Anyone Starting Chemo in June 2016

pepper43

Whoa ladies, I was down for the count yesterday. My first AC infusion went well (and much faster than I expected~ about 3 hours or so). Nurse was lovely. Hubs was there holding my hand throughout.

He went back to work after and I ran to pick up some prescriptions and grocery items when I started feeling reallly quesy. The rest of the afternoon and evening was mostly spent in a fetal position on my bed or bracing for illness at the toilet. No vomiting but boy it sure felt like I was for most of the day. I didn't take a nausea pill soon enough I think, so we had to rally with swapping medicines. Did manage some sleep (thank you Ativan!) and woke up without that horrific tummy feeling (knock on wood).

Wasn't expecting that kind of drama on day one~ but oh well!!

NattyB- do you know of the artist Amanda Palmer? She draws her eyebrows on in a very distinguished way. I may follow her lead when mine fall off.

labscientist- we're in NC- and people would STARE! And I'd get blazing hot outside in a minute but I'm going to wear that wig out a few times. Let 'em stare. ;-)

coffee-lover- I can't wait to see the wigs! Post pics when you have them on.

Moondust- thanks for being in my pocket. Infusion process was smooth sailing.

Heathet- get a blue wig!!! You're rock it out!

SthrnYankee- we are on same chemo plan- my first was yesterday. The icing of hands and feet can help with taxol. You'll be sucking on ice during the A portion of AC treatment (mine lasted 15 minutes).

LJ- statement wigs. We ALL need one. :-)

Knardo- How did your first dance go?

Dolly- Thanks so much! Hubs is a keeper. I think he looks like Matt Lauer with his head shaved. I love your attitude- you need to bottle it up and send it across the pond. I'll ask Jon about L-Glutamine when he wakes up. I'm an early bird today.

Krekre- Definitely get a colored wig. So much fun. And I loooooove your purple streak. I had one too in 2014 (love love love Purple).

Jojok- love the rich brown of your new color. I hope you have a wonderful camping trip!

Anonymous

Waiting to get bloods done. Should really have gone to bed way earlier!!! Feeling very tired. UK voted exit!!!

Anonymous

yes!!! I'm getting chemo 2!!! Fabby dabby!

Heathet

I'm off to get my first infusion and I feel a little jittery. I think it's the steroids which are also keeping me awake at night ! Can't wait to see how today goes - have all my meds lined up in preparation of any side effects. And on another note did anyone feel constipated when taking the steroids? Not a fun feeling - taking my mirolax. Hopefully it doesn't do the reverse when I start chemo!

LJ2016

Dolly and Heathet-praying for you both!

Heathet-I did have constipation from the chemo, so keep the Miralax for now. I took Dulcolax full amount for first 2-3 days. Seems onco thinks it was the Dulcolax causing my cramps-guess I overdid it and took TOO long(was still taking it until yesterday). Yesterday I switched to taking Colace, which won't cause the cramping.

Another WIN over cancer-being better and not bitter....My precious hubby, Darrell shaved my head today. I was SO TOUCHED by his kindness. He gently started in the back and on the sides, saving the front for the last, letting me be me for the longest he could. Melted my heart for how hard that was for him, and my kids who sat with me, holding my hand. To say this is hard is not overstating it, yet with the hard comes some of the most precious times in my life. Seeing how people love me, try to make it better for me, pray for me, feed me, is the blessing in the hard. I focus on that love...and I feel so blessed!

Here's a pic of me and my youngest son, Cameron, after the shave. I took my walk without a hat or wig, and I felt fine about it. Going to work now, wearing a wig. I would REALLY suggest going to some type of cancer wig shop. I had been depressed about my other wig I bought and this lady suggested a different one, which I bought. Mainly she showed me how to wear it and suggested some fake bangs I could wear under a hat, scarf, etc. That visit gave me the courage to go ahead and shave my head. She suggested I bring my other wig in and she would work it out, too.

Love to all of you....we can do this and we should focus on all the love we are getting from our family and friends. THAT is such a great thing.

Heathet

LJ2016 -it sounds like you have a wonderful supportive family! I need to remember to focus on the love and support from friends and family.

Sitting in the recliner getting my infusion of taxotere. Curious to see how this goes - have a funky taste in my mouth so I'm sucking on some lemon drops.

Numb

LJ2016 - what a gorgeous photo, you look lovely, bald or not.

PEPPER43 - your photo is also stunning.

