April 2017 Chemo

Annbee

utjoy- I have DD Taxol with 2 more to go. It has been way kinder to me than the AC. I don't think they put in an anit-depressant, I have steroid, benedryl and I think Anti-nausea as premeds. I alsi take combo of these the night and morning before. I love what you said. Perfectly said.
Tonya- oh the drinking and thanks to AC I can't handle the taste of water. I am trying to drink a glass or two a day. Other than that it is unsweet ice tea. God has you and all of us in his hands. Taxol has made it easier to feel more normal again.
Dodgersgirl - I managed to develop a sinus infection. Currently on an antibiotic. They have been dry and stuffed. Antibiotic has helped clear it up.
I hope everyone has a good weekend.

utjoy

Dodger...yes the DD dries out the sinus's while still dripping...ha. I use coconut oil and it helps! I had terrible nose bleeds as a child and eventually the scar tissue has helped to prevent it now...I've only had one small issue so far. That's great, though, since I think I've had every other SE possible.

Maybe it's just the chemo that causes such emotion...it's just weird! Maybe I'm more weird than I knew? lol...

Water...I drink so much I worry that I'm washing away all the GOOD things, too!

Keep going forward...the fact is, we never stand still, it's either forward or backward...choose forward! And God Bless.

DodgersGirl

tonyaberryman- so good to hear from you. Thanks for sharing the importance of drinking water after chemo. I started out doing really well drinking water during AC treatments but actually forgot to drink lots of water after Taxol 3....Chemo brain? I also have found drinking water gives me heartburn which I have never had before so adding flavors to water to try to help get it down.

You are not alone in staying home since DX. I seldom go out. Just hate everyone being able to know I have cancer simply because I have no hair. I haven't told all my friends just the really close ones. But after feeling like cancer stole my summer from me so I started going out with hats and scarfs and just learning to accept that people will know I am sick because I am sick. I am still careful which days I go out due to low white blood counts. So I am going outside and watching hubby work in garden or yard which feels so nice. I want to be brave and go out bald (which is how I sit around the house) but I am not there yet.

Your sharing your story gives me strength to try to return to the world. Thank you!

Hoping Taxol 4 is easy for you.

DodgersGirl

port worked like it is supposed to this morning! Waiting on Taxol 6 to start meaning after today will be halfway done with Taxol!!

Developed my first mouth sore making eating and drinking harder and still have the stuffy dry nose/sinuses.

Annbee

Dodgersgirl-yeah the port worked! Being half way done is huge too! You are almost done! I am sorry about the mouth sore. That stinks. I have the dry/stuffniness in the nose. I had a sinus infection and that cleared up. I have been using my nose spray and it is helpiing. Half way there whoo hoo!

tonyaberryman

Missed the call Monday, at 5:30 from my OBGYN for my biopsy results, so mad at myself for laying my phone down while I unloaded my car! I have been thinking the worse since then. Called this morning and he's in surgery and won't be in until 1:00, he's the one to call patients with all biopsy results, so nurse can't tell me anything, I feel like I'm loosing my mind. He said last Tuesday he thinks I have low to moderate cells, why can't I hold on to that and stop thinking the worse? Praying I get good results at 1, so scared.

Annbee

Tonya, I said a prayer for you. Hold on to what he said and try to keep positive thoughts. When I was first diagnosed I missed the call from my BS with biopsy results. I do understand.

tonyaberryman

Thank you Annbee.

DodgersGirl

home from Taxol 6.

MO called in Magic mouthwash prescription but insurance refused to pay. My cost would have been $77. So going back to water, baking soda, and salt rinse after eating and maalox with liquid benedryl to swish around 4 times a day. Getting harder to eat and drink as sore is on my tongue.

Annbee

Dodgersgirl- yikes $77 is a lot for mouth wash. I would be doing the same thing too. I hope it heals quickly

Castigame

hello, sisters

Recovered from the last chemo. Other than swelling feet and ankles, very little pain. Going back to Moffitt for two days for scans, blood work, MO appt and deportation. Been doing rosary lately. Can't wait to have rads started. Rad agreement showed right chest wall. Realized driving should not be a problem.

