize that I really need the plastic wrap!!!  I should have shown up with foil over my port just to see what they would say!

sewingnut

Special K,

Hahaha,   That's funny!!

SpecialK

I am alternating between being horrified because I seem to be making those kinds of mistakes lately - and then laughing at myself because it does seem to be pretty entertaining, even to me!

LisaGH

Specialk my triplet- you are too funny. When we think of all we have been through in 2011, it would cause me a full  panic attack. We are strong every one of us... though we might be forgetful at some things.

All of this since starting chemo in February- still makes my head spin!  My hair is really getting to a mind of it's own very short short short phase. It's kinda nice to be feeling better.

We aren't on the same Herceptin schedule anymore? I am not sure why. I had mine last Wed- maybe my recon surgery shifted it a few days- i can't remember?

SpecialK

LisaGH - Hi!  How are things?  You are actually ahead of dragonfly and me - you had #11 last week right?  We had it this week, but you are still our triplet!

While I was at Herceptin another lady who was there with me last time came without her wig.  Her hair is longer than mine but thinner - so that prompted the onc nurses to ask how mine looked.  I was wearing my underhair and a cute hat.  So I whipped it off and showed them!  They all chorused that I need to go topless right now and forget the "pretend" hair.  Not ready yet - can't do it.  I don't know if it is my forehead that is bothering me or the amount of GRAY I see!  Maybe Herceptin #12 I will be ready.  It finally is coming in with full coverage but still pretty thin at the very front - right by my big forehead!

dogeyed

Ya'll are being so funny!  Yesterday at rads, I was talking to the nurse, and I was running thru my various diseases and plagues, and I mentioned the shark bite on my chest.  She took it as REAL, and she goes, "Shark bite?  Where is that located?"  Hahahahaha.  My mastectomy DOES look like something did take a pretty big swipe at me. 

Well, my head hair is not measurable yet, but it is definitely coming in, looks gray with a little blonde here and there.  I know gray is a modern color, but I will at least have to get it streaked or dyed when it reaches me eyes.  I asked if any would fall out during rads, and a nurse said possibly a few clumps might fall out.  Gee whiz.  I didn't believe her, she was guessing is my guess, but at least I have a wig that looks fab if my head becomes 110 years old all of a sudden. 

SPECIALK, that underhair on your hat, how is it attached?  I saved some of my real hair when it fell out, and always thought I'd glue it to a Velcro strip and then to one in my hat, and didn't know how well the hair would stick.  Maybe duct tape would be best.  I figured if I started wearing the wig full-time, I'd want a "casual look," and thus wear my hat, so would need some hair sticking out, to keep the appearance correct.

First radiation treatment, I did get a little nauseus, which worried me that I would have to deal with it, but didn't have any after second treatment.  Didn't get that wave of sleepy and warmth, either.  I have a lotion now that rad doc prescribed, it has aloe from the plant in it, along with other stuff, and it does not feel greasy at all, dries quickly, I put some on yesterday.  I'm to put it on three times a day, but thought for today I'd just go the one.  And it's FRIDAY!  I am going to wallow in my weekend off.

I now have a list on my computer of what I am supposed to be doing for the next three weeks.  It seems chores have piled up from putting off during chemo and surgery, so don't have much choice.  The list is because I CANNOT recall things at all.  SPECIALK, I've been putting aluminum foil on my boob for years....hahaha....no, just stuff like that happens to me all the time.  I lost my focus when my car-wrecked back gave out about ten years ago, got disabled, and haven't been as sharp ever since.  I kind of enjoy my out-of-it-tudeness (my brother's fav word ending), people seem to like helping me all over the place, and husband and I laugh about it a lot.  I asked him the other day, "Do you have any thoughts on how I might find some motivation to get the cleaning done," and he goes, "I haven't seen any motivation around here in a LONG while."  Smile smile smile.  Love to my sisters, Gail

ruffy

Good morning fab feb girls!! Special k, too funny. I put my daughters fav ice cream back into THE FRIDGE, only to discover it the next morning. Oops, I'm Thinkkng I might have been a bit like this pre chemo too, chemo just brought it out a bit more ! Lol

My hair is in, very thick. And I actually put gel in it yesterday and have a bit of a spike! Crazy year we've all had. I still shake my head some mornings.

So 3 days into our daughter being in school empty nest kicked in and we got a new puppy! Rosco. He's a birder collie mix with Bernese mountain dog. He's keeping me busy for sure! I'm off work Till Jan so I thought this is as good a time as any.

