Starting Chemo February 2009?

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  • buddy1
    buddy1 Member Posts: 750
    edited March 2009

    Kerrymac.  what a great looking family.  Just perfect. 

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited March 2009

    Thanks guys, I'm pretty proud of them! (OK, I'm biased!!)

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  • xpectmiracles
    xpectmiracles Member Posts: 439
    edited March 2009

    I have two more days to prepare before going to "chemo-world" for a week. I'll be cleaning house mostly.  Frown 

    Kat4pink, don't worry about messing up the IV with your coughing. The port will be fine. Unfortunately, I don't think the doc will be keen on your fever and therapy.

    KerryMac and Jancie, I still have my fuzzy head. My leg hairs are not budging. I usually have my legs waxed, but I'm not sure I can do that during chemo. My skin usually is itchy and red after. What do you all think?

    What is ChemoAngels? Sounds great! How do I join?

    I'm going to try to send some pictures. Thanks for the instructions webwriter.

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  • Denali
    Denali Member Posts: 347
    edited March 2009

    Kerry, I LOVE the photos!  What a treat this morning!  Cute kids and beautiful family!

    Here's the site for Chemo Angels:

    www.chemoangels.net/

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  • Nancyb7912
    Nancyb7912 Member Posts: 84
    edited March 2009

    Hello all. I've been flying under the radar lately - trying to work during chemo. So far it has been manageable. AC # 2 is Thursday so fingers are crossed that my luck holds. I was also going to ask when is a good time to shave. Then I decided I would know when the time was right. That day has come today and tonight will be the big buzz. Can't deal with the handfuls of hair ANY MORE! Or the scalp sensations for that matter.

    So sad the hear the leg hairs aren't budging for some of you. Mine haven't either. I was SO looking forward to not shaving!

     Ditto on the photos. Beautiful children and love the siamese! I'm a siamese lover. Photos inspired me to finally post a photo of myself - this one with my new wig.

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  • apple
    apple Member Posts: 7,799
    edited March 2009

    it is soooooooo WONDERFUL to see photos of you all.  Kerry  - i adore the pic of your daughter rubbing your head.  there is so much joy in her face and yours. 

    it's so sad that mothers are stricken, that our children may suffer.  that photo really struck a chord with me.  my boys buzzed their hair when i buzzed mine the first time.. we had so much fun. 

    i noticed last year after the Olympics that the bald look for men was very popular.  I always enjoyed seeing the guys looking good,   There is such a difference in our appearance with and without hair.. but without hair we are so exposed and really quite beautiful.. no matter what we look like... kind of super human,

    today, i am going to go my chemo lab to  support my bestfriend who has lymphoma who will be doing her second day of chemo.  We'll visit and play cards or something.  On Thursday, we'll do chemo together.  She is a neat, neat gal.  Her husband was my diving coach 40 years ago.  Together they've adopted 7 special needs kids.  I pray for her.

    have a great day all.

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited March 2009
    Yep, it is my kids I worry about the most. Not now, they are coping so well with everything, but all the "if's" in the future. My husband just keeps saying more people get through this that don't, that the stats are firmly on our side, all the right stuff. But what gets me is even the Dr's don't know why this works for some people and not others. We just have to hope we are all not the unlucky ones....Smile
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  • flmomof3
    flmomof3 Member Posts: 28
    edited March 2009

    Kerry,

    your photos are beautiful..i would try but i am too tired to try to read directions right now...i am a little upset because I was sure i would be almost 100% today.day 6, I convinced everyone I was fine this morning and now I am lying on the couch with my very energetic 3 year old climbing over me while covering herself in body glitter!! I am sick of the "icky" feeling...you all know what i mean!

    Kat4Pink:I am so sorry you have had such a rough time... I think the doctor will make the decision easy for you...I don't think you will have to decide...you really don't want to feel sick when you begin this process...waiting is the hardest part!!

    Kristine,

    Sorry about your hair...your picture is so pretty!  believe it or not, the hair thing does get easier...after 2 weeks,my kids are all used to my bald head now, my 12 year old told me I looked kind of cool bald with makeup and earrings yesterday!  That was a huge compliment! And the wig is always a good option when you feel like trying the "look good, feel good stuff!" 6 days Post round 2, I am STILL shaving my legs,here and there,  and head...my underarms seem to be the only bald area on my body! which really irritates me....ok I got over being bald, but shaving my somewhat bald head....it is just WRONG!!! Maybe it is the Italian in me!

