Chemo June 2010
Comments
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meliss, mari-12 - Thanks so much for your understanding and suggestions. It helps a lot. XXXOOO
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Hi ladies. I am om day 2 after my second round of TCH. This time the fatigue hit me so much faster. I also feel so bloated. Its so hard some days walking past a mirror and see a bald, pale, bloated person looking back at me. One of those days I guess. I sure I will feel better tomorrow. At least 2 down, 4 more rounds to go. Hope u all are doing better today.
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Beanius- I agree with Mari, you really need to complete the antibiotics, all 10 days. Otherwise, you can just reduce the infection and allow the bacteria to become resistant and stronger. The infection can come back even worse. As your immune system is going to be somewhat compromised with chemo, you don't want to have any active infection. If you are getting clobbered by yeast, I would definitely put in a call to your doctor and ask if you should take Diflucan. I am prone to yeast infections with antibiotics and my doctor ALWAYS gives me a RX for Fluconazole (I think that's the generic version) at the same time. It is one single pill and works for several days. I'm sure they would just call in a prescription. Golly, if it is not one end we are worrying about, it's the other end! With the acidophilus, make sure you take it IN BETWEEN your antibiotic doses. It will re-establish the good bugs the antibiotics kill. If you take it WITH antibiotics, the antibiotics just kill it. I always tried to take it a few hours AFTER my antibiotic. I know you are anxious to get this chemo show on the road. I am praying you will be fit and ready to go soon!
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DesignerMom - Thanks so much!! I'll keep takin the darn antiB's as prescribed. Aaarrrgggh! I've been taking spoonfuls of yogurt here and there inbetween antiB's and the acidophilus in between twice a day. So far no vag yeast, but I've noticed mild thrush. This is a new one for me, never had it before; always got the vag yeast infections before with antiB's and monistat (over the counter) worked great. First time I noticed thrush was night before last. I wouldn't say I'm clobbered by it, but worried it could get worse. Yes, I am anxious about it all. Thanks for the prayers, you are in mine too.
kickazz - You are gorgeous and CONGRATS on 2 down. You are almost half-way.
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Julie2, CEBsMom, thank you im trying, i feel the same way, im worried to sleep like that chemo will do something and i wont wake up, every time my heart beats...it scary, i woke up last night at 3 and still had fever 100.4 but htis morning i did not, so thats good, but i did take tylenol i guess ill call today. Dr just called and wants me to go in...damn!!! now im freaking..
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cheyanna, anytime my temp goes over 100 my onc wants to do a cbc to check for infection. since our immune systems are compromised, we are more susceptible. your fever could be just a response to your body fighting, or could be infection. without the cbc, they don't know.
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Cheyenna--we are thinking of you. Let us know what happens. Meliss is right, the docs need to check it out, sometimes they will give you antibiotics "just in case".
Kickazz--sorry you are having "one of those days". Fatigue really brings me down. My 2nd ac tx is tomorrow and I've been working on things to keep me from getting too down during the fatigue days. Just being aware its going to happen, and letting myself "go with the flow" helps. I'm not going to fight it this time! Everyone around me knows this will be a tough week for me, so don't ask me to do anything! I'll be queen of my bedroom, with my tv, funny videos, laptop, magazines, etc. I watch the birds out the window, and snooze when I need to. (I have a lot of experience at this, unfortunately, from tx last year!)
I'm probably going to lose my hair this week. I think the timing on that is horrible, as I'll already be feeling like crap from tx! Oh well....thanks, ladies for sharing your hair experiences, it really helps!
Take care!
T
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Cheyanna,
Let us know what happens at the doc, you should definitely go, the Tylenol will lower your temp thus masking the fact that you may have an infection. Plus, if you blood counts are good, think how relieved you'll be!
Good luck!
Julia
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Cheyanna,
Something you might want to consider to help with your anxiety is a mild anti-depressant. My regular doc put me on a half-dose of Citalopram, which is ok to take with the chemo. and I think it's really helped even me out. Not that I don't worry, but I'm not having the weird, irrational, anxiety attacks like I was.
Julia
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Cheyenna- It's good that your doc wants you to come in. That way you can get all of your concerns answered and be reassured that everything is fine. Chemo is a scary thing but none of our doctors would have given us this course of treatment if they didn't believe that it was the best way for each of us to come out on the other side cancer free. One of the few blessings that this crazy journey gives any of us is to finally see what we are really made of and just how strong we really are. After facing this there will be nothing that we can't do.
