Any May 2009 Chemo Starters?

blondie45 - that's an interesting question! I forgot that the word soda is used differently in the US than in Canada. It means soda water like if you have a Scotch and soda drink (but don't waste good Scotch by gargling with it). The bottle (I just went and looked at it) says "Club Soda" and the ingredients are carbonated water and a couple of things with sodium in the name. No sugar, colour, flavour or caffeine. That makes a bit of sense since the other thing mentioned in the booklet was to gargle with salt water. That makes me gag though and soda water is no trouble at all.

Hope you are feeling better. I was pretty tired the first few days after my treatment too - much better now.

Deb6563-I am like you, feeling much better. I ate my first real meal since my treatment on Tuesday and it tasted good. the yucky taste is gone and stomach pains are gone too. I'm not tired but glad I don't have to work either. I have respect for you all who do work. I feel weak but probably from not eating much. It is so good to be feeling better.

To those who have mouth sores, I hear that using biotine mouthwash and toothpaste can help for it stimulates your saliva glands to increase saliva which is to help. I also heard using baking soda paste for the sores.

lassie 11-Yes club soda sounds like it would make sense, will have to add that to daughter's shopping list for today.

I think I may be a small bit better today, but not much, don't have to work until Tuesday and hope I get my energy back by then.

When you had your AC treatments what days were your worst and when did you start feeling better?????

Lassie11:  Yes, fruits with a peel, such as oranges and bananas are okay, and even ones that you can peel, such as apples and peaches (I would wash my hands after peeling as to remove any pesticides that got on them when peeling)  My onc. nurse also said eating organic and washing would minimize risk of infection.  I also believe that the risk increases if you have an infection so that when eating raw is even more discouraged.

Janet

I have eaten a few of the Kellogg's Special K Protein Bars just to get some vitamins and protein in me but haven't felt like eating much either. I also wasn't told about the raw fruits and veggies. I couldn't think about eating eggs when I feel nauseated though.

Hey everybody.

I am getting very close to my first treatment on Tuesday here. I got all my Rx filled yesterday- EMLA cream for the port, Emend, and Compazine. I have spent most of the day today cleaning up the house and getting laundry done, so I am ready here. I've already had my labs for the first one, so I have an appt with my onc on Tuesday and then first chemo after that. In the future I will have lab work the day before. Wednesday I go back for the Neulasta and I also have an appt with my primary for a physical that was booked long before this all started. I really wanted to cancel that, but they wanted me to touch base with her so she knows what is going on. My labs for her are all done too. I just need to get through Tuesday and Wednesday and then I can hibernate.

I'm getting nervous and scared. I know it will all be okay, but I am trying to stay busy and keep my mind off of it. Guess I will start pushing the water. I was told to eat as much fruits and vegetables as I can. Again, we all get told different things! She told me that nothing was off limits to me now except they would like me to limit my carbs and try to avoid fried and spicy foods. Great- my three favorite things to eat!!

Hope everybody is doing well and enjoying the holiday weekend as best as they can. I was really hoping for a sunny, hot weekend to laze around the pool but it has been cloudy and raining off and on here all weekend. Maybe tomorrow will be better.

Hugs to all!   

Texas Rose-Hang in there we will all get through it together!!!!!

Thanks ladies! We will get through this together.

lemonjello- Sorry about your hair flying out the window. That would suck!

Gramof3- I love the little hammer idea! I have one and I am going to put it in my chemo bag. I keep telling myself that chemo is my friend. Chemo is my weapon and is working with me and not against me. I almost believe it! Almost. LOL

blondie- Thanks! We absolutely will get through!

Janet- We CAN do anything for four to six months. I realized today that next Friday will be 8 weeks since my surgery. It has absolutely flown by and that is the same amount of time my AC treatments will take. That part will be over before I know it!! Then Taxol and then I am finished!! Unless I get the third arm of the trial. I can do this. It's temporary. We can all do it. I tell myself a hundred times a day that this too shall pass and it will. I bought a ton of groceries on Friday. I'm ready. Bring it on!

