November 2009-Starting Chemo

Melinda, You go girl.  I quite like going out bald...I feel more empowered...People stare, but I just smile right back at them.  I know when I see a lady with no hair I think, Wow how brave, she must be.  Besides you never know when someone will let you go ahead of them in line...Walmart can be crazy this time of year...Use your cancer card when you can.  It is a bit cold here in Canada so hatless this time of year is not an option.

Michele

Hi ladies,

I'm supposed to have my first TCH infustion today.  But, I have come down with a terrible cold.  I called the onc and as long as I don't have a fever I don't have to cancel - but my head is completely stuffed and my jaw and head hurts.  My ears hurt and I'm a little nauseated, probably from post-nasal drip.

Knowing what you know now - would you start your chemo with a bad cold?  Or, will I be okay for a couple of days as I recover.  You know colds, they are always worst the first three days.

Good point on the feeling miserable for longer if I don't do it.  Yeah, I suppose if I just go ahead with it today and feel bad the rest of the week I can just sleep until the weekend.

Melinda, you look great with that mohawk and I bet you are a beautiful baldy.  You have a pretty face and nice headshape.  Not all women look bad bald!  But, make sure you don't get onto People of Walmart's website!  :eek:  

My period started today too.  Triple whammy - cold, chemo, menstruation.

Oh, and I wanted to add for Joyce - your 14 year old is still developmentally connected to you and is trying to separate.  That's why they get so embarrassed about the things we do  - they see  it as a reflection on themselves.  They are so peer-oriented at this age that they get embarrassed by anything different.  It's normal for her to feel this way about the wig - my 12 year old is most worried about the bald thing too.  the 17 year old is old enough to be past the idea that what you do reflects on her as a person.  So, wear your wig to school functions if it embarrasses your child and don't wear it at home or wherever.  She has to deal with reality but she also needs some protection from reality too, you know what I mean?

Now, I have to blow my nose- again!!! 

Coolbreeze ~ I say as long as you have no fever you will be ok.  I had a cold when I had TX on Monday.  Right now it is just a runny nose which I usually have anyway thanks to no nose hairs.  Good LUCK ! 

Melinda ~ I have to agree you should of kept that Mohawk ~ you were rocking it !  I bet you look great bald.

Joy ~ my 15 year daughter had a hard time with me with no hair.  She cried before it even happened.  I told her I would wear a wig when her friends came over.. and she said NO she didn't care about that she didn't want me to be SAD with NO hair.  She is totally over it as is my 10 year old.  I can go with just a scarf or a hat out they don't care.  And bald in the house is fine.  They rub my head.  I hope you daughter comes around.  It is an adjustment for them as I think it makes the cancer a reality and scares them. 

Brenda/Sharon ~ glad to see you posting and feeling pretty good !  CAKES yummy..........  wish I could eat some !  I have a coconut custard pie waiting for my tummy to feel better ~

Mommy2two, Cafelovr, Micheleboots hope all is well with you girls !

CCNANI and HOPBIRD ~ come out come out wherever you are.  So worried about CCNANI.  WE should start a phone number chain list, (Just a thought).

Hugs !

Alicia

I don't know if you guys have seen this site.

It can be offensive but I do find it funny.  Forgive me if you don't.  I can tell you one thing after seeing it - I will never go into walmart bald and in ugly clothes as I don't want to be on that site!

http://www.peopleofwalmart.com

Micheleboots.  When somebody skips over something that has already been posted (peopleofwalmart.com) on one of my forums, we call that a "smeek."    It's named after a guy on the forum who always posts things other people have!  LOL.  I LOVE your pink wig.  I am so totally getting one! 

Linda ~ sorry you are having a tougher go this round.  I'm feeling the same with round #3, I guess the oncologist told me it builds up in your system cumilitive and gets a bit tougher each time. 

Hoping you bounce back soon ~ glad the compazine is working, if it fails me I head into the zocor.

Say a prayer for my DH hubby.  He went in for a routine blood work up for pre-surgery (the big V), and he had elevated platelets.  I'm petrified, they are hoping it was just a bad sample from the crappy lap he went to.  Our dr. sent him to the hospital for another test, we should have the results later this evening. 

