November 2009-Starting Chemo

HI all

Sounds like everyone who had their first TX went really well seee not  that scary ah. Next  time i go for my #2 next Friday I'm going to make a date loaf and share it with everyone else in those big chairs and make it a nice time for everyone . For the first 5 days after my TX i felt like i was kinda drunk very foggy in the head a little sick in my tummy and EXTREMELY tired,  by the 6th day it all lifted and slowly back to normal I'm expecting it to be the same next time and ill be able to handle it a lot better its all the unknown that is so scarey .

keep on doing well ladies

LOVE YAH LOTS JOANNE

Shel/Shel we will be with you in spirit today !!

Portergirl... Hope you are feeling ok and getting ready for tomorrow ~ 

TOGETHER WE CAN DO this girls ~

Have a good day.  Hope everyone is managing and feeling as good as can be expected.  And if not come here and complain we will listen.

My hairdresser made a housecall and cut my hair into a boy cut so when it falls out I won't be so devastated (at that point I'll buzz it off immediately)  I needed to feel in control.  But damn' do I look ugly ~ ))

xo

Melinda...  yes that was my hair theory as well.  I wanted to be in control.  And thought it would be to traumatic to just go from my nice hair to a crew.  So yes this is the transitional or as you say "rest stop".   

Get some rest today, I am sure yesterday was a stressful day for you.  Try not to think about next week too much.  I drove myself crazy.  The anticipation and fear of the unknown was torture.  The 1st chemo wasn't that bad..... 

Hang in there ~

Alicia

((((Sue))))  I am so sorry you are not feeling good today.  Move around a bit and then try to sleep.  Do you have the compazine, I find that one helps when my stomach starts to feel yucky.  I have  real dull headache today and am constipated.  Laying in my bed with the laptop.  Sue I hope you feel better. 

xo

JustmeAlicia and Suein FL, so sorry to hear you guys are feeling down today but so Proud of you for fighting the good fight! Thinking of you both today and hoping you feel better. 

 Seems many of us did the proactive thing and cut our hair early.  I had long hair for years, this is my first time in ten going short and I kind of like it! So that is a good thing.  I had my port put in yesterday and I don't mind saying I earned another WIMP Warrior status; cried and cried on the table in recovery and then had to take two Darvocet.  Back at work today mighty sore but powering through it.   Chemo TCH tomorrow at 11 AM.  I'm ready!! Baking my banana bread tonight and gonna make some new friends in the AM

Joanne, your experience was especially helpful -- I can make it five bad days if I know it's going to lift by day six or seven.  Thanks for to everyone for lifting my spirits today.  We are so going to do this and come out better on the other side -- promise!!!!! 

I 'borrowed' by brothers treadmill as I don't see myself going to the gym during hte next four months.  I plan on walking at least ten minutes a day on bad days, and 45 on the good ones.  Everything I've read says exercise is the key to beating off the fatigue, irony!

Much love and strength to all you sister warriors.  I can't tell you the comfort I am getting from reading your stories.   

Hey hey, day 3 for me, post tx day.  started feeling bad last night, kinda like getting the flu.  was a bummer since I had had a great day until then.  took tylenol and that helped.  better today but shaky.  took the emend and decadron as prescribed and then followed 1 1/2 later with Ativan to stop the shakes.  am already dreading the neupogen shot tonight, but, oh well.

As for hair, I had long hair in Aug.  Was diagnosed Sept 1st. Cut my hair pretty short the next week, pre-lumpectomy, to prepare for the possibility of chemo, though not knowing at that time if I would have to have it or not.  Shorter hair was definitely a good move since it made up-keep easier after that surgery and then after the re-excision (to take out more tissue), and again after the mediport implant.  Big decision for today... I already have a wig ready to be fitted on a bald-head, so I am debating on going to the wig place, getting the buzz cut to just get it over with now instead of waiting for the clumps-in-the-hand. They'll shave my head, trim/style the wig, and I walk out with it on.  I plan to go the "wear the wig outside the house, wraps/caps inside" route.  Oh, and I also have bought "fringe hair," which is a strip of hair that looks like bangs and side tendrils for wearing with wraps and scarves.  I've always had bangs was worried about having the no-bang look with the wraps.  With my favorite over-sized earrings, I'll have to change my name to "Gypsy Nette.'' (my signature for this site, doronet, derives from Annette, but my nieces/nephews call me Nette.)  Cool thing is that I'm always changing my hair styles anyway, so the wig won't be a shock to people who know me.  They'll just think I've changed styles yet again, though the wig is a little longer than what I have now, but still a short do.  Enough about hair, though couldn't we all talk about it forever, especially now that it such a major issue?!  However, it's been nice to know what others are doing/have done with the hair issue.  Has been very helpful to see what has worked for them.

Happy thoughts are with the today's TX women.  Power to the WARRIOR WIMPS!   doronet

NOW the hair thing ive cut my hair really short like a number 5 all over (looking like a man now)  in the past few days it has been shedding but not much , mainly around the hair line at the front its looking fairly fine there now, I'm day 14 now and its not coming out any more  ,my scalp isnt even sore, ill be really PISSED OFF if by some  chance I'm one of those people who don't loose their hair, after cutting it so short in prep , funny i was pissed when i new i was going to loose my hair and now pissed if i dont  ,my poor husband goes around scratching his head  do i blame him ?!!!!!! 

Joanne

BRENDA-my hair was less than 10 in and now cut it is short....I also ordered a wig. 

My little sis is prego with her second baby and I swear we have the same symptoms.  The day she found out she was pregnant was the day I found out I had cancer.  Her baby has the same due date as my daughter --- odd.  She e-mailed me today about wanting cheese fries and I have not been able to get them off my mind --- so far day #2 is like being pregnant!!

Stay strong ladies!!

Hi.  I just met with my oncologist today.  My first chemo will be next Thursday, November 12th (one of my kids' birthday).

I'm going to go read what all you've written up to this point then hope to join you all for information & support over the next several months

Thanks!

To my fellow Warrior Wimps, I have completed my first tx!  So far so good.  I had no troubles while getting the infusion and although I feel different than usual right now, it's not bad, no pain, no nausea.  A little bit energetic in fact.  This must be the steriods.  I am hoping to get through a day of work tomorrow and then take it easy over the weekend. If I stay still I feel sleepy.  But, yeah, one down!

menevermind, I hope the rest of your tx went well.  Were you able to work today?

Thanks to all of you you wrote to encourage me this morning.  It really meant a lot.

Shelley 

 Portergirl Thoughts and prayers go out for you tomorrow its not that bad just the unknown.

Dornet My onc said the claritan helps because the shot is like when you have allergies and your immune system is in overdrive. So far 1 day out havent had the body and bone aches just a dull headache that wont go away.