Went to work to tell my boss about update. She was admant I take a whole yr off in light of rads not yet started and total hystrectomy. Working from home is not possible. Part time is not really possible. Still thinking. Darned it why can we hit lottery that I can change poomy diapers or work at animal sheltet part time?

Anonymous

Dodgegirl .. our copay was going to be 150 bucks! But the pharmacist showed us how to make the "magic mouth wash" ..
Lidocain and few otc stuff.. cost ? 30 bucks and enough to last for a good long while.. she even gave us the bottles to mix the stuff in ..


Denise

DodgersGirl

DeniseT- I called my MOs office this morning to see if they had any tricks. If not, I will try something similar mixing up liquid Benadryl and Maalox. The prescription has lidocaine and steroids in it. Not sure I could get that OTC.

Thanks for posting. Give me hope for some kind of solution.

StaceyB

DodgersGirl - I don't know if this will help you at all, but my dentist prescribed flouridex toothpaste (it cost me $15 after insurance). They told me to brush my teeth with it at night and let it sit on my teeth and it helps keep you mouth lubricated and potentially keep away mouth sores. I haven't had any mouth sores, but can't say for certain it is from that. I hope you feel better!

DodgersGirl

StaceyB- thank you so much for the suggestion. This whole sinuses dried out and mouth so dry and now a silly mouth sore is just getting old. Ready for this SE to move alin

utjoy

Taxol...ugh. It's so hard for me! A lot of bone pain, mouth issues (thrush), I think I'll be losing at least a thumb nail...and neuropathy that comes and goes...up to my thighs and upper arms...fatigue, weak...I have the Magic Mouthwash and I felt it was helping last time, but, because it needs to be refrigerated I didn't take it with me as I figured I could get a refill to keep in our motorhome...didn't work that way.

Dodger, I feel for you. Reba...yay! Last one...I deal with the swelling in my legs & feet, too...ouch! On to rads!!!

I have such a hard time typing and thinking...I've been quite ouchy. Blessing to all.

DodgersGirl

utjoy, sorry you are having a tough go. I am right there with you. Bone pain tonight is not fun. I am starting to have pain in one fingernail so going to watch that to see what happens. Still have a mouth sore. And trouble breathing from sinus dryness.

Seems like the only good days are the chemo day and days on pre-meds. White blood counts keep dropping but remain high enough for treatments. 6 treatments left.

utjoy

Dodger...I've been using coconut oil in my nose...it really seems to help with the dryness. I am going to start using garlic for my thrush...I know for a fact that it works for athletes foot which is also a fungus...I also use oil of oregano some...tea tree oil on nails...I didn't use it the first week and I think that's when it got me. I read all the side affects from some of the meds and feel I'm pushing the envelope to add more (like clotrimazole and gabapentin) on top of what I already have. My biggest irritant is the pressure I feel in my chest...not heart related, I don't think, maybe esophagus? Not pain,just pressure...bp is good.

We're almost there! I, too, feel that I'm finally recovering just a bit then...wham. I hope you get to feeling better soon...

DodgersGirl

utjoy, I have oil of oregano on my list to look at when I return to the health food store.

I do the coconut oil and OPI Avoplex on my nails and now adding the coconut oil to lips as they dry out overnight when I can't breath threw my nose.

Do you think the pressure could be heartburn? I have never had it before Taxol and now find I take generic Pepcid a couple of times a week now as Taxol is known for heartburn issues?

Taxol 7 is Wednesday. Suspect the last few treatments will be harder than first few treatments but still pushing to get them all in.

Hope you have better days before your next Taxol

utjoy

It probably is heartburn...it's just different than 'normal'! ha. I'm doing DD Taxol and the 19th is my last one! I told my DH that the pressure is likely 'mental'...he didn't argue. snort. He's such an ornery ass (in a good way!)...I was whining last night about being such a baby and he said, "You thought you were tougher than this,huh?" He admitted that he knew the feeling...he's dealing with severe back issues right now so we're both quite helpless and pathetic. Can't wait till I can drink...a lot...

