Starting Chemo in July 2017

Runnermum

Teese yes! Instant Pot is a brand of electric pressure cooker. I have a Cuisinart. Has most of the same features as the Instant Pot. I saw Target had the Instant Pot in their ad today...comes with a $15 gift card. Have made 2 cheesecakes in it...they both turned out great!

PauletteK

I really should do more cooking after chemo treatment, I don’t have a instand pot, but I herd so much about it. But I have a pressure cooker is that close enough

JenRuns

I love my InstantPot!! In addition to dinners, I make hardboiled eggs every week, along with applesauce and stuff like rice pudding for my son

DodgersGirl

jenruns- I use my pressure cooker to make hard boiled eggs every other week. It is such an easy way to make a dozen or more eggs at the same time.

Runnermum

hard boiled eggs turn out great and so easy in pressure cooker! Jen I have also made a couple batches of Apple sauce this fall in mine! Yummy!!

PauletteK

ladies, you are such a good cook, I need to learn from you all. I’m a lousy cook, that’s why I lost weight during chemo time,

travelhound

How are everyone's fingernails? Some of mine are sore, and red in the nail beds. My MO said that means they are separating and are inflamed. Anybody else?

And, my vision went to hell early on.

PauletteK

Travel - my fingertips are numb nails look okay, I ice them when I do taxol but missed couple times because I felt aslept. I feel some pains on my of my thumbs.

Vision has good and bad days.

DodgersGirl

travelhound-- after Taxol 10 I got purple spots under all my fingernails (that was in August). One of them seemed to be speeping so I was given antibiotic. They are all still purple but the nails are growing out pushing the purple color closer to the end of the nail. Nail beds are sore. Really looking forward to this SE being GONE

MO nurse said to soak them in vinegar/water to keep out infections.

PauletteK

DodgersGirl - do you think using OPI Nail Envy helps??

DodgersGirl

paulettek-- I have been using OPI nail envy and OPI Avoplex (nail and replenishing oil) ever since I started chemo (April). I think it has kept my nails strong and cuticles soft, maybe has prevented losing any nails (so far). So I continue to use as directed

travelhound

Thanks for posting Dodgers. I was wondering how your nails were 2 months out. So....still sore, still purple. But no sign of separating?

travelhound

Thanks for posting Dodgers. I was wondering how your nails were 2 months out. So....still sore, still purple. But no sign of separating?

DodgersGirl

travelhound-- each nail has places where they are not touching the nail bed that correlates with the purple spots. But so far, none of the nails are seeping or pulling/lifting from the cuticle edges. I cut them fairly short so I won't pull them off accidentally (not sure that's could happen but it look so like it could). I have always hadn't long nails so having them short is different

PauletteK

DodgersGirl - thanks for sharing I will keep my nails short, just have to careful how to use our nails now.

I still have 5 more taxol to go so I need to take care of them well. I’m soaking epsom salt daily for hands and feet I hope that help also.

Leatherette

My nails look really good. I have kept them super short, and have been keeping OPI nail envy on them. I am not following the directions religiously (2 coats, then every other day add a coat, remove after a week and start again, something like that). My hands are pretty dry, as are the cuticles.

I am telling work that I need to on full time leave again. I've been working 2days a a week, but what has been happening is that I can't go in at all for the first ten days of my cycle, then I have to cram it all in one week, the week before infusion. Last time, as a result, I was not able to keep up with drinking water, and now have to spend way too much time preventing constipation. Not being able to see well is also interfering.

I'm a little bummed, but it is stupid to feel that I have to work whenever I start to feel a little better, and I was getting too stressed.

PauletteK

Don’t stress yourself out when you are on chemo,we have enough stress already. How many more treatments do you have to do? We need to take it easy during treatment.

proudtospin

hmmm, well i have a pile of drugstore reading glasses from when i used to wear contacts, switched to a good set of bifoculs a while back but they do not seem to be working now. Actually vision is better this morning than yesterday, not sure why.

When i saw my onc on friday, i asked how much longer on chemo, really asking how much longer till hair might return......she said that since the taxol is keeping cancer stable she is reluctant to change treatment. So guess i hang in, maybe vision will improve

Sigh

PauletteK

Proud - my vision goes bad on infusion day and last couple days, then get better again. Not sure the others. I gave up contacts eyes are too dry.

proudtospin

hmmm, interesting, infusion was friday and today they are better than yesterday

Leatherette

Paulette-one treatment left.

I have driven myself crazy trying to find a pattern/predictability to side effects. There were a few things that started to be a little predictable, but overall, I feel like I just have to see what each day brings.

PauletteK

Leatherette - mine are pretty much the same, except this time my mouth became a little more sensitive. Fatigue gets stronger but appetite is getting a little better. I'm thinking to try acupuncture trying to find a good doctor around me.

You will see your finish line soon .... so happy for you.

Teese

My index fingers each have a dark spot that showed up after AC #2. The spots are growing out and are halfway to the tip of the nail. Not sore and I think not an issue. My big toenails don't hurt but look funky. I'm a little worried with them but they aren't sore.

I've not noticed a pattern with my eyesight, I need to pay attention.

PauletteK

Teese you haven't talk much about Neuropathy during your taxol, did you have much problems? Maybe you did, I forgot ... chemo brain.

Also I found that my hands are sensitive to hot and cold now.

JenRuns

Leatherette, sending good thoughts your way as you navigate the work complexities. I'm so fortunate to work in a major academic medical center (I'm in marketing, not patient care!) and my office is right on the hospital campus (for now -- we move next summer). They've been really accommodating and understanding (so far). We'll see how long it lasts ...

Oddly (?) I find my neuropathy worse on days 6-7-8. Then it calms down. Nothing major still, but the PA today said to keep an eye on it. They'll dial back the dose 10% if needed.

An interesting (?) quirk on my lab results ... my platelet count is high, and has been since surgery. It was around 700,000 right after surgery is around 450,000 now, but it increases every week. One of those "we'll figure it out after chemo's done" things ... and now taking a baby aspirin every day to help prevent any clotting. (Especially since I'm flying in three weeks.)

Other than that ... same stuff, different day. Going to dinner with a girlfriend tonight. Really would love a drink, but with my liver not playing nicely with alcohol, it's better to just stay away for a few more weeks.

PauletteK

Jen - enjoy your dinner tonight don’t worry too much, there are things we cant do much. I’m going to watch which is the worse days for me on neuropathy, I have been soaking epsom salt it seems it helps my feet but not my hands. Also I found my hands are sensitive to hot and cold now.

Teese

Paulette I have not escaped the neuropathy train. My fingertips are tingly, no issues with using them. My feet were tingly along the bottom until last infusion, now they're very tingly and my legs feel heavy or tired. Not sure if it's related to neuropathy or not. Each day it's less. Praying it will subside.

Leatherette, I think your wise to step away from work. It's such a strain and it complicates an already unpleasant experience. You're going to finish up soon and then once you're up to it you'll be right back to work. Just don't jump the gun, it's easier to take the extra days then to start and stop again. That's the mother in me speaking.

Jen, enjoy your dinner, girlfriend time is the best.

Hugs and prayers

Theresa

PauletteK

Teese - Hugs and prayers for your feet and soak them whenever you have time, especially for a cold night.

proudtospin

chemo brain, well i use peapod for grocery delivery........forgot this morning that i told them to deliver after 730am......good i have a loud doorbell and an opaque nighty

PauletteK

proud - that’s early, it so dark and cold outside now, I doubt I want to do my morning walk. Yikes!