Starting Chemo January 6, 2014

Asb

mor, 

Good luck today. You can post your info under your profile tab. I can see how too much research can be depressing. But this group is awesome. I have found it very informative and uplifting.

Rabbit velvet, glad you are feeling better. I am also doing TCH, my hair started falling out after day 16. My Brian Joseph's brow and lash conditioner came yesterday. I hope it works.

Diamond_lil

hi Mor, if you click on your blue highlighted name in your post it will take you back to your profile page and just click on your diagnosis and fill it in. 

I hope that made sense, it's very late here I australia and I should be asleep!

LIL

katiegrey

Hi ladies - last night was mother-son Mohawk night. I decided to go for something fierce and warrior-like. 

Warrior_Woman

KatieGrey - What an awesome photo!  That's one for framing.  I admire everyone who can make the most of the situation.  I really helps to combat the anxiety and depression.  

I'm glad to see others without a port.  My only concern is damaging my veins.  I have a dark line up my arm on my vein after one infusion.  I can only imagine what this may become after a few more.  

My WBCs are creeping up...finally.  What a difference it makes in how I feel.  

Enjoy the day everybody.  

Sam2U

Mor-you got this!!

Katie-awesome picture--very fierce!

calmandstrong

Hello ladies, 

It has a been a while since I've posted on here. I'm feeling pretty great but my second chemo is tomorrow and I'm sure that's gonna change unfortunately. My hair is really falling out badly now in clumps. It was pretty horrifying last night and there's hair EVERYWHERE!! I have really thick hair so it's gonna take a while to fall out, eventhough I cut it pretty short last week. 

My MO changed some of my anti nausea meds as my nausea was really bad with the first cycle. Hoping for better results this time around. I enjoy reading everyone's posts on here and am proud to be part of this courageous, funny group
You gotta laugh sometimes otherwise you'll go crazy. Of course crying has its place too. 

As for the question about the neulasta, I get it with every cycle, and the stomach is one of the recommended places. I give it to myself as I'm a nurse and it's really not bad at all. I was really lucky as I had no bone pain with the first one. 

Our anxiety is often worse than what we're actually anxious about. I'm just counting down to my last one!! 

Keep up the posts and the great attitudes and support. I love reading everyone's experiences, suggestions and stories. 

calmandstrong

Katiegrey, what a beautiful photo Fierce indeed 

Asb

Katiegrey - that is awesome. I am just waiting for my 16 year old daughter to shower and then she is going to cut mine. I don't have a lot left but hoping for a fun cut at least for the day.

I keep thinking about how much time I have already spent and will spend hooked up to an infusion, and where I get my infusions is nice enough. But when I am done with this AND win the lottery I want to open an infusion suite that looks a little more like a coffee house or wine bar. Cute tables ( with very comfy chairs of course) and couches. Real food instead of peanut butter crackers. I am thinking a few private rooms for your first time or if you just want to sleep. Maybe massage chairs and mani/pedis. I think we deserve to be "treated" in style!

belleb

Love the pic, KatieGrey!

I couldn't sleep at all last night! I think the dexamethasone is keeping me up. Going to have to break out the Unisom tonight. No SE's from the Neulasta yet (been taking Claritin, so hopefully that's helping) but having some constipation and that's making my tummy feel pretty yucky. I've been taking Colace but if I don't "go" today then I think I will add some Senokot to my rotation tonight. 

Asb

My daughter is much better at doing make up than hair. It was fun though. I ended up shaving it down to  almost nothing.  Here are pics of me at my first treatment and then after I shaved it today. Now I have to figure out how to wear hats.

Diamond_lil

fabulous photo indeed katiegrey.

Belen: I had very little sleep last night due to the dex.....even though I halved the dose AGAIN! I will only take 2 mg this morning to get me through a few hours of work and then I hope to come home and get some sleep.

Still no side effects from the neulasta, so fingers crossed it stays that way. I really hope the side effects from taxol are as easy for me as A/C.

Have a great day/night all

LIL

CarpeVinum

Oh katiegrey & Asb ~ your pics are gorgeous!