Acie

Hi all! I start chemo on Tuesday. 4 A/C and 12 Taxol. My husband and I are having a fun weekend away trying to not think about cancer and impending chemo, but it's hard. I have all the info and knowledge, not its just waiting and worrying. At least, my scans were clear so it's just the Breast for now. I have my wig picked out and scarves on the way (gotta love Amazon), and the shopping list is ready for when we return from the weekend.

Any advice as I head into this?

Heathet

urghh!!! Having a reaction to taxotere ! Getting Benadryl - hope that helps!

ClarkBlue

bbbb - for what it's worth, here is my 2cents... I am on the same treatment as you Taxotere and Cytoxin. I would also be concerned with your SEs kicking in during the school week since your infusion is on a Monday - usually days 3-5 are very difficult - sleepy, chemo brain, bone/joint pain (if you get the neulasta shot) and flu-like syptoms (achiness). My infusion is on a Thursday and I don't begin to get symptoms until Friday afternoon. I wouldn't delay treatment... this is so much more important right now. I am able to work through it, but I don't work around children and my office only has 6 employees. I also can work from home on Thursday/Friday and I take Monday off.

-Keely

Anonymous

Dolly's SECOND treatment is now done!!

labscientistmom

Heathet: my hair is coming out in frustrating spidery clumps everywhere, going to bit the bullet and cut/shave it tomorrow. Still not sure how I feel about that, but hopefully it will be cooler. Having a cooler head in summer heat seems good, and If I am going to wear scarf/wig/hat I want to not have hair sweating/shedding under it. Hope I can pull it off as well as all of you do. (sorry, skipping the purple, although most of the hats/scarves I got are blue!) Soo glad your bone scan came back normal. Hope your other infusion went well.

labscientistmom

Heathet: HUGS & love to you while you are in the chair! Yay, getting the first one DONE!! Hang in there through the reaction: I had one week before last where I couldn't focus my eyes and my head was tripping. They ran this weeks in over 1 1/2 hours and It was much better. I feel shaky, body aches and out of breath today, my back is in knots. Going this afternoon for my blood draw. Don't think I am up for much else, except maybe getting adjustment at chiropractor. That should help my breathing and muscle cramps. Let us know how you are doing.

Dollydimples: you are so cute, be sure to get a nap today, ok?? You rock the cold cap and the knit cap! Yay, huzzah, #2 is done!!

Anonymous

Labscientist,

Chemo 2 done...YES! Now just two days of pink bucket and then it gets put away in the cupboard until next time. Cannot wait!

Cold cap today made me cry again....first 10 mins are sooooooooooooooo cold and I am sure it is damaging my uber intelligent and many brain cells. Got chatting to a lovely older woman today who looked very anxious and scared. She was there with her son. It turns out her son is a teacher too and we were chatting all afternoon. I gave her lost of tips and told her about this site. She perked up immediately when I told her that my chemo had been so easy and that she would do well like all of us are doing. I am happy to have turned her anxious look into giggles and laughter today. At the end of her treatment she said goodbye and that she felt so much better than when she first came in. I think we all must look terrified on day 1 of chemo. We must all be worried and frightened and not sure about things. It's nice to give back to someone who is in the same place you were only a few weeks ago. Three weeks ago I had a lovely older woman who chatted to me and stopped my anxiety. Let's 'pay it forward ladies'...whenever you spot that terrified soul. As it was us just not that long ago!

Labscientist, are you feeling any better yet? Are you still shaky and wobbly? I do hope you are resting and taking it easy. When are you next in? Are you cutting hair this weekend? Or are you shaving? Whatever you do, you will look great with those lovely scarves. My hair came out a fair bit this morning! Like a lot of hairs and one or two clumps. It is NOT getting to me though. I am going to continue with hair til the last bit is left and even then I will find a use for that ONE last strand!!!

revnet

Had my first TC infusion today. That went well. No reaction to the taxotrere. I am attempting to use arctic cold caps. I am not confident that mygh scalp was cold enough as I was just expecting it to be more cold. They provided a termometer, and in the beginning the temps were okay. but still i guess I was expecting my hair to be cold when I changed the caps.....

After the rotation process, I am finding the caps are not freezing cold enough. So I guess that's the only concern for the day, the cold caps...Otherwise the infusion went without out incident.

krekre

Heathet - sending you positive vibes across the ocean!

Moondust

I only have time for a very quick post. Retirement is keeping me way too busy so far!

Dolly, I'm so happy you got your second treatment on time, and glad you are done with it!

Heathet, sorry you are having a reaction and I hope the benadryl does the trick!

Everyone else, hello and I'll write more later!!!

