Starting Chemo February 2015

Chloesmom

Had big time urine leakage. The visceral therapist said the ligament that attaches to the top of the bladder connects up by th liver and daphragm. The tight tissues from the mastectomy pull down into the abdomen and pulled on the bladder. It resolved after I stopped ttryng to range my arm so intensely and when worked on my belly

New issue ankles puffing up. Dr said it would get worse before it's better

Darumama

🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷💐💐💐Happy Mother's Day💐💐💐🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷

I had chemo 6 out of 8 Friday, my second Taxol. Had a couple seconds of feeling a little faint when it started, but it passed very quickly. Woke up Saturday feeling great, but as the day wore on I started to feel more tired. Was waiting an extra day to take my steroid this cycle as doc advised, so when hands and feet got itchy last night took a dose of Benadryl. Got my Neulasta this morning and for the first time ever felt burning at the injection site. It surprised me how long it lasted. BTW my doc has his patients do Claritin for 10 days beginning day of Neulasta. This served me well during AC, so I think it's Taxol that's giving me aches and pains. Still just have the one numb pinky toe so I consider myself lucky so far in the neuropathy dept. Don't have full faith that the change in steroid schedule will alleviate all my pain, another 2 days should tell. Last cycle I had body aches that reminded me of the flu. 2 more chemos to go.

On a happy note, my boys (9&11) let me take an awesome nap this afternoon when I started to feel worn out. They were in the next room quietly making a giant Mother's Day card for me with all their favorite characters wishing me a happy Mother's Day. It was adorable

Sugarcakes hope you felt better today and had some fun with your son after all that gastrointestinal distress!

Jerseygirl927

I hate it when dr says, it will get worse before better. I was better before BC now I feel like a mess. Had no issues except horrid indigestion most of the day, and that was scrambled eggs, so tonight I had sweet potatoe, and hubby decided to make hot dogs and chili! Well I had half a hot dog and some chili, so weighting for the big D hope it holds a day, hemmroids still hanging out. Not the worse Mother's Day, but not the best either, got to see 2 of my grand babies, and talked to a 3rd on and got a text from the 4th, so missed 2 today. But her from the kids. Guess that's not bad. Hang in gals. We're mostly done..

MaryJC

I'm feeling a knot of sorts under my arm near the surgical site where nodes were removed. Its sore at that. I'm really really scared. Onc says very low probability that its a tumor. I have been doing a lot of heavy lifting lately. heavy as in watermelons, and my 2yo. Now onc wants an ultrasound. Any advice ladies. I feel sick to my stomach with worry that its a tumor. Thanks.

Chloesmom

Mary. Get t checked out but don't assume the worst. I had that happen after trying to put on a heavy backpack. The scar area tightened up and needed PT and massage to unsnarl it

MaryJC

thank you for your quick reply chloes mom! yeah its painful and radiates across to my boob. This experience is very anxiety provoking. It makes u worry about everything.

Jerseygirl927

try warm compresses too, take an Epsom salts bath, could be you overdid, like we all do. Sure it's probably Nothing.

MaryJC

thank you, I think so also. It corresponds to when I was lifting. I have a giant toddler, carried him, lunch and 1/2 watermelon across busy intersection on Sunday. Then still more watermelons before and after that. I'm hooked bec I can't have sugar- and melons have very low sugar content. I do think its my tissue knotted up. I am a therapist but I need one of my own asap. I need to debrief from this experience.

SugarCakes

Hey MaryJC!  Praying that it's nothing too serious.  I must admit, I chuckled as I envisioned you walking across an interstate carrying watermelon!  I love watermelon.  You have me wanting some now

 

 

MaryJC

No worries about the chuckle! You know how we moms have to be. My toddler is in the stage where I still have to pick him up to cross the street. But he's a giant toddler tho. Had my fish tacos, his fries and 1/2 watermelon, him and my mommy bag. Now my armpit hurts! I guess it makes sense. But to doctors in BC world, everything is ULTRASOUND, MAMMO NOOOOW! I get tho and appreciate the urgency. I'm gonna put a compress on it and see if the knot goes down. I've been eating a LOT of watermelons. My baby went potty and pissed out watermelon pulp. I saw it elsewhere, lol. They're in season so enjoy!