    I love all the lighthearted posts...I am fantasizing about margaritas at my final chemo, but maybe I will do it the week after! M.J. made me throwup in college,just the smell ugh!!!!!, so that is definately not appealing in the least...chocolate is getting me through...especially Lindors truffles!! I am a big red wine drinker, but lost my taste for that with the metal fur on my tongue!!! Hope it comes back after this!

    I am jealous of all of you with snow....we would love to see snow!!! sending some florida sunshine your way today!!! Lots of love,

    Sue fromfl

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  • susan13
    susan13 Member Posts: 732
    edited March 2009

    Kerry - your children are beautiful!!!!

    Well I'm still dealing with headaches. So tired of having to take tylenol, going to ask my onc. for something better to get rid of them.  My sinus' WERE getting better, but now they seem to be acting up again from Thursday's Taxo #3, this stuff is now getting me exhausted, I was falling asleep sitting up. Thank goodness for a snow day yesterday so I didn't have to come to work.

    All in all I can still find bright sunshine in all of this nonsense.....

    Hang in there everyone!

    Sue

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  • MicheleS
    MicheleS Member Posts: 937
    edited March 2009

    Kerry~  I feel the same way about all of the *ifs*.  It is really, really hard.  I get so upset when people at work say they're sorry I got "the bad one"... it is a constant reminder of the numbers game.  Your DH sounds just like mine!  He says the same thing about the stats being "on my side".

    SuefromFl~  I was more fatigued after round 2 than 1. I hear that the fatigue is cumulative.  The 1st round, I worked part of the Friday and Monday after a Thurs treatment.. .and then *mostly* full time after that (short days but not 1/2 days). Round 2 I was out Fri. I tried to work Mon and was a mess... Then I had to take off Tues to get over Monday! This time,   I'm just planning to be out Fri, Mon, and likely Tues too... That in ADDITION to being out for the Thurs infusion.

    Sue~ Adorable picture!! 

    Is it me, or are there sooo many young-ish mom's with this disease.  Or, maybe, we're just the ones online? I dunno...  So sad for ANYONE to have to go through this but when it affects the kids... it seems worse.

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited March 2009

    Sue - great photo! I am so happy I figured out how to post them. It makes everyone seem a bit more "real' too.I'm up for taxatore next round, hope i don't get headaches.I am not a headache person, but guess that doesn't make much difference!

    Michele - I have said that to myself too, how many of us are young, with little kids. Maybe though we are just the ones posting.... hang in there, I was reading how ER- is much more responsive to chemo, so this is probably doing you lots of good!!

    Minus 19 with wind chill out there today, I am going to freeze taking my daughter to Kindergarten!!

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  • susan13
    susan13 Member Posts: 732
    edited March 2009

    Kerry,

    I am pretty sure my headaches are coming from my sinus', the Taxotere really dries them up, and I didnt' listen to my onc. by using the saline nose spray from the start of treatment #1, so now I am paying for it.  Keep that in mind!

    Sue

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited March 2009
    Sue - Will keep that in mind, thanks! It is funny, as I used to live in France, and they all use Saline Nose drops at the slightest hint of a cold. They all swear by them. I have started to see them advertised on TV here.
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  • calgal1943
    calgal1943 Member Posts: 11
    edited March 2009

    Love the pictures!! kind of run down .and its day 11.  whats with that?   i have so much love and admiration for you moms going through this. WOW

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  • elizzim
    elizzim Member Posts: 146
    edited March 2009

    What beautiful photos!  Kerry, the photos of your family and of you and your daughter brought tears to my eyes. Isn't it amazing that there can be moments of such joy in the middle of this mess? It does seem that there are an awful lot of moms with young kids going through this. My girls are 10 and 7, and it's freaking me out that I feel this out of commission on AC. I somehow wasn't expecting it!  I'm divorced, so there's no other adult in the house, and it really scares me to be unable to do much of anything but sleep.  I feel like I'm letting my children down, even though I can't HELP it. 

    I've been reading all of your posts, and feeling a little wimpy, to tell you the truth. There are so many of you who are working through chemo, and still remaining somewhat active. I'm usually able to plow through all kinds of flu and stuff, and still remain active. But as soon as my 3rd day on AC hit, I have been unable to do anything except sleep, unless I'm doing the absolutely necessary things for my girls. Does anyone else feel quite this pathetic? 

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  • susan13
    susan13 Member Posts: 732
    edited March 2009

    Liz,

    Don't feel wimpy, it's tough to work thru chemo and everyone has different side effects. It gets rougher as the treatments go on. Probably better for some to not work so rest can be had.  I just worry about my job sometimes so that's why I am working thru my treatments, but if I had a choice I'd rather be home resting to tell u the truth!  Don't feel bad about how tired you are now and how much sleeping u r doing now... after all it's the later on that counts with your kids when u r all better! Hang in there!

