January 2012 chemo

Jennyruth

I had my first session on Thursday, January 5 which I described in detail on here. Day 1 through Day 4 after the chemo was not bad. Meds controlled nausea. Took Claritin for bone pain. Appettite good. Slept good. Yesterday (4th day after chemo), I felt achy -- very tight pulling in surgical area which was uncomfortable. Had rough spot during night -- a need to cough but throat hurt when coughing (not a sore throat) -- achy -- stomach just a little queasy. Got up -- checked temp (ok)-  took pill for nauseau and Tylenol for discomfort -- and gargled with Oral Jel Antiseptic. Took a little while but things did settle down and I got back to sleep. Just wondering if anyone else has experienced the emphasis of achiness in the surgical area or the cough/throat thing? I have to wonder if the side effects present stronger with each chemo session. Sure wish time would fly the way it used to before I was diagnosed.

DianeNMil

Kitchenella:  Is it Taxol and Herceptin?  I think the Taxol is not as bad as the AC.  For me I was offered  either tch or taxol herceptin and they they said the T & H was easier.

Good luck to everyone starting treatment today.  I have echo and haircut.

Shell-Seeker

Morning ladies,

thought I'd give a day 5 update.

Maybe this can help someone else.

I was doing pretty good yesterday, just a little qeazy. I have been very constipated since chemo day but yet felt as if I might have to "go" any minute. Lots of rumbling and cramping.

I have been eating fiber foods like apples and other stuff but just woulndt go.

Well yesterday I felt good enough to go to the ACS Look Good Feel good meeting and I did ok.

I then went to Kroger to pick up some food items and still did ok. Well around 6 I went to my church Bunko meeting and although I had the rumbling feeling, I ate the good food and dessert the hostess had made along with coffee. Well when it was time to leave, I felt it hitting. I had a 20 min. drive home and it was a disaster. I will let you use your imagination but lets just say I couldnt control my myself. I called my sister to talk me through it. The pain was just like labor pains and I felt very faint. you know the cold sweats and feeling your about to pass out. I thankfully made it home, and spent an hour in the bathroom which included showering and bleaching everything. I hate to share gorey details but this stuff is going to happen so if I can help someone avoid it I would rather share.

Here is the warnings I had, If you are feeling that rumbling and cramping, Dont go out alone and dont eat and have a long drive home. I think I was expecting the throwing up more and was forgetting about the possibility of not being able to control my bowels. I have learned my lesson fast.  Im going to stay on a stool softner and drink more water becuase the mixture of constipation and diarrea is a disaster and very painful. Just really pay attention to your body.

Neadless to say, my husband grounded me to the house at night for now on.

Today Im back to feeling ok but just a little queazy.

Im glad everyone seem to be making it ok.

For those starting this week, you are in my prayers. It wasnt bad at all, it was the anticipation. I actually felt good the first day. 

On a nicer note, If your town offers the Cancer Look Good , Feel Good meeting, try to go. You get a big bag with alot of nice makeup. High quality stuff.

Kitchenella

Shell-Seeker I had a bout of terrible stomach gas last evening.  I think part of the trick is to eat more small meals.  Today I was more careful and took a Pepcid before each meal.  I've been fine all day.

Peggy 

Momof2inME

Hello Everyone!!! I had my fist chemo treatment yesterday. I may have been a little too ambitious because I had my first tissue expander fill at the PS then headed down to Oncology center. Had my port accessed for the first time for a blood draw. They me a little lidocaine so when they put the 18g needle/extension set in I don't feel it. Taped me up then while my bloodwork was running I had physical therapy (same building) for an hour. Then back to my chemo room for the next 4 hours. This was a little too much for 1 day and I will space these appts out through the week next time. Lesson learned. The room is nice, TV, DVD player, fridge, warm blankets, and the 2 nurses were very kind and empathetic.

