Has anyone started a Dec 2011 group?

snobordkykmom

Thanks Rachel--Tongue healed up nicely, just had me worried when reading about evryone else's sore mouths.  I definitely will take nausea over mouth pain. Hopefully not together.  Around our area it is still OK to give rides, but that's here in NH boonies.

Mamabee- good catch. yell til they listen I figure.  Sunday, called to tell them I had a sinus infection, should they hook me up with some antibiotics 48 hrs before my treatment.  Said no, just take cold meds and fluids.  Hope they don't kick me out this PM. 

Today is 2nd round--AC here we come. Son and  girlfriend pulled escort duty. (Hubby has to stay away from center, other wise the alarms would go off and the hazmat suits would come running. He is one walking toxic waste land.)  Kids have plans to play a board game with me.  Hope I don't fog out on them.

Made Jello today to be ready.  Did the dishes and pulled out the fridge and scrubbed behind it yesterday.  Boy that gets nasty.  Does anyone else nest?? or am I the only crazy one? I think I'm afraid when I go down, it will be hard.  I don't want anyone coming in to help to have to deal with a REAL mess vs. typical mess.

markat

Good luck today Sno! I nest also. I keep comparing this whole thing to being pregnant. I hope you have minimal se's.



Today is day 7 post TCH. I'm feeling much better this morning. I'm supposed to get a cavity filled tomorrow. Hopefully that works out ok.

GracieG

Hope everything went well today Sno.  Also hoping for minimal SE's for you.  

My 2nd TC is this Friday so will be interested in hearing from everyone on how they feel after second one compared to after the first one.  I've really slacked off the hydrating lately, so need to pick that up starting tomorrow to be ready for Friday.  My fatigue wasn't as bad today, I got a good nights sleep last night which probably helped.  

 Good luck at the Dentist tomorrow markat. 

laurieloomis

Snobord..hope all went well with the 2nd A/C today!  I hope the SE's are minimal.

It's been six days since my first and this is the first day I actually felt pretty good.  I'm with you on the nesting, cleaned the whole house today, it wore me out but sure felt good to get it done.

Gracie..best wishes for a smooth TC on Friday. 

Have a good night ladies

Laurie

momof3boys

Anyone experience bad lower back pain??? I'm 6 days out from 1st TC treatment and was doing very well until about an hour ago (no nausea, just achiness that Tylenol took care of) now I have very bad lower back pain? I did have a Neulasta shot on Friday, day after chemo

Help?

rachelvk

Snobord - I'm glad your mouth is getting better. I think that's one of the SEs I really don't want to have to deal with. And if you can bottle up some of that nesting energy, please send it my way. My apartment is bordering on chaos (more so than usual) since I went back to work after surgery, and when I've been home bcs of SEs, I haven't felt like doing much either.

Markat - Good luck with the dentist. Glad you're feeling better.

Gracie - Thanks for the reminder about hydrating. I also did well the first week and then started forgetting my water bottle. I just filled a huge glass of water to drink... along with Metamucil to get a headstart for my next tx.

Laurie - Glad you're feeling good. You're probably on a roll now through your next treatment, I hope.

rachelvk

momof3boys - I forgot to ask - had you used Claritin? I'm wondering if it will work now if you take it.

I had one possible SE today, but I'm not sure. I agreed to referee a HS fencing meet (I know, being around a bunch of teen-agers probably wasn't a good idea, but I limited how close I got to them and wore my white gloves -  made me look spiffy), and while I was walking back and forth while directing the bouts, I got a cramp first in my right foot, and then my left. It could be lack of support in my (flat) shoes, but I remember some women in my support group mentioning they got cramps like that, but I couldn't remember if it was from chemo or being on Aridimex. Anyone have that? 

snobordkykmom

Hey Markat and laurie loo  I guess I am not totally losing it then.  The little check in aide said, "Yep, that's the steroids"  Course he had never heard it referred to as "Squirrels on Crack" which is how my family is starting to describe me.  So do you all take the 2x day the next three days(decadron, or dexamethasone)??That's my squirrel sauce.

