Nervous Wreck

Nancy - Thanks for your kind words at such a difficult time. When you are feeling better, after your first chemo...let me know. I will travel to your next of the woods to meet for a breakfast, lunch or dinner. As for the port...eeks! I hate to say this, but I've read many posts about the long term probs by NOT having a port. OF COURSE...do what you think is right for you, but just wanted to let you know what I have read. (Maybe you should start a thread - PORT OR NO PORT - just to get some first hand experiences.) Red Devil...I "think" is called that because it changes urine color to red. I had 4 txs of AC - it wasn't horrible. What did me in was the damn Neulasta injections. Hugs...you are in my thoughts - BIG TIME!

Nancy

like you, I was extremely nauseous during my 2 pregnancies-- my onc did not think that it was  a predictor of chemo reaction, but I was convinced it was and I was right.... I often felt like I was on a ship that was listing...... not enough to get sick, but enough to feel yucky.

Everyone is different and I think the hydrating makes a difference.  Before chemo, I never got carsick, now when we drive- I cannot read-- I have to be in the front with my eyes on the road... crazy.

I did not have a port--had great veins and they let it in slowly----- they can also put fluids in the IV at the same time which helps... 

I know you start this week--- the anticipation is definitely worse than the event, I found..... but absolutely have the anti nausea stuff on hand--- in the first treatment I waited too long to take it--after that, I took it as a precaution each time......

Good luck!

Hi Nancy, I didn't have chemo, so not able to contribute to the great advice the others have commented on.  But you have been in my thoughts and I have been following you here.

Take Care

Cathy

Hi Nancy,

Have not been on much so am shocked and saddened by your news.  But you sound like you are springing back at the evil bc with a vengeance!  You have great strength and a strong attitude and you will tough it out great!

I did not have AC but rather FEC, which is similar.  My only words of advice are to mirror what many have said already.  Drink lots of water and make sure you take your nausea meds as required, even if you don't have nausea.  The goal is to prevent it.  Check in with your nurses or onc about any SE's; many are manageable.  I had horrible indigestion and was on Pantoloc the whole time after the first chemo and it helped greatly.  I found a light meal of slightly salty chicken soup each chemo day was my best meal-not too heavy.  I eneded up occasionally taking Ativan to sleep, the stress was so crazy sometimes.

Thinking of you and sending you strength!

Yo

You will be in my thoughts tomorrow, Nancy.  Think of all us girls being with your there in that chemo room,  a crowd of women cheering you on.  We are there in spirit.  Hugs. G.

Nancy

Hope your first day was OK--- we are all thinking of you

Glad it went well. Get lots of rest, drink lots of wanter, and if you get any nausea take the meds they give you. Keep us up to date as far as how you are doing.

Sorry I haven't been back sooner but my time on the boards has been limited.

I'm so glad to hear that you are going for the BMX.  When you go through something this traumatic you don't want to carry the fear forward worrying about the other breast.  I had no recon and I just love the forms I have.  No painful surgeries but I have nice perky breasts!  And with two forms you know they match!

Great advice from the other women on the chemo.  What worked for me was the goal of being able to be tick a week off the countdown.  It was big enough to be significant but not so big as to feel like I was never going to make it to my goal.  Keeping positive doesn't cure cancer but it sure makes living through chemo easier.  So on those days you can feel positive make the most of it.  But if it's a bad day and you don't feel positive then that OK too. Don't try to be strong if you're not.  Thats when you let those around you give you the help that they want to give.

Hi Nancy,  Give yourself lots of TLC.  This is your time to veg and let go.  I slept ALOT.  Laura has given great advice.  I am so sorry that thyroid biopsy was so hard on you.  I hope you feel better soon.  When my doctors would say, " Go get this test." , or when I needed to see another doctor about something.  I wanted to yell at someone, "Don't you know I'm hurting here?  I need to rest, not run around!"  I felt like a weenie sometimes and was furious at other times.  It's so normal and it will get better.  Hugs! G.

Hi Nancy,(((Gentle Hugs))))). Take all the time you need to get your strength back. I'm sorry the thyroid biopsy was painful. I truly understand how that test hurt, have thyroid issues too. Make sure you take the pain meds, I know how out of it they make you feel, but if you need them that's why they give them to us.

Nancy

it will get better--- my experience was that I was fine on the treatment day and the two days afterwards--- but then I had two days that were far more challenging--then I was on the upswing again--- I recorded all of my reactions in a little notebook so that when I talked to the onc, I could tell her how I was feeling and when.... it really helped us adjust the meds..... 

big hugs--it is going to get better-I promise..... this is the hard part.  I would be surprised if you did not feel better tomorrow..... and if you don't, call the onc.