Has anyone started a Dec 2011 group?

naan1004

Laura, sorry to hear that you're not feeling well, hope it gets easier soon, hang in there!! hugs!!

seacretgardn

Thank you Julie. The onc was very surprised to hear I was already having so much nausea.



Calling in a script for compazine. Anyone find this helpful?



Sorry if I'm just being a big wimp.



Thank you for being there.



Laura

Kelloggs

Laura - so sorry you are hit with it already!  I feel a little foggy but I think it's a combination of being tired but wired from the steroids.  I was told they give me the steroids to counteract the fact that the Taxotere makes you retain fluids! UGH...so confusing!  I hope you feel better....hang in there!

naan1004

Laura, you have to keep on top of things, if the meds they give u don't seem to help call them on it they will prescribe u others that may work better, whatever helps use it and they may tell u to alternate between the two, do as needed, but not overdo the drugs since they too have SE's that are not pretty.  Good luck!!

Mardibra

Laura - im aso reciving AC. they gave me Emend for the first 3 days and a script for compazine if I had nausea after that. If I feel the slightest bit queasy I pop a comp! I also wasn't peeing much even though I was drinking tons of water. Nutritionist told me that was normal. I hope things get better for you.



Yay Kellogg's!



I'm almost feeling back to normal. Next infusion is on Thursday.



Sending happy thoughts to all.

naan1004

Laura, here's a suggestion from another group i follow, hope it helps!

Bonseye wrote:

Here is a great product for nausea-Reeds Ginger Chews.  I got them at a cancer institute in our area and they work great!  Ginger is good for nausea and it works well! 
http://www.reedsinc.com.

There is a locator to see where you can purchase in your area.  Taking them to chemo tomorrow

seacretgardn

Wonderful ladies thank you for the tips.



The nausea is bad, but the burning and pain too. Began within hours of tx. There was no way I could have driven myself home.



Can barely get sips of liquid down. Forget eating.



Couldn't get the doc to prescribe emend.



Wondering if the adriamycin was give too quickly?



I'm sorry. Thank you for listening.

Whatashocker3

Seacretgarden I am very sorry to hear your first one was that trying. It makes me sad to know it was that difficult for you. What was the first dose? Taxotere? Maybe it will hit you hard at first but taper of quicker. I am hoping so for your sake. This 'c' stuff sucks and the medicine makes you feel sick but it sucks too. Just think of it as one down. I hope you have a good night. My thoughts are with you.

darlam

Laura....hugs. It is so hard to think of going through this misery over and over. I was hit hard and fast too. And I had BOTH Emend and Aloxi, and was taking Compazine at home. It took almost a week to pass, but today I feel hungry and almost normal. Went out to lunch, did some Christmas shopping, and start back to work tomorrow. If you'd told me 2 days ago that was even possible, I might have become violent! Call your onc, and keep calling, till you get something that gets it under control. And know it does pass....eventually....literallly.....mine went away when it came out the other way.....not fun....but hey....whatever it takes.....hang in there. So sorry.

Hoping everyone else who just started escapes lightly!

naan1004

Laura, it sure will pass it took me almost a week to get back to normal, but now feeling lots better, although it's almost time for my next dose.  We're gonna get through this together and know that u have a lot of support here!! Hugs!!

naan1004

My hair has officially started to rain down, literally during my shower, man the tub looks like i got my hair cut in it.  No more waxing for me, hee hee

Mardibra

Naan - when did you start? I'm really anxious about losing my hair.

markat

Laura hope you are feeling better.



Today is day 5 post tch for me. Still just feeling waves of nausea and tiredness. I think the nuelasta hit me hard. Maybe the Claritin didn't work or it would have been way worse without it? I ended up taking a pain pill from port surgery and it helped with the pain.



I hope everyone has a great day!

naan1004

Mardibra, exactly 16 days after my first AC, but day 14 started losing hair elsewhere.

seacretgardn

Naan, you took the ginger during your tx? For years I've taken Zantac daily for hives, strange but it worked. Find now if I skip it, terrible heartburn. Wondering if all those years taking it caused changes in my stomach. I know what you mean about the side effects. scary!



Darlam I had emend and aloxi also. Zofran and compazine for home. Didn't take anything last night since blessedly, I was able to sleep a bit. I'm so happy yo hear you're feeling well enough to work! Getting up to pee last night was a huge effort!



Markat I had AC also. Guess I won't skip any of the compazine. Are you taking an oral steroid too?

The onc said that works with the anti-nausea drug.



Kelly thank you. I'm glad you're faring well.



Last night my younger daughter told my older daughter (who lives with me) to keep me off the computer. Cara said "no! The women she talks to there are a constant support.



As you all are. Thank you and hugs to all today.