Hugs !

Alicia

Good evening Warrior Ladies:

Hope everyone is doing well or especially better! I, too, have been sick (some vomiting) rough day again....sigh. I can deal with that better than the bone/joint pain.  The Claritin you mention, is that OTC Claritin? and will it help me, (taxotere/cytoxan)?  Also, WBC was high, 33.7 and RBC low, 3.89, HGB somewhat low, 11.5....do these results have anything to do with the bone/joint pain?  I am drinking water and trying to eat, everything just tastes nasty.  I think it's more from the percocet I had to take than the chemo....same problem right after surgery...white tongue and everything tastes peppery.  I need something else to take besides percocet to help with the pain. I tried Aleve starting morning of treatment (every 12 hours) but still got severe bone pain that OTC would NOT touch.  Any help I would appreciate so much.  I know it's important to eat and drink plenty of fluids, but I find myself gagging (sorry) trying to eat and drink.

On a happier note, I wish I had a picture of my 14 yr old son trying my wig on!!!  He did some crazy kind of air-guitar move and rocker head-banging motion----I was thinking Dana Carvery, or Rod Stewart?!!!  He's a hoot, a regular comedian, he just needs an audience!!!  He's my sunshine and what keeps me going (he's an only) and my source of laughter obviously.  He's such a young man, now....taller that Mom, which he loves to remind me of.  Now he's measuring against his Dad, who's 6'3", I used to be 5'8"---found out first onc visit I'm 5'7", how's that happen?  My "cranial prosthesis" is not my normal hairstyle, it's straighter, but same color.  I .....almost....feel like my old self when I have it on.  I find my head feels cold without something on at home, so I wear a comfy sleep cap, or other cotton hat.  My son came in my room the other nite to tuck ME in, and I had taken my sleep cap off and didn't have time to grab it and put it back on.  I asked him if it bothered him to see me without something on my head and he said "nope".  (Kid of few words)!!!!      Look forward to hearing advice......lots of best wishes to all...

Oh Alicia!!  I'm so sorry for you to be so scared and worried.  I have already said prayer for you and your family....and will to continue to all through the day.  My MIL is having a PET scan tomorrow.....she had lung ca in 2002 and a spot has been found on remaining (yes only 1) lung.  We are very worried as well and I can only imagine what is going thru her mind....and it's not good.  Her doctors have already told her it is a new cancer and to expect surgery.  Alicia, I am sending lots of prayers up for you, your husband and family....Shari

Hello all.......finally I'm official, I had my first chemo this morning.   Well, officially unofficial I guess, since I'm technically a December girl but WTF, nothing else in my life right now is where it's supposed to be so I'm on the November chemo thread...sue me. 

 I got Carboplatin and Taxol and I almost met my maker.  Blood pressure dropped to 60/30 , throat closed up and my lips and hands turned blue before they gave me oxygen and a cortisone shot and brought me back to life.  I didn't officially pass out but my son did, he'd never had a blue mom before.  Luckily he was there with me, though, because he is the one that noticed that my onc's office had given me the wrong paperwork and scheduled me for Herceptin.  Also, nobody told me to take Decadron and Zofran beforehand, thank you to all in the office  for the great communication skills. No wonder my BP dropped with 8 different drugs dripping in all within about an hour of each other. 

 Anyway, I'm fine now and just waiting for the onslaught of hell in about 48 hours.  I do have a question about Zofran........how long do you think I have to keep taking it?   Can I just take it when I feel nauseous?   Because I am more worried about the constipation than the nausea since I've been down that road before and don't care to ever go there again if I can help it. 

Sorry ladies - its been a rough couple of days. I honestly don't remember when I posted last. I'm still in the hospital. They have not been able to determine the source of my infection (infection assumed because of my fever since Sunday). The latest theory is that I have H1N1. They are treating me "as if" though of course I won't know till the testing center at UW gives the result and that can take a week.The good news is - if I do have H1N1 - it may very well mean my extreme side effects may not have all been chemo related - so maybe next round will be easier to take! 

