Is There A September 2011 Chemo Group?

belleeast

thanks everyone for the suggestions. rae, where did u get teatree oil and the teatree oil toothpicks? hope i sleep tonite,i'm out of my ambien until sat. last nite was hard, kept thinking about chemo and when i finally fell asleep,i dreamed about it.

lwarstler

aww, I hear you belleast...I've been worried all day.

Rockym

Anyone having bizarre dreams??  I dreamt that my BS had me back on the table, but was replacing the tissue he removed by doing a little neurosurgery.  As I was on this table, he says he didn't get the cut just right and I was like... Oh, it's fine if it doesn't show.  So there he is cutting another triangle on the back of my head and puts something in there (while I'm awake because it's neurosurgery of course) and then closes me up.  We chat a little, everything is fine and that's when I woke up.

It seems I must feel like he took something from me, but the fact that he was replacing what he took into my head????? Only Freud could love this one!

Kimberly1961

Belle - I too had anxiety dreams pre-chemo. As for what to bring to chemo, some people ice everything, head, toes, fingers. I figured my hair was going to go no matter what and the nails probably wouldn't be that bad. I just brought a book, large glass for the ice machine, and a sandwich.



Cooka - Can they give you a Neulasta shot now?

Kelliregi

Cooka - I didn't do Neulasta. I discussed it with my Onc. and we decided we would try not using it. Now we know I need it! I'll be getting it next week after my big chemo. I didn't take any antibiotics, but was under orders to call and get some if I developed a fever. I'm interested to see if my counts have gone up. I have my Herceptin only infusion on Wednesday and will get bloodwork again. What did you decide?

RaeBob

Belleast: found both in the health food section of our grocery store. Will be thinking of you and hoping for the best little to no SEs.



Mary625: I had headaches took some ibuprofen and it helped haven't had any the second time.



Kelliregi: I am so glad you got to see your son love seeing stories where we can be victorious and carry on depute this mess.



Cooka: my last WBC was the same as yours I developed fever and a severe cold that lasted a week put me flat on my back. By chemo 2 my WBC were back up but my onc insisted I have a Neulesta shot this time.



Kimberly1961: too funny with the dogs!



I am developing a red rash all over my hands and arms anyone else having this or knows what to do about it. My skin is starting to dry out like parchment paper. I want to use an organic cream any suggestions.

cooka

Thanks Kelli and Rae, I feel better knowing that you guys survived it! I guess I have to go with Neulasta but I'm not thrilled about it. Thanks for the info:)

Sorry Rae I haven't dealt with the rash yet... 

RaeBob

Cooka: take Claritn after the shot I didn't have any SEs from it no bone pain at all. It was recommended on here and I am so thankful I took it.

Kimberly1961

Where the heck is RJ?  It's not like her to not show up at her own party, uhm, I mean thread.

rjbaby69

Here I am!  Just got off from the job at the store.  Just catching up on the posts from today.

Wore my wig all day today and everyone thought I looked great!  Yeah!  I was so nervous.  It is sitting on it's little stand waiting for tomorrow and we'll roll with it again.

Getting ready for my next treatment Thursday.  Got everything ready.  Not taking all that stuff I took last time!  Didn't need near the food or books or anything.  Spent more time talking to the nice little 91 year old lady next to me.  Looking forward to what my onc has to say about my new "do"!

 Rockym:  Not having any weird dreams but I am sleeping well.  I am taking Xanax and imipramine and they held me sleep sooooo good.  The imipramine is for my panic attacks and depression.  Of course the Xanax is for my anxiety.  This mixture has helped me keep my feet on the ground so to speak.

Shelly:  Way to go girl!  Proud of you for working the whole day.  Are you feeling better about it now?

Kimberly:  You're making me laugh so hard!  Pulling your hair out and dropping it on the collies!  That is so funny.  I can just see you doing that!  Any hey, what can I put on my bald head for dry scalp?  Can I use baby oil or lotion or what?  Hairstylist said my scalp appeared a little dry, but I really think it may be some of the psoriasis.  I don't see any active leisions right now.  But just let those steriods stop and we'll just see what happens!  Hope the chemo kicks that crap into remission big time.  I would love that!