Laura

naan1004

Laura, I did ginger ale and bought some ginger candy, which i didn't eat this time around, but will try next round, I'm also gonna buy some of that ginger chew they keep saying works wonders, looks like they sell it at Trader Joe's and Ralphs both near my house.

seacretgardn

Naan I do have those ginger chews, maybe I'll try today. I also had picked up electrolyte balanced water from Traders, drank 3 quarts by the time I'd finished tx yesterday. Maybe too much water?



Did you take the anti nausea with food?



Sorry for all the questions! I appreciate all advice.



Laura

naan1004

Laura, they gave me pre-meds prior to chemo via IV, then they recommended i take something about 30 minutes prior to eating dinner, which i did and i was ok til around 1AM, when the nausea kicked in and only threw up once/day for about 3 days, then it subsided with introduction to a second medication for nausea.  No problem with the questions, I'm a little bit ahead of u and i had tons of questions too, everybody's body reacts differently, but talk to your chemo nurse and onc, they were right on the money about when the worse days will be and when the hair was gonna start coming off.

naan1004

Laura, what they say about there is no wrong question to ask, even if it seems unnecessary ask away, it's better to know then to wonder what if?

Kelloggs

Laura...hope you find something that works soon.  I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop cuz I feel OK so far.  I did have some heartburn last night but took a Maalox tablet and it went away. 

Markat - I go for my Neulast shot today and that's the part I am worried about too.  I will take my Claritin but my MO said sometimes it seems to not work as well for the younger ones (which I like being called since I don't feel so young at 45!)  I will keep my Vicodin from my port surgery handy too.  Hope you are feeling better.

All of you have been such a big help and I felt so prepared yesterday.  Hugs to you all and let's hang in there together!

Terry71

naan- Sorry to hear of your reaction, I thought that may be it but wasnt too sure, I had the same happen to me not as bad just itchy after my second dressing change, my nurse caught on and changed the adhesive to one called IV 3000 its non allergetic..... I know I spelled that wrong lol... Hope everyone has a great day

Terry71

kellogs- claratin didnt work for me  so I sure did suffer... Hope it works for you I just turned 40

Terry71

Laura- do NOT be sorry for asking questions about anything, we are all here to help and comfort each other, we are all going down the same path, the ladies here have helped me so much from my diagnoses to the last treatment I had nov 17th, I had tons of questions when i came in here and i sure did get alot of great answers and loads of support.... BIH HUGS to you, and dont be afraid to ask anything........  

Kelloggs

I'm keeping my fingers crossed Terry.  When I first asked my MO about the Claritin she said she was actually considering writing a research paper on it!  But she said the last few patients she had were a bit younger and didn't seem to get relief from it.  I didn't ask her what the age was, but she encouraged me to take it anyway...said it can't hurt (no pun intended).  I'm a big baby so I hope it works!

Terry71

Ive heard a few of the younger girls dont get releif from it either, I know I didnt lol Im a big baby too, had my herceptin yesterday and was so scared of getting the baby IV that one of the dr's I have come to know since my centre is small and personal only 2 chairs and a GREAT nurse he held my hand while she started my IV haha, didnt even feel it..... Let me know if it works for you xo

Whatashocker3

Kelloggs I am like you waiting for the shoe to drop first fec was Tues and either than a bit of nausea that night and a very minor headache now and again, I am feeling fine. I had the neulasta shot on wed and tool Claritin wed a.m and Thurs. No pain associated after that shot to mention. Went on the treadmill yesterday and today for 40 mins at a reduced speed. Just concerned as to whether this stuff is working on me??? I figured I would be feeling like crap by now ?

Kelloggs

Whata - that is great!  Just because you don't feel like crap, doesn't mean it's not working...just means you are lucky!

Terry - I have a port that was put in while I was out for a re-excision.  It hurt like hell for about a week and a half after they put it in and I thought for sure it would be painful the first time they used it.  I hate needles too!  But yesterday I didn't feel a thing and I am so glad I got the port so I don't have to deal with an IV in my hand or arm each time.  Are you getting Herceptin weekly in between your TCH?

Terry71

Im all done treatments now last one was Nov 17th, Im on maintenence now with herceptin for 1 year, I get it once every 3 weeks..... until Oct 7th 2012. I had a picc line in for the 18 weeks of treatment that was also every 3 weeks.... 

Kelloggs

Terry - OK now I'm jealous!  Good for you to be done with treatment! I hear the Herceptin is not bad to take. It makes me feel better to hear from women who have completed the same treatment...helps me know I can do it too!

Terry71

Oh yes you can do it, I had 3 FEC and 3 Docitaxil...... Herceptin is not bad at all, no big deal.....I can do it standing on my head