The wonderful nurse started a bag of 500ml bag of saline and then (1) 12ml syringe full and (2) 100ml bags of long lasting (3-5days) anti-emetics. The premeds alone took almost an hour. By then the lovely Ativan the nurse gave me had kicked in and I no longer remember the names of the anit-emetics. I am so very, very thankful for the amazing kindle my friends at work bought for me. It was the perfect, perfect chemo gift and made time go by relativity quickly. GUYS!!!!
Lunch was brought in for my hubby and I. While I ate the nurse did the manual push of the hot pink colored Adriamycin over 20 minutes. No problems so far, just my nerves being fried and I peed pink for the rest of the day. The bag of cytoxin was hung next and took a little over an hour. I then asked to have the rest of my saline bag finished. Why not take a little extra fluids when they were just going to discard them. Want this crap flushed out as soon as possible. By the time I was ready to leave my head was pounding and fuzzy. A little tylenol and I was on my way home. 1 A/C cycle down 3 more to go. Unfortunately the expander fill and PT felt like a baseball bat attack again. All completely normal I was told -- Yay me!!!
Had to stop on the way home to pick up my 4 Rx's. Compazine which I took immediately, steroids, Ambien to counteract the steroids making me unable to sleep, and more Ativan.That along with the pepcid, sencot and ibuprofen I have to take regularly as well. By the time we arrived home I was nauseous, had a massive headache, and was shaking. I cannot believe what a person would feel like before the introduction of long lasting anti-emetics, etc
A wonderful meal was delivered from my friend. Meals are set up 3x/week from now until the end of May. What a god send these are going to be.
This morning I woke up feeling like I had the worst morning sickness ever and a migraine. Ate some oatmeal and got all my meds into me. Now I feel could at least take a shower but I am probably going back to bed until it is time to head back to the oncology center for my Nuelasta injection. Have heard that the first couple days after this shot can be worse than the chemo after effects. Basically every bone in your body aches. Hopefully I will not be one of those people. Did take the claritin I have seen advised on her.
So that has been my last day and 1/2. I wish eveyone starting the week, having their port placed, or 2nd treatment goes well!!

CharB22

Shell-seeker - thanks for sharing your story. I start my chemo on Thurs and I'm a bit nervous...more about the unknown stuff that might happen. I'm already working on keeping myself very well hydrated - I'm drinking almost a gallon of water a day!! LOL. (that's about 4-16.9 oz water bottles). Both my MO and the NP that I met with yesterday asked how I did with nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (fortunately just a little nauseaus with both kids). They said that they don't know why, but there seems to be some sort of correllation between how well you did with that and how your nausea/vomiting will be with chemo. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it's really true!

I'm also going to the Look Good, Feel Good meeting. My MO's office has monthly sessions in their office.

CharB22

Momof2inMe - I start on Thurs and get Neulasta shot on Friday. I was told to also take Claritan and Tylenol before shot. Good luck with it! I'm picking up my 3 Rx today...got the Lidocain yesterday. Got my pre-chemo haircut on Sun (the back of my neck is freezing!!!) and working on stocking my chemo bag with a big fat book (my eReader is coming later this week), maybe some snacks, gotta get some Ginger Chews (heard about that on this board I think).

Working a full day today, then off the rest of the week.

Shell-Seeker

Great info everyone. Kitchen, I read that this morning and wondered if we had a similar experience. I agree, keep the meals small. Maybe Im getting abitious too soon but if anyone has small meal and snacks that seem to work for you please share.

Momof 2- How awesome!! your meals will come 3 x a week until May. What a blessing!! you must have a great friend or church support.

Im supposed te eat apples so this morning I mixed 1 tablespoon of honey with a spoonful of peanut butter and dipped my apple. Im not a big apple person but Im learning. They say make sure your honey is paturized. I dont know if mine was. Probably was since it was from grocery store. It tasted good though.

Bagles or wheat toasted with cream cheese

I dont like yogert but if I add a few chooped up nuts, its pretty good.

Im keeping canned soups around.

Anyway, i'd love some quick easy gentle food ideas.

Shell-Seeker

please forgive my spelling and grammar. I make a ton of typos just to warn everyone up front haha

Kitchenella

Mom of 1 if I took that many drugs I think I would have been nauseous.  All I had was what was in the IV and the next morning I took the setroids.  Other than the one bout of gas last evening I haven't had any nausea at all.  Maybe I'm just lucky.

Shell I'm eating pretty much whatever sounds tasty...just small portions and chewing really well.  For Breakfast I had on large peice of french toast and and Apple. For lunch a small bowl of barley/pea soup and one small piece of chicken shnitzel (chewed really well).  Tonight for dinner I'm having a boiled sweet potato with cooked carrots and a small green salad with hard boiled egg.

Peggy 

NCbeachgal

Be sure to check the manufacturers websites for coupons on some of the over the counter items for your chemo bag. I found great coupons for biotene, aleve and colace.

Kite

Momof3boys-- I met with my RO, and because of my age, the 2mm into the margins, and having grade 3 he feels I need radation. However he did say that it is not a clear cut and dry situation. I do NOT fall into the "text book" guidelines. This recommendation is only provided due to his and his colleges decision. So, if I went to another office I could very well get a different opinon. He was very good at breaking down everything. In the end he said it is a judgement call that has to made by me. I am grateful I have awhile to consider it.

