Starting Chemo February 2009?

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  • xpectmiracles
    xpectmiracles Member Posts: 439
    edited April 2009

    Is your doctor part of a large hospital system? Another idea I have is to call a main operator number and have them transfer you. You might be able to get through or leave a message.

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

    The dang office is closed and didn't have the answering machine on (and this is a huge facility).  I finally called my wonderful american cancer society navigator who is trying to find someone.  My next step was to start trying to call my doctor at home. 

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  • BandanaGirl
    BandanaGirl Member Posts: 11
    edited April 2009

    Hi Gals!  I had my first Taxol treatment yesterday...So worried to let go of the Emend and so scared to try a new drug...Took my 5 dex and then another 5 dex 6 hours prior..One hour prior to leaving for the clinic..I took an Ativan and a Zofran as the nurse suggested...Did show up feeling calmer .Blood work looked OK so they started me on Benadryl and Tagament..in the IV..and soon after started the Taxol very slowly...Kept waiting to feel bad but that just didn't happen..Got a little sleepy from the Benadryl but that was all.....A big relief..Thank you to everyone on this site who kept me calm about this whole switch..Now I know to prepare for the very bad bone pain buthopefully I'll get a few days off..But, of course, I did go for my Neulasta shot today so pain could come at any time...But at least I feel I can eat for a while and my mood is so improved from last weeks A/C comedown. I'm doing .5 mill of Ativan during the day...1mg before bedtime..and doing Zofram every 8 hours...Hope this keeps everyhting in place and my mood good...But I already went out for a one mile walk this morning and that is more than I have felt like doing in a while! I wish al of you a very Happy Passover and Happy Easter...and Great Health and Vitality in the coming year!!!

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

    Finally a doctor called me and "Sorry there isn't much we can do now just ride it out and next treatment we will start you on Emmend of and if you get too dehydrated go to the ER"  Thanks dude.  I will continue to sit with my head between my legs for the next couple of days.....

    Another day down hopefully closer to being out of the chemo-hole soon. 

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  • living4today
    living4today Member Posts: 215
    edited April 2009

    hi everyone,

    Advice please.  Yesterday was my first day of taxol (weekly x 12)...premeds were aloxia, tagamet, steroid and benedryl.  Did okay through the treatment and the first five to six hours, but than started getting slight chest tightness and cough, than the heart rate started to climb and started to get tremors.  Went to ER, resting heart rate in the 80's to 90's but when I stood up, the rate jumped to 188...thought I was going under!  Well they gave me the same cocktail of meds that I had earlier and some IV fluids and put me in the hospital for observation.  The frustrating thing was that my onco is out of town today so the doc on call came in and asked me if I wanted to go home or stay the weekend....I told him, I have no clue could you please call my onco and ask her the plan.  So now I sit and wait...this is my fourth hosp stay since starting chemo...I sure hope it's working on the cancer as much as it's kicking me... thanks for letting me vent and any advice on weekly taxol would be appreciated.

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  • webwriter
    webwriter Member Posts: 535
    edited April 2009

    Peeping out from the hole, to say try not to worry, Susan. I bet those counts stabilize soon. My Onco won't even do them because of this very worry.

    Everyone, thanx for such an enthusastic response to my crazy antics! It was such a bright spot for the nurses that took such good care of me! Of course the man in the cubby next to mine snored right through it, but I did hear he enjoyed a cupcake when he woke up, haha! May all of you feel the relief I did in etting it OVER!!!

    Jaimieh, there is nothing worse than not being able to reach your doc. I love mine, but their phone system is constantly screwed up. It makes me MORE than mad. I did find, however, that sending an email off their website letting them know I couldn't get through got me an almost instant response! The first time I had to do it, the tech guy called me within two minutes to tell me he was hand walking my message over to the clinic. The second time, he just took it and I had a response in 10...if you can find them on the web try that. You might also try pounding zero every time you get a number to push. Sometimes that takes you straight to a live operator who can help.

    Keep us posted!

    Off for a nap in the crash pad. This one brought nausea like no other. Go figure. UG!

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

    Webbie~ You deserve a good crash.  I hope the nausea is gone soon. 

    Living4today~ I hope they can figure out what is going on.  Don't you love when the doctor wants you to answer the questions for them. 

    I am thrilled to say that I found a way to make my font big on my PC so I can see it again.  Gotta love Chemo....I was having a hard time reading what I wrote because my eyes are a mess.  I could go see the eye doctor but they seem to clear up each time so I figured I will wait until a couple of weeks out of chemo to have them checked again.  I normally have 20/20 so this is driving me crazy. 

