December 2012 chemo group

Dawn1008

Hi Ladies. I've been MIA again... Been in the "poor me cesspool" and I really really want to get out! This horrid cough is killing me. Forget about the chemo! I just need my mucous and cough to go away! And where did my energy go? If I cough any longer and harder my toes might come out my mouth. My hubby just covers his ears when I get rolling and can't stop. 😿🙊😵 I'm keeping the whole house awake at night.



Nicole, low level sadness has me crying at everything on a moment's notice. Hugs to you! Its not easy...this one day at a time business. Today I sat upstairs in my recliner (cough chair) and just stared into Chino Hills State Park, all dark and cloudy and raining. I watched the daylight slip away behind the mountains. This is not something I would do in my old life. It was kind of nice (except the hacking cough of course). I guess this comes with the territory?



I have had fever on day 7 the last 2 rounds of AC. Low grade and Tylenol took it away after a few doses. Sorry, I'm skipping around on a lot of subjects to catch up.



Jen, so glad you brought up the subject. I feel weird too with little hair and one boob, and I'm premenopausal. I listen to a speech from my Onc every time I go about double up protection (which I did purchase and left visibly on my honey's night table).......ha! If only I needed to. I can't stop coughing for 2 seconds. Since my DX, last September....de nada. I think I qualify for the Nun convent. ⛪ Sigh. I was hoping for the chemo to kill my horrible periods, but NOOO, just like my leg hair....hanging on. My friend says I should see a therapist on the subject......hmmmm. I'm thinking it over.



This week I had to deal with kids in my son's class, 2nd grade trying to figure out if I'm wearing a wig. He's very embarrassed over it.



I have 1 week before my 4th AC. I've got to kick this cough!!!!!!!



Thanks to everyone for posting. It's nice to be able to vent here and not feel so alone.

LeeA

Dawn, have you tried Mucinex or its generic equal?  I had a bad cough prior to starting chemo and that, along with Coricidin cough drops, really helped me get through it (I think).

I sit in a reclining chair and look out at the view quite a bit as well.  I'm sort of in your area (Los Angeles county - near the Angeles Forest) and luckily, we got just a little bit of sunshine today in our area.  

Hope you start feeling better soon (and my MO scoffed at using protection and even gave us, um, instructions the other day - lol!).  Clearly, almost all oncologists are different!

Anonymous

Dawn~I had a triple whammy head cold after AC #2.. The coughing was horrible. I really felt it was viral so I didn't bother with antibiotics. I went to the dollar store and got Tussin DM. I think it's the generic for Robitussin DM. It quiets the cough, but also helps you to get all that phehm up. I was actually able to get some rest and it let my husband sleep too. I had AC #3 a week later, and in fighting that on my own, my WBC was higher than before I started my first chemo.



I hope you get some relief soon.



Blessings

Paula

kiwikid

Hi everyone

I'm on day 7 after AC number 2 and my boobs are feeling sore and heavy, especially the one which was mutilated in nov. I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this? I did have a period between Christmas and New Years so it could be hormonal but it's quite disconcerting. I was able to sleep on my stomach a few weeks ago and the last couple of nights I've been aware of this just sleeping on my side. I had a dream the bc was coming back all through both breasts, what a misery!

I am generally feeling aches from the ac but just wondering if anyone else has anything they can add?

Thanks

Xx kk

jenjenl

Kiwimid - my incision from my mx hurts after each tx.  Sometimes I wonder if it's a sign the chemo is killing cells there...who knows. 

Dawn - i know a lot of people reject anti-depression medication but I was crying all the time from November thru December.  I couldn't take it anymore, I was changing and not in a good way.  I got put on celexa and all is well now.  I am much happier.  Just throughing that out there.  Mucinex works great for coughs but make sure to drink a ton of water to loosen it up and cough it up.

Ladies - I have caught my son's cold.  I'm sneezing, runny nose and a sore throat (not bad though) but no cough or fever.  I really hope this doesn't impact my infusion on Tuesday.  Thoughts?

I have treatment every 3 weeks.  7 days post tx and I am feeling better but 9 days I am back to me.  I feel like bc I don't feel like shit the remaining 11 days that the chemo's not working.  Someone talk me out of this nonsense please!

