January 2013 chemo group

gr8flmama21

Mandy good healthy port vibes coming your way for tomorrow!

LeeA

From here as well, Mandy!  

LeeA

russell33 - you mentioned trying to stay relaxed.  I have no idea if this is the kind of thing you're looking for or not (an om meditation).  I used to play it for my husband when he was extremely stressed out in the cardiac unit.  I think it helped both of us calm down.  Neither one of us are the meditating type but it really seemed to help. 

Link: http://www.cyberastro.com/member/data/sat.htm

SherylB

Skimommi, Lee, and anyone else with taste bud crap,

I have been trying different things and striking out. I have never eaten so little or drank nothing but water primarily in my whole life. Well I just went to the store I had a craving for orange soda and fudge bars, good diet huh. Well orange soda yeck!!, fudge bar not bad. Hawaiian punch great. So for tonight I found something that taste good. I am with you on the change in taste after a bite or two, maybe from the stomach who knows.

Sheryl

SherylB

Deb, I don't take the zofran either because of the h/a I had with first chemo. I am leaning towards it being the aloxi and gonna ask to skip it next chemo I can't go through this again it has been horrific. H/A better today but my muscles all around my head, neck, and shoulders feel so tender and sore. Who knows this has been a much rougher ride than 1st chemo.

Thanks for the input on the zofran I plan to stay away from it too. I'd rather puke too. TMI

Sheryl

SherylB

Shan,

I agree just fricken smile. Unfortunately I have the facial expression that if I am not talking or animated I look pissed off at the world. I try to smile and use humor for pretty much everything, what else can I do. I ain't checking out until I am good and ready and it ain't yet. (That little bit of southern language is for all you teachers out there).

Sheryl

shawkins64

Skimommi I'm doing well.  I am able to eat once again, I believe I found those 10 pounds that I lost during during the first week of chemo...I have round 2 today so hopefully this week will be better.

smethot

Hey everyone...how MUCH liquid do i need to drink BEFORE chemo and durning/after.  Everyone says "stay hydrated"...great but HOW hydrated am i talking here?  Niagara Falls???  I have water and gatorade in 500ml containers (about 1/2 a quart for my south-of-the-border sisters) and want to make sure i drink enough beforehand and bring enough with me in my spiffy pink & black chemo bag to last.  I weigh about 130 lbs and i'm 5' 2"...suggestions appreciated...thanks.

Skigirl72

smethot-I drink about 3 liters of liquid a day. Most places will tell you between 2 and 3. Most of that is water. Jello and soup count as well. I have tried to stay at that level throughout the following weeks also. caffeinated stuff does not count.

Shawkins64- TX#2 today will be easy. hope it goes well.

GOOD PORT VIBES FOR MANDY!

honeybair- I take 6000IU of D3, a daily milti, C, Cal/Mag/Zinc and and l-lysine. I was told NO anti-oxidants. All are ok with my MO. Bring a list of things you want to take and have your MO ok it. (and do some of your own research) I came in with this list and she didn't even flinch. All were ok.

Russell33 and teacherjulie- I was very tired and sad at about day 5/6. That should last just a few days. Hang in there!!

teacherjulief

Decided to stay home after rough night. I have had a bad headache for a few days. Is that the neulasta shot? Hope everyone has a good day with minimal SE's.

SherylB

smethot,

I drink a gallon, or 4 liters for the north of the border gals. LOL. I am overweight by about 30 lbs and have always heard that since fat can't hold water to drink and extra 8oz for every 25 lbs. overweight. I also go by the color of my urine. I also drink caffeinated drinks so a reason for the extra water too. My paperwork from MO says 3 quarts. Skin still pruny on hands and dry elsewhere from chemo. If your kidneys and heart are healthy then drink up. Just don't make it all water you can wash out good stuff like salt and potassium. Broth, jello, popsicles all count towards fluid too. 1 oz = 30 ml.

