Is there a July 2011 group?

ellenquilt

Jen: It truly sucks to have to deal with all the BC stuff and an SOB too!  This is a great forum and I can see from your post that you have the backbone to bounce back!

misswim

Ladies, anyone dealing with Nuelasta pain? Ideas on how to ease it? I get it about 5 days after the shot and it lasts a week. It is a pulsating pain from neck to hips....... I have tried claritin but not much help. Any thoughts appreciated?

Luebbsgurl

Jenn-hugs to you.....battling BC is hard enough let alone how you are being treated.



Misswim-I don't know about the neulesta shot my onc does not want me to get it (she says only as a last resort for me cause I'm too young) but I know the Taxotere gives me bone pain starting about day 4 and then the numbness of my fingers and toes on top. I hope you get to feeling better.



Rabbit-haven't seen you post for a couple days....hope you are well.



Tina

melissaw

Hi,
This is my first post.  I started chemo July 7th.  I am doing 4 rounds of AC (have 3 down already, only 1 left) followed by 12 rounds of Taxol. 

My onc nurse suggested Claratin (yes, the allergy medication) for neulasta bone pain.  I haven't tried it because my pain has not been too bad.  She said they do not know why it works but several patients have reported that it helps. 

Hope that it helpful!

rabbit

hi everyone! I am reading and catching up on posts...been a helluva round 3 of FEC for me Everywhich way possible, but I'm recooping a bit. Took a short walk this morning with my neighbor, just drained, feel like a ton of bricks. I see the onco Wed to go over all these horrible SEs I'm getting, it seems much more intense than the first 2 rounds, but some say that's what happens. Not looking forward to my final FEC on the  31st LOL but in a sick way I am to get it over, then 4 rounds of Taxotere, so it will be my halfway mark WOOOHOOO

So sorry so many of us are just not feeling great, it'll pass soon!

Jenn, what an a$$ honestly, you don't need him and he doesn't deserve you, let someone else get run down and stressed out from his $hit!

When I had my bloodwork done last Wed. b4 chemo, my liver enzymes were up, they thought it was the extra tylenol I had been taking for sinus headaches and the hydrocodones...so off that for 6 days now, anyone else have the liver enzymes go up during chemo? It seems I read somewhere that chemo can do this too?

I might of overdone it the other day, normally don't do much the first several days of chemo, but on day 4 went to bingo, felt great and had a great time..may of run me down a bit too.... 

Hugs and kisses to all!! 

misswim

Rabbit- I went out of town on my off week, and it kicked me to the curb. I am 4 days PC and actually feel better than I have in 10 days. Go figure

Aceteminophin (sp?) will do a number on your liver enzymes.... be careful with it, your liver has so much to process.

rabbit

hi misswim, I actually have started to feel better tonight, day 6...normally my bp drops and I start feeling pretty lethargic around now, hopefullly I get a few more good days before that crash. 

Yep, I knew about the tylenol stuff, but had no idea it could actually do that much damage in such a short time.

nite all

xoxo 

ANA_424

Welcome, melissaw - that's great that you are almost done with the AC part. Hope it has not gone too badly for you.

Jenn - I'm just chiming in with everyone else. Sorry you have been dealing with such a jerk. You don't need that kind of disappointment. At the same time, good for you for your attitude and appreciating some of the peace of being on your own. You can do this.

rabbit - Hope you are feeling better!

Sandy - I hope today went ok for you.

Paintingmywaythru - Wishing some energy your way :-)

I'm getting a little nervous about tx #3 on Thursday after hearing about so many of you having a rough time that round. I've felt really good the last week. Good energy, great appetite (maybe too much so!), fewer headaches. Other than increased fatigue, #2 went pretty easily for me. I still need to be careful not to overdo it. Went to an outdoor festival on Saturday and the heat kind of got to me.

Went to Look Good Feel Better today - fun! Got some really nice products out of it. Some funny combinations, too. Since every kit is a little different and (I'm guessing) assembled by volunteers, I guess you can get an odd assortment. There was this really dark lip liner and pink lipstick - not my look! But some great eyeliners, foundation, lotions - oh, I can't remember. Chemo brain, right?

Sweet dreams, all :-)

J-Bug

So, I think I mentioned this a couple of days ago. I am experimenting since my 4th AC treatment on Friday with not taking anything for sleep. It has been a bit tough, but I found that I felt so "hungover" from Ambien. I couldn't get through the day without huge naps. So far, so good! Let's see how it goes when I am done with the steroids tomorrow. I will probably sleep for a week!!

