October 2011 Chemo group

TAPPY

How long do you take the claritin beofre/after the shot ?

So what is a good pain med if not Ty......I cant take most of the other OTC types due to tummy issues.

Carla9112

Hi everyone - hope you are doing okay.

Pippen - I'm so sorry to hear that you passed out.  Hope that doesn't happen to you again.  Sorry to hear that you had to go to the emergency room WIMusicmaker.  My oncologist went ahead and put me on an antibiotic on Friday since my white counts were so low.

As far as the Claritin goes I stopped taking it on Day 5 and felt the bone pain coming on.  I immediately took another one and it went away.  I think next time around I'll take the Claritin the day before, day of and 6 or 7 days after treatment.  My oncologist told me that the neulasta shot wouldn't keep my white counts from going down but it would keep the number of days when I would be most susceptible to infection at a lower rate than if I didn't take it.  With all of the germs floating around out there and the fact that I  am working I figure I need it.

Hope you all have a good night.  Talk to you tomorrow.

wildrumara

CARIKA 9112 -  Thanks for the directions regarding Claritin dosage.  I will definitely follow that protocol my next cycle!   My bones felt like there were on fire this time around.   So, today is the first day that food actually tasted good again and my appetite was back to normal......I lost a few lbs. last week and my husband was getting worried about me....he was happy to see me eating again today.  

stjude10

mjhardy=sorry you have to join us, but welcome to our club.

I just finished my last pre chemo test today (bone scan). Met with PT for increasing my ROM from surgery. I also will be having AC followed by Taxol, with Tamoxifen for 5 yrs. I am to begin on the 18th, providing all of this testing shows no surprises.

sue_from_wi=sorry to hear of your fever, glad it turned out to be nothing. sure can be scarey though!

I have read a lot about the Clariten on other sites, so it must work!

Here's to a peaceful night for all of us!

stjude10

I'm off to get the haircut. Have never had short hair before. Donating mine to Locks of Love. It's not in great shape, but hairdresser swears they'll take it. OK!  I haven't been to a salon for about 12 yrs, so I'm looking forward to a little pampering!

Hope everyone slept well last night. I had bone scan yesterday which meant lots of fluids. Xanax helped me sleep, if I just didn't have to keep getting up to use the restroom!

TAPPY

What is the bone scan everyone talks about ?  Is this the same one you get when you go to your obgyn ???

stjude10

Tappy, I don't know. I've never had one before this. They inject you w/dye and 3 hrs. later you go thru a very slow moving machine. It's probably like an mri, only much quieter. I did get to see my knees light up like a christmas tree due to all of the arthritis. Good times!

perts1

Tappy - you're saying about tomorrow is so wonderful!  I absolutely don't understand everything that's going on about this (I'm sure I'll learn) but I do know who holds my hand.  Thank you for giving us that to remember throughout this crazy time. 

Lady-di

My AC/T treatments start on oct 19. I'm terrified and glad to find you guys!!,

Lori- looks like I'm having the same treatment as you but I get to throw in some Herceptin for good measure...



How long does the first treatment last? Yesterday I signed up for the look good, feel good class and now it's the same day as my first treatment. Ive heard its great class to take. How did you feel that first night?. I get chemo at 1 pm and the class is at 7. The next class is 2 weeks later which would be the day of 2nd treatment.



my chemo class isn't till next week.

WIMusicMaker

Hi,

I hope everyone is doing well tonight.

dia123 No matter how long the treatment takes, I found I was pretty wiped out after my 1st treatment, but if I had to choose between going after the first one or the second I would choose the first one. I am going to a look good class on Monday.

Sue_from_wi I am going to Froedtert which has the biggest breast cancer center in the SE part of WI. They have a long list of numbers to call and an after hours line where the doctor is paged. Unfortunately I know that it works well because I have had to use it twice in the past 48 hours. I am sorry you do not have something like that. 

Tappy-The only scan I have had since my diagnosis was the MRI to check both breasts. They had not said anything about any other scans-ever.

I am writing this from my hospital bed. I was admitted yesterday because my fever spiked and they knew from my ER visit the night before my white blood cells counts were really low. I am doing well now after 4 doses of IV antibiotics and a ton of fluids. If I stay feverless I will go home tomorrow. Can someone remind me when the fun is supposed to start?

susanwmcg

Oh WiMusic,

I am so sorry to hear you are in the hospital. No fun at all! Hang in there and hope you get to go home tomorrow.

Susan

sue_from_wi

WIMusicMaker - Praying for you and quick return home.I am going to talk with my center on the 18th about an after hours contact number. They need to have one. Period. I, too, haven't had any scans and no talk of scans except the MRI on both breasts and an echo for my heart (because of the Herceptin).

cfdr - thank you for understanding Your response really lifted my spirits and I think you have exactly the right perspective. Thanks for putting it so well.

sue_from_wi

dia123 - My first treatment lasted (TCH) 3 1/2 hours. You will most likely feel fine the first night. You could be worn out from the experience and you may be sleepy from Benadryl but maybe there will be enough time for a nap in between. What time of day is the treatment and what time is the class? 

