Starting Chemo October 2009

Joanne, we will be as patient as we need for you to keep posting.  You are a delight and no matter how you write it, we will be able to figure  out what the message is.

Your husband will have to get beyond this looking normal stuff.  It is something we all  have to face and believe me, I certainly didn't choose to cut my hair for the fun of it.  It as very hard for me, but somehow I had to face it and I did. 

I  hope you have a great week this week.  I am feeling better today than I have since my tx a week ago.  So I am on the road to recovery for another 12 days.

Juannelle

Hello ladies...it was a busy week and even busier weekend for me, so I have a lot to catch up on here!   I worked Tues-Fri last week and had an activity every night, then Halloween at my Mom's where we carved pumpkins, dressed up and handed out candy....today was cleaning the house, laundry and shopping...and of course NASCAR this afternoon!  I haven't worked a regular M-F day job in 20+ years and I don't know how people get anything done with that schedule!!  (I normally work 3 nights a week).    It was my daughters sr night on Friday night, so we were honored on the field before the football game and then we watched her final performance in the marching band...it doesn't seem possible that she is a Senior!! Time flies.....

I have felt fine since last monday and managed my busy week without too much trouble.  I notice I lack my normal energy level at the end of the day, but the SE from Tx #2 (on the 21st) are fading....still weird tastes or lack thereof.....some minor lower GI issues but managable...and the menstrual bleeding may be finally winding down (40 days later)....I did see my GYN last week about that issue and she said it will eventually stop and if I become more anemic, my onc can infuse me but she agreed with me that the risk of an infection to do an ablation outweighed my anemia.   So begins a new week...... I am going to sleep a LOT this week so I am well rested for this coming weekend---we have tickets for the entire weekend of NASCAR racing (thur-sun) at Texas Motor Speedway!!!  Can't wait!  

May all of you have a restful peaceful week.  My prayers are with all of you as you receive treatment, recover from treatment and/or get on with life........  Hugs!

I have not gotten around to shaving my head. I am still carrying a patchy stubble.....is the wig easier to hold after shaving?

Dear 1L,

I suspect I am not getting it shaved because I like the velcro effect! I know what you mean by having too much hair. That was the reason I bought the wig before but did not get it fitted till now. I had too much hair also and knew that the wig would sit very differently on my head once the hair was gone.

Michele, your family sounds so wonderful and supportive!  I'm glad they are there for you.  I think as far as the leg hair goes...I shaved mine about 4-5 days ago, and I don't think I'll have to shave again for quite some time, as it's really not growing back.  I normally shave almost every day, as I'm not big on waxing (too much ouch for me!).

ReneeJean, Sorry to hear about the menstrual issues - I have had the same problem for years.  I was in the process of deciding on an ablation when all of this came along.  I'll probably be doing NovaSure procedure after chemo is over.  

Catharsis, what a lovely idea to "share" your hair with the birds!  And I'm with you on the wig, I wore it out to dinner over the weekend and couldn't get over the feeling that I was being watched, like it was so obvious that it was a wig.  My fiance kept telling me how great I looked, but I just didn't like the "fake" feeling, not to mention the itchiness from the stubble!  I much prefer the scarves and hats.

Meredith, I am a google master!  I live on Google - and I understand the invasiveness of technology in our lives.  How did I live without my computer and my cell phone?  

Well, I have a follow-up appointment with the BS today, and will mention to him that I'm still having a bit of pain - nothing needing medication, but it's almost like a bruise feeling without the bruise.  Then Wednesday, chemo #2, which I am fully not looking forward to after my experience last time.  Oh, I hope it's nothing like last time!

Peace to all... 

GML - you just complain all you want!  Chemo SUCKS!  And everyone here will agree with you.  No need to put on the happy face.

Michelle - you look great with the shaved head!   

I had better get used to the bald look in public, because I am having a really hard time keeping the wigs on.  DAMN HOT FLASHES!  It takes every ounce of energy to NOT rip the thing off when one of those hit.  I just want to stay in the house sometimes to avoid the whole issue.

Day 6 from tx#2, and I am feeling somewhat ok.  If memory serves me, and it may not!, this is the day I started getting some hip pain from the Neulasta.  I will take a prophylactic Advil or Tylenol or both just in case.  With the Claritin, of course.  Constipation issue is relatively unabated.  Habanero sauce will now be added to everything and I am going to Miralax twice a day.

I had half of a pineapple infusion martini last night.  BAD BAD LAURA.  But it did feel good to rebel a little.  So sad when my only rebellion involves half of an already small martini.  I was able to taste the pineapple through the mush mouth, so maybe I will buy some for home use.  Without the vodka.   

Talk to you all soon!

