Starting Chemo March 2015

shaz101

Lee. You're doing so well. I hope the itchyness stops soon.

Bekah, how long between photos? Looks great. I'm still totally bald.

ninjamary

Leigh - I spit up my coffee about your pink sash friend. Love that!

I came in at one point to get away from the bugs and one of the woman was cleaning up the whole party. Last I saw of her she was cleaning the top of my oven. God bless her. In the end I quit early and went to bed.

Bekah - you have so much hair!

shaz101

Specialk, my sleeve and gauntlet are all in one. Is it better to have them separate?where do you buy yours? I need a second one. Do you wear yours everyday? I'm being a big baby...I hate this!

shaz101

Mary I'm so pleased you ended up getting some help. Entertaining is a lot of work Especially now!

Jackbirdie

Bekah! You better make an appt. with your stylist soon! So much hair!

Mary- bless that woman. I'm so glad you got some help and were able to retire early

Shaz- you poor thing with the LE. Thinking of you always. Hoping the migraines are somewhat under control.

I'm still feeling craptastic. Hope today is a bit better.

KBeee

Bekah, My hair almost looks like your first picture. Keep posting those updates so I can keep showing my hair what it needs to hurry up and do.

Mary, I am glad that someone stepped up to help. It's good you quit and went to bed. I was in bed by 8:00 last night too...and it felt soooo good!

SueH58

Bekah - OMG - that's REAL HAIR!!!!!

So yesterday I wake up with a yeast infection. Since then, I'm itchy! Arms, hands, feet. What the heck? Anyone experience itching? (Lee I know you have a/k/a the pain meds). I think I'm going for the benedryl too! Oh no, do you think I'm getting hand and foot syndrome???

Jackbirdie

Sue- I'm no doc but I don't think hand/foot usually presents with itchiness. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong. Since it's the weekend (why do these things always happen on the weekend?) I would try the Benadryl. That's a good idea. If you get some relief, I would take it for a day or two then stop and see if the reaction has passed. If not, you better call them. Hand and foot feels more like numbness and tingling, and loss of feeling, sort of like when your foot goes to sleep and then starts to wake up. I'm sure there are varieties of SEs, but Benadryl probably a safe way to start and rule out.

When was your last infusion????

SueH58

Just occurred to me I may be having a reaction to the yeast infection pill....

Jackbirdie

Indy- how you feelin' today? Did I already show this one of little Tutti stealing Jack's bed.??? (Sorry if a dupe, but I'm a dope)

Sue- good thought it could be a reaction. Do you have the pharmacy paperwork? If not you can call the pharmacy or look up SEs on line

slothabouttown

Katy it's so heartwarming to see Jack and Tutti becoming bffs!

Sharon, I know how irritating the compression sleeve is, mine gave me constant grief for the first month of wearing it. I even had to leave work early a couple of days because it was driving me crazy. Now that it's been a part of my life for the past 6 months I don't even notice I'm wearing it anymore. I just got a second one after learning they should be replaced twice a year since they can lose compression with time. Anyway, I wanted to tell you that in my case the sleeve became tolerable with a little time. I hope you have the same experience.

Indy, hope your weekend is pain free, take it easy and happy healing!

SueH58

Katy - she sure is a (cute) little stinker. And Jack so patient and gallant. I hope you're feeling better.

I did look online and it says to call Dr. if you have itching or hives. But I expect they will tell me to take benadryl, so I'm going to try that.

My brother and sister in law are coming to town so I'm having the family over tomorrow for Sauerbraten, sweet and sour cabbage, and noodles, and a chocolate croissant bread pudding for dessert. Doing many preparations in advance today.

Have a good weekend friends, and I hope your side effects are minimal.

ksusan

That cat is nothing but cute.

I've been able to head off yeast infections by sitting in the tub and slathering my TMI with live active culture yogurt, staying there awhile, and then rinsing with cool water.

SueH58

KSusan, that does sound soothing. Do you feel them coming on and jump in the tub?

ksusan

Yes, I am alert to candida! I bought some Monistat just in case when I started chemo, but haven't needed to use it. Some yogurt on the skin might help if yeast is the culprit.

littleblueflowers

Yeast infection pill side effects: I had flucanozole week befor last and I had itchy hands and feet too! Also felt like I had a two beer buzz for the entire 5 day course. It was obnoxious.

Bekah: OMG so...much....hair...I'd rub frogs on my head if it would make mine grow as fast!

Jackbirdie

Ksusan- great tip on the yogurt! These days I will jump to try anything natural before a pharmaceutical. A complete 180 for me....I will try this as am awfully prone to yeast..yuck.

