February 2011 chemo pals

Hi Everyone- The new bald pictures of some of you look really good.  Bald is beautiful.  My hair and head is starting to tingle, so I'm thinking my days with hair are numbered.I keep checking the pillow,but no signs of hair yet!  My scarves are waiting-

Chemo tomorrow is going to be postponed.  On antibiotics for throat infection this week, so most likely moving chemo #2 to Monday.  

Got the greatest card today:  (front) Chemo sucks. (inside) But if it sucks the cancer right out of you, then "yay, chemo!"  Even better, my friend enclosed a gift card to a local restaurant so I can get out of cooking one night!

 Had my husband's barber buzz my remnants yesterday - feels better. 

 Good luck and very best wishes to all the Feb 11 chemo ladies.

best from Carolyn in IA 

2 out of 4 EC down, then 12 Taxol, then rads .....

Hi Ladies ~ I am new to posting here but have been following all your conversations as I began chemo on Feb 4th and am now 6 days out of my 3rd AC.  After 1 more round of AC I am set to begin Taxol 4x dense dose.  I see that my chemo calendar notes that I will be given steroids the day of infusion (i believe)...does anyone know why the steroids and what they are supposed to help with?

Glad to see everyone is hanging in there - thanks for all your posts, they have been very helpful!

Day two after my second AC. It was definitely not as easy than my first AC. More nausea, headache, exhaustion and just laying on the couch, unable to move or talk.

My oncologist advised to stop the anti-nausea pills she prescribed the first time as they were causing severe palpitations and to go with Gravol. Gravol did nothing for me. However, I also have steroids to take every 12 hrs, and as soon as I took them last night, it only took 30 minutes to feel much better. This morning I feel almost fine. I will continue steroids for 48 hrs after the chemo, that is supposed to get me through the worst SE. 

Does everyone else's face turn pale yellow on the day of chemo? This morning I am flushed crimson red, from steroids but yesterday I was looking scary and kids were uneasy, secretly glancing at my face. It was the same during my first round.

 SpecialK and everyone else going in, good luck today!

Hi Deborah46!!!  We have our treatments on the same day.  I will do the happy dance when I move on to the taxol.  The treatment nurse told me that its alot easier to tolerate.  Wow I hope so. 

Well Im 6 days out and Im starting to feel decent.  Im not ready to run a marathon, but atleast Im not tuckered out by 9am.  I am staring to get a sore thoart and thats giving me a mini freakout.  Alot of nasty stuff has been going around and I just dont want it.  I started to have my temp go up but overnite it went down, whew.  But the sore thoart is more of an issue.  Heck I dont know why Im whining, if I can have both of the girls removed I can live through a sore throat.  Come on pull up the big girl panties Paula, lol.

Ok Im so ready for winter to be over.  My ears are freezing.  I choose not to wear a wig so I have them exposed, brrrrrr.  Im so glad that this is just a temp thing.  Im glad Im not a bald dude.  Mine will come back.  I cant see why some guys choose to shave it during this time.

Well sisters Ive gotta go do that nasty little thing called work, UGH.  I see ya all later.  Take care and stay strong!.

Hello friends!  I had a medication screw up ... haven't felt good at all this week.  Ended up at the hospital yesterday for fluids and IV anti nausea somethin somethin ... ick.  Slightly better today. I was so happy to come to the boards and read all of your stories - I feel more human ... more like I am a part of something bigger - rather than just suffering though this crap all alone.  I literally don't know a single person who has gone thru chemo and you are all such a comfort to me...

I shaved the rest of my hair off - I can't believe how painful that actually became!!  I have found that sleeping with a soft cap last night helped A LOT!  Oh ... my nuelesta shot is $4,200.00 each. 

So this fatigue is really the very worst part for me right now - it literally makes me sick - all day long.  Does anyone have any suggestions to fight that?  I just have nothing - no focus, no motivation, no energy...

I called to ask for my leave to be extended ... there's no way I can make it there tomorrow.  I called one of my boss's ... he makes me so mad ... I told him that I won't be able to travel out of town and he said, "Well, then I don't need you anymore."  Then, a few comments on how much weight I was going to gain and I suddenly had to get off the phone ...

Geez....sorry about all my whinning ... maybe I need a time out ... or some of those brownies ...

Oh seriously Fuzzymon. Your boss is a real jerk! I'm glad your feeling a little better today.

The exhaustion has been my biggest problem since day one. I'm up for 4 down for 4 most days. If I don't go down for 4 I can't seem to do anything until I do. I have literally started planning my life around naps. I'd never make it through an 8 hour shift at work. I did find drinking V8 juice gave me a bit more energy. Its worth a try if you like it.

Just home an hour ago from #2.  Lisa GH and dragonfly this triplet hopes you are doing OK.  My onc was impressed with my "hair helmet" - said he was surprised I still have so much hair.  I was like, "don't look at it crosseyed, it will all fall off at once".   Of course, to myself, I look like a receding hairline/comb-over guy, but nobody else notices and what the heck, it's making me laugh!  I was out faster today, in at 8:30 out by 2ish.  They gave me the option of running the Herceptin in 60 instead of 90 minutes.  I felt OK but a little unsteady.  We devised a new anti-nausea battle plan since I had some issues last time.   We'll see if it works better.

dogeyed/GG and fuzzy - sorry you are struggling.  I will be there with you in a day or so.  GG do you have pain or could it be neuropathy in your feet?  Also, how much steroid are you taking?  It definitely causes nightmares/vivid dreams and hallucinations.  Excuse my French but Fuzzy your boss is a douchebag.  And that is even a french word!