Sheryl

russell33

teacherjuli, I hope you feel better soon.  I admire you so much for being able to go back to teach the day after treatment. The Neulasta shot gets me everytime.  I do everything I'm suppose to do but the aches and pains stay with me for at least 4/5 days.   For some reason right after treatment is when I feel the worse.  Tomorrow will be a week since treatment and I feel somewhat normal today.  I hope you get some good rest today and feel better soon.  Thinking about you today!  Anne

Nicole503

Good luck Mandy!!!  I am thinking about you.

LeeA

Thinking about you last night and now this morning, Mandy.  Prayers for a smooth procedure. 

***

I just had breakfast (old wives' tale) so I can relay this lucid dream.  In the dream I was hooked up to a bag of Herceptin.  The person in charge was adjusting the amounts.  Suddenly, I started floating up toward the ceiling (face down) until my back hit against the ceiling.  My husband shook me awake because I was doing my version of night screaming (I've never heard it).  When I was awake enough to say anything I said "I'll tell you more about the dream in the morning" and he didn't miss a beat and replied "and I'll tell you more about the sheets in the morning" (as in, I scared the you know what out of him).  Of course, he was kidding but much laughter ensued.  

I used to have night terrors (?) about typical scary things.  Now it seems the dreams I remember all tie back to cancer.  Of course, cancer is typically scary.

Have a good day everyone.  I hope the side effects go the other way (away from you). 

Amrdbit

SherylB, 

No such thing as TMI on this board really. LOL! We'll are all there, have been there, or going to be there.

Hopefully you won't need the Zofran or amnything like it. Unlike chemo so many years ago, with the TC, I've not taken any anti neausea drugs at all. I seem to get a bit of the runs for a few days after treatment, but nothing severe, and zero queaziness. Hoping it continues. I have a prescription for some anti neasuea meds in my house that cost my insurance company something like $1,800 and I haven't needed to touch them. Luckily I only paid $10.00. If I had to pay $1,800...... I'd probably take them just to not waste the money. Ha ha ha! 

Here's to hoping for no upset stomaches, no headaches, and a wonderful monday for all of us!!! Deb

Anonymous

LeeA~The sheets comment from your DH cracked me up!

Whenever something scares my DH, he says, he wrote help in his underwear. Lol



I get my 4th & final AC on Friday. I'm dreading it, but also anxious to get it behind me.

The last one whipped me, but good.



I'm praying I can get some order in my house this week. I'm better, but not much energy.



Blessings

Paula

Amrdbit

Ok.... thinking of taste buds and how "off" everything can taste and smell during chemo, I jsut thought I'd share this one, b/c for me it was totally a strange one. I preface this by aying that I'm not a great eater. I love food, I love juicing, green smoothies, etc..... but I don't eat a lot, and can usually go days without getting hungry. (My oldest son is just like me, the poor teen. LOL) Anyway, i've been really trying to do better and to eat more food b/c i know I need it now, for recovery as well as for the cold caps. Sigh. 

Anyway, my morning routine for years as been something like this..... wake up at 6:20, take my thyroid meds and holler upstairs for the boys to get up. I make them an incredibly healthy breakfast (b/c you know I won't let them go to school without eating a good breakfast) and then I drive them to school at 8:00-8:30ish.... Middle school drop off first and then HS right after. right after that the dog and I turn around and go to our fav coffee spot to get my morning cup (decaf now since I've given up all caf beverages) and Fred my dog gets a dog treat through the drive through. Anyway, then we head home and I enjoy my cup of coffee which usually counts for me for breakfast and lunch. I know..... horribly unhealthy. Anyway..... this morning as I was driving to the boys schools I realized that I absolutely didn't want my morning cup of coffee, but what I wanted was a salad. Monday morning salad? Really? (I love greens and salad and all..... but not at 8:00AM. LOL!) The dog was so sad there were no stops at the drive through, but he kept me company while I made a big bowl of grilled chicken breast, lettuce, spinach, cucumbers, carrots, etc etc etc etc. It was really yummy...... but I'm still not sure where that craving came from. 

Oh well..... I guess in a chemo world I've jsut learned to go with it. If it sounds good..... grab it while you can. Ha ha ha! Deb

LeeA

Paula, LOL!  I just sent that to my husband.  

