Calling all TNs

Heidi - Wow!!! What an ordeal........thank goodness you're experienced and have great horses, I just can't imagine.  I love your sense of humor "woman survives cancer, then killed by horses".  I recently had a terrible choking experience with healthy grilled zucchini, DH had to himlich me 4 or 5 times before I could breathe again - weird experience.  As soon as I was breathing I called my friend and told her I should die of something like choking on grilled zucchini be sure to put it in my obituary.  And...I said what you did "woman survives cancer, but choked on grilled zucchini". 

Barbasile- I am so sorry you're feeling bad.  I know you don't want to post when you're under the weather, but that's what were here for and sometimes just saying it feels better.  ((hugs)) it gets better.

kad - it'll get better - (((hugs)))) 

Jody - Taxol for me came with it's own set of SE's, but it was easier to tolerate and I found myself getting out more and able to do more while on Taxol.  And...another bonus, my hair started growing back towards the end of Taxol.

Ruth - good luck with finding a new anti inflammatory or another option

BTW- I always had straight hair but now I have a little wave on top. How long do you guys think these post chemo changes in our hair generally last? And, for the record, I plan on keeping my hair short also, as I have gotten a lot of "Gosh... why didn't you do that sooner, it looks great?" comments.

Tiffany - the crazy curls are something to deal with......I had straight thick hair, with a lot of body.  Now I have Shirley Temple curly hair that is very thick.  I decided to keep the curly look, but learn to work the curl.  The hairdresser evened out my hair, then she thinned it out and showed me how to handle my curls.  It also required switching from products meant for straight hair to curly hair and learning that the blow dryer is only used for a short time.  My pictures is outdated by 4 months - I really need to step in front of a camera.  But I have to say I like the curls and it really is easy.  The back is working it's way down the nape of my neck, I can actually tuck hair behind my ears and the top falls nicely over my forehead.  Now I just need to work up the nerve to add highlights again.  

My hair has come back with a wild wave on top due to ginormous cowlicks on either side of center. It's pixie cut short, but kinda looks like that Gwen Stefani faux-hawk/curl thing on top. It's a really nice dark grey with silvery highlights. If I'd known my hair was this color, I might have stopped dyeing it a decade or so ago! I really hope it stays like this and I'll keep it chopped short - I can't believe how many compliments I've gotten since I ditched the scarves. It cracks me up that people think it's a 'do and I'm doing absolutely nothing to it!

Thanks Titan and Jenn3 - and everyone - for your support !

Its 2:30 in the morning and my constipation and decided to change to diarreaha. Simply put I have one sore butt!. Of course the addition of heartburn is the cherry on top. Ill probably be working from home again tomorrow, can't sleep now and will be a mess again in the morning. Watching Fraser reruns....(((HUGS))

barbbasile:  sorry you are having such troubles!  At least your job lets you work from home so you can get additional rest as you need it.

riley:  I have cowlicks beyond aything I have ever experienced before.  Add the 100+ degree high humidity weather we are having in Los Angeles, and not even the Straight cream can save me.  It's a bit too long now to just slick it, but again when I try and blow dry it, even on cold, it's just one frizzy mass of I don't know what.  Crazy chemo hair.  Sigh!!!

Hi Gals - Thank you all so much for your encourging posts. Today I was so hoping to be better and able to actually go into my office. I awoke to a bloddy nose and then the hersey squirts started again..I was in tears. I can't go anywhere without a diaper for fear of a sudden accident. I am getting a stiz bath and will try it today. I feel humiliatied and depressed..BUT I WILL NOT GIVE UP! Next week I start on Taxol. I know its been mentioned about the SE's from Taxol before, but I was on AC and dealing with those. Ok, so can you give me an idea of what to expect and what I should do? I am scared again...(((hugs))

I wish I had never, NEVER told my sister about chemo brain because now any mistake I make if it's wrong day of the week, forget someones name, call her when she told me she'd be gone, forget to pick something up at the store, the littlest, simpleist thing, SHE MAKES ISSUE and laughs and says, "oh Juanita, you are having a hard time today aren't you."  She's made more mistakes in her lifetime then I ever have.  Now on top of fighting cancer and all the se's from chemo, I have to try and stay on top of things when dealing with her because she is going to pounce in attack if I make a tiny mistake that anyone at any time, chemo or not, can make!!  And the bad thing is, she's retired and I have to rely on her to take me to chemo (my husband has to work but I'm arranging it that chemo is done afternoons so he can pick me up when he gets off work, so she only has to take me then) and later she will have to help take me to those 33 radiation treatments 5 days a week as that is an hour or so away for me to drive.  Grrrrrrrr.  I don't like being dependent on people especially her.  I've never let her be real involved in my life and now, another thing cancer has caused.  I hate this miserable disease and I'm kind of bummed out today.  Have my 2nd AC tomorrow and she is taking me.  Whoop!!!!!!!.

Barbasille:  If you do ice baths for the hands and feet, you can save your fingernails--I wish someone told me this prior to doing chemo.  Glad the AC is almost behind you!  I was a recluse for the last year to to all of the unpleasant SE's from gas, bloating, burping, farting, literally turning green--it's no fun but it doesdo it's job and you are almost to the other side.  Hang in there!

Jwaterlilly:  The American Cancer Society and many hospitals can provide free transportation for cancer patients!  Just because you have cancer doesn't mean you have to have people around that you don't care for.  It's worth a phone call.  I know there are some people who think that maybe this is the oportunity to work through your stuff with someone, but I have found when it comes to family, friends, co-workers, etc.  There are those who love you and those who don't and it's rare that that ever changes with time or illness.  You need people who are in your court and support you.  Good luck with your treatments.

Titan:  Oh my, girl!  I know what you mean--I won't take sh*t from anyone anymore, yet I do have more compassion.  I have less patience with people who don't pull their weight though.

Swiftbird:  You crack me up!  Love your spirit! 

MBJ, please tell me more about rthe ice baths for hands and feet as I will be doing Taxol next and want to avoid those nail problems. How often each day and for how long in the water?  Thanks.

What does SE mean.  I'm sure I should know but I can't bring it consciousness....

The hershey squirt and other silly names for our intestinal problems made me laught so hard!  Sorry, but as a very 'proper' person, its so funny to know others are enduring the same rediculous misery we have no choice in.

Is my hair all going to fall out again with just Taxol?  With just the A/C, it is staying in.  Mbj, no prob....I just haven't made my final decision yet.  IF I can line up back surgery before the end of the year, I want to do that first.  Cancer free or not, with a bad back, there is no quality of life for me.  I need 3 disc replacements and ins is paying at 100% right now   AND private disability would just continue.  Oh what a blessing the cancer has been....hahahahahahahahah

Regarding fingernails, I lost 9 of 10...but this time I took in a huge 'cold pack' and wrapped it around my fingertips during chemo.  5 coats of toenail polish have kept those nails in check.  I don't want to know how they look underneath~

Jwatrlily, I did the same thing with ice packs on my hands and feet for all four of my taxol treatments. I kept all of my nails, didn't even have any loosening or lifting. I would swear by it! I would bring my own ice from home in baggies. The chemo nurses helped me keep them in place with towels. It is uncomfortable to sit there during the entire infusion with these on, but well worth it!!

Cindy