ANA_424: Glad to hear you made it to the Look Good Feel Better today. I messed up with mine. I was planning on going and with my filling in for my boss while she is out, her director was insisting that I show up in the office today and meet a crash deadline and work late with my son waiting on me to pick him up from soccer. So I missed the Look Good and had to get my son to wait at the library 45 minutes from my work for two hours, while I met the deadline. I am so grateful for the paycheck, but there are just no boundaries! Then he gave me more work to take home and do tonight, saying he will call early tomorrow with next steps. I am hopeful that the boundaries go back in place when my manager gets back next Monday. Cross your fingers for me! 

sandy115

I had round # 2 today Fec D slept all day feeling better this evening.Starving though.Sorry Rabbit and the others you have been feeling lousey hope your feeling better from now on. My scalp pain is getting better to sore to shave.it still maybe in a few days.Getting Nuelast shot tommorow last nulesta my wbc were very good.I think drinking lots and staying away from crowds day 5 to 10 helps alot.

5kidsMom

Rabbit--I had the same thing with the liver enzymes.  Actually was very weird. . . . one week the enzymes would be high, the next normal, and they'd alternate.  this went on for 6 weeks, and now they have been normal for several weeks.  Couldn't figure out anything that made them change, and my onc said sometimes the chemo does it, nothing you can do but watch  

Been having lots of foot numbness from the Taxol.  My onc told me no cold drinks/food etc, and don't get chilled either.  When it continued they put me on B6 and Mag oxide twice/day.  They said that it can be permanent if you don't do something about it.  Anyone else having that, and what are you doing to relieve it?  right now it is mainly in the ball of my foot, up through the middle toes.  weird! 

Tomorrow is number 9 for me.  Praying they find a vein.  Last week the nurses were all suggesting a PICC line, but with only 4 treatments to go, not sure it is worth it!   Just praying the first stick is not too painful, and it works!!  Seems like I'm worse about needlesticks now than I was going into this whole mess.

Cathy_C

Ok so I found today it is not good to wait 10 days to check in with the sisters, there were a lot of posts to read, my vision is not to good so had to scan the post.

I had a very bad #3 AC, I could not drink anything. So by the 3rd day they gave me an IV and then I went in for another one day 4. I felt like I visited hell, I have never felt so bad in my entire life. . 

So I have complaints: I am tired of the 5 o'clock shadow on my head. I never lost all the hair, but even where it was smooth I now have stubble (can't believe it grew). So my friend  is gonna come take a BIC to it, hope it doesn't grow again until I am done with this poison. My eyelids hurt at the lash area, and has been hurting since 2 days before treatment #3. I wake up with crusty eyes, MO has me using Natural Tears. Doesn't seem to help.

I have my #4 and last AC on Friday and while I am nervous about making sure I get enough fluids I am so very much excited. Bonus my MO is going to give me 4 weeks between my cocktails. That thrilled me, because I work with Cub Scouts and I will be able to attend my most favorite campout and possibly not be to pooped.

Honey: We also have a similar treatment plan. I think the only difference is my AC was dose dense (every 2 weeks). I have been fortunate, my MO started me on Neulasta with the first treatment and all my numbers have been good. I only had aches with the first shot and that was 6 days after and Tylenol took that pain away. The first 2 shots stung as it was being given, but the 3rd I did not feel anything but the needle. I hope the rest go the same.

Sending you all feel good vibes.      

mohonda

I want in too. So is this the thread? I haven't done chemo since 2010 when I did 5 months of Taxol and Taxotere. It kicked my butt and I swore i would not do it again. Here i am stage 4 after doing 4 different hormonal treatments, since they worn't working. A clinical study which booted me. Since I had a bad scan that showed substancial damage to my bones and now 1st time in liver. I did not have a choice. I am on Ixempra which is relatively new 6 months out to gate. There is every side effect you can think of on it. I am totallly exhausted during the day. I had fluid taken out of my lungs 3 weeks ago. Now I have shortness of breath and can feel the blood pounding to get in areas of my body. I don't know whether it is from the chemo or combo of chemo and pain meds. Is anyone on Ixempra and how are you doing. Pain meds is anyone concerned of relationship of taking with chemo and possibly oding in your sleep. This drug is so new they can't possibly have any study comparing them with them.

Ok stay strong women.

MO

misswim

Does anyone deal with Ambien dreams? I can't sleep without it but the dreams I am having are just too disturbing. I have not had "cancer" dreams since right after my diagnosis and they were awful. Now, they are back.... can't stand it. My son is now home from all his camps, hubby is traveling for work, and I sit scared of the what ifs of him being alone with out me. While I know I am being irrational, it has me very emotional and scared. That and exhausted from rough sleep. CANCER SUCKS.