2nd treatment went pretty much like 1st. Peed red before I left, that stuff is fast!!! I was a little clearer during and got just a little fogged on way out.  Little indigestion, normal at night for me.  Eating my apricots and prunes ahead of time.  Drinking til I float.  

Son, Nick, was a great buddy to hang with me whole time, watching everything.  He expects me to breeze through it all since  I am "One Rugged Mamma." in his words.  Hoping to hold to those expectations.  Hubby and girlfriend were too toxic to allow in the building.   She stayed home to throw up.  He went to school and infected the building.

Rachel--I have had more foot/toe cramps than normal, but those flare on me for a lot of different reasons--pregnancy, wrong shoes, after snowboarding beginning of season, too much somethng in diet, sitting wrong, stretching wrong, etc. 

momof3--I got some lower back pain through the hips made it difficult to sit in computer chair, then it "flowed/vibrated" up through my spine to the base of my brain.  Lasted about 1 -1 1/2 hours while I was trying to write my plans for school.  Tech said might of been the Nuelasta.  Course it was the day after I went snowboarding and this old body might have just been saying, "WHAT the He-- were you thinking????"

Will snowboard on a different day of this cycle to check out the correlation.  Hang in there all!

Hugs! and smiles!  Can't wait to see the kids tomorrow. 

markat

Mom- I haven't experienced the lower back pain yet, but I take Vicodin for the Nuelasta se's so that might mask any of those pains.  Are you still getting your periods? I started right after my 1 tx and it was a bad one.

Gracie- thanks for the hydration reminder!  I needed it.

Laurie- glad you felt good and got to clean.  

Rachel- fencing ref sounds pretty cool! I haven't really noticed anything weird with my feet.  I've been taking B6 for neuropathy.  My legs have felt like they weigh a ton though.

Sno- I take the decadron 2x the day before day of (plus the extra decadron they give me in drip) and day after.  I love your energy and attitude!  I wish I could go snoboarding!

Today was really nice.  I took my girls on a playdate since they don't go back to school until Thursday.  I had a really nice lunch with some girlfriends and listened to all the kids laugh and play.  It's little things like that that make me feel normal through all this.  And my wig was actually comfortable!  Hope all are well!  

3monstmama

Happy New year to all!

about the mouth sores--i was advised that manuka honey swished in the mouth did wonders for mouth sores.  My boss used it when he got sores from rads to the head and couldn't stop praising it.  he said he was able to both ward off sores and heal faster when he used it.  he was able to eat all through his radiation which is apparently unusual with rads to that area.  Tastes better than mylanta and benedryl I suspect.....

And on the headache, if you were a big coffee drinker or are just sensitive, I would think that the headache was related to lack of coffee.  When I was avoiding coffee immediately post lumpectomy, I found I got horrid headaches the first days.

My head is a blur so can't remember if I updated.  My mother ended up in the hospital a day or so before Christmas, about a week after her 1st chemo.  We really aren't sure what happened--it was a lot of chemo and I am told chemo is harder when you are older but we also know she did NOT turn her meds over to the Assisted Living staff (so she was tweaking stuff) and that she was NOT drinking enough fluid nor was she eating enough or walking at all (every time we came over, she was in bed).  I suspect it was many factors all combining.  Sigh.  After nearly a week in hospital, she was released to a skilled nursing facility.  She has round 2 of chemo this Friday and an appointment with the oncologist before that.  I am thinking that if she continues with the chemo, she would be better off staying in the skilled nursing facility.

As far as SEs, her hair is coming out by the handful.  We tried to get her to just let DH shave it but she wasn't emotionally ready for that so he simply cut it shorter. Now the hair is just flowing off her (amazing how much hair there is on one head).   The complication at this point is that she won't let it be shaved until she has a wig BUT she insists she is too weak to go wig shopping.  More sighs.  I am going to try again today.