Asb you have a very pretty bald head and I love that scarf in your first pic.

katiegrey your mohawk is exactly what I would have done if I'd had that much hair to begin with lol. What an amazing pic of you and your son.

myra104

Hey ladies, just checking in with ya...all your se's are very familiar...I was allergic to compazine so she gave me xanax second time around.  The first round I lost 10 lbs so I am using medical marajuana this time around and it is night and day!!  I was not a believer but when I couldnt keep food from gurgling up I said screw it and I am so glad I did.  I even had night sweats for 3 days on the first one and not once this time.

I was borderline anemic before the second chemo so have to keep an eye on symptoms.  Finally got my drain out from Dec 6th mastectomy yesterday, woohoo!!

Although, my plastic surgeon then proceeded to expand me waaay too much and I can barely able to move at times.  My chest muscle is sent into spasms just breathing,  grrrrr, sorta pissed about that.

Hair started falling out last Friday before my second chemo so I shaved it and now use a lint roller brush to get the little hairs.  Hours if entertainment!

Last, my mom is arriving tonight!!  I have not seen her since my cancer diagnosis because she just had knee surgery and lives out of state.  Thankfully my community has helped with dinners, shuttling the little ones, hwk, laundry, and on and on.

Hang in there beautiful women, we will get better and until then please know your all in my thoughts and prayers, xo

katiegrey

Asb - you look adorable!! You have biggest, most beautiful eyes!

Myra104 - glad the medical marijuana worked for you; I use the real thing for pain, nausea and insomnia and it works great for me. 

Anonymous

Asb, you are beautiful with or without hair! Get you some bold earrings, ans ROCK that GI Jane.

Paula

Asb

katigrey, thanks. It was much less traumatic than I thought. Although I keep finding hair everywhere. I knew my head was small, but without hair it is so tiny. Every hat I try on is too big. My 24 and 21 year old sons keep telling me they will get some marijuana if I need it. I think they are dying to see mom high. So far I haven't needed it, but would not rule it out if I did. Here is a pic with my new wig. I don't know why it is sideways and stretched.

katiegrey

Asb - super cute wig! I'll post a pic as soon as I get one. I have the opposite problem - really large head and all the wigs I've tried feel too tight and then ride up on my head. 

I did ask my oncologist about using marijuana and she was totally supportive, but cautioned to get the good stuff and not get arrested! It's not legal here yet, but I think Minnesota is getting close. 

I've got AC #2 first thing in the morning. Good luck to the other Thursday ladies!

myra104

Great wig!

Wipa

hey ladies,

Had my first AC on 1/23.  I had a headache that night and was up for about 3 hours in the middle of the night, also had some rapid HR that was annoying.  I worked the next day (slight headache) and then felt like crap on day 2:  headache , body aches and fatigue.  Occasional rib pain but I felt like the Claritin helped with most of the bone pain.  Haven't taken anything for nausea other than my kids' Tummy Time Tea.  Using excedrin for headaches.  3rd day was tired and kind of foggy, have felt good last 2 days other than some queasiness .

Definitely keep up the fluids, I'm trying to do 72oz a day and swishing with the salt/bicarbonate.

I fasted about 18 hours prior to chemo, will probably try that again since I felt symptoms were bearable.

Hope everyone feels well tomorrow

Hillary

Njmom3

Hi Crazyrabbit, I have a question for you.  I take a low dose of lexapro 10mg for about a year now since I quit smoking.  Then all the bc stuff started and I stayed on it.  Now they have given me Ativan for nausea and stress. Can I take both?  I take lexapro at night, and the mo said take the Ativan the night before chemo for stress and sleeping.  Can I mix the two I feel like a junkie, plus the Percocet for pain, which I only take sparingly. Help please!

Diamond_lil

njmom3, hi there! I have a medical background and personally I wouldn't combine those drugs without talking to your own physician. They have specific purposes and may interact. And of course you can't stop lexapro suddenly either.

I hope you are well and can sort your meds out

LIL

Dinaburg

I'm supposed to start Monday too.... Very anxious. Was your sentinel node positive? How many rounds are you doing?

