March 2012 chemo

lanagraves

So sorry KCB! Hope they can repair if for you once treatment is over.

Hope everyone had a good Easter! It's day 5 for me after TX 2 and this one has been much worse than the first. Diarrhea, vomiting, been in bed for 4 days. Came back to work today but got sick as soon as I got here. Trying to stay and get a few things done though.

 Hair is gone. I ventured out without it with a hat for first time today. Not as traumatic as I thought it was going to be.

Sissydi

Sitting in the chemo chair getting my "juice"! Tx#3 of A/C under my belt! I'm hoping this time I'll have less nausea than the last! Galena, thinking about you today too!

MichelleMassey

I'm also in the chemo chair getting tx 2. Good luck sissy!

kltb04

KCB. Thinking of you and praying that things look up for you soon. I cannot even imagine what you are dealing with.



MLB - sounds like a stomach bug or even food poisoning of some kind. Hope you can shake it soon.



Nsmolen - sorry you had a blah day yesterday. I was really on edge the whole time we were eating dinner. BC is always on my mind yet I don't want to constantly talk about it so it is hard to make small talk.



Lostinmo - interesting that you say that about the lump. The MO nurse asked me if I had felt a change and I was like "um I don't know I haven't been feeling around on it.". That whole side was sore for so long that I didn't want to be messing with it.



Got a late start today so I have only been hooked up for a few minutes. Crowded today and there was no place for my mom to sit so she went back to the waiting room.



Nausea - my MO told me to try the Compazine rather than the Zofran because the Zofran works on the same receptors as the Emend you get in the iv. She said that she doesn't like to hear of people having nausea for more than a couple days.



I raised my other issues to her. I don't get Herceptin until after the first 4 of A/C (I had been wondering) Also I found a spot on my head after I shaved that I can't tell if it is a sore or a mole. She said she was 99% sure it was nothing but is sending me to a dermatologist to make sure. Ugh. She definitely thought it didn't look like a melanoma or anything though. Then there are the ribs. She really couldn't tell me what she thought it was besides just inflammatory issues so she ordered a rib panel for as she put it "my mental health". That she wasn't really concerned but if I was going to dwell on it then we needed to rule it (and by it I mean mets) out. The nurse was really dismissive saying "oh that would've shown up in the PET scan" but she left to schedule it. So let the scanxiety begin.

kltb04

Hey I missed the last couple posts since I have been working on mine an hour. Good luck to all in the chair today!

Myleftboob

To everyone having TX today, here's to it being uneventful and minimal SE's!

I think I'm coming around.  I think it was a bug too.  I haven't eaten a ton over the last few days but everything was made at home by me.  I rarely get heartburn but had it yesteray big time, just used tums.  The friend we visited yesterday was just telling me that the freind I visited on Saturday had gotten sick.  So I have my answer now. 

lanagraves

Glad they're going to rule out the rib issues, ktb. Peace of mind is worth a bundle. Thought today might be the turning point for this treatments but got sick again as soon as I got to work.

KCB

Good wishes to those getting tx today. MLB glad to hear ou are feeling a little better?

I am going to be in hospital several days for this. After surgery they said 5-7 days. As far ad chemk goes that's the big question. If I understand correctly what caused the perforation could be a combo of how the chemo strips the mucous membrane from everywhere plus the constipation and possible straining. I had been trying so very hard NOT to strain, but I guess we'll never know. Also I heard from my surgeon here that chemo can in very rare cases cause erosion of the intestine or bowel, asked if anyone had mentioned that to me pre chemo. Hard to remember really.

As far as ongoing chemo for me I have no idea yet. This had alm taken place over a holiday weekend and I have kept saying to alm here that I NEED all this to be reported to my cancer team at the other hospital. There may be anoter regimen which is less hard on the gut. I have no idea. Hubby was going to phone today tk try to reah anyone in oncology over there.

As far ad repair,the answer I have so far is that yes it will be able to be repaired once chemo is all over. Sort of a chicken/ egg thing.

Love to all.

onvacation

Just wanted to share something that I think has helped me keep things moving - every day I drink a green smoothie that is almost all veggies - so very high in fiber - I think it has helped me with the regularity issue and general overall good feeling.  I make it with water, cucumber, romaine, spinach, celery, apple, banana and lemon juice.  Very low in calories and high in fiber!  Just wanted to share with the girls!

 Hope every one who is getting the juice today is swimming through it with no SE!

Cheers!

kltb04

Kim is there an exact recipe? I think I could do that. I hate veggies but I can drink about anything.

onvacation

this makes 2 shakes - 1 cup water, 1 cuc, 1 head of romaine, 2 cups spinach, 3-4 stalks celery, 1 small apple, juice of 1 lemon, 1 frozen banana.  I do have a vitamix blender so not sure how this would work if you don't have a strong blender, maybe if you chopped everything really small and did in batches it would work.

Sissydi

Oooo yum! Thanks for the smoothie recipe!



My nausea came on after my Emend wore off, around day 3. That's when I start taking my Zofran. Before, I only had compazine, which didn't work for me at all....don't know why! I do have a tendency to get really car sick and seasick though. I wonder if those anti nausea patches you put behind your ears would work? I just hate taking all these meds! I love my "good" week, because I take nothing!