You and I are practically BC-Twins - looks like your tumor was larger than mine but otherwise we're a pretty close match. Welcome to the group! There's a Triple Positive group that is very active and posts a lot of good information that you might want to check out, too.

stjude10

WiMusic I sure hope to hear from you tomorrow in the comfort of your own bed! Hang in there!!

I have my first AC tx on the 18th and I'm signed up for the LGFB class on Nov. 7th. That was the soonest class available seeing as I just missed the last one by about 3 days. Boo for me!

dia123, you get Herceptin, I get Tamoxifen. Woo hoo! I have to admit, when I write my tx schedule AC/T, I think about being in High School again and having to take those hard tests. I'll probably have SAT somewhere in the future for something!

Lady-di

Sue- chemo is at 1 pm and the class is at 7, really hope I can go! Yes we are twins although I did also have a 1 cm dcis also. I had a umx sept 6. I will look for the triple positive group. Just found I was her2 positive today. Had to wait for the fish test results.



Wimusic- hope you will be going home tm!!

Lady-di

Lori- I think I get Tamoxifen also for 5 yrs. Im the day after you so I'll be watching for your post. What time is your appt for??



Diana

NancyJill

Hi, everyone, hang in there! I'm on Day 8. Just got my intestines feeling better, and a rash has developed on my hands/wrists. My throat is red and itchy. I was using Allegra, but rash was getting worse, so I saw the nurse. She said to use Benedryl. The rash spread and got pretty unbearable today, even on Allegra and Benedryl, so my MO put me on a methlyprednisolone steroid dose pack for 6 days. I may have to change from TC to something else. Taxotere is suspected. My face is breaking out, too. My MO is part of a group practice and there is always a doctor on call at night or on the weekends, always! I had to use it on Day 5. I also overdid the housecleaning today and got tired out. Hopefully the steroids won't have me too jumpy tonight and the Benedryl will help me sleep. I don't know what I'd do if nice people in my community weren't bringing dinners for my family.

NancyJill

Dia123--I also had to wait for FISH to find out I was HER2+. My first chemo took 5 hours, so you might make that class!  Get well, WIMusicMaker!

stjude10

Dia123, my appt. is on the 18th at 9:30. The AC was explained to me as the A was an IV push over approx 15min or so and then the C is in a bag ran over the course of approx 1 1/2 to 2 hrs. I sure hope to handle it all so it doesn't take much longer. I hope you are able to make your class, I know I wouldn't want to miss it!

Normandy18

Hi MJHardy:

Thanks for the time line. I wonder how I am going to feel the next day. I am really grateful for everyone's check in.I had my first chemo treatment on Monday and still feel pretty good today. I just have a slight headache, a bloated feeling, and a taste change. I worked yesterday and put in a full day, but I was really tied at the end.  I had to meet with HR about part-time disability and they want me to give them the hours that I can work each week--which I don't know. I don't know how I am going to feel, but my onc said that I may get a fever within 8-10 days. so, I am just going day-by-day.

Normandy18

Hi Lori (stjude10):

I have not had my hair short for since I was 14, so this will be a bit of a shock for me. I also want to donate my hair, and get it cut short then to have it drop out in long clumps. I go in on the 18th. I look forward to seeing how your salon visit went.

Take care 

TAPPY

I start AC (and later) T on the 18th.  They told me to plan for 5-7 hours....some times they have to slow the drip down (headaches for some people ??) and the first one always takes longer because you also meet with the Onc doc as well. 

I hope I can just sleep and listen to music and chill out.

I am not good and just sitting.

 What does everyone pack in their chemo bag ???

stjude10

I did it Normandy. I had about 12" to donate. I'm getting used to the new me more today. I think I was in shock yesterday. My mom and bf went for many laughs and support. I told my mom to be strong and not make it a "Steel Magnolias" moment. My bf made sure it wasn't! I am sooo bad at technology, I took some photos but can't figure out how to get them on here. Duh! Will work on that today.

Tappy I hate sitting and waiting. I'm with you on the music, chillin, or even let me sleep. There is a good site on bco about what to pack in your chemo bag. Sorry I can't remember what it was, but it's on here and very helpful. If you can't find it let me know. It's under the tx-chemo heading.

auntienance

Tappy, here's what I took the first time: iPod, book, insulated mug for ice and water, straws, animal crackers, zantac, pepcid a/c, insulin and test kit, Kleenex, Biotene gum, anti-nausea drugs and steroid pills. I'm glad I took the prescriptions with me, because the nurse asked me if I had them with me and on the zofran, the printed instructions said to take it every 12 hours when it should have read 8. I will only take the zofran with me next time to have in case I need them after I leave (I live an hour away). The Biotene gum was good to have because the tin can taste started before I even got out of the chair. We also took a cushion for the DH, because the visitors chairs are hard.