Laura 

GML, OMG I'm so sorry for you!!! To be throwing up so badly. Are you on "Emend"??  If not they sure need to give it to you>~~~~~~~~~ Look at me running off at the mouth.  Is there some paticular reason they won't give it to you? I just know me,  and I've been known to puke at the drop of a hat. BUT, thanks to the "Emend" I havn't even flintched a smidge in that area. A little gassey perhaps, maybe burby, etc. but no throwing up!!!!

My heart goes out to you!!!

(((((HUGS))))) Brenda

Forgot to add this..I went out today and I decided to do it Hatless.......I thought, "you know what I am bald deal with it". 

I pull up to the employment office and standing there were two rather good looking fellows. I was a bit scared to do it, but I got out and held my head up high...Not sure why it mattered that there were two good looking guys, but it did.  I had a few people stare, but I just stared right back and smiled.  I notice it was older men who seemed to stare the longest.  Oh well, they were ugly, and my hair will grow back...LOL.  So I did it.  I felt rather brave, like a super hero.  Ok, maybe I'm not quite a superhero, but I felt strong and unstopable...

Michele BFWC

GML ,I'm so sorry your feeling sooo ill i was having a pity party for one until i read your post and boy you just gatecrashed my party girllll. Things will get better for you they will find something that agrees with your body just DON'T GIVE UP hold on sister

MICHELE BFWC

Wow you gutsy thing you i hope i have days like that ,you know what i was thinking of doing , painting a smiley face on the back of my head with a speech bubble coming from it saying "yes I'm doing chemo"    or   "ladies have you checked your boobs lately"

LAURA

 You are a BAD BAD GIRL , but now is the time to pull out our chemo cards, isn't it ,and dear old onco Dr DID say have anything you want to make you feel better isn't that what its all about now  you have any thing you want my dear cause i do .I will admit to liking a shandy, in Aussie that 1/2 beer and 1/2 lemonade very nice on a hot day or on a hot flush lol and Ive been craving a pinacolada how nice mmmm

Michelle -

In your honor I walked around my neighborhood 3 times while rocking the bald look.  No aircraft fell from the sky and no one seemed harmed by the experience!  My little dog sat in his stroller and acted like he was the King.  (Ok, that is no different than any other day.)

Starting to get a little headache, but s/e's this time around seem easier.  

Laura 

Hello all!

I completed my fourth and final Abraxane today!!!   The milestone feels good, even though I still have a LOT of chemo in my future....(thirteen more Herceptins, twelve of those with another chemo drug....then Herceptin without chemo for the remainder of a year....once every three weeks, though.)  Next week along with my Herceptin only I will have a bunch of tests (heart, liver, PET.)  Hoping those will all have good news...or at least no bad news.

I'm proud of anyone who can wander around bald and just DARE anyone to say anything.  Way to go!  I agree that when the hot flashes come it is tempting.......it seems like ANYTHING on my head is just trapping every bit of heat around inside my head and I need to let it out!  Picture an old cartoons with the lid blowing off of the steaming pot of water........yep, I feel on the verge of that. 

GML, I feel awful that anyone is having to go through all of that terrible nausea.  I really was under the impression that they could manage that for anyone.  Chemo is bad enough when you' aren't vomiting constantly.

Hang in there, warrior ladies!

GML, I hope you get some relief, my heart goes out to you.

Michele, you go girl.  You can be the rebel for me.  I like your T-shirt ideas.

Hopbird,congrats on finishing one tx plan.  I know you have more to go, but you can do it.

Marie, thanks for the update.  I am glad you are about back to normal.

I got out and walked another hour today.  I really feel good.  My WBC has been super charged so I can go back to work tomorrow.  They are ready for me to come back.  The ladies have reserved a booth just for me in the restroom.  They put my name on it so no one else will give me their germs.  Everyone has been warned to stay away from me if they even think they may be coming down with something.  Maybe I will be OK.  There are about 1200 people where I work and of course there are plenty of people who come to work sick, because the place would close  down with them.  Boy if they only knew.

Good luck  to everyone having treatment this week, hope all goes well.

Juannelle

JUANNELLE

Good to hear that your feeling good now , I'm on the same road and  would like to  do a day or two at work as well mainly just to do the normal thing  again .  My hair well i attacked it yesterday i cut it my self and now its about  1inch long all over , boy it felt just so good to cut it of myself a bit of control and a bit of revenge mixed together my DH had such a shocked look on his face he soon got used to it this is how i wanted to say good by to my hair not it all coming out in my hands and when it does start to really come out (I'm day 11 after 1st TX ) ill get some one to clipper it for me.

Hope everyone is having a nice peace filled day

JOANNE