Grannyj3

jenjenl - I totally get the thought it must not be working if I don't feel bad.  I've been afraid they aren't giving me enough or something.  I'm sorry you feel that way, too, but kind of glad someone else is having those thoughts.  I'm even wondering if I shaved my head for no reason, because I have such a mess of fuzz on top of my head!  I actually asked my oncologist about it last week prior to starting #4 and she said that is not that uncommon to feel that way.  It's kind of a guilt feeling, especially if you are communicating with others who are having issues.  She assured me it's working.  I do have a friend who had the same chemo as me (TAC) and her symptoms were very similar to mine, so she has been encouraging, too.  I'm wondering if whether you have surgery or chem first makes a difference in how it affects you.  Just a thought.

MTJulie

Hello breast cancer sisters. Today is my birthday and tomorrow I go in for my third treatment. I have been living it up this last week since I have felt normal. Took a trip to visit my three kids and they have been wining and dining me for three days. Tomorrow, back to the chemo cave!

I can totally relate to the low level sadness thing. I would call it low level despair, though. I take Effexor already so don't see any relief from that. I try to brush it off and ignore it but some days I just do a lot of crying. I think it's normal tho. We are going thru a lot and I guess depression is normal. My friend gave me a mug that says "this too shall pass" and I try to keep that thought in my mind.

Still dealing with heartburn. Those drugs must really do a number on my digestive system.

LeeA

MTJulie, have you tried Prilosec or the generic version of Prilosec for your heartburn?  Additionally, my MO recommended Tums (he recommended Tums over Pepcid, which I had been taking).  I've been taking Prilosec first thing in the morning for a few weeks now and I think it might be helping a bit with the heartburn.

Nicole503

Hey MTJulie,

Happy B-day!  One of my good friends suggested that I spray paint my bedroom wall with "This too shall pass.  Keep breathing".  I got a good laugh out of that and wrote it on a bookmark instead.  When I'm having a tough day though, I do imagine it spray painted on my wall and it makes me smile.

I started experiencing heartburn with AC #2 and my naturopath recommended deglycyrrhizinated licorice chewable tablets.  I chew one 20 minutes before I eat and it does seem to help.  Apparently deglycrrhizinated licorice helps the natural protective factors in the digestive tract.  The glycyrrhizin compound has to be removed though or it has some effect on blood pressure.

I'm day 3 past AC #3 and although the treatment day was tough, these three days have been pretty reasonable.  I'm resting a lot and doing little things with my kids.  So far, the sailing feels a little smoother than AC #2 (I think I did too much and then got disheartened by how bad I felt and then experienced that persistent low level sadness thing).  I'm less sad this go round, which just goes to show you that it's not necessarily a straight downhill trajectory.  Rest lots and do things that make your heart happy when you are up and about.

Wishing everyone a satisfying Sunday.

Sandra60

Happy Birthday Julie !!!  Hope you have a wonderul day filled with some fun and laughs !!!  So glad you got to visit your kiddies and glad you did not have to start chemo on your b-day.

Take it easy on # 3 and take care of yourself.  Are you taking Priolosec or Prevacid - they are the best for heartburn and one poster even said her MO told her to take twice a day - ask your MO 1st of course My worst side effect has been the heartburn on TC - other than feeling just plain hung over for the first 5 days....

Happy Sunday and Good Health Blessing to all !!

Sandy

FriendGwen

Happy Birthday Julie!! It's my DD1's 21st birthday today too! Clearly a great day for a birthday. DH and I are taking her out to dinner and I'm crossing my fingers and toes that the food will taste good.



I'm still fascinated by my bald head. I have a lot of white crazy fuzz, some like half an inch long. Then there's some super short dark hair. I can't tell what's new and what's been there all along. I've started taking photos at some point during each round and emailing them to myself so I can reference it (and then delete promptly from my iPhone!).

yananma

Day 3 after chemo #3. Had a big fight with hubby over the kids ( age 8 and 5). Now he took the kids out somewhere and I am in bed alone in the house , gloomy day, so sad, and aching and nausea too. I am trying to do the best as I can, working full time, paying the bills, making sure the kids on their homework ... And chemo treatments.... Lets not forget that.... Why does life have to be so hard.... I am strong, but why me?!

Sandra60

Oh yananma - sounds like a rough day in your home . No this is not easy to go thru - you really do have to be a female warrior in order to cope sometimes - but you will get though it and it will be over soon ! With the excellent treatments they have now you will be glad u went through the chemo . Do u have other family or close friends nearby that can help u ? It sounds like you are doing too much of the household chores - you husband needs to pitch in on paying the bills and helping with the kids homework - especially of you are working full time . Does your employer and the state u live in offer short them disability - u have a legal right to it and they can not replace u .... I hope and pray things are better for u later today !!