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  • Artemis
    Artemis Member Posts: 759
    edited April 2009
    Yay, Webbie!!!  Yay!!!!  You did it, girlfriend!  I am so happy for you to be finished with chemo!  The pictures are great; thanks so much for sharing them with us.

    xpectmiracles ~ you are rockin' the Easter Egg look; too cute!

    susan13 ~ so sorry for what you're having to go through.  *hugs*

    living4today ~ I have no advice for you, but want to say how goofy of the doctor to ask you what you want to do.  Good grief!

    Hugs to all,
    Artemis
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  • sue50
    sue50 Member Posts: 61
    edited April 2009

    Greetings Furies!

    Living4Today- hope you can go home soon! (hugs!)

    Webbie- Congratulations!! Loved the pix, DH and I had a good chuckle. Love the outfit, I can't imagine what would happen if you came to my clinic. The old guy with the lunch cart would probably pass right out.

    xpectmiracles--  Great head, great art!

    Just did my 2nd taxol...4 hours...drip, drip, drip.....they gave me less Benadryl this time so my legs weren't as jumpy, yay.

    Having lots of night sweats these days; not a lot of wetness, but getting very hot and waking up often. Waking up poor DH too. Any advice? 

    I read the mortality discussion belatedly, wow. some great insights. I had a bit of a bummer this week when they told me that there is a cancerous lymph node in my breastbone that they couldn't remove...it will hopefully get hit with the radiation. Also seeing the Farrah Fawcett story, how the reporters are writing her off already it seems... kind of brought me down a couple notches. Anyway, then I went by myself this time, by train down to Boston for my tx. I noticed getting off the train how slowly I walk nowadays, lagging behind the crowd....finally got to my hotel and felt so alone! Asked God to just help me get through this tx.

    Next morning, missed the hospital shuttle so had to take a cab...but it was worth it. This old guy with a Greek accent was asking me all about my cancer, and he looked at me in the mirror and said confidently, "You look good and healthy. You gonna make it ok." He said it several times and it was just so encouraging. Maybe he was an angel. Before tx started, I sat next to a lady who also has a breastbone lymph node, and she has a year's worth of tx ahead of her....in no time we were laughing about funny bc t shirt sayings.  And so goes the emotional roller coaster.....

    Hang in there Furies!!

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

    Hey sue - well, firstly I take my hat off to you for "going it alone" down to your treatment. I can imagine how lonely you would have felt. But as you say, you never know who you are going to meet who can say just the right thing, and restore hope into your life. Bummer about the Breastbone node - is this just something you have learnt about? But you know, all this Chemo, then Rads then Hormones - they are all there working to zap up suckers like that. I'm sure it will knock it to the curb where it belongs!!

    living4today - are you at home yet?? Hope you are OK. Let us know.

    Jaimie - how are you doing?  Hope you have got some relief - and, hey, at least now you can see! I am having trouble hitting the right letters on my keyboard, and I keep forgetting words, I keep saying to my Husband, this is what it must be like to not be very smart.

    Webbie - hows the hole? Wishing you an easy ride of it for your last go round.

    Still feeling OK here after Thursdays Tx - a bit achey last night, but Tylenol #3 worked its magic. Hoping this time is not so hard on me, but I am expecting everything to come crashing down at some point!! BUT, good news, I am still able to eat chocolate!

    Anyhow, hope the day is a good one for us all. 

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

    Sue I hope you are still doing well after your treatment.  Hit that lymph node hard with the radiation and tell it who is boss. 

    Kerry~ I am hanging in there still gagging on things.  I was told that my next 2 treatments I will be on Emmends and that should make me feel better but I am too far out of this round for anything else.  So zofran and I are still friends.  I know exactly what you are talking about with the words.  I often these days rearrange sentences because normal words that I know how to spell I have no idea how to spell.  It makes me sad :( 

    I hope your crash is gentle.  Jealous of all the chocolate eating you are able to do.  I haven't been able to stomach anything sweat.  When are you finished T ??

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

    30th April!

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

    Kerry~ Whoooo you are almost there.  Do you have anything after the 30th ???

     Does anyone else think that the days have drug by during treatment ??  I think I need to come up with a project and a deadline to give myself something to look forward to. 

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

    Oh and everyone who is finished we expect for you to continue to check in and we want hair growth pictures (webbie, Sue and anyone else that I can't remember thank you Chemo )

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

    Oh, yeah, I've still got loads more! Well, 25 Rads (5 weeks) due for June, then also getting an ooph, so that is more Surgery. Then the joys of Hormones.....So a long road still, but I am thinking Chemo is the hardest. Rads are supposed to be a walk in the park, just time consuming as they are every day. Hoping to grow a ponytail as well!

