Starting Chemo March 2015

Italychick

Katy, steal it. Somebody sent it to me, I can't take credit for it. My friend Cheryl said it belongs in a frame, it is so true and so poignant

IndyGal35

Leigh, that is great news! Every day should get a little easier now with regard to the chemo SE.

I was scared to death of rads, but it has been the easiest part so far. I just finished 13/25 today. I'm definitely feeling tired, but it's nothing like chemo exhaustion. I'm a bit pink, but the doctor is very pleased so far. Hope that eases the minds of those of you starting soon.

BB, I hope you got a clean bill of health - pun intended.

Arlene, I love that costume! You can always win me over with animal pics!

Speaking of animal pics, here's a kitty pic for you, Eileen. This is one of the stray cats that we started feeding last week. Now, they're lounging on our porch constantly. They are very skittish, but they will eat and drink when they think we aren't looking. My hope is to get them comfortable enough around people to be adopted. If not, we will build them a feral cat shelter on the porch next month.

Meme117

Leigh OMG what a cat, I could never have one of those. I like fur!

Theresa I love the quote I will be adding it to my inspiration board.

BB best wishes tomorrow!!!

E I've never seen the baby videos but I will remember next time I need a lift.

Diane it sounds like you have a stressful job. I couldn't imagine doing chemo and living in a tent.

I made it thru first of 33 rads. I really wanted to burst out in tears but held myself together, told myself to be brave and get it done. I wasn't the friendliest patient and I wasn't mean or anything just didn't want to be there, but I'm sure they understand. I feel heat in my back and a little boob itchyness. Tomorrow is another day...

eheinrich

Lee: that is such a pretty kitty!

Jackbirdie

Leigh- so GLAD things are improving.

Maryellen- you got through it. The first day. I hope tomorrow is a bit easier and the whole thing races by.

Lee: Tutti wants to know if that kitty has a girlfriend. She feels a certain "simpatico" and they look a lot alike.

Sorry if I already posted this. HRT getting the royal treatment on mommy's newest quilt. It looks good on her I think!

Jackbirdie

BB- I hope by the time you read this the worst will be over. Well, for sure the worst is over. The prep is the WORST! Sending warm thought and mojo for good results.

ksusan

Jackbirdie

copycat! Haha. Get it???

Jackbirdie

if Tutti was taking Tamoxifen, she wouldn't need a sleep mask. I sense she has no issues with melatonin anyway.

Har

ksusan

My cats are unlikely to get into the Ambien, either.

shaz101

thanks Carrie I think he's beautiful too. But i am a little bias

I'm not sleeping too well either. Between painful joints and my bladder I'm lucky to get an hour or 2 at a time.

Work is going well. I'm just taking it slow and I'm not stressing about anyone else's time frames.

I'm having my lounge room window cut into a sliding door today. They are just about finished so I will post a photo once I've cleaned up the mess a little.

shaz101

love the animal photos!

Diane that is so sad about the an who's living in a tent. Breaks my heart when I think about people without homes. Never mind when they are going through chemo!

Here's my door. I haven't cleaned up yet. I'm roo tired. It'll still be there tomorrow.

Trvler

Lee: Thanks for posting that.

Eileen: I am thinking of you today. I watched a baby laughing video. That was a great idea. I have trouble with the puppy ones because 3/4 of us in my house want a puppy and my husband doesn't. I could probably get one in the spring but I don't want to have another argument over it being the wrong time. (which we have had for about 2 years now).

Sharon: I am glad work is going well. I hope you can get some rest. I don't know if you have tried Kegels but I swear since starting them I have gone from 3 times a night to 2 times getting up to pee.

Laughing at Tutti and melatonin. Her veins are coursing with the stuff.

BBwithBC45

Thank you for your warm thoughts, kind Ladies.

I am relieved to report that all went well, nothing scary is happening in my bowels, nothing needed to be biopsied. The reason for bleeding is a fissure, even though I didn't have any pain. No stomach ulcers either; the persisting nausea is most likely a long lasting effect of chemo, according to the GI doctor. I'm doing a happy dance.

