November 2009-Starting Chemo

HI Girls ~ I am feeling rather lousy since TX #4 on Monday.  But I am OK. 

Melinda ~ love what the kids did to your cute bald head. 

Hoping everyone is doing well.

Think of you all each day.

Hugs ~

Alicia

Becca:

Glad you enjoyed the Christmas Tree decorating and are doing better with those SEs.  The girls here recommend Biotene mouth rinse, it's alcohol free, and you can get it at RiteAid, Walgreens, etc.  I got it and it after #2 tx and it helped tremendously.  Every time I go to the bathroom I brush my teeth, tongue and use the Biotene.  It's clean and fresh, and while I still get the coating, it's not near as bad as it was without the Biotene.  After I've brushed and rinsed, food is always more tolerable for a little while, too.  Sometimes just the effort of trying to eat/drink, is too much, right?'  Best wishes, and hope you continue to feel better!!

I'm off to #4, wish me luck.

Hi Gang!

Not having the best of mornings over here. I think I'm going to have to try making my bloody marys with half tomato-juice and half prune-juice. I can tell already that this is not going to be a good day....By mistake I just shoved my suppository up my nose and tried to stick an eyelash to my butt.

Hey guess what, my EX finally sent the check, it came by FEDEX! I guess I really scared the BeJesus out of him, huh? He called me, so proud of himself, "did you get the check, we sent it priority overnight?" I told him yes, and it was nice that his perky secretary has finally figured out how to do things SITTING at the desk instead of just kneeling underneath it.

Advice or feedback needed:  If you know a good thread for me to help decide whether to do reconstructive surgery before or after masectomy....I am a Nov. Chemo girl,  last A/C on Dec 28th ... I will do Taxol 12 wks.  then Hercepton- with possible radiation.......I think I want to go the Implant route, I think I would have enough time to complete the exchange before radiation...but Need some feedback if anyone had issues doing it this way ...thanks so much....I feel overwhelmed , want to make right decision..My Husband is supportive either way.....I wish I could concentrate on Christmas but feel I need to make my decision...

Cathy  - I am actually from the March chemo thread, but had to do 4 rounds of adriamycin that will fiinish up New years eve.    I did 4 months of chemo, lumpectomy, then finally bilat mast with immediate diep reconstruction sept 29.  I was just talking with my PS about the number of women from my board that did TEs before radiation, ended up with infections and now are getting flap recon done.   He said that HE does the entire exchange before radiation and have great success.  Just food for thought.

I live in Naples NY, about 1 1/2 hours from Ithaca.  My DH went to Cornell.  I spent many a weekend at the frat parties back in the day.  Love the gorges in that area.

I'm here. This is day three of round two. Joint pain is right on schedule - starting small and building up all day. The weekend will be my time to rest like I planned. Too bad Xmas is still staring me in the face.My kids are going to decorate the house and put up our 10+ year old fake tree under my supervision tomorrow. My girlfriend has offered to come help "babysit" me - she saw the pain and effects of the joint pain on the last round and knew that tomorrow would be the day I would need the most help. I even asked if she would be able to cook dinner - very nice and I'm grateful. 

Funny though - this round - food is not tasting good at all. Not from mouth sores - just everything but yogurt tastes like poo. Maybe I'll lose the 10 pounds I gained when I was diagnosed and went on a food vacation!!

There was a work "after work" party - Ugly Christmas Sweater party - but I couldn't stay - after 30 minutes I realized if I didn't leave then I would be needing to take pain meds and unable to drive. Pblttt. 

Giving myself the Nuelasta shot was VERY different than giving a shot to someone else. I used to be a caregiver so I figured it would be a piece of cake....Dang - injecting AND hurting - and knowing you have to keep injecting is not nearly as fun as JUST pushing the plunger oblivious to the pain you might be inflicting on the other person. I think next time I'll leave it out to "warm to room temperature" longer than the 30 minutes. 

