Starting Chemo March 2015

Jackbirdie

Sloth- you are too funny...but....WE ARE DOING THIS!

Leigh- sorry for the delay and disappointment. I hope you do take advantage of the holiday weekend feeling ok and eatng lots of bbq'd steak. That sounds really good!

It was NinjaMary who want the bidet haha! Me too! I have a hillbilly bidet which is just a squirt bottle of aloe body wash that I "hand squirt"...and of course, flushable wipes. Although I have managed to control constipation, every once in awhile it reverts to the big D for no apparent reason, and that basement area never fully heals. But it's better than not going at all. Sheesh! It's all the little things that add up. And most of them aren't so little. The pre- bc me would have complained bitterly about any single SE on its own. Together the make a nightmare.

Indygal- thanks for asking after me. As it seems I have said every morning, I think I am a bit better today. It's hard to tell until I start moving around because the crud just "settles" at night. But the good news is I don't have a fever, and my WBC was actually very good yesterday.

I had a bit of a meltdown with the head onc nurse and infusion nurse saying I had gone from model chemo patient to Isuck.com in a matter of weeks. I told them I never touched a doorknob. Never went anywhere. Never had visitors. How did this happen? Etc. and how I was so concerned they will delay chemo next week. (Which they said they will if I don't make a huge improvement this week).

While I was having my little cry they were extremely nice and comforting to me. The infusion nurse stroked my hand and said for me not to blame myself, and that I was still a great patient. She said not one in 20 patients paid attention to bloodwork, listened to what they said, read what they were given, or advocated for themselves and took responsibility for their bodies. She said it was so much nicer to work with a patient who saw themselves as part of the team.

So all of that, true or not, made me feel much better. I had a good nights sleep, and now we shall just have to see over the next couple of days if this new scary antibiotic mini Seal team pulls on their scuba gear and kills this thing. I can't imagine the confusion the mother board of my body's circuitry right now. To know what to fight.

Fight the cancer? Fight the chemo? Fight pneumonia? WTF??

SueH58

So I know you can raise RBC by eating red meat. But I was wondering if there is anything you can do to raise WBC. You may all know this but, if not, see the below articles on what to eat to up WBC:

http://renegadehealth.com/blog/2013/12/30/5-ways-t...

http://www.healthaliciousness.com/articles/foods-h...

SueH58

Katy, you always just make my day... (the mother board of your body's cirucitry... LOL!)

ninjamary

Katy,

Love your posts. They always make me laugh. Sounds like you are on the mend.

ninjamary

When I went in for my taxol the nurse got "pieces" in my blood return. A new clot may be forming. Great. She dosed me with a blood thinner at the end and now I'm taking daily aspirin also. That latter was my idea. I clot immediately, even when the do my blood draws. They stick that cotton ball and bandaid on and it's really pointless. I told her that if the port clots she is going through the arm. Nurse said, but you'll have ugly marks and I don't think that's possible. Please.

Looking forward to the holiday weekend.

Trvler

Yeah, a reason to eat red meat!!!

Katy: I know! I am amazed at how doctors have told me it is good I am so proactive in my care….like you could be anything else? God, it's your LIFE. My MO complimented me on being in touch with my body. Geez. Your heart is racing and skipping beats and you are NOT going to see a doctor about it?

I am also have a bit of downstairs issues. I think I need to start sitting in the tub daily. Minor but I think solvable.

Leigh: I am sorry you didn't get your last AC but like me, it's good to enjoy the holiday weekend not feeling like crap. When do you start your Taxol?

SueH58

Friends,

An enlightening note today from one of my "peeps" at work:

I thought you were one of the "Beautiful People" before, now it is going to be double!!

The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.

Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

Jackbirdie

Sue- Thank you for sharing that quote from EKR. I have been a big fan of her and her writing on the stages of grief for many years.

It actually brought tears to my eyes, and reminded me that all of what she said are among the reasons I have "fallen" for you ladies the way I have.

I hope everyone has as lovely a weekend as possible, SEs minimal, and know that none of you are ever very far from my thoughts and heart.

