March 2012 chemo

onvacation

triplem - that is too funny!  Kids, they say the darnest things!

Myleftboob

klt

I loved it!! Thanks for posting, quite uplifting really

triplem

Your kid is a hoot!!

The last TX is official, rang the bell too!!  I had my favorite nurse today too which was nice.  Don't always get her.  Although I will be seeing them all every 3 weeks for Herceptin mind you.  There were two ladies getting H today, they were in and out in under an hour so that's something to look forward to and they had hair too! Short hair but hair none the less.  I'm not getting out of there that easy though. Have schedule the SIMA heart test and of course back in in 3 weeks for blood work,meeting with the MO and pickup my Tamoxifen script.

I was shown the Tshirt thing too but have to dig out the instructions from LGFB or better yet just go on Youtube. I'm thinking that would be great for out in the garden, looks ok and soaks up the sweat.  I'm a head sweater personally

Going to jump on the couch now and watch Y & R.  Fridays are always good.

MichelleMassey

MLB - yay for you being done! That is so awesome! Looking forward to the day when we all get to ring the bell. Take care girl!

lanagraves

Too funny Michelle! Sounds like what my sons would say!

onvacation

MLB glad you got to ring the bell!  That is awesome!

Just discovered a rash at the base of my head!  UGH - had a rash last time on my chest and I thought it was some vitamins I was taking!  Stopped taking the vitamins and now this time another rash!  Doesn't bother me, but glad it happened on the weekend when I can not wear a wig and give it a chance to heal!  Crazy! 

IndigoMont11

Hey y'all - so tx #1 is in the books.  Worst part was the IV stick - sadly.  Suffice to say, port is next on the list before tx #2.  As I feared, my veins are just not up to it.  But otherwise, the treatment itself went smoothly.  It was actually over before I knew it - didn't even get to finish Bridesmaids.

So far, only things I'm noticing are the weird sinus feeling and a little bit of a headache, and the bitter metallic taste.  Lemonheads - they helped a lot! 

I'm going to chill in the recliner but the decadron is making me hyper enough that I doubt if I'll sleep ... hopefully that will wear off by bedtime....

I really appreciated that the nurses and pharmacist took to heart my concerns about mouth sores - I'm going to try the nonprescription stuff first but won't hesitate to ask for the Rocky Mountain Mouthwash (*no* idea why it's called that) if I need it.  I hate mouth sores with a passion.

Thank you, thank you, sooo much, for all your candor and willingness to answer my questions.

Hugs to all!  Indigo 

onvacation

Indigo - yea on getting past first treatment!  Hope you have minimal side effects and get some good rest and drink TONS of water!

IndigoMont11

I have! My pee isn't even pink by now, lol. *sigh* I also have tinnitus and when I'm sick or take certain meds I really notice it, and that's going on too. Still, rather that than nausea - fingers and toes crossed.

MichelleMassey

Indigo - yay you did it! The steroids might mess with your sleep for a couple of days. It did with my first tx but not the second. Feel well my friend!

IndigoMont11

Thanks triplem! Did the compazine help you sleep? They said not to take ambien if I need the compazine because compazine causes drowsiness.

MichelleMassey

Indigo-I don't have compazine. I took zofran for nausea, but I've only had to take it twice with the 1st tx. No nausea with tx 2. I ha d trouble sleeping with the first but 2 knocked me out. A lot more sleeping with the second. I have tx 3 this coming Monday so we will find out what that does!

Buddhahead

Indigo--Yea for you finishing TX1. I'm glad someone else mentioned "'that funny sinus thing." I get that while the chemo is dripping. That's one of the first signs it's circulating for me. I hope your weekend and the next few days go smoothly and symptom free!

 Everyone -- Thanks for the warm welcome. Had a weepy day the day after I posted. This chemo-pause or forced menopause, whichever it may end up, is really hitting me hard!  I stayed up and read through all the posts last night and then fell asleep with the ipad on my lap, DH sleeping beside me. I wanted to post then, but....sleep, ah marvelous sleep. Seems like the night sweats have calmed, but I know they'll be back next week. My TX 4 is Monday. 4th of 6....on the homestretch.

Have a great weekend everyone. It's really nice to hear of everyone's experiences (the skunk comes to mind). Hopefully I"ll have a funny to tell at some point. We all need to laugh. :-)

IndigoMont11

Hi Lynn! How many treatments have you had?

shera

Hi everyone -- just stopping in to share that I'm on day10, post-treatment #3. 

 #3 was the worst one so far. The bone pain was not as bad as first treatment - but I've been given a half dose of Neulasta since then. Even so, I still relied on percocet for mild - moderate bone pain for 3 days.

