Taxotere is a nightmare

Thanks everyone! You have all made me feel better. I think I may be setting my goals a bit high for right now, and then when I can't do what I think I should I feel like a looser lol. And all the joint pain, it really gets me down especially when I can't sleep. I have to try to remember that everyone is different and we all recover at our own pace.



Christine

I am 8 weeks PFC and still exhausted! Of course, I am also doing rads, but I never got strength back in the interim. I was told it can take months, so I'm not beating myself up BUT I am pretty frustrated. There are things I would like to do and I just can't get to them yet. And yes, the aches and pains don't help the fatigue at all!

OMG - my chemo brain is getting worse and worse!  I was with my daughter today driving to Costco and I finally had to say "where are we going???".  Here we were driving WAY out of the way, and my daughter doesn't want to say anything in case I would get upset, LOL.

Oh Tracie - Sorry, but I am so glad to hear you are doing stuff like me.  You're right...my house is a flippin' mess because I start things and get distracted and move on to something else so everything is half done.  When I think about going back to work this summer I'm hoping to remember to tell them to stock up on Post-It notes and "reminder" pads LOL.

MaggieMc2: I hear you on the fatigue! I finished Taxotere and Cytoxin on March 9 and started rads on February 9. I never got any energy back in between. I like to write and have a book almost completed but I haven't even been able to do that. I should be finished with rads May 2 and the RO told me I probably won't have any energy until mid-summer or later. Ugh!

hi Linda,

I am still hanging in there, had my 5th treatment on Friday, one more and I am done.  The neuropathy I have in my heels is staying about the same, onc says usually will improve 95% in one year, lets hope.  He offered me meds (lyrica, but I do not have pain, just some burning and numbness).  My fatigue has gotten worse, I expected that, so waiting to be done and regain strength.  THe yoga study sounds fun, I have not even attempted much more than an occasional walk, but will do better with end of treatment and better weather, I hope.  How far out from treatment are you?

EmilyinOntario,

I started to having the numbness after my 2nd treatment, got a bit worse after 3rd, but now about the same.  My fingernails and toenails have done fine (5 treatments done), no changes as all.  I know some of the ladies have iced, I have not, so I am lucky.  My taste buds are bad usually for about 5-7 days, then some recovery, after each cycle, but not completely.  Hang in there!

GO, GIRLS, GO !!!

I want hair too!

I'm checking it too. Today is 12 weeks from my last chemo. Granted I still had to go in for Herceptin this morning.

Hair is growing. I hope to be topless in 2-3 weeks. It of course came in a bit more gray but now it's black too, including the eyebrows. I used to have dark brown but this is really black! Oh, and those eyebrows I over plucked in jr.high… not a problem anymore. I guess I got a "do over".

Biotin. I was taking 5mg before chemo so I never stopped.

Left heel still numb but it doesn't really bother me. Sort of a non issue IMO. My NP says that's going to take along time to go away but it will go away.

Nails are improving. Fingernail beds still a little sore. Toenails look like crap or are still MIA. today's photo.  

Stiffness is gone. Well OK I'm still a little stiff from Friday but that's my own fault. I did strength training that included 40 squats, 20 lunges, 40 crunches and a bunch of other stuff. Back thighs are still a bit stiff from that. But chemo stiffness is gone. Let see how I feel tomorrow after I strength train later this afternoon.

Vision not only came back I now no longer have astigmatism. I can now purchase glasses over the counter. Go figure.

Still having some issues with heartburn but it seems to be getting better. I slowly stopped the heartburn meds after chemo so I'm not on anything now. I think it  just takes time for things to get back to normal.

So basically I'm doing great! Just need to get these stripper boobs exchange for the implants on May 27th. I know I got a little wordy but I wanted to let you know you will eventually become yourselves again.

Lago....wow, thanks!  That's good news all round.

Can't wait for the fluid retention and stiffness to leave my thighs!!  So hard to work out with that tight feeling.

SpecialK,

I don't think you should worry about it.  As far as I can tell, besides limiting salt intake, there is nothing you can do about the swelling.  Let your onc know though because occasionally it can be a sign of something bigger.

I didn't start swelling really until after 4....and it wasn't bad...I'm 3 weeks out now from #6 and my thighs just look bloated, and when I cross my legs (like for yoga) they scream.  I stretch everyday, and still workout, I would just like them to get back to themselves.

SpecialK I was told that your lenses can change with age. In m case it flattened out. It could be age but I really think it was the chemo. I was told it could change back. Yes I did see an opthamologist.

I still have some fluid retention issue but the small dose 1/2 fluid pill has kept it under control. I take my last half tomorrow. My NP feels I will probably have to stay on it a little while longer but we're giving it till Monday to see (5 days off).

Granted if my feet blow up to the point where my shoes don't fit I'm calling before the weekend. I do feel my legs still look a little stumpy though.

Trish - don't you hate it when there is a b**ch at work?  Strangely, the one where I work had an abrupt attitude change when I was diagnosed and has been very supportive and concerned about me.  My co-workers collected money and purchased a gift certificate to a really nice spa for me and one of the organizers told me that this person was the biggest contributor!  I was shocked, but this person has a sister that was just diagnosed with late stage lung cancer so maybe it made her take a step back.

The funny thing is that the spa is refusing to book me for any kind of appointments because they consider someone being treated for cancer to be a liability risk!  Now I am stuck with the dang gift certificate!

lago - I have a few years on you so if it was age maybe it would have happened by now?  I can only hope it will go away because it has been a problem for contact lenses.  I currently can't wear them (also because of dry eyes) and it would be much easier at work to wear contacts instead of reading glasses on, reading glasses off, on, off, on...