April/May 2012 Chemo hang out
Comments
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OK: I finally did it! Here's a pic of DS#2 and me rocking our new 'dos. I had to size it really small; maybe I can get it a little bigger. I'll also post some other pics - me in my wigs and buffs, but I might wait until the steroid face fire is put out in a day or so.
This 4th A/C kinda wiped me out already. Slept like a rock last night w/o any sleep aids (just a compazine) and slept again for a good part of the afternoon. I'd probably be comatose if it weren't for the 'roids. But so far can't complain, certainly not about sleep!
Hugs to all - and purple wishes for minimal SEs.
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I tried resizing and reploading my new photo so it's a little bigger, but I may give it another try; still pretty small. Anyway, this is me and DS#2 rocking our new 'dos.
A/C #4 kinda wiped me out already as far as fatigue. I did manage to take walks in the evening when the heat dropped, but have been more sleepy; slept like a rock last night with no ambien (just a compazine), and then again this afternoon. But I can't complain about sleep, for sure!
Hugs to everyone, and purple wishes for minimal SEs.
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Ok, day 3. Drinking lots of water of course. Why do I have urinary urgency and leaking?
Does the bladder sphincter get influenced by chemo? It seems worse the first week. -
For those of you with blury watering eyes, make sure you aren't rubbing sunscreen in your eyes making it worse...trust me.
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UGH! I thought I was having another sleepless night so I took a sleeping pill only to find out that it was really 5:30 a.m.! Well, I guess I will definitely be a couch potato today!
FightingLikeA Girl, I love the bald Disney Princesses! Can anyone tell me how to copy and paste it? I have a Mac.
Thanks,
Marcia
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I feel pretty good in the mornings. The craptastic feelings usually start after noon. I found a solution for today! I woke DH at 4:30 (he's an early riser anyway) and said, "Hey, if you shower, I'll let you take me to breakfast." We're on our way out the door at 5am!
This way, if all goes well, I can let him enjoy a good breakfast (I'm not that into breakfast, but he loves it,) and get to Kohl's early bird sale for some new tennis shoes. I'm not that into shopping, but getting out and about (other than work) while I feel good may turn me into a candidate for this "retail therapy" you all talk about.
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Hi everyone - we certainly are busy here. But you know what? That makes me feel so much less alone. #3 AC SE kicked me hard, mostly exhaustion. I slept all day yesterday but didn't do so well last night, I'm sure because I just had enough sleep! I am so shaky, I hate it. I can't think of a solution to this one. I am impressed with how much you all seem to get done. Maybe today will be better.
I made it to dd#2's graduation. OMG record-breaking heat. The speakers were great and they moved it along. I am so proud of her. She suggested I rock the bald look, because of the heat so I did. I had a hat, but ended up with it off for most of the time. Tomorrow my inlaws are throwing a graduation party for her. It will be small but I am relieved that someone is doing something.
Today is my dd#1's 20th birthday. I am so blessed. I have two angels that have never given me any troubles. I thank my lucky stars every day for them.
Stay tough, girls. We are doing it!!!
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Hmmm - breakfast still sounds good! 2 days out from tx#3 for me and so far just a slight headache, tiredness and a slight weak feeling. Think I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts!
Had a little alarm yesterday. I called Aetna specialty pharmacy because my Neulasta shot hadn't arrived and they told me they could get it here Tuesday! Ummm... NOOOO! I have to take it by Sunday morning or it'll throw the scheduling of my last tx off! She says she'll get it here by today so fingers crossed! I'm wondering if that's why I feel better today then I did last time. I'll take it! -
Indigo: Love the pic!
vballmom: Congrats to both your daughters. I am proud you went "au natural". I have only done this to and from the mailbox! You are very fortunate your in-laws are doing this for your daughter (and you too!). Sorry to hear you are tired. As the tx's go on I tend to get more and more tired. Last one one this Thursday--yeah! I hope I can drag myself around the city of Chicago the following weekend (taking the Amtrak, staying on Michigan Ave), wedding shower in the Hancock Bldg....I am looking forward to it, yet dreading being such a slug. My family will be there and it will be the first time I have seen them (aunts, mom, etc.) since my dx in January. I need to make sure I stay away from too many germs though because it will have just been a week after my last treatment.
Fierro: Hope you get some good deals at Kohl's. I got 20%--not worth going unless it's 30%, IMO. I think they have jacked up their prices and don't have as good of sales as they used to.
Marcia: I have been up since 4 am! I can relate!
Lisa: My problem is the other end!
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I love the Disney princesses! That's awesome!
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I love the Disney princesses! That's awesome!
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Melrose - Thanks for the link to the thread with lists of useful items to have! I have my list ready and will head to the store after my shower this morning!
Fierro - I was grateful to read that you are able to keep working. I start chemo next Thursday and that is one of my worries. I own a small business (travel agency & foreign currency exchange) with my brother and we only have 1 other employee, so I need to be there as much as I can. I'm hoping SE's will be minimal! And give your husband a big hug from me - I have a wonderful husband also - they are priceless!
