Starting Chemo February 2009?

Rhubarb pie sounds divine!!!! Too bad everything tastes like crap right now.

I spent Mother's Day in bed from my damn chemo crash. The girls & hubby were nice though, I just felt like crap. I did manage to get to use my Pedicure GC today! Yay!! IT's already sandal weather here. Hell...it's downright hot here. Going to break 100F this weekend. Yuck....I'm not ready for the heat yet.

It is so exciting reading about everyone and their last treatment!  Anticipating hair growth:)...I still have 7 weekly abraxene's left, so you give me hope.  I spent Mother's day with a chemo crash.  The bone pain was bad, but it's the fatigue that is really kicking me.  I am even having a hard time pushing myself to continue working, but with DH not having an income and since I carry the insurance, I keep trying.  It is so exciting to think about almost being done!  My family and I were able to participate in the RACE for the cure on Saturday...my mom, brother, 2 sisters actally ran the 5K for the first time in their lives...it was so wonderful to see the support.

 Hope you all have a great day!!

Kim

Kim~ I could have written you post!!  7 more to go and I have no choice but to keep working.  I had to call in sick friday because of the fatigue.  I could barely shower that day.  Yesterday was a bit better but I only made it to work from 9-2:30.  Today and tomorrow, I'm determined to work full days because I'll be out again thurs... But, we're 1/2 way there!!!  We can do this!!!

Apple~  I want some pie!!! I even have on my "fat-girl" pants today!!! (Unfortunately, everyday seems to be a "fat-girl" pants kind of day anymore... Damn steroids!)

Kerry & Kristine~ Ya'll are doing so well!!  Thanks for keeping my mood up!!

Judy~  I thought of you lots on Mother's day.  Just keep hanging in there!! Good luck this week (and don't go showing anyone any mouth sores!!)

Lots of {{{{hugs}}}} for everyone!!!

Crap! My last chemo was last Wends, so you would think today I would feel much better...........not.  I got dressed and drove 20 miles to my job, sit there for an hour trying to figure out what I was doing,( a job I have done for 20 yrs).  So I'm back home sitting here so very tired. I too carry the insurance for the family, so I need to get in enough hours to pay our premiums. Oh well, enough griping, at least I know that next week I won't be knocked back down.

I was raised in northern IN and babysat by an Amish family, her best made pie was Rhubarb! You bring back good memories......................now i wish I could remember where I left my bank card, glassess, passwords.....ect.

Rhubarb!!  The Germans called rhubarb "pie plant" and they make "piestengel" --rhubarb wine.  It is delicious. 

Congrats to those of you on the "down hill side."  I started weekly T last Friday, and even though the onc said I wouldn't need a Neulasta shot, I'm not so sure. Maybe it's the steroid crash, but It's kicking me... I'll finish the T in late July, then rads, so I may be the last Feb. Fury  out the tx door  (but I'll turn off the lights and NONE of us will have to come back here!).  Have a good evening!  Helen

Cheryl - mine might still fall out! I never got that smooth look, maybe that is still to come?

 Got an Onc appt today to put me on Tamoxifen. Hope I don't get any nasty SE's. Always get nervous wjhen I go to see her.

Gramof3 - I have done (2) Taxols and have not been given the Neulasta shot either time. 

Apple - In Switzerland they make a wonderful rhubarb pie with strawberries - great mixture of fruit - something you might want to try.  They also sell a strawberry/rhubarb jam that I have only found one time in specialty store in Dallas.

I go in for chemo today then I only have ONE MORE LEFT!!   I will be on a major steriod high tomorrow.  Since I don't go in until 11 am and then I have to sit there for around 5 hours, I will be coming home and going to bed to watch TV or something.  It will be an emotional day for me.

For those that have gone into chemo pause - like myself.......I have been crying non-stop at any little thing I watch on TV that I find is sad for the person.  The tears have been flowing like crazy for about 2 weeks now.

Jancie you mean tampon comercials are not sad ???  I am the same way, it's horrible.  My poor DH keeps asking me what's wrong and I can't answer him. 

 Linda~ I hope you counts are up today.  If they are will you get you chemo today ??

Jancie~ They gave me the RX before I even started for effexor and I think that I am going to get it filled because like you I am a mess.  I go happy to sad in 5 seconds and you never know which is going to show up. 

I still haven't found the adhesive I need to make my shirt.  Gotta love when I put things away 6 months ago.  Okay I guess I better get off the computer I have to plant some veggies today also which I don't want to do. 

Hey Ladies,

Just checking in. Seems like everyone is doing ok.

