April 2012 Chemo Starters?

nofear2012

I will be having my 3rd treatment this weds. I am getting AD (red warrior) and cytoxin. I am wondering if anyone else has experience a racing heart beat. The day of treatment I am getting a racing heart beat about 6 hours after treatment and it usually last about 5 hours. I have talked to my onc nurse and she said that should not be happenin but I talked to my onc dr and he said that it is the steroids causing this. I remember reading about this as a SE from steroids, but I am hoping someone can relate. It only happens that night of my treatment and then it goes away. The next day I feel the flushed face and restlessness and then the overall feeling of being hit by a truck and upset stomach. My biggest struggle so far has been my stomach. After treatments physically I usually bounce back but my stomach does not. I have no appetite and have to make myself eat. My hair started falling out just after my second treatment. My husband shaved the rest off. Funny thing, I still have my eyebrows and eyelashes they have not fallen out and I have tried to pull them and they remain in place.  Really love reading everyone's post. Everyone keep going and pushing thru we will get thru this.

Cottontail

Lezza, we'll have to agree to disagree about the Ativan.  It makes me feel like I have a light hangover, and I'm pretty sure it's the reason I felt like my head was full of water.  That cleared up the day after I stopped taking it.  I plan on using it only the night of treatment and the following night, so I can sleep through all the steroids.  

Although at least Ativan is not as bad for me as, say, Vicodin.  I have gotten those every time I've had sinus surgery, and I'm fine as long as I'm taking them regularly but the day after I stop, I feel like I have a heavy duty hangover- awful headache and usually vomitting.   

Cottontail

I also wanted to mention that I ordered two of the Chemo Beanies on Friday night, and they were delivered today!  I got "Robin" and "Traci," I figured the basics would be great to start out with.  They fit me perfectly, and I think they will be comfortable and cool in the summer heat.  I plan on ordering one or two more after payday.

I'm still waiting on the hat with fox ears I ordered from Etsy, so I'm glad the beanies arrived quickly.  I was worried I'd start losing my hair before I had a coverup. 

nfranklin

Post surgery, had 5th of 12th Taxol treatment today, came home really tired laid down took a nap for a couple of hours now I can't go to sleep, it is 1:58 am still waiting for sleep.



My thumb nails began to turn black, hair is about all gone. I am trying to hang in there.



I hope everyone's treatments are going well. I am praying that everyone's SE's are few.

SinginCyndi

Well here I am on day 21 after TC and feeling quite good-great as a matter of fact. Today will be packed full as tomorrow is treatment day again. I am just not too thrilled with the neulasta shot on Thurs.

 I still have stubble but that is thinning and I love wearing the scarves. I have made several and even though I have a couple dozen various hats and beanies-scarves are more my style. I even picked up a couple of hats at the Dollar Store, fedora style, that I really like. They can be worn right on top of the scarf for extra warmth.

Wishing everyone less SE's.

Lezza13

 SinginCyndi. Best of luck with your treatment tomorrow.  I am on TC too.  I know how you feel about the shot.  It does keep those WBC's up. You can take Claritin with it for a few days and it is supposed to help.   Love scares too. Dollar store was great idea.

Cottontail: Where do I find the Chemo Beanies?  Sorry about Ativan giving you trouble. I have only taken it twice.  I had the same hangover feeling so I stopped them too. So I agree to agree on not liking them.  I am on Xanax for anxiety and I sleep with generic benedryl and Ambien.  Hope you feel better.

JRyan

SingingCyndi, good luck with treatment tomorrow, and that dreaded shot on Thursday.  I will be getting my treatment Thursday with the shot on Friday.

I had picked up a couple scarves at the cancer support center at the hospital the day after my 1st tx, knowing it would be coming.  Now that I am wearing them, 1 I like, the other, not so much. My chemobabies order should be arriving within the next couple days.  My DH says I rock the scarf like no one else   Makes me smile.

Feeling totally dragged out today. I took a xanax before bed, but just seem to having these stressful nightmares that keep me from getting a restful sleep.  I think I will try the benedryl thing tonight.

Lezza - chemobabies.com - really cute stuff! Headcovers.com has cute stuff too.

