April/May 2012 Chemo hang out

IndigoMont11

Gemmie - after 3 A/C txs, the only SEs for me that have gotten worse were the "crash" fatigue and the mouth sores. On the latter, if I'd been more faithful about the soda/salt rinses it might have helped prevent them, not sure. The tongue blisters came and went in about 4 or 5 days around nadir so not too bad. I did get one big canker sore last time that healed and then came back again even worse this time. I tend to get them every so often anyway when my resistance was down.



As for fatigue, still only the "spaghetti" feeling on the crash days, when I just feel immobile.



My MO told me the fatigue was the most cumulative SE. I think he was right but like I said, it isn't an every day thing. As I get to the end of this tx cycle, I'm doing okay except for the sore.

kjiberty

Gemmie:  I am into the second week of round 3.  I would say for me the hardest thing has been the fatigue.  I am always so tired.  And it's getting worse (cumulative).  I have no motivation to do anything, which bothers me because I am a high-energy (type A) person.  First round was more D, then C.  Second round, okay; third round, lots of D, no C.  Also, lots of belching.  Also, I developed hives which come and go after round 2 and they continue.  Not too much pain from the Neulasta shot either time.  

Fierro:  Ditto what dancetrancer says.

Dance:  I like your new avatar! 

vickilind61

Well, it's day two since my first tx and I'm still feeling pretty good.  Went for my Newlastsa shot today, about t hours ago andI'm feeling pretty good.  Headache, but that is par for the course for me.  This course is so very busy.  I leave for a day and you all fill two pages! 

Dance, love the new pic!

Gemmie

Ladies,

On an earlier post I read magnesium good for sleep as well. Are we talking "Milk of" Magnesium here?

Is it good for sleep because it illiminates the cramps? Or is it just good for both in general? Either way, I need to get some!

dancetrancer

Gemmie - I don't know about the magnesium and sleep.  I just took it for stomach cramps.  Magnesium oxide - supplement - 250 mg, not MOM.  It is what my onc advised.  My stomach cramps went away within 30 minutes of taking it.  There is also a prescription med for stomach cramps (Bentyl), but my onc just had me do the Mg.  Fortunately, it worked for me.  If anyone has ever had these cramps, they know, they can be quite sharp and severe.  I've only had it happen on 2 of my 4 rounds (so far, knock on wood).  First round I suffered, no knowing what to do.  Was prepared 2nd time! 

lisa2012

I am headed for #4 TC Weds, and interestingly my overall SEs were better on round 3 than the first rounds. No chills. Stomach under countrol with Prevacid, Colace, and once or twice Miralax. The new one this round was the nail pain. they are still on, a little dark pink at the base on a few, but the discomfort comes and goes. Last night taking the wet laundry out of washer- wow! sure felt different. And I woke up in the night with my fingernails hurting- (took advil but will take tylenol from now on) and half an ambien and went back to sleep till 7:30 am!! nice and late.  This morning they aren't bothering me. Anyone else deal with fingernails? Wonder how round 4- in 3 days- will affect me.

Yesterday I was overwhelmed with sadness-partly my eyes are watering so much that it often feels like I am crying when I am not so I get confused.... but seeing lowcut tanktops. and people pulling their hair up into ponytails in the store, and all that... minor but made me gloomy. But- it goes with the territoty, the ups and the down. The new normal. Happy sunday to all.

kjiberty

It's regular magnesium oxide, not MOM.  Took 2 last night, feel asleep only to be awakened by tornado sirens.  We had to go down the basement.  Came up 15 minutes later and then I couldn't sleep. I laid there for about 1 1/2 hours and took a lorazapam.  

Vicki:  Don't forget to take your claritan starting today.  Hopefully it wil help ward off any joint/bone pain.

Yep, my fingernails are bothering me too.  I am worried they will start pulling away.  Sometimes they hurt, sometimes they don't.  Mainly the fingernails, not so much the toenails.  I try not to do much that involves my fingernails:  cooking, cleaning, laundry, dishes, (that's what my DH is for, right???).  LoL. If he volunteers, I let him do it.  Just got done making a wonderful fruit salad with all the seasonal fruit.   

