OMG, 1st chemo was last Thurs. am I going to be able to do this?

SweetVirginia

I had my first chemo tx on 6/4/15. I had the Neulasta shot on Fri. It is kicking my ass! The thought of having to do this again in 3 weeks is more than I can imagine. All I do is count down the hours of the day to get to the next day. Each day is the same as the day before. This feels like a bottomless pit. Help me get thru this.

Anonymous

SweetVirginia, First I'd like to welcome you to BCO. You picked a good place to come for support.

I remember saying those exact words a few days after my first neu-nasty shot. I was feeling pretty good until the shot. It did get better for me and hopefully it will get better for you too. In the meantime vent as much as you want. That's why we are here. You will get through this one day at a time. Did anyone tell you about Claritin? That helped to take the edge off of the pain for me. You may want to ask your MO about it. Sending gentle hugs and best wishes to you. Please keep us updated on how you are doing. Remember to stay hydrated too!!

Bippy625

Virginia,

You CAN. If I did, you can.

it is this way: 10 days down after tx, then you will feel better gradually,each day until the next tx. So you absolutely will have better days. Neulasta sucks. Have you tried the claritin? I felt like I had been hit by a bus right after neulasta.

You will not believe me, but it goes by fast. Do all the things you can to head off troubles, and eat whatever you are able to. Pound that water and do not get dehydrated. Take the anti nausea and diarrhea pills. Take valium or relaxer if you are able. Exercise but do not push it. Be gentle and kind to yourself. Pray or meditate, whatever you prefer. If you have any issues, call your onco before it gets really bad.

You have my thoughts and well wishes. I completed chemo on 11/21, and will never forget how wonderful this community was to me. Join a chemo group here and it will be a great comfort.

SweetVirginia

Claritin helps? I will definitely look into it. What about Valium? It's difficult to relax my muscles and sleep at night but I'm also trying to get away from so many pills. I really hate the feeling of being drugged. I've been taking Tylenol for headaches a general muscle pain.

SweetVirginia

I am getting Neulasta after every chemo. Anyone get it less frequently

SweetVirginia

What works as far as food choices? So far I've managed chicken noodle soup, dry toast and a soft boiled egg. Trying to drink lots of water but I'm starting to feellike gagging with each sip I take.

anotherNYCGirl

SweetVirginia, - You WILL get through this!! Ask your onc about ativan, - those tiny pills helped nausea AND calms nerves. (NOT to be taken along with valium, though! )

Ginger ale and ginger root candies also help tummy! Keep sipping water, snapple, tea, - whatever you prefer. I ate LOTS of scrambled eggs, toast with jam, and pretzels.

And YES, - if taking neulasta, - get the CLARITAN!! One pill a day! I did and never felt the neulasta pain!

You didnt say what chemo you are on, - but i am sure that some of us have experience with your same protocol!

Hang in there, and keep posting. These boards are wonderful and will help more than you can imagine!

Hugs from NYC

rosesrx

Sweet Virginia,  please join us on starting Chemo in May 2015,  under Treatments,  Chemo before during and after. There are a lot of good tips and support. I know it is lots of reading. Sometimes if you search for a topic like water or Neulasta or pain,  nutrition etc…  it will direct you to the forum. Add to my favorite topics and you should get notifications. Yes the Claritin helps me..I start the day of chemo and get shot next day and continue Claritin for a week. You will have to get a prescription for Valium. Talk with your MO.  

Ah the wate… cold, hot probably should be caffeine free..I am liking Powerade zero or Gatorade low cal. adding lemon juice or flavor enhancers and sip away do not chug. 

Food is whatever you like. Since my taster is off things like soup,  mac and cheese,  toast,  canned fruit,  cereal,  yogurt,  etc. You will notice veggies missing on MY list because to me they tast oh so bitter but as they days went by I added them back. # 2 of 6 is Wednesday for me. Start my steroids tomorrow. 

Be kind to yourself

SweetHope

I liked cold foods: mandarin oranges, grapes, cantaloupe, jello (these all contribute to the needed hydration). And please get plenty of protein. I craved a big juicy cheeseburger after every chemo. Be sure to wash fruits and vegetables; and stay away from salad bars. Zofran and Phenagren worked great at keeping nausea away. I took Xanax before chemo for the first couple of times until I felt at ease with the treatments. I started Claritin (the regular Claritin, NOT Claritin D) the day before I got the shot and took it for five more days. (Truthfully, I don't think it helped, but I wasn't going to risk not taking it.)

Please join the 'starting chemo' thread. Make your dx and tx public so that everyone will be better able to answer your questions. I also found it helpful to give your age and location.

Sorry you had to join us, but you are in good company. We understand exactly what you are going through,

littleblueflowers

You can do this. Promise! Did you try adding lemon or lime to your water? Or fizzy water? You are going to get thru this just fine! Xoxoxox

Italychick

SweetVirgina, I felt the same way, and here I am, one round of six left. They are cutting Taxotere out of my last round because of side effects. I just want to offer encouragement. The time will,pass, the treatments do have an end date, and one day it will be over. Eat whatever you can tolerate. Buttered noodles for some reason worked great for me. Try to walk or do whatever you can. It helps clear stuff out of the body.

I did the Claritin the day before chemo and for 6-7 days after, and it definitely helped me. Remember, the pills you pop are not forever, just to get you through this part. It will end. I never even took Advil pre-diagnosis, but take what you need to get through the process.

Gentle hugs, know we are all going through this with you.

Zillsnot4me

I remember that feeling well. You will be amazed how good you feel week 3.

I had Ativan in my premeds and that helped. I piggy backed the anti nausea meds. Whatever sounds good will stay down.