Food aversions were bad! And my mouth tasted like a toxic waste land -- which didn't help with food aversion and nausea. A friend who is an awesome cook -- dropped off a casserole pan of homemade mac and cheese for me on day 5 (worst day this round) --  it looked and smelled so good it actually spiked my appetite for a second, so I ate a few fork fulls. That was a MISTAKE. I haven't been able to eat another bite of it... couldn't even think about it without gagging.

I can't tell her this of course. Feel bad. 

Definitely a rough round.

Today was 4th anniversary with boyfriend -- even though I'm in my nadar and tire easily... I was determined to give him a "tight pants and big hair" date.  I think I needed it more than he... needed to feel sexy. I'm just wearing beanie caps and newsboys 90% of the time --but have a few fun wigs too --- which I wore for the first time in public today. Turns out -- with a wig-liner, it was really comfy.... and I have sensitive skin.  

Crazy long wig for a rare night out. 

 

Baldy-locks me.  

 

And recent sketch inspired by effing cancer

 

Personally -- having some very dark days -- and find it hard to even come here on a good day because I don't want to think about effing cancer. 

Hope today was better than yesterday and that tomorrow is a better day still. Looking forward to better days! 

IndigoMont11

Hi Shera! Love your pics - all of them. Your self portrait is amazing. If I read your signature line right, you're almost done with your chemo? I know you are looking forward to putting this in your rearview mirror and getting on with your life.



Thanks for sharing your pics - you are beautiful. You need to draw another one when you're done kicking effing cancer ass!

IndigoMont11

Oh, and happy anniversary!

Myleftboob

Shera

You look fabulous either way but I'm glad you had a chance to celebrate with your BF, Happy Anniversary!  Very interesting self portrait.   I know what you mean about dark days. I more have dark moments but there very real.

Indigo

You must be somewhat relieved to have that first TX under your belt now. I know I was if just to relieve the anxiety around it.

My last TX was a bit different for me. I don't know if it was the lack of sleep from the pre TX steroids but I slept on and off during infusion and felt quite wiped out after too.  I was in bed watching TV by 9 and slept all the way until 4:00 am, hence I'm up now.  Woke up sweating and if I lay in bed too long my back gets sore.  Up and having coffee already.  I'm going to take the Zofran and steroids now,  hoping this will mabey keep me on track for sleeping.  I think I'll get out as soon as the grocery stores open and avoid the crowds as its starting to look like Mother Hubbards cupboards around here.

I don't know if I mentioned this before but I thought about it this morning and have to get one.  My GF went through early menopause due to a total hysterectomy at age 40. Its called a Chillow and she ordered it online. I guess you pop it in the freezer before bed, but basically how it works is you sleep with it under your pillow.  When  you get hot throughout the night and flip your pillow to the cool side, its actually really cool, then every time you flip it the hot side cools really quickly too.  She ended up buying another one for her feet she was so hot at night. I could have used one of those this morning!

CAYH

Good Morning, All ---

Here's one good video how to with some other useful stuff on the site:

T shirt Head Wrap 

I must say the T wraps are the most comfy thing I've had on my stubbly head so far.  Lately it's been too warm at night for me to wear a cap to bed, so I find laying a soft hand towel over my pillow keeps my stubble from stabbing my scalp when sleeping.   If you're at that same stage, do try it.

Shera - you look great with or without hair!  You're drawing really hits home - well done!

kltb - thanks for sharing that link. 

MLB - just the stress of finishing your last tx should be enough to put us all to sleep like Rip Van Winkle!  No guilt - you got through it! 

CAYH

Oh jeesh - just realized that the video link I posted above has our forum's long time poster, Ann "CoolBreeze" as the model.  If you've not yet read her blog, it's here:

 

"Breast Cancer?  But Doctor...I hate pink!" 

 

Good reading - lots of info & very entertaining, too! 

 

 

IndigoMont11

Hi CAYH! I haven't actually made any of the wraps yet, just got the shirts. I'll look at the video, too, but do you think a fitted size large shirt might be too small for this? I didn't want to cut them apart and find that to be the case. I don't have a huge head, though.

MichelleMassey

Morning ladies! Got up early, was tired of sweating. Took bath, put make-up on, and getting ready to go get labs done for tx 3 Monday.



Shera- you look beautiful! Wish I could look that good bald! Have a Happy Anniversary!



Have a great day all! Heading to Walmart after labs, I hate going there. My germophobic a$$ gets nervous in there now. Lol!

CAYH

Indigo - size large would be fine.  You may need to twist it a few times before looping it over the front since the fabric does stretch on the bias.