I'm not so worried about losing my nails and stuff.  Naturally, I have toe nail fungus and my Primary Dr. told me that I might have to have them removed to treat the fungus.  Well, if the chemo takes care of that for me, less money I will have to pay a foot doctor or dermotologist!  So bring it on if it's gonna happen.  Ever notice how I seem to have all kids of skins problems?  Yeah, me too.  Oh, well.

Well, got to get to bed.  5:00 a.m. comes early and I have to be on my bus by 6:20 a.m.  Then I will work all day in the office and drive my bus tomorrow p.m.  I should get home about 5:00.  Then I get to spend the whole evening by myself doing my own thing!  Probably hang out here and facebook.  Got some awesome games I love to play.  Really relaxing for me! 

Talk to you all tomorrow.

HUGS!!!

Rockym

rjbaby69, Congrats on the wig!  I know it must sound strange, but I'm guessing it feels good to be at that next step.  Haven't bought mine yet, but know where to get it.  Xanax can be a lifesaver.  Ativan has been my favorite for years.  Primary doc once called them Jack Daniels in pill form.  Maybe an Ativan would keep the strange dreams away :-)

celina2011

Hi jerseylicious, i am a teacher too and I just lost my hair.  I arleady wearing my wig since Sept.My student did not noticed it. this  is my 2nd round on AC last sept 23. hair just started to fall. I still work thuogh which is a good thing. Anyway give me your updates.

Kelliregi

Rae - I devloped a red itchy rash around my collarbone/neck area. I put some cortisone cream on it, and it helped. It lasted 3-4 days and was gone. If it seems bad, you might want to ask your Onc about it. Mine said using the cortisone was fine, but if it didn't resolve, or if it got worse, to call and come in. I hope yours gets better soon!!

Kimberly1961

RJ - I shake my head like a dog shaking off the wet and the white hair is flying everywhere.  Time for me to face the music.  About skin...I think some of my liver spots are fading.  I doubt its permanent but you take what you can get, like losing a couple of pounds with chemo.

Kelli - You started the same day as me.  What's your hair doing?

Rae - Lago on these boards was using virgin coconut oil on her skin.  I have used a drop of coconut oil product on my hair as an after finish product because my hair is pretty dry.  I thought it smelled really good, maybe too sweet for some people, but I found that it attracted bees in the summer.

All you insomniacs - I read some funny posts on "You know you are a cancer patient.." about ladies taking their Ambien and their husbands thanking them for the hot sex the next day, and they did not remember a thing, kind of disconcerting.  I'm wondering, maybe their husbands snuck a little XTC in their pillbox. 

Rocky - About them pesky neighbors.... I noticed that one of mine had piled about a yard of wet dirt up against his side of my wood fence yesterday.  Well, that's really good for my fence, thank you.  I am still mulling over the best way to deal with that.  Of course I get a lot of juvenile ideas which involve payback, but in the end I will probably just knock on their door.  I do think I'll wait for the hair to fall all the way out before speaking to him, you know, just for emphasis that I am not up to this kind of bull.  Cancer card, cancer card.

Lee Ann and Belle - I hope it goes as smoothly as possible today.  Let us know how it went for you guys.  And...your daughter is not so crazy when she talked about the henna tattoos.  I googled it and it can be quite attractive.

Cooka - Wondering how you are doing and what you are doing diffrently, if anything, trying to protect yourself with those low counts.

Jersey - I miss the b-tch from New Jersey and wonder how she is doing.

Suz39

Hi Ladies,

So great to wake up and read all the good and bad posts!  Not feeling all alone in this is such a godsend.  I am Day 4 post Chemo 2, TC.  This was my worst day last round, so I am not planning much for today - just trying to keep it together.  So far, I'm not doing to badly.  I am happy to report that I had my first BM since the treatment.  Sorry for the TMI, but I was starting to get anxious about it, and once it happened, I wanted to do a happy dance.