Sandy

MTJulie

Thanks for the birthday wishes and advice with the heartburn issue. The nurse at my last treatment advised me to take Prilosec twice a day which I did for two weeks. Then I quit thinking I didn't need it. Have had it ever since. I will ask the MO tomorrow.

My drive home was about 4 hours and I came home to a husband with a stomach bug! Eek! Don't kiss me!

Yananma, I am so sorry it's rough for you. Hope it gets better soon.

Bren58

Happy Birthday Julie! Glad you got to spend some wonderful time with your kids!

yanamna, sorry you are having a rough time. Try to get hubby to pitch in and help. You are strong, you will get through this, but you need some help. Sometimes we all do.

dcsandpiper

JenJen1 - I had 2 infusions with a cold, not any fevers or anything... it was OK, I think the cold just hangs on longer.  I passed out once when they took blood because I was so dehydrated with nose blowing etc.  So just try to make sure you stay hydrated.  Also, I do go back to normal around day 9 or 10.  For me I'm fine up to day 4 or 5, then bad for a few days, then I get about a week and half of normalcy (though water, wine and some foods still taste bad, and I get fatigued easier and still have muscle aches - but nothing that bad overall).

I've found that gatorade is a great way to stay hydrated. It tastes alot better than water, it has electrolytes or whatever, some of them are not that sweet - I like the watermelon/strawberry one or watermelon something. 

Also some foods that I've found to taste OK during chemo: oranges, steamed veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts) with some butter salt and pepper, pasta with butter sounds good!, mild soups with beans (slow cookers!), baked potato, poached salmon with soy sauce and balsamic vinegar - microwave is easy way to do this, apples, pomegranates (just slice open - watch out for squirting juice - cut in large sections, bend it back and grab a bunch of the seeds, just know that you can't swallow them, you have to spit out the part that is not juicy, but it is very yummy and refreshing), grapefruit juice with tonic water if you are allowed to have grapefruit, sparkling water in general tastes better than regular water... berry smoothies with powdered greens and powdered protein if you can't get enough greens and proteins in, whole wheat toast, fresh medjool dates, irish oatmeal with almond milk (you can add dates, nuts, fresh apples)...

Hope some of these suggestions help getting through those bad tastebud days, when only ice cream and cookies seem to be the only tasty things around!

Good luck all!

Dawn1008

Yananma,

Hang in there, girl. Life continues while we fight this war. It's not easy to ask for help and remember if your spouse is your primary caregiver, he is going through this in a different way too (everybody is under stress). Hopefully you have family or friends to help support you. It's really nice to be able to have some else pick up the kids every now and then when you are having a hard day.....there will be a few of those. Also, if you can afford to have someone come clean house every few weeks that's a big help too. I did that for a while, but $$$$$!!!!! So now I broke down all the things to do into daily chores across me, my son (7yr old), and my spouse. We all just do the best we can.



Also if you can find a BC support group - try it out.



Hang in there! Hugs to you.



Dawn

Dawn1008

Kiwi (Holly),

I also have had the swollen heavy breast (the one I have left) for several weeks now. And I've been paranoid that something is happening in there. It was hurting about a week, then I had a period. Usually afterward, they wouldn't hurt me anymore, but this one has continued. It's visibly larger than my prosthetic now, which was previously a "perfect match". I go to my Onc Dr on Thursday. Going to talk to her about it then. I'll let you know if she tells me anything enlightening.



Take care!

Dawn1008

LeeA,

I have tried almost everything OTC for the cough.....I've had this cough since mid-December. I finally got a prescription yesterday for tessalon pearls to tamper the cough and I started drinking honey, cinnamon, lemon, hot water. It seems to be helping. I'm even sitting beside a 1/2 onion cut open (pew!). I read that onions absorb bacteria like crazy and it makes bronchial sufferers feel better within a few days by sleeping by an open onion. I know it sounds crazy, but I'm willing to do almost anything to stop the cough. Last night I threw up because I was coughing so hard for so long. Yucky!



I go to my Onc on Thurs. I will be asking for a chest X-ray again to make sure it's not becoming something else.



