August 2013 Chemo Sisters

travlmom

Great news FMGD.

KateW

Usually for me, it starts the evening of chemo. Day two is the worst ( think oompah loompah) and then subsides sometime on day three?

How are you today?

TanyaF

I'm not sure I got a rash from TC, but after my third treatment I had severe itching for days near the end of the cycle. I couldn't sleep and was miserable. I bought and used hydrocortisone cream and gold bond powder and that did the trick. I did get spot rashes. I was mostly surprised because it was so late in the cycle when usually I feel close to 100%.

I'm currently halfway through treatment #4. It's going OK so far. Main SE is the nasty food mouth including water. I'm staying positive about the rest of the week and made weekend plans all next weekend so I can feel "normal" and go out and be social.

Congrats to those finishing up! Make sure and keep us posted with everything!

mankatostate

Tanya-wow your Tc reaction to number 3 sound just like me only mine started at the end of number 2. Do you think you had allergies? I think that is the case but they don't seem too concerned. I don't want more steroids so I haven't made too big a deal about it...but I am starting to wonder if I should.

ForMyGranddaughter

Today is day 3 post last nfusion. Besides fatigue + a few spasms + being a little cold, I'm OK.

I didn't think I would make it but I went to church this morning. My granddaughter danced + someone wanted to purchase Pine Tar soap . . . so I pressed my way.

I've taken about 4 naps today . . . and still want to sleep.

I'm off work on Monday + Tuesday . . . hoping to feel great + get some soaping + website work done.

Have a rest-ful + peace-filled night's rest.

beeve

Last night I thought I was having phantom tooth pains (as I haven't had those teeth for decades, an upper partial plate now); it happens a lot, but this morning, after a night with the plate out, I realize the problem is a sore under where the plate sits. I hate to complain at this late date, but how can anything so small hurt so much? It's a week from my fourth infusion; I'm hoping some Orajel or Ambesol will help. I'm doing the salt water and baking soda, I even tried a touch of Alum which will almost instantly heal any cold sore but it didn't do that here.

It's hard to concentrate on anything because of this searing pain and I feel stupid to feel so sidelined - if you knew my dental history you would be surprised this is bothering me so much. But does this chemo mouth sore hurt so damn much for everyone or is this something else?

lovewins

beeve...my mouth pain was not as severe as yours sounds but oddly enough I used Listerine Blue mouth wash and mine cleared up in one day...not sure if this helps but I thought I would let you know what worked for me. Hope you feel better soon.

beeve

Thanks Lovewins, I will definitely give that a try.

Edit to add: a wee bit later...I had some popcorn yesterday, and I'm starting to think it's got to be a hull up under the gum. It could be around not a tooth, but an implant post I have from an unsuccessful attempt, so attached to the bone. I've probed with floss and soft items like a soft tooth brush and such but I can't seem to find it, so I do a lot of the inside swooshing to hopefully dislodge it. I might be totally wrong, usually I can feel the edge of a popcorn hull and this time not. I'm mostly afraid it's an infection, not a good time for it.

The pain is so damn severe I can't even see straight. If my face would swell up I would know it's an abscess. I wish whatever is causing it would make itself known so I can know how to get rid of it. Right now my husband is out of the house and I've taken some pain stuff so I can't drive anywhere. I'm hoping maybe I can take a nap to escape with the help of some other meds.

I'm sorry for kvetching, but man, this sucker hurts.

Hannariggs

Hi All,

I am gearing up for week 7 of twelve Taxol's. Although Taxol has been a lot easier, it presents its own problems. Although I have been icing my fingers and toes from the first infusion, it hasn't seemed to help. I have neuropothy in my toes and fingers, but soooo much easier than AC. When I first started the Taxol I had to take steroids before the infusion. Now I only take the steroids during infusion. Its is to ensure you don't have an allergic reaction. Even though going each week is not fun, the weeks do fly by. Then daily radiation but all done the week of Christmas. Looking forward to 2014! It is our year for things to turn around and start living again. The finish line is near.........hugs to all

Hannariggs

Hi All,

I am gearing up for week 7 of twelve Taxol's. Although Taxol has been a lot easier, it presents its own problems. Although I have been icing my fingers and toes from the first infusion, it hasn't seemed to help. I have neuropothy in my toes and fingers, but soooo much easier than AC. When I first started the Taxol I had to take steroids before the infusion. Now I only take the steroids during infusion. Its is to ensure you don't have an allergic reaction. Even though going each week is not fun, the weeks do fly by. Then daily radiation but all done the week of Christmas. Looking forward to 2014! It is our year for things to turn around and start living again. The finish line is near.........hugs to all

ForMyGranddaughter

Today is day 4 post last nfusion. I feel OK today, just experiencing the same fatigue, spasms + light headache.