Lisa:  Hang in there!  You are at the home stretch! 

dancetrancer

No nail issues...yet...been icing during Taxotere, hoping that will keep nail issues at bay.  I'm also being really careful not to overuse my nails to open things, etc.  

mary71145329

dancetrancer--love the new avatar :0)

Nail issues: mine have been sore on and off through both the first and second treatments. No discoloration though.

Hope everyone is enjoying their Sunday!

IndigoMont11

Gemmie - just to tack onto dancetrancer's response a bit - MOM does help me at bedtime but I use it to stave off the big C. Just a spoonful or two the first few days plus the stool softener (aka Colace). Like she said, not a sleep aid. Anothsr thing I have tried is Alteril. It has magnesium and melotonin in it as well as l- tryptophan. Once I was on chemo it didn't stop me from waking up in the night except during week 3, so I haven't found it strong enough to counteract the one-two punch of steroids and chemopause, but I think it's good stuff. You can get it at GNC.



Kjiberty - ughhh, hate tornadoes! Hope you sleep better tonight.



Trying to think what dinner to make DH for Father's Day. I have got to get a new grill; mine won't light any more and scares me that it isn't safe. May have to resort to Chili's takeout ribs.

Stacie

I struggled so with C my first two rounds I took stool softeners coming up to round three and four. My goal was to have D on chemo morning so my body was as far from C as possible starting out. I hit it both days. When I told my doc I said "yesss" aloud" after D, he said, "this is a sick disease". LOL

Fierro6

Stacie, that made me giggle.  

lsharvey822

Me too!!  and then I laughed that I laughed at that!  I'm just hoping nobody here asks me why I'm laughing because they'd never understand!

Gemmie

 also giggling here. . .yep, it's a sick disease.

spicedlife

Oh my goodness ladies, this is a busy thread!  I am day 14 today since my first tx.  I was supposed to start back to work last Monday but was unable to because of extreme itching of my head with bumps all over it and then moving down to my neck.  That was definately my worst se.  The Dr called in a steroid pack, atarax, zanax.  I was able to go to work Tuesday thru Saturday and did very well I think!  I got my head shaved last Sunday (trying to help with the insane ithcing) and today when I pull, it is coming out. 

I can relate to so many of you!  I think I said I might quit chemo on day ( i don't know which day!)  But i am over that now. 

The only se I have not had is the pain in finger/toenails. I did not ice but I will paint clear polish and the black nail polish over that. I am scared to ice if it means that I could later have micrometastasis.

dancetrancer

Stacie - I am cracking UP at you!  That is a hilarious, yet effective, plan!!! 

Thanks for all the avatar compliments guys!  That bandana has skull and crossbones on it - wear it to chemo every time - it's my kickin' cancer's *ss theme.   

spicedlife

I love it when I type a book on this blog and then end up exiting out without posting.  Not. 

I thought I would share what medications I take (before BC and then the extra ones now that I have BC

Before BC---2 mg estrogen, Paxil, Wellbutrin, Daytrana, Ambien, Claritin, Flonase, Sudafed, Miralax.  Bad depression and bad allergies in Texas.  I don't drink or smoke although I wish I could sometimes! 

Now i am off the estrogen but we have added steroids, atarax, zanax, phenergan, zofran, magic mouthwash, protonix, tagamet, plus chemo.  I also don't take the flonase and sudafed right now because I have not needed it. 

I am very concerned about the 5 year hormone therapy that I will need to do because I cannot take either of my antidepressants with it.  I am hoping to talk to an Onco head shrink about what to do. 

Thanks for letting me rant.  Sorry I don't call out individual names, I can barely remember my name but I am grateful to be a part of this group.  You are strong, funny, silly, serious, and pardon the language "bad ass"

Jenny

nofear2012

Jennyrdj - do u know why u cannot take yur antidepressant w the hormone pill? I started taking lexapro at the suggestion of a psychologist who counsels cancer patients. I am hoping I can still take it w the hormone.