The hard part for her is that she sees the chemo process as misery  (which it certainly is) but she can't see even the potential of the Other Side of Chemo.  DH had a dear friend who has done two series of chemo in connection with lung cancer so we are familiar with how hard it is to keep optimistic that you are going through the misery for a purpose.  I have not a clue how to encourage her without it coming off sounding like a daughter who can't stand the idea of her mother dying.  hmmm, not sure that came out right....let me try again.  She will be 83 soon and is the last member of her family other than me.  I don't want her to suffer unnecessarily.  I do think she can make her own decisions about proceeding with chemo OR just going for pallative care. For as long as she wants to do chemo, I want to be encouraging and supportive but there seems to be nothing I can do or say that helps.  More sighs. . . .

laurieloomis

3monstmama..I'm so sorry you're struggling with your Mom. It must be so difficult to watch her make choices that you aren't real comfortable with.  We went through the same thing with my mother-in-law and we finally just loved her, supported her, and made her as comfortable as possible. BC is so unfair, affecting an 83 yr old woman She's lucky to have such a caring daughter!  Hang in there.

Laurie

rachelvk

3monstmama - I'm sure your mom understands and appreciates everything you're doing for her. Don't feel like you have to always be the cheerleader. Tell her honestly how you feel - you know she's going through a lot of unpleasantness, that you are afraid of losing her (what child isn't?) but that she has you support through everything. There may be times you just want to commiserate when things are bad, and you'll find ways to drop in the forward-looking comments (birthdays coming up, special events next year) that will hopefully keep her looking ahead to the Other Side. Would you have a chance to speak with the onc on your own to let her know the situation? Then maybe the onc would be able to discuss the nursing facility, or try to help your mom understand why it's important to eat, drink, etc. Good luck with all that. And thanks for the honey tip. It certainly must taste better than the olive oil I've been using - but I'm almost used to it by now.

My friends and mom have been really supportive and optimistic, but there are times when I just want them to comfort me without a pep talk. I know I can make it through this; I know I'm strong; I know I have a lot of great things ahead of me. But sometimes... I just need to cry and tell people "I'm scared" or "This really stinks." A quiet hug can be worth so much.

Markat - Sounds like a fun day! Glad to hear the wig is comfortable. I may start trying mine out. 

My hairdresser refused, more or less, to outright shave my head. She felt, just in case I don't lose it all (I will, but I like her optimism) I should leave some to get a head start. So.... I've really got a buzz. And.... I sort of like it. It's pretty silky, and it's an interesting look, except for the cowlick. If nothing else, I'll have this maybe for a few days. 

seacretgardn

3monstmomma, im so sorry your mom is having a difficult time. I hope you can get the support you need to help make sure she's taking care to eat and drink enough.



Also thank you for the honey tip. I'll try anything. My 3rd AC is tomorrow and I still have a sore mouth and throat from the last. I'm very worried about that. eating and even drinking water has been tough this last time. The only solution the onc offered was to lower my dosage 10 percent but she doesn't really want to. Ive lost some weight but not enough that lowers the dose.



Sno- wow. I wish I had even a little of your stamina and attitude. Your son is right! I hope you continue to feel well.



GracieG I hope up you do well on Friday.



Laurie glad you're doing better too.



Markat, sounds like a really nice day with your daughters. Those "normal" days are so very important. On Sat my 21 year old daughter took me to a little zoo that we used to go to when she was little. Was full of nice memories.



Rachel no cramping in my feet, but yes certain shoes are no longer wearable.



My little pick me up is each day the sun sets a little later (even if it's only minutes) and I just think about that bringing us all closer to spring and through these treatments.



I hope you all have a good evening. Be well.



Blessings! Laura

rachelvk

Laura - good luck tomorrow. I'll be there along with you in thought while I'm getting my tx.

GracieG

Laura and Rachel - Good thoughts as you both get your treatments tomorrow.  And hoping for minimal SE's for you both.

It's supposed to be in the 60's here tomorrow.  I'm going to power through my lingering fatigue and atempt to take a walk, even if it's a short one.   

 3monstmomma - I do hope things get easier with your dear Mother.  The role of caregiver can be trying.

Have a good night everyone. 

snobordkykmom

Kid's hugs this morning at school were priceless.  Lunch duty with my 4th grade table melted my heart.  My Tuesday kids made me promise I would be there next week for them, since I missed them yesterday.

Secret--best on yours tomorrow.  It would be hard for me to go in with lingering effects from the last one.  Special thoughts to you!!

Rachel--You too, ladycakes, best on yours, too!!