I called my MO to see when I can get an oncological massage + begin to eat sushi + raw foods. To my surprise she said I can start now.

I really don't feel like eathing anything fancy right now, but I plan on celebrating with sushi next weekend!

RhodyMMM

FMG, I'm surprised she said you can eat sushi so soon. It would seem that next weekend would be when you would be hitting your nadir? (I'm a bit paranoid since I have only had two treatments so far and have already had two hospital stays with neutropenic fevers). But if she says okay, go for it! So glad you are done with your treatments!

Wishing all the rest of you all the best....I go for A/C #3 on Thursday. Switching MO's so we have an official meeting with the new one on Wednesday but the protocol will stay the same because the docs are all out of the same cancer center...this one is just a lot closer to home.

Martha

LisaSp

FMG congrats!!! We're finally off the chemo train. And is that the same for you, Togetherness? If so congrats!

Now I'm 7 days post-tx and fairly good. I tire easily and get sore (Neulasta) but it will pass eventually. The fatigue can be bad but I am dealing with pacing myself.

Still wakeful from steroids and got that icky mouth taste. I will be happy to be done with both.

I will confess that I am missing my hair because its annoying having to put on a wig or hat constantly. I am just not brave enough to go au naturel anywhere outside the house, sigh.

mankatostate

hey fmgd and Lisa thanks for sharing with us post last chemo...it's making me think "I can do this...in a week I will be there too."Last week I was having such a hard time thinking I have to do this yet one more time!

Today I went to the clinic for my weekly blood work. I have been having some chest pain so onco decided to do a chest scan. They needed to inject some die so they had to change my port line. I get up there and it turns out I have a wrong kind of port so they can't use that and they had to give me an IV. After staring at my one good arm forever, finally they tried to put the IV in w/o success. I waited about another half hr and they finally said they would do a different test that required a smaller IV needle. I could go home eat lunch and come back in about an hour and a half. When I got back once again they poked at my vein trying to get a smaller IV in...They insisted it was in even though it hurt and I knew it wasn't. When they got to the point where they tried to insert the die it didn't work. So they tried again to get an IV in and failed. She was going to try again when I kindly asked please let someone else try. Finally on the 4 time they got it. I felt like a pin cushion! I am now even more thankful I decide to get a port...a little bummed that they put the wrong kind of port in, but so glad I don't have to get an IV every time for chemo. It was a long day...got to the clinic at 8:15 left for about an hour lunch and was back getting poked and scaned until 4 pm. They whole time I kept thinking actual chemo is a breeze compared to this.

rachelvk

Hi ladies. I hope you don't mind me posting here - I just happened on your thread and I wasn't sure if you already knew, but Julie passed away last Thursday. She was in my December 2011 Chemo thread, when she was going through it the first time. I'm sure she was as great a supporter for you all as she was with us.

Good luck as many of you wrap up your treatments. It gets better - it just takes time to get back to where you want to be. Take your time and listen to your body.

Rachel

Anonymous

Terrible news about Naan / Julie. I know that we are sick but I find the news of her passing astonishing. She was so alive. Keep healthy women. Try to do everything you can to keep well.

V

Cougarlicious

Rachel - thank you for letting us know. I am devastated to learn of Julie's passing - she wasn't on our board for long, but she provided a wonderful energy to the group. Please send our condolences to her family if you are in touch.

ForMyGranddaughter

Rachel, thanks for letting us know about Julie, please give her family our love.

I remember one of her latest posts mention pneumonia.

R.I.P Julie! You have gotten your wings.

ForMyGranddaughter

I, too, was surprised about getting to eat sushi + raw foods so soon.

It seems like chemo does it's thing immediately then it's done. I will not eat sushi for a few weeks; however, I will add fresh spinach to my salads + start eating fruit again.

gavinsgrandma

Rachel, thank you for letting us know about Julie/ Naan, it is so heartbreaking and I don't know about the rest of you but when I read that I felt as though I had been kicked in the stomach. It truly is a reminder to all of us just how fragile life is and how wicked cancer is, it is so important for us to stay healthy, stay positive and fight for our lives because we are!!!!! Please give her family our condolences and may she rest in peace.

Shary

mankatostate

gavins- I feel just the same. Very very sad! Hard to believe too. I have kept thinking any day she was going to pop in here and share with us. Thanks for letting us know Rachael.

beeve

Very sad to hear about Julie/Naan.