I would walk while waiting for my pills to kick in. I also practiced these finger holds. I believe they made the difference.

http://ukhealthcare.uky.edu/Markey/jsj/#tabsToAcco...

You can do this. Let us know how you're doing.

SweetVirginia

why doesn't my diagnosis show up

SweetHope

Go to My Profile, then go to Settings, and click on what ever info you want to "Change to Public".

Valentine99

Claritan or zyrtec work well for neulasta. I will warn you that if you are doing taxol you may experience it again so have pain meds on hand. I would have my infusions on Thursday and usually by Monday I was feeling better.

Hang in there,. You will get through one at a time.

Cheesequake

You're a strong woman, SweetVirginia. I just got the call to schedule my first chemo (June 30) and I just about had a heart attack. There is something very menacing about having an actual date and time scheduled. Good luck to you, and remember, if any of the side effects get to be too much to bear, TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR. As I've seen posted here many times, the docs work for us, not the other way around. We don't HAVE to do what they tell us if it doesn't feel right for us.

SweetVirginia

what do you all do with your time? I can only watch so much tv, reading makes me nauseous.

Zillsnot4me

I lost my joy in reading too. I had zero interest in cooking, fashion, decorating, etc. It's coming back slowly.

This website and candy crush. I tried to walk and stretch morning and evening (if not too hot). I tried to do a little picking up and putting away. I saved watching tv for night with my DH.

rosesrx

Either time goes by blazing fast or like you are finding extremely slow. 

I do computer checking emails,  facebook,  bco,  flylady.net,  online bill pay

Nap

Eat

Water plants

Read, but having trouble concentrating

Tv

Crochet

Nap

Eat

Text or phone call

Shop on line

Visit Mom in Nursing home,  whenWBC good

Endless doctor visits MO weekly,  PCP,  GYN,  BS,  counselor, 

Working now for past week

Bathe

Playing with fur babies and cleaning up after them

Lunch with friends...do you see a trend with the eating thing?

Church and Sunday school.

Nap

Pray

Just be

Laundry

And yes drink water..

rosesrx

Just noticed there is a new board… .Chemo in June 2015 there is your group of canceristas or compadres Sweet Virginia!  

BlownOffCourse

Lots of good advice already, but I wanted to add - hydration was a huge key for me. When I didn't drink enough I felt horrid. I always used a straw to drink water which helped with getting past the yuck taste and also made it easier to drink more. If you find that you just can't get enough fluids you can ask your doctor to give you fluids via your port. I had to do that after my first treatment and it made all the difference.

Remember don't hesitate to contact your doctor's office with any troubles you are having. They've got lots of ways to help, but don't know what you need unless you let them know.

It seems like it'll never end now, but once you get into a rhythm the treatments go faster and soon it'll be just a distant memory. This time last year I thought I would never be the same again, but I feel great now

littleblueflowers

I went back to work...can only lay around so much befor your brain eats itself. Also, embroidery, naps, and excercise as tolerated...you can do this!

Bippy625

yes, here is a tip about the vast amounts of time you will have.....embrace it. You are gonna be there for awhile. Better just to accept it, and not think you HAVE to be doing anything. Let how you feel dictate your day. It was not easy, but it was easier, once I gave in. Yes it sucks, is boring, sad, terrible, but also, it can be fun, restful, productive, and healing. During chemo, I wrote a book, planned my bucket list, spent tons of time here, had many visitors over, sold tons on Ebay, cleaned and putzed when I was able, walked a little each day, spent lots of quality time with Dh and the kittehs.

bjb01

@.  then I heard about using Claritin.  Here's what I did and I assure it lessened the bone pain by more than 50 %.  the day before chemo I started a 24hrd Claritin.  (not the D)   My injection was the day after chemo.  I took it for a total of 7 days.  I was shocked to find how much it helped.  YOU CAN DO THIS.

crs003

You got Neulasta before your first treatment? Do you get it after every treatment? I have not had a Neulasta shot and I have had seven treatments. There is a way you can calculate your risk of infection using your WBC and neutrophils, or just have your MO give you the number of your ANC after labs. Your ANC will tell you your level of risk of infection very accurately.

Anonymous

Hi SweetVirginia.....thinking of you and I hope you're doing better!!

SweetVirginia

thanks everyone. I've been feeling well for the past week. Now I'm trying to gear up for my 2nd chemo on Thurs. I'm hoping for a slightly better experience, if that even exists. Last time, I had my port put in the day before my chemo and I also had a Feraheme infusion with my chemo. I'm hoping that by eliminating those 2 factors and by taking the Claritin my experience won't be as devastating as the first. By the way, I HATE this port! It's always uncomfortable it makes sleeping in any position other than flat on my back impossible. It hurts if I use my arm or chest muscles. It's been 3 weeks since it was put in is this just the way it will be

jbdayton

Just an FYI. had extreme bone pain with starting Claritin day of chemo so my MO had me start 2 days prior to chemo and continue for 7 days after. This worked wonders, my bone pain was manageable.

Finished chemo 2 years ago this week. In fact, I am in my MO's office right now waiting for a check up.

Good luck you can do it. (((HUGS))))))

SweetVirginia

Thanks! Does the generic Claritin work the same as the name brand

Anonymous

SweetVirginia, I didn't have a port, but I know some people used a cream prior to the chemo infusion. For the life of me I can't remember what it is....hopefully someone will be along and let you know. In the meantime I will try and look it up. It's supposed to numb the area and help with the infusion.

CatsRus

SweetVirginia, I'm doing my 3rd round of TC on Thursday. With the exception of fatigue, the SE were milder after round 2 than round 1. It just took longer for me to feel normal'ish again. Good luck and I hope the bone pain is better this time. Fortunately so far the neulasta shot hasn't bothered me.