3mons--Special love to you.  My mom is 92 and just moved in with my brother this past fall.  Short term is getting lost along the way, but she is still a trip, stubborn as a mule.  Just love her to death while she's there. You should have learned some tricks along the way to deal with her, open up your bag and get to it.

My biggest fear was hitting a wall after doing so well through the first part, but the tech said some of us are lucky and seem to cruise through while others get hit hard right away or get the build up effect as the treatments progress.

I'll take the build up--I can handle that.  A big diff is most of you seem to have already had your surgeries??  I am doing the chemo first since they are treating me using the Inflammatory Breast Cancer plan, since that's what presented first.  Then I get the surgery, and then rads.  So I think part is I'm built like an ox, and part is the timing that my body hasn't been beat up yet. 

Hair came out some with the gel this morning.  "And so it begins."--Dark Crystal 

Well, time to get the laundry switched over while my squirrel crack is buzzing along. Night ladies thanks for being there!! 

seacretgardn

Thank you for all your good and positive thoughts. It helps immensely that you all understand.



Rachel- I'll be thinking of you too. Here's to minimal SEs!



Goodnight dear ladies.

Baileybump

3monstmomma - Hugs to you as you love your mom through this.

Rachel - what you said is so true. . . sometimes I WANT to feel sorry for myself and just cry. . . but then like I have to stay upbeat for others.  I know I'll make it through, but seriously. . . allow us to have a pity party once in a while.  You get it. . . thanks.

Good luck to the ladies having treatments this week.  Virtual hugs to each and every one of you.

Gator65

Hi ladies,

I am finally back from chemo hell. Today is the first day that I have been able to get out of bed or off the couch. This was tx 3 and it was awful. The nausea is relentless with 4 different meds and I am piggybacking them every 3 hours. Thank god for Ativan. It knocks me out so I am getting a little bit of rest. I had a weird reaction while doing the AC. In the last 15 minutes or so, I became very itchy and they gave me benadryl but it did not stop the itching, very weird. 

I am so sick of being sick!!! I lost it on the phone to my sister last night. I am usually so strong but I swear I don't think that I can do this anymore. I hate this shit and I want to give up. Somebody talk me off the ledge!! 

For the ones doing tx this week, my thoughts are with you. 

jenlee

Hello, I just found this site, so I hope you don't mind a late joiner to this group.  I started ACT on 12/6/2011, 6 rounds, every three weeks.  Then planning for double mast. Probably with reconstruction -- though I told my surgeon that I don't care if I end up with a bra stuffed with tissues, as long as I can be with my 7 yr. daughter while she's growing up.  I've been hesitant to look around too much on line as I don't want to be obsessed with reading about cancer. It's bad enough that I think about it every second of every day, except when I'm reading or watching junk television after my daughter's bedtime.  I have many posts to read and catch up, don't want to ask the same questions that have already been covered.  Prayers for all!

jeanne3

Hi:  i am at the point in which i have  been told that chemo is the treatment necessary after my nov 2, 2011 surgery.  i am planning to get a 2nd opinnion in 2 weeks. hoping to get a different treatment plan such as no chemo necessary.  but, if i do need chemo i am under the impression that there are different dosage--strength in the chemo  and depending on the dosage that side effects might be lighter-- on an individual.  am i being naive or it does not matter on the strength of the chemo and the side effects will be the same for all.

FLislander

Hi Gator,

I am familiar with clermont, lived in Orlando , few different area pine hills and east near airport, have relatives in Apopka and mt Dora..

After my third treatment for 9 days in my mind I was quitting ,so sick. Got a cold on top of SE, and thrush on mouth.. Not good.. But I'm 40 yr old and I'm looking at each chemo session giving me hopefully 2-5 years tacked on to my life to see my kids grow up... It sucks every minute but got to be done

FLislander

Just had 4th treatment AC Tuesday and not so bad just fatigue and piggybacking nausea

Now im moving on to taxol. Onc said not as much nausea Trying to figure what I will need, heard vitamin b



I am doing pre adjunc chemo before surgery and I found out last week that I will have to have mastectomy so now I'm researching really leaning to doing both breasts, don't want to do chemo again in this lifetime if possible.

keepnfaith

AC 2 went well yesterday. Nuelasta shot today. Nausea meds are working so far. Actually not feeling bad although I had some muscle pain in my back this morning. Seems to be gone now. The hair is really coming out now...need to stop fighting it and just buzz my head. I have one wig and some caps. 

