February 2011 chemo pals

Dear Michelle... Sooooooooooo sorry for just bumping into your message in my message box.. I feel so sorry for not seeing it earlier... I am not used to this discussion board.. please check your message box for my reply... Tried to attach a photo but failed ;-")

 And thank you jean for your support... I guess I will be the one inaugurating the March group discussion ;-)

Safari  Sorry for all you have been through.  Glad you are healing and that you can have your 2nd treatment next week.  Hoping all goes well for you now...

 Salma  Wow waiting is the hardest part huh...  We will not kick you out of the Feb disscussion board.  You are always welcome no matter when you start Chemo.  We are all in this together....

Just sitting here waiting for my granddaughters (2 1/2 and 9 months) to show up.  They always cheer me up.

Cindy 

Pejkug3

Looks like we will be starting similar treatments a few days apart. I'm starting TC on Feb 28th. Keep me posted. Are you confirmed for Feb 24th yet? Best of luck!

To all: You gals are all great and have helped me get my head around starting my treatments. I have been reading your posts for a couple of weeks now and they are really helping. Thanks a bunch!  Best of everything to all of you!

Chemo - TCHx6 start 2/17/11 cycle 1/6 day 3 next tx 3/10/11

Hi All,

OK - let's redefine mild flu-like symptoms!  My onc described it as a really bad hangover - he was pretty right.  I ran a low grade fever last night, not really hungry but did manage to eat a little.  My head felt like it was in a vice and I had (overshare coming!) problems from both ends.  Because I physically can't throw up it really hurt.  I was having such a problem that I actually counted my Zofran to see if I just thought I had taken it and really had not!  I had a piece of toast and some tea and took the next scheduled one and seem to be OK for now.  The way they explained the anti-nausea meds is if the first one doesn't work go to the next - do I do that right away, even if I have taken the first one only an hour or two before?  I just went out for a walk with the dog and DH and about half way got that salty wet feeling in my mouth but didn't heave.  I can already feel that taste changes and smells are stronger.  I am nervous about taking all these meds with not enough food in my stomach but after the toast I did take a vicodin to try to stop the headache.  Yesterday Tylenol was enough but not today.

Jean - I ran the B6 and all the other stuff by my onc and he said it was OK.  I have some paranoia about neuropathy because my mom had a huge problem with it.  She did not have BC but a degenerative neuromuscular disease that was treated with Prednisone and Methotrexate for an extended period of time.  Eventually she had zero feeling in her hands and feet permanently.

Paula and Cindy - glad your 2nd tx went better - we are all on a learning curve and have to figure out what works and what doesn't.  I love that we can share info and encouragement.

Salma - stay with us - the waiting is tough.  I was supposed to be January but had to slide back too!

Safari -- OMG!  You poor thing!  At least the appendix is out - you probably will feel generally better because it was most likely cooking in there for a while.  What crazy timing though!

I realized that on the next TX the hair will most likely be going or gone.  I am ambivalent about the wig I bought.  It looks like my old hair for the most part but I don't really like it, especially now that my hair is cut so short and people seem to really like it.  I might have to get another shorter one.  The woman next to me at the tx said she has a bunch and had to keep getting new ones (cheapies) to find what suited.  I bought mine after a consult but by the time it was over I was kind of OK, let's get this one and be done with it.  I haven't sent in the hair I had cut off to the underhair lady yet.  It is a short turnaround on that and I have enough scarves, hats and the wig.  I did notice that the  ladies coming in for treatment had nice wigs, makeup, etc.  The ones who didn't seemed to be quite a bit older and they just were wearing hats.  I am supposed to go to a bridal shower right about the time it should be coming out in clumps, ugghhh.  My hairdresser said to shave it with an electric but be careful because the scalp will actually hurt, so try not to drag the razor surface across the skin.  Not looking forward to it.

I keep telling myself I can power through this and it is all temporary.  I am adopting it as my new mantra.

Hang in everybody!

Kathie

FEC-D Start: Jan 28/2011 Cycle 2/16 Day 2

Special K..there are some wig shops and hairdressing places that have expertise in styling/ cutting wigs so if you don't like your wig that might be an option?

Day 2 of cycle 2 is going okay.Feel like crap and less appetite than last round Day 2 so I guess each round really CAN be different.Chemo fog is worse than last time I think.

Hope everyone is hanging in there. A bad hangover sounds like a good description.

Hello,

I was diagnosed in January, and am starting neoadjuvant chemo Feb 25, 4 cycles of TAC.  So glad to find this forum!  It helps to learn from the experiences and perspectives others.  Good luck to all.

Carole 

safari, that is one heck of an appendectomy story!  

This is day #4 for me and my bones hurt. At times it felt like I was hit by the proverbial mack truck.   I can only take tylenol as I'm allegric to aleve and advil (ibuprofen).  Nurse said vicodan could be perscribed if necessary, but I don't see that happening.  Did manage to grocery shop at Walmart with DH early but it wore me out.  I didn't take many anti nausea meds at first.  But I am not going to "tough" anything out!  I took some tonite and I think it's helping.  Am not much of a medicine taker as it is, so I have to get used to taking something to relieve mild discomfort.

I find taking two Senekodt S tablets at night helps rather well with the constipation problem.  Have been eating Activia, oranges and bananas too.  Water  tastes terrible but better with a lemon slice.

