March 2012 chemo

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  • hopeful123
    hopeful123 Member Posts: 191
    edited April 2012

    Caravanmom- five days of nausea on my first Tx. Then it was another five days of heartburn.

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  • kltb04
    kltb04 Member Posts: 1,051
    edited April 2012

    Morning all. Headed down the road back toward home to bro/SIL house for Easter. We had a nice time hanging out and did some shopping and had dinner out. The Easter bunny came to our hotel ;)



    Lol on the convertible Kim.



    Went out with just the bandana style hat yesterday (the kind that looks like a scrub cap). The wig drove me nuts. I wore it at the museum and restaurant but I just wanted to claw my head. Got one embellished ball cap so far. The only scarves I have found so far are sooooo long. Desperately need to get a halo and I guess I will have to order it. I have irritated my head by shaving it. I went over it a couple times with a razor but still haven't got all the stubble. I will put on the wig at first when we get there today but I am sure I won't stay in it. I can only imagine my nieces and nephew's reaction. They have no filters. :)



    Caravanmom I took my anti nausea for a full 5 days. On the shot do you mean how long did the side effects last or the effect of the shot? My side effects from the shot were a couple days I would say.

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  • Caravanmom
    Caravanmom Member Posts: 8
    edited April 2012

    Hopeful123 and kltb04. Thanks for your replies. I am only day 3 after first Tx. Wondering when I could stop taking my nausea meds so I can get out of this stupor. Hope I don't get the heartburn, but have a feeling I will.

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  • MichelleMassey
    MichelleMassey Member Posts: 213
    edited April 2012

    Caravan - I only had a couple days of nausea. Only used the zofran 2 times. Heartburn was a lot longer. Hope you feel better soon!



    Happy Easter to all my favorite ladies!!

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  • kltb04
    kltb04 Member Posts: 1,051
    edited April 2012

    Caravan - which anti nausea drug are you taking? Zofran really doesn't affect my as far as side effects. I also have phenagran but I couldn't function on those.

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  • munnybunni
    munnybunni Member Posts: 156
    edited April 2012

    hippity hop  ...hippity hop....hope all is having a nice day

     yesterday ..seeing my hair "blow out in the wind" while I was sitting on the porch ...I thought ..uhoh...and then of course the nite before being at bob evans and i scratched my head..and my dad looked over and said...IS THAT YOUR HAIR IN YOUR HAND !!!  i thought oh crap...so i put it in a napkin.

    SOOOO...today...hubbie tried to clip me with clippers...kinda funny...he tried so hard, but we ended up calling the neighbor lady...who is a beautician and she came and clipped me and fixed my wig.

    I now look like Uncle Fester from the Addams family

    cried a few tears....laid down a bit...but feel okey dokey right now

    thanks for all your support

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  • diamondslayer
    diamondslayer Member Posts: 19
    edited April 2012

    Hello everyone and hoping you are all having a Happy Easter! Its my dh & I today, plus our dd and her fiance. Did an xbox360 video conference with our dd in Colorado for my grandbaby's first birthday. Couldn't go out there because of the bc & tx. Sooooo sad.

    I know now what the sentence in here means when they said... "you'll know when you feel the release" for my hair starting to come loose and fall out! For me it feels like (yes, it's still falling out lol), when you get a random shiver, and it goes all the way to the top of your head, kinda like a tingle. It's like reverse ripples in water when you toss in a rock. Instead of the rings going out and getting larger, these are getting smaller as they get to the top of my head. I never read that anyone explained this part. It happens randomly at first, just a hint here and there. Then all over my head. I started feeling this on day 16 after my 1st tx. That was this past Monday. Washed my hair and instead of 1 usual small bunch of hair coming out I had 2! Then on Thurs it started more. I think as of today, I only have about 1/4th of my hair left. I am taking pics like others have done in here so I have a record. I got some really kool, stylish caps on ebay and a friend of mine brought over about a dozen or so of her hats for me to borrow! Then I sent for a TLC catalog like someone else did on our forum and they do, they have lovely wigs for about $46 average cost. Plus scarves, hats, wick-away bands and other stuff.

    Let me tell you all, that I had a "it is what it is" attitude about my loss of hair before it happened. I had been joking around about it. But when the first few combs of hair started coming out on Thurs, I must admit... I did FREAK out for a minute or 2. After several days now of the "release" and it coming out in droves, I had a bag full of hair (not counting the stuff my dh vaccuumed up lol) and so since it bothers him, I took the whole bag out and threw it away so he didn't have to deal with that. My scalp hurt/was very tender from all this, so I thought I'd wash it gently. It made it feel sooooo much better but... it looked like a birds nest in the sink (I have a drain-strainer to catch hairs)! Wishing at this point that the rest would just fall out at once instead of taking it's time hahaha. My friend is waiting to draw on and sign my head with washable markers lol.

