Starting Chemo October 2009

congradulations

to everyone who had their first and second TX today it sounds like you all have sailed through it hope it will cont im still feeling yucky this is day 6 for me not as tired though could not even think of working my head is still a bit fuzzy im on anitbotics at the moment sore throat and what seems like an infected pimpley thing down in the lower region i was thinking and would love imput on this but does  the chemo in our urine and number twos iritate our skins is this why ive read some of you ladies use squeezy bottles is this to wash your self after going tothe loo???? im having really bad heartburn now trying to do all the right things but im feeling so drained and so rundown i wonder if this is due to the low white blood cells seeing my onco tomo he may change a few things for me im sooo jelouse when i hear of other poeple who sail through this stinking chemo but then i wouldnt want anyone else to go through what im feeling

 well jo jos having her pity party

love lots Joanne

suz45 and Meredith - Thanks for the suggestions!  I'm sitting here staring at a big bucket o'Vicodin as we speak.  Today my onc and I agreed that pain meds might work better if I take them before I start feeling the pain.  I'll let you know how it works out!

Wishing everyone a pain-free Thursday!

E

Got my blood test results today.

Neupogen worked great for me, my WBC is way up and no worries for my immune system AND for receiving my 3rd chemo in 2 weeks.

 Little victory ... at least I'm not auto injecting this thing in vain.

Hope it's okay to pop in here for a moment just to make a suggestion to JeanL (and all) in response to her concern over forgetting which arm to offer for blood tests. The American Cancer Society's on-line catalog offers "Lymphedema Alert" bracelets that are supposed to alert medical personnel not to use your arm in an emergency -- but they work just as well to remind US not to let them use it! They're here: http://www.tlcdirect.org/products/product.aspx?sku=8061

Another option (and this one is free for the asking) is to go to http://www.lymphedema.com (Peninsula Medical's website). On the left, click on "Free LE Alertbband" and they'll send you a free, neon-pink hospital-type band that snaps on, so you can reuse it endlessly. Great for chemo days and any medical tests.

Here are two sites with lots of lymphedema risk reduction information, so you can take some simple steps to protect yourself:

http://www.lymphnet.org  (click on their Position Papers on Risk Reduction, Air Travel, and Exercise)

http://www.stepup-speakout.org/riskreduction_for_lymphedema.htm

Be well!
Binney

Wow!  Look at all the activity when you sleep for a few days.   Glad to see a few more have made it successfully through treatments.

My second treatment seems to have knocked me for a loop.  The first one wasn't too bad with a couple of days of tummy upset and tiredness, but the allergic reaction to the second one just kept me in the asthma loop.   It was a week today and I am still tired.   I feel like I have gone to work and then gone to bed for the last few days.   It's good to check in here and know that everyone is still moving ahead.

Here's hoping everyone is feeling better and stays well!

Question for you ladies who have already buzzed your hair:    I buzzed my hair a week or so ago and have been wearing scarfs or hats out into the world.  I have a rash in my hair line at the back.   I was wondering if anyone else has had this occur.

MaryNY, I took a claritin about an hour before my Neulasta shot and I did not have any bone pain.  I don't know why that works but it helped me.  I did get a stiff neck several days later, but that may have been the way I was sleeping. I have done so well, except I am so tired.  I get up and do a few things and I have to lay down for a nap.

I hope you have no problems and all  is well.  Drink, drink some more, then drink some more.  I am down to water and hot tea, nothing else even sounds good.  I am still eating bland foods, because nothing sounds good to me.  I do not have a metallic taste or anything.  I also do not want any thing sweet or salty.  Potatoes taste the best to me, anyway you can have them. 

Hugs for your treatment day.

Juannelle

SCOOBYDOO

thanks for that i will start spraying down every time i wee from now on i had to go to the doc about it he was a bit baffled but gave me some antibotics said it was infected and i had to treat it straight wawy i had that gut feeling about the chemo in your urine thought it would iritate your skin

Hey Snuziq-

I have a little rash over my ears and on the base of my skull.  I am attributing it to razor burn because I may have been a little exuberent in my razor use!!  I put aloe vera gel on my head once or twice a day, and it is going away.

Feeling somewhat ok on this, the morning after!  Going in for the Neulasta shot in a little bit.  Have to remember to take my Claritin.  It sucks to have to write everything down but I can't remember anything.  Doc says it is more stress than chemo brain . .. HA!

A friend came over last night and showed me how to make a delicious Quinoa dish.  Very healthy, and has lots of lemon so I may be able to taste it when the mush mouth kicks in.  And stores well in the fridge.

