Chemo starting in December 2010

Hi everyone! Wow there is a lot going on with everyone. I have been doing pretty good. I have had some SE's. Major heartburn, bloody nose, headaches so far that is it. That is good enough for me. I am trying to avoid many things to help with the heartburn. I went in yesterday to get chemo and was not allowed to cause my wbc was way to low. So they gave me Avastin and a nuepogen shot and went in today for another one. I am to avoid crowds so I am confined to home unless I wear a mask and  wash my hands constantly. I had to do this last time I had cancer. Was  put in the hospital last time with a UTI. That was not any fun. I have not been able to do my exercises cause of the pain I continue to have in my hip. I am considering acupunture for the pain. The pain in my spine went away with radiation just not the hip. A lot of you seem to be having issues with the nuelasta shot. I found the Claritian D and Alieve had made a difference for me when I had it. My onc said I could take it up to 5 days if I needed too. I hope everyone has a blessed Merry Christmas

I'm 8 days since my last treatment of AC, next one is 12/30.  Yesterday, I went in for blood tests, my WBC was 1.9.  I seem to be coldfree but am extremely exhausted all of the time.  I was hoping to begin feeling more like myself but everyday it seems to be a different SE, more uncomfortable than the last.  Even though my BC was on the right side, my left arm is all swollen.  My left hand is twice the size of my right.  My left shoulder and neck are almost unbearable.  My liver is swollen, and feels stiff and uncomfortable.  I'm hoping for a better tomorrow, please God help me!

Monday's first treatment is history and today I can finally hold my head up!

Have a  blessed Christmas with your loved ones everyone!

 Bambi

Hello everyone:

 I am on day 5 after my second AC DD treatment. The first two days were great, went to a movie that evening, out for lunch and shopping the next day.  Wednesday I took the girls to the beach as it was very, warm and sunny (I live on the West Coast in Canada) but started to crash mid-afternoon.  Everything tastes bad , even my favorite drinks and water just makes me nauseous.  So I am making protein shakes and eating fruit popsicles.  I never imagined the day would come when I would not want to eat.  I love food and cooking!!!

Everything still feels so unreal, but I take it one day at a time.  I had my head shaved yesterday and it was less traumatic than I thought.  No tears, which was so surprising to me.  My older daughter (13) isn't ready to look at my bald head yet, but my younger daughter says I now look like Grand-pa.   Just wanted to send everyone on here best wishes for the Christmas season and that I am thinking of everyone on here. It's tough to read some of the stories on here, and my heart goes out to everyone.  We will all get through this.

Take care.

Hi all,

I disappeared for a while- just sort of shut down emotionally for a few days for some reason, and have't been on the computer to type anything. I have been keeping tabs on you all, as the discussion board appears on my phone.

I finally stopped having pain around Saturday or Sunday (over a week after I got the Neulasta shot.) My Onc says she is only giving me a half a dose next time to see how I do. That shot really did a number on me. I will also try the Claritin.

My hair down below started coming out Wednesday, and the hair on my head finally started coming out last night, which was day 14. My head has been and is really sore at the crown area as well- seems like a common thing for some of us. Since I shaved my head, it is coming out slower than I think it would have, but if you pull even a little on it, it comes right out and I don't even feel it.

Losing my hair bothered me more than I thought it would. I really hate wearing wigs- they are horrible, hot, uncomfortable things in my opinion. I just can't go without one when I leave the house for some reason- I'm just not ready for that, and don't know if I will ever be. When I get home from work at the end of my day, if my son is not around, it feels so good just to be bald around the house and rub my head.

My next treatment is December 30th.

Kim

Had my 2nd DD AC in hosp. on tues.   I fell asleep so I didn't get to chew on ice.  I woke up and remembered and they brought me some but it was a little late.  So far it seems the same as the first time.  Just very tired, low appetite, funny taste buds.  Water tastes funny to me now so I am trying to add those powdered drink packets like crystal light.  Helps a little, but I don;t use the whole packet because that new smell will get to me too.  Have been taking the claritin since the night before shot, no pains so far. 

Got home last night.   Doing well.  I have a picc line now and on antibiotics. Having family over for Christmas Eve.  I haven't lifted a finger, everyone else is running around.  Just wanted to wish you all a very Merry, Happy and of course HEALTHY Christmas to all.  My thoughts are with each of you.

@ Klynn, sounds like we are having identical hair folicle issues.....have you tried hat hair?  It is MUCH more comfortable than a wig because there is nothing on the top, so nothing keeping the heat in while it scratches you to death. 

@ Sunflower, glad you have something more potent to help with the pain.  I get my first Neulasta next week....after treatment #2.

@hdangel, I am sorry you are having such a hard time.  My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Merry Christmas everyone!!

