Starting Chemo March 2015

Jackbirdie

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BB- you are not a hypochondriac! You have GD cancer, you're going through freaking chemo! You've had surgeries and are poked, prodded, stuck, and meddled with on a daily basis.

Cut yourself a break. We all react differently, physically, mentally, and emotionally to each different treatment and drug. It's a shame your MO did a bit of a bait and switch on you and isn't responsive to your SEs. I think sometimes they need to hear it several times, to understand it's not just a one off. I would continue to mention these things.

Also, just an idea. If you keep a log, or journal, documenting what is going on, when, what happened immediately prior, you may get a better response. The MO might better see the seriousness of it because of the time you are investing in it yourself. It could also help you to identify patterns.

I know the last thing you need is something else to do, And I apologise if I annoy you with this suggestion. It's true your doctor should just listen to you and respond, even if on a trial and error basis. It would make you feel better if he/she just TRIED. but alas, so often this comes down to us advocating for ouselves, doing the legwork, etc., while they get the big bucks. Not fair. But I believe "fair" was addressed in post # 439, a couple if days ago.

I'm sending you a big gentle hug.

Katy

Trvler

BB: I don't think you are a hypochondriac. I am sensitive to stuff in my body too. That's not what a hypochondriac is.

Yeah, I am kind of sick of being told to stay off the internet. It was there that I learned what my path report meant with regards to my lymph nodes and because of that I knew my biopsy would be positive. It helped me to mentally prepare for that.

Love the dog pictures!

migrantt

princess- i totally get it. it was a long internal debate before i decided to "go public". part of it was feeling like this was going to define me more than anything else i've worked so hard to accomplish. and my colleagues do look at me differently, but even with that i'm glad i did let people know- and on my own terms. like i said, there were already rumors starting to circulate (i was taking a lot of time away from commitments for tests) and i felt like i needed to get ahead of that. my biggest concern right now is when/how my tastebuds are going to come back.

Jackbirdie

Augie Doggy is darling!

I took the Claritin and it helped. I was advised to take it on days 2-6, that is, the day after chemo, the morning of the day I got the Nuelasta shot, then for 4 more days. Here is Jack's Christmas photo

SC_Coqui

Hello ladies! We'll here I am in day 3ish (chemo was on Thursday). I'm tired and achy with chemo brain settling in. Just had some breakfast and some coffee. Last go around I didn't drink any for 4 days and had the worse coffee headache withdrawal. The Neulasta shot is to blame for the achy. But so far not all that bad.

I'm a little stressed this weekend. We still plan on having my son's birthday party tomorrow. Seems like everything will be indoors since it's supposed to rain. It's a gorgeous day today, I really hope that the weather holds off. And with these plans we had a huge wrench thrown in, DH is in the guest room right now laying in bed with what we think is the flu.

I'm actually very angry with him right now. Every year we seem to go through this. He refuses to get a flu shot. I know it's not 100% effective but it's something. I always get it and so does my son. Neither of us get sick, but DH get's knocked off his butt. Hopefully now he'll see that his refusal for a simple shot has disrupted our household and his son's birthday party that he's so excited about. Fortunately we have some great neighbors and friends that I can ask for help for tomorrow if we need to. And I can get some stuff done, just not constant movement. My arms seem to be the most weak this go around.

As for the steroids, no shopping spree for me since we are on a tight budget. But we finally decided to bite the bullet and get our backyard done. We just moved into this house last year (new home construction) and our builder didn't do a good job of leveling the yard or seeding it, so all the seed washed away into the gully behind our house, so our backyard is a messy unusable clay mess! I'd really like a backyard I can use this summer as I'm on the tail end of my chemo.

Finally, good to hear about mosquitoes. I swear, I'm like candy to them! If I can get a reprieve from them for a bit thay would be awesome! Looking for any silver lining I can find!

SC_Coqui

To add, the only thing I've had from the steroids is that I'm constantly hungry. So I may just end up having to go shopping if I'm not careful with what I eat!

migrantt

i had the same experience with my MO last week, seemed to be nonchalant about all the SE's - more over the moon that my WBC numbers were super high from the Neulasta. my protocol calls for me to get it 2nd day after chemo each time, so hooray excruciating pain and headaches! but if it keeps the possibility of infection down..

i haven't had the mad shopping from the steroids, just emotional rollercoaster. seriously, i don't think i've cried this much ever in my life. i can't wait for them to be out of my system.

i'm getting my port put in next week or the week after- the nurses blew out the vessels in my hand the first time around (the gigantic bruise is still there) and i'm afraid i'll look like a heroin addict on my right arm by the time this is all done if i don't do this now.

and i really thank god for all of you and your advice and frankly for all the info i got from the internet. i feel so much more prepared than i ever would have been if i had just gotten info from the medical team.

you guys rock.

michele

Trvler

SC: What a pain. Is he afraid of shots? I go through that with my daughter. She is petrified of shots and the one year she didn't get a flu shot and sure enough, she got the flu. It is hard enough taking care of them when you are well. I am sorry you have to deal with THAT now.