    Sue

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  • MicheleS
    MicheleS Member Posts: 937
    edited March 2009

    calgal~ You could be near your NADIR.  Did you have a Nelasta shot (or something similar)?

    Liz~ At day 3, I can't get out of bed either.  I go back PT at around day 5-6.  Honestly, I shouldn't be at work now (day 13) but I don't have a choice.  Do you have family or friends who can help yuo with the kids?  My DH is a SAHD and my mom is staying with us because I just can't do work AND childcare.  WHen I get home, I just drop.

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  • calgal1943
    calgal1943 Member Posts: 11
    edited March 2009

     sorry what is NADIR?  No shots of anything. I feel so uninformed. Guess I need todo more research

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  • sue50
    sue50 Member Posts: 61
    edited March 2009

    Apple- thanks for the poem...we have some irresistable targets in our politicians, do we not?

    Kerry, Sue - beautiful pix! The head buzzing pix is sweet. 

    Liz-  I'm a zombie for 5-6 days post AC. You are not alone! This is day 5 and all I did today was read and try to catnap. My shower was the Big Event for the day. Probably in another day or so I will doing a little laundry, etc. but I'm not expecting to go back to my FT job &  1 hr commute till I'm finished; unless Taxol is much kinder to me than AC has been. 

    I find that my 11 yr old son is very helpful when I'm feeling low, that this experience is helping him to mature. The silver lining is that I'm home with him much more than usual,  so that's a good thing.

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  • MicheleS
    MicheleS Member Posts: 937
    edited March 2009

    calgal~ your nadir is your lowest WBC count.  If you don't get neulasta (or an equivalent) your counts will drop 10-20 days post-chemo treatment (depending on what you got).  You might want to call your onc and get you blood count checked.  Do you have a fever?

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  • kat4pink
    kat4pink Member Posts: 63
    edited March 2009

    Thanks for sharing the photos Kerry - you are beautiful before and after your buzz cut! Your family is precious, and your kitty too!

    MicheleS- I won't be in Mobile this Thursday after all... I still have a 100.6 fever on and off from this flu, and my hub and daughter are still sick as well.. I am just not going to put my body through my first round of chemo even if my fever is gone by Thursday after being this sick.. so I have rescheduled for next Thursday, once again.

    Have a good day everyone!

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  • calgal1943
    calgal1943 Member Posts: 11
    edited March 2009

    Thanks Michele. took my temp only up slighyly. Will watch it. My daughter is Michele too.

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  • jancie
    jancie Member Posts: 2,631
    edited March 2009

    Aacccckkkk.   I am so far behind once again in this thread.  Was busy trying to get everything done before I go to my 2nd A/C chemo tomorrow.  Got only 2 out of 5 things on my list done.  Oh well.....chit happens.  I did buy 2 more wigs and ordered one more.  I am now up to 6 wigs and I think I will stop there for now.  I LOVE THEM ALL!!  I also got a really neat black hat to wear with my wigs.  That was of course a priority for today along with visiting the elementary school and letting them know I would be available for P/T work in the fall.

    Didn't see my horse, didn't get my laundry done and there are always more days and more chores so I am not sweating it any more than I am sweating the fact that I am going to get poisoned once again tomorrow.

    DH took me out for our anniversary dinner.  Let's just say it was super duper expensive but the food was awesome and worth every penny.  I told him for the cost I expected the food to taste absolutely delicious and they did not disappoint me in the least.  He had duck, I had beef.  DH always goes for the "odd things" and I stick to the meat which couldn't have been cooked any better.

    DH is already upstairs in bed and I can't ignore him tonight so I will have to check back in tomorrow - hopefully I will and not just go to bed after chemo.  Mentally it does wear me out and I just want to lay down and watch TV for the rest of the day.

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  • Carol0371
    Carol0371 Member Posts: 23
    edited March 2009

    Had #5 Taxol today,So I'm more than half done.4 more to go.Wired as usual, but too tired to take advantage of it.The fatigue is definitely cumulative.Its 2:00 a.m & am rally tired but can't sleep so got up & went on-line.I think after this post I'll try bed again.Want to be able to take a walk outside tomorrow with my granddaughter,its supposed to be in the 40"s,have to enjoy it while it lasts.Haven't caught up on all the posts,maybe tomorrow.

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited March 2009

    Carol - yah for being more than halfway through! The tiredness is certainly creeping up on me too. Hope you got some sleep...

    jancie - oh, your dinner sounds lovely! I always order Duck if it is going. We had our anniversary the day before I started chemo in Jan! It will be 10 years next year, I want to try to get away somewhere if the grandparents will take the kids... hopefully by then I will have some hair back.