Kerry-You'll have to let me know how the Tamox goes, my onc. said he'll start me when I am done with rads, which is next Friday. Can't be soon enough!  I guess the radiation "fatigue" hit me today, I'm pretty miserable. My skin is itchy, red and the entire area, which is pretty darn big, peeled this morning, and I'm nauseas and dizzy.  But 18 down, 7 more to go!

Sue

I keep telling my husband that the God Lord either thinks he needs patience or has alot of patience as he gets to be married to me going through chemopause and than hopefully menopause in 10+years...lucky guy!  Actally I find myself more teary, but I think it is because the journey is getting a bit long.  Also, my husband and I have gardened and did yard projects together for years, some couples go on vacation, we work on our yard.  Now, this year he plays in the yard and I take naps.  Mr Fatigue has become an unwelcome guest in my body and I am so ready for him to leave.  Only 7 more weekly Abraxene.  Anyone on the Abraxene or Taxol that got the numbness in hands and feet?  Does it come and go, or just get progressively worse?  Thanks.  (My onco nixed the idea of B6 and glutamine supplements.)

Thank you Jaimieh...it is so hard to not feel alone with these crazy se's.  My hubby is wonderful too, but I have noticed a bit more avoidance from him...I think it is so hard for him to see his active and energetic wife so "yucky"! 

Another reason grandkids are more fun than their parents:  I just called my gdaughters (5 and 8) and they turned on the speaker phone.  I could hardly understand them because they were shrieking and laughing so hard.  I figured they should have finished their baths and that neither of their parents was around because it usually is "quiet time" before they go to bed.  Anyway, after I yelled, "What are you doing??" the little one yelled back, "We're having an underwear war!"  I yelled again, "How do you do that??" and the older one yelled, "We're using our panties as sling shots and there goes Nemo, there goes Princess Aurora, there goes Minnie Mouse!"  Then SILENCE.  Unfortunately, my son walked in on them and was hit by Dora the Explorer!  Cease fire followed immediately.  I wish I were there to see them...just a little down day, today.  Major hot flashes and I had to relocate my entire office this afternoon--went bald and a co-worker dude said, "Gee, Helen, if you ever want to look mean and scare someone, just take off your wig." Grrrrrr. 

 Webbbbbbbie, where are you?  Mikita?? SamedaynurseJan??

OOH Denali!!! That is a big snake and very creepy!!!!  Glad you're making progress on your chemo.

We get milk snakes in our basement since we have a granite and stone foundation (our house was built circa 1750-1790.) I have had a snake slide out from under my washing machine....that was nasty...but if one was hanging from the ceiling like yours I would certainly FREAK.

Mother's day: I was in the Chemo Hole that day but sat outside to watch a Lawn Tractor Race staged by my husband and son. I decided to participate briefly, so my DH raced with a wheelbarrow since we only have 2 tractors.

Hair report: I have tiny white stubble all over and a few dark stubbles that never fell out. It's ok if it comes in white, I will take any color at this point. At least it's hair: 

Tamoxifen: I sent in my prescription to my mail order pharmacy today. I'm supposed to start it 2 weeks after my last chemo. Then rads start the week after that...hope I can handle all that. Onc says to expect hot flashes (got those already) and vaginal discharge may increase.

I was also told to start taking Calcium & Vitamin D even though I drink milk. I got some OS Cal. anybody other chemopause people taking calcium?

I thought I'd already posted this, but I guess not....I was able to get my chemo yesterday, YAY!  It was a late appt for me, they didn't even start my Taxol til 7pm. Mouth sore is still there, but healing up, so she let me get my tx.  Of course, it could come back, but so far, so good. 

I found out that I probably cannot start my reconstruction until I am off the coumadin, so that pushes it all the way to the end of September....so bummed about that. 

Jaimie, so sorry your mouth sores are still bad   I hope they improve soon.

Gram of 3:  I have had 6 Taxols so far with no shots; my blood counts dropped a bit, but nothing too bad at all.  cute story about your grandkids, that's hilarious!  The things these kids think up!

Denali:  thank goodness we have no snakes to worry about here in Michigan, that would have scared me half to death!

Living4today:  I am on taxol, and have had some numbness tingling that comes and goes.  I didn't ask my onc first about taking b6 and glutamin, just started taking it.  I swear it helps.  She was upset when she found out that I did it on my own, but she got over it.

Michele:  I was so touched that you thought of me on mother's day.  Thank you for that, it is so sweet that you that you remembered why it would be a hard day for me.  I got through it ok. 

Well, I'm off to bed so I have energy for garage sales tomorrow.  It is one thing I can do that is normal, kind of the one hobby I still engage in, even though it wears me out afterward.

Judy