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Thank you all, your were so right, i was so scared sitting in there, they took my blood through my port to make sure no infection inside, wont know for a few days but they said prolly not!!! my blood counts were GOOD. the gave me an antibiotic, i feel so much better, so scary the unknown, but ive been thru 1 chemo and a fever and at my low and all was good... i feel much better for next time.. i think i do need a anxiety pill,
oh well, again, thank you girls i could not wait to get home and tell you!!! even before my friend, goes to show how much we all mean to each other
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Penn Stater- my face starting breaking out one week after my first treatment of taxotere, carboplatin and herceptin... my oncologist felt it might have been from the steriods i was given in my IV.. she gave me clindamycin ointment and told me to clean my face with stridex.. in three days it was gone.....!!!!!!!!!!!
isabel
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Whew! Glad to hear everything is ok, and you are feeling better!! I don't know if you have Ativan (lorazapam), but some oncs. prescribe it for nausea. It is also an anti-anxiety pill. It makes you sleepy, so its good to take at night too. I think its a wonder drug! You could ask your doc, if you think it would help.
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Kickazz: it's so hard to get used to the new face in the mirror... Hang in there. It might be easier when friends and family all get used to your new look.
I had my 2nd chemo on June 25. I got so weak the very same evening, and I just feel so withered these past two days. I guess it's better than nausea and vomiting. Also started with hip pain, I bet it's the Neulasta shot.
TMarina: right on. Lorazapam is really helpful, and calming. I haven't been on it lately, but even when I feel anxious about claustrophobia in the MRI machine and other procedures, it has been a godsend.
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Thanks for the update Chey, glad it all went so well. Try to get a good night's sleep, another day down!
Julia
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3 more days and my head will be shaved. Sort of hard to believe. I pulled up my hair the last couple days to hide my gray and brunette roots. My head started to get sore, so I wore it down today. I still have some sore spots on my head. I heard that happens before you lose your hair.
I'm getting my 2nd round of AC on Wednesday. I am not looking forward to the fatigue, which will hit hardest on the 4th of July (if I react the same as last time). Boo hoo!!
I hope everyone has safe and little SE's in their upcoming treatments.
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So, it's 2:00 am and I am hungry and wide-awake before treatment #2 tomorrow. Gotta love those steroids!
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meliss - not being able to sleep is so frustrating. Have you tried reading a book or magazine article? The computer makes me more awake! I hope you can get some sleep!!! Good luck on tx #2 tomorrow!
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kittycat: I've been catching up on the reading I was not able to do for my class last week when I was not feeling good from the allergic reaction. I find that with the first night on a strong steroid, I can just count on being awake. I pretty much plan for it. I know I will be tired at the end of the week when the steroid wears off and the TC kicks in--I will sleep plenty then! Thanks for your good wishes tomorrow!
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meliss - I know about insomnia all too well. I'm sure you will catch up on your sleep in a few days!
Take care! -
meliss and kittykat- I hope this finds both of you sleeeeping in late. I'm wondering about the need for so many steroids. I know differrent chemos need them. Someone here suggested that I ask my Onc if they are necessary (I am on CMF) Only then did my Onc say she thought I could do with just a little in my infusion. Sometimes they are given for nausea and there are now far better drugs for that. Even if the steroids could be reduced a bit, it might help with the steroid SE (sleeplessness, over eating etc...) I don't know about you guys, but I NEED my sleep, especially while in chemo camp! It might be worth a question to your Onc.
Cheyenne- Hooray, You passed another scary test.
All you ladies taking Ativan (and I certainly understand the need for anti anxiety RX), just remember it is very addictive. Certainly use it if you need, but take care not to over do.
Kitty-love the new photo. Just think how cool your head is going to feel. A friend just came back from Vegas and said it was 105!!!!!
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Good Morning ladies!
Ggetting ready to go for AC #2. Glad I don't have to take steroids the night before--I get them in my IV with the Zofran, and then take the pills for 3 days. I will also get an Emend pill, and have Compazine and Ativan to take as needed (Designermom-->always a good reminder about the Ativan!).
I'm bringing coupons and the Sunday ads, as well as some mail to go through. May as well get some things done while I'm sitting there! My hubby usually runs upstairs to the cafeteria and gets me a salad and grilled chicken sandwich for lunch.