I hope the steroid rush continues today as I need to get some things done before the crash!  DH came home last night, but I need to help him and my son pack up for the dunes this weekend.  Wish I could go!!

Love to All, especially those heading in today!

Laura 

Hi Mary, It went OK for me. I'm finaly over the "TERROR". Day one after and I'm feeling pretty good, other than a mild dull headache, which I took Tylenol for. No Naseua, got my "Emend"!!

I'm quite off the chain from the steroids however. Good thing, I've come to work and hope this "Good" feeling last through out til Friday. Food wise, not too hungry, just drinking water like I was in a dessert and I know that is doing me wonders. Hard candy to suck on. Keeping my mouth rinsed with salt & baking soda evertime I eat anythingjust to be prevenitive! I, Don't want mouth sores!!!

I will try and keep you update, sometimes I forget what I'm doing.

Hug & love to all sisters, Prayers to all having TX today!!!!~~~~~~ (((((HUGS)))))

Onty (*and other HER+ sisters!)- Check out the HER2+ board.  There is a thread for the new vaccine trial.  Not being HER2+, it won't benefit me, but evidently it is showing good results!

Mary - I take the Claritin about 1 hour before the shot.  But I have been taking it consistently for the last few days, just to get it going in my system.  I have pretty bad allergies this time of year and usually take Alavert.  That is the same drug as Claritin, but it is a 24 hour one.  A few days before the Neulasta, I switch to 12 hour Claritin 2/day, because I read somewhere that the 12 hour was better for the bone pain.  I will stay on the Claritin for the next week or so.  

Is it bad to think about getting some Boniva in Mexico?  I know, I know, I'm fixated on this.  Is the San Antonio symposium in December?  Maybe when the latest results come out my Doc may reconsider his stand on it.

Steroid rush continues!  But I have no motivation to do real work.  I think I have myself convinced that I should do fun things while I feel well!  Mouth is feeling a LITTLE slimy, but not bad yet.

I am wearing a super curly wig and beanie cap today.  Lots of compliments on my "hair!"  haha.  This is a $30 wig that I bought for laughs last year.  If anyone saw its condition under the hat, the compliments would cease!!

Love to All -

Laura 

Sorry Merideth,

It was Valerie that had H1N1, Your name was just close to it re; root beer Popsiclesbit of a difference..sorry.

Enjoyful,

Glad you got something to try (lol at the bucketof Vicodin)  Ive never had it offered here in Canada. But thats normal, can be hard to get any sort of strong pain meds here.

Jean151 & JenXX

First I highly recommend a port. This is my second one (first was Dec 07 - July 08)  hindsight I would have kept it in... But I have a new one this time around and yes it was bruised (not really bad) for at least a month and the upper incision is still a little pink as they had to reopen that and butterfly stitch it closed due to problems with the stitching thread.

MaryNY

Wow 3 miles is excellent!! I just do a mile a day with my small dog. But on good days do a lot of running around (errands and such) that adds up. I used to love my power walks, but cant do it still. Maybe once Im done this time.

Laura.

I too have a ton of odds in wigs that Ive used for Halloween costumes over the years. I have my 2 good wigs that dont require hats, but have fun with the rest in many colors (need hats or scarves with them) on days when I just wanna have fun with them. Lol dh usually gets a shock or chuckle when I walk out in these.

Gotta run and do my work and shopping as today is last steroid day.

Good luck and no (or minimal) SE's to everyone today. Big gentle {{{hugs}}} to all.

Love & hugs Suz

I also got a rash at the base of my skull after shaving it. I used clear non-scented aloe and now make sure I use my good face cream all over my noggin. It cleared right up.

For all you ladies fluiding up yes mix up your drinks if you can. Im adding a few ounces of pure cranberry juice to my water, drinking lemon ginger tea (mmm) and also drinking the new G2 gatoraid (not near as sweet as the reg stuff)

tx #3  went well yesterday.. just a bit of a sensitive stomach. Still hate the Ice gloves I have to wear during treatment, but they kept adding fresh warmed blankets on me to help keep me warm. Thats a really nice touch. I go in for both flu shots tomorrow  Hope I dont get the same reaction as dh did to them. He is still swollen on the H1N1 side from tues and in a lot of pain.

Dear Iainieo, congratulations on crossing the first milestone in your chemo journey.

      TO EVERYONE

LETS GIVE EVERYONE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 ALL SEEMS TO BE GOING WELL

KEEP UP THE GOOD STRENGHT

WELL DONE LADIES     

Dear Mary,

I take Tylenol for pain. My chemo nurse said Claritin won't help. I know several women here swear by it.....go figure...