Anonymous

Revnet,

My cold cap is so cold, it reduces me to tears for the first 10 mins. I am using the Paxman. It's a freezer machine that they plug my hat into and it freezes me for 4 hours. Not sure what the temperature is. BUT is is veryyyyy cold. Although head does get used to it. So maybe that's why you did not think it was too cold?

Dolly

Anonymous

Whatever is keeping you from us Moondust, just keep doing it and enjoy yourself!

I liked the idea of thinking I had a bit of Moondust in my pocket today....and during forst 10 mins of cold cap just did my yoga breathing exercises and imagining sparkly magical moondust soothing my headache...IT worked!

Dolly

Anonymous

LJ love the pic...You look fab!

ClarkBlue

Thinking of all of you having treatments this week... I think of you probably waaay to often (I think I'm becoming obsessed with this board now), but I pray for each one of you.

Saw my precious grandbaby today... Argh!! She is so adorable... that face!!!

labscientistmom

Dollydimple: I was thinking of you today... Glad its all done, and isn't it wonderful to help another? No one really understands what this is like except those of us going thru it. I got an adjustment from chiropractor, and it helped my breathing. Still feel achy, and my fingers hurt today. I am glad to say breathing better than earlier, but I am planning to just go get my blood drawn then come home. Was going with my husband to take our son to karate class, but I think I will stay home after all, to rest and take it easy. My next infusion (#6) is Tuesday!

As much as I agree with you to keep and enjoy the hair I have as long as possible... to put off looking sick....the hair clumps everywhere are starting to bug me, so, I am going to see my hairdresser tomorrow. Thinking I will have her cut it short all over, see what I think, and if its not comfy under the wig I will have her shave it. My husband says if I shave it first, then have no other option, this seems wise. I am leaning toward having less to sweat and itch under a hat or scarf or wig seems better in the summer heat. I will also bring the wig with me for styling, hope she can make it feel more like me. I think I will be more likely to wear it then. My husband and Son are going to a church workday, so it seems a good time to go take care of my hair. Thanks for your encouragement with the scarves, not totally happy with that yet. Anyway, blessings, A

labscientistmom

Dollydimple: I was thinking of you today... Glad its all done, and isn't it wonderful to help another? No one really understands what this is like except those of us going thru it. I got an adjustment from chiropractor, and it helped my breathing. Still feel achy, and my fingers hurt today. I am glad to say breathing better than earlier, but I am planning to just go get my blood drawn then come home. Was going with my husband to take our son to karate class, but I think I will stay home after all, to rest and take it easy. My next infusion (#6) is Tuesday!

As much as I agree with you to keep and enjoy the hair I have as long as possible... to put off looking sick....the hair clumps everywhere are starting to bug me, so, I am going to see my hairdresser tomorrow. Thinking I will have her cut it short all over, see what I think, and if its not comfy under the wig I will have her shave it. My husband says if I shave it first, then have no other option, this seems wise. I am leaning toward having less to sweat and itch under a hat or scarf or wig seems better in the summer heat. I will also bring the wig with me for styling, hope she can make it feel more like me. I think I will be more likely to wear it then. My husband and Son are going to a church workday, so it seems a good time to go take care of my hair. Thanks for your encouragement with the scarves, not totally happy with that yet. Anyway, blessings, A

ClarkBlue: Such a cute baby! thanks for sharing her picture!

Coffee-lover

jojok - I take a supplement called cardio health that has two types of b6 plus b12. It also has a amino acids, magnesium and potassium. I take that 3 times a day. You should definitely ask your doc but I'm not sure there's a reason to wait.

As for the glutamine - ask as well but I take that twice a day every day. I wasn't given any restriction.

Just FYI - here's what I take:

• Pectasol-c - modified citrus pectin - used to fight roaming cancer cells.
• Probiotic for my gut
• 3 diff antinausea meds (every day. I longer try to figure out when it's gonna hit me)
• Allergy pill - I take Allegra d and never had any of the bone pain from neulasta.
• cardio health - this whole thing is really hard on my heart. When my blood pressure drops, my heart races along at 100-120.
• Vit d
• L-glutamine

There's a bunch of other stuff the naturopath wants me to take but my stomach rebelled. This is my compromise.

Sorry for the long post.

Hope today's infusions are all complete and everyone is on the way to recovery.

Rock on! Sorry - U2 is on the player!

labscientistmom

ClarkBlue: Thanks for sharing her picture, what a cutie!

