Is there a July 2011 group?

ellenquilt

THanks Phillybird, sandy, painting and all.  I actually had  a pity party for myself at my house last night, complete with crying. The smell is intense but getting better. I'm frustrated because I can't do any of the cleanup myself and I hate nagging everyone else, even though they have been good about it. Younger son is recruiting all his "brothers from other mothers" to come and help on Thursday.  I love his friends, so I'm looking forard to seeing them.  I have no hot water so we're working on getting that fixed.  The EX is taking charge of all the stuff I just don't want to do.  He's a great EX, much better than he was as a husband. I am getting rid of tons of junk though, which feels pretty good. I can actually see part of my garage floor again.  A major breakthrough.  And I was able to  throw out about 20 bolts of fabric without going into mourning.  They were soaked with disgusting tide water, which made it easy to part with them. Vestiges from my quiltling days.

Phillybird, I sympathize aboutthe neuropath.  I have neuropathy in my feet which makes it feel like I'm walking on marbles.  Not a good feeling at all.  It gets better if I put my feet up for a while, so I've been doing that.  And I  got awful headaches with Kytril.  Stopped taking that after the first week.  It's been much better since. 

misswim: I saw on the news the terrible flooding in Vermont.  It's just awful! Irene was a real bitch!

Luebbsgirl: Glad you are feeling so good! Good luck on chair day!

I am achy all over today -- I don't know how  much is chemo related and how much is exhaustion and how much is just being pissed off and depressed over the state of my house.  Took some Tylenol and am laying low until my "work crew" arrives to continue the cleanup today in a couple of hours.  I did get a half decent night's sleep last night. I'm grateful for that.  And the cats and the dog seem to be recovering from the trauma of having been dragged to the north shore to a strange house for two days.  They are still acting a little weird though.  I guess they'll re-acclimate in a day or two.

Hope everyone has a good day today! 

Mavin: I lost most of my hair by week 4 of Taxol. I just shaved it all off at that point.  Much more comfortable.

dexxy

just droping in to say Hello.  I had a busy weekend, too many projects but I actually had people over for Sunday Dinner.  First time since all of this started.  It was great to just be nromal.

  hope you all have a great week

pinkpalette

Greetings everyone.  Sorry to have been away a few days, dealing with Irene.  Not too much of a problem for us in MD now that it is gone.  Others were not so lucky though.  It was so damned windy when it came thru, I thought the house was gonna blow down.  They said it was gusts to 60mph around here.  Too much for me. I was terrified for about 36 hours.  Husband had to work during the storm so I got no support.  It was the worst storm I ever was thru. House sprung a few leaks, lost two huge trees, boat OK, family fine - about all I can ask for.  Can't complain too much, I guess. 

Dealing with diarrhea, mouth sores, yuck taste.  The only thing that tastes good is chocolate!  Good for my figure, ay? I am so sick of drinking liquids that taste like garbage.  I just can't drink.  Yoo hoo's OK, but like I said, it is difficult to drink anything and just get it down easily.  I am 8 days out on 3rd chemo.

EllenQ - It breaks my heart to see the photo of your home.  It is sad to see all the videos on tv of this storm.  I think it was the worst east coast storm ever, period!  I am glad you and ur family are OK.  It's true most things can be fixed, but it does wear us down.  Take care of yourself!

Rabbit - Happy Birthday!  Hope you had fun on your special day.  Did you get lucky?  Awwww, you know what I mean..... hmmmmm 

shinypop - Oh my, sorry to hear you were in the hospital.  That sucks!  Hope you are feeling better soon....and enjoying some sushi!!!

paintingmyway - glad to hear from you, and hear you weathered the storm.  I was wondering about you, in prev. post. Sorry to hear about the mouthsores.  I have them too.  It is one of the hardest things to deal with for me.  Mushy soft food is comforting.  Good luck with work.

snoopy - Hope you have a good trip to MD/DC area.  Widespread power outages here and trees down and flooding everywhere.  Not a great time for a visit.  Hope you don't have to deal with any of that when you visit your family. 