Thank goodness this is your last AC.  If you're too tired to do a happy dance immediately after just pound the table or something.  

Will Taxol be weekly?  

smethot

Picc line IN...and all went well.  I was thinking of Manda and hoping her port was just as smooth...fingers crossed for you Manda!

So the nurse who inserted my picc line is also a chemo nurse...i was able to ask her the patented Shannon 70,000 Questions...it was great.  She explained my 4 differnt anti-vom meds and when to take them and was just generally awesome.  She said 2 litres of water a day...see what i can do...hook me up to the catheter.  Any other nuggets 'o wisdom you guys want to grace me with before i start chemo Thursday?  I' livin' it up on the food-front - chili yesterday, (baked) chicken wingies tonight, out for dinner after wiggin' with my mom tomorrow and orrechiette Wed...yom-yom.  A fond farewell to fav foods for a while.  Do any of you FEEL like eating after chemo?  I stocked up on a bunch of healthy munchables...just no idea if I'll even want to eat.  I am a HUGE planner (project management scheduler by trade) and not having everything choreographed to a tee is excruciating.  I know...let it go...focus on dead insurgents...  Shannon

MandyNJ

I'M HOME!! Woot woot! All went perfectly, you know, the way it's supposed to. I also saw the thoracic surgeon who took the stitches to my chest tube out. I thanked all the doctors throug tears for saving my life.



I'm home, feeling a little woozy, and my husband is pampering me.



Chemo should start on Monday.

smethot

YEAH MANDA!!!  We can be days-apart-chemo-buddies...whatcha getting?  We can also compare the relative benefits of picc vs. port.    So glad everything went well...bring on the chemo and let's get this s*** behind us!!!

gd2shuz

It's so weird that even without chemo I have some of the same issues but I am certain MUCH less than you girls have to endure. Manda and all you others, it's awesome that your hubbies pamper you. I am happy for for you all in that respect. Don't know what that's like...my ex was a fu**en sick SOB and God probably kept me from chemo because I had to deal with Ex's torture so he figured I had my punishment early. Anyway, you were all in my prayers and thoughts this morning when I did my morning spiritual thing, and I hope you all had a good day today and will have a good rest of the week.



Can't figure out what I wsnt to eat, may try to drive to Taco Bell because it's cheap and I think that will take care of my constipation lol.

MandyNJ

I'm getting the same as you...A/C-T. After delaying chemo for four weeks, I said, let's roll, baby!



My biggest concern is the unknown of what the fatigue will really be like. I've read what everyone has gone through, but I think you can't prepare for this. It's like labor, you can describe it, but not convey the essence. I want to know how it'll be caring for my two children. My husband works the might shift so I have to rely on family to help at night.

chgogemini

Hello ladies chemo on Thursday and in miserable and freaked, what do I need to bring in my chemo bag?



Shannon i wish I was more like you but I'm a wuss. You need to send over some of that toughness to Chicago. We start on feb 7 together. I've had a lot of those dildo trans ultrasounds and ingot used to them. I had infertility and I always had one if those in me. They like to twirl it Round while its in u pretty interesting.



Im glad everyone is doing good. I went to try on wigs today and was so mortified. First i look like I was one of the bee gees. Then i looked like a stripper. I'm not ready but I have to be. The cancer society gave me Tons if cute hats. In a girly girl all the way this hair business is going to suck.



G

Anonymous

Lee~Yes, taxol will be weekly for 12 weeks. I hear the weekly is a little easier.



Shannon~I do the 70,000 question thing too. We have every right to know, and to have it all explained to us.

I'm very blessed that I get treatment at a comprehensive breast center. I have an awesome team. I even get one on one interaction with the researcher and pharmacist.



Blessings

Paula

smethot

Manda, the unknown fatigue deal is kinda freaking me out, too.  Are you 8 treatments over 16 weeks?  MY kids will deal- they're 13 & 15 (and live with their mom a goodly portion of the time) but i want to work (from home if i need to) and still function for the next 16 weeks.  I'm a wee bit of a sloth to begin with so its not like this will impact my dazzling social life but i'm a seriously high-energy Shannon...looks-like-she's-on-Valium Shannon would just be too odd.  But my surgeon says wait and see and the MO thinks i'll be fine...keeping everything crossed... 