My port bled more than it did the first time, got home and daughter noticed it, very calmly she sat me down and said,"Mom, you're bleeding." She applied pressure with her palm until it slowed, then she cleaned me up and put another bandaid on it. I was so proud of how well she handled it, she's normally the one to freak out. She's been so great through this.

Hoping everyone is doing better. HUGS 

laurieloomis

So, I thought I was doing ok..but NO!  I ended up at the hosp this morning and will be back again tomorrow for more fluids.  Seems I'm very dehydrated and my WBC is next to nothing.  I'm now house bound due to possible infection.  I assumed the neulasta was doing its job...oops not so. Also, the constipation has got the better of me, new script for that..let the earth move! Please! 

Keepnfaith..glad the 2nd went well, hoping for a smooth round!  You have an amazing daughter, as a team you'll do great.   I had my hair cut short yesterday, less traumatic than I thought, no tears, but I haven't had short hair since I was 6yr.old!  My 2nd A/C is next Thurs and know it will begin to fall shortly after

Jenlee  I'm sorry you have to be here, but Welcome! The woman here are amazing and are a great comfort and support.  Don't worry about asking too many questions, there's no question to silly to ask.

Hope all are feeling better.

Laurie

keepnfaith

Laurie

Sorry to hear the nuelasta shot wasn't helping. My WBC was pretty good right before treatment, they mentioned if it was as good this time around I may not have to take it again, which is great news. The side effects stink!

Jenlee

I wouldn't worry about repeating questions. Everyone here is so supportive and helpful. Besides, this is a very long thread! I second Laurie's welcome wishes. 

positive thoughts for all! 

markat

Welcome to the new ladies. Sorry you have to join us.



Laurie I'm sorry about the hospital. That stinks!



Well the cavity didn't go as expected. I ended up having to have a root canal. So painful. Hopefully the anti biotics work.

Mardibra

Wow...I have lots of catch up reading to do. You ladies have been busy! I'm finally back to the land of the living finally. With each AC tx the SE's are getting harder. Nausea and fatigue are killer. One more AC to go and then onto Taxol. Im told that taxol doesn't cause bad nausea. Let's hope that is true.



Time to read what you have all been experiencing. Happy thoughts to all.



Christine

Baileybump

Hi ladies.  I appreciate reading your experiences and wondered if anyone had ever felt this.  Last night I woke up with pressure/discomfort in the middle of my back and sweaty (I'm 44 and pre-menopausal).  I blamed the Neulasta (seems like everyting gets blamed on it).  It passed in about a half hour, but scared me for sure!  It was like a knot in my chest (but radiating from my back). . . almost like I had to burp, but couldn't.  Or like a swallow was stuck.  Has anyone else felt this?

rachelvk

Gator65, Mardibra and Laurieloomis - {{hugs!!!}}  Sorry to hear you've been having a tough time with the SEs. Hang in there. You've all got good attitudes.

Jenlee - Welcome! There is a lot of scary stuff, but this site is great because you'll see the good and the bad, but get a lot of support and advice. You'll learn after a while when you're up to reading the more bleak things (I find it's a necessary reality check) and when to ignore it and stick to the upbeat things most of the time.

Jeanne3 - Welcome. Not to overuse a cliche, but when it comes to chemo SEs, everyone really is different. Read through the advice and tips on these threads, ask your onc lots of questions about possible SEs and what medicines they're planning to offer to counteract the SEs (Emend, Zofran, Compazine for nausea, decadron and benadryl to suppress some other SEs, Neulasta to boost white blood count, etc), and be prepared. The more you know about what might happen, the better you'll be to respond. Good luck!

FLIslander - Great outlook! PM me if you have any questions on bmx. I have TEs, and it hasn't been bad at all.

Keepnfaith - That's so great that your daughter has stepped up and is taking this so well. She must be a great support for you. Good luck with your buzz. Mine wasn't as traumatic as I expected.

Markat - Ouch! Feel better soon!