Sorry for the deleted post, for some reason it entered the same thing twice.

bbbb

Clark Blue - thanks for letting me know your experiences with T/C - that gives me good information about how things will possibly be for me. I am scheduled to start on Monday and they told me it will be every third Monday after that with NO changes. I had a good cry and then decided that it was going to be ok - I figured out that I would probably always feel ok for church on Sundays as my treatments will be on Mondays so there is a positive! Work may or may not happen but I WILL be at church on Sunday!

Dolly - glad to hear you had your treatment today and hope you are doing well - lots of thoughts and prayers from South Georgia!

bbbb

Oh and what a cute baby Clark Blue - I hear grandchildren are better than children! She is a sweetie!

Heathet

ClarkBlue - your grandbaby is adorable ! She has such a sweet smile!

I took an Ativan on the ride home today and that really helped with the nausea. They gave me nausea premeds in my IV that should last 3 days but my stomach was flipping in the car so I didn't chance it. Took some Benadryl when I got home and was able to nap. Still feeling sluggish but better. Not much of an appetite but drinking lots of fluids. 1 down 5 left to go!

Anonymous

Clarkblue, that little angel makes me smile. She is soooooo beautiful. Giver her a wee kiss from Dolly in Scotland!

Labscientist, I am so glad you are doing better now. I think I agree with hubby and get hair cut short and see what happens. Then if you need to shave at later stage, you can! I think this is a time to wear beautiful headscarves and bandannas and play around and have fun with them. I wore a hat today. Not because I had to, but just to keep head warm and thought hey, I quite like this and will be buying more. I am also glad your breathing is better after the chiropractor. I don't want to know what he did as the thought of bones and them being moved into place makes me feel all funny....faint faint!!

I am jealous coz you are wayyyy ahead of me today as you are now about to do infusion #6. But that is soooo fantastic and you are doing it so well. When do you see yourself being completely finished with chemo? I am done middle of September. Maybe we can have a party if finishing at same time?

Also glad you are resting today and not doing too many jobs or tasks. Time to resssssssst up.

Coffeelover, thanks for that interesting post about what you are taking. I am going to have to see about finding a naturapath too. It's not a big thing over here. But I am certainly going to have a good look at what is possible for me and what might help keep recurrences at bay. I take flaxseed, want to start aspirin (asked nurse today at chemo clinic and she knew nothing about new research on this), so I got no help there! Will ask Onco in 3 weeks time.

Heathet, HOW are you? I do hope you get a good nights sleep and ding dong, that is one of them done now and you are racing along!!!!! WELL DONE!

I am feeling surprisingly good tonight. Have had no tabs and no sickness. Haha...seriosuly NOOOOOOO sickness. Last time I was sick at around 11.30 pm and it is now midnight. Hopefully I am going to be fine all night, but bucket is by the bed as is towel and mother is here....I am soooooo going to not have any SEs this time. I have decided! And that is THAT. I will catch up tomorrow as I am off to bed now due to having stayed up most of last night to watch EU referendum.

Dolly

labscientistmom

Dollydimple/another Angela in Scotland: You rocked the hat, way better than me. Glad you are sleeping, hope you will see this in the morning. I am not sure I am really that much "ahead" of you, because although you finished #2, you are doing it every two weeks? Three weeKs? Mine is every week, so 2 or 3 of mine seems equal to yours. I finish the 12 weekly taxol on Aug 9, but that will be followed by 4 rounds of every 2 week Adriamicin/Cytoxan. I am not sure if they will do the first infusion of that only one week after the 12 taxol, on Aug 16 or will wait a 2nd week. If I get first A/C on 8/16, then the 4th would be Sept 27 if there are no delays!! Yes, lets have a party!! I will be moving on to radiation after that tho, 6 weeks of it 5 days a week. PHew, then I can be done by end of the year I hope, I hope.

I have been seeing the chiropractor for about 11 years, I stood up from sitting on the ground with my then 10 month old son in my arms and tweaked my back something aweful! He fixed me up, but I have been on his wellness plan now for a long time. Sorry it makes you feel funny, but it keeps my spine and ribs and hips all in alignment, evidently I am sensative sitting wrong, or tripping or any of the other stuff you do in the course of wrangling with a kid or working. Thankfully I respons well to adjustment too, so now 2 -3 times a week, I get all fixed up and I am good to go. I have found the body aches make my asthma flare up, and that makes my back muscles tight, which makes it hard to breathe. he has these lovely massager things that take all the muscle tension from my back and a big loud bazooka thing that opens up my lungs. sounds weird, but it works.

Working on the mental acceptance of having fun with scarves and bandanas and stuff. Thanks so much for your encouragement. Hope you that you sleep soooo well, and tomorrow the SE will be a non issue. blessings, A