March 2010 Chemo Start

Frosty1: I cannot believe what I noticed after my bath this evening?? My left foot all the way up to my leg is all swollen up. I was just reading your post earlier today and had NEVER heard of this before and wham! There is it. LOL So, your Dr. did not seem too concerned? Figures it appears late on a Friday night so I cannot call the Onc.'s office and really didn't want to call the E.R. or his exchange. I'm always a little concerned with a blood clot when edema appears like that. But, it's not tender or hot to the touch. I have it propped up and will see what tomorrow brings. How strange is this? I've never heard of this side affect before. How are you doing otherwise besides the swelling? Take Care!

Suzanne E.

I came across a wonderful resource to share with all of you. It's an audio library of guided imagery and positive affirmations for all kinds of health/wellness issues -- everything from cancer, chemo and radiation treatments to more everyday matters like relaxation and healthful sleep.

It's free to listen online or to download to an mp3 player.  God bless Kaiser Permanente for making this available to the general public instead of limiting it to their own members. Here's the link:

https://members.kaiserpermanente.org/redirects/listen/ 

Count me in. I was getting that mangy look where I had patches of hair missing, my scalp hurt, and every time ran my fingers through my hair another 100 or so strands came out. I was really not enjoying this phase, so I took the electric hair trimmers to it using the very lowest guide. I now look like a cue ball with a splotchy 5 o'clock shadow.  I don't mind it much, though. I'm just covering it up with a wig or cap, so as long as it feels better (and it does!) that's all that matters.

I figured my little boy (7) might not like the bald look much, but I really didn't want to have to worry about hiding it from him, so I had a little fun with it for him. Instead of shaving it all off at once, I gave myself a mohawk first. It was a HUGE hit! LOL  Thomas laughed hysterically. So even though I looked totally ridiculous for a few minutes, I'm glad I did it. (No, I did NOT take pictures -- it wasn't a pretty sight, believe me!)

It's the silliness that gets me through all this. With all the crap we have to deal with, we should at least be able to have a little fun with it, right? 

Okay ... what's the deal with these SEs??  I am having terrible bone pain from the neulasta and claritin is not helping like it did last time!! Aaargh!  At least I have pain meds that are working now. Think you get one licked and then it turns up again!

CaroSue - A friend of mine who went thru this 5 years did a similar thing with her kids ... let them actually "help" shave her head.  It took away the "scariness" of seeing mom bald.

Good luck to all of you getting a new look today!

Hugs, Charley

Hope everyone is doing well!  My hair started to come out today...not a ton but if I ran my hand through it some comes out.  Even though you know it is coming it is still so darn hard.  I just have to  keep telling myself FORWARD and TEMPORARY we will all be through this before we know it and on the other side and recovering!    Best to all for a peaceful weekend! 

Hey all, hope you're enjoying a good day today.  It's nice here and I got out for a walk this morning, may take another this evening.  Just need to avoid the stronger sun hours.

The satin pillowcase was great, wish I'd gotten one sooner.  I must sleep on my L side more because there's less hair on that side of my head, rubbing against the cotton pillowcase I think.  So this was a good $20 investment.

Haven't had mouth sores yet and am thinking it may be the ice cubes I keep popping during the infusions of taxotere and cytoxan. Keeps my mouth hydrated and cold. I have biotene mouthwash but haven't used it yet.  Saw my dentist before chemo started and asked about dry mouth.  She recommended sugarless candy and Trident XTRA Care gum which I found at Walgreens in both Peppermint and Spearmint (which I prefer).

I do lose my taste for coffee and can't eat onions or anything spicy or highly flavored for the first ten days or so after a tx but taste buds have come back each time. 

Been having night sweats the last few nights.  I'm in peri-meno so had been having hot flashes already so can deal with those "power surges" or "mini tropical vacations" but night sweats are new, yikes I wake up drenched and have to get up and change my shirt!  Chemo-pause starting maybe?  {{hugs}}

Frosty, my eyesight is bothering me as well....I'm having a lot of trouble with reading!

Melanie

good morning Marchers,  I'm feeling a bit quiet after treatment 2. I gave myself the neulasta shot yesterday for the first time - it wasn't too hard just a little sting, and so far, just a few aches. I still can't believe how many tablets I'm taking but they're all for a good reason. 

My number 3 is kind of hanging in there, but it's really patchy around the sides and back. I wear a flannel sleeping cap I got from headcovers.com, and it's picking up the little hairs I'm still dropping. Mum bought me some satin pillow cases when I started chemo, and they have been really gentle and soft. My head is chilly without my hair - wearing my little wooly cap.

Frosty I'm glad your legs have settled down. I love Seattle, I spent 12 months and went to high school in a little town called Arlington north of Everett in the 80's. My mother was an exchange teacher, and we used to drive down to Seattle every couple of week-ends. We loved the Pike place Markets.

Hugs to everyone

Kayne: I am going to PT also. a prevention to keep it from being full blown lymphedema. Hadn't heard about cording tho. My therapist says  I am way ahead of schedule on the movement of my arm. I started small exercises early as I work with my right arm all the time.

This is day 16 and I still have hair. I feel kind of guilty after reading all your posts on your hair. My scalp does not feel any different. I keep remembering my late Husband when he lost his hair, and looking for signs. I have a strainer in my bath tub to catch the hair, and my DD brought it in to me the other day, and said mom!! you are the one going through chemo but I'm the one losing hair!!! It had quit a bit of hair in it. I told her it was her sympathy for me. Ha!! # 2 is coming up on the 14th. I''ll just stay alert for it.

Hugs to everyone and good night.

Angi - love the photos....to all i wish the best.  had a bad day  yesterday and just wanted to quite...stop....and forget....this mornig I am back....I guess that is part of the process?  Happy Sunday to all!

hereandnow....no it is not a steady path, but it is one we have to walk and travel through to get to the other side.  I have been having trouble with the "what if it comes back" thought....I have to keep telling myself that my prognosis is excellent, once I get through all the stuff...but sometimes it is just so hard!  I really hope there comes a day when it is not the first thing or the last thing that I think about.  I have had some moments like that but not enough yet.  Thank you for the kind words, today is better.

Angi- your wig is awesome and those shoes ROCK -- beautiful family

Barb_k-  I still have all my hair too, even leg hair is still growing! -- Day 14- but go for round 2 tomorrow-- I need to decide what to do, I can't have gobs falling out during my daughters prom pictures. ( Fri -16th )-  I don't know most of the people that will be here.  Too much to worry about--    Your PT would know if you had cording, I'm sure you don't but heres a link to learn about it.  http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Cording_and_Axillary_Web_Syndrome.htm   

Dublin4- glad your having a better day!

Dublin4;  It's hard not to think of those 'what ifs' every now and then especially since our diagnosis is so recent and we are undergoing treatment but when you start drifting off to those places, try to refocus and think about what makes you happy, what makes you smile and what makes you laugh.  You will find that those 'what ifs' thougths will decipate.  Have a great day. Heather

Dublin4 - I'm there with you!  I had a terrible day yesterday (aching from neulasta and nauseated all day) and all I could think of was "I can't do this 3 more times!"  Somehow I did survive until today and am feeling better. Still don't want to do it 3 more times though ... but I will. Sometimes the right decisions are not always the decisions that you like.

I haven't had as much trouble with the "what if it comes back" thoughts. I'm sure those thoughts will come later once I'm done with the chemo and there isn't any poison to kill these cancer cells ... I do have 5 relatives who have all had bc who are alive and well and are disease free. It can happen, and in fact happens all the time!  And that's what I try to hold onto.

Hugs to all.

Charley