Yesterday was a good day - my oncologist called with the results of my MUGA test and bone scan. They were both good, except the bone scan showed I probably have a stress fracture in my right foot. I think I will need to see an orthopedic dr next week, they are going to get me a referral. Hopefully it will heal quickly because I plan on trying to do a walk every day while on chemo!
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Fierro - mornings are definitely my best time too! Great idea to get out and about when you are feeling your best and crash later. DH and I will be running errands this morning...if he ever wakes up! He traveled for work all week and is still in bed...very unlike him, so he must be exhausted!
Debbie - if it ends up being a stress fracture, don't be surprised if they put you in one of those walking boots. If so, make sure the other shoe you wear has a big enough heel to keep your hips level - or you'll end up with a torked pelvis = back pain! Ounce of prevention! Sounds like you are organized and prepared to get started!!!
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I'm not sure what just happened to me. I was taking a shower and pulling out handfuls of hair. I finally stopped and in the middle of putting my contacts in, I began to feel naseous. I sat down on the floor to put my head between my knees, got up to put my second lens in and my right leg buckled. I feel as though I was almost having a seizure. I laid on the floor for a while. Unfortunately, my 15 year old walked in and saw me. Luckily, I was fully covered! He doesn't need to see me in all my glory in addition to the shock of seeing me laying flat on my back on the bathroom floor. I waited until I felt strong enough to get up. I got dressed and drank 32 oz. of Powerade and think I will go back to my original plan of staying on the couch for the day. Unfortunately, I must have bitten the inside of my mouth while this was going on and now I'm afraid that it won't heal and I'll end up with mouth sores.
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Dang, Marcia, that's scary stuff! Take it easy today and feel better.
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Thanks, Fierro! That's my plan. I hope you have a good day!
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Morning,
I cannot keep up with you all! Did Herceptin yesterday, wish it was all as easy as this and never SE's or at least one's I notice. My blood pressure continues to be horrible at the oncs office as in 170's/180's over upper 90's and high pulse, they end up taking it 2-3 times before and after, but not like that at home. Any suggestions for getting it down at apppointments? You'd think by now I'd be getting use to going and I don't feel stressed/anxious at least for the Herception only days, but sure as heck can't tell it from my BP.
My WBC is in the low range for the first time 3.9, but considering I'm not getting shots and my gran% is 46.6% and if I understand correctly from our resident research queen, that would be you Dance
, I'm still okay? Question? Platelet count has really dropped to 94 from 184 last week (130-400 is reference range) what does that mean and RBC is low to 3.69 (4.2-5.4 is reference range). All this is so dang confusing, but oncs office didn't seemed overly concerned since yesterday was 7 days post TCH. Insight?Felt really good this morning, was going to go out and work in the yard early - but daughter left early to go help her Dad and was in my face about staying inside and not doing any garden/yard work so guess I'll stay inside as to not face her wrath later:):) Bit of role reversal around here - HA HA.
BTW our found baby calf on the side of the road - owner located and he picked her up yesterday evening to take her back to her real mama, thank god, all I needed was to have another critter around here that needed to be bottle fed....
Welcome to all the newbies, hope everyone has a good Saturday with few SE's or none, stay cool, we are headed to the 100's today and now 106 on Monday - whew.
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Marcia- Geez ..... hope you are okay. You may want to make sure you tell your onco about the fainting incident. Low blood sugar perhaps.... shower too hot.....????Rinse your mouth with salt water several times a day for a few days since you bit your mouth. It will help. The usual rinse for mouth sores is 1/4 teaspoon salt + 1/4 teaspoon baking soda + 1 cup of warm water. Hope you feel better!!!!
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Good morning ladies.
Fierro, hope you are feeling better? Maybe it was just a bout of syncope? Hope that it was that simple.
indigo, LOVE the new pic, you ROCK IT!!!
rgina, I am with you; confusing. Then there are ladies like indigo, dance, marica, etc, that are a veritable encylopedia of information. Yep, they have all the answers...but I forgot the question?
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Marcia - that's too scary, have you eaten anything today? Take it easy for sure.
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rgina- White coat syndrome perhaps since your blood pressure is high ???? I have it and have had it for years. I finally gave in and got bp meds right before I had my UMX. I just couldn't get it down no matter how I tried to relax and focus on something else. When I had my partial masectomy back in February 2012, the nurse in the recovery room asked me if I had a blood pressure problem since during the procedure my bp stayed up the entire time even though I was out and sedated. She said my blood pressure should have dropped during the procedure because of the sedation. I told the breast surgeon who said that my mind was just too strong to calm down. After 3 1/2 months on bp meds, my bp pressure is fine.
Your counts may be down because of the chemo you recently had. You may be in nadir.
Stay cool and out of our wonderful Texas heat!!!
