Starting Chemo, November 2013 Group
Comments
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they look great today!!! at least putting my hands in gloves with neopsporn and vasoline for the most part stopped my fingertips stop exploding like microwaved hotdogs! but the nails are peeling off hourly and getting less and less! plus they open fissures where the nail SHOULD be....A million times worse when wet! then add the super bleeding splits! im sure im not alone and this .....is mild considering. .dying...!!! thank God for vasoline, gloves and neopsporn! i think the nails will all be totally gone along with the remainder of any brows and lashes left! who would have then your nails help you do sooooo much! even people cking up stuff!!! www! yeehaw....I love to be alive!
ooò
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I appreciate ALL of YOUR support and love.....not sure if I couldnt vent sometimes where I'd be! ive ALWAYS been the supporter! this is hard not being able to cheer everyone else like I want to! so...hurry for us all who are OVERCOMERS! !!! HANG IN THERE! WE WILL SURVIVE....AND WITH STRENGTH AND BEAUTY!!
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paulette: you poor thing! I hope it gets better soon!
Were they icing your fingers/ toes during the infusions?
You are in my thoughts and prayers!
(((Hugs)))
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Paulette? You didn't use ice gel while on chemo - taxotere. The only ones affected were my thumbs. My heart goes out to you. Prayers and recovery goes out to you. Right now I feel so foggy after my last chemo. My knees and joints are quite painful. I took Tylenol 3 at noon. I have thrush in my mouth. So I'm using nystatin for my sore mouth. I have a red rash between my stomach and thighs
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Paulette? You didn't use ice gel while on chemo - taxotere?. The only ones affected were my thumbs. My heart goes out to you. Prayers and recovery goes out to you. Right now I feel so foggy after my last chemo. My knees and joints are quite painful. I took Tylenol 3 at noon. I have thrush in my mouth. So I'm using nystatin for my sore mouth. I have a red rash between my stomach and thighs. Yes our skin is so sensitive. When I have a shower I have to remember to pat dry my body.
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ouch paulette !! that sucks.....................I have 2 taxol left and my fingernails and toenails are holding their own for now, I have been pounding opi nail envy to them every other day, not sure if its helping. I do have the neuropathy in them., which sucks too. I pop in often from the starting chemo in dec group ... we are all so close to being done.
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I appreciate ALL of YOUR support and love.....not sure if I couldnt vent sometimes where I'd be! ive ALWAYS been the supporter! this is hard not being able to cheer everyone else like I want to! so...hurry for us all who are OVERCOMERS! !!! HANG IN THERE! WE WILL SURVIVE....AND WITH STRENGTH AND BEAUTY!!
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ya the neuropathy sucks...... I had it bad before but now it is wicked bad sadly I have right now so I cannot use ice! So I had to put up with my toenails and fingernails burning every time I got a dose tax.
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at least I've got the splitting to a minimum for today. I have to be very careful with water because it makes my hands swell up and my fingers split open like hotdogs on the grill! They hurt like hell and bleed. I've always had a degree of that in the winter, but this time because of the meds its been unbelievable! I have to put Celine, Niels porn,.....lol auto thing!!!! vasoline and neopsporn! ! porn would be a funny treatment! !! and tons of lotion on my hands and keep them in gloves. Now adding the new situation where my nails are just coming off it just makes it all the worse. You never realize how much your nails help you use your fingers! Without nails they're squishy and it's difficult to pick up anything and add the neuropathy and damage from that it's just more fun time in the city! All in all though it could be worse I could be dead! So I'm counting my blessings and pressing on!! I hope all you ladies are doing well tonight!
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Phoebe I understand about the thrush. I pretty much stay on diflucan myself because I'm very prone to yeast infections anyway. Add in chemo, and antibiotics it makes it worse. I also do the magic mouthwash and between those its under control. At least I've been able to not get an infection in my nails!Kimi.... I had hoped the nail polish with do the trick is well, but I figured with the burning I had in my nails during and after the infusion it wasn't going to make much difference and apparently it didn't. I sure hope it helps you!
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I wish I could use ice but the raynauds just makes it impossible. No one even offered it anyway, even if I could use it! The right now its causes vasoconstriction... Hence the swelling and the spliting. Cold can make it so bad you can end up with necrosis and your hands and feet gangarined. I think this is also why I got hit with the radical naturopathy. ..I just wonder why my hair is just hardly growing. its been since Jan 13 I think last dose and I have some white fuzz! we wont even talk about chemo brain!!! I think my brain cells fell out with my hair! is anyone bruising REALLY BAD?? MY HEART IS PRAYING FOR ALL OF YOU STILL UNDER CHEMO AND RADS!!!!!