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  • kmn0701
    kmn0701 Member Posts: 117
    edited April 2009

    Glad to hear you're feeling ok Kerry, hope it keeps up. I cannot WAIT to have a ponytail again!!!!

    Sue....love your taxi driver. Maybe he was just what you needed right then, eh?

    Jaimieh & living4today....hang in there girls!

    I know I'm not the only one with the teary eyes. My Onc told me yesterday if it's not seasonal allergies (I don't have any that I know of) then it's the Taxotere....like you said Kerry. She wants me to go see an eye doctor. For some reason everything was going in one ear & out the other yesterday....why should I see an eye doctor?? Isn't there something she can give me?? I can't call them until Monday to ask but thought maybe someone here would know.

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

    Kristine! I put some visine in and it did wonders :) 

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  • living4today
    living4today Member Posts: 215
    edited April 2009

    Thanks everyone for the good wishes.  My onco was just here and I get to go home today...yipee!  She also said we are going to switch things up for this next weeks dose.  If insurance will approve, I am going to get Abraxene instead of Taxol.  I also will be admitted to the hospital for this round.  (fifth admission since chemo started in Feb.)  I have a strong faith belief, but this road just isn't easy.  Kind of hard to keep the tears at bay today....

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  • Bethie1
    Bethie1 Member Posts: 393
    edited April 2009

    Well, how's my Fabolous Furry gang!!!?? I'm good! Fatigue knocked me for a loop last night. Usually I'm good for just getting my feet up on couch, but crawling into bed was best!!!

    Sue50- I see you had jitters on Benadryl/Taxol also. I just got done with my 1st Taxol on Wed, and I was jittery, numbness/tingling in hands/feet, sunburn look on my face, etc.  All common SE, but the jitteriness scared me cause I was afraid I was gonna go into heart palpatations, as my family has heart complications/diabetes on both sides.  Next session they'll reduce and/or eliminate the benadryl given to me (50 mg max dose). 

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  • Gramof3
    Gramof3 Member Posts: 301
    edited April 2009
    Living4today--I'm so sorry that you are having such a difficult time.  I'm beside you with my cyber shoulder, so let the tears roll, then we'll take a deep breath together and compose ourselves to start climbing the next hill.  We will do this together!    (((((prayers & hugs, L4T))))).  Helen
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  • xpectmiracles
    xpectmiracles Member Posts: 439
    edited April 2009

    Sue, I believe that cab driver and fellow BC patient you met before tx were angels to answer your prayer. We are all being taken care of. All we need to do is ask.

    I love you all!!

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  • gcpommom
    gcpommom Member Posts: 883
    edited April 2009

    Sue, isn't it funny how a total stranger can tell us something with such certainty, and make us feel better?  I had a similar, but slightly stranger experience.  I was shopping in December at Wet Seal, and there was a young guy shopping at the same rack as me.  Well, it turned out he was a female impersonator, and oh my, he was so nice and funny (you should have seen the clothing he was picking out, ooh-la-la).  We discussed wigs for a while, and he showed me a pic of himself in drag on his cellphone.   He then told me very matter of factly that I was going to be just fine, he was sure of it.  He then proceded to tell me that he knew this because he was also a psychic! 

    Anyway, I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Easter.  Sending big hugs to everyone, please enjoy your holiday and spending time with your loved ones.  My MIL is taking us out to dinner, I've never gone out to dinner on Easter before, but hey, I don't have to cook, right?

    Judy

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

    Still no relief from nausea.  Called the same doctor today and he called something else in and wants me to take the dreadadron again :(  I will do it I don't care at this point I just want to not feel like puking.  I still refuse to puke so I just gag non-stop.  I hope everyone is having a great Easter.  I am hoping that the emmend that they are going to give me next round will make things better than this.  I am so done and I am ready to fire the PA who could have given me something to prevent this or at least make it not as long.  Back to take my dreadadron which makes me crazier than normal. 

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  • Bethie1
    Bethie1 Member Posts: 393
    edited April 2009

    I take Emend and it works wonders for me!  My dosage is 125 mg on Wed (chemo day) and lower doses on Thurs (hydration day) and Friday.  It comes in a 3 pack.  Hope you feel better ((((HUGS))))).  Do you also take anything such as Kytril?  I was given that for just in case situations; it also helps with nausea, but knock on wood, I haven't needed that much cause the Emend does the trick

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  • living4today
    living4today Member Posts: 215
    edited April 2009

    Jaimieh,  I am so sorry to hear about the nausea, I too struggled with horrible nausea and I am allergic to compazine, etc. I was on the Emend, NO decadron as my heart raced too much, but what I found to be the greatest relief was Ativan 0.5 every 3-4 hours the first few days after chemo.  I hate taking medications (never even took vitamins, etc before bc) and ativan makes you a bit sleepy, but so worth it to not have that aweful nausea.  Good luck!