    Have a good day everyone, I feel like I have been beaten up, all achey.  But it is supposed to warm up by this afternoon a bit.

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  • gcpommom
    gcpommom Member Posts: 883
    edited March 2009

    Well, went for tx #3 yesterday.  My onc. was concerned about my mental state right now, and offered to skip a week.  Boy that was tempting, but I passed on the waiting.  I mean, I'll still be sad and upset next week anyway, plus it would add an extra week to chemo and I just want to get it over with.  So we had the AC.  I cried alot, they were very nice, and I think they gave me extra Ativan, because boy, did it hit me hard,yikes. 

    I really don't like my onc's assistant, whom I see more often than my onc.  She is all business, and keeps telling me that although losing my mom is hard, I need to focus on me right now.  And that I need to let my other sisters help my dad through this.  Right.  Like I could do either.  I was always close to my dad, and he needs me right now.  And I am taking care of me, I just can't eat as much when I'm upset. 

    They said I have anemia, but really didn't say what to do about it.  Just to take my time when moving around, on stairs, etc.  But it kinda worried me.  I guess chemo-induced anemia may have nothing to do with iron intake, so extra iron would not only constipate more, but may do no good.  My other blood counts were good.

    Sue50:  I have an 11 yr old son, too, and am surprised at how "huggy" he has been lately.  The other day I laughed about something, and he said it was good to see me happy again, and my heart just felt so bad; not only has he had his grandmother die, but he still has to worry about me, and I need to remember to help him through ALL of this.  He's a good boy :)

    All the photos are adorable!  I will try to post some pics later, they are all on my desktop not the laptop.  Well, off to do laundry that been in the washer for 2 days, gotta rewash now. 

    Hugs to all, and thanks again to everyone for your support through this

    Judy

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited March 2009

    Judy - It is great to hear from you. I have been thinking of you a lot, wondering how you are holding up. Good for you for getting through your treatment. My #3 has hit me harder too. Hang in there, you will get through to the other side. Try and take care of yourself as much as you can, eat things you like, and remember to rest lots.

    I send big hugs.

    Kerry

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  • Jaimieh
    Jaimieh Member Posts: 2,373
    edited March 2009

    I am really glad to hear from some peopel that it is taking longer to get back into the swing of things.  I am 9 days out of my 2nd TCH and I feel like crap still.  My slimmy mouth has gone away but my digestive distress started 2 days ago and is still raging on (with immodium).   I am having one of those days that I keep thinking how in the hell am I going to get thru 4 more treatments of this stuff.  I'm just really discouraged that my whole back hurts from this digestive "issue".  I just want to feel better for a couple of day and I am scared at this point that it isn't going to happen. 

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  • kisblessed
    kisblessed Member Posts: 7
    edited March 2009

    Webwriter-Thanks for encouragement to all of us each step of the way.

    Mom_of_Boys-You really picked me up & got me going after Tx#1. How are you doing?

    Last Tues the 24th, very Unexpectedly my hus. had a heart attack..they tried hard over 5 hrs.but couldn't pull him back. :(   My world revolved around him & our children. We had to fly from LA to TN over the weekend. Boy, everything all at once. Our strong faith will bring us through.  

    I have had the hair "molting" thing starting last week, getting really close to buzzing my pixie..I had pretty thick hair so i guess that's whats hanging in there.  Wore my wig over the weekend back home.  I got many compliments on my LA new style!!  Just like the rest of you, other areas are stubborn. Shouldn't it be the other way around?  I was told no waxing to prevent poss. infection/bleeding at the site .

    Chemo Angels are the best. My angels put a smile on my face every time.  They are really creative. One sends me pages of jokes/funnies each week so I have them to read during chemo. Since the delay last week, I have Tx #2 tomorrow. 

    All of the pics are awesome.  Love the children's & pets photos.

    Hugs & Prayers,

    Karen

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  • Terri42
    Terri42 Member Posts: 56
    edited March 2009

    LOVE all of the pictures - makes me smile!

    Judy - I'm so glad to see you back here I think time for healing is the only thing you can count on at this point to get you through - forget the onc assistant!  BTW - I was also told I was anemic this week but my onc didn't say to do anything either and for some reason I didn't ask???She kind of made it sound like she would just keep an eye on it but did say this would contribute to the tiredness (like everything else)...

    Apple - how nice of you to suuport your friend I hope she is doing OK - kind of puts my term with this into perspective!

    I'm pacing the floors today after AC round 3 yesterday - can't focus on anything - trying to read here to catch up - sending good thoughts to everyone!

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