anyone starting chemo in Nov 2005

HAPPY BIRTHDAY STACEY!!!!

HOPE YOU ARE HAVING A GREAT DAY!

RHONDA

Day #2 - Feeling much much better today. I think I didn't take my meds soon enough when I got home last night. I wasn't suppose to take the decadron until 8 PM so I tried to wait until then and starting getting sick at 5 pm. I was sick every hour until 10 pm. The meds didn't work after I was already sick. The only one that helped was the ativan I took at 10 PM and it knocked me out along with the nausua so today when I woke up I was fine (plus I had the best night sleep in 2 months since my diagnosis). Today I went back to get my nulasta shot and the oncology nurse told me to take the compozine earlier next time before the decadrone so I will try that next time and hopefully won't get sick. I have been using the biotene products, toothpaste, mouthwash and the gum which is good for the taste in my mouth and settles my stomach. Have also been trying to drink lots and lots of water. Haven't had much of an appetite, just have a taste for crackers and cheerios. My oncologist's nurse said she wasn't too concerned about the eating but that I had to drink lots of fluids so that has been my main priority. Shooting for 80 oz of water a day. Have an appointment Friday afternoon to get my head shaved and wig fitted and cut. I decided I didn't want to wait until it falls out. Hope everything went well for all the ladies who had their first treatment today. I'll be thinking of you. Liz

Glad you checked in Lana. Yeah, I know about that off feeling. Hope you get a good night sleep tonight. Liz lots of hugs for you. Drink drink drink.
Rhonda hugs about the hair. My friend buzzed mine. I am sort of getting used to looking in the mirror. My kids (9,6,2) are getting used to it I think. I expect the rest to slowly fall out. I like wearing my hats. As for the Taxatere this is the first chemo drug I am taking. My biggest side effect is the fatigue. It comes on days 3-6 after treatment. I get bone and musle pain which could be from a few things like the neulasta shot. But that goes away. Not sure of the Taxatere and Taxol.
Hope everyone has a good night sleep.
Kim

Kaye: Sorry you had a hard time. Don't forget to drink a lot today and tomorrow and the next day.

I don't think I have ever noticed a smell, but I know nothing tasted very good to me and so I didn't have much of an appetite the first five or so days after treatment.

I hope all of you are well and happy you have your first treatment safely behind you. This seems such a long road to me right now, but I tell myself I am getting rid of any stray cells that might want to hold on and that sure is worth it.

Anna

Kaye, I am sorry you had a hard time with your first treatment. Was thinking about you yesterday.
Laura, wow you had a lot done in one day. I bet you are both glad that the first treatment is done.

hugs,
Kim

Kaye, so sorry you had a rough first day. Hope today is much better. Day #3, I am feeling pretty good. Went to work for 4 hrs. Only took the decadrone and azemat this morning, haven't needed the compozine or adivan yet. Not much of an appetite. Seem to want to eat cheerios, crackers and toast. Will try to have something else for dinner. Am drinking lots of water. Still trying to hit that 80 oz a day. Am walking around with 33 oz bottles everywhere I go. Not too much problems from the nulasta shot, just a little muscle aches. The biotene gum has also been helpful for keeping my mouth moist and kind of helps with the queezy stomache. I used lysol wipes on everything at my office to keep away the germs and walked around with one in my hand for the doorknobs and handrails. I can't tell you all how much I appreciate the tips I have received on this board. I am trying all of them and many are working very well. Thanks guys.

Kaye, I am sorry you have to suffer through all this. I think the smell thing would drive me batty! I hope you are feeling better soon.

I just discovered tonight that I have a few mouth sores already. I was eating tacos, of all things. They are under my tongue. I used the Biotene toothpaste and rinse and don't feel them now. But, I guess I will have to try to stay away from spicy/acidic foods etc.

Laura

Deb: thanks for the info. I did not try aleve after the neulasta. Staying on top of it must be the trick. Before I knew why I was having pain, it was so intense, advil would not kick it so I went to vicadin and did not stop for 2 days.

I have my next chemo tomorrow! It is a little hard, since like you Jill, I feel awesome and so normal again.

Today though I started my period. My onc said Chemo would take care of these things. He also said I can not wear tampons for risk of infection. Has anyone had a period on chemo? Let me know...

Anyway, good life (& luck)...

I had my first round of chemo yesterday. I feel good today. In the hospital, thru the iv, but before the chemo, I was given antinausea medication. I have not felt nausea at all. I took my first antinausea pill today and I am scheduled to take one more tonight. I fell pretty good. Thanks everyone for sharing.

Hi ladies. This is my first post. Like LynnZ, I'm on my 14th day post first chemo treatment. Today is the first day I feel normal again (if that is possible). The antinausea/vomiting meds kept me in a fog for the first five days. I spent most of my time sleeping. Had some cognitive side effects causing me to be very forgetful.