Gail, I'm glad rads are ok. Sone days I'm a bit nauseous too. Other days not. I think it's from taking my vitamins with no food. I'm on treatment 9 today, it's a bit sore sometimes, like a mild achy feeling but I'll continue to do what I'm told

Have a great Friday everyone and happy weekend!

xoxo

SpecialK

dogeyed - I had the "underhair" made at www.hatswithhair.com out of the hair I had cut off before chemo.  It is attached to a soft, breathable, fabric cap part that goes over the head - fitted like a wig.  That way you can wear any kind of hat - I have either a ball cap or fedora-style hats.  I find it is cooler here in the heat and humidity.  Make sure you are being careful with your skin during rads!  You don't want to deal with a burn, or blistering.

ruffolo - congrats on the puppy - you will be busy for sure!  When my DD had just graduated from high school she got a puppy.  She went to college during the day and worked in a restaurant at night.  My DH was commuting between the Pentagon and Tampa so was gone during the week, only home on the weekends.  On the weeknights (after work for me) I held that puppy and rocked him like a baby.  Now he is 50 lbs. and would still do it.  He is such a lovey dog - likes to cuddle.  I think he thinks he is a cat - that is how he acts!

Have a good weekend everyone! 

dogeyed

RUFF, I have felt a kind of achy feeling in my left shoulder, wondered if it was the rads, so I'm glad you told us about that.  I've been kind of massaging it, stretching it, doing arm exercises I was given, and that helps.  I'm so happy you got you a puppy, he sounds like he looks pretty, the markings on those two dogs are really neat.

SPECIALK, I was watching Dog Whisperer on TV yesterday, and he got in a pool with a Great Dane dog and taught the owner how to hold him on his back like a baby, it was some kinda cute to see such a big dog acting like a baby, just like yours!  I put some lotion on yesterday after my rads, and will put it on twice a day over the weekend.  Once things get red, I'll do the three times a day.  I've just had three treatments, so I'm approaching it according to need.  And thanks for the link on the hair thing!!

We had two dogs for the longest time, both arctic breeds, and one of them died the day before my surgery, talk about being upset.  But the other one is hanging in (both 14 yrs old), it felt so good to feel her fur when we came home from the vet that sad day.  But husband and I have talked about what type of dog to replace her when she will surely go, and he suggested small dogs since it was so hard to carry around our husky when he was so sick.  I've seen some shetland sheepdogs (look like collies) that come in pet quality colors, where they can get a big patch over their eye and other patches on the rest of their fur, and this one pic I saw the dog had blue eyes, which our husky had one blue eye.  That's where my user name came from, it's backwards of a part of "Blue-Eyed Dog." 

Enjoy the weekend everybody!  Love to my sisters, GG

thefuzzylemon

HOWDY!!  I finally have a working computer at home!  I have missed everyone soooo much!  It's the best feeling to be here right now!

I don't even know how long its been ... I will finally be finishing radiation in a week and a half.  My burn is really bad but ... just gotta get though these boosts (otherwise I'd be DONE!)

Just started Tamoxifen today.  I remember how it felt like this moment was so far away - and, it was!  LOL  AC chemo almost got me, Taxol treatments while returning to work was brutal, radiation has gone pretty smooth until this last week.  Girls, I think of you everyday - you took my hand and held my heart all the way through this. 

Gosh, I thought I had so much to say but...I'm really just looking forward to catching up with everyone!!!! 

((((HUGS))))((((HUGS))))((((HUGS))))

SpecialK

FUZZY!!!!!!  YAY!!!!!!  Welcome back - we have missed you so and worried about you!!!!!

thefuzzylemon

Oh I am so happy to be back!!!!

Thank you so much! 

SpecialK

How are you feeling?  Sorry about your rad burn.  I started Femara about a month ago - a little stiffness but that is all, not so bad.

thefuzzylemon

Well...I'm figuring things out as I go ... the fatigue is a monster!!  But, one effedrine a day keeps that away!!  LOL  I "ramp up" in the morning, and "ramp down" in the evening! 

I have some crazy thick - but short and fine - hair on my head.  The eyebrows and lashes are finally back!  It looks like I might be stuck with the bone pain for a while.  My tailbone and my chest are the worst.  Nothin' a cancer cowgirl can't handle though!! LOL

I'm actually looking forward to having my other "girl" removed!  It won't be for another 9-12 months, but, I'm kinda looking forward to having a matching set ... however they do all that ... I remember morphine and not much else from the first one ... oh, and the vest and drains....ew... LOL

SpecialK

I finally have full cover on my head but it is really short and just a little thin right in the very front.  Before chemo my hair was like my avatar pic, OMG I got to see just how gray I really am!

I had trouble with my left TE, lost it in Jan. before I started chemo.  Now that I am done I got to have it put back in so now I have a matched set - even if they are expanders.  I just started fills and I am still receiving Herceptin every 3 weeks.  I did develop mild LE in my node arm during chemo so now I am getting physical therapy for that.  Between the Mo visits for HErceptin, the PT, the fills with PS, etc. all I do is go to doctor appts.  Craziness!