I also ordered two more wigs today. I am just getting those inexpensive wigs from TLC. I decided I would rather have several different styles and colors than one expensive wig. I have three wigs now and three of those halos that go under hats. I still don't have any scarves. In my wildest dreams I cannot see me wearing them. They are so cute on other people, but would so not be me!

Hugs! 

Hi Susie.....

Good luck for your first treatment Suzie.  I just read your posts....I have really bad blood veins, and the hospital used warm wheatbags to be able to get the IV in.  Another thing you can do is put your arms in warm water for a few minutes can help get the veins up. I have a portacath now, just have to wait till next week to use it. If they have a difficult time getting the IV  in, you will find they will do the port op quickly for you. 

I was told to avoid dairy and sugar also from my Oncologist.  When I had my first chemo for a week afterwards, I couldn't stomach anything dairy or sugary anyway.  I ended up drinking alot of Fresh up apple and orange juice.  This also helps keeping the constipation at bay.

The biggest advice I can give is......

*Do all your SE tablets exactly how they prescribe..... 

*Don't over exert yourself, do what you can, rest when you need too.

*Think positively....

Hi Ladies!

I didn't sign in with you gals because I was so scared of round 1 on May 4th that I didn't think I would be making any more posts.  I WAS WRONG!!!!!!!!!  I go for #2 on Tuesday.  I'm not looking forward to it but I know now that I can do it.  You don't know how much you all have helped me while I was lurking.  Thank you so much!

Nancy

I'm getting round 2 on Tuesday too.  I am dreading it but anxious to get it behind me too.  The onc said to take an ativan if I find I'm overly anxious.  I may take one tomorrow morning.  My husband is traveling so my sister and/or mother are supposed to take me to round 2 and help with my little ones until he gets home.  As I am having chemo my brotherinlaw will be having bloodwork and an ultrasound...testicular cancer is suspected.

My husband and son shaved my head on Friday.  I have worn a wig out or a scarf at home much of the time.  I didn't cry about my hair loss yet, but haven't really been alone with it so far.

We're cooking out steaks for my pre-chemo meal...I'm not usually much of a meat eater.  But want those blood counts to be good!!!

Good luck to all of you going for round 1 or 2 or dealing with SE's this week!!!  I'll be thinking of you all for inspiration as I step through the day.

hugs and prayers

I am getting some killer acne.  Has anyone else experienced this as a side effect?

I am meeting with the Oncologist on Wed or Thursday and will start Chemo within a few days after that. I believe the chemo is going to be Taxotene and Cytoxan and I have no clue what to expect. My sister went through this close to 3 years ago but her treatment was totally different than mine. This has been such a long process, the wait for the tests and then the results is pure torture. Any words of advise or experience will be greatly appreciated. Diana

WOW!  I missed alot while I was away for the long weekend.  I can't even begin to address everyone.  The weekend at the lake was so great!  I was and have been tired every afternoon.  Lucky ladies that have bounced back so well.  Here I am ready for TX #2 on Wednesday and have had the 'breakthrough' nausea and the tiredness.  My hubby's family was SUPER supportive this weekend, they all live in Ft Wayne and we are outside of Cincy so none of them had seen me since the first chemo.  Because I had posted my bald pic's on facebook, the kids were all great!  I have a question for those of you already completely bald......We shaved my head last week and I still have some 'stubble' I can tell where the hair is coming out next because the scalp hurts so bad in those areas.  Does anyone have  a remedy for the scalp pain?  Seems like there has been a remedy for just about everything on here so lookin for this one!

Sorry girls, nothing witty to say tonight, just kinda tired..........BIG HUGS to ALLLLLL of you and those of you having tx #1, you have anticipated wayyyy worse than it will really be, well it was for me anyway.  I think I read that someone else is having tx #2 this week, good luck and lets hope #2 is not too bad. 

As for the raw fruits and veggies, that is all I have been able to eat since my first tx.  It is pretty much the only thing that sounds good.  I don't like eggs and when my hubby made some a couple of Saturday's ago, I had to run outside because the smell made me sick sick sick!

Ok, that's it for now.

Question for everyone that has mouth sores.  Did your sores start  on your tongue?  I don't have any sores yet, but my tongue is "tingly" and doesn't feel right.