dexxy - glad to hear you had an enjoyable dinner with friends.  It is wonderful to be normal!!!

to all - wishing you pleasant days without any SE's...

bcisnofun

Hi friends,

today I'm having kind of a ticked off day.  Do you have those days where you're just completely ticked that this has affected us?  I mean why us?  I seem to have these days on days 4, 5, 6 after chemo.  I read somewhere that steroids can cause depression after taking them for a few days.  Does anyone else get depressed on these days?  I sure hope to come out of it to enjoy the long weekend.  Thinking of you guys...

khs113

Bcisnofun---Yes, definitely, yes. And pity parties follow soon after. I tried tapering my steroids this time instead of stopping them entirely the day after chemo. Allowed me a couple of days of normalcy before Nulasta pain kicked in. Last night I got very cranky about everything, even though a good friend had made a complete dinner for my husband and I. I finally just went to bed with an ice pack on my head crying about this whole mess. Today, I feel better mood-wise. Maybe, it was the good cry. I feel my body struggling to feel better. I'm going to read that person's 29 month survival posting again and again. Feel better soon.

Anonymous

Hi all - back from the number 3 THE CHAIR, and happy to report that I am feeling great!  Three down and one more to go - woo hoo.  Just had dinner with some salad, quinoa, ratatouille, brussels sprouts, brown rice with beans, and finished with some cheese!

bcisnofun and khs113 - regarding the steroids, my oncologist told me to taper off also.  So, instead of all 16 mg tomorrow, I will take 12 mg; 8 mg on Thursday and 4 mg on Friday.  He thinks that the reason I felt like a truck ran me over the last time was due to the abrupt fall in the dexamethasone.  This time, I should be much more comfortable by Friday/Saturday.

When I told him that I have this constant low grade headache -usually wake up with it pretty much every day - and for which I take Tylenol, he decided to order a brain MRI - just to be sure.  Will get that done sometime this week.  Getting my Neulasta shot early Thursday morning.

Ellenquilt - sorry again about the mess - and all that fabric.  Maybe my office needs to get flooded, since I still have not gotten cracking on cleaning it out yet.  It is great the way your family and their friends are all pitching in.

That's all for now.  Going to go for a walk and try to not feel nauseated this evening.

Bye!

rabbit

hi all....good luck to all in the chair tomorrow (my last FEC tomorrow wooohooo! and my halfway point) and I hope everyone is feeling ok that got zapped today and the last few days. 

phillybird, hope you continue to feel good!

will have to play catchup in the next few days..wayyyyyy behind on posts!

xoxoxo 

Anonymous

Good luck Rabbit!

khs113

I just went back to the first page and looked at our treatment schedules. Alot of us are halfway or more through chemo. Whoo-hooo! So glad we've all stuck together through this, cheering each other on, venting our frustrations and complaints. It means alot to me to be with all of you. People who really understand what we're going through and still be able to extend such great kindnesses. Hang in there and take care of yourselves.

dexxy

Hope all are surviving this week.  I know a lot of you are rounding the corner and seeing the end in sight.  I see it just over the horizon.  I think about all of this sometimes and do play the "why" game.  But also know that it doesn't get me anywhere.  The strange thing is today I felt guilty for feeling tired and wanting to go home from work.  And the said thing is that I would get "s**t" for it if I did, best part, I'm my own boss.  Ha, and here's the best part, it would because I don't want people to finally know this Damn thing got to me.  The Ohhhh are you alright's and are feeling ok, the look you all know the poor puppy look.  Don't get me wrong, I love that i have people that care its just the way it comes across sometimes.  Then there's the husbands, we love them but god can they pick up their dirty socks? or put the dishes in the dishwasher?  they were great those first weeks but hey, still doing chemo here!  just cause I'm strong and don't want to be babied doesn't mean I want to take care of one!

ahhhhh love you guys and thanks for letting me get that out there.  As I approach the end of chemo, I think people are going to just think that I'm all better.  Which we know is true in some ways, but I think that for me i may just crash.  I'm going away for a 10 days a week after my last treatment and am hoping it will be a nice little getaway from all things BC.