 I've been through a few stressful situations and have had a few very frank conversations with the staff in charge as a result. I feel I'm in the middle of a place that doesn't seem to know how to communicate with paitents or coordinate care in a way that the patient is taken care of without stress.  I will spare the details as I don't want to dump on a local medical facility but it has NOT been pleasant. 

Add to that my husband's father passed Monday night unexpectedly.  He's dealing with trying to support me through this and now trying to deal with this death on his own - he refuses to turn to me for support for fear it will add to my stress. I've tried to get him to talk, but he hasn't. He is taking this very hard. I'm afraid with me and now the death of his father it is more than he can handle by himself but no matter how I try to talk to him - he is steadfast in his resolve to keep it to himself. He won't even turn to friends. *sigh* 

I want to be there for him and I am stuck here. Him and my daughter both started presenting with fevers today, runny nose, sore throat. I made them both see the doctor. They are now being treated with Tamiflu and my daughter recevied the H1N1 vaccine. $124 later for the RX for the two of them - ouch. I'm just glad he didn't fight me (you know how they can be) about going to the doctor. 

On a bright note, I had a wonderful visit from Amanda (HOPE for Robin). It was a very nice suprise to meet her and visit for a while.

My husband can't come see me anymore since he is sick with flu symptoms and I pretty much have asked my friends and family to stay away as a precaution  too.  My brother has a compromised immune system already (HIV) and mom isn't a spring chicken...so its me, the staff and my lap top. 

The crown of my head has just become very tender over the course of the day. Has anyone experienced this? I'm wondering if it has to do with chemo or not. 

Thanks for everyones kind words of encouragement. 

SharaD:

All I had been taking for pain was Aleve alternating w/ex-strength Tylenol, per onc recommendation.  I hate taking the percocet, as described side effects happen. But...that pain was terribly unbearable.  I was so miserable, I couldn't stand myself.  I will check on the claritin and vitamin D with onc.  and I will go tomorrow to RiteAid and get that Biotene....thanks so much. I hate to hear you had such a scary chemo experience....scared me just reading about it.  Your Guardian Angel worked overtime on your behalf....and that wonderful son of yours, too!!  Unexcusable that they didn't tell you about pre-meds and give you prescriptions...!!!  I will be thinking of you and praying that your SEs are minimal....You have gone through so much already.My onc gave me a prescription for just FOUR Zofran, to take two/day for two days following chemo and phenegran to take as needed.  I did okay til yesterday, and i think the reason i got sick was not getting something to eat soon enough....better to eat small snacks than try to eat 3 meals/day.  Plus, as you said, drink plenty of water....I like Vitamin Water and warm cups of flavored tea....there's a lot of tea choices that smell and taste wonderful....soothing too.  I somehow seem to suffer from constipation and then diarrhea both, no matter what.    Thanks again for your help and please take care.

LittleBird:

I am very relieved to hear from you, as I know everyone else will be.  Soooo sorry to hear about your Father-in-law....I will continue praying for you, your husband and family. 

Melinda,

My husband hauls cars out of the Spring Hill, TN, plant...sometimes hauls them out of Nissan plant in Smyrna.   He took me to the Civil War Battlefield in Murfreesboro a LONG time ago...very haunting place to visit.  Murfreesboro area is beautiful....we thought about moving there years ago, then had our son and didn'nt want to move away from our families.....Loved your comment about losing the boob and hair, but keeping the period!!!  I told my sis the same thing on the way to chemo last week!!!  I was on mine when I had my 1st treatment!!  That's why the bone/joint pain snuck up on me....thought it was more PMS!!!!   Duh!!

Shara D ~ that must of been so scary for you.  I am so glad you are ok.  I hope your SE's stay at a minimum.

Littlebird ~ H1N1 oh geez.  I hope you feel better really soon.  AS if this is all not enough to endure now the loss of your father in law.  I am so sorry.  You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

Psalm ~ love your son story in your wig too cute.  Mine has done the same !

I am a bit calmer about hubby today trying to put in god's hands and hope it is just a blood disorder that can be treated with medication.  Thanks everyone for the prayers ~ it means a lot to me.

I am feeling a bit better today with the nausea waiting for the Neulasta pain to kick in... ugh ~

Have a good day girls.

Hugs !

Alicia