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thanks for letting me vent today! huggs to everone! !
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I'm so happy to be done with taxotere but I still have to have herceptin 1/2 hour every three weeks for a year. The oncologist said that shouldn't affect me. No side effects. I sure hope so. I still have to wear this port for a year. Also no meds for four weeks. I just need to get better
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As if the SEs from taxotere aren't enough I had to get a sinus infection. You know it's bad when a 95 degree waterbed with a sheet, two blankets, a bedspread, fleece pjs, and three dogs can't keep you from shivering. Thought I had turned the corner but the chills are back this morning. I don't think I remember what it's like to feel good.
How long does the taste buds take to come back on board with taxotere? Not that anything tastes bad, just nothing tastes right.
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Hi all,
Wallymama - For me the tastebuds reactivated about day 14 post infusion. I was amazed at how good everything tasted once they were back working. It has been a while since I have felt normal, but I'm in the throws of it. Some who are done Chemo might have a better answer.... I am envious you have three pups in your bed. My boy will not leave the floor so I dont get the bed snuggling.
Paulette - Vent away! You have plenty to vent about!
Phebe - Congrats on your completing Chemo!
I'm day 10 second taxotere - Like those before me, it has been no fun. Lots of pain and exhaustion so my bed is also were I have been for the last 4 days. Im hoping things turn around soon as my DH is out of town for the next week starting later today.. A few additional SE this time which might be of interest to those who are starting Taxotere, like Paulette, my nail beds are red and tender and I am loosing my big toe nails and have lost my little toenails. My hand nails are also sore. Nosebleeds - I think its from the lack of nose hairs and blowing my nose all the time. Headache - It is migraine like , and I am completely incapablle of doing anything require mental capacity. (a few 'funny'; stories associated with my grey matter synapsis not snapping...).
How is everyone else doing?
JAB
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Hi everyone...I am still here! Received my new computer late last week after my meltdown last weekend...destroyed a computer...can you imagine? The hard drive was failing and I went psychotic. Oh well...bought a basic HP 2000 from Best Buy Online and it was delivered on Tuesday or Wednesday...cannot remember. Still working out the glitches.
A COMPUTER BOUGHT ONLINE???? Didn't feel well enough to go to the local Best Buy. Haven't left my home since last chemotherapy
Forgive me but I cannot remember to comment on everyone individually but my thoughts and prayers are with you always. Feeling like crap...emotionally, physically, mentally, spiritually, etc. Just going through another phase.
I LOVE reading all the posts and updates, even if I do not post.
Just posted some new photos on Facebook of latest furry adoption, Crush...an orange tabby cat about 1.5 years old He was discarded during one of the latest Michigan snowstorms and brought to a wonderful animal control shelter north of Detroit.
I rarely post on FaceBook, either...just read and update.
If anyone wants to "friend" me on FaceBook, that would be GREAT! Just let me know.
(((Paultte)))-I feel for you, you sweet gal. My fingernails have held on but a few of my toe nails are going. Your fingers look painful, are they?
Have lost nearly all of my eyebrows and eyelashes...do not want to be in public. Feeling demoralized. Gonna try posting a few pics that are a few weeks old.
Love you ladies!
Still have most of my eyebrows here! This pic is from 3 weeks back! Eyelashes going, going, gone!
Already adore this guy, my beloved Crush-adopted from the Madison Heights Animal Control
of Greater Detroit on 2/22/14 with the help of Silver Lakes Animal Rescue League in Waterford Michigan
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Tomorrow will be 2 weeks since my second Taxotere/Cytoxan. I'm feeling pretty good overall, other than the ongoing effects of low hemoglobin--which only really affect me if I get up and try to do too much too fast. Otherwise, feeling pretty normal physically except for a whole lot of heartburn--my own fault for eating things I probably shouldn't have. I did have a few days of aches strong enough to call for hydrocodone, but those are all gone now and I managed to get through it without giving myself another bout of constipation, so yay for that.
Mentally/emotionally I'm not really feeling quite myself, and I can't put my finger on exactly what it is. Not exactly depression; more like a bleak or blah sort of feeling, and to be honest, sometimes I'm not even sure I'm not mistaking my heartburn and indigestion for an emotional feeling--how weird is that, that I don't even know what I'm actually feeling, or why? Whatever it is, it would be nice if it went away. Just one more thing to get past, I reckon.
