April/May 2012 Chemo hang out

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  • Lezza13
    Lezza13 Member Posts: 957
    edited May 2012

    Hi

     I just had my second treatment on April 23rd. I think I am on your schedule too or close too it.  Both with SadSurvivor and chapter4.  Have been using Claritin since the shot and sleep with Ambien and Xanax. Been drinking lots of water too. It is the runs I am tired of and wish I could see the end of them. Staying on top of nasea meds too.  Hang in there.

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  • Melrosemelrose
    Melrosemelrose Member Posts: 3,018
    edited May 2012

    Sade- Are you eating small meals?  That may help with that nauseaous feeling.  I eat 5-6 small meals a day.  Yes, I know what you mean about coughing and what can happen next!!  You might ask your onco about this side effect.  Never hurts to ask. :)

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  • SadeSurvivor25
    SadeSurvivor25 Member Posts: 119
    edited May 2012

    Melrose, not really. I seem to only eat once or twice a day. Probably not a good idea but I hate throwing up. I drink a lot of fluids mostly cranberry juice. Ginger ale isn't really helping either or the Zofran for nausea. I may need to make another call to the nurse.



    Leeza, you may want to try Immodium (sp?) for the D. I had it Thursday night and that's what the nurse recommended.

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  • Melrosemelrose
    Melrosemelrose Member Posts: 3,018
    edited May 2012

    Sade- I know it sounds just the opposite of what you want to hear but eating 5-6 small meals helps.  You have to make sure you always have something in your tummy so it doesn't have a chance to get funky.   I have an American Cancer Society booklet entitled "Nutrition for the Person with Cancer during Treatment".  If you can get your hands on a copy, it will give some guidance as to eat right now.  If you can't get one quick enough, private message me and I will give more details from the booklet.  Do call the onco nurse!!!  No reason to suffer....

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  • LisaG65
    LisaG65 Member Posts: 65
    edited May 2012
    @stacie thats Kimba the white lion, was one of my favorite cartoons growing up, i still can hear the theme song!!
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  • Melrosemelrose
    Melrosemelrose Member Posts: 3,018
    edited May 2012

    Sade- Here is the link to the American Cancer Society booklet I was telling you about

    http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/SurvivorshipDuringandAfterTreatment/NutritionforPeoplewithCancer/NutritionforthePersonwithCancer/index

    You can click on the index and find the section on nausea.  Hope it helps.  You might also look at the info on this website http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/chemotherapy/side_effects.jsp.   It may also help.

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  • SadeSurvivor25
    SadeSurvivor25 Member Posts: 119
    edited May 2012

    Thanks Melrose. I will definitely look into it but please PE me with more details because something has to work. I want to be my upbeat self but my stomach is telling me otherwise.

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  • SadeSurvivor25
    SadeSurvivor25 Member Posts: 119
    edited May 2012

    Thanks a bunch!!

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  • dancetrancer
    dancetrancer Member Posts: 4,039
    edited May 2012

    Sadesurvivor - cranberry juice is highly acidic...it could be potentially making your stomach feel worse.  Maybe at least try to nibble on crackers more?  I sure do hope you feel better soon.  I too suggest you call and see if another medication can be tried.  There are so many options, you really shouldn't be suffering so much with nausea.  

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  • IndigoMont11
    IndigoMont11 Member Posts: 1,095
    edited May 2012

    Aha - I was close! It was an anime character anyway - can I be runner-up to LisaG?

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  • IndigoMont11
    IndigoMont11 Member Posts: 1,095
    edited May 2012

    Sade, did they ever give you the compazine? Sounds like maybe not?

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  • Stacie
    Stacie Member Posts: 607
    edited May 2012

    My avatar is Kimba the White Lion. My favorite cartoon in the 60s early 70s. It''s aname. He was King of the Forest and was very couageous.

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  • rachel11
    rachel11 Member Posts: 99
    edited May 2012

    anndh - hope everything went well today...I start decadron (sp) tomorrow and chemo on Thursday. I keep saying that tomorrow is my last normal day for awhile.  :-)  Had an appt with the oncologist this afternoon. She told me that by day 5 I would be so tired that I may possible not be able to get out of bed. Has anyone experience this?

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  • FightingLikeAGirl
    FightingLikeAGirl Member Posts: 69
    edited May 2012

    Melrose...thank you so much for all the great advise. I made a bunch of notes and will bring the Claritin with me and make sure it its okay to take during the my TCH infusions...they did recommend it but not sure I can take it that day.



    Wildflower...dont worry about the port...I got mine today and it was soooo easy...just a tiny but of pain with the lidocane shot. I'm feeling a little uncomfortable tonight but not really painful.