Mor

my first Chemo Session went very well, in fact it was restful sitting in that reclining chair, with my own soft pillow.  Staff was happy, and very informative as to what they doing and explaining everything.  Nothing to complain about.  Felt good enough to go out to dinner.  But I was tired.  That's all.  Booster shot today and I have already started my Claritin.

Can any one of you new friends help me with keeping track of what meds to take and when to take them?  I am an organized person, and this is throwing me for a loop!  Perhaps it is this whole cancer thing, but I am confused.  I am searching for something I can put together and view it all and be certain that I have taken the correct meds at the proper time on the proper day.  Has anyone else faced the same dilemma?

So far no side effects.  Looking to see what happens after today's Booster.

I am glad I joined this site.....it's my own little support team.

Hope someone can help with a plan for tracking my meds.  Thanks and I wish you all a good day.

Mor

Sunshower

katigrey - beautiful picture with you and your son.  

Asb- great pics...so important for us to document the stages we go through. The wig is very flattering💁

Myra- glad to hear you finally got those awful drains out and the medical marijuana is working for you...it's illegal in Florida too, but fortunately the meds they are giving have been helping with SE's so far.

Mor- I've been setting alarms on my iPhone cause I'm definitely a little foggier with chemo. I don't know what meds you've been prescribed but this is my schedule for week of Chemo starting with the the day before: 

Day 0 (before): Claritin x 1 in a.m.           

                         Steroid x 2 in am and pm    

Day 1 (chemo day): Claritin x1 in am

                         Steroid x 2 in am and pm

                         Zofran x 1 b/f dinner

                         Compazine x 1 b/f bed

Day 2:               Claritin x 1 in am

                          Zofran x1 b/f breakfast

                          Steroid x2 in am and pm

                          Zofran x 1 b/f dinner

                           Compazine x 1 b/f bed

Day 3, 4 and 5:  Claritin x 1 in am

                            Zofran and/ or Compazine as neeed.

This is what is working for me so far....you could probably do one for yourself to get a good visual

                

                       

Sunshower

Here is a before and after picture of my hair just prior to starting...once I start loosing hair I'll get my buzz cut

Mor

sun shower.....

Wonderful. It is exactly what I needed.  Thank you so much.  I was fine yesterday after first chemo.  Woke up today, frazzled as can be.  This is unlike me.  Hubby says he never saw me like this.

Will write more later.  Must lv now for boostr.

Mor

chipmunk57

Hi ladies. Joining this group, as I had my first chemo on Jan 21. Doing 3 rounds of FEC, followed by three rounds of Taxotere. Going to FEC the heck out of this cancer!

Has anyone had any experience with dental work during chemo? I think I have a cracked crown, going to call my dentist this afternoon .

rabbitvelvet

Welcome Chipmunk...While dental cleanings are discouraged during chemo ,patients with medical conditions still need work.  My friend had heart valve surgery and they would always start her on antibiotics before she any dental work.  She was fine. 

Diamond_lil

sun shower, beautiful pics, I'm sure you will rock the buzz too. I was just looking at your medication regime..... SO complex!  am only taking dex pre A/C, (next cycle I am not going to take any post chemo..... I find the come down too tough), and neulasta day 1. I don't get sides from it either so I don't take anything else, I guess I'm very lucky.

Here's a pic if my beautiful bald head! I will Add another with my favourite new scarf later

Wishing A great day to all, I'm off to work!

LIL

Crazywabbit

njmom3

I started the lexapro just after my diagnosis and take it in the morning.  I take the Ativan before bed (started that shortly after the lexapro) to help me relax and sleep. No problems taking both together but I would be careful with Percocet and Ativan together.  Both can cause central nervous system depression. 

Sitting in the infusion enter just finished the premeds and waiting to get the 4th and final AC. Start taxol in 2 weeks.  Already ordered L glut amine and B6 from Amazon. 

Good luck to all getting chemo today and tomorrow. Remember the Claritin before and after the neulasta shot. It really works. 

Barbara