Italychick

MaryJC, roflmao about the watermelon pulp piss! I can just envision your with one arm around a toddler's middle, half slung over your arm, an out of control watermelon and a lunch bag about to rip out of your fingers in the other. So classic. My two grandkids (weight 35 lbs. and 29 lbs.) frequently make me carry them at the same time, and I am a sucker and can't say no. I'm sure you overdid it. I am in total sympathy with you, but damn, I loved the visual image of you trying to cross the street!

MaryJC

LOL, well I'm thankful that something is giving us ladies a much needed laugh in this dreaded world of BC! And what's really dumb is that it dawned on me about the watermelons I've been eating. Its not like I thought at the time, oh this is too much, I better take it easy. I need therapy asap but I can't seem to find one. I've put out a bunch of calls. Lets see...

Darumama

Lol - so true they want a mammo, ultrasound NOW for every little thing. I had a little achy nodule-like thing near where my tumor was a few weeks ago had to go right in and get it checked out. And even tho I had a mastectomy they STILL made me get a mammogram. I had to do the limbo with the machine in order get this little spot by my armpit into position.

Hope it feels better MaryJC!

MaryJC

thank u darumana, Wete u worried? I think their reaction made me worry more now I am sick with worry

my instincts tell me it's obvious. But the knot just feels weird. I guess it could be tissue, tendon or muscle that's spasmed or something. Sisters talk me down off this ledge.

Darumama

I was worried because it was in proximity to the tumor, but closer to my pit. A PT thought it might have been a node they missed because she felt it kind of popping out. And it was a sore spot. And I did have quite a few positive nodes. After the imaging was done radiologist and BS agreed it's probably nothing, just the traumatized tissue heals that way sometimes. It feels fine now and it's hard to find the spot with my tissue expander more filled up. However, BS still wants to repeat the ultrasound when I see her in August. Probably will want to try to mammo me too, sigh. (PS I went for mammo and ultrasounds every six months for 2 1/2 years prior to dx - so I have little faith in imaging for my boobs. In the end I found lump myself)

I'm thinking it's the heavy lifting, but you'll feel so much better getting it checked out. I thought it was unusual for breast tumors to be painful in that way. Take some deep breaths, take that bath with Epsom. Pamper yourself a little tonight

Dromedary

Keep us posted MaryJC - hope it's just a false alarm.

Thanks for clarification on Claritin - never been mentioned by my doc and I forgot to ask him when I went for my appointment today. Duh! But I guess if he was into it he would have said something because I made it clear that I was not impressed with the pain management thus far!

I've got a bit of neuropathy in my fingers - doc says he has margin to reduce my Taxol dose and is going to try that this time. Although what I'm feeling is very mild he was adamant that he didn't want ANY neuropathy. He also reacted strongly to my mention of breathlessness after a brisk walk and I'm booked in for a tomography and ECG on my heart! I had radiotherapy 16 years ago - same side - so they're always keeping an eye on the heart. Better safe than sorry I guess. I just find I get tired of all the interventions/invasions - can't face schlepping off and sitting in yet another waiting room, being mauled by strangers, etc. Ugh.

I find the neulasta only burns when it's too cold. You're supposed to take it out of the fridge 1/2 hour before you use it - let it get to room temperature. Maybe they're not doing that for you. I do my own and find it doesn't burn if a) it's not too cold and b) I do it slowly.

Italychick

MaryJC, I hope I didn't come across as making light of your worries. I am surrounded by toddler grandkids right now, and I am sure yours just wants mommy, doesn't understand all the other stuff. That's why I found it funny, life goes on.

Good luck on testing and therapy.

Inasen2011

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25876649

MaryJC

Italychick, not at all. I appreciate the light heartedness. No harm done

Jerseygirl927

going to a talk by my MO today on latest chemo and breast cancer info. I am also thinking of winding down the chemo, will talk with him tomorrow or next week, but had problems with shortness of breath in the shower yesterday. Just can't get the energy to do anything. Hate this. Hang in there gals.

MaryJC

girls I must admit... I'm wringing my hands in nervous anxiety. I'm in tears afraid I have a history of comorbidity. While I was being worked up for ocular myasthenia, I found the breast lump. That's y I'm on the prednisone. So I'm terrified that now that I'm finished chemo- BAM, here comes something else! I've been googling way too much when the pain corresponds to timing of heavy lifting. But really not sure when knot appeared. I just know it's sore.