I did go shopping with my husband yesterday for a set of shelves I'd wanted for our kitchen, which we got and he put together and we almost instantly turned a cluttered area into a neat organized one--it looks SO much better. Went out in the backyard for a while today--such pretty weather--and my husband filled in some holes (our dogs are diggers) and I threw a tennis ball for the mutts to chase. Funny thing: before my surgery I used to do that every day, and our younger dog, Scarlett, was only an eight month old puppy the last time I would have been out there throwing balls. She was already bigger than our little dog then, so I'd signal to Scarlett to "sit" by putting my hands on my hips before I'd throw the ball--to give the little dog a head start. Fast forward from early October to today, and sure enough, she still remembers that if I put my hands on my hips she is supposed to "sit" immediately or I won't throw the ball. We always think of her as our "not so bright" dog because the little one is SO intelligent, but I think maybe we underestimate her; if nothing else, she's got a great memory.
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I had a man approach me in the grocery store trying to sell me special Japanese water that is good for cancer patients. I was polite but kept thinking WTF? Who does that kind of thing? Guess I'm looking line a cancer patient! Lol
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Today I have been feeling chilled pretty much most of the day. I have butterflies in my stomach as I am due for my second Taxotere in two days and my body is NOT looking forward being poisoned again.
Also, seeing all the damage that some of you have suffered is adding to my anxiety. Yeah, my stomach is definately not feeling the best today. I am cuddling with a hot magic bag plus tried some hot tea with honey and lemon which seems to help a bit.
My fear is always that whenever I start feeling those darn chills I might be getting an infection. I pray that is not the case.
I feel low energy and almost kicking myself to do anything physical.
Lisa: I totally get how you are feeling! You pretty much described how I have been feeling as well: not depressed but hovering on the blue side of things.
The weather is just adding to that blah feeling. It's fricking COLD out here and will be for another week! This winter has been BRUTAL in every sense for me.
Talking to my relatives in Europe just adds to my frustrations. They have +12 C and snowdrops and tulips pushing through, we have -12 C and the only flowers that I saw outside in someone else's front yard happened to be artificial! Whatever warm wether they are enjoying over there is I'm quite sure at our expense! Not fair!
Tonilee: It's nice to see you smile! BTW, that's a cute pic of your cat!
Jab: Sorry to hear about your nails. Were they icing your toes/ fingers during your infusions? I hope it gets better for you soon.
Quirky: You could have asked him if he also buys the water for himself and his family.
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Tonilee - I had a orange cat once. He was sooo smart and a real sook. You'll get some serious cat love from Crush, I am sure. How do you facebook friend someone from this forum? BTW - Your picture looks great! We are always our own worse critiques.
Lisa - Scarlet sounds like a lovely dog. Being a animal person from way back, I am of the opinion that all dogs are smart, you just have to find what dog language they are talking. My Sheba speaks 'Its all about me' doglish. My wheaten Terrier use to speak "Its all about you" doglish.
Quirky - That is odd. Was he just singling out cancer patients? Not a great sales tactic, not to mention rude!.
Funny story about Chemo brain. My DH and I went to Costo today (first time Ive been out of the house in a while so I was a bit....odd). Anyway, all I have been able to think about is making sure I rehab from BC and get back to some level of 'normal' physcially, so, when when we arrived at my favorate box store to see they had Kayaks on sale, my rehab plan was immediately expanded. Kayaks are great upper body work outs so my pecks and arm would get more attention, we live on the water AND they were on sale (I love sales....). Anyway there was no way my DH could talk me out of it (I think Chemo makes you stubborn and monocular). We now have to two new Kayaks waiting for open water (which may never happen given the weather of late...). There was many strange looks as we loaded the kayaks in out truck amoung the blowing snow and 5 ft snowbanks. At least its fun to look forward to!
Judy
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It's an annoying feeling, Amazon. I'm feeling a little better presently--hubby came in and let me literally cry on his shoulder for a few minutes. The release of emotion seems to have helped me lots.
Jab - Scarlett is a lovely dog, but I'm afraid that my bc diagnosis hasn't done her any favors. I was the one mainly training her -- husband works 50+ hours a week usually-- so her training has been badly neglected since this all started in September with biopsies and such. Consequently, she's under-socialized, overly attached to my husband and I, and a little bit weird, frankly. She's a "Carolina Dog," which is a semi-wild "breed" to begin with. I'm just hoping that I can get her back up to speed and make up for some lost time soon, because she really IS an incredibly sweet dog.... plus we literally found her as a puppy trotting up the middle of a highway and she was nearly starved to death and badly infested with parasites, so she has a special place in our hearts.
