May 2010 Chemo

Hi Ladies.  Checking in.  I'm AC-II/Day4 today.  Like clockwork hair started coming out in strands on Day 13 after AC-I.  I had it buzzed two days later.  No other complaints.  As I noted in another post I also felt very poorly on Sunday (AC-I/Day 13).  But I have now decided that is because I had a couple (or maybe 3) glasses of white wine at an event on Saturday night.  Although I have always been able to drink with the best, I realize it is not a good idea during chemo.  Thus, I have only had a glass of white wine or two here and there since starting chemo on May 3.  Anyway, I think that the toxicity level from the chemo leaves very little room to metabolize alcohol and it is not a good idea.  Really did not feel well on Sunday and never before have had a hangover from three glasses of wine.

Other than that (and my hair being gone), no nausea, no fatigue so far. Appetite is good,  As for wearing wig and scarves, I've adjusted in one day.  It's not ideal.  It's not that fun to wear a wig.  But, if losing my hair is my worst side effect, I would be very happy (so long as the chemo is working its stuff on the cancer!). I am thinking of you all and what we all are going through and sending as excellent vibes as I can.

Hi everyone. Got my #2 Neulasta shot and hydration today, now I'm having Neulasta anxiety. Hoping and praying it's not as bad as last time!!

I feel pretty good. Like I really want to take a nap, but kids got out of school early, baseball practice, open house @ school tonight...etc. etc. 

Faithfulc, thanks for checking in with us and for the great tips. I'm trying to keep on the exercise...It's hard when you're just so tired all the time!

I got tired of my hair falling all over the place, so I asked my boyfriend to give me a buzz cut. I look weird. And I feel so sad. If this disease was a person, I'd kill that person with no remorse, whatsoever.

packjen / Day  Day 18... Tomorrow at 3:00 pm I'm getting my hair buzzed I just cant stand the mess any more..and buying the other wig I had seen earlier...

Did anyone save any of their pre-buzzed hair ..for some reason I am feeling very attached to the strands that come out in handfuls in the morning....I have saved a couple of them and think I will save the lst one in the morning tomorrow  ..braid them or something...I don't know why of all the crazy emotional things I'm going through..I don't know!    Maybe its my day 3 tired day of chemo !

 I actually feel so much better then the 1st treatment ....very tired but other wise good..so far kept the Cytoxan headache at bay and Neulasta shot pain not happening.....so if it goes like the last time I should feel a little better tomorrow..

Jennyb cant wait to be friends with the wigs,hat and scarves!..

I was just telling my husband the same thing last night....I won't be able to step in for Demi Moore in GIJane.  I got my scarves in the mail yesterday and so far they look like the head cover of choice for me.  I have two wigs (given from friends) but I've tried them on and they just don't feel right.  But I guess we'll see how I feel when it all falls out. 

I had my first chemo treatment on Monday the 17th (FEC)...and I found out that (I must have misunderstood at first appointment with Onco)...that I'm getting FECX3 and Taxotare X3.  The FEC made me sick.  Really sick.  Nausea was an understatement and vomitting - YUCK.  BUT I've talked to the pharmacist at the hospital and she swears up and down that they will change/add to my existing anti-nausea meds before and after the chemo and that it will not happen like that again.  It's been since Monday and I can just sit up today for longer than 2 minutes.  I hope she's right...else I won't trust them next time.  Oh well, it's all for the greater good right? 

Hi everyone! Good to read all your updates this morning.

Re: Neulasta pain--I've read it only happens to about 30-40% of people and most of it is mild. Mine was pretty severe (OTC pain meds didn't take the edge off) so I'm one of the lucky ones, I guess. But I'm doing Claritin and Aleve/Tylenol/Ibuprophen/Vicodin this time, so we'll see if it helps.

Sacphotomom, I saved my hair in a box! I just couldn't throw it away... Sad. Glad you're not having any reaction to Neulasta.

Countryfrau, I'm on day #3 after my 2nd infusion, and I'm feeling about how you're describing. The stomach cramps this time are just nasty. Ugh. I just feel all-around yuck. Good luck with your wig!

