Any May 2009 Chemo Starters?

Julie- I know what you mean about seeming strong every tells me that to, but i have my days and some of the ladies here crack me up too makes my day!!

JO Anne- Im so sorry you have to be here and you'll see all the ladies here will welcome you with big arms (((((((hugs))) sounds like we are on the same tx, my 2nd will be next tuesday, and with out the support here it wouldnt of been easier, Im so, very sorry you have to have a transfusion, if you dont mind me asking is that because of the chemo that you are anemic? Did you have to take the neulast shot? so many questions i know, I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers, its pretty quiet around here at night so im sure you will get all kinds of chatter in the morning-  and a lot more support

angel hugs debbie

Welcome jaelsne

Of course you can join the May Marvels.....  anyone is welcome.... 

I feel for you being anaemic at the mo........ I hope the blood transfusion goes ok........ My thoughts are with you...... big huggles....

Titch- Glad to hear you are doing well. A night out with the hubby sounds fun. I feel like I hardly ever leave my house anymore. I need to work on that.

Kelly- It sure was a scorcher this weekend, wasn't it? I spent all weekend in the pool and it felt so good. I didn't go near the wig. I wore a baseball cap most of the weekend. I'm dreading the wig and the hot Texas sun.

Debbie- Welcome to the bald head's club. Sorry you had to join us in that one too. What I wouldn't have given to see your friend put her hand through your hair though. I'm sorry but I would have died laughing!! That is hysterical! I bet she was mortified.

ladbham- Sorry you had to join us baldies too. It was after my second AC that mine really started coming out too. Yes, my chemo brain has kicked into full force. And thanks for the tip on the asparagus. I dearly love it and I would be crushed if I ruined it for myself. No aspargus until chemo is finished because I have become fairly sensitive to smells.

Susie- Hugs sweetie! It is hard to lose that hair. We all know how you feel. I hope it went well. Sometimes I wish I could just crawl into bed until this is all over with too. Wouldn't that be nice?

Hemen- I'm sorry for the bone pain. That is so painful and uncomfortable. Hopefully it will get better now that you are done with the Neupogen. In the meantime, whine all you want. That is why we are here. I think that I'm going to try and get rid of some more stubble too. Mine is "long" enough that the stubble is hard to sleep on. It pokes me in the head all night and feels pretty uncomfortable. We did an 1/8th of an inch I think. Time to go a little closer to the scalp. There are parts where it has completely fallen out though. Looks awful.

echosalvaje- Thanks for the tip on the clindagel. Is it Rx or OTC? I hope you are enjoying your visit with your mom- blubbering and all!!

Sukiann- I hear ya on the fatigue and the itching. It happened to me last time and the itching is starting again. I never did get a yeast infection, but I sure was using the heck out of the Vagisil. Sorry if that's TMI!  I'd have to agree about the fatigue being the biggest complaint. I was just wiped out this weekend. This should be my good week. Looking forward to it. Damned shame I have to spend it cleaning!

LoriR- Lucky to be bald, huh? Yeah...that's what I feel...lucky. Your friend is nuts!! I like how you handled it! My eyelashes and brows are fine. As is my leg hair. I'm still shaving that. And the hair on my arms. I have pretty thick, coarse hair. I probably could have gone without shaving and still had quite a bit of hair left on my head, but I couldn't stand sweeping it up constantly. I just wish now that my head is bald, that my legs would follow suit!! No fair that I'm still shaving!

Ok. That catches me up on this page. My brain is too chemo'd to remember everything from both pages. I'll catch up later with the next page.

Oh, is anybody else having leg cramps? I keep getting woke up in the night with horrible leg cramps. Hate that!! Still sore this morning and hurts to walk on it.

Good Morning and Good evening May Marvels!!! Today is day 8th after my first TC treatment. My SE have been tolerable, with the exception of gastric juice production that feels like I have a lava flow running through my insides. Anyone else experiencing something like this!

 Jo Anne welcome to the group!  Has anyone heard from Pantufas lately?

I hope everyone is doing well! 

Hello Everyone, I'm fixing to start my 2nd treatment this week, as of yesterday my hair started falling out so today is the day to shave it, my head is so sore and it's best to get it done now then later.  Does anyone know if I should wash my bald head with a certain type of shampoo?

