Starting Chemo October 2009

Always a relief when wedding planning to have the dress taken care of!  Congratulations!

My port seems to be protruding, and has stayed irritated looking for two months.  I tell myself it is protruding more because there was probably some swelling that hung around for a bit after it was put in.  The color?  I compare it to my scar tissue and it isn't any more red, so I figure it is just tissue that will take time to heal.  How do I know?  I don't, but that's what I'm going with!  The nurses and doctor have seen it and don't seem concerned.

Could the bruising be from your platlets being low?  I thought that bruises lasted longer during chemo?

I can not believe I am still having sleep issues.  It is 5:47am and I am wide awake.

Marie - glad to hear that PICC is doing better and the blisters are healing!  That is awesome.  You have been struggling with the PICC since you gotten it and I am glad to hear things are finally better.

1L- I sure hope your WBC gets better so you can do your Thanksgiving shopping.  Neupogen worked great for me and I am sure by your next blood test your WBC count will be in the good range. 

Congrats txstardust on finding the perfect wedding dress.  That is half the battle.  I am sure you will be a beautiful bride.

To those ladies joining the anal fissure club...I am so sorry to hear that.  The only way the fissure can heal is for you to have regular soft bowel movements, along with frequent warm sitz baths.  Take advil for pain, I found that that was the only thing that helped with pain.  For those of us without fissures, keep up the water, fiber, stool softners and Phillips Milk of Magnesium to keep us regular.  There is notihng more painful then a fissure. 

Okay enough of the fissure talk.

Yesterday was my best day yet.  I felt so good.   LIke I was not on chemo.  Of course not as good as before chemo.  I went to the movies to see Blindside....great movie.  I took DD to get her eyebrows waxed.  And I just enjoyed time with my family.  Thankfully my next tx is the day after Thanksgiving, so I will be able to cook the meal and enjoy it with my family.  I am not looking forward to my next tx, because I had such great bone pain last time.  And I have slight numbness in the heels of my feet. 

I am definitely praying for all of you ladies and hoping we all have a wonderful Thanksgiving with minimal to no SEs. 

Anita

jean, you can whine all you want, we are here for you. 

My husband is much better and I think I will go home today.  My cousin has taken excellent care of me and I think that is why I have done so well have my last tx.  But I am ready to go home, it has been over a week and I miss my puppies, my bed and my DH.  I really don't know what I would do without my cousin, she goes to all my appointments, gives me my shots, goes to chemo, fixes all my favorite foods, does my laundry, you name it and she is right there. 

I have to go on Monday and get another Neupogen and then on Tuesday I will get a blood test.  My WBC had better be up.  Of course, the Neulasta should be kicking in about now, so I should be super charged.

Everyone have a relaxing and recharging day.  Watch a movie or a football game, what ever you do to relax.  Have a great day.

Juannelle

Juanelle glad you are going home. You are lucky to have such a supportive cousin.

Jean I am on TAC so I get all of them at once. I felt lousy days 5-7 after my first round. I also had some stomach issues, but basically had more enerygy and felt good days 9 until the next round. I am doing acupuncture so that may have helped as well. I am going for acupuncture tomorrow which will be day #5 for my second round.  I am hoping it helps.

Marie glad things are going better for you.

A low SE day for us all!

Oh, I forgot . . . My tongue feels like its almost too big for my mouth, and my neck glands are sore (not really swollen).  Has anyone had this?  Or do I have some new mutant disease?  Great . . .

L 

Hi Jean and Azdiva, I can tell you both I have had all of what you describe - extreme fatigue, "hitting the wall", can't stay awake, feel like this will be the reality of my life. It is awful, sad and scary. But it feels so good when it stops. And it does! And then we move on........YAY! You'll be your peppy selves again - til then don't fight it. Love, Valerie 

Oh and I have swollen glands and a slight cold and sometime a slight sore throat X2 txs- I think its just a dormant little illness that kicks up when the WBC r low (or something like that) but it goes away w/o going out of control.

Hi chemo sisters!  I hope everyone is doing ok on this lazy Sunday.  I know I should check in with you guys more but I'm always a little afraid that you guys might hate me because I've been having an easy time of it. (Knocking on wood as I write this).  The only thing I have to complain about is a slight "burnt feeling" on my tongue.   It doesn't hurt but it feels like when you have burned your tongue with a food or drink that is too hot.  It makes me a little more sensitive to temperature and spices when I eat but nothing much other than that.  It usually goes away after the first week or so so not a huge deal.  I'm still working full time and only miss the Thursdays when I have my infusions.  That being said, I have stooped to using the cancer card to get out of hosting any holiday dinners and parties this year.  I could do it but I just don't want to.  Not being  Scrooge or anything, just don't feel like going all out and the work that goes along with it all.  

The one thing I am looking forward to is our annual Thanksgiving morning flag football game.  A huge group of friends (about 30 of us) all get together early in the morning and play flag football in the park for a couple of hours before all of the cooking starts.  It's so much fun.  I'm not missing that because of cancer.  In fact, I'm trying hard not to miss out on anything I want to do because of cancer.  My DH and I also went and saw The Blindside yesterday and can't recommend it enough.  We went with a group of friends and we all enjoyed it.  We needed a great "feel good" movie and this one did the trick.  The rest of today will be spent watching pro football.  I love this time of year.  I actually get depressed when football season is over.  I'm weird, I know.  Everybody have a great day and hope your treatments are as SE free as can be.   Go Raiders!