I think for so many of us who are used to being hard charging it is difficult to accept that for some days we will feel pretty useless.  Just think of it as forced downtime for healing/recovery from the poisoning we just received.  The fact that we are surviving it as well as we are is a tribute to our stubborn determination.  That we are frustrated by inactivity and non-productiveness (is that a word?) is testimony to what kind of people we are - namely, fighters!

Special K - You really have a way with words!!  Even the french ones!  Jenn - HAVE AT 'EM GIRL!  Thank you so much for letting me vent!!  I call him "Dick".  Stinkey Dick on the really bad days!  Aw geez - you made me laugh!  Thank you!!

 HUGS!

Hope you gals feel better soon!! I also get crazy fatigue and naseau - I don't think the weather helps much for our cause right now, here anyways its pretty rainy and grey. I wish there was a way that we could all magically bypass the week post chemo-i go for my third AC on Monday and I already feel ick just thinking about it. The good news is that we really are making progress. We're all battling this stupid bc and we're moving forward. Easy for me to say today cause I feel alright, someone might need to remind me next week, lol.

Fuzzylemon-I'm sorry about your boss on top of everything else- what is wrong with some people????? Seems like you have a good outlook about it though. S.D. Lol

Special k- hope your meds work great and you have a goid next couple of days.

Jennh-glad you're feeling good :)minus the constipation. I made date squares last time to help me out with that. Might have helped me out with my sugar craving more

Suki- I'm with you on the exhaustion. It's like nothing I've EVER felt before-my poor daughter- it's like nap time all day around here sometimes !



Hang in there ladies, do what you need to to get through the yuck

Hello all you gorgeous women! Lurking for a while but wanted to quickly post a few things. This morn was chemo #2 and I've been feeling crap for the past 8 hrs, at least nausea finally subsiding but I have a heavy head and I'm not looking forward to the peeing and sweat marathon I'm expecting overnight.



Dogeyed, I hope you feel better soon. It really helps to read these threads and know you're not alone and it's going to pass eventually. The last 4 days were so good I almost forgot all the suffering of last week.



Fuzzy you're boss is unbelievable. It's not right. Can you talk to HR about his inappropriate comments? I would not stand for that. Wow makes me really appreciate how utterly awesome and supportive my work has been with me.



Jenn

if your butt hole still sore, moisten a round cotton pad with witch hazel, fold and place folded edge along along the, errrr, crack. Tried tested and true for almost instant relief. It's miraculous for external hemorrhoids too.

I'll post more later!

alison - Do you have a hair plan for the weekend?  This was my issue last weekend as I had an out of town bridal shower.  I didn't want to be half bald or leave a trail of hair in everybody's food!  My hair held out and I sprayed it (cut short a few weeks ago) so it was ok.  It seems to be falling out still at the same rate, steadily but not yet in patches.  I am outfitted with hats/scarves/buff/beaubeau scarf/wig but I look like a strange pirate in the scarves and I just find the wig scary!

I would definitely stop hanging out with models too!  Except your son!

Dogbiskit thanks for joining us. I see you are triple neg like me. I'm just wondering how you are making out with that news? I'm finding it really hard (mentally) to do too much research.

Debora46 I know we are from the same Provence. Any chance your near our capital city?

My head just got sore and itchy this morning. I guess losing my hair is about to follow...right on schedual. I'm going to a look good feel good session on Monday. A little me day should be good before my next trip to see the wizard. 

Today I feel human!!!  Just finished treatment #3 on Monday and today my DH fixed me scrambled eggs, biscuits and bacon with my first coffee in 4 days!  This one was a doozy!  A couple of hours after treatment I had to call the cancer center after hours because of  intense nausea/vomiting and was told to double up on my ABH meds.  THAT knocked me out....which is what you want when you are nauseated.....I basically took meds and slept for 3 days with a little prodding to drink, drink drink.  I'm back upright and ready to see my college aged daughter who is coming home to spend her spring break with her mama!  I've found that the yellow Gatorade and unsweetened tea are the two things I can drink.  Peanut butter was suggested but felt like I was strangling....so a dear lady from church brought chicken salad.  Yep, chicken salad on a piece of bread every couple of hours did the trick.  Remember to get plenty of protein!

Thanks for the site...Hip Hats & Fashion with compassion.  I received my "Hair" yesterday and it is beautiful!  I've never had long hair but intend on wearing it shoulder length under my hats (especially my cowgirl hats).  Going to see if my stylist will come to the house and cut it for me.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend..... 

Hi everyone -

I hope everyone is resting comfortably today and/or feeling better.  Welcome newbies!  I went for Neulasta today - the nurse who gave it was so skilled I never even felt it at all.  Almost forgot my Claritin, took it at the last minute!

Just starting the slide into feeling like poo, head starting to hurt and feeling like I need to lay down.  Didn't sleep last night (steroid high) but I only get that day of tx so I plan on sleeping tonight like a big dog! 

Lorenar - love the bowl of "friend", so cute!

Cindy and NeyNey -  glad to hear from you, I missed you lately!

mks16 - I did well with Typhoo tea and honey.  It is British but I found it in the grocery storehere in FL.  I also have heard that ginger tea is good for a upset tummy, and that is easy to find.  I also liked Cream of Wheat with a little butter and brown sugar, and mashed or baked potato.

Hang in ladies!