Some of you are mentioning rashes.  I got a rash after my first infusion, that I eventually identified as sunburn.  I never get sunburnned, so I'm pretty sure that the chemo made me more photosensitive.  It is probably worth while to wear some sun block if you are out enjoying some nice sunny weather these days.

WRT the neutropenia, I think that as long as you do not get an infection you will be fine.  The antibiotic will help protect you if you are exposed to bacteria, but the first line defense should be limiting your exposure - washing hands, avoiding crowds, etc.  My onc perscribed neupogen prophylactically, so I have been taking it all along.  If you decide to do it, it hasn't been horrible for me.  My days definitely get better once I stop taking it though.

Thanks for all your great posts! 

Kelliregi

Kimberly1961 - Amazingly, my hair is still holding on. I'm sure it's just a matter of time though. A few days after my first chemo, I got my hair cut short - sort of a pixie cut. I did it mostly because my scalp REALLY hurt!! It was like I had chemical burn all over it. It still has red, sore spots, but not as bad. I also switched to Aveeno baby shampoo. That seems to help too.

CJRT

Hi all! I feel like I've been out of the loop forever and am just catching up on how you all are doing. I am so impressed by all the positivity and humor on here and have really enjoyed the laughs. Sorry for those of you having rougher times but also appreciative for your sharing because I feel more "normal" when I hear the complaints, etc. I think I was wallowing in self-pity over the weekend, as I felt stuck in my bed feeling achy, fatigued, etc. I have to really force myself to look ahead to the "good days" when I am in the midst of the side effects. Sometimes when I go into the onc. office/chemo lab and see all the "positive" people and smiles, I feel like a fake or a failure having to try my best to muster that up myself.

For those worried still about the hair loss, I'm hoping it is much easier on you than you anticipate. I guess the good part of my feeling so crappy at times has been that the hair hasn't mattered to me really. All that worry and sadness before...seems pretty anticlimatic now. I did hear the sweetest words from my 3-year-old though: "Mommy, you look so beautiful without hair." I just feel so grateful on days that I feel good enough to enjoy my life that I haven't really focused much on the hair. (I just won't tell that to the well-meaning people telling me, "It's only hair- it'll grow back.")

 As for lotion, my dermatologist recommended Aveeno moisturizer, and it's been the only thing that has worked for me. Acne and dryness both are now gone. I've also had luck like Kelli switching to baby shampoo.

 Good luck to us all, and especially those doing first rounds this week. God Bless!

RaeBob

I had a herceptin treatment today and my bones ache. I know you can take Claritin for the neulasta shot will it work for this too?

CJRT: I was dx in July and have been nothing but positive to my family and others. This past week since my 2nd big chemo I have been so down and feeling tired. I am having a self pity party and cried because I miss my old life. I have been so grouchy to my husband and kids and I am rarely like that but have been the past week. You are not alone in feeling down!

lwarstler

Hi, not posting much but just got done with chemo and things went smoothly. Took 5 1/2 hours and the benedryl knocked me out, but otherwise no trouble. The port access was super easy and I was really glad I did it. Gonna go to sleep for the night I think.

Hugs and thanks for all the support leading up to this....I may have gotten a little nutty. 

mags20487

Lee Ann...so glad it went well...First one for me was so nerve racking not knowing what to expect.  Feeling better today-over the hump I guess.  Sleep well tonight and keep on top of the SE's!

Maggie

bluejay58

Had my second treatment this morning, so I'm halfway through.

It was just as uneventful as the first -- I caught up on a couple of New Yorker magazines and that took up just about all of the time.  Now I'm drinking lots of water and relaxing some.  I feel so much better informed this go-round, and consequently ... maybe a little more confident?  Neulasta shot tomorrow, so that should help too ... but I guess we'll see.  *g*

Thirding (fourthing?) the rec for baby shampoo.  Very gentle, which is good for my (mostly bald) tender scalp.