Jackbirdie

that's pretty good news BB! Sorry you still have bleeding and some nausea. Hopefully those SEs will diminish with a little more time.

Sharon the slider looks great! What a view!

They are re-roofing my house. Ugh. The noise and the mess continues..

ninjamary

Sharon,

That view is amazing!

DavisD

Anyone out there tired of hearing Herceptin has NO side effects?!! Granted, it is a piece of cake comoared to chemo but to disregard any SE because it couldnt be the herceptin....just frusturating. Im getting my infusion now and mentioned the zero appetite and they stated it must b from the rads..of course when i mentioned it at my last radiation tx they told me it had to b the herceptin! Oh well, just needed to vent. I guess the cause is irrelevant if I want to treat this beast.

Maryellen-read your post about not feeling like the best patient and just not wanting to be there. I felt exactly like that all through rads...not nasty but never wanted to get chummy. Just get it done and get me out! I actually wrote them a thank you note the last day so they didnt think I'm like this all the time. I understand and hopefully your skin won't react as badly as mine did

DavisD

Just a couple of pics with Ollue and his kitties!

SpriteB

Diane - i have the same frustrations with the "herceptin has no side effects" thing. About a week after each chemo I developed blurry vision/dry eyes that lasted a few days and then gets better. Well, now that I'm on just herceptin, it's still happening. It's not a big deal. Just a little annoying but like clockwork it happens the same time each cycle even though it's just herceptin now. When I mentioned it to MO he of course said that it's not the herceptin and the blurry vision is usually caused by steroids not the chemo or herceptin and I should get my eyes checked. It's frustrating to have things dismissed so quick because "herceptin doesn't have side effects." 

Jackbirdie

very cute furry pics. So sorry about the rubbing of salt in the wound in re: H not having SEs

IndyGal35

I've had a snotty nose and the Big D all day since my 8 AM Herceptin dose, Diane. It definitely causes SE's regardless of what *they* say!

IndyGal35

This made me laugh:

Why haven't I tried tuning out for the past 3 months? Thanks, Dr. Google!

eheinrich

BB - what good news!

Diane - thanks for the furry pics. My furry baby is hiding from the plumbers. Poor girl.

Thanks Allison. There is no happier sound than a laughing baby when they first start laughing. : )

DavisD

Thank you ladies, that's all I needed..a little validation. Herceptin is a powerful drug and does have some side effects. Sprite-that's just the response I'm talking about!

Just got home from a triple header of appointments; 9am CT scan of pelvis, abdomen and chest w/contrast 12noon dental cleaning 2pm Herceptin The berry barium swallow nasty stuff brought on big time D all day and had to stop and buy Imodium when I have a ton at home...made about 5 stops at various grocery stores, target, etc to use the facilities...ugh, no fun but it's finally settled down.

BBwithBC45

Regarding SEs for Herceptin - when it first was determined I was going to get chemo and Herceptin, I was given a whole binder with tips and information, and one of the pages listed quite a few SEs for Herceptin (and even more for Taxol, of course). Yet, whatever complaints I had, I was under impression that the MO and the nurses often tried to blame my symptoms on something else. I have no idea why the MOs defend chemo so much, why they don't want to assign the blame where it's due.

DavisD

Right BB! Any drug that requires monitoring of your heart is serious business.

Carrie37

My effing Foobs hurt after my first fill today!!!!!!

That is all.

😩😩😩😩

eheinrich

Hang in there, Carrie. I'm 2 days behind you (and one boob short) - we can do this! I go Thursday & am nervous...

eheinrich

Lee - I somehow missed your post. Had I only gotten that advice sooner about tuning out the pain. Even swinging my arm when I walk hurts sometimes. Idiots......

Carrie37

Lee and Eileen, I don't know about you but my foobs hurt when I walk! And I don't even have anything (only 60cc each) to bounce around! And Eileen, take my advice and take the pain meds (Norco, Percocet, Tylenol, Advil, whatever) as soon as you can and stay ahead of the pain. I ended up taking my Percocet a little later since I was driving my son around after school. Ugh!! I think it's getting better. I am going to go "tune it out." I am sure that will help. Said no one with tissue expanders EVER!