I did get my posion plan...TCH every 3 weeks, 6 treatments total. Then Herceptin the two weeks inbetween for a year. I haven't read about many women with TCH yet. Seems everyone is on A/C. Of course now that I know what I am talking about I can go lurk and find some other ladies doing this treatment.

I went and bought 2 wigs. I love them! I feel so much better about doing this. I also bought a scarf and when I tried it on I realized that I don't look so bad. I am relieved to have a plan. I have all the anti-nausea meds and steriods. Port placement on Thursay, but my first treatment will be tomorrow through an IV. I had to do it that way because I start school next week and don't want my first day to be after my first chemo. Not cool!

I'm reading everyones posts everyday. I appreciate all your honesty and openess about your journies. Even though we may not all have the same side effects, it's nice to know what may happen. Takes that fear and surprise out of the equation, which in turn gives us some of our power back. 8)

I have a saline fill today right after lunch. I actually like these appts!

Kite

marie5890

Kite,

Sending prayers and good thoughts your way.

I know the decision for rads/no rads is a hard one for you. Praying for you to make the right decision for you.

God bless and may the poision kick the beast the curb!!!  

MNGirlyGirl

Jennyruth, I had my chemo combo of T/C the same day as you.  I have had a sore throat -- actually more my esophogus.  I had a lot of acid reflux and think it's from that.  I gargle with soda and salt and swallow just the tiniest amount to get some of it in the irritated area.  I also have had diahrrea yesterday which made me very crampy.  But took a couple "cement" pills and that has helped a lot.  Otherwise, achy and having a hard time sleeping.  I'm probably feeling the crappiest today so far, but still okay to go to work.  I think just having anxiety over what might go wrong is my biggest thing.  Am trying to remember so many have it much harder and all this "pain" is what is killing those bad cells.  Oh, and my head is a bit itchy.  Just wanting to get the hair loss thing over with.  I'm not sure if I should get a pixie cut or just a short shave.  Anyone???

AnnStAug

I went yesterday and did a really cute pixie type cut. I probably have a couple of weeks until I lose the hair but I just couldn't face a shave. It's pretty short in the back. It's getting me used to a different look. I'm also wearing some cute little skull cups. Easing myself and my family into no hair.

I'm sure your heart will guide you to the right decision. Good luck.

momof3boys

Hi Kite

Just got back from my RO appt. This is my 2nd opinion and is the head of the group. Totally different experience than the first guy who couldn't sit still for 5 min...

This Dr. Had me first write down his cell phone number, and welcomed me to call him at any time with any questions or concerns. He then explained that he spoke to my BS. PS, and MO before meeting with me and went over my entire med file. He does think that there is a benefit to me by doing rads, because it was a large tumor in a smaller type body shape... But would not recommend radiating the lymph nodes under my arm or over my collarbone. He said the SNB was absolutely clear and there's no benefit to doing that much radiation, for me...and because of my age (43 considered young) he would recommend it. He was very compassionate and caring, asked how my boys were handling things. Said that it may be helpful to set up my appts for after school so the boys could come with me and they would let them operate the equipment and push the button, to take any fear or anxiety away... I still have until a month after chemo ends to decide, but he said it would potentially reduce my "local" recurrence rate from 15% down to 5%.... so lots to think about. But, I feel very comfortable with him....

CharB22

Momof3boys - sounds like you have a great RO this time around!! I met with my RO yesterday too. Very young guy and he was very, very nice as well. He also explained from my path report that in addition to no lymph nodes, I had a very large clear margin (4 mm) and no vascular invasion - more good news. If I end up BRCA positive, I told him I was having DBMX. He thought that given my age (47) and that I'm done having kids and they're still young (11 & 14), the DBMX was a very good idea...would give me a much greater chance of seeing my grandkids!

I'm actually hoping to be BRCA positive to help reduce my fear of recurrance - does that sound crazy??

 NCbeachgal - thanks for the coupon suggestion - I forgot I found 1 for Biotene for $1 off!

Kite

Momof3-- I sent you a PM..

Char- No that doesn't sound bad at all. I found out yesterday I am negative for the gene. I was almost certain that it was going to be positive. I am so relieved because I have young sisters and a neice. 

Lumpynme

rachelvk---"ginger chews "?????? where do you find them? brand????

Lumpynme

today we scheduled my first MO appt for the wednesday after i move-progress!

this move really IS in my best interest but it is putting everything off a few weeks---im trying very hard not to overdo each day in:re packing etc but gosh-it has to get done and i truly want it all ready to go by the time the moving party starts at 9 am on saturday the 21st!