Jamie30

Hi all.  Just a quick note again.  Today is Day 8.  I am feeling better but still dealing with stomach issues and a really dry mouth.  This round was rough.  My hubby had to work OT so he was gone for the first 4 days.  My neice came and stayed with me and my Daddy was here to help with me and the kids.  Everyone has helped out alot.  I dont know what I would do without my parents, hubby, and family.  Sometimes people get on my nerves because I dont think they "get it" at times but everyone has really stepped up to help us get through this.  My mom has cooked most of the dinners since I had my last chemo.  It does help to not have to try and figure out how to cook when my chemo brain is kicking and my stomach is being crazy.

Sorry to hear that so many have had issues this time.  I keep telling myself that I only have one mroe treatment but idk how Im going to make it through that one.  Almost there.

rabbit

Hi Ana .... everyone!

J-Bug, how you can do so much work is beyond me, I am literally losing my mind just working from home a few hours a day tops! 

Sandy, for me the  scalp pain went away pretty much after the 2nd treatment, and we're both on FEC so hopefully yours goes soon. Once I shaved it as close as possible, not using a bic but electric which got it almost smooth as a baby bum, the pain lessened. I think it was more of having some hair there, even a quarter inch, to catch and snag on my caps, pillow, turbin, whatever. I have a mohawk of maybe 100 hairs that are so small but just visible LOL.

 Gotta run to dentist, will reply to everyone else later today!

misswim

Spoke too soon. Today was the first day I had to throw the towel in and just come home from work. Exhausted.....

Snoopy73

Hello ladies; Hope you day is going well.

Jamie, hope you fel better soon, atleast you ahve the support girl, count your blessings:-) hug from me.

Misswim - take it easy, and listen to your body. Go get some restand hope you feel better soon.

Rabbit - Hope the dentist was gentle:-) uurgghh hate dentist haahha...otherwise, hope you are much better today.

Mohonda - welcome, sisters on this site are very suppotive. 

Cathy - Hope you are feeling much better today. 

5kidsmom - I have a similar kind of numbness/pain/cramp like on my right leg, on the back.. soo annoying, planning to mention it to me MO tomorrow.

Sandy - hope you are feeling better after the nap:-) I have noticed chemo makes me so hungry and crave for strange foods:-)

J-bug - OMG, i dont know how you do it sister! looks like your work is so demanding. Please try and take it easy as much as you can. Praying that God makes it easier for you. 

Ana - like you, i am aslo so nervous for my #3 on thursday:-( esp that this time i have my best friend coming with us, she lives locally so will be with us during chemo adn then go abck to her house; we were so spoilt the last 2 chemos i have my friend and then my sister coming over from out of state and they stayed with us for 5 days so i did not worry about cleaning, cooking, the kids etc..:-) but my friend said she will bring food, and we ahve a gift cert from a local rest that we can order, so i guess we'll be fine.

Jenn UK - I am sorry for what you ahd to go thru, better that you know you are alone than knwoing you are with someone who is an a%%%%%. Hang in there girl.

Sending positive vibes to all and wishing all that have chemo this week minimal SEs.

Anonymous

Hello to everyone.  I hope that all the troubles from last week for many will not be repeated this week.

Welcome Maureen (Mohonda) - You have a great group of ladies here to keep you company on the journey.

Here's my little rant - my scalp hurts, I have tingling in my hands, a little sore on the inside of my lip, not much in the way of tastebuds, my heart races constantly, my left eye twitches, AND I AM GOING BALD!

Have a wonderful, SE-minimum week!

ellenquilt

5kidsmom: I have the same sensation in my feet, mostly my left foot.  Just for the past day or two.  I just put in a call to my doctor to see if I should be doing something about it.  

Rabbit: My hair started to really shed the past couple of days and it hurt so much when I tried to sleep, cap and all. Felt like lots of little gremlins were pulling my hair out all night.  Which I guess they were. LOL. After work today went straight to the hairdresser and had her buzz it all off.  There's still some tiny stubble, but it already feels so much better! Good luck with the dentist. That's on my  to do list too.

PhillyBird: You sound like my sister from another Mistah!  Same symptoms here! LOL  Hope we both muddle through quick and come out on the other side in better shape!  I was going bald, and decided to just get there faster.  Now I look like Kojak. LOL 

J-Bug: Fingers crossed that your work load lightens up soon.

This is my Week 'O Doctors.  Tomorrow allegist (to figure out how to deal with my allergic reaction to the Taxol) Thursday Cardiologist (to make sure the ticker is still ticking properly with the Herceptin) Friday Chemo Spa Day -- at least I get to rest, assuming I don't have any more interesting reactions to the drugs. Saturday Chiropractor so my neck stops hurting.  

Sunday Sleep. All day.  All the time.  To make up for this sleepless week.

On the plus side, work has been fun this week -I'm lucky that I have a job I really love and I appreciate that every time I go in.  And summer for us is a light load.

Hope everyone has a smooth week. 

 

misswim

Doc finally prescribed some oxycodone to help with bone pain. Thanks all for the thoughts regarding bone pain and Nuelasta. It's been a crappy week and I am sorry to have whined so much......it is helpful when people understand!