Continued wishing for minimal SE's for all   Thank you all for the support. It's great to have a group who "knows" to talk to.

Lezza13

Jryan:  Good luck with Chemo Thurs.  Mine is Monday.  Thanks for the links

Pelicangirl

Hi Everyone,

Haven't been online in about a week...my  internet provider has been giving us major problems.  Glad to see everyone is hanging in there and managing SEs as they occur.  It's not easy, is it?  Like many of you, I am relishing the "feel good" days in between treatments and dreading the next treatment b/c it means  four or five days of feeling crummy.  My second A/C treatment is this Thursday. For the first 2 weeks I had not lost any hair at the root (although some had broken off in the middle of hair shaft, particularly the highlighted parts) and it had been looking dull and dry so I knew it was being adversesly affected by the chemo. But on day 17, I woke up with pain in my scalp and a weird tingly feeling at the roots.  My friend who went thru this 2 years ago said that when she got the pain/tingling, hers began to fall out in handfuls that day.  So I wasted no time in getting to the salon and having them buzz it bald.  I still have stubble but it seems to be starting to thin.  On the plus side, my head feels incredibly COOL! I wear nothing on my head at home.  I got some really cute hats at Target and have been wearing those when I go out.  I tried on a wig and it looked terrible and felt worse (hot, itchy, clasutrophobic).  I am also experimenting with scarves.  I live in New Orleans...one of the hottest, most humid places in the world during summer...it's already hot down here so there is no way I am going to suffer thru chemo AND have a hot head!  I have experimented with the Bald Beauty Look out in public just a little....I walk the dogs in the early morning with nothing on my head....the neighbors look but don't say a word.  I also took my hat off in a restaurant the other day...again people looked for a few seconds but then went on with their meals.  I am quickly getting to the point where I care more about my own comfort than about what anyone thinks.  Thus, I will wear my hats/scarves for sun protection and style, but if I get hot, will take them off.  People can just DEAL with it!

I am dreading the Neulasta shot more than my treatment for round 2.  I haven't had any additional pain since the bad bout I had one week after the first shot...but, I take a Clariton daily and occasionally Ibuprofen if I feel the slightest hint of pain in my spine.  Will double up on Clariton starting tomorrow (i.e., take every 12 hours) and take Ibuprofen every 6 hours in advance as well, and continue for several days after.  Let's hope that does the trick.

Good luck to everyone getting second and third rounds this coming week.

Pelicangirl

Cottontail

I was feeling really awesome all day today.  Got home and decided to plant garden seeds.  As I was getting to the end of the raised bed, I found a possible raccoon feces.  Of course, the soil was dry and I had been moving it all around.  I was wearing gloves, but dust could have been up.  Wondering if I should call my MO in the morning about it?  It would be just my luck to get a raccoon roundworm infection.  

Now I have to figure out how to decontaminate/remove my four raised beds, since the garden is completely shot now.  I just bought and put in those beds this spring, too.  What a waste of time and money.  

  

My life is a complete disaster. 

JRyan

Cottontail: I'm sorry about your garden. I don't think it would hurt to talk to your MO, just to be on the safe side.  It sucks how everything seems so much worse while we are going through this. Just remember, you have all of us to vent to, cry with, laugh with and get through this with.  You will get your garden - and I hope it produces wonderful, yummy vegies for you

Pelicangirl: Glad to see you back and doing well. I'm with you on the people can just deal with my bald head!  I am loving the scarves, but as the summer months heat up, I can see myself just rockin' the bald head.

Last night I had another rough and tumble night. The anxiety must be getting me as my dreams were all about being chased, things disappearing, etc. Even though I take Xanax before bed, it doesn't seem to be keeping the dreams at bay.

Going for treatment #2 tomorrow - but feeling good today! So I am going to try to enjoy the sunshine and good feelings as they are here!

Here's to a day with minimal SE's for all

Cottontail

Thanks, Jryan. I did call my MO this morning and she told me I shouldn't worry about infection. Now I'm waiting for a wildlife biologist to call me back about disinfecting and removing the garden soil. I am just going to have the beds removed, torch the ground all around them (literally) and put sod down.