Merry Christmas to all....It is about 3:30 in the morning here in Boise and sleep is not something that seems to be coming real soon.  Had my 2nd DD Ac yesterday and have actually felt great.  Finished the Christmas scrambling today and went to the inlaws for dinner and gifts. My grandson is still here and thought this present thing was pretty cool.  We go to the other family to the other family tomorrow morning and I am a bit nervous as day 3 is when I got hit the hardest last time but truly can't complain.

All I can say is ladies the Claritin seems to work and I think the doctors are crazy to wait for WBC to drop to far before giving the shot.  That is just my opinion.   I feel like we go through enough on this journey and taking chances like that seems odd to me.  This is coming from someone that hardly took an asprin her entire life and now I feel like a rat in a lab..

Well I am off to bed to see if the IPOD will do the trick. Best to all of you and I hope that you enjoy the day with friends and family.  You are all in my thoughts more than you know.

Leigh

Wishing all you lovely December Ladies a Merry Christmas and a cancer free New Years.  Just knowing I can come here and feel like I am not alone has been a true blessing.

Hugs and Prayers ~Leslie

Merry Christmas to everyone!  We have opened presents and are now surrounded by a sea of ribbon and paper - need to motivate soon and clean up!  I had my second dose of the PARP inhibitor on Thursday and so far it's not too bad.  I seem to be having more side effects from the drugs they give me to combat side effects.....go figure.  I've been taking alternating compazine and zofran for 3 days, Emend for the first 2 after chemo, ativan at night....all of which are constipating and make me sleepy.  BUT, I have only felt nauseaus a couple of times so no complaints! 

I'm wondering if anyone has had issues with red counts?  I started with a 'profound' anemia that had not been identified before and had to have 2 pints of packed red cells before I could start chemo.  They expect the gemcitibine to be hard on my RBC - do any of you have to get transfused?  I have been eating iron rich foods like crazy and taking an iron supplement but am concerned that we'll have to delay chemo if my red counts are too low.  Anybody have any experience with this? and any tips?  

Hope you all have a great holiday!

dlcw

Merry Christmas to all.  I hope that everyone had a "SE free" day!!!

Hope everyone had a great Christmas!!

I think I'm over the nausea hump! yay! my docs tried me on kytril instead of emend this last round ( save some $$$) and I just don't think it zapped the nausea like the emend. I am thinking of asking to go back on the emend next round. Does anyone have any thoughts on that?

Also, I keep reading women using claritin for their neulasta pain. Is it the over the counter kind or the Claritin D that you sign out for at the pharmacy? I heard neulasta causes excess histamine in the body and that is why claritin works. Thinking about trying that next round too.

Well, luckily I woke up feeling half human today! just headaches and fatigue. Gotta figure out what to do with my hair. it's about halfway down my back, and the hair is just falling out everywhere. i keep it in a braid for now, well with the holidays and the sick feeling all the time i didn't feel much like going anywhere. Debating if I should cut it short and let more fall out, or just wait it out a few more days and shave it! Oh what have you ladies done??

I know it seems I am asking alot at once, but I really am at a crossroads on these issues!!

You ladies are wonderful and inspiring.I thank the big man upstairs this board is somewhere we all can go and be eachothers cheerleaders and support one another.

Thank you in advance for any suggestions! Hope all is having a SE free or at least low SE's today!!--Angel

Hi All - I've just been reading a bit back in the posts - can someone tell me what "SE" stands for?  Thanks!

Hi everyone -

Lisa - I'll be keeping you in my prayers on Wednesday. I'll be having my 2nd TC round on Tuesday and getting the Neulasta shot on Wednesday. I hope you have minimal SE's hun. Hopefully it won't get any worse. 

hdangelbaby - I'm not sure if there's a difference with the Claritin D or regular Claritin. I've asked my oncologist and my nurse practicitioner at my oncologists office - and they refuse to give me a prescription for the Claritin D and told me NOT to take the regular off-the-shelf Claritin. The Neulasta shot about killed me. By the 2nd day (Sunday) after receiving the Neulasta shot I wanted to die, the pain was so bad. By the 3rd day, I was able to call the oncologist and they let me take pain meds, which helped. I'm NOT looking forward to taking the Neulasta shot again, but with 3 kids in the house - I don't really have a choice. I hope your oncologist is a little more forward-thinking than mine. 

I cut my hair short prior to starting chemo and it helped a lot. I started shedding by day 12. My hair was coming out so fast by day 15 that we buzzed it all off. My buzz short pieces are almost all gone - but my scalp is still really tender and sore. Just do what feels right to you. I know, not a very good answer... LOL sorry!! Good luck. 

EricaH - That sounds like a cool idea! If it works, you'll have to take pictures and show us!! Good luck with the cut today. I know it's heartbreaking... but honestly, I've grown to kind of like having no hair. It feels weird, but kinda retro-cool, too.  

Hugs everyone!!!