Fotopet, I'm blah too. Getting winded just going up the stairs. Are you anemic? I am a little anemic (hemoglobin was 10.4), and I think it might be making this a little worse. As for Neulasta pain, I get my shots on Thursday and the first time, the strange muscle pain started on Saturday, getting worse (and deepening into my bones) by Monday. Monday night was the worst, got some relief from pain meds on Tuesday, and then it was over. Very strange.

Tricia, I'm sure hoping the Claritin helps me this time! One thing it is doing is keeping me up all night...I need to start taking it earlier in the day!

Alice, I'm so sorry you've been so sick. Throwing up is just the worst. They really need to change your meds if this is happening!

Victoria, Wow, it seems so many people have such reactions to the Taxotere. That's some nasty stuff! Glad you're okay now and feeling better.

Tricia, My onc nurse told me it has to have D in it...I don't know  why! I have heard here on the boards that people aren't doing D. Maybe it's because the chemo is making me stuffed up, so she wanted to kill two birds with one stone? I'm not sure. I'll ask her, though.

Evening  All:

Feeling like my self again...Great feeling..Even went to my second job this evening. Work at the local YMCA so it is easy job.  felt good being normal

.second treatment next wed...well at least I know what is in store for me. half the battle is knowing I guess.

Getting my wig this coming Monday. Stylist will cut my hair short.. I am a big baby and can't buzz it yet.. If I cut it super short hoping I have another week before I have to wear wig (sigh)

For all who have had second treatment:  are you SE's the same or different? Is their anything you did beforehand that helped with second infusion?

Wishing all a peaceful nights rest

Hi Everyone, I've been out of the loop this week, there's been a lot going on with all of you!  So sorry to hear about the hospital trips, nausea and hair loss, but happy to see most everyone is doing better.   I've been lucky to be feeling good, my boss was on vacation this week so work was crazy!  It was good though, allowed me to forget the whole cancer thing for a few days.  I am on Day 15 since my first treatment and prepping for number 2 next Friday.  I hope it goes as well as the first one!   I am using the cold caps to save my hair and so far, so good. Some shedding going on in other places, but so far, the head is good!  Hope you all have a feeling good weekend. 

Morning Ladies.  Thunder storms here in Minneapolis this am.  But was able to help out planting annuals around our townhome development before the storms came.  Today is ACII-Day 6 and still feeling good.

JennyB:  Do what your oncol nurse says, not me. I'm not using the Claritin-D (cause the D keeps me up) and I have not had pain from the Neulasta (but don't know if it is the Claritin).  Having said that, I sure could have used a little decongestant this am; very drippy; don't know why.

Nanaof2: I love the idea of the birds using your hair for nests. When mine was buzzed last week, they told me at the Fantasia Salon that they were donating all the hair to help with the oil leak/spill in the gulf.  Apparently, hair's good at soaking up that horrible oil.

I hope all of you have as close to an SE free weekend as possible.