I keep pet rabbits, and a raccoon roundworm infection is fatal with no treatment options. I'm giving up gardening, I can't deal with worrying about it, or the possibility that one of my rabbits could be killed because I want a tastier tomato. I could not live with that guilt.



I have always loved gardening, but now it is time to find a new (indoor) hobby.

Lezza13

JRyan.  Your MD might be able to give you a sleeping pill to help with the night.  Hope your treatment goes well tomorrrow.

 Cottontail. Sorry you had to give up your garden.   New hobby for now.  Hopefully one day you can get through all of this and back to your garden.

JoyceNYC

Hey, ladies, just stopping by from the January group with a word of encouragement -- I just finished 6 cycles of cytoxan-toxotere after a bmx and DIEP reconstruction. The surgery was easy compared to chemo, but hang in there! My worst cycles were #4 & #5 -- for some reason #6 was a breeze. My hair might be gone, my digestive system might be a disaster, I may be feeling like I was hit by a truck six times -- but I did it -- and YOU WILL TOO! Hang in there!

DianeC

Melrosemelrose...

I had my second chemo yesterday, and went to work today. I had my Neulasta shot at 4 pm, but I took a pain pill at 3 pm to ward off the pain. I feel fatigued, but okay. I didn't sleep last night except for two hours. Day 3 last time was like a truck hit me. I almost couldn't lift my head from the pillow. We will make it!

 DianeC

SinginCyndi

Pelicangirl glad you're back!

Cottontail -so sorry to hear about your garden. We have decided to scale way way back this summer-we have coons, possom, and every other kind of critter imaginable, because we live on the water. We raise chickens and  have never had any kind of disease with all the otehr wildlife around. Hope you find something you enjoy.

Right now I'm enjoying some kettle corn and thinking about taking some ibuprofin. It took forever today getting chemo-got me started an hour and half after the scheduled start time so I was there 6 hours instead of 3.

about my neulasta the decision was made to try the lower dose nuprogen because my counts went from 5 to 22,000 in a very short time. Then Friday if the count isn't high as they want it I will have another nuprogen. I am relieved.

DianeC. praying that you have a better day ahead of you than last time.

kjiberty

Cottaintail:  I am glad you like the chemobeanies.  I have 6 total now.  

kjiberty

Pelicangirl and Jrryan:  Seems like we are on the same cycle--I get my second treatment tomorrow as well.  I am more worried about the Neulasta shot on Friday than the chemo.  Should I start the claritan tomorrow?  Thanks for the advice....Got my hair shaved off last Friday (day #16).  It was come out in droves on Thursday.  My scalp does hurt/tingles, I am sure it's just getting ready to go bald instead of the stubbles.  I only found one hat at Target that went to my ears.  The other one was too short--and I have a small head!  Love not have to spend an additional 45 minutes getting ready for work in the a.m.  The wig does give me the "headband" type headaches.  I shed that thing the second I walk through the door. I will wear my chemobeanie proudly when I get my treatment tomorrow.  It will be the first time I have stepped out in public without my wig.  I am ready!

Cottontail

Thanks, everyone.  I ordered a dumpster today and Husband and I will be getting rid of all the gardening things (including possibly infected soil) tomorrow afternoon.  The compost bins are going, as well.  I can't even think about having them around, which is a shame.  I composted 90% of my kitchen waste and everything from the rabbit litter boxes.  I just can't psychologically think of having a possible raccoon attractant in the yard now.  We'll just sod over the entire garden area after the ground is torched.  

The hair in my bikini area started to shed yesterday, so I know the rest of my hair will go soon.  (I'm day 13 from my first treatment.)  I have something I need to be at on Friday, and I'm hoping it will hang on until then. My scalp isn't sore yet, but it does seem slightly more sensitive than normal.

I had something of a breakdown today.  I was cleaning out one of my closets that's full of junk- as long as the dumpster is here, I might as well get rid of some things that have been hanging around.  Kept finding pictures from last summer, or a few years ago, when everything was happy and good.  Now I have cancer and I'm afraid of my own back yard.  I feel so hopeless right now.