Woke up this morniong and noticed my scalp was tender. Not much came out it the shower, but I was putting some gel in and pulling a section straight, and a bunch came out in my hand
So it begins---could be a rough week....
Kittycat, I'll be thinking of you as well, as you have your 2nd on Wed. Looks like there are a few others having the 2nd one as well--Keep me posted ion se's and hair loss!
Roosje, and Lizzyanne--> how are you doing these days? Having your 2nd today?
I hope everyone else does well this week!
Take care,
T
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DesignerMom makes a good point about the Ativan. The anxiety drug I take is not addictive, probably a good thing as I am an ex-smoker and i was a pretty heavy drinker before my BC diagnosis. I do not want to go from chemo to rads to rehab haha!
Julia
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An update on the hair situation- I'm going in for #3 this week and the hair is pretty much gone except for a few little pieces... It looks very weird since I had it buzzed beforehand and now my head looks like a tie dye pattern with swirls of tiny dark hair...
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im going for AC # 2 on friday, sore head, im still having a bit of a fever but maybe after a couple of days of antibiotics it will go away, it seems to go from 98.9 to 99.9 so i dont know... i hope you are all well and free from se..
love chey,
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Hi everyone,
I'm now a week after my 2nd AC, and I forgot that this is around the time that I start to feel OK - it's so hard to remember that you will feel better when you are in the middle of yuckiness - just try to remember that!
To everyone who is starting to lose their hair - I had mine shaved today, and was so glad to get rid of it. It started falling out in huge clumps last Thurs (4 days after 2nd AC) but it took me until today to get rid of it - it's so nice not to have hair all over the floor, and I wish I had been brave and done it sooner :-)
I feel a bit like a badly plucked chicken - my head is still covered in stubble and my scalp is really sore. Anyone have any ideas on how to get the short hairs out faster? (I tried washing it and it didn't help). I also have quite a few red sore spots on my scalp - anyone know if there is something I can do about them? The guy who fitted my wig said that just going bareheaded around the house as much as possible is the best thing. Whenever I touch my head it hurts...
Latte
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latte- one of the ladies ( a hairdresser) said to use one of those sticky lint rollers to remove the stuck little hairs. I bet packing tape wrapped around your hand would work too.
tmarina-I'm thinking about you. I hope you get a big surprise and have a totally SE free week!
Okay, so I may be going chemo crazy, but I just had an idea. I have some overstock of these sweet, silly baby hats. They are striped cotton with tiny "ears" stuck on the top. They are very soft and stretchy and have finished seams so they don't rub on baby's little bald heads. I just tried one on and it fits (and I have a head like a watermelon). Gotta say, I am still laughing out loud! If any of you lovely bald babies want one, just PM me your address and I'll send it to you. I am still laughing at the thought of some of your DH when you wear your new nightcap to bed. It must be the chemo, because I can't stop laughing! Does anyone know how to put a photo up with a post? I'll post a picture of the hats.
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Ladies: you may not remember me--but, i've been resurrected from my 1st AC treatment SICK BAY!!
OMG------so many of you to keep up with since i've been gone since wednesday of last week. sick as a hound dog for 4 days--2 bags of IV fluid on friday because of dehyrdration. nothing like drinking water because we're told to, then hurling it further than one could ever imagine!
tried 3 different nausea rounds...finally got some relief from phenergan & EMEND is on the docket for next treatment wednesday of next week.
feel like new woman--still queasy--but, i can see the light!!!
to all who shouted cheers last week for me, THANK YOU!!!!!!!!! to those whose posts i can't possibly catch up on, i hope all of you are doing much better and some may be into 3rd rounds by now. am definitely not envious---but, one by one we knock 'em out & move onward!
will try to stay up w/everyone now that i'm above the water line------what a TRIP!
everyone-----> hooray for you and keep sending everyone the words of encouragement.....it means a lot!
deb
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Dsa-->good to hear from you! But so sorry you had it so rough! Wow! Definitely hope you don't go through that again!
Keep resting and taking care of yourself!
T
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DSA - so sorry to hear you had such a rough time - similar to what I had and it is not fun. I'm better but still not over the sickness completely. Just got home from spending the night in the hospital. Had a reaction to the Neulasta shot I got on June 17! I told my husband that I believe the tx is going to kill me before the cancer does!
DSA - I will be thinking good thoughts for you on your 2nd tx that it won't be so bad. Maybe your body will be more used to the poison by then (is that possible)?
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