I also read your post (different thread) about the distilled water for sinus rinsing. OMG!!!!! I've been washing my head out 2 times a day since I've had this mess. Okay, no rinse until I get distilled water now!!!!!! 😱



It's a beautiful day here, hope you are having the same! 🌞🌴

Bren58

TCH #4 tomorrow, and this time I won't forget the Emla cream! Also need to ask the MO what I can do about all the eye tearing.

jenjenl

Bren53 - treatment #3 tomorrow for me.  I had posted something about eyes watering the other day...it's on my list too.  I suppose it's better than dry...not sure where I stand on that.

I have a nasty cold that I am fighting so hard.  I have a feeling they might postpone tomorrow by a few days.  My DH is making a wonderful dinner either way - I love being married to a chef   He made me homemade chicken noodle soup on sunday.  I have about 4 containters left!

LeeA

Best wishes to both of you tomorrow and jenjenl, what a perfect time to be married to a chef!  

Sandra60

Bren and - Hope all goes well for both of you on Tuesday!



I'd like to report a new side effect that I finally got an explanation of . Last Friday am I started to run a low grade fever - day 9 post tx . I only let it get up to 100.2 and then took the ibu and was fine . Same routine sat sun and today - Monday . The mo says that with taxotere

some patients run HOT. As long as it does not spoke above 101 it is just the way my body processes the taxotere . It is not that common of a side effect . Hope it goes away by tomorrow . Wanted to report it in case anyone else ever has that . The Norse had me scared for a while when I called in bc she said she had never had a patient get that se - but she did say she had only been there 6 months.









a low grade temp as

Anonymous

Sandra~I get that same thing on days 7 & 8. This time, AC #3 it lasted longer. I take Tylenol. I've had this with every treatment. I can be in my fluffy robe, hat, socks, with a fuzzy blanket on me and even my legs start shaking, but if I take the Tylenol on time I don't get it at all.



Paula

Sandra60

Thanks Paula ! Good to know - the mo said it was from the taxotere which is made from the pacific yea tree - maybe my body just does not like that plant !!!! I see your on taxol which is also made from same plant !

dcsandpiper

Ok, so after TC3 I developed phlebitis in my veins in the back of my hand. As a result they are going to put a PICC line in for the last one, TC4. Anyone had phlebitis? How long does it last? Is warm oppress the only thing you can do to prevent it? Does a PICC line hurt?

JustBeth

Hello Everyone!

This is my first time posting but I have been following for quite some time! I started 4 rounds of AC (every 3 weeks) on December 14 which will be followed by 12 weekly doses of Taxol. I am scheduled for #3 on Thursday and I am starting to feel a little anxious. I had an appt with my oncologist last Thursday and he scheduled a MUGA scan for next month. I had one before I started and everything was fine. I am just wondering if anyone else had to have another one in the middle of treatments? I spent so much time at appt asking what I can do to manage nausea that I don't feel like I asked enough questions about this second MUGA, and now of course I can "feel" my heart! Did anoyone else have a MUGA between #3 and #4? Just wondering if that's standard or if onc heard something weird?

Beth

Anonymous

Sandra~I haven't started taxol yet. I still have one more AC on the 8th of Feb.



JustBeth~I'm on the exact same chemo and schedule as you, but I started Dec. 7.

I had an echocardiogram ( ultrasound of the heart) before surgery and another before chemo. I'll get the next one between AC & taxol. I know that AC can weaken the heart muscle, but I've been praying for God to protect mine.



AC #3 nearly kicked my butt. The side effects were the same. They just started 3 days earlier and lasted 3 days longer. It was a rough 11 days.



Blessings

Paula

jenjenl

I was able to have chemo today, what a long freaking day!  The guy 3 chairs down had a terrible reaction to the chemo, it was kind of scary to watch.

donster

dcsandpiper-  I am also on TC and have also have struggled with the vein issue.  Round 1 left the vein bruised and hardened and round 2 left the next vein bruised, black and blue and really tender, although it did not harden like the first and the bruising resolved.

 They talked to me about a Picc line but I sort of dug my heels in and said let's try another vein for rounds 3 and 4.  I had posted about a week or so ago on this thread about the Picc line and some responded to say it is a very tolerable procedure, but like everything else we are doing, it too could have complications.  It sounds like you may just get the picc line the day before your chemo and then they will take it out right after the chemo session? If that is the case then complications should be nary. 

I wish you good luck with your decision and with round 4.  I hope it goes smoothly.  I would really like to hear back from you in case round 3 for me this week is difficult and they end up sending me for a picc afterall for round 4.  I will be thinking about you.