Sue- the menu sounds fab! Hope you have time for a photo op for us before everyone digs in!

Little- frogs on your head. Lol. Risky business. Could wind up with warts, haha! You're hair will come. I'm getting the feeling it's like a watched pot....never boiling

Jackbirdie

proof I got out of bed today. Hummer coming in for a landing and resting after a drink. Always make me smile.

rleepac

I think that is about 6weeks apart. I got up from the couch yesterday and DH laughed and said my hair was messed up in the back.

Jackbirdie

first time in your life so grateful someone said that to your face? Haha.

Carrie37

Sue, that meal sounds delish!

Trvler

Katy: I met you in my dreams last night and gave you a hug.

Lee: So happy you healing is going well. Did you have implants? Take the vicodin. I sure plan to.

I have about the amount of Bekah's before picture, too. But I am finally going to go on record and say it is new and it is about 1/8-1/14 inch long. More on the sides and the back but progress so I am happy with it. My eyebrows seem to be growing a little, too. Tiny little hairs seem to be coming in. I guess the brow loss is a little less traumatic if you have light brows to start, like I do. But my brows were always full. I never used a pencil or needed on in my life. Now, like Kbee, I put it on first thing in the morning.

So my SIL who swore she would 'be there for me' and help with the kids, is officially NOT going to help. I was kind of mad mostly because I had thought all along I would be covered. Her grown daughter is going to help so there's that. I just don't get the whole 'we will do anything for you' promise and then just not doing anything. Why say anything in the first place? And my sister is giving me grief because originally I thought I might need her over Labor Day weekend and now it seems to make more sence if I get the girls to stay at friends (if I can) and she comes after to help during my first week back. She is giving me grief, too. She doesn't work and her kids are grown.

Jackbirdie

it has never ceased to amaze me how people let you down during this whole business. Indeed. Why say anything at all? It must be some kind of automated response, then upon reflection, they find a way to justify their physical and/or emotional no show. I don't know how they live with themselves. In the end I suspect it will hurt them more than you. They won't always be able to live with it. The closer they are, or that we think or thought they are, the more it hurts. The fact that it is nearly impossible to do this alone, and we are forced in the first place to ask for help, makes it all the more frustrating, and hurtful.


I'm very sorry, Allison, that this is happening now. That it is happening at all. It just effing sucks.


I am curious though about one thing. In your dream was I bald? Did I have hair? How much hair? What color? I guess that's more than one thing. Har. But I feel priveledged to have been there 😎 We absolutely must keep laughing. Must.

Trvler

Ok, lol. I was trying to remember if you had hair. I think you may have had an a wig or a hat. I don't think you were bald, which is odd give how many bald pictures you have posted.

Jackbirdie

lol. Touché

shaz101

thankyou sloth. I really needed to hear that. Im so sorry you have it too.

I just stood out on the porch and thought to myself. How lucky I am... sometimes I forget.

It's freezing here today brrr but so beautiful. The alpacas are out in the weather and the sheep are huddled together in the shelter.

Italychick

here are my latest hair pics. I trimmed down all the long wispy hair left over after chemo.

Italychick

I ran into a guy today on my bike ride who was back on his bike after 17 months after he was hit by a car. Said he was fat, I said me too 15 pounds and just finished chemo. He said my mom got breast cancer when I was 13, that was 33 years ago, and she is doing fine. He said never give up, that's what I told her, and she is still here 33 years later. And then he said amazing you are out here, just keep it up. He said she had the whole deal, double mastectomy, chemo, everything.

I love long term survivor stories.

Trvler

Me, too, Theresa!! Love your hair!! Do you have a small rash on the bottom of the back of your head? I have a patchy area in the same spot. Not really itchy, just a little red.

Love the Alpacas, Sharon!

SpecialK

Shaz - if you have an all in one deal I don't think that is a problem - except for trying to wash your hands! I received therapy at the NCI cancer center but purchased my sleeves/gauntlets at a prosthetic limb and medical device company linked to the cancer center, but a separate entity. Once I identified the right manufacturer I could order online if I wanted to, but they bill my insurance directly so I just continue to get new sets from them. The level of compression was dictated by the therapist but the fitting components of length and size were determined by the fitters. I was advised to start out wearing for an hour or two a day and to work up to longer periods. Some experience skin irritation if they start out wearing the garments for too long initially.I am supposed to wear my right set every day, but I don't. I actually feel better when I do though. My left arm is more easily managed and I wear that side for exercise, flying or long car rides.