Starting Chemo March 2015

Jackbirdie

Good day my lovelies: I'm checking in with the good news that over the last couple of days I feel the tiniest bit better each day. I am getting dressed again and trying to do a little something each day. I got so weak I have not exercised at all for many weeks now. Poor Jack. But I think having Tutti around has given him some mental stimulation. I'm going to take him to a dog park today so he can run around without me expending all the energy I have for the day..

Allison, glad your daughter is feeling a bit better.

Sue- thanks for the links and glad your infection has gotten better too.

Lee- I'm still over the moon about your surgical/path outcome. How is the pain today?

Sloth- I am very sorry to hear you've had to suffer that idiot of an MO, and am glad you are searching in earnest for your new life partner....haha.. Unfortunately, your relationship with your MO is a long term one, and your surgeon is only a one night stand. I know you will find a good fit. Get what YOU need.

And yes, Bekah, new pics! You are leading the parade!

Sharon hope rads is treating you well so far. It was so great hearing your voice on the phone! I feel one step closer to showing you the U.S. And lolling at Lake Arrowhead, if we are all still on. And if the offer is still good, Eileen? Is it too early to pencil in a date for next spring?

T- how many miles this week??? I'm certain you must be tearing up the road by now.

Hope everyone has a good day. The best possible.

Hugs,

K

rleepac

Ok. You ask and you shall receive...

ksusan

Look at that hair!

Jackbirdie

Bekah! That's a lot! So exciting! Not grey either.

shaz101

bekah! I'm ever so excited for you. Looks great. Ill never treat hair so badly again!

Neverthought we are a chatty bunch. So nice to have such amazing support through this. You are all so amazing.

Sloth, I hope you find a new mo soon. I don't think you need to explain anything. It is your choice.

Leigh. ..I bow to your ingenuity. Way to go, glue those suckered down.

shaz101

Katy, it was great chatting to you. Your voice is a friendly as your writing. You are one amazing woman. Thank you xxx big hugs to you and I'm happy to hear of your improvement. We will be travelling around in no time.

Jackbirdie

Carrie- I have you down for Last Tango With Taxol tomorrow? How about alittle preliminary bell ringing??!

🔔🔔🔔🎈🎈🎈🎈🎉🎉🎉🎉🔔🔔🔔🔔

Well done! You've been an example of grace under pressure. I salute you.

Carrie37

Thanks Katy!! 😃😃😃 I believe that Bekah is done tomorrow too. I am sure there is someone else. You ladies have been my inspiration through all of this. I was talking with my counselor today and she asked if I talk with anyone who "gets it." I could only think of you all; the best support group ever! I have family and friends here too but no one gets it like you all. 🎉🎉🎉🎉

I am wondering how other "graduates" are doing...Amy? Diane? Are you there?

wpmoon

I'm 4 weeks PFC, and I think my eyesight is getting worse.

Radiation is a pain in the butt. I've barely slept in a week and a half and I have a never-ending headache. No idea if it's the radiation, or the Herceptin only, or a combination.

Bleh.

Carrie37

Sorry to hear that Whitney. You deserve a break from this shit sandwich. My thoughts are with you!

Jackbirdie

Bekah! So sorry i slipped up there! Best wishes for an uneventful tomorrow! I am so very happy that this particular trial is just about over. I know challenges remain on your highway to healing. But you have made it through the hardest and probably scariest part. I'm so glad we met. As we always say, wish it hadn't been here. You've also dealt with your suffering with great bravery and class. You've been so helpful as well, with the no-nonsense, on call, medical advice.

I think I hear some bells ringing for you too. 🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🎉🎉🎉🎈🎈🎈🔔🔔🔔🔔🎉🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔

I was so nervous and emotional on my last morning. Couldn't stop the tears. I still don't know exactly how to name those feelings: relief, nerves, fear, apprehension- many possibilities. If you feel them, remember we are here, like the stars above, mentioned below. You have got this. You always had it.

Hugs

Leighrh

Bekah. You are seriously my hair hero!!! You have been through so much ... You deserve the hair!!!! But.... I'm still so super jealous .