Hugs

Katy

Trvler

Sue: That's a lovely quote. Thanks for sharing.

avmom

good afternoon, everyone.

I'm still weighed down by very profound fatigue and some bothersome neuropathy issues, but I read this board every day. Only two taxol to go! My next treatment has been moved up to next Tuesday, as the oncologist isn't available on Thursday, which would have been the two week mark. At my cancer centre, the oncologist has to be physically present for the entire four hours of the taxol infusion.At this point my bone pain is being managed with morphine, which is going ok, but I have to watch and medicate proactively to keep my digestive system moving. All in all, not as bad as the AC, as my nausea is way down, but the fatigue is worse. My toes are completely numb, as are the first joints of my fingers and thumbs. I feel clumsy, and really have to watch where I place my feet, as the muscles in my feet seem "twitchy" and very weak, like I could fall at any time. Only a few weeks left.

I'm seeing a reconstructive surgeon next Wednesday, and a radiation oncologist on June 3. So far, it doesn't look like radiation will do much for me, but my MO has scheduled a consultation to discuss. I think that the benefit hasn't been proved if you are node negative, but the triple negative does count toward recurrence risk, so DH and I will go in for the consultation. I sure need someone else along, because I sure notice that my brain isn't functioning normally. I'll try to haven good questions ready, but in dont have a lot of confidence that I'll be able to process information quickly or well.

Congratulations to all who are finished with chemo, and wishes for a healing long weekend in the US,mwhich minimal SEs.

Hugs to all

slothabouttown

GOOD NEWS- I see hair coming back!

BAD NEWS- It's on my chin.

ksusan

Hah. I had a similar experience yesterday: Why is that damned hair on my earlobe still there?!

Italychick

hah, me too. Leg hair need shaving - check. Chin hair - check. Eyebrows UNDER my natural brow - check. Eyebrows thinning where they are supposed to be - check. Hair growing on tops of my feet - check. And I mean a mustache amount of hair. Hair in head - not so much.

Wth is this? Torture?

IndyGal35

Hilarious. Same here. My current sex appeal continues to overwhelm me.

Italychick

Avmom, research a substance called Benfotiamine for neuropathy. Some people say it helps, other it doesn't help.

Jackbirdie

Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play???

slothabouttown

I know Katy. It's just that I was holding out some little hope that the head hair would come

back in some robust and grand way and all the other undesirable hair would just stay gone

forever. Just something to daydream about!

rleepac

I'm getting both stubble and fine hairs on my head and I have had to shave my legs twice in the past 2 weeks.

No hairs on the chin...yet. I usually get a 'witch hair' now and then that seem to sprout overnight so I'm in the lookout.

I am getting rather tired of being bald and looking like a cancer patient!

Bekah

shaz101

you guys have me laughing a lot! No hair growth here yet! I have sideburns and my bet is that they grow first!!!

I now have my appointment for my radiology consult. Its June 1 makes me realize that the chemo will come to an end 😃 but there is still so much to go. Time to focus on getting through today!

Katy I hope your feeling better now. I think reading your posts that you must have turned the corner.

Thinking of you all.

DavisD

Just woke from my 12 hr slumber. Chemo 4 kicked my fatigue butt. I did push myself yesterday, took the dogs for a 3 mile walk, grocery shopped and cooked a meal then locked my keys in the car at the store! Did me in but thank you USAA!

No hair for me yet, still smooth as a baby. I am starting to have dreams of having hair again and promising myself I'll never complain again about it being too straight or too thin!

Still feel fatigued but not as bad as it could be.

Best wishes for a beautiful weekend everyone!

TerryMarie

DING DING DING !

