Chemo starting in December 2010

Hey Ladies,

I am a Jan girl, but read your threads to see what is ahead, thanks and congrats to all of you who are done, done, done!  I have my 5th TAC tomorrow and will finish on April 28th.  Can not wait.

I took Celexa several years ago following short bout of depression after fertility treatments and pregnacy loss at 30 weeks gestation.  Really worked well, and eventually I stopped.  I went back to doc (psyciatrist office, not onc)  after crying spells with BC diagnosis and she started me on Lexapro (next generation drug, that came out after Celexa went generic).  I am no longer crying watching Little House on the Prarie re-runs and Halmark commericials.  Husband and family much happier too, still have my moments, but big difference!  Also gave me Ambien, a good nights sleep sure helps too.  Good luck to you all.

My sister and mom are on celexa. It works well for them. I am on zoloft. My dr just upped mine (doubled it actually) and I am already starting to feel the difference. 

Today I went for my last post chemo blood work and ended up getting a transfusion. My numbers were borderline but because I was feeling weak and dizzy so we decided that would be the best thing. 

karebear, would you mind sharing what your numbers were that prompted the transfusion?

Lisa, yes, get a good night's rest and in the morning you should have your beautiful chemo curls.  Wouldn't it be nice if it worked that way?  Congrats on being done!

Smiling Lisa-I hope you wake up with lots of hair!  I'm happy for you that you are done now! Two more treatments for me and I am looking forward to it.

Well I will be staying on the Zoloft I have been taking. The doctor I talked to thismorning and he explained the working aspects of Zoloft, Celexa, and Lexapro...(next generation drugs) and for me it seems to be best to stay with the Zoloft. He did say the Celexa might be a bit stronger. The three being similar it sounds all good to me what I am hearing here!

I'm filled with steroids tonight, can you tell..it's 2:06am! lol

Hi all- Spartina here and I had a great day. I went to a PT yesterday who specializes in women with problems from masectomy and lymph node dissection.  About a month ago I started having terrific pain and range of motion problems in my affected underarm and shoulder.  Scar tissue and cording was developing.  She worked on my underarm with massage and today it feels so much better and what's more is that I now have hope that it can get better! 

I have two more taxol treatments, next one is Monday.  Peace to everyone. 

Here is a bit of irony.  My 20 yr old daughter threw me a "Yay, you are done with chemo party."  It was wonderful.  My cake said, "Let the new journey begin"  It was very sweet.

The next day my arm became quite swollen and painful with no injuries.  I guess my new journey includes LE.......

Just thought I would check in to say hi to everyone.  Still in the throes of the bone pain from my final taxol treatment, but looking forward to feeling better in the next couple of days, and relishing the fact that chemo is in the rear view mirror now!  How great that we are all finishing up. 

I'm now on the April rads thread....  going for my simulation on Monday, so we'll see what that brings.  My plastic surgeon said that if I need to have chest wall radiation, then the risk of implant failure is around 50%, I'm not so happy about that, but one step at a time, I guess.  

The weather here got very hot this weekend, very unseasonable, and that wig was SO uncomfortable.  I really hope my hair grows in enough to shed the wig by July......  

Hope everyone is doing well.

balance problems? yes

i walk into stuff all the time. abouot 4 years ago i had middle ear surgery. i had a perforated eardrum and bacteria got through and ate away at my middle ear bones. had awful tinnitus in my left ear. after that surgery it susided, but a couple weeks into taxol it came roaring back. i'm pretty sure it's nerve related this time. i have definitely had balance issues!

Hey all. I am headed to surgery 1 wk from today!!!! I feel ok about it but my oldest son is having a hard time. He cried about little things all day today at school.    I told him that I would be ok and that I would be home the next day. He seemed glad that I would be home the next day! I hope that eased his fears. poor kid!

I was wobbly for awhile and then I had a horrible ear infection!! I was sobbing in pain and we had to go to the ER. I am still on antibiotics and my ear feels plugged but isn't hurting anymore!!

I still have the tingles in the hands and feet 2 wks after my last chemo. I hope that stops soon. It is annoying!! 

It really touches my heart to hear about your children! Mine are older, 13 and 16, so it was a little easier. My surgery was was not complicated so I was in outpatient care and home the same day. I must say the schools have been awesome with my children. Both the Jr High and High school have kept an eye on them. My daughter in High School talked with a counselor there that had a mom with liver cancer when she was 16. She gave my daughter the offer to come down to her office when she can't concentrate in class or has worries etc..

Karebear it sounds like you and pretty connected if you know he was crying at school. I think it is great that you have the communication and that helps to help him.

Nola it sound like you have a great caseworker giving good advice.

I wish both of you the very best and will keep you in my prayers!

I love running into survivors, or relatives of survivors. One particularly inspired me..I went to the Dermatologist with my daughter and at the dek the girl has a tatoo on each wrist. One was just a pretty celtic looking bracelet type, but I noticed the other wrist was encircled mt pretty swallows. On the back of her wrist was a pink ribbon. Well long story short, her mom is a stage four survivor of many years! I felt like that day she just happened to be there to encourage me! 

I was at a fundraiser this morning for Relay for Life, and my boss's daughter said hi ( she is 2 or 3) to everyone. when my boss brings her over to me to say hi, she runs!!! she got scared!!  (no wig, no makeup, no eyebrows!)

so nolaa, i understand what your going throgh!

No hair coming back here, but I expect it will be grey if it comes back....