Kjiberty- the chemobeanies are great.  They fit really well, seem like they will be comfortable, and I like the shape they have.  I'm not getting a wig, so it's nice to have these.  I hope your treatment goes well tomorrow.

Melrosemelrose

DianeC- I am definitely enjoying this week before my 2nd round next Tuesday.  Hope the side effect Mack truck doesn't come get me this time.  My hair is starting to depart and gain its independence from my body.  Oh well.... not getting a buzz until I've had enough of my science project to see how long it takes my hair to really get gone.  I got a wig from the ACS but don't know if I'm going to wear it.  It is just too hot and humid here in Houston to wear one.    Wishing minimal side effects for all and tell that Mack truck driver to go on vacation and leave us alone!!!  No side effects wanted here!!!

Lezza13

Melrosemelrose: Glad you are enjoying this week. My third round is next Monday. I wish you the best.  I understand the humindity being from TX. Wishing you minimal SE's next week.

Cottontail: Hang in there.  You will be in your garden one day.  Just look to the future and take it one day at a time.

DianeC: Glad you are done with your done with your 2nd.  Hope you feel better.

twostep62

Hi everyone.........I had #3 yesterday as my white cell count was high enough to go forward.   1 more to go with this drug combination and they will change the next 4 to something else.      I met a couple of wonderful women at the center and we exchanged names and numbers....it will be nice to communicate with someone in my area.

My biggest problem right now is depression.   With Mother's days coming up I am so remembering my sweet little 4'9" Mum.   I lost her to a massive heart attack about 15 years ago and seems like yesterday.      About 3 years b4 that I had lost my only natural born daughter to cystic fibrosis and 3 months after we lost her,  we lost my only brother to a heart attack.  I guess during this holiday, it is hitting me extremely hard.     The Doctor has me on Xanax but nothing can ease this pain, you know what I mean.       

I can share that I was told to use a baby's tooth brush (and even the oragel ) for my teeth and gums.    The softest adult brush still made my gums bleed.  The lady at Rite Aid told me her sister had done this.      She also  told me to not worry about the bald head and that her sister wore a T-shirt that said Bald is Beautiful and went about her day without any covering.     I don't know that I am "there" yet but getting close.    After all,    WE ARE ALL SURVIVORS..WE ARE WOMEN AND WE ARE SO STRONG.  Right?

Since I'm using Baby wipes on my butt and a baby's brush,  I guess I am reverting back to childhood in my old age... LOL

My veggie garden and flower garden are my main things that get me out and going.   We also live out in the country and deal with all the critters.   They sometimes get more than I do ........ but it keeps me busy on days when I feel like it.  On days I don't I sit and listen to the birds and look at the flowers.

I keep up with your posts even when I don't feel like I have anything to offer.   I feel your pain and I share in your good days.   You all sould like such a good bunch of women.   WHEN we survive this we should all get together somewhere to have our celebration.

I wish you a good day........ 

SinginCyndi

The morning after and I don't feel too bad - I needed to correct myself it's neupogen I'll get today- and I'll be taking decadron prior to that. Guess I need to check that stuff out. I thought I'd been pouring on the wieght but had actually lost 2 pounds the last couple of weeks. I can guarantee you that it would have been more but I ate like a hogger the last week - My brother is heading out to take me over for the shot and we're hanging out there for at least 2 hours before he brings me home. They even advised it with the horrible reaction I had with the Neulasta. But they reassured me this was way less potent and they are only giving me more if I need it.

Anyway twostep62 I understand where youare coming from. I still have my mother but lost my father, brother-in-law and son late in 2003. Dad and passed and we knew BIL would be gone soon ( melenoma) and people kept saying "It always comes in 3's who's going to go next?) Well the idiots didn't say a word about that when my son died 2 months later. My boy would have just turned 25 this year. You will get through this-the cancer isn't any fun but in my opinion dosen't even compare to the pain of loss.

I completely agree about the wigs - northern Indiana it's been so muggy I can barely stand to wear them lately. I'll only wear mine for special occasions. Probably to church - to the school- hubby's work functions, that are held inside and my mom's wedding coming up in Aug. And super quick jaunts out-thing is our air is out in the van and as old as that is we may not get it fixed plus the $$. The wigs are just plain too hot!

