Starting Chemo March 2015

Jackbirdie

Allison I was told very clearly to NOT take anything to bring down a fever as they don't want to disguise it.

How long has it been that high? The magic number for chemo patients is 100.4. I think you better call.

FU- I am 3 + weeks pfc and felt awful all three weeks until about 2 days ago. I think you must be patient, if you can. It will take some time. We have been told by our special consultant that if takes about 6 weeks after last chemo to start. That is start to feel better. At one week out, with the effects cumulative, it would make sense that right now you would feel the worst you've felt so far.

I'm so sorry you feel so bad. But you are welcomed with open arms here and we will support you however we can.

FUCancer_

Jackbirdie - thank you! That's good info to have. I think I've just reached another one of my emotional walls. I'm starting radiation in 3-4wks & am wondering how I'm going to feel, being that I won't be recovered from the chemo

Jackbirdie

I think you just try to do the best you can between now and then to keep protein intake high, hydrate well, and when you can, bits of exercise. A little walking perhaps. Do listen to your body. Some days I just had to find a way to get to the next day. I took full advantage of all pain meds and anti anxiety meds I have, and sometimes the best I could do was call it a day and try to sleep it off. Hoping the next day would be better. Keep checking in here. I think the connection with people who truly "get it" helps beyond words. Sending a hug and some mojo for you now

Italychick

Allison, what was your last white blood count? I thought the fever thing was if white blood count is low, but not sure.

Italychick

Cancerthriver sorry I don't know anything about your chemo regimen. On taxotere and carboplatin, after round 5 I got burning esophagus, throat and digestive tract upset, but it is gone now 7 weeks after last chemo.

Sorry you are having hearing issues.

KBeee

Allison, a fever while on chemo is considered s medical emergency. They will send you to ER, draw labs, blood cultures, chest x Ray and urinalysis. They may check your port too you need to call. Keep us posted. I am0.7 degrees behind you? Hoping it does not rise

Trvler

i think a chest X-ray is a bit overkill. I have no symptoms of pneumonia at all. Waiting for counts now. 

KBeee

I had to go in twice while on TC because my butthead ex-MO thought it was a good idea to skip neulasta and refused to let me come in fo rcounts when my temp was 100.2. I had zero symptoms...just a temp...and they still did the whole works...both times. In fact, I still laugh at the x-ray tech the one time. He'd never seen tissue expanders on an x-ray and was totally perplexed and surprised; he had no idea what he was looking at!

I sure hope your counts are okay. Usually the magic number for most ERs is 0.5 neutrophils. Above it and you can go home on antibiotics or something. Below it and you get to hang out with them there at the hospital for a couple days...which sucks. Praying for good counts and no infection.....we are so close chemo buddy. I hope you feel better soon!

pboi

Allison...I understand about the overkill. I had no pneumonia symptoms either, just the fever. Might do it just to be safe? Because I was on AC at the time and very immunocompromised, it took many weeks for the pneumonia to go away. Hoping your labs turn out ok and you can go home

PB

Trvler

Urinary tract infection. Blood counts were good. Will they still do Tuesday's infusion? 

Trvler

You ladies are awesome btw!

Italychick

how bad does it suck when we say yay, it was only a UTI? Oh how far we have fallen!

KBeee

since you are on antibiotics, as long as you are fever free and counts are good, they probably will. So glad you got an answer and that your counts are good.

This week I have to go early due to MOs schedule, so I see him and get chemo tomorrow instead of Tuesday. Hoping like heck he does not postpone it due to respiratory junk and cough. As long as counts are good, I think he'll go ahead... He has in the past

ksusan

Good luck, Kbeee! Allison, what Theresa said is what I was going to say!

pboi

Yes ditto to what Theresa said! Glad they found the cause of it.

PB

wpmoon

the best kind of therapy!

littleblueflowers

Aww! You have a calico! They are the best cats! Yours is adorable!

ksusan

I see hair on you, girl!

wpmoon

Susan, I used cold caps, so I'm ahead of the game in the hair growth department. But I do have a lovely bald spot right on my crown that has some hairs filling in!

Trvler

Nice to see your smiling face, Whitney!

I was quite surprised to have a UTI because I NEVER get them. The NP or whatever she was explained that lower estrogen can cause it because you are 'less plump' down there. Great. Another great SE of this shi$.

I do feel better today but my fevers are typically lower in the am. I have an appointment with an MO today about switching. I do NOT want to miss that.

Good luck in the chair today, Kbee!

KBeee

Allison, I hope your appointment goes well today. They will likely ask shy you want to switch. I had an incident with former MO where he was very inappropriate. My 3 other friends who have switched said that this is a long term relationship and a good personality match, good communication, and trusting relationship are critical to that. That was an easy answer to give which started things out on a positive note. Hoping you find an MO you like as much as I like mine.

Trvler

Wow, just saw a $2k bill for my heart MRI so I called to see WTF. They billed it under Evanston hospital instead of Northshore Evanston H. It just goes to show you to check your billing.

SpecialK

trvler - I did not have less estrogen during chemo because I had already has a total hyst/ooph - believe me I had none - and still got two UTIs - I am more inclined to think that it is due to the soft tissue irritation caused by chemo.

Trvler

It's odd but I feel completely better today. No temp at all. I can't believe ONE antibiotic cured it. I still think the symptoms might be a mild viral thing, which I used to seem to get all the time. I haven't had them since chemo, maybe because I am OCD about hand washing now. The idiot doctor in the ER tried to tell me I got them because I was ovulating.

wpmoon

Currently reading a book called "everything changes: the insiders guide to cancer in your 20s and 30s" and this passage just struck me, because I know many of us can relate -

"I was relieved to hear the rarely spoken opinion of a woman who felt branded, not liberated, by the label of "survivor." I wondered how many other women felt similarly but wouldn't dare say so. Although I appreciate the distance our culture has traveled from treating cancer like a silent disease to installing patients with a sense of vocal pride, I cringed when I attended conferences and read stories that made breast cancer seem like a celebrity status symbol."

I wish I'd found this book a lot sooner, but so much resonates, and I think it would for all of us, regardless of age.

Trvler

K: I think she was saying the soft tissue can be compromised by the lower estrogen but half the time I think those medical people are just guessing, like the guy who said my fevers were due to my menstrual cycle and ovulating.

Whitney: Thanks for sharing that with us.

SueH58

And let's not forget about yeast infections. It's a genuine circus going on down there!!!

SueH58

Whitney, you look beautiful. And your tortie looks JUST like mine!!!

SueH58

Marli Rae Hayes

SueH58

Katy, I was thinking. Now that you're moving to a rat-free new home, can I have tutti????