It turns out that I don't have a gnarly mouth sore but a dental abscess, which does not thrill me. I got back to the dentist this afternoon for possible relief and started taking some Amoxacillin from the dentist, but I'm unsure how it'll all go down, since I'm just a week past an infusion I know my body is not at it's strongest. I did call my MO's office to inform them of the work, haven't heard back yet and don't know if I will. I'm so distracted by the mouth pain (that's also giving me a huge headache and knots in my neck. At least my fear that I was overreacting to a little mouth sore has been asuaged.

lighthouselady

I'm so sad about Julie. Hard to believe we've lost one of our own already. <sigh>

I'm really sick of cancer. Not only mine. Just found out my good friend's husband has colon cancer. 51 yrs old. Ugh. Does it ever end?

Well, hopefully I've made it through the worst of AC #4. Had a rough few days - felt like I had the hangover from hell, actually. Nauseous, yucky taste, headache, exhausted, fever & chills, etc. Luckily my fever only hung around for a couple of days (seems to be gone today hopefully!) and never got above 100. I was getting worried that I'd have to call the dr and end up in the hospital, which would NOT be good. I'm supposed to go to Dallas tomorrow (hubs and I are spending the night for our anniversary) and I have three surgical appointments on Thursday! I think I'm on the rebound, though, so as long as I take it easy I should be good to go.

ForMyGranddaughter

I've been thinking about Naan all day!

Yes, life is fragile + each day is a gift. Let's make a decision to be our best + give & receive love daily!

LisaSp

Rachel, thank you for letting us know about Julie. It's very sad and I'll miss her, she was so spirited. Please pass on our condolences to her family if you're able.

LisaSp

LHL: So sorry to hear that things have been rough for you, especially since you plan to celebrate your anniversary soon. I hope your trip is great and that the consults with the docs turn out well.

Beeve: Wow that's scary about the abscess -- you should really bug your MO to get a callback; that is serious. Not to mention the pain you're in! My mouth is very sensitive now and I don't have anything that major. I can't imagine how bad it is, as just having things too salty sting and burn like they never did. Take care; feel better soon!

RhodyMMM

So sorry to hear about Julie. She was an amazing person! Wishing her family peace and prayers.....
Martha

Togetherness

Thanks Rachel for letting us know about Naan so sad for her family and all of us who were touched by her. I have landed myself in the hospital with the rash I developed on Saturday after my last chemo. I was so excited getting my last chemo. The rash is actually an infection called cellulitis from my tissue expander on my right breast. They drained fluid from the breast and will do a test of the fluid. If it is treatable through antibiotics which it has been so far we are good. If not then infection will continue to come back and the expander will have to be removed and other issues come in to play. All this hard work to stretch the skin will be lost. I am hoping for the best!! My temp is down which is a plus since it was at 103 for four days. I had planned for November 5th to have my implants put in so I am hoping that it is just an infection and goes away and not in the tissue expander capsule. Please say a prayer!! Oh by the way I am ready to leave this hospital!!

gavinsgrandma

Beeve, I am sorry to hear about your abscess, as if you need anything else to deal with!!!

LHL, we are very close in treatment, I just finished my A/C last Thursday and I feel pretty much the same as you described, today I don't feel to bad but I have 0 energy and even getting up to feed the dogs I get short of breath. I have so many things I want to do in my head but my body say's NO!!!!!!, I hope you are feeling well and Happy Anniversary.💍

FMG, absolutely we need to give thanks everyday.

Togetherness, I am so sorry about all the trouble you are having, that truly is frustrating to get setbacks, when all we want to do is get through all this crap and get some sort of normal life again. My thoughts and prayers are with you, and I hope you get out of the hospital soon.

beeve

I had half a root canal late yesterday (I didn't get out of the dentist's office til after 6) and am waiting for the dentist's office to call to schedule the second half. I'm scared this is one of those situations that will go south and make me really ill, if only because usually after the initial root canal there is relief and with this one, not yet. I try not to think about it but it's hard to ignore what feels like a bullet wound in my mouth.

I know a few of you have ended up in the hospital with what started as a routine small infection or wound. Would anyone be able to tell me what to look for? My MO's office told me to continue with the dental antibiotic. I know I've let the right folks know that things aren't right and I know I'll be taken care of if things do happen, but I'm still terrified of it all, which is unlike me. I guess the physical pain is making me more emotionally vulnerable as well. Now I feel like I'm whining. I really don't need any more complications in my life.