Have better days ladies!

Lezza13

twostep63  I know what you mean about Mother's day. I lost my mom to colon cancer and it is an even tougher holiday for you.  Sending hugs We will all get through this.  My xanax helpes alot.  I am also on an anti-depressant. Started it the day after I was diagnosed.  Nothing does compare to loss. Glad you have your gardens. Oh,, I know all about baby wipes!  Hang in there, you are done with #3.  You have us on this board to talk to.

twostep62

I just get so restless.    I work remotely a lot,   so I jump on my computer at all hours of the night when I can't sleep and do work.  Which means during the day, I have too much time on my hands and I guess I was having a giant "pity party".     It's getting better.....

I took my Neulasta shot yesterday and am  having some slight muscle pain this morning but the breathing seems OK.      Other than that,  the chemo doesn't seem to be giving me any SE as yet......... 

 The cancer center had some "fleece" night caps and I picked up a couple.   Sure feels better than the "boggan" I was wearing.   

SinginCyndi

Well of course I'm wide awake bright and early, I'm on the decadron and benedryl. Although yesterday, I had the lowest dose possble of the neupogen, I still got a really red neck and part way down my chest. So they recomended benedryl. Then I started itching here and there-but it still beat the neulasta. I go in early today to check the WBC and then they may give me another shot if they want the number higher.  I suppose this will mean more blood tests.

twostep62-glad to hear you are feeling better-personally I love me turban style t-shirt hats for nighttime. Hotflashes and those little hats come off - then I wake up cold and back on it goes.

Cottontail

My scalp is starting to be sensitive and I'm getting a lot of hair out when I run my hands through it. At least it hung aroun through the week. I have another event tomorrow afternoon, so I'm going to leave it alone until after that, then maybe chop it super short at home. We don't have any clippers and I can't justify paying someone to to buzz it for me. It will look awful but I'll be covering it with a hat anyway.



CT and bone scans this afternoon. I have another 15 minutes that I can still eat/drink, I better finish my breakfast and have a big glass of water!

twostep62

I hope all of you will have a good day today.   I feel so much better as I took my first sleeping pill lat night and actually slept 8 hours!!!   I haven't slept that much in months.   Feel so much better.

I'm having minimal SE from my treatment Wednesday....only slight breathing problems from the Neulasta.  The Claritin really helps.

If I could just conquer the restlessness....I was so restless yesterday I cleaned  the house thoroughly (I have 2 cats...cat hair fuzz everywhere)     and overdid it and was so tired last night.     

Cottontail

twostep, for me it seemed like the restlessness was caused by the steroids that I got along with treatment.  The restless feeling greatly improved after a few days, and after I stopped taking dexamethasone at home.  It just took a little time to get through my system, then I felt a lot better.  I hope yours improves, as well!

I'm sleeping a lot better now, other than I have been waking up at about 5:30 every morning, though my alarm doesn't go off until 6:15.  I'm having to make an effort to get to bed a little earlier than normal to account for that.

I had my CT and bone scans yesterday.  I will have to say, it's a good thing my tumor is already shrinking, or I would be extremely unhappy with the cancer center I'm going to.  Their scheduling people just keep messing up with me.  I had my port placement and second treatment scheduled for next week, and then a couple days ago I got a notice in the mail of a totally different schedule.  I spoke with someone when I was there, and the schedule they sent me isn't even what is in their computer!  Then they tried to call my surgeon to verify the port placement, and my surgeons name isn't in their system and no one there had heard of her- well, she was the one who sent me to them in the first place, so I HOPE they've heard of her!  Oh, and it turned out my scans were at some different location- which they didn't tell me until I showed up at the wrong place.  (And this isn't even the first scheduling issue I've had with them!)  Oh well, my tumor is shrinking so I'm going to focus on that. 

JRyan

Goodness cottontail. Sounds like a bit of a mess. Not anything we need as we go through this. I hope they get your schedule straightened out.

I've been out the past couple days. Treatment on Thursdaywith neulasta yesterday. I slept 12 hours last night with the assistance of meds. Feeling incredibly restless today. Cant sit still for more than 5 minutes!

Hope all the moms have a great mother's day tomorrow.