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

    Hi February Furries!!!

    I am among the living still but am still dealing with horrible SE's.  My shingles are gone Laughing but what else can you expect when you are having to take 4,000 mg of anti-biotics for 7 days.

    The worst part right now are my eyes.  I am having a hard time focusing and my eyes really burn if I am on the computer reading for too long.  It took me 2 days to read 2 pages of this thread and a 3rd day to get back on here to say hello to everyone.  My insurance only covers me going to the eye doctor every 2 years so I am trying to hold out until my chemo is over. 

    This week I have Taxol for the 1st time and I am for the first time really scared.  I hate the fact that I have to deal with another range of SE's different from the A/C.  My hubby is going with me to this chemo appointment so that if I have a reaction he is right there to notice.  Also dreading the massive amount of steroids that I will have to take prior to infusion.

    I hate the fact that it is hard for me to be on the computer.  I get on for about 5 minutes at a time and then have to walk away because of my eyes.

    My blasted cold is about gone so hopefully I will find a way to muster up some energy for a couple of days before Taxol on Wednesday.

    I wish I could "shout out" to everyone individually but I can't be on here for too long.

    I do want to congratulate Webbie for finishing up Chemo.  I have 2 more months of this crap Yell

    I would love to meet all of you at a get together in the future.  I think it would be a blast!  I am only on the 1st part of my treatment as I still have surgery and radiation ahead of me.  I won't be done with treatments until October so I don't plan on traveling until December or January so if this get together is prior to that time frame I won't be able to attend but hopefully we will all get together more than once in the future.

    Been thinking of each one of you as you go through this trip through hades as I like to refer to it.  I want to be so done with chemo that I can totally understand why people just stop at some point in their life.  My QOL is crap right now that sometimes I wonder if I can make it through 4 more treatments.  I applaud those that are doing this and working and maintaining some sort of normal existence.  Ok, pity party is over!

    Big hugs to each and everyone of you!

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

    My WONDERFUL husband finally called the doctor and demanded that I needed something else.  He called in phenegran and it seems to have helped.  I actually got a really good nap in and I ate some food so I am feeling a little bit better (I hope it continues). 

    Jancie I agree my QOL right now stinks right now.  Is you next 4 treatments weekly or DD ??  I also have the eye issues and I am waiting until the end of treatment because of insurance reasons also.  I keep adjusting the size of my print it's crazy.

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  • sue50
    sue50 Member Posts: 61
    edited April 2009

    Happy Easter everyone! I made it to church but was too winded to sing those hymns; it was good for me to shut up and listen tho, lol.

    Kerrymac- thanks for listening, and Congrats on being Nearly Done Cool

    Judy-- liked your cross-dresser story! ooh la la

    xpectmiracles- you are so right. God answers our prayers and we do need to ask. I keep trying to run things myself without asking for help, so I need to learn that one over and over. 

    living4today- hang in there! You have had a rough road with hospitalizations.

    Jaimieh- hope your nausea lets up. I did puke a few times on A/C but not bad, helpful meds included Emend, Zofran, Decadron. All taken whether or not you feel sick, starting Tx day - Day 4.  Also Ativan as needed, and it helped too. Hope they find the right combo to help you.

    I met someone today who was just diagnosed with Ovarian cancer....does anyone know a good support group for ovarian cancer? 

    Hope everyone has a good week,

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  • Gramof3
    Gramof3 Member Posts: 301
    edited April 2009

    Jaimieh--Emend will probably do the trick for you.  My experience has been like Bethie1's--with the Emend I haven't needed anything else.  Good luck!

    Jancie--I hope the Taxol SE's are minimal.  You can do this--this trip through Hades is an
    "investment" so that when we are verrry ooooold we can tell the young whippersnappers how it "used to be"  --hopefully they won't even kow what BC is.  I'll be interested in how the next treatment phase (the T) goes--I won't finish the AC until Friday, so am a little bit behind you. I'll be thinkin' about ya.   Helen

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  • elizzim
    elizzim Member Posts: 146
    edited April 2009

    Hi Furies!

    I have been so sick from the AC that I just haven't been online, and now it's impossible to catch up! I've missed all of you, but have been able to do nothing but sleep and stave of the nausea. I just wanted to say Hi before I go to sleep tonight. Tomorrow, I'll catch up with all the posts and get back in the groove.

    Sending good vibes to all of you!

    XO,

    Liz 

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