First ac last week

Ejjtmurr

Still feel so tired! Still recovering from surgery as well. Is diarrhea normal? What meds help with nausea the most? I feel a wreck.

Holeinone

Ejjtmurr, 

A/C is no picnic. Some ladies post that it was a breeze for them, I did not think so. Your chemo center should of sent you home with several prescriptions for anti-nausea meds. My 1st. & 2nd A/C infusions, the pharmacist sat with me, asked ? about my normal level of nausea ( when it comes to surgery, car rides ) .He went over the meds, when to take what.

If they did not do that, and you need meds, call them ASAP. Everyone reacts different, I did not have diarrhea, but I think that is really common. You will feel much better in 3-4 days.

I could list the meds I was on but you need to take what your oncologist orders.

Ejjtmurr

thanks for your answer. I feel like I should not be so tired after just one. And to boot, a cold.  

Holeinone

The fatigue is bad for about a week - 10 days, and then you get you energy back. I had my treatments 14 days apart, is that your schedule or 21 days apart?

Kicks

For me - A/C easy; Taxol - BAD!

My 4 DD A/C was not bad at all and did not slow me down at all - my 12 weekly Taxol put me either laying on bed or on the couch completely and utterly EXHAUSTED the entire time.

You should have been given anti- nausea meds by the Center.  I was given ones to take early in the day of infusion, immediately before infusion and for several days after.

I had no diahrea but had minor constipation.  Diahrea needs to be carefully monitored so you don't get dehydrated (especially if you're also vomitting).  Call your Cliinic and talk to someone.

A bit OT, but if you're having a lot of nausea - did you have bad morning sickness?  My Chemo Dr and the Chemo RNs all said that though there are no serious studies on the subject but it seems that often, the women who have a lot of chemo nausea had had bad morning sickness.  I had no morning sickness at all with either Son and I did not have any chemo nausea.  Just a thought.

Ejjtmurr

my schedule is 14 days apart. Had to get iv fluids antibiotics yesterday. Hope to feel better soon! 

Kicks

Are you getting Neulasta shot the day after infusion?  It is to increase WBCs to try to prevent infections.

Ejjtmurr

yes I am. Turns out no one really explained to me the med cocktail to help me stay feeling ok. 

Kicks

You didn't have a 'Chemo Education Class' before the first infusion? And given a book with all the 'general' info and your specific 'stuff'?

I can only say what I had as others can be very different.  I had an hour long, 1 on  1 class with 1 of the Chemo RNs immediately before starting my first neoadjuvant chemo about pretty much everything I needed to know just  before the first infusion.  (I also had a 1 on 1 immediately before my adjuvant chemo with more pages added about the different cemo being used but it was only about 1/2 hr.)  My 'book' is a notebook with all the general info in sections and then sections for my specific meds being used - not just the chemo but all the meds involved the day before/same day/next days.

Ask questions - Demand ANSWERS you can understand! 

jbokland

I had my first DD AC on Jan 23.  Nausea was well controlled with zofran, but  nagging.  I felt mildly retarded and tired day 3 and 4...getting better each day afterwards.  I find the nausea comes and goes now.  I was trying not to take anymore zofran.  Appetite is crap!  Drinking plenty of fluids, tho!

I also got the neulasta the next day with a liter of fluids.  They had me take Claritan D the day before, of , and after dose.  I find the bone pain isolated to one arm has picked up a bit.  Advil helps but wondering if the Claritan D would have done better for another day.

I got a port put in the day before my chemo started and was surprized to see the extra 'hardware' in my jugular.  Does anyone else have that??

eric95us

My wife took Claritan (no D) the day before, the day of, and 4 days after the Neulasa shot.  She would ache a bit if she forgot.  After the first time, I would remind her about it....I hated to see her feeling poorly and anything I could do to help her feel less bad....helped me too.....

She also had port bumps and lumps in her upper chest and neck.

Eric

jbokland

Amazing to see how DIFFERENTLY we all react to the chemo. 

My first A/C knocked me down for 3 days. Despite the Neulasta, my wbc's dropped and I was given a shot of Nupegeon the next week and put on house arrest until they bounced up (which they did).  The reduced by next AC dose by 10%.  What a difference, I feel much better!

I'm hoping the Taxol is tolerable!