Re: wigs. I tried on a ton and they all looked terrible. It was actually funny, I looked like I was dressing up as Witchy Poo for halloween.  Went several places where everyone else tried on wigs that all looked great on them.  Finally found one me and my sister both agreed would work.  

The little old lady who sold it to me suggested wearing the wig for a couple weeks to allow it to mold to the shape of my head before I decided to do anything to it like cut or shape it around my face. That sounded like good advice. 

Another SE I'm noticing:  my face is super oily. Is anyone else experiencing this?

Shining,

Liza 

Dear M1nn1e, Sounds great! (ok that sounds weird...to say great about our experience!)--- Good luck next Sunday!

M1nn1e - my 2/24 start date is confirmed.

But the post about needing to heal up post surgery got me thinking - I had lumpectomy and axillary node dissection.  I developed a seroma after that.  It's not infected or anything and the fluid draining is almost completely gone.  But I have an open wound still.  SHould I be starting chemo?

Maybe I should heal completely first?  That could be a while though...a good two weeks or more, I think.

Hello Dolls,

I posted an hour ago in the IDC forum under 2011 Sisters thread, but realize now I probably should have posted here.  Guess I'll see which one gives me most helpful responses, feel free to read the one I put over there.

The chemo from Thursday and nausea pills went well until six hours ago when I woke up on the couch at midnight, having slept who knows how long, and went to bed and had awful scary awake nightmares, if that's possible.  Finally took a pain pill, eventually got up, husband watching horror flick on TV, so I ate, fed dogs, took my regular pills (bad back from car wreck), and came back here.  Is this normal, to be totally wasted and wake up in the middle of the night?  My legs felt really heavy, I ache all over, a lot like flu, no thermometer to take temp but not warm.  I'm getting ready to take an antinausea pill that makes me sleep, just waiting for sun to come up because I'm afraid of dark.

GG

Just wanted to add that I was told not to take any fever medication such as tylenol or aspirin etc ( no NSAIDS) unless I was certain I did not have a fever as you don't want to mask a fever that is warning you that have an infection.

Thanks Emily and Paula.  I feel much reassured.  I've got a choice with three antinausea pills, no Decadron, but probably one of them is indeed doing this!  Hooray!  Today I shall take my regular pills, and throw in one of each kind whenever I dose, and that way I'll know which one to stop.  I'm on the AC chemo, T to come.  Never thought I'd be dragging, but I think once I sort thru my drugs, I'll get it straight.  Husband went thru this about 15 years ago and said he was wore slam out too.  I'll also find out if indeed a few days after each chemo, I'll fall apart no matter what nausea pills I take.  Hmmmm.  Talk about feeling all over the place.  And I have to go to hospital tomorrow for bone scan, wish I could cancel.  Thanks again!  I'll post back soon after I've gotten today straight and have read some of you all's notes, so I'll be up-to-date with everyone.  GG

Trinity, water with lemon slices seemed to make the taste more doable for me.  Also, I drank Canada Dry ginger ail. Lots of stuff tastes odd. Picked up some Country Time lemon flavored hard candy which weren't too bad, either.

 Dogeyed, my first several nights after chemo were kind of whacked out, too, and then I took Ativan the dr. perscribed at night to sleep and I think it helped.  Had to get over the hesitation of taking meds to help thru this process.

Divine Mrs. M....I, too, am not one for meds.  I can't take anything but Tylenol because I'm on Coumadin for blood clots that were found after my BMX. Today, Day 14 I expected to see hair falling out but feel like someone beat me with a baseball bat....also, the small bones in my feet hurt to walk.  Guess I thought this would be last week and I'd be looking at hair loss today.  Quite the contrary.  Since my WBC were at zero at the beginning of the week, I'm glad that the Neulasta is "making those babies" for me, but oh ouch!  I quit taking the Claritin after 5 days, onc said it was up to me...some take it the whole time, some only the week of chemo.  SInce Claritin in the past has given me bodacious headaches, I quit taking it.  Maybe too early.  Started on that again last night since second treatment is tomorrow.  I have decided to take my anti-nausea meds as well...perhaps that will help with eating and WBC for the next time.  Anyone else experience the bone pain (hips, shoulder joints, shoulder blades, neck, feet, fingers) this late in the week?

Safari...what a story!!!!!! so sorry!!!!

Liza, I also compared the sick and nauseated feeling to those of morning sickness.  I kept something on my stomach at all times, smells as well as movement could make me nauseated and popsicles and unsweetened tea tasted best to me.  Food cravings also were a laugh, my husband joked about having to eat grilled cheese and chicken noodle soup at every meal.  Baked potatoes also tasted good to me.  I even had a craving for french fries one night...Cold canned peaches helped with the dry mouth and felt good going down! Put them over frozen vanilla yogurt and they were even better.  Chic-fil-a milkshakes tasted really good.  I had been doing Canada Dry prior to chemo but it had a weird taste after starting chemo.  Fresca seemed to work for me.  I seem to lose 3-4 pounds then when I feel like eating gain some back.  I was able to exercise week 2--not to normal capacity but helped me feel better.  More concerned with eating and fulfilling what my body needs and how my clothes fit....will worry about getting totally back to my pre-cancer body after we're all done....new boobs and all!