    Tomorrow is also my 2nd C/T tx and this time they are going to give me 100% strength instead of 80% like the 1st tx. I didn't have any nausea till day 4, but then I also had day surgery then to put in my port. I had my Neulasta injection on day 2. Nausea day 4 and tapering off through day 8. No bone pain from the inj, thank goodness. I even worked a few hours the last 2 Wednesdays. My work is really understanding so I am lucky.

    I did find out what the bumps are that I was breaking out with as of day 4 after tx... my onco sent me to a dermatologist who immediately cultured the "heads" of them. Test came back as MSRA, a staph infection. So if you break out in what looks like red whitehead type bumps, go in right away. This stuff is nothing to mess around with. My BS said he was worried because I have plastic in my body (port) plus the silicone TE's and he didn't want to have to put me through another surgery to remove them because of the staph inf. Still have a 1" area of my original BMX that will not heal so that was a worry too. I got put on an antibiotic called Clindamycin because I'm allergic to Tetracycline and Sulfa drugs. So this was the next best thing. 300MG x 4 per day x 10 days. Its working like a charm! Took otc Benedryl for the itching, had to soak in bath water plus 1/4 cup of chlorine bleach and wear long sleeves so no one could catch this or I didn't leave any staph germs anywhere. This stuff is highly contageous but only by skin contact.

    Well, sorry to be so long winded here but I have been lerking for several days, trying to catch up on other posts, and thought I'd explain about some of this stuff and my SE's. Sun is shining here for me today, hope it is where you all are too! God bless and protect each and every one of us and help us through our journey! Pat

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  • MichelleMassey
    MichelleMassey Member Posts: 213
    edited April 2012

    Well not to sound gross or anything.....bot no one told me the pubes were the fist to go! Lol! I'm on day 14 from tx 1 and go tomorrow for tx 2 of AC. Guess my head hairs days are numbered.



    Muni- sorry to hear about your last couple of days but sounds like you got the worst part over.



    Diamond - glad you got that infection under control! That stuff is nothing to mess around with. Hope you feel better soon!

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  • Alicethecat
    Alicethecat Member Posts: 535
    edited April 2012

    Baldeagle

    I love your user name!

    Alice the Cat

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  • onvacation
    onvacation Member Posts: 1,344
    edited April 2012

    Caravanmom - I never had any nausea.  I took the meds the day of treatment and 4 days after just to make sure.  Good luck

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  • onvacation
    onvacation Member Posts: 1,344
    edited April 2012

    Well going to have to adjust my halo or something - I felt like I was getting a brain squeeze!  There was an indentation on my head from the band that goes across the top.  Not sure how to make it bigger other than to cut the band and sew in some elastic.  Anyone else have to adjust theirs?

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  • connief
    connief Member Posts: 13
    edited April 2012

    I never had any nausea after the first treatment. My only problem was with constipation and unable to sleep for about 4 days. I ate everything I could with high fiber in it. Then I couldn't stop going. 2nd battle juice is tomorrow at 7:30 am that is if my white blood count is up. I hope it is as easy as the first time.



    Hope everyone had a nice Easter. DH worked today so when he gets home we are going out for supper.

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  • hopeful123
    hopeful123 Member Posts: 191
    edited April 2012

    Connorf and Michelle- good luck with round 2.

    Onvacation- I thought they all came with adjustable straps. I have the reverse problem in that all the wigs were too big and I need to tighten them up. Worry they may fall off with a strong wind! No top down for me.

    Diamond- I just noticed I have a pimple. I better keep a close eye on it. Didn't think this was also an infection issue. Hope your feel better.

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  • Amymomto5
    Amymomto5 Member Posts: 73
    edited April 2012

    Kim, I bought a Jon Renau hair halo from a local wig store (ordered it actually) and mine is way too tight also.  Plus the hair is too dark and curls under and is scratchy.  Hate it.  I might try like you said, to cut it and add elastic.  And maybe if I washed it that would help with the scratchiness.  I wear hats at home, and my wig (which I love) when I go out. Let me know how yours turn out if you alter it!

    Diamondslayer - Staph infection, how scary!  Glad you are feeling better.   

    Amy 

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  • galena_79
    galena_79 Member Posts: 107
    edited April 2012

    Happy Easter everone!

    Sorry, I haven't been online much and don't really have time to read right now.  Just wanted to let you all know that I've been doing great.  Have had plenty of energy and been having fun over the Easter weekend.

    My hair is 90% gone now.  Loving my turban w/brooch and head scarf looks.