Just found out I will be getting 12 weekly Taxols after A/C is over....then on to rads! Everybody doing rads on this thread, well have to start our own rads thread!

onvacation

Sissy, I used to use those patches when I went sailing, but the last time I did they made me really sick and my doctor wouldn't perscribe them anymore.  I now take Bonine which is OTC.  Have you tried Chamomile Tea or Ginger tea?  Those are 2 things I read about that are natural remedies.

hopeful123

Quick hair question- I am on day 12 after Tx-1 and my scalp hurts. It is as if someone is pulling on my hair. I am not able to lie down on a pillow as it really hurts. Most of you said you had itching. Anyone have my symptoms before the hair falling out. Any ideas on how to make it better.

onvacation

Hopeful - I felt tingling in my scalp a couple days before the big shed happened.  It didn't really hurt though.   I did the big shave and it feels much better and I don't have hair everywhere anymore.

lanagraves

hopeful: My scalp hurt like someone was pulling on it when it started coming out. After I shaved it, it doesn't hurt.

kltb04

Yep mine hurt too. I think it is the combination of the weight of your hair and the hair follicles dying or whatever they do.



Kim thanks for the recipe. My mom will be pleased. I just have an el cheapo blender so I would def need to pre chop.



I found a couple cute scarves today at a wig shop. Still no halos to be found locally just hats with hair that's velcroed in. 99 dollars. ! No thanks.



No word on the rib X- ray. Have to get insurance approval first.

Myleftboob

hopeful

My scalp hurt before I had my hairdresser buzz it off.  The only way I can describe it is it was like when you had a tight ponytail in for a really long time. 

Kim

That smoothie sounds great!

Sissydi

Yup hopeful, it sounds like your scalp is getting ready for the big release! I had that soreness about three days before my hair started really shedding big time.

hopeful123

Thanks everyone. Ok time for the buzz and then the big shave.

hopeful123

KCB- I am still in disbelief. Didn't know constipation could do this kind of damage, but can see how chemo would make us susceptible. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

Kim- I am going to try this. Anything to ease the situation.

Sissy- looks like you will be doing the same as most of us Her+ folks. AC followed by Taxol then Herceptin. We are in this for the long haul.

Sissydi

Yes we are hopeful, at least we have this forum and each other!

galena_79

Keeping my fingers crossed that the port access will be easy today.

In the meantime, I'm stressing out, and about to take a sedative.

Please please please let the needle go in right the first time!

kltb04

Oh Galena I had forgotten about that from last time. Good luck. I think an anti anxiety is in order (or a shot of whiskey!)



Only a few hours post tx and getting a headache. And exhausted. And came home to a cat turd in the kitchen that I figure my nervous Jack left if he got spooked by something while in the litter box which is in the laundry room . Made oldest DD clean it up lol. It's her cat. Although the chances of my indoor only five year old cats having toxoplasmosis (which is the poop/litter concern) is slim to none!



I am fully decked in cancer garb right now. Just a bandana on the head and lovely pink pjs my SIL had bought me. I think a pillow and blanket is in order as well.

MichelleMassey

Kilt - same boat here! Slight headache, but feel like I can't shake off the Ativan or something. Would love for steroids to kick in. Heading upstairs to put my pjs on.

KCB

Hopeful: I wouldn't want you guys to freak out, there's no clearcut reason that I know of about why this happened to me. There are some theories, but we don't know for sure, so I wouldn't want you to panic about it being just from constipation. Still, whyever this happened I still think constipation should be avoided!!

They seem to feel I am recovering well fromsurgery but of course I am just now going to dip into my low WBC phase and am pretty worried about infection. I am on antibiotics because of some infection they found inside, so hopefully if anything else creeps in these will help treat.

Love and hugs to all.

kltb04

Michelle - I have a feeling the steroids just don't do me that way because I am not feeling it and didnt last time.

Headache worse and nausea has joined the party. The smell of the spaghetti someone graciously brought for dinner is intolerable. Just ate a pb&j sandwich and drinking water. Going to take something for the headache and go with phenagran tonight to try and sleep. Also having that weird fullness feeling I had last time.

slak

KCB - So sorry to hear what you are dealing with...I assume you have Neulasta or Neupogen on board?  If not, I would push them really hard for it (or make them explain why they won't give it if they won't).  You don't want to dip too low in WBC even with antiobiotics on board.  

MichelleMassey

I felt it last time but not getting it this time. He's using the pump again and letting it infuse over 24 hours. I really think tthat helps with the SEs. Might be something for you to look into since it's hitting you so hard and quick. I'm hiding up in my room now. Don't really want to talk to or see anyone.

KCB

Slak: I had a neulast shot on Wednesday, day after chemo. The next day was my first trip to ER and my WBC 68. My next trip to the ER was Friday and my WBC was 50. The next day's trip to ER they were at 20, and now they are 1.4. There is discussion I may need an additional shot but so far there has been no communication with oncology that I'm aware of, and is there any risk to a second WBC boosting shot?