Kelliregi

OK, just a little funny. At day 14, my hair is still on my head, but my nose hair is falling out! I had no idea I had so much. This is just gross!!

cooka

Kelli, LOL. We really are on the same schedule. I blew my nose today et voila! nose hair! I'm just holing up here with my Cipro blowing out nose hairs, la-di-da:)

Lee Ann, rock on! You're not nutty, glad you are doing ok. 

CJRT

Thanks, Rae. Hope the pain has subsided from the Herceptin.

 Yay, BlueJay! Halfway done has a nice ring to it!

 Hope you sleep well tonight lwarstler and wake up feeling well. 

PinkShirtNow

Kelli - my nose hair started falling out before most of my other hair too.  Very weird.  My head hair was really falling out so I buzzed it and now it seems like it is hardly falling out at all.  The rest of the hair on my body seems to be holding on.  I'm 20 days out from my first treatment.

I had another breast MRI this morning.  I have my 4th weekly chemo tomorrow and I hope I get good news from the MRI that the tumor is shrinking.  I also had another breast biopsy (my 3rd - I'm on a study so they test me a lot) but I don't think that I will know the results of that one.

So, I'm home icing my breast.  Fun times.

-RC-

Hi ladies!  I've read your many posts and laughed & sighed with you.  It's such a comfort to know others have the same feelings... Just wondering... I'm getting my AC chemo via IV.  Because I'm only getting 4 (1 down on Sept. 19, next on Oct. 3) and my veins are good my MO said I didn't need a port.  Anyone else on IV???  My chemo nurse said many people don't get a port. 

My best GF is taking me to her hairdresser on Thur to get my hair buzzed.  It's not falling out yet but the anticipation of it is getting worse than losing it!  I ditto someone here who said, if my hair doesn't fall out does that mean the chemo didn't work???  We make ourselves crazy don't we!

Rae - I especially got a belly laugh out of the post about kicking your daughter....too funny!

SStayton

I had my first DD A/C today. Uneventful, Benadryl made me sleep. Struggling with my mouth very dry and feels like sandpaper all over my cheeks and tounge and my throat feel so dry. Been sucking on candy and popsicles, not really helping. I hope this gets better.

belleeast

what a day! first i had to wait 3hrs for my premeds and chemo to be sent up i was about ready to have a panic attack,could feel it coming and i didn't have my meds with me. i was getting ready to walk out when they arrived.

my premeds were steroids and 2 kinds of anti nausea meds,ativan, no benadryl-i asked. then chemo A/C, and 500 something of fluids. actual time took of treatment took 3 hrs.

nurse said mo said i was to have ativan and steroids at home in addition to zofran and compazine.no one told me,so she called and they said they would call it in. pharmacy only had the ativan when my son picked it up. what are the steroids for? should i call the mo tomorrow and ask if i am supposed to take them,i really don't want to take them.

tomorrow i get my neulesta shot in the late afternoon.

i feel like crap, have a headache came on with the C portion,nauseated,my eyes hurt,ears feel funny inside,achy all over and very weak, kinda dizzy like i could pass out.oh,forgot the hotflashes!

got a feeling this chemo is going to kick my _ss,oh well as long as it is kicking the cancer,too

mags20487

i am so sorry belleast...I hope you can get over the hump soon.  I think the steroids are for the nausea.  Might wanna get them asap.  I started on Taxol first so think I will be hit with a brick when the AC round starts. Sleep well and you are right...it is kicking the cancer!!!!

Maggie

CJRT

Belleeast- Ugh! What a day! I hate waiting in general for these appointments, labs, etc., let alone on a chemo day! That is terrible. Anyway, I get steroids in the IV prior to my chemo (different regimen than yours) and also take orally the day before and the day after chemo. I was told by the nurse that the steroids are for nausea and fluid retention. I probably would ask the MO even though it's a hassle. It seems as though the mantra with this stuff is to try to combat as many side effects as possible so you might want to check first to be safe. Feel better!