Faithandprayers-use a completely natural shampoo like a Burt's Bees--no parabens, no sodium lauryl sufate = no irritants. Don't use baby shampoo as it is evidently not as gentle as it should be. Good luck with the shaving--it's devastating emotionally but physically, you feel so much more comfortable,

 Anji111-- we've had nothing but grey, raininy days here in MA, so I am a little jealous of your 31 degrees C (although I can see how that would suck too:) It is so depressing when the sky is grey--I need some sunshine!!  Gotta love the teenage daughters.  My 13 year old asked my husband why I had been in bed all day and why I could not drive her to her freind's house??? He's ready to kill her!

Abuelaboricua: I don't have the gastric issues in my stomach, but I feel it in my oesophagus in a weird way-- I cannot each very much at a time as it seems to get stuck there?  Fun.

Jo Ann-- looks like we are on the same T/C schedule, although I do 4 not 6 like you.  I did #2 on June 8th too.  Hope you dont need the infusion. This is enough to deal with.

Debbie6122-- shower curtain /shower hat... we all get it:).  It's that lovely chemo brain -- some of the things that have come out of my mouth are so funny-- and I really have to focus now to pay attention when people are talking!!  It's like watching the sweedish chef (that muppet that talks nonsense) It's like i've got Chemo ADD

Titch: Clubbing?  You are my heorine.

Texasrose--yes, I get the leg cramps--I just assumed it was part of the bone pain:)  Maybe not?  I've been trying to eat bananas, but they make me want to hurl.

Sending good wishes and good vibes to everyone

Leg cramps? A friend of mine had them (for different reasons) and was told to put a cake of soap in her bed to make the leg cramps go away. She was totally skeptical, but tried it anyway - and it worked! When she went away and didn't have a cake of soap (any sort) in her bed, the leg cramps came back - put in the soap - no cramps. I tried it when I had a few and it seemed to work too. It's one of those things that if it works, that's great - and if it doesn't, there will be absolutely no side effects!

First treatment of Chemo on May 29.  I am just starting to loose my hair.  Very depressing to me. I have another treatment this Friday, 6/19.  This is my son's birthday.  I get nausea and have upset stomach by the third day after treatment.  I am taking three types of drugs.  One is red in color.  They said this one is the one that causes hair loss.  I had a double masectomy on April 6.  I am currently battling tissue expanders.  Painful.

I sure wasn't told not to have alcohol - I think there was something about not overindulging. I have one every Friday with friends at the pub. It's part of how I measure that life is all right if I get to that pub gathering no matter what. The occasional drink at home doesn't seem to be an issue either. Life must go on!!

Hi everyone ... I wore my wig to work today for the first time ... it was sort of scary because all my friends are guys and I was afraid they were going to do things like throw paper clips in my hair (I only would think that because they like to tease me) but they all were very nice and told me that I looked good.  It was a relief to get that first "wear" out of the way.

And last Friday was my birthday ... the big "40" ... so it was a good weekend.

I hope you all are doing ok.  Take care!

Hi all

LORIR:  I was told by my onc. nurse "If you ask the Dr. he'd say not to drink. But, in reality, if it's a special occasion, one glass of wine on your non-chemo week isn't bad."  They explained that the chemo drugs are processed through the liver and Doctors feel that adding more pressure on the liver to process the alcohol isn't a good thing.  Although a glass of wine would be nice, I haven't indulged.  Sure would have helped with the losing the hair situation this weekend. 

To those of you with teenagers, how have they handled the bald thing?  Mine have been supportive, but I get the feeling they'd rather not see me bald...and so far, they haven't. 

Janet

 Hi to you all....... hope uhave had a wonderful day.

Susie, I had major hot flushes after both my sessions.... for the first week.  I don't normally drink any alcohol. I put it down to the steroids.  But I had one Mango martini on saturday night.... mmmm so nice.......Are they gonna do the portacath gal?  I live by mine.......  as I am very difficult to get blood from and my veins are not very accommodating at all for the Iv.  I  get my bloods taken from the port just prior to my treatments, , then see oncologist, then go for the treatments. It is great.  

Happy Belated birthday Mom2twins..... I hope u had a lovely birthday..... 

Janet.... My kids (18, 14 and 10) have been fine with me losing my hair, they knew it would happen. Not to sure how they would react if I was to go out in public bald though.