    Has anyone been fitted for a wig while still having hair? I didnt think it would be a problem since my hair is short now but some people are saying it might be a nd I'm going tomorrow.

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  • FightingLikeAGirl
    FightingLikeAGirl Member Posts: 69
    edited May 2012

    BTW, can a nyone give me info on how to put my treatment plan in my info above my diagnosis so it shows up here?

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  • IndigoMont11
    IndigoMont11 Member Posts: 1,095
    edited May 2012

    Hi Fighting, you have to put it in your signature line in Edit Profile.



    I haven't lost my hair yet - went wig shopping before I cut it short. My awesome wonderful stylist gave me a free shampoo and blowout before we went because I wanted to look my best for picking out a hairstyle.



    I hope you enjoy getting your wigs-the place I went treated me like a celebrity!

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  • IndigoMont11
    IndigoMont11 Member Posts: 1,095
    edited May 2012

    I'm glad, too, that your port placement went well. My turn a week from Thursday. Were you completely awake during the procedure? They told me they would use the twilight sleep anesthesia on me.

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  • IndigoMont11
    IndigoMont11 Member Posts: 1,095
    edited May 2012

    Rachel, which chemo cocktail are you getting? I haven't been that tired this time around to the point of not getting out of bed, but I do get tired really easily. We'll see what tx#2 is like.

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  • FightingLikeAGirl
    FightingLikeAGirl Member Posts: 69
    edited May 2012

    Thanks Indigo...I was totally awake...I wasn't sure I would be okay with it but in the end it was totally fine.

    I'm pretty excited actually about the wig...my mom and sister are going with me and they will make it fun for me.

    Trying to keep my mind of Thursday.

    Rachel...we are both starting on Thursday...what is your cocktail?

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  • sandik
    sandik Member Posts: 482
    edited May 2012

    Welcome to the new people. Sorry Ive been MIA. Every year we do a Girl's Night Out. Its a night of pampering....massages, card readers, facials, nails, food, music, etc. This year's even was to raise money for a local organization that helps children with cancer. The founder is a 2x survivor herself. Even though I was in charge, they parked me in front of the raffle table to sell tickets. Haha we also sold forget me not seeds in rememberence of someone battling or who lost the fight to cancer. Anyway, we were able to donate $4400 to this organization! I cannot even imagine being a child and going through what we are all going through! What an emotional night. Every time I tried to explain what the seeds were for, Id start to tear up. I felt like a dope! Haha

    I am on day 7 of my 1st infusion. Doing well! Didn't even need a nap today! Haha My tastebuds are going though. That was quick! Hang in there sisters! In the words of Gloria Gainer, we will survive!

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  • IndigoMont11
    IndigoMont11 Member Posts: 1,095
    edited May 2012

    Sandik, that is a wonderful thing to do to pay it forward. Glad you're doing okay after your treatment. I can tell I'm back on the upswing. It didn't affect my tastebuds much this time - and believe it or not, in spite of all I've eaten in the past week or so, I've actually lost a couple of pounds. I've always been one of those people who could look at a piece of chocolate cake and gain weight. So I guess I really have been feeding the Red Warrior.



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  • Rose_d
    Rose_d Member Posts: 144
    edited May 2012

    Hello all,



    I'm checking in as I enter Day 3 after my second A/C treatment on Monday. I didn't feel great on Monday night which was different and made me nervous, but actually felt fine yesterday. Insommnia is again the biggest issue. I switched from Ambien CR to Ativan this time and it's clearly not working as I type at 3:40 having been up for hours already. I'm thinking of going back to Ambien tomorrow and then I suppose I could take an Ativan if I'm up in the middle of the night.



    That's really my biggest problem. Slight unsettled feeling in my stomach but never close to vomiting, although I have been eating a lot to keep my stomach from being empty which I think makes a huge difference. I have taken Emend and decadron The day of chemo and 2 days after in the am, but the zofran and compazine only as needed and havent taken many of them, maybe 2-3 first cycle and 1 so far this time. I've been walking just about daily which always makes me feel much better. And constipation seems to be hitting me again despit taking colace.



    My hair is definitely starting to go, I will have to shave tonight or tomorrow at the latest. Will be miserable for me.



    After round 1 I basically felt normal by day 7 and spent a whole week that way. I know the side effects and fatigue are cumulative but I'm really hoping for the same this time.



    Not looking forward to the day ahead with no sleep as I enter the worst couple of days (bald!!) but holding out hop to feel normal by the weekend.



    Someone mentioned phlegm - I had a problem last time with a cough and sore throat that felt like post nasal drip despite not feeling like I had a cold at all. Doc said sinus congestion is a definite side effect and could be causing it and the headaches. She suggest nasal irrigation with the saline spray which I bought today and will start tomorrow.