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Marcia: Hope you are doing okay That happened to me after my first treatment. I felt great getting into the shower, blew dry my hair and just stepped away from the sink, felt light-headed and almost passed out. It was really, really scary. I hope you don't have any other episodes like this, but I would call your MO if you do.
rgina: I have the same issues. My BP is within the normal/low range and when I go to the doc, it's 145/90 or so. They said that's pretty low considering most people's are really high due to "chemo" or "white coat" anxiety.
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rgina- Yes, I had a nice breakfast before the incident and a nice bowl of mushroom barley soup afterwards. I drank 32 oz. of Powerade and am working on a second bottle now.
kjiberty - Did you tell your MO about it when it happened to you? What did he say, if you did?
I still feel a little shaky so I'm totally relaxing today. I think it was from mistakenly taking a sleeping pill at 5:30 and the hot water.
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marcia, glad you are feeling better. Taking the sleeping pill at 5:30 in the morning is probably a contributing factor. Your bedroom must be dark, or you barely opened your eyes. You obviously need the rest. I say couch day.
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Marcia...I hope you are feeling better and that you got something to eat and got on that couch where you should probably spend most of the day. Re: the princess pic...I wasn't able to figure out how to get my own pic on here so I did a google search and just loaded it...here is the link that i used...hope it helps. http://internati0nallov3.tumblr.com/post/22902055844/for-all-girls-who-are-fighting-cancer-you-are
I'm also not too good with my Disney princesses...i had to do an online search for it...here goes...Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Princess Jasmine, Princess Ariel, Princess Belle and Cinderella.
Feeling stonger today...I think that hydration yesterday really helped. From now on my plan is to do a hydration every time I go for my blood work which is usually 7 days after my treatment. I really drink a lot of fluids but they hydration just seemed to help so much more. I highly recommend it!
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Dang Marcia - incredibly scary! Have you called your onc to report what happened? It certainly seems out of the ordinary and like something maybe they should know about in case something serious is going on. Like, what if your electrolytes are way off or something? I don't know. I'm probably overreacting. Just worried about you!
Rgina - I'd practice yoga and deep breathing exercises at home, then do the deep breathing once you get to the onc's office. Also, make sure you have been sitting/resting a while before they take your BP. And perhaps bring your home BP cuff in with you to see if it is calibrated properly and gets the same reading as theirs.
Regarding the whites, yep, that would put you at 1817 for ANC, which is Grade I neutropenia "slight" risk of infection (1500 to 2000 is Grade I). Since nadir for TCH is typically days 7 to 10 (everyone is slightly different), it will probably drop a bit more over the next 3 days. I don't think yours will go super low b/c it is so high for day 7 (mine was ~400 on day 5 this last round! It dropped early!), but as my onc says, don't go "kissie-kissie" with any sick people. LOL, he cracks me up. I'm amazed your whites don't get slammed without a shot. Mine quiver and crumble at the hint of chemo. LOL
Platelets - yep, that's low - but my onc said they don't transfuse I think until it drops down around 25, if I recall correctly. Mine got down to 80, and I bled easily at that point so be careful, and if you see broken blood vessels/bruise really easily, let your onc know. Regarding reds, I need to know your hemoglobin (it goes down with reds) to tell you what significance it has. Basically, 12 to 16 for hgb is normal. 8 to 10 -limit self to light exercise only. Below 8 no exercise. This is b/c your heart beats faster, even at rest, when your hemoglobin is low, b/c hemoglobin carries oxygen to your body...the fast heart beat increases the blood flow (aka oxygen) to the rest of the body. If you tax an already taxed heart (aka esp. below 8), you run the risk of heart attack, esp if you have any heart history. At the hospital I worked at, physical therapy was held on any patient with a hgb below 8.
FYI reds and platelets nadir is different, supposedly around day 14, but it's not black and white. So the reds and whites and platelets get hit at different times. So your numbers there could be lower next week.
vicki - you crack me up! LOL. Hey I have a big head start since I'm in the medical field and had to read and analyze LOTS of research studies to get my degree. Makes it a HECK of a lot easier to understand the medical goobily-gop!
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Does anyone know what you can do to make your red blood cell count go up? Is it iron enriched foods?
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Fighting - yep - mostly red meats, liver (gag), and greens like spinach. My suspicion is it could help over time, but I doubt eating iron rich food is any match for chemo.
I tried eating tons of red meat for a while but my aversions kicked in quickly before I could see if it made any difference...plus it upset my reflux...so I gave up! -
FightingLikeAGirl- At the suggestion of my insurance counselor, I went to the Livestrong.com website and put in the search for Foods for HGB(hemoglobin). Here is the link: http://www.livestrong.com/search/?mode=standard&search=foods+for+hgb
There are plenty of things to eat that might help the red blood count which I figure it can't hurt to add some of those things to your diet. I don't eat spinach anymore since it causes problems with kidney stones. I 've had a bout of kidney stones and so I watch what I eat to avoid problems with that.
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Ugh, did ok on dd AC have had all kinds of stomache issues on taxol, yuck...I was hoping it would be easier...i think I am tired of cancer lol
Hope everyone is having a good weekend
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