She does, however, destroy sofas. She's working on her third sofa. No kidding. She's only a year old. lol. Luckily I didn't like any of our three sofas much to begin with.
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Ellen, congrats on being done with chemo. You have been through a lot this past year. It is now time to,think about YOU.
Paulette, your fingers look painful, I hope!they heal up soon.
Tonilee, I have lost my eyebrows and lashes as well. Your cat is so cute!
Wally, sorry to hear you have a sinus infection. Those are the worst. Just rest.
Lisa and Amazon, I know,exactly how you feel about the blahs. I was saying to my husband earlier that I have become very cynical since going through all this. I am afraid to let my guard down and let something else get the best of me! I also feel robbed of some of my spunk. I,really need to learn to,get over that so I can enjoy life.
Jab, we have kayaks and I absolutely love them. It's very relaxing.
I am still getting over my last taxol. The neuropathy is getting worse in my fingers and toes and I still,have random pain all over. It has only been a week, so I shouldn't expect too much. Have any of you experienced cording on your bad side? My left arm is getting painful and I noticed some cording. I have been doing my massage, but I don't know what to,do about this. Any suggestions.
More cold weather heading our way. Ugh.
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Question - Has anyone tried thier temporary boob in the water yet? Im thinking of doing some swimmimg once SE let up but was wondering how the stuffed boobs fair under these circumstances. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
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Judy: It's great that you were able to get the canoe! It would be a good way to stay in shape and gain some strength back.
As far as the swimming goes, I haven't tried it yet, but I heard that you might need a special swim suit that will fit a silicone prostheses. I hope that helps.
Smrlvr: Did you just lately develop cording or did you have it all along since surgery, but it got worse?
I have been dealing with cording ever since my surgery back in October. I still feel the tightness, but over time it got much better. Now I can actually lift my arm the same way as my other arm. That wasn't the case for a while. I have been doing some daily PT exercise, namely the so called bye- bye exercise, when you wave a good bye from the low position to as far up as you can go, then hold for a few counts, then back down. Need to repeat several times, I do a set of 10-15 a couple of times a day. Another good one is the ' beach position' when you place both arms behind your head and stretch. You can do this lying down or sitting, and standing, but the best one is when you lie down. There is another I try to do as well, it's called the wand exercise, when I hold a stick/wand in both hands and move it up above your head and down. I throw in a couple of more exercises depending how I feel: the snow angel and chicken wings. I do them lying down on the patted floor.
Oh, one more exercise to boot: stand in a doorframe with your arms aligned with the doorframe sides, then walk your fingers up as far as you can, hold then slide slowly down and repeat. I sometimes mark the doorframe with a pencil to see how far I was able to get my fingers over time.
I also massage the area a couple of times a day with cocoa- shea butter with vitamin E that softens up the skin before exercise.
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Smrlr- Have you tried L-Glutamine for the neuropathy? I stated it when the tingling first began 2 weeks ago. It really seams to help me. If you would like more information let me know.
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gee guys.....feeling like poop today. fighting a head and chest cold hubby brought home.want to comment but between the pain and cold....sorry....ur in my prayers!
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and I have sweats like a COW! I keep focused on the good to come for us ALL! !!!I I can at least see about a mm of hair!! not much but SOMETHING! !!!! yes ....fingers are OUCHIE and loosing more nail daily but at sime point IT WILL STOP! At least im breathing! Cough and congestion BUT IT COULD BE WORSE! !! I could NOT be breathing! !! so chalk it up to growing in Grace! !! huggs! when I can read ill respond to yall!
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bigT16: Iinbox me and give more info on L-Glutamine. I know neuropathy had something to do with nerves. I would appreciate it very much
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I'm still wiped from my last infusion. I tried exercising for 10 minutes just wiped me out. I'm sleeping a lot day and night. I still have my tastebuds but very fuzzy on what I can eat. Anybody been in MRI? That's my next step. I'm also going for herceptin three week's time. After that three weeks for one year
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BigT: What's the dose of L-Glutamine that you are/were taking? When did you start and for how long? Did you get the dosage from your Drs and with their blessing?
Paulette: Yay for your hair! Hope your cold gets better soon. I'm quite sure your nails will follow suit!
Phebe: Congrat on your last! It's great that you are able to sleep a lot. That's really the time when your body is able to repair itself. Enjoy it!
All: You are in my thoughts and prayers!
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