April/May 2012 Chemo hang out

Fierro6

Glad that my lopsidedness can make you laugh.  I choose to laugh at it, most of the time.  I keep several logs/diaries for different purposes.  One is for SEs so I can compare one treatment to the next, one is for emotional triggers, so I can avoid them when possible, and the other is stuff like this.  When I think something funny about the situation, and it makes me smile, I make a note of it, and lean on it when I need a lift.  

This growing list of names for my removable foob is something that makes me giggle.  I'm glad it did the same for you.  We can cry, or we can laugh.  We will all do both, ultimately, but laughing sure feels good, doesn't it?  Oooh!  I got one!

6. Perky  

kjiberty

Vicki:  Glad you have minimal S/E's.

Debbie:  Welcome!  

Fierro:  Keep cracking us up!  We all need a good laugh.  I named my wig "Giselle" because I wanted something sexy!   

Melrosemelrose

kjliberty- At least Giselle gets out..... my wig is held captive in a plastic ziploc bag and is probably suffering abandonment issues!!!

Fierro6

Thanks a LOT, Melrose.  I just spit diet Coke on my laptop.  I drank a gallon of water to earn this treat.  IT MUSTN'T BE WASTED!  LOL  (It's so good to giggle!)

kjiberty

Giselle seems to get more compliments than I do!!!  She only goes out with me in public.  She's been put to bed for the evening!  Thank God!  She's one hot mamma-especially in this 90 degree weather!

Melrosemelrose

Fierro6- I think you've earned another diet Coke for tomorrow!!!!!! I know how you feel about being one boob less.  I'm also a righty now since lefty was sick and had to go bye-bye!!!  You just crack me up, girlfriend!!!

dancetrancer

LOL y'all!  

Melrosemelrose

kjliberty- I've been reading the Hair Hair Hair thread lately.  I actually still have hair--- on my head, legs, arms, down south, brows and lashes.... go figure.   I thought for sure the #3 round was going to finish off my hair by now. 

lsharvey822

I haven't done the wig thing.... I think I'm afraid people will think I look better with it then before!  haha!! jk!  too hot!    I thought my brain was going to come to a boil in my hat last weekend!!

Fierro6

That is IT!  I'm not checking in here ANY more tonight.  DH just came from the other room to check on me because I was laughing out loud, while sitting in here by myself.  Why this time?  

I'm picturing a sick left boob with a stick, handkerchief tied around the end, walking down the railroad tracks.  "It's time for me to go.  I'm not wanted 'round these parts no more."

All the while, the healthy body parts are in the background, pointing angrily to keep Lefty moving along.

Wow.  I'm messed up in the head. 

kjiberty

Melrose:  I am jealous!  I still have some on my arms (like I really want it there?), some down south, and had to actually shave last Friday to wear a skirt to work.  It was the first time in a month.  Put the razor under the pits, but nothing showed up.  I can't see under my pits for some reason due to my lasik surgery a few years ago unless I look in the mirror.  I do have some clear/white hair growth on the very top of my head and it's about 3/4 long--going straight up.  

Gemmie

Vicki, you're doing good, girl! I had a "normal" day today, no SE's, and I'm 6 days out. I think maybe we're home clear til the next round. (dare I say it??)

Fierro,Yep, the modern day Erma Bombeck. Love your stuff. I loved all the names. Can't pick one (though "Sleeps in a Drawer" rather appealed to me) Keep em coming!

On a more serious note, do any of you have an MO who trivializes or minimizes your SE's and is stingy with perscribing med's? Granted, I had only a couple of bad days, but when my doc got back to me today, she suggested my 24 hr. diarrhea and my every 40 second burping for 24 hours was just something I ate, not an SE. She also does not like to prescribe sleep meds as they can so easily become habit forming! (Really?!!)  Since I'm all better now, I can deal, but I think she and I will need to have a heart to heart when I see her on July 3rd before the big girl chair visit. I do know my own body and what is extremely unusual for it. I've lived in it for 63 years now; I should!

Gemmie

Vicki, you're doing good, girl! I had a "normal" day today, no SE's, and I'm 6 days out. I think maybe we're home clear til the next round. (dare I say it??)

Fierro,Yep, the modern day Erma Bombeck. Love your stuff. I loved all the names. Can't pick one (though "Sleeps in a Drawer" rather appealed to me) Keep em coming!

On a more serious note, do any of you have an MO who trivializes or minimizes your SE's and is stingy with perscribing med's? Granted, I had only a couple of bad days, but when my doc got back to me today, she suggested my 24 hr. diarrhea and my every 40 second burping for 24 hours was just something I ate, not an SE. She also does not like to prescribe sleep meds as they can so easily become habit forming! (Really?!!)  Since I'm all better now, I can deal, but I think she and I will need to have a heart to heart when I see her on July 3rd before the big girl chair visit. I do know my own body and what is extremely unusual for it. I've lived in it for 63 years now; I should!

Melrosemelrose

Fierro6- You are too funny!!!!!  RIP Lefty--- I know you are somewhere being well looked after since I donated you for medical research.

Kjliberty- Can't figure out why I still have head hair.... the hair that is there must be some mighty hair.  Some of it sticks straight up and looks pretty funny.  I try to take good care of my head hair by washing it with baby shampoo.  It feels really soft.  I've also seen a few new thin soft hair growing.  My onco told me that I'd lose all of my head hair for sure and my leg hair would hang in there.  So far she is right about the leg hair.