I hope everyone is feeling well. I am hoping to gain some energy and get #4 A/C done next Thursday. I just keep thinking, the chemo is doing a job, and I just have to roll with the punches!

dexxy

misswim-good to hear you were prescribed something for pain.  I'm back in the chair on Thursday for round #3.  I'll speak to the doc about the foot pain I am having.

Sounds like other are experiencing it as well.  Feels like I'm walking on rusty nails!  makes exercising difficult.  it also causes us to favor that foot which can then lead to hips and other parts go out of whack.  Ahhh the joys of chemo! but hey on Thursday I will be 3 weeks away from my last treatment.  Yeah!! here's to all who are in the chair this week, we can do this!

ellenquilt

misswim: Glad you were able to get some relief.  And here I don't think you can EVER whine too much! This is a great group that I feel lucky to have found.

khs113

Hi Misswim-I've been out of town on a little holiday and just checked our site and saw your question. I've had the same problem as you with the Nulasta shots and the only thing that helps is Vicodin. I had some left over from surgery and after the first round called my Dr. on a Sunday night I was feeling so bad. He first suggested the Avatin that had been prescribed for nausea and I told him I had already taken that plus earlier in the day had tried Alveve. I asked him about the Vicodin and he said to go ahead. I tried Claritin on the second round but at night wound up taking the Vicodin. It took care of the pain within 15-20 minutes. Hope this helps.

rabbit

hi misswim, never took ambient so don't know about it, the melatonin is working great, I was taking ativan off and on before bed to help me sleep, haven't done that for a week now! Glad you got something for the pain....they work most of the time. I don't get the nuelasta pains, not on that but I do have a lower disc that is according to one dr. "looks like that of a 90 year old" LOL

5kidsmom let us know how you go, will be thinking of you

Cathy_C hope you are doing okay, sending you good vibes too! 

mohonda I am so sorry you have to battle this again, lets kick some cancer A$$!

Jamie, hi :) this 3rd round kicked my butt with  mouth sores...Never really had a problem the first two times, just bought Biotene today, saw my dentist and had to get a crown taken off, it was irritating the gum too much and causing an infection every time I had chemo. Funny thing is I had just bought the biotene on the way to the dentist and of course he gave me a little Biotene bag of free samples LOL

hi Snoopy! Dentist was gentle, thanks, just glad to get the crown off. Will be thinking of you Thursday! 

PhillyBird LMAO at your rants, can I chime in!!!! Mouth sores, GERD acting up something terrible. Have a one inch mohawk left of tiny, pokey, pain in the butt hairs that stick into my caps and pillow etc. We're gonna have to have one heck of a party after this is all over!

ellenquilt, me too with the appointments, and you just reminded me to make my chiro appt for next week!!

rabbit

dexxy good luck to you Thursday as well if I forget to wish you well! 

hi khs113

Off to bed all....xoxoxoxo here's to few and far between SEs! 

Paintingmywaythru

Mohonda  you've come to the right place .. we are ready to kick butt with you.

I ahve TC on Monday and the onc won't increase beyond 75% becasue of my mouth sores. I asked about adding another chemo and I don't know, got a curt answer that t wouldn't help. ANyone here had to reduce theri chemo amount due to Se's...what if the damn thing comes back...then what?

I hate this triple negative.

Rabbit...it si the mouth sores that the onc is refusing to increase my chemo for....my Gerd is acting up too...gasping inthe night I call it,,,,feeling sick  of it....

rabbit

hi Susan

Sorry they are decreasing some treatments cause of the darn mouth sores! That's one of the things I have to talk to my onco about tomorrow when I go. hte GERD is hateful, just relentless for me too, it's painful. We'll get through it all, hang in there!

now I'm really going to bed LOL 

sandy115

Hi everyone seems to be having a S/E day sorry to hear this Rabbit hope your mouth is better after the crown being taken off.I had nuelasta shot today.Developed a rash on upper chest and face called oncol.They said to take benadrl if it dosent help go to Emerg I am not going to Emerg with all the Germs there.So I will just stay awake hoping it goes away.Also got dry mouth and metal taste from Chemo #2 yesterday.Dexy good luck finshing up Chemo in 3 weeks I hope you have a good Party planned.Paintingmywaythru I dont think the 75% is because of mouth sores you should ask oncol I think it maybe because T N but not sure good luck but ask lots of questions thats what they are there for.Last thurs my oncol sent in a resident staffer to examine me Ive only seen the oncol once not happy with that.Hope everyone has a better day tommorow.

Cathy_C

PhillyBird: I agree with Rabbit, that really made me LMAO. I guess it's because I feel the same. I got this long list of whining. Oh well one day at a time, that's all we can do.