I told my husband that I FINALLY found a SE that is good, the mosquito thing. But HE is the one who always gets eaten alive, not me. He figures they will just eat him more now when I stand next to him.

neverthought

Thank you for starting this thread Shannon. 

I'm 9 days out first tc and do feel better and sleep better except for constant bloody nose, including gusher in middle of the night. headaches are mostly better but very tired.  MO was surprised I'm not working but feel too weak. Am I just being a wimp?

And how to stop nosebleeds? (typing one handed as I pinch my nose)

MO gave option of tc only, no a, though a would give another 2-3% less chance of recurrance

Dx     1/31/15, Stage I Grade 3, 3cm dcis + invasive + lobular 0/4 nodes, ER-/PR-/HER-  

Surgery     02/04/2015 Mastectomy (left)

Chemotherapy     03/11/2015 Cytoxan, Taxol

 

Trvler

I was told if I have a bloody nose to call the MO. I don't know what they do for it.

neverthought

MO recommended I try Afrin to stop runny nose but I don't want to add one more drug!

Checked platelets which are low but OK.  Huge bruise from blood draw.  WBC count 76!  No room for any RBCs/platelets in there I think!

rleepac

Hi gang. I'm on Day 3 after my second round of AC. This round has gone much better than the first but I still feel crappy in general. I am taking the Claritin continuously because that Neulasta bone pain was over-the-top horrific. I told my MO and he said 'yeah some people get aches with it'. I looked him in the eye and told him that it wasn't an ache...it was excruciating bone pain and I ranked it right below childbirth! He was a bit taken aback but then said that maybe 2 out of 10 people will get relief from Claritin. Yeah...whatever bucko...it works for me so I'm sticking with it.

Anyway. Trying to stay hydrated and I'll probably go run a few small errands today but otherwise I'm laying low.

Bekah

SC_Coqui

Trvler - I had to LOL with your comment about your husband. I tell my husband that the only reason they leave him alone is because I'm around. We'll see what happens. It's all about body chemistry.

I just went around my house opening windows. It's supposed to be 71 here today and I figure airing out the house from his germs will help. I've given up on the idea that I will clean my house before the birthday party tomorrow. It's not that messy anyway. And I have someone coming on Monday to clean. Some friends of mine pitched in for a gift certificate for a cleaning. I got approved by Cleanin For a Reason but I'm waiting to hear back.

It's great to have the windows opened and listening to the birds outside singing. Makes things feel a little more normal.

bw49

so do you have cancer in both breasts? Where did you get the cold caps?

bw49

if your cancer was only 1 cm and grade 2 and stage 1 a why did you have to have chemo? Did you have a choice?

Moderators

bw49, sounds as though you are in the early stages of the process. Welcome to BCO, and the club we never want to join. What is your situation? You may want to read about different treatment options, and let us know what your treatment team has recommended. The "Just Diagnosed" forum may be the best place to find others who are contemplating treatments as well.

Warmly,

The Mods

BBwithBC45

Nneverthought - the written instructions from my MO also state to call if I have nosebleeds, and yours sounds like you get a lot.

molly1976

Man, I had my second taxol/herceptin on Wednesday, and by yesterday I was an emotional disaster. I am coming out of it a bit today but is this what y'all mean by chemo brain or is this steroid crash or what? I am not looking forward to ten more weeks of it. I am obsessing over every ache and pain and imagining my funeral plans and the whole nine yards. Ugh, stupid cancer.

Italychick

migrant, thanks for the comment about the wig. I may have to start wearing it to work Monday, right now it is touch and go.

My oncologist doesn't want to prescribe any add ons like sleeping pills, etc. so I went to my primary care physician and he helped me with a prescription for Valium and for an antibiotic that I can keep on hand.in case I need one. Am I violating the rules? Maybe, but I know my body and they don't. But so far, honestly, my only real side effects were two days of gut bloat and funky mouth for about five days. Oh, and a couple days of blood on the toilet paper, but that I think is from hemorrhoids from child birth.