    Rose

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  • Stacie
    Stacie Member Posts: 607
    edited May 2012

    Rose I am an insomniac normally. I take a .25 xanax an hour before bed, watch a sitcom, rhen ambian a half hour later and watch another sitcom i never finish. Friends or King of Queens. Two days after chemo i drop the xanax and i am fine.

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  • Rose_d
    Rose_d Member Posts: 144
    edited May 2012

    Thanks Stacie,



    I'm an insomniac normally as well. The Ambien works great when I'm not on chemo or steroids :). My problem generally isn't falling asleep but rather staying asleep. That's why I was thinking maybe I start with the Ambien CR and then if I wake up after 3-4 hours I try the Ativan since at that time it's too late for Ambien.



    Open to other suggestions though!



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  • sandik
    sandik Member Posts: 482
    edited May 2012

    I have had no problems falling asleep. I take a nap almost every day at work. Yesterday was the first day I didn't and that was only because I didn't have time! Haha.

    keeping food in my stomach seems to help me too. At the beginning of the cycle, I thought it was nausea, I was afraid to eat., but I think a lot of it was nothing in my stomach and heartburn. Once I started with the smaller meals more often, I did feel better.

    Going to look for that book, Melrose! I can use any help I can get!

    Hope you all do well today!

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  • Melrosemelrose
    Melrosemelrose Member Posts: 3,018
    edited May 2012

    Sandik- Glad you are feeling better.  I guess you can always order the book online so you won't have to hunt for it. 

    Edit to add this question--

    Anyone with really chapped lips since your chemo treatment?.  I just noticed this one week after my infusion.   What's your favorite lip balm?

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  • wildflower2828
    wildflower2828 Member Posts: 22
    edited May 2012

    My cocktail will be 4 treatments of AC, followed by a shot 24 hours later of Neulasta, the 12 treatments of Taxol.  I hope by adding my wonderful cocktails, I will be able to hear from more of you of what side effects you have had with any of these drugs.  Again, I am still extremely nervous, having major anxiety issues, that prescribed me some xanax to try to help with that.  With the bouts of chemo, does anyone know if I should expect to be sick the next day, or does it usally take a couple days after the chemo day?  Any help or advice that is given, is greatly appreciated.  Thanks again all.

    Kristy

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2012

    Hi ladies,

    Just a few suggestions...my feet and hands got very dry during all my AC and Taxols, but I used Burt's Bees Lemon Cuticle Balm on them (applied it all over, not just on the cuticles) and that took care of the problem better than anything else I tried. And I'm hypersensitive to scent--hate that everything now is scented--but I don't mind the lemon scent of this product at all.

    Dripping nose/runny eyes--all chemo related.  There wasn't a lot I could do about it but use systane tears in my eyes.  Our systems overcompensate because chemo dries us out, so it makes extra--liquid, so to speak--and hence, runny nose and watery eyes. It eventually gets better, but even 6 weeks PFC I'm still running and watering , although a.m. is the worst time.

    Melrose, I like the old tried and true: chapstick--medicated kind.  It seems to stay on the longest and feels good.

    Hugs,

    Claire

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  • IndigoMont11
    IndigoMont11 Member Posts: 1,095
    edited May 2012

    I like Aquaphor lip balm (it's unscented unmedicated, no sunscreen). I can't use the ones with sunscreens because they irritate my lips, which get chapped anyway.



    My hair has started coming out, too. It isn't really falling out by itself but comes out easily when pulled. It seems like it's coming out more on on side than other for some reason. I said I wasn't going to cry about it but when I realized that it was actually happening .... a few tears did leak out. I don't know if I'm going to buzz it just yet, though, will probably wait a day or so and see how it goes.



    Wildflower, everyone is a little different. I took all of the preventive meds for nausea the first three days and while I did have some queasiness, I neved had any nausea or vomiting. The steroid (decadron) made me so hyper that I didn't feel all that tired the first three days either - that started for me a day or two after going off the decadron. I did have the red-hot face that some of us have mentioned for the first three days too. Popsicles helped!

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  • petagae
    petagae Member Posts: 58
    edited May 2012

    Hi all had a TE fill on Monday, Port Placement today and Chemo today. I got here at 8am for the infusion and they started seeing me at arround 9:30. Didnt get started on infusions until 10. I've got 10 more min on the Taxol and then we move on to the next drug. The bif zinger of the day was when we took the dressing off my port and the ENTIRE section is bruised. It looks so AWFUL i cant explain it. Apparenlty i'm allergic to the tape the used as well. I told them specifically not to use the clear saran wrap looking one becuase it gave me a bad rash. i'm sure in a day or two it willl look better. In any case i'll check in tomorrow and let everyone know how how the side effects are going.

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