Melrosemelrose

Gemmie- Welcome to the burping club!!!  I burped a lot the first week after chemo but then it subsides.  My onco told me to take some Pepcid or Zantac to help with that.  Of course, I didn't take any of that since the burping is not uncomfortable.  My 18 yr old son and I now have burping contests and we laugh about my burping like a drunken sailor.  On the serious side, my onco/her staff are some of the best medical people I've ever met.  In fact, they want to know whatever side effect I have and help me find solutions to minimizing the side effects.  As for sleep problems, my onco suggested that I try taking a Benedryl before bedtime to help me with sleep when I'm on the Decadron.  Sorry your onco doesn't quite get that when you ask for some help, you mean it because you need it.

mary71145329

hahahaha....you all crack me up!

vballmom

Gemmie, my nurse told me she is a pill-pusher. She doesn't want me to be sick at all.  I had a down day with fatigue and nausea, but I actually did a beginner yoga tape and felt well enough to go for a one-mile walk after dinner.  Hubby says I'm doing some 'roid rage digs at him, but he is patient.  I took compazine this morning, and will probably do ativan for sleep tonight.  Got a neupogen shot - going to the hospital every day is a pain.

My hair stopped falling out.  I have a short buzz cut. I guess I could have left it a little longer, but I thought it was all gonna go.  It's sparse and I have a pink head through my white hair.  Every day I go out in something different - mostly hats. I thought I'd be scarf girl, but I like hats better. I got a wig with a wide black headband. i think that's the easiest to throw on and not get stares for running errands.

Baby Girl is graduating high school tomorrow. What a thrill!  She has been such a trooper.  Principal sent me a handicapped parking pass - yay!  They do a school sponsored all night party, so we don't have anything special happening.

Don't know if I said this already, but I am not getting a prosthesis until after radiation. I wrapped some batting in pre-wrap and it matched perfectly and stayed put all day.  

Melrose, I wish I knew about donating. I'm guessing mine has gone up in flames already.  I need something for burping, too.  I hate it because I'm not good at it - never have been.  My girls can burp like sailors.

kjiberty

Hi Ya'll.  I am burping up a storm too.  And they're pretty loud.  Kind of embarrassing when I am out in public!  It could be worse...Just sayin...... 

Stacie

Chemo Brain: These medicines affect every system in the body including the brain. It is best described with examples. Last weekend we were in the truck at the QT Mini Mart and Tyler brought me a bag of Cheetos Puffs. It read "New Bigger Size" on the bag. I said, "Bigger size? Why would they make 'em bigger? They barely fit in you mouth already!" Lizzy said, "They mean the bag Mom. Not the Cheeto". Then today Russell and Tyler kept picking on me. I said, "Y'all quit picking on me. What's it called again? Oh yea, you're high-fiving me".

Tweetyb422

Question, had my first dd taxol yesterday...I just noticed I have rash on my chest area..anyone have this? I didn't have any reactions while on dd a/c so I am freaking out a little....sorry

Melrosemelrose

vballmom- Try some ginger ale--- that really gets my burping going!!! Yes, you are now a member of the burping club despite the fact that your burping may not win the next round of burping contests!!!!  As for as lefty, I just signing a bunch of papers at the hospital which allowed them to keep whatever they wanted for whatever use.  The hospital is a teaching hospital and connected with a medical school up east.  Congrats on your daughter's graduation.  My son just graduated in May and is heading to Northeastern in the fall.  My daughter is at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken NJ.  She played lacrosse for two years but took a break this past year to do a mandatory internship for her degree.  Unfortunately, I don't think she is going back to play her senior year.  So tough to do it all.

kjliberty- Welcome to the burping club!!!!  I see I'm in fine company!!!  I'm on another chemo thread with gals on T/C only and at first the only one burping, more like confessing that I burped often with gusto!

lsharvey822

haha Stacie!!  I've had those moments too!

Melrosemelrose

Stacie- I'd say there is always another way to look at things.... you just gave the alternative view.... maybe it's not the most common.....it's still one way of looking at the Cheeto bag.  You just have to laugh!!!

lsharvey822

tweety - some other folks were talking about rashes recently (last few days) from Taxol.  Not sure who it was (my memory has never been great so now it's shot!)  But if you can find it maybe you can message them to see how it's going or what they did?

vballmom

Melrose - your kids are up near me!  Lots of kids in this area head to Northeastern. Great school - I'm sure he's a smarty pants.  DD's team played Stevens this past season.

I had a thrilling revelation tonight. I can now shower at night and not worry about my hair in the morning.  Ah, the simple joys of chemo...

lsharvey822

me too Vball!!  I was joking with the hubby earlier while he was cleaning the pool not to get my hair wet!

kjiberty

vballmom:  I was thinking the same thing over the weekend.  I can take a shower in the middle of the day, take a nap and not have to worry about my hair being all smashed before I go out, etc.  It's the little things we get joy out of.  I guess it's making lemonade out of lemons, eh?

Melrosemelrose

vballmom- So glad you are feeling better!!!  I can definitely tell!!!  Yes, my son is definitely one of those!!!! My husband will be the one to getting him settled in the dorm in the fall.  My husband can definitely handle this job since he is the one who took my daughter up to Stevens and took her shopping up there to get things we didn't ship up there.   If all goes well, I'll be finished with chemo in early August but probably not recovered enough to help with the dorm move in plus I have my Herceptin infusion around that time. 

vballmom

Just got word both girls move into their dorms on the same day.  Darn.

Melrosemelrose

vballmom - Oh my!!!  I'm sure you will figure something out.  My daughter is living in the sorority house this summer and for the next school year.  So she won't be moving.  Thank goodness.... the move in/ out of the dorms and her campus apartment was a real eye opener for me.  So much stuff in so little space!!! We ended up renting storage space after her freshman year so we wouldn't have to ship all of it back to Texas.