26 mile bike ride this morning, and doing another one tomorrow. Second round of chemo on Wednesday, so I am getting in the exercise because I don't know what to expect after round 2. Rleepac, you seem to be doing better after round 2?

Trvler

Ok, I am thinking those hemorrhoids might be from all those 26 mile bike rides? lol

Molly: I am so sorry you are having such a difficult time. I can't answer any questions though. I don't start until Tuesday.

Italychick

haha no. They are from having a 9 lb. 4 oz son with a jar head 35 years ago. Forceps, etc. kid has the biggest head I have ever seen, and now he is a 6'5" giant. He can pick me up by my head lol.

Ok all you spring cleaners, stop already! You sent me on a cleaning spree today! It is the Midwesterner coming out in me because this is the time of year that I opened up my house and cleaned everything when I lived in Illinois. Somebody stop me lol!

BBwithBC45

Molly1976, you and I have the same regimen. I was/am an emotional mess, crying more often than ever and sometimes just out of the blue. I don't know if it's steroids, or chemo, or just cancer stress. Hang in there, this too shall pass.

Ladies who are reassuring me that I am not a hypochondriac, thank you. I don't think that my MO is disregarding my SEs, at least I hope he's not, he's a friend of my husband's. But when I was complaining that I got the worst acne of my life (NOT an exaggeration), he said that things like this would be happening. I understood it as "deal with it, it's not the worst thing". Maybe I have a selective hearing.

BB

shaz101

Yes my mo just gave me a list of side effect that I may or may not get but definitely down played it. I think in order not to scare the crap out of me. My main SE's are

• Bone/joint pain (excruciating)
• Nausea and vomiting
• Indigestion and heartburn
• Constipation
• Increase in migraines

Time to go shopping again I think! I'm buying lots of scarves and earnings! I haven't wore earings for many years as my hair used to get tangled in them and you couldn't see them anyway with my long curly hair. Most of my hair has fallen out now. Looks very odd what's left is about 1 cm long. Not a pretty look.... Please pass the scarf and earings 😃  

Katy, were you good last night? 

shaz101

Neverthought, you're not a wimp! I'm not working either. I'm more important than my job. Work have now given me a laptop so I can work from home. But I haven't felt that great this week so I haven't logged on. Every time I feel guilty I remind myself that I am important! Work can wait. And I know the girls on here will slap me across the head if I start stressing about work. 

Jackbirdie

Shaz- I am totally channeling you! My formerly leonine head didn't allow for the display of earrings. But now..... A whole new world has opened up. I have bought (before you banned me haha) about 10 pair of dangly Joy, and found the coolest earring tree ever! They haven't all been delivered yet but a work in progress pic is shown.

I did one sorta bad thing but I think you'll forgive me. My neice (not by blood, BFFs daughter) is giving up her spring break from college to do for me, just as her older sister did after my surgery. She is 20 and made this decision on her own. She lives 400 miles away. One of the places I bought earrings from surprised me with a few free charms. My neice is not usually an accessories girl, but I took a chance and bought her a sterling silver infinity bracelet which can accommodate charms if she wants. I thought it could become "just us" thing if she likes, and I could give her additional charms for her bday etc. if she doesnt like I to wear it, it could at least be a keepsake if I croak.

Jackbirdie

and yes Shaz- and fair warning to anyone else who doesn't put themselves first- a pimp slap first offense. Junk punch second.

Jackbirdie

And finally, a little Spring for my girls not feeling so hot right now. Coastal Oregon is busting out and I'm sending a virtual chunk along to youz.

shaz101

I love your earing tree. Omg you will be able to fit quite a bit on there. 

No smack this time as there is a very good reason for the purchase. Some people surprise us in the most pleasant way! That is so nice. 

I love your Lillie's, and of coarse the earlier photo of jack enjoying a roll on the grass.

BBwithBC45

Katy, beautiful flowers! Nothing looks like spring around here yet

rleepac

Ok so I'm not manic, nor am I feeling a steroid buzz (yet) so I think I'm safe to go online and look for an earring tree. Right now they are scattered all over and I'm sure my cat will find them quite entertaining soon enough.

One bad thing though is that I usually pay my bills online and this last week I paid all my bills as usual...except I RE-PAID all the bills that I just paid 2 weeks ago instead of the ones that are due nowand now don't have enough left for the current bills. Ughhhhhh....chemo brain sucks!!!!!

Bekah