Paintingmywaythru

Sandy 115..hope you are feeling better

misswim...You are a trooper. Keep feeling better. i too started back at work ont he 29th...exhausted me though..and today I am getting ready to go home. My son started his Freshman year at bennington College and I haven't heard a peep from him. So sorry regarding all the rains and floods. Vermont looks devastated. I can't imagine how much destruction you have.

My friend in Waitsfield can't get across the river.

Phillybird...great sweet potato idea...no if I just had energy to go to the supermarket...come home and collapse after work.

Ellen...although things look awful, there is a tiny bright side in that getting rid of things is cathrtic. We are getting ready to sell our house and I  want to toss out stuff. My husband doesn't. Sorry though that there is so much for you to do and supervise. It must be very disheartening.

I think the best thing is we could all get rid of this f..ing cancer and fast.

Pinkpalatte...sympathize totally with the mouth sores...day 9 for me and still in pain..no btter but not worse..taking my temp every day to make sure I am not getting an infection. the steroid paste I use could increase ones chances of thrush....what a fine line I feel I am walking.

bcisnofun...some days jsut suck...crying, depressed, angry...I find walking helps..but sometimes I walk with tears in my eyes.

Rabbit...congrats on being 1/2 way there. Kudos to you!!!!

dexxy...same here with work...don't want to cancel clients yet can't wait to get through the day. I work for myself and need to work so I push throuh. And my wig makes me look better so every thinks I have gone upscale sicne my daughters wedding...if they only knew....glad you had friends for dinner and so glad you are going to get away for 10 days.

After my last chemo which is September 9th my treat is to get a kitten and to go to parents weekend to visit our son on the 23rd of September...looking forward to that.  the kitten is with my friend in D.C.  who is fostering a litter. I just have to find a way to get her here.

So, everyone, we are getting through it...we've all earned something really special, don't know what but we are an army.

J-Bug

Update: I was in so much pain all day Sunday, I could barely walk. Vicodin was not getting rid of the pain. I couldn't sit, lay on my side, lay on my back… Everything hurt from each toe to my ears, to my teeth, to my legs, knees, etc. The worst of the pain was within the pelvis area.

I went to the ER on Monday and spent a good chunk of the day there being evaluated and the ER doc checking in with the onco. They did a lot of testing and eventually came up with that they thought it may be a UTI. The sample was not perfect but it seemed to be positive for it. They gave me Levaquin and Oxycodone and I am starting to feel almost back to normal tonight. 

I am just hoping that the bone pain from Taxol can't be that bad every time, that it really was just a UTI making it so much worse. The surprising thing was that it hit so hard on day two after treatment. On AC, it took my until day five to have my worst day. 

dexxy

painting-i think you a definately one of our warriors you've had some of the worst side effects and you are still doing it all.  I told my best friend from HS, I'll probabaly crash when this is all done.  As long as I never have to do it again its all worth it.

hugs to all BC sisters, we are getting there!

bcisnofun

Hi everyone,  hope you all had a good day!

 pink - glad you made it through the storm and sorry you were terrified for 36 hours.  You're dealing with so much. 

khs - loved the story about your husband and the good survival rates with his doc.  Do you wonder sometimes - don't these Dr's talk to each other and share success tips?  It shouldn't be up to geography or good luck to get a better shot at winning with these diagnoses.  But I'm glad he found him and I'm thinking of you both.  Your last chemo is coming up, right?

ladyboss, did you get your brca results

 kk11 - how is the taxol treating you?  Next one is still a little away so hope you are feeling well and can enjoy our long weekend.

rabbit - glad you're feeling well and halfway through - woo hoo

sandy115 - hope you're still feeling well too

dexxy - when is your "graduation" .  I'm glad you got to host some people over.  A little normalcy is such a great blessing.  I love how strong you are and need to follow suit with not letting it all get the best of me.  You must be strong to have not missed any work - wow!

shiny - how are you feeling?