Onc believes it's muscular. I pray she's right. RN said its a lymph node. I think I want her to be wrong.

I have to work tmw THEN go to Breast Center. Will be a long arduous day.

Italychick

MaryJC, hugs. You will get through this, you seem like a tough lady. Please keep us updated.

Chloesmom

Mary we are pulling for you! Wish I could be there to hold your hand!

MaryJC

thanks girls. I know I'm getting all worked up. My BFF who's a RN told me to take an ibuprofen and if any of the soreness subsided (which it has) suggests it's muscle related. I'm going to bed. Praying I have great news tmw. x

Damselfly

MaryJC, you will be fine. Step away from the Google and breathe -- glad the ibuprofen helped and hoping that that's a good sign that it's muscle strain. The doctors and nurses are paid and trained to be paranoid and see so much trouble they sometimes have a skewed vision of reality. Try to enjoy your day, we are all pulling for you.

vr423

first round of Taxotere this week, was thankful for lack of nausea in comparison to the FEC but OMG the pain in my legs, back and feet! I'm taking ibuprofen but is there anything better? Damn chemo

avmom

vr, my chemo changed from dose dense AC to dose dense Taxol two weeks ago, and I also had a great reduction in nausea, but crushing pain in my ankles and feet, sometimes radiating up to my knees. I coincidentally had an appointment with my PCP the day after the bone pain escalated, and she said, "you shouldn't have to put up with that", and gave me a prescription for morphine, which does help. I had my second Taxol yesterday, and told my MO at my satellite cancer centre about the morphine, which I thought was a pretty big drug for the bone pain. Her comment was that morphine is one of the most effective pain killers they had, and that I should continue to take it, as needed, but to make sure that i stay ahead of the pain. It's not a big dose, it helps. All of my health care provoders have been very attentive to side effecs, and prescribe freely for any and all side effects. I was pretty healthy before this, and didn't used to take anything much, either OTC or prescription, so all of these prescriptions and OTC meds are a very big change for me.

I hope you feel better soon.

MaryJC

so Italychick is with me via email blow by blow while I'm in my mamo. Now waiting for ultrasound. Tech said looks like scar tissue. Let me see images. I know what cancer looks like at least IDC on mamo. Radiologist didn't seem like she was concerned according to tech. Thank u girls! I'll keep u posted.

Jerseygirl927

MaryMC sounds like probably nothing, that's what you want.

I went for my hercepton infusion yesterday after being laid up with my 4th chemo round last week. Well my port did not produce a blood return so I had to have it manually. They tried 12 different ways to get the port to work, but no such luck, so I am having some kind of portograph next week? I was still dehydrated and nauseous yesterday and wanted to die again. Why does this chemo make your crazy like this. Started more numbness in hands now and right foot. I'm not being a baby, but nervousness that this will become permanent! Will it reverse itself? Taste buds and mouth sores really kicked in more this round too. Only 2 more? I hate this....

MaryJC

thanks Jersey, yes indeed I want it to be nothing! Although sore it does appear to be getting smaller.

Meanwhile I'm concerned about your neuropathy. That's why my onc stopped mine at 4 rounds. It didn't kick in really bad until after the 4th leading up to #5. But yours is this way at #2. She said its reversible although there's risks. However seeing the thread 'vent about permanent neuropathy' is quite discouraging.

I can tell you this tho. Sugar is the devil! It 100% exacerbates neuropathy and all illness. Especially cancer! So if you lay low off the sugar you will notice a difference. I ate some soup with pasta sauce in it and neuropathy got a little stronger. I looked at ingredients. Bam.. Sugar! That's in all forms. L-glutamine is highly recommended. I have other amino acids but my girl Italy Chick provided research that says no-no for CIPN. so I'm getting my LG this weekend. Also my oncology nutritionist recommended it too.

I also fasted before my chemo rounds and the neuropathy was quiet/non existent during my fast. I'm going on a fast starting Sunday to now cleanse from the chemo. I'm considering to start juicing again but contemplating if the sugars in the carrots will be an issue. I've read it won't.

Btw THAT is why I've been o'ding on watermelon lately. You even have to watch the sugars in fruit! Bananas mangos grapes.. Waaaay too much sugar. Watermelons low sugar. All berries low sugar.