Ladies, my heart goes out to all of you that are having SEs and all this weekend.  I am 10 days post tx and I just have no stamina.  Is it because I have slowed down so much that I am just weak, or is it from the tx?  I did get out and walk a couple of days, but I know I am not doing much.  But I get so tired, I get up to do a few things and then have to sit and relax before I can do anything else. 

michele, I will do something special for my cousin.  I don't think a day at the spa will do for her.  She wants a table saw and that is what I am going to get her for Christmas.  When she mentions something that she wants that she can't afford, then I go and buy it for her. 

Juannelle

3new4dee ~ your flag football sounds like fun on Thanksgiving.  Somehow makes me think of The Fockers/Meet the Parents movie. 

Michelle ~ Hope you are feeling good.  Is your stubble falling out?  My hair HURTS it is getting really sparse and stubble all over my pillow. 

Juanelle ~ The table saw sounds like a nice gift if that is something she is looking for and cannot afford. 

Meredith and Marie ~ Hope you feel better.  OH that aching is simply the worst.  I was thankful for a Vicoden on Friday that the Dr. called in for me.  Rest and I hope tomorrow is a better day.

Goodnight girls !!!

Going to watch Will Ferrell in Land of the Lost with my kids and DH now ~

GIANTS won woo HOO... (barely)

meredith, glad you had a little bottle of relief.  I have been there this week also taking my hydrocodone.

My cousin is always doing something around the house and has started doing mosaics and she has been wanting a table saw for awhile.  She lives in an older house  and there is always something that needs to be done.  The table  saw is something that she has  said she wants, so that is what I will get her.  I am not sure that she would ever spend that much on herself.  She is retired and is on a fixed income and has enough to get by and live a good life but not lots of extras.

She is the greatest person.  She lived out of Texas  until her mother got sick about 15 years ago, then she quit her job and moved back to Texas to take  care of her mother.  Her mother lived about 2 years, after that she found a job and decided to stay in Texas.  When she retired she moved to the same town that I live in so she could be closer to me.  Earlier this year, my niece was diagnosed with cervical cancer and in my niece's last weeks of life my cousin went to stay with my sister to help take care of my niece.  That was about the hardest thing that she has ever had to do, it is hard to watch a 40 year old woman die of a horrible cancer.  Then, came my dx and she has been my rock.  I wish I could do more for her, but she will not take money, and I do lots for her when I can, but I will never be able to repay her for her help through all of this.

Juannelle

yes I am getting close to being a skin head.  I buzzed it really short (crew cut).  It hurts a bit.  God forbid you rub it in the opposite direction of the hair follicles.  OUCH !  I can rub my head over the sink and what seems like TONS of little hairs fall out.  I should be done in a day or two.  I won't miss this uncomfortable feeling.  I asked DH if he has any Alien Abduction fantasies I can fill.  LOL  TMI ~

HI EVERYONE

I'M feeling good again now had a lovely weekend with my family stayed at my sisters all weekend  , great   .My husband had the weekend of from me as well which gave him a well deserved break ,but he said he missed me too much ,oh, how nice ,.

The food thing is just great isn't it, i love really spicy things i did like then before but even more now , the best is KFC a spicy breast fillet with mashed potato and gravy on it ,  then a ice cream after ,YUMMMMMY ,Sam takes me there when I'm starting to come out of ground hog week  its a special treat .

BUDOMI

 You are right i was a big smoker many years ago haven't had anything for around 10 yrs exp for about 3 smokes inbetween , my sister has arthritis badly and does chemo as well she is a big smoker and has been given the ok from her doc ,she only has the stuff that is totally chem free so she gave me some Ive had a few smokes and it does help I'm not a drinker, hate wine so every now and then its nice to go and chill .

Well hope all is good with every one

JOJO

mary, hope the head is feeling better.  I have some hair that is just going to hang in there and my cousin buzzed it  my electric razor and it felt so much better.  I know what you mean about rubbing it in the opposit direction.

alicia, keep those fantasies going. 

jojo, glad you had a relaxing weekend with your sister.  It is good to have a place to go and just let your hair down. lol  Even our families need a rest from us.

michele, I decided last year, that I would only give  practical gifts.  No more, just buying to buy and giving to give.  One lady at work has what ever she needs, but she has dogs, so for her Christmas present, I gave her all sorts of things for her pets.  She thought that was the coolest gift.  So much money is spent on things that are never used.  Now that is not to say that I don't buy any fun gifts, but you know what I mean.  This year with my kids  I think I will just give them money and let them pick what they want.  I just don't know if I will feel like getting out and fighting the crowds.  I will guy for my grandkids, but I don't buy a lot for them and I put money in their savings account, kids have way too much these days.

Good luck to all of you that will have a tx this week, wishing you mild ses.

Juannelle