ellen - those pictures are so sad.  I'm sorry you have to deal with clean up and chemo at the same time.  I love your comment that your ex is a better ex.  He does sound pretty good as an ex to be hepful during this time. 

ana - still doing okay?  I hope you are and enjoy your events this weekend

j-bug - how are you?

phillybird - as of yesterday you're 75% done, right?  congratulations.  Hope you are doing okay

misswim - glad you are better!

mavinbook - when I said steroids, I definitely meant the dexasomethingorother.  I took it the day of and then 3 days after.  Each time, I got depressed for the few days after I stopped.  Wish my doc would have tapered me down. 

painting - how did you do at work?  I'm so sorry you're dealing with these mouth sores issues.  How frustrating and painful.  Your last chemo is coming up in a little over a week, right?  Hopefully the mouth issues will end soon!

I feel a little better today.  Less ticked off .  I only worked a half day yesterday but made it until 5 today.  Now that I'm done, I hope each day brings more energy.  When I look back, I find it weird that I had some symptoms during some treatments and not others.  Sometimes the mouth taste was bad, others not so much.  One treatment had a lot of heartburn but the others didn't.  One my feet and ankles swelled like the dickens but not the others.  I guess my body wanted to try out all of the SE's.  Fortunately they weren't all at once. 

For all those who are/were pre-menopausal, have you stopped having periods?  I had one around my second treatment, but then nothing since.  Not that I miss them, but curious what your experiences have been.   

I get my port out next Friday (yippee).  also, my doc was the one who didn't want me to eat salads/raw veggies, etc and I can have salads as of next thursday.  You don't know how much you love salads until you can't eat them for 2 months!  Can't wait. 

thinking of all of you and wishing you no SE's and a good night!

J-Bug

bcisnofun: I just turned 40 when I got diagnosed. I have not had a period since the first week of treatments. I also have not had surgery yet, or radiation and I know that they will want to block the estrogen with Tamoxifen after chemo sometime.

Also, I had the same experience with side effects. Had some at times and not others. 

FrancesC

Hi all, disappeared for a while settling family matters and now that's over, it's time to look forward again.I am glad most of us are seeing the finishing line soon and can put this dreaded memory away for good. As for period, I haven't had mine since 5 years back after the last chemotherapy treatment for the 1st cancer but last blood check late last year still showed I have not menopaused yet. Well after this round of chemo, I am absolutely certain I will be menopaused.

mavinbook

Hey all,

Just wanted to wish everyone who sits in the chair this week a pleasant go of it with as few SEs as possible.

 Thank you to those who gave input on questions regarding Taxol and steriods. I see the MO today so hopefully I'll have a better idea of what to expect with the x12 Taxol.  So far I've managed to work my usual 40 hours weeks for the most part and i hope that continues because my fall semester is crazy (i work for a university).  I feel blessed to have tolerated everything reasonably well and I wish I could share my good fortune with those of you who struggled. It isn't fair and I feel bad for that fact.

As far as the menopause question goes: I turned 36 five weeks before DX and I was most recently visited by AF this week despite having some definite hot flashes and changes in body temperature over the last 8 weeks.. Not sure what to expect moving forward. I say bring on menopause--I'm done having kids and hate the PMS. (though I get a lot of cleaning done that week-haha!!)

 Hang in there ladies, we're almost to the end of this phase of our lives and have many better years to look forward too!

Jamie30

Hi all.  I am so sorry to hear about the issues with Irene.  We were really lucky this time with just minor damage. 

Hope everyone is doing good.  I havent been on much for just that reason.  I actually started feeling good last treatment really qucikly and have enjoyed spending time with my family.

I had my last chemo on Tuesday.  Today I feel like crap but I know it will get better.  As for asking why me, I try to ask why not me. 

ANA_424

Congrats, Jamie, on being done with chemo!

I've not been on much mainly because I have not been feeling well. Nothing major, just a nasty cold that has left me feeling pretty down on top of, well, feeling down. I'm still hoping to feel better in the next day or so. I want to enjoy my weekend before my last tx!