The ones I've used have been small & medium.  The smalls I only had to crossover once in the back the mediums I can cross over a couple of times.  I do find that after you cross it over in the back, if you kind of roll the loop upwards a few times as you are looping it round your head, it gives it a nice twisted look.  

triplem - must be why I hate going to WalMart too...  I'm ready for a nap - was up at 5 am as usual...why if we are so danged tired, can we not sleep a good 8 hrs in a row???

kltb04

Lazy day here...reading.  Beautiful day outside...maybe we will get out tomorrow since DH has his nerdfest today   Guess since he will be gone for the evening I have to feed these darn kids tonight...

Michelle and CAYH - I loathe Wal-Mart.  And it is a germfestextravaganza as well.  That is why I go to the aforementioned Dollar General - they literally have about anything you need - and a local grocery store rather than making the trip to "town" to go to WM.  If I go first thing in the morning, there are hardly any people there and I can get in and out quickly.

MLB - YAY!!!!  So happy for you.  You better not go anywhere.  We need you here to keep us apprised of "the other side"  What is a SIMA - is it like the MUGA - a heart function test?

Indigo - hope you are feeling well today and had a decent night.

Kim - booo on the rash - is it a heat/irritation thing?  I have a few bumps on my neck but I think they may be ingrown hiars.

Shera - sorry for the dark days...but you look fabulous girl!  With or without hair.  And your art is amazing. I hate that for you (the food) - the same thing happened to me with chicken and dumplings.  Had them on the way home from TX #1, got sick to my stomach and I cannot even think of them without feeling sick now I am afraid they are ruined for me now!  I got some wig liners from tlc that are cotton and I am hoping they help with the comfort level somewhat.

Ok, guess I will go back to reading...my halo came in and I need to try it on to see how it will look but after just slipping in on for a minute, I can tell it's gonna bug me.  Everything bugs me except just scarves and hats.  

onvacation

I don't know what the rash is, doesn't really bother me just ugly!  I had a similar one after first treatment on my chest and it went a way after a few days.  I washed my wig just incase it was causing irritiation.  At home I go around top less - very comfy and I live a lone so doesn't really matter!  My halo is comfy for about 2 hours, then I feel like I have a brain squeeze.  I bought some elastic to see if I add it to the front piece, maybe it will make it more comfy.

Shera, i agree you look beautiful with or without your wig and you are a very talented artist! 

IndigoMont11

Hi - I piddled around until 1 a.m. and then took an ambien. I did sleep around six hours after, not too bad. Bad taste isn't noticeable today but my throat is a little bit sore sometimes so I'm using the baking soda/salt gargle. Not crazy about the taste but it seems to help. Ear ringing, headache, but no nausea. I felt good enough to grease up with sunblock, leave off my jacket and take my flat chested self for a walk in the sunshine. So beautiful here today and I had claritin so pollen not a problem.



I ended up calling the pharmacy about the compazine and while nobody had an explanation about why it wasn't filled yesterday, I picked it up and have it now. The other stuff is only for through tomorrow so I wanted the compazine in case.



*sigh* Nothing much seems to make a dent in the headache. I've had worse but it does hurt. The pharmacist said to try extra strength tylenol but it didn't do much. Back in my college days I had a terrible case of strep throat and way overdosed on tylenol because of the pain. Didn't know then how bad all that tylenol was.... Anyway, it just doesn't work well on me any more. Soooo - I'm debating whether to call the oncology pharmacist or just do what I can to feel better and keep my mind off it.



All things considered, not a bad day so far.

kltb04

You will want to double check but when I was having pain after my shot, my MO said it was fine to do the tylenol/ibuprofen alternating thing every 2-3 hours while it was really bad; headache would be the same situation.

  Some MO will not let you have the ibuprofen though so have it checked out.  (even on warfarin for my port, my platelet count is still high so bleeding hasn't been an issue).

All else fails, ask for a pain reliever - tramadol is stronger than tylenol but not classed as a narcotic so many drs will prescribe over the phone (I don't know if this is the case everywhere but when I got a narcotic rX I had to actually go in and get the paper, they can't call it in).

IndigoMont11

Thanks kltb04, I will ask. I was trying to lay off ibuprofen because of the upcoming port and because I'd been taking it every day the couple of weeks after my BMX up to maybe Wednesday - and I've been thinking the ibuprofen might be aggravating the heartburn too. I had tramadol after my bunion surgery and did like it for that - and didn't find it constipating. Thanks for the tip!

kltb04

Oh yeah, I forgot about the port.  Nix that...

onvacation

Why am I not supposed to take advil?  I haven't taken many but I have taken it a few days here and there.

IndigoMont11

I have to have port done and they don't want you to take ibuprofen before surgery because it can increase bleeding risk. I just read all the labels on my meds again, and the Zofran says it can cause headaches. Will call about the tramadol, but I only have enough Zofran to get through tomorrow so hopefully the headache is mostly from that.