Had my last chemo yesterday, feeling great about that although little sleep last night , I had restless legs for almost the whole night, its unbearable to have to keep moving them or getting up and walking a bit at 3 am. But besides that, I feel so relieved that this part is over and my picc line is out! I'm on an extra 3 days of steroids after the usual 3 days prescribed, they help big time with the bone/joint pain the taxotere gave me with infusion number 4 (was brutal). The steroids really do help. Next is radiation in a month and of course herceptin. Not sure when my tamoxifen starts, my doc never mentioned when yet. The lousy side effects end and we'll all be back to our normal lovely selves in no time. Hoping youre all feeling well today.

slothabouttown

Congrats Terrie Marie! So happy for you to have that chapter complete! We really are doing this thing! I had my final TC on May 5th and last night was the first night I've slept through since this started. I was beginning to think I would forever be waking up ( wide awake) every three hours but I guess (i hope) that was another chemo side effect that is slowly wearing off. I'm hoping the head sweats disappear next but some say that's the chemo induced menopause and those will be part of life for awhile. I don't know when my tamoxifen starts either, I'm thinking of putting a call in to my MO cause I've read and heard different info about whether it starts during or after rads.

Jackbirdie

Terry Marie! COMGRATULATIONS!!!!

🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

I am so happy for you

molly1976

Yay TerryMarie!!!

TerryMarie

Thanks guys! There is light at the end of the motherhumping tunnel!

SueH58

I thought this was beautiful...

THE BRICK

A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar.

He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw
something.

As his car passed, no children appeared. Instead, a brick smashed into the Jag's side door!

He slammed on the brakes and backed the Jag back to the spot where the brick had been thrown.

The angry driver then jumped out of the car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up against a parked car shouting,

'What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing? That's a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money. Why did you do it?'

The young boy was apologetic.

'Please, mister...please, I'm sorry but I didn't know what else to do,' He pleaded. 'I threw the brick because no one else would stop...'

With tears dripping down his face and off his chin, the youth pointed to a spot just around a parked car. 'It's my brother, 'he said 'He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up'

Now sobbing, the boy asked the stunned executive, 'Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me.'

Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat..

He hurriedly lifted the handicapped boy back into the wheelchair, then took out a linen handkerchief and dabbed at the fresh
scrapes and cuts.

A quick look told him everything was going to be okay. 'Thank you and may God bless you,' the grateful child told the stranger.

Too shook up for words, the man simply watched the boy push his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk toward their home..

It was a long, slow walk back to the Jaguar. The damage was very noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair the dented side door. He kept the dent there to remind him of this message: 'Don't go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention!'

God whispers in our souls and speaks to our hearts. Sometimes when we don't have time to listen, He has to throw a brick at us.

It's our choice to listen or not.

Thought for the Day:

If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.

If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it.

He sends you flowers every spring.

He sends you a sunrise every morning.

Face it, friend - He is crazy about you!

God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way.

If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.

shaz101

congratulations TerryMarie I'm so happy for you.

Diane, I hope the fatigue has settled now. I got tired just reading about your day. Have a great weekend.

SueH that's was really lovely! It resonates with me as I was always to busy doing things that I'd forget to enjoy the process and what was going on around me.

I've had 2 migraines in the last to nights! Drugs are working though so I shouldn't complain!

I've been crafting... I spin and weave. This scarf is made from my hand spun yarn

Positive_spirit

rleepac - I am glad I found you. I am in the April chemo group and I also have a damn anal fissure. It is so painful to shit - wow! I am really interested in what they tell you. I am going to set up an appt with my GI...been in pain and have not done that yet.

Jackbirdie

Sharon, that scarf is positively stunning! Very fine work. Looks so professional, but you'd never find something like that in a shop. What fiber are you using? Merino? And how do you dye to get such rich color?

I used to spin some, had llamas and sheep, but I never produced anything even approaching the fineness of that work. I was always afraid of the loom. Just knitted.

I'm glad the meds are working well enough that although not headache free, you are able to...that you WANT to do your crafting. I am so relieved.

I got my sewing machine out the other day and set it up. Today I got the quilt out that I had abandoned, mid-seam, over six months ago. I sewed two seams on it today, did some pressing, then had to stop. This new antibiotic is kicking my ass. It's not the most favorite quilt I've ever done, but I'm having fun doing a specialty border. The final border should pull it all together. Here's what it's looking like now. Long ways to go. I made a deal when I started quilting that I could never start a new one til the existing project was finished.

ksusan

Attractive handwork, ladies!