We can all be brave...we have to be!  We will fight and win and totally f*** that nasty old bc UP!  Although i'm of the opinion that we DO NOT have bc...mine got excised (or excorcised???), sliced and diced and is DED!!!  (how we spell dead at my house).  Now its just THE POTENTIAL of little cellular buggers and quite frankly ladies, they're TOAST!  Everyone says chemo's not as bad as they thought...i too am NOT looking forward to no hair or eyebrows but if its what we have to do to win, so be it! And win we shall.  xoxox Shan

hope49

Yeah, Mandy!  So glad all went well for you today and you can move forward.  I know once you can see how you feel after the first session, you'll be able to better prepare...keep a journal which will help with subsequent tx days to know what may be coming.  I was just so happy to wake up the day after still alive - had no idea what to expect!  Just a few minimal SEs here and there, looking to the boards with how to manage them and got great tips so I felt better going into round 2.  You'll be great - after what you've been through it better go easy for you!  

Same to you, Shannon - given your fighting spirit I know you will do great this week!  We're all here to help  Hydration is key...I am aiming for around a gallon a day, i'm 5'3" and about 118 lbs...all water but 1 or 2 are mixed in Gatorade type powder to keep electorlytes in check, and one is with 1/2 C pure cranberry juice to prevent bladder issues which I've had issues with in the past.  I also agreee with you on the BC - to me, I left that all on the table so to speak when I gave up both breasts - the tumor center is welcome to it!  Now it's just to get the insurgents out who may have thought they stood a chance once my guard was down but the suprise is on them with the magical chemo drugs!  And accompanying laser beam radiation yet to come!!!

My biggest complaint continues to be the lack of taste...it hit me earlier this time around and nothing sounds or tastes good, so I just have to kind of force it down to keep my calories and protein up...yesterday I dipped into a bag of Chili Cheese Fritos my DH had and at least I could taste them because they outsalted the salty taste I continually have in my mouth...but I can't live on Fritos alone (or could I???) so I'm trying to do what I can unti the taste returns, which was about day 7 last round...

Fighter69

CIOA Ladies .

Just an update : Doc has me on low dose AC Adromycin (may not be spelled right) Toxatere  , and the other is Cytoxin or something like that. I was given Kelflex 500mg because I have a problem with boils under my arm pits for 5 days it did its job. Vitamin D2 at 50,000 IUD once a week for 4 months .

Port was placed on Friday and had my first chemo today so taking it easy . All tests came back good, heart function , full scan of body , blood work and skin biospy which is very encouraging news from docs. Doc suggested no coffee because the chemo can affect the heart I can live with that and the bones too so thats why he gave me the D2   vitamin.  God be willing and I know he is I have 3 chemo sessions left so I am very happy with the care I am now recieving . Another MRI will be scheduled soon and will keep you all posted . I pray that you all are doing well .

Take care 

Fighter

MandyNJ

Shannon - Yes, 8 treatments every other Monday. My kids are two and six, so they're not too self sufficient. My husband doesn't come home until the middle of the night so there may be sleep outs in the family room if I can't do bedtime.



Oh wow, we spell it DED too! Haha!

Oliverhog

I had my TC #2 Thursday, then 3mg of Neulasta on Friday.  By today, I feel like I can barely move or eat or drink.  Does anyone else get that feeling of extreme lethargy and lack of interest in food and drink?  I'm worried I'm not going to be able to make it through four treatments with this lung disease.  The only moving I've done in the past few days is walking back and forth between the bedroom, the bathroom and the living room.

Oh, and I'm not completely bald.  The 10 or 20% of my hair that was left is still there.  Anyone else not completely bald from the first treatment?  I'm hoping I don't end up completely hairless, though, I'll deal with it.

Bellas, the NOWBI club name is great!