NancyJill

Tappy: I took tissues, water, Compazine script, headache medicine, sweater, saltine crackers, yogurt, gum and a book. I never really needed to read because I got drowsy and closed my eyes when I could. I was grateful for the crackers and a little yogurt (eaten during saline drip) because it is a long day, and I didn't want low blood sugar on top of everything else. I was also glad I had my migraine drug and gum.

LuvRVing

First - some words of encouragement.  After going through 8 treatments of DD AC/T, I had a PET/CT scan yesterday and just got the news that I am cancer-free.  I had some nasty internal mammary nodes that could not be removed during my BMX with node removals, so this is the best news possible.  Keep me in mind as you go through treatment - it will likely be worth it, in the end!

Regarding what I brought to the chemo center...I could have brought nothing because they had everything I needed, from snacks and lunch, to drinks, to warm blankets, to a nice flat screen tv mounted on the wall.  I brought my laptop (they had wireless) and a large container that we kept filled with the beverage of my choice.  At my center, you didn't need to bring much of anything.  You'll need to figure out what your center has to offer, which you may find out during chemo training.  And I brought someone with me each and every time.   I would not have wanted to drive home after chemo because I was tired and I was woozy.  My chemo nurse administered any pre-meds that I needed the first time.  Afterwards, the only "pre-med" that I did myself was the scopolamine patch.  Everything else was provided.  I had compazine and ativan at home for breakthrough nausea, but there was no expectation that I would bring in any other meds.  If you suffer from migraines or some other problem that might require something they don't have, then you should bring it along. 

I also carried my copies of lab reports so that I could compare results from one session to another.  My chemo nurse was excellent at getting answers to any of my questions about all those "High" or "Low" values that showed up time after time.  I learned which ones were relevant and which ones were no big deal. 

I know it seems like a long road, and it is.  But the day you get the news that you are cancer-free, you'll look back on the low points and know you fought a winning battle.

Michelle

cfdr

WiMusicMaker, I hope your hospital stay is short and uneventful.

Monday night started the bad sfx for me (my tx was late Friday). Although I didn't have neulasta, I had incredible body aches, like a bad flu. When I woke up in the morning, I was taking my temp and passed out on the bathroom floor! Got a bump on the head and nose to show for it. Bad vomiting, sweats, chills....it didn't last long but it was pretty awful while it was going on. Since then I've been pretty much of a slug. Hoping to at least get up and clean some dishes or something today, but I still feel kind of spacy and groggy. I have a sore throat, but temp has never gotten above 99.1 so nothing to worry about yet. 

To my treatment I brought: snacks (not enough of them!), water, juice, book, smartphone (games help pass the time!), book, scrabble game. Also, the big binder of info that they gave me so that we could go over everything. I've also been keeping a log of sfx so I can have more of a road map for next cycle to know when I might be feeling OK...presuming that one cycle is much like the last.

Lady-di

Michelle- I'm doing the happy dance for you. It has to be such a relief and it's nice to hear. I'm just getting started and to think one day the roller coaster may actually stop and let me off!!,



Cfdr-sorry to hear that your having such a difficult time. Hope you feel better soon!!



I'm getting my port on Friday. They said it was possible that I wouldn't get it before my first chemo treatment. Very glad they got me in so quickly

auntienance

Michelle -- congrats on the good news!

cfdr & nancyjill - bummer on the side effects.  As if the routine ones weren't bad enough . . . Sometimes anemia can make you pass out, so make sure you tell your doc about it.  Hope it all gets better soon. 

musicmaker - if you manage to find any fun in any of this, please let me know.  I want what you're having lol!  Hope you're home and feeling better by now!

Carla9112

Michelle - CONGRATULATIONS!!!  I am so happy to hear you are cancer free.  You are such an inspiration to all of us that are going through this right now.  Musicmaker - I am so sorry that you've been in the hospital.  Hang in there because one day you'll be coming back to help another group - just like Michelle - with the words that you are cancer free.  That's my prayer for all of us.

Well, I took the plunge last night and shaved my head.  I left it 1/4 inch long all over because I just didn't think I could handle the "baby butt" bald head right now.  I cried a little bit because it felt like cancer had taken one more thing from me but then I put on my big girl panties and let my hairdresser shape up the wig.  I wore it to work today and people said I looked younger - they liked it better than my real hair - etc. etc.  I told them that they would say that even if it was sticking up like a rooster tail!!   I think they were pretty genuine though.  I wish I knew how to post pictures on here and I would post a bald shot and my new look.  Maybe we could all do that - I saw it on another board.  I have to admit that it feels really good to get the hair part behind me.  My head felt soooooo good when I took the wig off this afternoon after work.  Now I'm sitting here as a baldy!  Plus, this morning it took at least 30 minutes off the time it takes to get ready.  That was pretty cool.

I hope each of you have a good night.  Talk to you soon!!