    Didn't sleep well last night.  Tomorrow is tx3 for me, and the anxiety kicks in early.  I have unfortunately picked up a bit of a cold so I'm about to head to bed for some rest.

    (((hugs))) to all.  Wishing you small SEs and big smiles.

    Kia kaha,
    Angela 

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  • onvacation
    onvacation Member Posts: 1,344
    edited April 2012

    Galena - good luck with tx3 tomorrow!

    Amy - will let you know on the halo - have to do something or I won't wear it as much as I would like to!

    Happy rest of the weekend, ready for the new week! 

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  • KCB
    KCB Member Posts: 365
    edited April 2012

    Love to alll ladies.

    I had to have emergency surgery last night for a perforated intestine. Crazy crazy crazy. I am all doped up here. Have been very very careful to ask about everything in terms of interactions with chemo. Ended up at our local hospital not downtown cancer hospital, here I'd been the previous two days in ER, couldn't make it downtown, pain excruciating and feeling faint.

    So adding crazy to crazy . No idea what will happen next, why onc team at my hospitL will say.

    Sending love and hugs out there to all

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  • onvacation
    onvacation Member Posts: 1,344
    edited April 2012

    KCB - oh my - sending healing vibes your way!

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  • kltb04
    kltb04 Member Posts: 1,051
    edited April 2012

    KCB - oh.my.gosh.  I am so sorry.  I do help you feel better soon and heal quickly.  What a horrible time you have had.

    Halos - quite disappointed to hear you all are having such issues with them, makes me rethink ordering one.  Maybe they have to be that tight to ensure they stay on?  I am about to start a search for caps and scarves. My little bit of time out yesterday made me realize I will not be as self conscious as I thought I would.  The only time I felt a little weird was in Aeropostale with DD and you know how that store is - full of teeny bopper types.

    Galena - so glad you are having a great weekend - you deserve it!

    Michelle - lol - I have been having a bit of irritation in that area too - I won't go into detail!

    munnybunni - (((hugs))) but lol on Uncle Fester.

    diamondslayer - yikes on the staph - glad you got that under control!  Scary.  The TLC catalog and website seem like it has some great items on their at a good cost.  I need to order some of the wicking/cotton wig caps from them and see if it helps with my wig comfort (or lack thereof)

    Hair - again - I think I will be so much better once I get all this dang stubble off - it actually feels kind of cool down to just the skin.  I should have just let DH razor shave it to start with but I am really self conscious about it now that it is all gone.  I do have a sore place on the side that I don't know what it is that I have never noticed.  It looks like a mole maybe but I have never known it was there...gonna show my mom in the morning and see if she remember is from the last time I was bald, lol (didn't have much hair til I was about 2!)

    We only stayed a couple hours at bro/sil, just basically ate and visited for a little while.  Everyone was tired.  When we got home, I took a nap  - guess my lack of sleep at the hotel last night coupled with a xanax I had taken earlier just knocked me clean out.  DH didn't wake me up til 6 p.m.!  I used my post rest time to get the house picked up and bathrooms cleaned in prep for this week.  Going to TRY to get up really early tomorrow to do my ironing so I will feel like things are done at least for a few days.  I hate for my mom to have to do all my housework when she is so busy with her new house - they are supposed to close this week.

    TX number two tomorrow - best of luck to everyone else as well.  I feel better about going into this one.  Last time, I had had a reexcision on my SNB site less than a week before, had a drain in that I had removed that morning and the wounds from the surgery, and was on antibiotics.  Under no illusions that it will be a cake walk but maybe without all those added problems, it will be better.  

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  • IndigoMont11
    IndigoMont11 Member Posts: 1,095
    edited April 2012

    Hi ladies! KCB, bless you, that's awful. Praying that the worst is over, enough already.



    I continue to follow you all with great interest. The wigs felt so tight to me so after seeing your posts, I am going to pass on the halo. The cotton wig cap sounds like a great idea. Will check that out, too.

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  • Myleftboob
    Myleftboob Member Posts: 1,469
    edited April 2012

    OMG! After a wonderful weekend I went to bed around 10 and fell asleep watching TV.  DH came up around midnight.  I wake up thirsty so I go down for some water, have to pee and all of sudden feel sick. Throwing up and diarea  like crazy! I'm 10 days from last TX!!  WTF is this!!!  Thank God I woke up! 

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  • MichelleMassey
    MichelleMassey Member Posts: 213
    edited April 2012

    Kcb - so sorry to hear about that! Sending healing prayers your way. Keep us updated on how you're doing.



    I'm up and getting things ready to go to tx 2 today. I hate going but I can already tell the difference in my breast from just 1 tx. So if it's kicking cancers a@$, bring it!