I finally took a day off work yesterday - have been pushing myself and finally just felt like I needed a down day. Finished a book, which may not seem like a big deal, but it is the first book I've read since being diagnosed. (Other than cancer-related stuff.) I had not been able to concentrate at all. So I'm looking on that as a good mental sign, even if I was not feeling well physically. It was called Plainsong by Kent Haruf (I think) and was a really lovely story and well written.

As far as periods go, I was pre-menopausal before DX. Very regular cycle. But I've been getting lots of hot flashes during the nights and missed my period last week, so we'll see how it goes from here. I was also curious about what others are experiencing in this regard. The hot flashes are not much fun. I have always slept through the night and now it seems like I'm waking up all the time. I'm getting better, though, at not waking up totally - just adjusting the covers and going back to sleep. Still, it can't be helping things.

I feel behind and sorry to not respond to more of you personally. Trying to get through the work day today, but wanted to stop in and at least say hi to my chemo-buddies ;-)

ellenquilt

Sorry to fall so far behind everyone's news.  I've been trying to supervise the cleanup which is still ongoing -- having the boiler rebuilt today so maybe a HOT shower tonight? Yippee!  Cold showers kind of suck.  Also have to see if my dryer is still alive and then I can get the kids to do all the laundry that has piled up.

Probably from all the flood and mess stress, but I have been so achy this week all I've been doing is laying around the recliner.  And I have a couple of new cold sores on the corners of my mouth which are annoying.  Tomorrow is week # 7 of the first 12 at La Spa.  My friend is picking me up and driving me and keeping me company, which should make things more festive than usual.

I was lucky to have a team of twenty-something guys over today (my "adopted" kids, friends of my son) to really do some dirty work for me. And they won't even let me go downstairs in the house because it's contaminated.  I'm grateful for them.

I hope everyone who feels good continues on the same track, everyone who doesn't improves and I hope you all have a SE free weekend.   

sandy115

Hope Everyone is feeling a little better today .went to my oncol app cant believe had to wait 5 hours just to find out about blood work anyway I guess its good after having a very bad 2 weeks of  SÉ

so the Chair i will go to on Tues / 3 fec I will be half way there.So going to rest up on the weekend.Hope Everyone else has an amazing weekend and keep positive thoughts.hugs.

Aletheai

Kk11

I had to respond to your post because we have a lot of similarities. I was diagnosed on 4/19/11 with IDC at the age of 28/29 (I put the slash there because I was diagnosed on my 29th birthday). After completing my 3rd cycle of AC my white blood cell counts have doubled and my body temp is hovering between 96.1 and 97.0 (it's usually around 98.7). My onc stopped my neulasta, but I'm a bit concerned. I just had my 4th cycle yesterday, how was your 4th cycle? How are you holding up in general

misswim

Hi ladies, Sorry I have not been on much. A bit of a scary week. I have been experiencing back pain since my bmx and recon that has gradually gotten worse. This week it has been out of control. My onc has now scheduled me for a bone scan and mri next week, though she feels very strongly that the pain and my bc are not related. However, the worst has to be ruled out. Needless too say I am terrified. I am going in for iv toradol and ativan to help with the pain and anxiety. Please say a prayer for good results for me. I can't stop crying from fear of the unknown. That and pain. I am supposed to start Taxol next Weds. Wish me luck.

bcisnofun

oh misswim - I'm so sorry to hear of your pain and fear related to upcoming scans.  Do they have a date next week for the scans?  Did the onc say how long it would take to get results?  I'll be thinking of you and praying for you daily. 

misswim

Tuesday for bone scan, see the onc on Weds. I am just terrified, and in pain.

khs113

Sending good thoughts your way and that Tuesday is here before you know it. Why do these things always happen over holiday weekends? Hopefully, the drugs help you get through the weekend. Those Nulasta shots can be really painful and I hope that's all it is. Will be thinking about you.

Krista

rabbit

hi everyone! I am back on the alive list LOL. Wed was brutal, the nausea lasted hours longer than round 3 but not quite as intense. I shouldn't complain, some of you have been to hell and back, transfusions etc..I have been lucky with that. 

