November 2009-Starting Chemo

It went ok except they were ages coming to get me, so I complained. Then Paul came for me (he's the senior nurse) - he started to put the canula in my hand and the EVIL nurse came along as she was supposed to do my treatment. He just said he would continue to do it ie put the thing in - it did sting a bit. I can't believe I would get her again!!! After he was done, she came and injected some cortisone into the canula, then went off. A while later, I noticed blood coming out of my hand into the tube. The stupid bitch hadn't turned the drip on!!! I saw Paul, across from me, so I called him over and he turned it on. She is the MOST incompetent evil creepy nurse ever!!! I ended up not getting home until 6pm - that's from a  3:20 appt!!! I didn't feel too crash hot when I got home but seem to be ok now - might be on a steroid high - not sleepy yet.

It was good to see Big Onc though. I had my usual list of questions for him. Told him I'm not having a mammo before we go overseas and he said fair enough

I've decided to call the acupuncturist and make an appt. I need some help with the hot flushes and my not getting to sleep. He also might be able to help with this tinnitus I've got. They have proven in studies that acupuncture does help with hot flushes, so I may as well try it. We do know a really nice guy near us - he's a survivor from lymphoma and Steve has gone to him many times in the past - he has a really nice house and his treatment area is just lovely and smells so good.

Not sure I'm ready to go back to work, I'm still really tired. I guess I just have to try it and see. I'm only doing 3 mornings to start with - not long now - eeek.

Love to you all

Sue

Michele ~ Linda you girls are funny.  No jello shots here either !!!

Sue ~ sorry about the nasty nurse.  grrrr  Hope you are feeling ok today.

I think I blew my back out grabbing a gallon of milk out of the top shelf of the fridge yesterday.  Spent 2 days in the fetal position swallowing motrin.  Feeling a bit better today.  My mind wandered to the dark briefly and said "bone mets"??  So not going there ~ willing it away and praying for a healthy back soon.  I refuse dr's as I don't want to know if anything is wrong with me.  Gotta love cancer.

Have a good evening all !

Loving the sunlight till 7 pm.  WOO HOO 

Sue ~ hoping you do not get chest pains again.  Funny you are waiting for Fall and we are waiting for Spring !!

Ladies, thanks one and all for the props!  I think we are all rocking our looks with hair (why are all the smileys bald??)!

Sue, I'd love to hear what the ENT doc and acupuncturist say about your tinnitus.  Mine is a bit different -- a steady, very high-pitched tone that comes and goes.  It's worst at night, but I can also hear it from time to time through the day, mostly on the right side.  It started with chemo and is one thing that has just hung around. Bleh.

So, it's 11pm, and my achy, stiff hips and restless legs are keeping me awake.....sometimes, tamoxifen is really a mixed blessing.

Just FYI re: melatonin: since I was researching this for myself, I thought I'd include the info I found on WebMD here...

Why is melatonin used as a dietary supplement?
Melatonin supplements are sometimes used to treat jet lag or sleep problems (insomnia). Scientists are also looking at other good uses for melatonin, such as:

Treating seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
Helping to control sleep patterns for people who work night shifts.
Preventing or reducing problems with sleeping and confusion after surgery.
Reducing chronic cluster headaches.
It may be that melatonin, when taken as a supplement, can stop or slow the spread of cancer, make the immune system stronger, or slow down the aging process. But these areas need more research.

Is taking a melatonin dietary supplement safe?
In most cases, melatonin supplements are safe in low doses for short-term and long-term use. But be sure to talk with your doctor about taking them.

Melatonin does have side effects. But they will go away when you stop taking the supplement. Side effects include:

Sleepiness.
Changes in blood vessels that may affect blood flow.
Lower body temperature.
Stomach problems.
Headache.
Morning grogginess.
Vivid dreams.
If melatonin makes you feel drowsy, do not drive or operate machinery when you are taking it.

In adults, melatonin is taken in doses from 0.2 to 20.0 mg, based on the reason for its use. The right dose varies widely from one person to another. Talk to your doctor to learn the right dosage and to find out if melatonin is right for you.

Morning, Sue...er, afternoon,  more like the middle of the night for you.  (It's 9A.M. here.)  I didn't doubt for an instant that you had already researched the Mel.  I believe you and I are internet junkies.  

I had heard that insomnia was a SE of all the aromatase inhibs.  I'm on the Femara for a month now and either that is a SE for me or I also read that the body's natural Mel. lessens as one gets older, so just "gettin' old" might be causing the insom. also.  Man, as if getting older wasn't bad enough but to have to deal with the after effects of BC, too, sure makes it suck worse.

 Happy Sunday to all and Monday to all others!  Nette    

Sue, report back as to what happened at the accupuncturist yesterday.  Hope it helped.  Also, how was work?

Melatonin...hmmmm??? I always get these spurts where I cannot sleep. I'm either up until 2 and have to be up at 5, or I wake up at 3 and I'm up for the rest of the night. Drives me nuts.

Pam, I think I'm in the same boat as you. When I started walking again about a month ago, I would get severe shin splints. Well, the pain moved up to my knees and hips so bad that I could barely walk. The dr. says it's a combo of all the roids and tamoxifen wreaking havoc on my joints. He wants to send me to physical therapy to learn how to exercise. He almost fell over when I mentioned how much a personal trainer was in GSO. 

Erg!

On a happy note, I won Employee of the Month at work out of 750 employees. Sweet parking space and a bunch of freebees. Plus a little moolah for my wallet makes for a nice day!

Love to all!

(((Alicia)))

Do you all remember in November of 09 how we couldn't wait until spring 10? And here we are in spring 11. My oh my. We've come a long way!

Linda, you rock that parking spot...way to go.

Alicia, hope you get yourself out of that funk soon...it is Spring...all funk must take a vacation...

Sue, glad you had a good start back to work...

Bad news - I put my back out this morning, so can't go to work tomorrow. I got an appt with my physio who is a genius when it comes to backs. Hopefully he'll put it right. Rang my team leader and said I'll come in on Thursday instead. Not keen on doing 2 days in a row but I haven't got a choice - much pain!!! I just can't win (:

Sue

To add to my back issues it's been extremely hot!!! So much for Autumn in Australia.

My back feels a little better this morning but I must go to the physio. I was lucky to get in so quickly.

Sue ~ Glad to hear the back is feeling better.  Good luck gathering info for the genetic testing, I had that done last year just so I would know for my daughter.  I was negative. 

A wet, rainy, snowy mix here today ~ yuck !!!

Have a good day all.

It's more than the BRCA test I think there are other tests they can do as well - he may not even reccommend any testing.