Bekah and Carrie... Last one tomorrow !!!! Woohooooo..... So excited for both of you !! I hope this is the easiest one!

Jackbirdie

Whitney- so sorry about the lingering SEs. It must be so frustrating not being able to isolate where the little fun$&34s are coming from.

I would recommend making an appointment with an Opthamologist. It's possible it's cataracts, or something else really easily treatable. I know you probably don't feel like one more doctor appointment right now, but your eyes are pretty important. Also, you just might need glasses! And I hope you get some sleep soon. Not getting enough is absolutely crazymaking.

PS- about your eyes, I would also try some good hydrating drops or gel, especially at night. Chemo dried my eyes shut. Literally. And it affected my vision when they were dry. If you aren't already doing this, it's worth a try.

Hugs

pboi

Carrie and Bekah...woohoo for the last chemo! Hoping everything goes smoothly tomorrow and fingers crossed for no/minimal SE.

Bekah...you are my hair hero too! I'm nearly 5 weeks PFC, and have finally gotten the peach fuzz...but I'll take it. Fuzz is a definite improvement over bald!

Whitney...so sorry to hear radiation is such a pain for you. I don't think insomnia or headaches are usual SE of radiation, maybe it's your Herceptin? Hope you feel better soon,

PB

rleepac

Thanks all...my hair is definitely coming in good and I'm so happy to be on my last Taxol tomorrow! I'm sure I'll cry...

Don't worry though...I'll be sticking on this forum

Bekah

SueH58

Congrats, Carrie and Bekah! Bekah, you've overcome SO MUCH in your struggle with treatments. I'm so happy for you, and I echo Katy's thoughts on our appreciation for all of your speedy medical advice.

Sharon, same thoughts for you. You had such a particularly hard time. My prayers are with you for continued healing.

Katy, don't know what we'd do without you and your so well-thought-out and sincere comments, even through your hardest days. You're awesome! Hey, where's a pic of my favorite tutti???

Whitney, how'd your apptmt go with your PCP re: your tummy problems???

Jackbirdie

the Daily Cutie PaTUTTI

Here little mousie!

SueH58

Too cute for words...

ksusan

Awww.

twix71

Taxotere. How bad is it? I just finished 3 rounds of FEC and am about to start the first of 3 rounds of Taxotere. I've been hearing horror stories about the pain. People not being able to walk, etc. I'm assuming you guys here have completed a few rounds of Taxotere, so thought I'd ask in this forum.

On the otherhand, one of the nurses told me that some find it easier than FEC! Obviously, everyone is different but would love to hear some real feedback.

My oncologist has armed me with strong painkillers if needed. Hoping this will keep me functioning. But, I can't help but feeling anxious about it.

Thank you!

ksusan

I'll anchor the SEs-but-manageable end on Taxotere. On TC x 4 I was slightly fatigued, had some bone pain and nail bruising/ridging, lost most of my head and body hair, had a bad-tasting mouth, and my eyes were dry. A bit of transient neuropathy. A little diarrhea. A little fogginess and headache a couple of days after. That's pretty much it. I worked all the way through (that said, my job is not physical and has flexibility about when I do most things, standing vs sitting, etc.). I walked in my neighborhood or on a treadmill every day. Other people have had worse.

Italychick

twix71, not even sure where to start. You will lose your hair, your mouth will be funky and taste like you have a layer of burned taste buds for about 5-7 days, the steroid will make you crazy with energy, and watch for neuropathy. Our forum's go to solution for everything that hurt, rashed up, etc. was to put coconut oil on it. It seems people who tried to exercise as much as possible came out better. But it isn't a given. I continued with all my normal exercise and used no drugs other than steroid and what they gave me the day of infusion, but ended up with neuropathy and round 6 was stopped. After round 5, I had to live on Pepcid AC for about a week because my digestive tract burned so bad. Nails can lift, eyebrows and eyelashes may fall out, all or part. People had low white blood counts, and some had to get hospitalized with an IV antibiotic for fevers. I don't think anybody got a blood transfusion, but a few were close. Diarrhea and constipation was a problem for some, and one had terrible migraines. Weight gain, a lot of us gained weight, 15-30 pounds, but a few didnt that had constant nausea. People had port issues with blood clots, but those issues seem to have resolved.

Having said all that, it is doable. It won't be the most pleasant time in your life, but time will pass and chemo will end. We all made it, and you can too!

Make sure to be psychotic about informing your medical team about any side effects as soon as they occur. And I do mean psychotic!

I am about a month and a half from last chemo infusion (still doing Herceptin every three weeks), and a lot of my neuropathy issues are resolving, thank goodness. My energy is back. I have some leg cramping (chemo can shorten and tighten leg muscles), but my husband rubs them and my feet every night before bed and it helps a ton. I can honestly say that right now, other than my hair growing back (it is) and my eyebrows being funky, I do not feel like I went through chemo. I am riding my bike (hard) about 130 miles per week, slower than before chemo, but my speed is coming back too.

We are all sisters in this crappy process together. Big hugs -- you can get through this!

I'm sure my other sisters will chime in with anything I missed.

Xoxo.

Trvler

Cutie, Tutti! What is her personality like? I know sometimes kittens can be annoying but she seems pretty laid back? I had one once and it wanted to sleep on my neck. It got hot and uncomfortable so I had to put the poor thing in another room so I could get some sleep.

Theresa: I am so happy you are feeling better! Of course you are my exercise hero.

Whitney: I am so sorry you are having a hard time whether the Herceptin or the rads. You deserve a break and I was hoping this leg would be easier on you. Come and vent to us when you need to. I wish there was something I could say to make it better for you.

Bekah and Carrie: Woohoo on being DONE!!! I know you had a really hard time, Bekah and you deserve all the hair you can get!! (I am jealous, too.

Leighrh

Aliison... I had a dream about you last night! I met you in New Orleans.... LOL! I don't know what triggered it but it got me thinking... Do you have someone going with you for your surgery? I am an hour away from NO and I can certainly come if you need anything .

Trvler

OMG, Leigh!!! You are so incredibly sweet!! My husband will be going and my sister will be coming for a few days. Of course if you were in NOLA, I would love to meet you but I do have people coming. My friend was talking about coming but I think I might have my daughter stay with her for Labor Day weekend so I don't really want to ask another thing of her.

Leighrh

I will PM you my email address.... I know you won't be up for much but I can make some suggestions for hubs and visitors about great places to eat/takeout and such! NO is a great place for food and fun. I know it won't be much fun for you but hopefully your beautiful surgery outcome will def be worth the trip!

Trvler

Thanks, Leigh. I hope so. I am really concerned that I have lost too much weight for this surgery. I try to eat and I feel like I am eating normally so maybe the steroids have boosted my metabolism or something?? When I went for a consult locally, the guy said I would be pushing it to have both sides done with the tissue I had then. So now I am down about 8 pounds. NOLA told me to send them photos of me on Aug 1 but I can't see much changing between now and then. We have been to NOLA 3x so far so I know one of the main things to do there is eat. lol. We love Kpauls kitchen.

Leighrh

Allison, I wish I had your problem.... I lost a little or stayed the same on AC but this Taxol seems to be making my weight creep up.... Like a lb a week!!! What is that about????? I have not changed my eating habits at all! I have even stopped eating the carby stuff I was eating while on AC! I asked the NP at my last visit and she said "yea that happens".... ummm.... NO! not an acceptable answer.... LOL I am not getting that much steroid so that shouldn't be the problem!

if you could go to Nola for a week or two before surgery you could pack on some pounds.. LOL I love, love, love the food in NO!!

molly1976

I gained weight on Taxol but I know it's because I ate whatever the hell I wanted at all times. I've started working on losing it the last couple of weeks and it's starting to creep down a little bit. My 20th class reunion is in 3 weeks so that's good motivation!

eheinrich

YAY!!! Bekah & Carrie!!!

Twix: SEs are so different for everyone it's hard to say how your experience will be. I was very fortunate and mostly just had headaches, fatigue, and weird stuff with my eyes. So I was in the ksusan camp.

Second interview today for the job I mentioned! Luckily it's a phone interview because my ass no longer fits into any of my work/interview clothes.