I hope you have better days,too...this is so hard. I swore I wasn't going to let this crap define me or take over....lolol...how naive I was

We can do this!!!! I seriously feel it's just irritating more than anything else...pains that move and wander and grab and surprise! Swallowing, crazy and random...

DodgersGirl

utjoy, completely agree. No one SE would keep me down but combined, I am just ready to say bye to SEs!

My hubby had his knee replaced 7 years ago and now the other knee is due but he is putting that off until my adventure is over so for now he just finished getting the 3rd of 3 shots in his other knee. I can see that at times it hurts him to do the things I had been doing but together we are getting through this day by day

You are so close to the end of your Taxol. Since I am not DD, Taxol for me runs thru mid August.

So far today, no bone pain!!! So did lots of laundry this afternoon and even folded all the clothes.

Now waiting for the ballgame on tv.

Hope your day is as good as possible.

Annbee

I have had heartburn with the taxol. I take a pepcid and it goes away. It feels different than heartburn I have had in the past, never had it a lot though. My last DD taxol is the 17th. I am still dealing with numb fingertips. I see my MO on Wednesday and will share my concerns. I am a teacher and will be going back to school in August. I have been off since February when I had my BOX. Kinda worried about not being 100% but looking forward to it. I will also have 6 weeks of radiation to look forward too.

DodgersGirl

Annbe- I read about mouth sores and chemo over the weekend. Seems the mouth sores are mucositis related and can be esophageal mucositis. Wondering if that could cause your symptoms?

At cancersupportivecare dot com, I found this suggestion for sores

A normal high-protein, high-calorie diet with supplements as needed will help your sore mouth or tongue heal faster. Drinking lots of fluids will also help with healing as well as making your mouth sores more comfortable.

A high-calorie, high-protein diet includes scrambled eggs, custards, milkshakes, malts, gelatins, creamy hot cereals, macaroni and cheese and blenderized or pureed foods. Commercial supplements such as Ensure®, Boost®, and Carnation Instant Breakfast Drink® can be helpful.

Until your mouth sores heal, you should avoid:

- Very cold foods

- Tomatoes and citrus fruits such as grapefruit, lemons and oranges, which can burn your mouth, and salty foods, which can cause a burning sensation

- Hot, spicy, coarse or rough foods, including toast, dry crackers and potato chips

- Alcoholic beverages and tobacco, which irritate the lining of the mouth

- Any medications that contain alcohol, such as mouthwashes or cough syrups

Your diet should consist of soft, bland foods. Solid foods should be soft or cooked until tender. A liquid diet or a pureed diet may be needed if you find solid food too irritating. Frequent small meals served warm or at room temperature will be more tolerable.

• Foods especially well tolerated are: applesauce, cool or room temperature drinks, cooked cereal, strained cream soup, custard and puddings, eggs, plain ice cream, sherbet, Jell-O, milkshakes, mashed potatoes and popsicles.

Annbee

thank you Dodgers girl- I don't have mouth sores just the occasional heartburn. It is nice to know that I have been following those recommendations except the salty chips. I will stay away from those too. I am way more concerned about the fingers. Thank you for posting that. I won't feel bad about the Mac and cheese.

DodgersGirl

annbee- I was wondering if you might have mucositis sores down your esophagus and that is what you are feeling ?

Annbee

You are probably right and it isn't heartburn at all. I don't like to think about sores there, it sorta freaks me out. I will ask the MO o Wednesday . Thank you, you are the best

ksusan

FWIW, my chemo port gave me heartburn-like symptoms. I was able to tell my surgeon the instant he'd removed the cannulae, even though I couldn't see or feel what he was doing and he didn't narrate where he was in the procedure.

Castigame

did ct and bone scan. Staying at a hotel tonight. Both times I sang hail mary and that helped me to fall asleep. Still nervous about results. Port is irritated and i need to have blood test tomorrow. I guess will find out from my onco after the blood test. Port will be gone after the onco appt. I am scared.

DodgersGirl

rebamacfan123- prayers sent your way. Hope all goes well for you

Pambc010417

Rebamacfan1 - hang in there. Prayers are coming your way! Think positive thoughts and sing away