Side not I was st lied's w my Dh & son. I lady walked up to me who I did not know & put her arm @ me and said I have been where u are & to keep going it will get better. We talked a little & she had been clean for 1 1/2 yrs. It was so nice to have that happen Becuz I was feeling so defeated. I felt like I wasen't alone. I got to the bgc this weds for #2. Only 2 more after this.

Gemmie

Stacie,

I have officially deboarded the C train and boarded the D train! And I am celebrating! (Yep, it's a sick disease . . . . )

LisaG65

thanks @kjiberty thanks for the info on your friends experience with herceptin.

I want to say that while I may say 4 of 6 TCH is enough for me, I admire all of you who have completed or are on the way to completing ALL of your rounds of chemo. I dont post often but do read the thread. thanks to all for sharing al you ups and downs.

kjiberty

Gemmie:  YOu are to funny!  

Fierro6

Chugga Chugga.  I am now picturing RR tracks going from my recliner to the bathroom.

"Whooo Whooo!  All ABOARD!  Gate D, now departing!" 

lisa2012

This IS a sick disease! I only had real D one day and real C a couple of days. I was determined to try and stay ahead of it, since I I so remember my sister's experience. The big C was a huge hassle almost the whole way for her (8 rounds ) I take 1 colace every night, and if I go one morning without my usual visit to the bathroom, I take miralax around dinner time. ( maybe 3 times.) my doc approves, at one visit he said h'd seen 4 patients in the ER that weekend with "impaction." we agreed that D was better than C.

I see a- few of us started tc4 right around the same time, mid-April. Iam glad that my last one is this week. Just wish I didn't have to feel like crap for another month. No that's not fair. The home stretch is the home stretch. Of this part of the project, anyway.

happy Fathers day to all the dads we are associated with, especially those that are helping us..

dancetrancer

jenny and nofear - some antidepressants interact with Tamoxifen - but there are some you can take without an issue.  I only know this b/c I lurk on some of the Tamoxifen threads.  I bet if you post there you will get some helpful feedback!  nofear - hang in there - you can and ARE doing this! 

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/78/topic/696015?page=657#idx_19685 

Gemmie - ba-ha-ha!  I'm waiting for the conductor to switch the dang track so I can get off this C train!  Toot-toot! LOL LOL LOL  I am so wrong.  LOL Fierro!!!!  

vballmom

Stacie - I have #3 tomorrow and that sounds like a great plan!

I'm glad someone mentioned the fatigue being cumulative. I just said to hubby that I feel pretty good but I am SOOOO tired.  I am in bed again at 8 p.m.

Gemmie

Dancetrance,

Oh no you did NOT toot toot down the track and then post about it! Ah, but you did and I'm still laughing. Gotta love the humor in this thread. We have our sadness, yes, and our tears, for sure, but thank God we can all still laugh.

Marcia1111

Have any of you dealing with stomach issues tried Metamucil?  I have been taking 6 capsules daily with tons of water and have minimal discomfort.  I have IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and when I take it, I feel so much better, so I have made it a point to take it daily.  It's worth a try!

kjiberty

Dance and Fierro:  I needed a good laugh.

Veballmom:  Good luck tomorrow.  Yes, it is cumulative.  However, I feel really good today, so I am on the upside--Week #2.

silkuk52

Before mastectomy, was taking Femara, which I will take for 5 yrs, after chemo & radiation. My onc was giving me Effexor as well, which is an antidepresent. So I believe you can take both. 150 Mg really helps with the chemopause. Onc also recommending Ativan for #2 chemo because of severe vomiting. The bone pain is better today after taking extra strength tylenol. Thanks for who suggested I threw up Claritan therefore bone pain, hadn't thought of that. Thanks to all the lovely ladies on here for ALL your help! Together we ARE stronger! Give lots of credit to all those who attempt to go to work. I'm an orthodontic secretary, & couldn't think of working due to all SE. Disability doesn't pay well, so I thank hubby for his extra hard work! Here's to a week of NO SE's.

,

kjiberty

Silkuk52: