Starting Chemo March 2015

molly1976

That's a ton of hair! I'm sorry about your marriage, Eileen. Hugs.

Trvler

I am sorry, Eileen. I know you probably knew you were going there but the deciding once and for all must have been hard. Hugs. We are here for you.

I get cold, then I put on something to warm up and have a hot flash. I am trying to be more careful to not put on too much realizing what will happen. So yes, internal temp is messed up.

Leighrh

I wantz hairz. Can I haz hairz??? Lol

Everyone's hair looks soooooo long to me!!! Still nada here. Barely can see any in a regular mirror.

So sorry Eileen.. But maybe now you can move on and close the door. The hard part of making the decision is over. Hugs to you!!

eheinrich

You guys are great : ) I haven't told anyone else yet. My 2 best friends had bdays yesterday - not turning that into a pity party. My sister was already planning to visit 7/26-8/2 so that will be fun & distracting. She's funny - got us tickets to go to Let's Make a Deal on the 29th - hopefully we can appear fun enough to get picked. Then she'll be helping me prep for and have a yard sale - decluttering is good. My house is much smaller than the one Alan & I lived in.

Allison: that's the problem I have at night. I am either cold and under covers or I am having a hot flash and kicking them off.

Katy: I hope you are enjoying family time. It'll be great to get help with packing & sorting things - of course as well as hugs & support. Are you still on track for closing on the.......hmmm....29th?

Happy weekend everyone. Don't know what I would do without you

molly1976

My hair is not very impressive, either. It feels thicker than it looks because most of it is super blonde. But in the past week I can finally see a dark scalp line when I look in the mirror. I'm 7.5 weeks PFC.

molly1976

ALLISON you are a miracle worker. I just got a refund for the remaining balance of our airline tickets!! Two days after emailing that guy! It's $1032!

Carrie37

Molly, that is awesome! Also...7.5 weeks PFC? How did that happen?! lol! I'm so jealous of all the hair. Eileen, yours looks great. I think when I get to that length I will go commando. I'm very sorry to hear about your marriage. We're here for you.

Katy, I hope you enjoy your visit with family this weekend. Good luck with the packing!

We are taking our son to his first MLB game this weekend in Chicago. The temps are supposed to be near 100 and higher with the heat index. That should be fun! Not!

One of my nails is coming off. I have been using a bandaid to keep it down and hopefully not catch it on something. It's my middle finger. If it falls off then I will email the picture of it sticking straight up to my "friend" and she can post that shit on FB. I am totally done with her. She pulled the same shit again; I want to see you, I need to see you, I'm so worried. Blah blah blah. I say lets meet for breakfast Saturday and she says great and then never reaches out to me again. Done with that crap.

Been thinking of you all lately!

IndyGal35

I've always heard that cravings mean that your body needs something - a nutrient, a mineral, whatever. All I know is that I have been craving red meat like crazy the past week. I can't get enough. (I have never been a big red meat eater. In fact, I had started dabbling with vegetarian/vegan meals prior to diagnosis.)

Maybe it's the fact that my hemoglobin is still low. Maybe I need the protein to recover from surgery. Maybe I'm just so overjoyed by the fact that I'm not wanting to barf up everything I eat. Whatever the cause, I want to don my stretchiest "fat pants" and eat so much beef that I break out in meat sweats.

Feed. Me. Now

KBeee

Eileen, sorry to hear about the divorce. Hoping happier days are coming soon. Your hair is coming in so nice and thick

Jackbirdie

Lee- all the nurses told me protein was key to healing after surgery. They said cram as much in as possible

Allison! What a miracle worker indeed. I know how helpful an unexpected $grand$ right now! So glad for you Molly!

And Carrie, I laughed out loud at the visual of your defunct fingernail going up in your false friend's face. Glad you're not falling for that shit.

Eileen- so glad your sister is coming. And is fun like you. You know what they say about acting "as if". And de-cluttering should be cathartic. The house thing is coming down to the wire. You have an amazing memory. I was told last week I am through underwriting and the appraisal is scheduled for Tuesday. So we have a good shot at it but it could slip a couple of days. Everyone seems relaxed if that happens.

Leigh- you can haz hairz too! I see a beautiful mop before long.

It's great seeing my brother and SIL first time in 5 yrs. my other brother is retired Coast Guard and trying to get us in for a tour at their air station about ten minutes from my house! Plus some organizing and packing. Monday we will go in search of spectacular coastline and whales!

Love to all! Happy weekend!

K

Jackbirdie

Ksusan- tried the plain yoghurt in the bargain basement today as the nystatin cream isn't working. Very soothing anyway. We shall see. Thanks for the tip

ksusan

Best of lucky, Katy.

There was a young lady from Naches,
Whose clothing was always in patches.
When she was asked why
She replied with a sigh,
"Because when Ah itches, Ah scratches."

Jackbirdie

Ksusan- very very good. I come from a limericking family. I had just read yours to my brother and also littleblue's report on the skateboarding jerk who ran her off the sidewalk, and he sends to her..... This:

There once was a pirate named Bates

Who could do the fandango on skates

But he fell on his cutlass

Which rendered him nutless

And practically useless on dates.

With this limerick I hereby put ahex on littleblue's rude, bullying skateboarder!

littleblueflowers

Hahaha haha haha hahaha thank you katie! I know acting out is never appropriate...but dammit it felt right! First, they turn u into a man, then they turn u into a tree, and then apparently we turn into wookies if the chemo fur holds for us all...and apparently I took a detour and turned into a 10 year old boy. Well, that was the look I told my surgeon I wanted...just didn't think it would extend to my personality! Between that and the incipient wookies fur, I'm just gonna head for the hills befor the squatchers get me...

Trvler

Molly: I am so happy I could help!

Eileen: I do that off and on all night. Covers off, covers on….I am trying to go cold turkey on the Xanax these 5 nights in between chemos so I am noticing the hot flashes more than if I were taking it. I hope the flashes wear off after the steroids are done but who knows? Did anyone on Taxol who was premenopausal get their period back?

Carrie: Your 'friend' is officially a shi$. I am sorry. I know it hurts. I don't think I will get over my SIL bailing on me for the childcare while I have surgery. Cancer changes relationships, no doubt about it. I have to say some people have come through for me unexpectedly, too, so there's that.

Katy: Wow, it had been 5 years since you saw your family? That's so nice that they were able to come then.

Husband and I met with a therapist about helping with our kids and she was great. So happy to have found someone good.

Minor vent: My hospital has either 2 or 3 appointments for me each chemo depending on if I see the doctor. I get prerecorded appointment reminders every Sat and they must have a glitch in their system because sometimes they call 5 times. I don't want to even think about it on my weekend and days off.

ksusan

Thank your brother!

Isaac Asimov, the science fiction writer, gave us many naughty limericks. I will post as appropriate.

Littleblue, I'm not sure if I've said in a thread you're in that I told my mother that since I was going flat, I thought I might as well get a couple of penises, too.

pboi

Wow...this thread has been busy!

Eileen...so sorry to hear about your marriage.

Carrie...that is some friend...NOT! I agree with you...bye bye!

Trvler/KBee I had the nosebleeds nearly daily on Taxol. Took about 2 weeks post taxol before they were gone.

Loving all the hair pics!!!

Katy...thx for asking. I've pretty much recovered from the thyroid surgery. My nerve was nicked, so little trouble when I swallow too fast, and my voice not quite back yet, but doing ok. Hope you're enjoying family time.

Anyone else with low back pain? I never did pre BC. Had clean bone scan/PET scan about 3 months ago. Thought it could be chemo related, but still lingers...worried...will need to get it checked again. It's seems like there's always something to worry about..

PB

littleblueflowers

ksusan...clearly we think alike lol

pboi

Was texting a gyn NP friend that I was starting Lupron. She said that it was one nasty shot and nasty side effects. I asked her why, did she know something I didn't?

Then I told her I've been in chemopause for nearly 6 months now, side effects and all. She said...oh that's it then.

Made me realize...little sad we've all had to experience so many, many side effects through this, been through so much, thanks sisters for being here, your support means so much!

PB

shaz101

theresa, you cracked me up with the wolverine comment. Thanks

katy, your hair is looking good, soon you'll need to style it 😃

leigh, im still bald too. 😡and i agree with katy, i saw a dietitian and she said we need about 100gr of protein a day. It helps our muscles. Ans it also keeps you fuller for longer, whch hopeully for me, leads to weightloss.

eileen, my thouhts are with you. Such a difficult decision, even when its amicable. Maye even harder because it is xxx

rleepac

I shoot for 100 gr of protein daily because of my gastric bypass surgery. But I know it does help with healing in general.

Eileen...so sorry about the divorce

I'm starting to see lots of hair competition!

neverthought

Visiting my dad today and he had just gotten a very short haircut. Afraid I look a lot like an 85 year old man.... I just keep praying that I get/stay well so I can take care of him if need be. Really worrisome to see him sounding congested and unsteady on his feet yet too stubborn to go to the MD. Stupid vertigo really stopping me from doing things I should/want to/have to do. I didn't have it at all during treatment but came back as soon as I started working longer hours. Have no idea what to do about it. Third summer in a row that it has appeared and previous times it lasted for months on end. Still getting occasional bloody noses 7 1/2 weeks out and having new tingling in one foot.

Not sure what to do with my hair. Very short except hair that didn't fall out which are about 1.5 inches long. Keeping it covered as I am embarrassed. Maybe hairdresser could clip just the long ones to make it even? I think new hair is about 1/4 inch or less. I kind of look like Katie's kitten, got that dark/white/gray/brown calico thing going on with a few spots still bald.

As far as eyelashes go, both growing in and the last few falling out. And brows growing in the most unflattering way possible. Hope I don't get face fur. I'll have to put a bag over my head.

Thinking of everyone who has so much going on in their lives plus on top of coping with diagnosis, treatment, side effects from treatment and hoping much healing going on and few SEs for everyone. If I could, would take everyone out for beer/wine/scotch/tequila and a big basket of cookies. That would be the best!

Italychick

neverthought I had my husband take the clippers and trim down my straggly leftover hair so it is even with the new hair growth, and I think it looks way better. My step daughter said rocking the GI Jane look. I think the scraggly longer hairs made me look worse.

I have a little bald patch still right in the middle of my front hairline, what's that about?

SpecialK

I do recommend evening out the new hair with the old - it made mine look thicker.

Italy - the hair on the top and front was the last to grow in for me - of course, it is what you are looking at straight on in the mirror. I finished chemo the first week of June but did not have enough hair to go without a head covering until the first week of Oct.

CancerThriver

HI All,

I started 5Fu Fluorouracil in March 2015 as part of a trial that also includes Ibrance/palbociclib. It's been going smoothly. A little hair loss but not too bad. Shortness of breath. Tired.

In the past 2 weeks I got a throat infection then a pain in the ears from sounds. It is called hyperacusis. Everyday sounds hurt my ears. Everything sounds loud. I have to wear industrial earmuffs and ear plugs and isolate myself. Has anyone else had this problem? Any advice? I have heard of tinnitus caused by other chemos such as taxol or taxotere. It seems to be related to the throat pain. Throat is also hypersensitive -- spicy food I normally love is super duper hot.

Love and gratitude. Z

SueH58

Katy, try one or all of the following:

Kombucha tea - found in the refrigerator section of the product department

Kefir - found in the yogurt section

Refrigerated fermented veggies, i.e. Sauerkraut.

Probiotic pills

After my bout with the yeast, my niece came running over with all these high probiotic remedies. Even though I had taken the pill, I do think it helped, and has helped my digestive system overall. DH and I made fermented veggies on Friday. Waiting for them to be ready to eat.

Trvler

Have a fever of 100.9. What will they do if I call?

ksusan

Sorry, Trvler! They may tell you to take Tylenol, or may tell you to come in to check for an infection.

pboi

Oh no Trvler! I had a temp like that during AC. I had to go in to check for infection. Had to do bloodwork, blood cultures, urine sample, and chest X-ray. I had pneumonia and came home with some antibiotics. Hope it comes down and you feel better soon.

PB

FUCancer_

New to the boards. Completed 9 out of 12 Taxol infusions & had to stop due to developing lung toxicity issues from the Taxol. Felt like crap through most of the Taxol & wanted to quit at 8, but oncologist convinced me to continue. Then developed toxicity issue...guess my body was telling me at 8 that I was done. Should've listened! Now I'm 9 days out from my last infusion of Taxol & having my typical crappy Sunday. Thought it was going to be better since I stopped chemo over a week ago. Feeling bummed! Could really use some support. Thanks