Jennt28

Port in. Turned down the Fentanyl and Morphine cause they both make me nauseous.



Before I came this morning I drew a line on my chest where my sports bra strap goes. Showed it to the radiologist befrore the insert and he laughed and assured me he would make sure the port would not interfere with my exercise.



Now sitting around waiting the mandatory hour before we can leave... Can tell it will hurt later but hopefully not too much.



regards Jennt28

Gayle56

I am definitely starting next Tuesday.  What a way to spend my birthday.  My dr. is not doing Neulasta on the first treatment.  He said he will wait to see how my wbc is before the second treatment.  Does everyone lose their head on the TCX4?  My dr. said my hair would probably just thin. 

NCbeachgal

Treatment one done. The most bothersome issue right now are the muscle/joint aches. Just a little nauseous. I've taken aleve, and the zofran, oh, don't forget the Xanax. I've always been susceptible to nausea, so i think I'm gonna have a hard time with that one. I've read everyone's posts and thanks for the positive communications.

Char-I had my BRCA today and nothing sounds crazy. I'm anxious for the results.

AnnStAug and girlygirl- I have a hair cut appointment for Thursday.im gonna go short with a crazy short bang. I haven't had bangs in forever. I'm going short and then buzz later. I dread the whole thing. Hair, feeling bad...everything. I know it will be fine though.

NCbeachgal

Momof2inME-thanks for sharing your experience. Sounds like you day was a marathon in healthcare. Take care, go slow if you need to.

Shell seeker -I'm sorry about your bowel issues. Not easy talking about it but everyone here can hear the truth.. I hope the tummy evens out for you.

Jennt28- I love your positive approach to knowing exercise is coming up. My port hurt for several days, not unbearable though just very uncomfortable. Accessing the port for treatment today was no big deal. Just a quick stick.

rachelvk

lumpynme - My friend sent the chews to me - the brand is "the ginger people." the website is www.gingerpeople.com. They're pretty good. I've basically just stocked lots of ginger ale, ginger snaps - and my boyfriend's aunt gave me this awesome ginger tea. That said, I've avoided the nausea for now... Counting my blessings. 

Kitchenella

Me again.  Day 6 was the worst so far but not really that bad.  I woke up really tired but once I had my tea and breakfast I felt better.  Achy bones are less.  My mouth (teeth/gums) feel a little tender but nothing major.  I think my worst symptoms are belching and heartburn and my normal hemmoroids are bleeding and stinging more than usual.  

I did manage a nice walk .  I was very careful with my meals and chewed everything to death before swallowing. I've been taking a Pepcid before each meal but havn't had to use the Paramin yet.  

Peggy 

Kitchenella

Humm.  All my upper teeth just started to ache.  Neulasta? I have had aching in my jawbone and it seems to be spreading from there to the teeth.

Peggy 

Janetanned

Peggy  -  I think I'm right behind you.  Day 5 for me.  Heartburn and belching are my main issue right now.  But I do feel an achyness creeping in.  Mouth is gone, taste buds not doing their job.  Bland mild foods are tolerated but I have no appetite, so everything has to be forced.

I'm back to work full time (teacher) and am really feeling it!  All I could do last night was eat, wash up and go to bed.  My co-workers are very understanding fortunately.  I might take next Monday off.  Kids are off but we have an in-service meeting.

Off to work!  Have a good day everyone!  Good luck and warm thoughts to those beginning treatment. 

CharB22

Lumpyinme and rachelvk - I found ginger gum at Walgreens. I hope it tastes good!

NCbeachgal - glad to hear your 1st treatment went well. My port goes in today. I don't have to be at the surgical center until noon and I can't have anything to eat or drink - no coffee! I'm going to have a wicked caffeine headache. LOL

Janetanned - not sure if you heard of this, but someone on one of the boards said she takes a tsp of olive oil 2x/day and swishes it around the mouth then swallows...still has taste. Was that you rachelvk?? Good luck at work. We definitely need to meet since we're so close. I'll PM you at some point and then we can figure out when we both feel up to it. LOL.

Lumpynme

rachelvk-- thx!!!! they sound wonderful...abe's is temp out of stock but i bookmarked the site-i love ingersnaps but cannot drink soda(fizz!) maybe i could let it sit and lose it's fizz-just a thought note to self!

i tend to be prone to nausea so i am looking for "aids"-i did find some  lemon ginger tea bags that i added to my stash!