I started to feel better, then on Thanksgiving night I was in such pain my husband had to rush me to hospital. As it turns out I had a reaction to one of the meds (5-FU) that caused an abnormality in my red blood cells. The pain was so intense I was sent home on oxycodone. I slept for two days then started to feel progressively better. The doctor said he can adjust the dose, appearantly the first dose was too high for my system...go figure. I have a doctors appointment next week and we will discuss future treatments. Thank God I am only scheduled to receive 3 treatment of this particular drug.

BTW- my hair is starting to fall out. Considering all I've been through (lumpectomy, re-lumpectomy, port insertion, chemo, drug reaction, etc..) I'm not sure how to feel about hair loss. My very supportive husband has shaved his head just to show me "it's only hair". He plans to keep it shaved until my hair grows back out. Our 7 year old son told me "even when your hair fall out, you will still be my beautiful mommy". Family and co-workers keep reassuring me by saying "We want you with us, who cares about the hair". I already bought a wig, couple of hats and scarves and I plan to buzz this weekend (if not sooner). We'll see what happens.

I am touched and inspired by all your stories and posts. Together we can get through the bumps in the road until we have completed this journey. Thank you all for sharing so much of your self. God Bless you.

Hugs, hugs, hugs to all.

Day #4, didn't take any anti-nausua meds or any other meds today. Went to work for 4 hrs. I found drinking tea soothed my stomach. I know I'm not suppose to drink too much green tea but my oncologist told me it was OK to have one cup and I was able to handle it much better than coffee. I am also having some weird cravings. It's almost like when you are pregnant. I seem hungry all the time. I guess it's the nausua and food seems to help. Anyway, came home from work and just had to have an egg and peanut butter sandwich. I have been eating a lot of peanut butter. I buy mostly organic foods so I guess it's not so bad for me. Have not had any desire whatsoever for fruits and veggies which is what I usually try to eat a lot of. I see why they say women gain weight while on chemo. So far the biotene gum has been working the best to settle my stomach in between snacks. Also, hubby shaved his head today and I go in tomorrow afternoon to get mine shaved and my wig fitted and styled. Don't know what I would do without you guys. You are great.

Good morning Ladies,

I feel good still. Seems weird to have nearly no side effects, I have been started to wonder if this stuff is working on me????? weird huh? I know it must be, and I am just healthy otherwise, so keeping symptoms at bay, maybe? I am waiting and prepared for my hair to fall out. Scalp feels weird, sensitive when i scratch it, but not any hairloss yet. I have noticed in these posts several husbands have shaved their heads too....how nice, and supportive. I am certain, my husband would have too, as he kept his hair so short, it was nearly shaved. (I lost him to a major heart attack, 22months ago)

Wendy, I have completed pre-surgery chemo, 12 weeks Herceptin/navelbine, and got my period once so heavy that I thought I was going to bleed to death, and then not again during it. And with the A/C, only having 1 treatment so far, I am due this week for it, but no sign yet. Strange what this does to the systems.

Laura & Debbie, About the water intake. I read a long time ago, (hints related to dieting) that the more water you drink, the more water your body craves. If body learns to have a lot of water supply, you will automatically crave, and get thirsty more often. So pump the water!!! I am still on about 4 20 oz bottles a day, sometimes 5. I have been alternating between plain and Berry flavored aquafina. I prefer the flavored water, room temperature. I also enjoy flavored soda water, sort of feels like it is cleaning my mouth, as it fizzes!

Suave, glad to see back. Congrats, 1 down. Keep drinking and take your anti nausea meds on time. I was told to take mine for 3 days after, Decadron and Zofran, morning and night. then in between if needed the compazine. and day 4 & 5, just the companzine. I did just what I was told, and was fine the whole time.

Odalys, Welcome. So sorry to hear you spent Thanksgiving in pain, in the hospital. Was it an overdose of the 5-FU? that is awful. I havent heard much about that particular med. Is that along with other chemo drugs too?

Nancy, you mentioned bloodcounts being low. I expect mine to be too, when I go next Thursday. During my Herceptin weekly treatments, I got copies of all my blood reports, and monitored them. I am not familiar with CEA. What is that?

Have a great weekend everyone. Hugs prayers to all...LynnZ

LynnZ, I wanted to tell you I am really sorry about your husband. I am sure that was hard to deal with, and then you are dealt THIS to deal with too!

It sounded like he was a wonderful husband.

On a different subject...
Does anyone have a constantly runny nose from AC?
Mine just won't stop!!!! ARGH.
Debbie

Odalys, I have had 2 Taxotere sessions. I also get a neulasta shot 24hours after chemo. The side effects seem to have been the same both times. I am good the day I have treatment, the following day also. Around the 3rd or 4th day the tiredness and fatigue start to settle in. Usually there are 2 days when I can barely get out of bed or off the couch. The bone and muscle pain has been painful for a couple of days also. By the 5 or 6th day I am up to myself. I find I am tired in the evening after a day of doing things. I just have learned to limit my activities when necessary. My blood work has been good so no problems there. I have not seen any changes to my finger nails. My girlfriend gave me stuff to use on my cuticles but I haven't seen any changes.

Kim