How is your work situation - I remember you had a not-so-nice boss, is he behaving?

dogeyed

FUZZY FUZZY FUZZY !!!!!  Hearts hearts hearts.  OMG we did surely miss you, girl, thru our trials and tribulations, but once you were lost and now you are found.  Once in a while the others in our old gang drop in to visit, and there will be covered dishes and music and laughter.  As for your hair, MAMAV has 3/4" of hair.  Smile.  Mine is not measurable yet, but it is decidedly gray with some blonde swirls here and there.  Sorry to hear working and chemo pains had to go together, I honestly don't know how some of you women take it.  I also post in surgery and in rads now, some of our other sisters do too, but nothing will ever replace the months of friendship all us chemo pals did.  GG 

SpecialK

dogeyed - I knew you would be so excited to see our fuzzy back again!  You were the first one I thought of because I knew you had been worried - so happy!  And you are so right - nothing will replace what we did for each other during those dark months when we were all feeling like crap on a stick!

charlottesmama

Does anyone know how to upload a photo to this site? Why have they made it so infuriatingly difficult? Earlier I just did the ol' copy and paste. Grrrr.....

charlottesmama

Ruffolo~ I hit the hair gel hard! I've been having so much fun with my super-short 'do. Not that I can really do much. I have a funky cowlick over my right eye--it stands straight up--and a cute swirl right in front. Someone honestly asked me the other day who did my hair. I couldn't resist saying, My oncologist." LOL!

charlottesmama

Smooches to my Fuzzy grrrl!!!!

SpecialK

charlottesmama - here are directions from another member.  I have not tried this so don't know if it works.

save picture to photobucket.com

copy the DIRECT LINK of the picture

Open the "tree" icon above

paste the link

and insert

I am a techno-peasant so no guarantees.  I just make my DD do it for me!

thefuzzylemon

Hey Hey Hey!!!  Hugs and Smooches and all my love back at ya gals!!!!  I've got the banana bread in the oven and there is enough to share!!

My armpit is now an aweful shade of purple!!  They gave me Aquaphor, but I bought "Bag Balm" and it really seems to be helping...a lot.  That is one fried little boobie I tell ya ... I wouldn't be suprised if they decide to cut me off of rads tomorrow.  I also wouldn't be terribly disappointed!!! LOL

Gosh.  I can't tell you how my love I have for you all.  We are a special group of women and I can't imagine my life without you.  Happy happy happy Fuzzy, that's for sure

thefuzzylemon

I just found this on another post...alot like what Special said:

Well if you have a photobucket account or even a fb i think you can just do a right click on the image and copy , then click on the little tree by the smilie face right about where you type your message. Then just paste the link into Image URL box.  

Lol...I'm not exactly sure what it means ...

charlottesmama

Bag Balm! Too funny, Fuzz!!!

charlottesmama

To see the new me with hair, go to: Awwww crap. I'm on an iPad. Don't know how to paste from this fool toy.

thefuzzylemon

LOL...I have decided that amybe I need a Vet??? 

I gotta tell ya, I think this stuff is actually working...I'm going to ask them at my appointment tomorrow!

Has anyone experienced little "light flashes"?  I just had some this morning,...lasted about 30 seconds.  They were really cute, but wierd>>>

ruffy

Welcome back fuzzy it's nice to hear from you- I havnt had the light flashes, Ive had it before - usually before a migraine, but that was pre-cancer.

Hope everyone has a great week. Rads are getting me down a bit. I don't know if it's just the daily reminder or what, but it's a bit irritating and I can't wait for it to end, and, it better be doing what it's supposed to. And, I'm only on week 2 of 6 I hope I'm just having a bad day.



Charlottesmama, the gel is def fun! Can't wait to get some barretts out! Might be a bit early yet, but soon.

Take care feb gals xo

MamaV

Did you feel that earthquake about 45 minutes ago?  Sorry that was just me jumping for joy!  After 9 months of cancer treatments, I am DONE!  Did you hear me?  I am DONE! DONE! DONE!

dogeyed

MAMAV, oh, I am so overjoyed to hear your FANTASTIC news.  Girl, you are my hero!  Wow, after all these millions of months and months, Vicky, you have graduated!  I think when I'm done, I'll probably curl up in their chair in the rads room and bawl my eyes out.  What a relief. 

How many roads must a man walk down, before they can call him a man?  The answer my friend....

Me, I'm completely comfortable within my radiation stuff, it turned out riding over there daily is no big deal.  I got the time frame like I wanted it, so have plenty of time to goof off before I go.  Yesterday I was still nagging myself about some stuff I must get done soon before I get tired towards end of rads, and realized it was making me a nervous wreck, so I simply will have to do things as I can.  I cannot rush, it does more harm than good.  GG

MamaV

Thanks GG!  After the jumping for joy, I cried all the way home.  I played Martina McBride's song - I'm gonna love you through it - over and over and over all the way home and bawled my eyes out.  I just can't believe I survived this hell!  I hope rads will be as easy for you as they were for me.  I was tired, but it didn't stop me from doing anything (just went to bed earlier, that's all)

You'll get there soon!