 Keeping it short. I hope everyone is having a good Friday night. 

Hi

Cindy - I like your scarf, very pretty. I start self injecting on Sunday and not looking forward to it. I'll ask about bringing the stuff up to room temperature before I stick myself. Doesn't it matter?

Shar - again. so funny. sorry about the secretary.

Melinda - I'll put some thought into the lyrics for the song. Its a great idea!

Cathy - I had tissue expanders put in immediately after my bilateral mastectomy. At the time, I didn't know that I'd be going through chemo for 6 months and that my implant surgery (exchange) would be postponed for so long. On the plus side, I have felt relatively "normal" with my tissue expanders looking almost real (with clothes on). The first couple of months were very painful with the fills, but I've gotten used to them now and they are more of an annoyance than anything. If I had known that I would have them for so long - I'm not sure I would have made the same decision - though I have not had any complications at all. Its more that they are these foreign bodies that don't feel like part of me and get in the way of hugging my kids and getting close to my husband (and just lying on my stomach!) I've been told that if I need radiation, I will have to wait another 6 months after radiation is finished before I get the implants. I'm not happy about that, but I definitely want to do what ever will give me the most natural and beautiful boobies that I can possibly get. If there's one thing I'm going to have at the end of this whole ordeal... its fabulous boobs!

My mouth tastes like crap too. I use biotene and it does work... unfortunately the result is fleeting. I keep eating in hopes that the horrible taste will go away with whatever I'm putting in my mouth. I think I've gained about 5 pounds in the last 4 days! I've got to get a hold on myself!!

Today is day #4 of tx #2, not feeling great, but can't complain too much. I haven't been sleeping well - brain on fire in the middle of the night. I'll be glad when the steroids wear off. 

Take care gals! 

Just wanted to wish you all a great few days before Christmas. It is snowing here in England so it all looks very festive. I had treatment three on Thursday- don't feel too bad- but can't wait to have some energy- which should arrive just in time for Christmas

Love to you all xx

Hello to everyone.  This is day 3 after my last AC influsion.    So far the steriods are still doing the trick so I am hopeful I can finish Christmas shopping today.

For those of us starting Taxol soon, I heard there are two ways that we might react.  First, at infusion time, it is not the Taxol people react badly too; it is the alcohol they use to deliver it.  So I wonder if we shoud take something like Benadryl or Claritin beforehand.  I didn't think to ask my onc, but I may call prior to the next appointment.

The other problem with Taxol is the bone pain of course.  Some women find it intolerable, so they switch to 12 weekly treatments which doesn't require the neulasta shot.  But I want to do the DD as I would be done February 19th. 

I just didn't know if anyone else had additional info on Taxol or had already started and had some advice.

Melinda, for the lyrics, it would be great to fit in sleep deprivation.  I so miss sleeping through the night.

Hope everyone has a SE free day.

Shelley

So far so good. Number 4 has gone well.  Just started crap mouth...yuck..Had my first neupogen shot today, and I was a brave little thing.  Tomorrow is my DHs turn...may pay pass out then.  Perhaps I will place pillows all around so I don't crack my head open when I go down..

 Hope all is well with everyone...

I'm not very good at this - can't seem to figure out how to post, etc - but I'm having a real tough time with my 3rd AC treatment.  Took the neulasta shot but still have no energy - have the weirdest head pain - pounding in my ears, back of my head/neck/shoulders are sore to the touch - can't sleep - couldn't be at a worse time with Christmas so close - emotions are all over the place, have chemo brain - CRS (can't remember stuff) - what a whiner - sorry - I'm really very upbeat, do everything for myself and others and just having a tough time being "needy".

#3 was on Thursday the 17th - whew - at least I'm not going nutso - couldn't figure out what it could be but that makes sense as the first time I had that weird head thobbing pain was after my first neulasta shot. Didn't put 2 + 2 together - thanks!  Makes me feel better already.

Welcome GrandmaMickey..just a little hi to you.