Hemen... clubbing is all good, we know alot of people due to my hubby's stunt work, and got invited to the club as a good friend's band had a gig there.  We were the oldest patrons, but we still know how to have a good time.......   My son who is 18 was meant to meet me there , and he was embarrased that I would be at the club.... but as he is currently single... I think it was more cause Mum is there whilst he is mingling with the ladies hehehe.  But he stayed at home, playing his xbox and drank some beers.  

Welcome pcking....  It doesn't have to be depressing losing your hair gal, I personally don't see anything negative about it (except a sore scalp)....  think of the positives in it.......  the drugs are working, we save lots of money on hair products, hair dye, haircuts.  We get to experience wigs, hats, and scarves.  Each day we could look like a different person.  Today I could have gone to work as a blonde...!  we can be a zany as we want I could wear a clown wig and look absolutely gorgous, and I bet that would make me smile.  We get to have the biggest collection of headwear.  I now own more hats and scarves than I have ever owned before.  Being bald, is actually quite chic.....(remember Demi Moore and brittany Spears have been bald),  We are different to most people. and the most important..... it is only temporary.... it will grow back, after this is all over.... I will have my hair back.......  and NO cancer.......    My family don't see me as the baldheaded chic, they see me as the person I have always been..........  hugs

Lassie...... I so remember being a teenager myself and doing it to my parents.  KARMA...... hehehe  it is all part of them growing up.  

luv4mygirl: I can relate to the eating alot.... Maybe it is about what we are eating.... so eating in moderation and healthy foods......... I have gained weight.  But they said the chemo would also put me thru menopause and that weight gain is very common.  I am also on steroids.  I am gonna focus on weight issues after my treatments are all over......   I am more concerned if I was to diet.... or over exercise, it may send my body into turmoil and make me sick.... which at the moment I am feeling very well.

To everyone else... I hope you have a wonderful day with minimal SE... I could spend all night responding to everyone....

BIG huggles to all you marvelous woman......... and extra big hugs for those of you going for treatments in the next few days.... 

Hi, Marvals.  Hope everyone is having a good day today.  It really helps me to read your posts and realize that the things I'm experiencing are normal.  At least normal for members of our club. That brick in the throat thing has been driving me crazy lately.  And I can certainly relate to all the hair concerns.  Even though I get lots of compliments on my new "hair," sometimes it will seem to me that some stranger is looking at me oddly, and I'll think, "Does she know?" Kinda weird.  And if I may vent about one thing, if one more person tries to show me they know how I feel because their sister/aunt/cousin's third wife's sister's daughter died of BC, I will not be responsible for my actions.  Do they really think we want to hear that?  Oh, well.  A bit of good news this week -- my scalp is feels MUCH better than after my hair initially came out.  No longer sensitve and not nearly as itchy.  Yea!  I do have one question I haven't seen addressed on here.  I'm on AC every two weeks, just had my third treatment on Friday.  Each time from Friday until late in the day on Monday, I have felt so depressed.  I'll cry at anything or nothing and it feels like nothing will ever be better.  That's so not like me.  Of course I have some depression over this whole situation as I imagine we all do, but this is way beyond what I feel the rest of the time.  I'm just wondering if it's a SE of some of the drugs I'm being given.  Anyone else experience this?  Just curious.

You're all in my thoughts and prayers today as always!

Sandy

Good Morning Marvels-

I have been MIA.........got back from FL on Monday night and yesterday was a Dr appt and catching up on some needed rest.  We had a fantastic time and just putting my feet in the sand and sitting and watching the ocean water was so calming.  I wish I could do that in Ohio just before a tx, then maybe my BP wouldn't be in the clouds!  Dr. increased my dosage yesterday and told me to take at least 2 xanax everyday to help with the mood swings so I guess I will be sleeping alot.

I have tried to read everything I missed but I don't think I even scratched the surface.

I go for #3 today and like Susie I am dreading the entire stick process.  I am hoping that the 80+ oz of water I drank yesterday will help!  Planning on another 40 oz before my poison infusion at 1245.  I HATE GETTING STUCK!  Naturally, my better veins are in my right arm, which can't be used now and they have used the same vein in my wrist for the other 2 and my blood draws, so I have a feeling that that one is not going to be an option today.  Of course they  will try it first which will make me not only angry but damn it it hurts when they wiggle that thing around in there!

So, most likely will be MIA for the next few days again.  Day 4 is usually my worst which is Sat.  I hope everyone is doing ok with their SE's and anyone with TX this week.....well, get out that BITCHDOM!!

Hugs to you All

Becky