    My left - that is so crazy! Almost makes me wonder if it wasn't a stomache bug instead of the chemo. I've never had the constipation problems with mine. I always have diarrhea. I think it has a lot to do with the Zoloft I'm on though.



    Well have a great day all. Will check in later!

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  • onvacation
    onvacation Member Posts: 1,344
    edited April 2012

    Maybe it was the combo of wearing the halo and a baseball hat that made it feel so tight - not sure - will try it again on Thursday - thought I would wear it to my treatment instead of a full wig.  Will let you guys know - I did like the look of the halo with a hat though and it was cooler!  So I hope I can get it figured out!

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  • FightingforA
    FightingforA Member Posts: 62
    edited April 2012

    KCB~ I hope you heal quickly! Keep us all posted!

    I hope everyone had a nice Easter. I was a bit down in the dumps yesterday, and stayed behind while my husband and baby went to visit family and have dinner. I just didn't feel like dealing with all of the questions and comments from everyone. I guess it was just a down day. 

    I had the Neulasta shot last Thursday and just started getting some pretty wicked bone pain last night. Silly me, thinking that I escaped the bone pain stuff. Has anyone else had that kind of delayed reaction? The bottom half of my body isn't so bad, but geesh...from my head to my stomach, it just hurts to touch any of it!  

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  • Myleftboob
    Myleftboob Member Posts: 1,469
    edited April 2012

    nsmolen

    Re the bone pain.  When the bone pain hit me after the Neulasta shot was 4 days after I beleive.  Mine was the lower back though but it can hit you anywhere.  Through the advice of others here I gave 24 Hour Clariton a shot and it worked very well.  I take it for 5 days starting the day before the shot.  My MO was fine with it, he just said it works for some and not for others.  Give it a go next time for sure.

    Still not feeling great, I think I did pick up a bug somewhere.  Geez I try to be so careful especially the week after TX. Checking my temp periodically and its not high so I guess that's good. UGH!

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  • lostinmo
    lostinmo Member Posts: 922
    edited April 2012

    Good Monday morinng everyone!

    KCB- hope you get well quick!

    I know I don't post much..but I do try to keep up with everyone.  I go for tx2 Friday and dreading it but ready to do it at the same time.  Last Monday and Tuesday were my worst days. No energy and very emotional.  But since then I've been much better, haven't had to take nausea meds or naps!  The only thing driving me crazy is the lack of taste and the tip of my tongue feeling like I burned it on hot coffe.

    I'm interested to see if there is any change in my lump when I go Friday.  It feels like it to me, but nervous that it is just wishful thinking.

    Anyway, hope everyone has a good day with minimal SE's and easy tx's! 

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  • KCB
    KCB Member Posts: 365
    edited April 2012

    Hi All.

    So I had to have a colostomy bag, they couldn't repair the intestine due to damage from chemo. Apparently it was life threatening, the perforation, so my life was saved on Saturday night by this surgery. I am still in shock I think ( and on alot of pain meds). I am on IV fluids, nothing to eat or drink though I may be able to have sips today. 6 or 7 inch incision straight down my belly. I am now a road map: two c/sections, breast surgery, SNB, and now this. Feeling a little sad. But I need to keep spirits up, I believe it's good for healing. Love to all. Don't get constipated.

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  • Myleftboob
    Myleftboob Member Posts: 1,469
    edited April 2012

    KCB

    OMG that is unbelievable.  Do the think it can be repaired once your're done TX?

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  • Amymomto5
    Amymomto5 Member Posts: 73
    edited April 2012

    Katy!!  Hugs to you!!  Are you still in the hospital??  So glad they caught it quick.  Do they think the constipation caused your intestines to perforate, or the chemo meds?  Now what will happen as far as continuing chemo? I suppose that hasn't been discussed yet. I will pray for a speedy recovery for you!  Keep us posted.

    myleftboob - bummer about picking up a stomach bug.  I hope you are feeling better.

    nsmolen - My bone pain kicked in about day 4 or 5 and lasted about 2 days.  I had some aches and weird back spasms.  Also pain in my calves.  Hope yours resolves quickly.  

    Karri - My head felt better after I shaved the stubble off.  Tomorrow is 4 weeks past first/last chemo for me, and I have some new stubble!  Not much, and only patchy, but I'll take it!  Good luck today at session 2, hope all goes well.

    Minimal side effects to everyone today, and good luck to all with tx's today and this week! 

    Amy 

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  • Amymomto5
    Amymomto5 Member Posts: 73
    edited April 2012

    Caitlin, I know you were supposed to get biopsy results last Tuesday...  Hope all is well with you!

    Amy 

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