I just got home from the hospital. One of the worst hospital experiences in my life. Yesterday morning, at around 4 am, I woke up because my back between the shoulder blades was in bad pain, and whnever I tried to breathe the pain would go in my chest as well. As it didn't go away after a couple minutes, I woke up my boyfriend and we rushed to the ER. There I waited about 45 minutes before a dr. saw me. Well, in the mean time, I got blood drawn, an EKG and an Xray. My HR was high (118-120) and my BP was high (135/80). The Dr. said there are several possibilities, pulmonary embolism, heart attack, or spine pain. I mentioned that I was hyperthyroid in the past and had a thyroid storm 5 years ago, so he decided that it MIGHT also be hyper-thyroid and decided not to go on the chest pet scan as it implies a iodine solution, and it would trigger my thryoid. I got nitroglycerin patch, dilaudid for pain, aspirins and a blood thinner injected in the abdomen. After about an hour and a half I was transferred in the hospital. There I got more blood drawn, a heart ultrasound and was told i'll be seen by a cardiologist. After a few hours, I got taken tot he lung PET scan (?!?) and after another hour the PA came to talk to me. In the mean time they gave me more blood thinner. She said that the heart and lung look fine, and the endocrinologist reviewed my results and prescibed anti-thyroid meds. At about 1 pm I asked for another pain-killer as the first one was wearing off. It looked more and more like my pain was from the spine, as it would be worse in certain positions, and better in others. To no avail. Finally, at around 7:15 I started raising hell about them trying to keep giving me heart meds instead of beta-blockers and anti-thyroid and guess what? The Dr. came to see me. Good thing my BF had just returned to bring me my anti-thyroid meds from home. Now catch this: the Dr. re-stated that my heart and lungs look in order, but he can not give me recommendation for spine MRI because he's a cardiologist and the insurance wouldn't cover it, and I have to ask my PCP for it. Then, he said - hang on to your chairs - that my TSH values were 0.05, and he knows that the endocrinologist recommended anti-thyroid medication but he doesn't consider that I need any. I said that it doesn't matter, because I already took my meds and I want to go home. Finally he said that if my HR and BP improve by morning he will discharge me in the morning. I also mentioned the pain-killer and the nurse who was present said "I'm only in this shift since 3 pm" - I noted the time, it was 7:40 pm. So, the Dr. leaves, after a while they bring me beta-blockers, then they try to give me another digoxin! I refused the digoxin. They brought me a Lortab at 8:30 - when in my file should have been written that I don't take Lortab as it has no effect on the pain whatsoever. I also told them to take out the IV line that had started to look all swollen around the edges and red - I said that I need that vein for my chemo (they had already busted my elbow vein and my wrist veins) .I had finally managed to fall asleep around 4 am, when at 5 am the door opens and it's a nurse came to draw blood to test my lipids ?!? I refused the test. Finally I talked to the nurse who came for the morning vitals and told her that I am waiting for my paperwork to be completed if my HR and BP were good (I knew they had been good all the night, I had a monitor they could see from the nurse room and the night nurse had told me they were good). She says that a Dr. or PA has to sign them and there's none around, and when they come they will sign. I said that if no Dr. come before noon I leave the hospital.  None came. Around 10 am I told the nurse again that if no dr. comes before noon, I leave. She tells me the head nurse told her to tell me that if I leave AMA the insurance won't pay for my stay. I went to the head nurse and confronted her about lying to the patients to make them stay in the hospital against their will. She admitted that "this is what we are told to tell patients, and I only said that the insurace may not pay, not that it will not pay." One lie after another after another. Clearly they were trying to inflate that hospital bill as much as they could.

At 12:40 I was packed, went with my BF to the nurses' station and signed the AMA and left on that page a detailed note of what happened and underlined the fact that I didn't leave AMA as there was no medic around to give any kind of opinion.

I am so angry I can't even start telling you. Monday morning I will be on the phone left and right, and Wednesday I go get my copy of the papers of my file (I got a copy of my discharge letter with all that "nice" note).

oh my Day I am so sorry to hear all of this makes me feel like a big wimp because am just  tired.....I hope you can find out what is going on fast so you can get it taken care of it.

 Hair up date  Its gone as of yesterday..only problem is I cant stand to look at myself in the mirror or when I catch glimpse of myself in the window or something   makes my eyes tear up and get a big lump in my throat ....DH and every one tells me it doesn't look bad ..but WOW   it such a in your face look!  I"m hoping its the tired . oh so tiredness  from the chemo and I will get to feeling better about it in days to come.  

fotopet      I feel your tiredness last Friday  4 miles  yesterday and today to the corner...cant believe how this stuff kicks my butt!

Oh, I will call my onc Monday, and I will also call my case manager with my health insurance (it's supervised by the State Department of Health) and I will make a complaint to the Board of medicine. If need be I can go as far as to sue them. It's the second time I got to that facility's ER and then they didn't know how to handle a hyper-thyroid induced tachycardia. One day they will kill someone, if they didn't already do that but people had no idea.