I still have lots to catchup on...

PhillyBird, I LOVE and crave sweet potatos like crazy during chemo, when everything tastes metallic, it's one of the few things that don't!

khs11, I've been meaning to tell you how awesome you and your DH look in that pic, he looks like a sweet, kind man! Hope you are feeling well.

dexxy, never feel guilty for not feeling well, we need to put ourselves first, period, end of story....our health is more important that money, jobs, anything...if we don't get well, we're no good to anyone, especially ourselves. I hope everyone really lives by that!

paintingmywaythru, a kitten, how cool! There are 2 cats here at my mom's/sister's I am a big time animal lover, good for you, that's an incredible treat!

J-Bug, I am so sorry you have having such a rough time, hope you are starting to get some relief, I found the oxycodones helped my back pain some...but the hydrocodones helped the headaches and other pains more....

bcisnofun, I wish my periods would of stopped, just started 2 days after my 4th FEC, and my doc said that first round would probably be my last...45 years old, I can do without! I am with you on the salads..love them, I make every type of salad possible, put blueberries, mango, strawberries, whatever I have in my fridge goes in my salads, if I roast veggies I put that in my salad LOL

I can't believe you get your port out already! My surgeon told me that most keep it in for months to years after the last tx...I envy you, want it out now~

FrancesC I hope you got your family matters sorted, and that you are feeling well.

mavinbook, I am so glad you are tolerating the txs well..that's awesome, DO NOT feel bad!!!

Jamie, hi woman! So glad you are done with tx, that is wonderful news, hope you are feeling better, funny that I too, bounced back from my 3rd FEC really quickly, had the worst SEs but was feeling normal pretty quick after that. Glad you didn't get too much damage from Irene!

hi Ana I am reading a great book I highly recommend to call called The Emperor of All Maladies...It was recommended by my PA and by Gilda's Club, it's very interesting, big book 550+ pages, but really keeping my attention!

ellenquilt, so nice to have your son's friends help you out, sorry you have to deal with Irene's leftovers....hopefully that will soon be past.

sandy115, your pic looks so much like my "big chair" room LOL....best of luck with your halfway point... gotta love the halfway mark!! It means we are getting somewhere, seeing some hope to end the txs!

Anyone I missed, sorry, I am thinking of you (us) all, always....

Best of luck to all having some nasty SEs!

xoxoxoxo 

FrancesC

Misswim - all the best for the tests. I am sure they are not related to BC at all, get them done for the peace of mind.

rabbit seemed like #4 is bad, it hit me bad too and I took longer to recover too. Not looking forward to #5 coming Monday .... Well after that one more to go. Think positive:) feel like having Japanese food and will ask DH to bring me to a Japanese restaurant tomorrow. Have a good meal before #5.

rabbit

misswim, sorry I missed your post, of course we are all pulling for it to be nothing related to the bc. I have a lot of back pain, the toradol helped me in the past, I'm sure it's nothing to worry about.I had horrible headaches for the first few weeks of chemo and thought for sure I had brain cancer...the headaches slowly faded and now they are far and few between. We can't help but think that way...sending you hugs and good vibes

FrancesC I you are making me crave sushi now! thanks a lot LOL 

J-Bug

misswim: Check out my post on August 31, at 7:27pm. I had similar symptoms, but it could be completely different. My pain was extremely intense. It was in the lower back, by tailbone and as high as waist level, as well as the bone pain from Neulasta and my first Taxol. I could barely walk for two days because the leg pain was making my ankles, feet and hips give out with every step and just hurting too much. But I also had really intense pain across the front at the same height. It felt like something pushing on my bladder and a radiating pain out by the ovaries and right below the belly button.

Oxycodone wasn't completely getting rid of it. I am guessing yours is different by the way you describe it, but wouldn't it be wonderful to find out that it was a simple UTI infection that could be cleared with antibiotics? I just thought of my situation in comparison to yours because it was so amazing to find out that a UTI, for which I did not have any classic symptoms, could cause that much pain everywhere else. I wish you the best on this!