April 2011 chemo

Hi linda614, hope you enjoyed your visit and there will be many more.  I'll put a guiness in for you

Great news pawprintgirl!!!  My eyes have really been bothering me, too.

I have a red rash on my upper chest - anyone else?   It itches.

 Aint this fun!!?!?!?!?

Hi everyone.

Got my hair cut short last night in anticipation of it starting to fall out next week. My hair was long, half way down my back and I couldn't stand the thought of long hair falling out!

When I got home from the hairdresser my girls keep staring at me and saying "you look different mummy".  Everytime I look in the mirror I don't see "me". I guess I'll just get used to it and it will be gone!  I've been getting heaps of compliments at work this morning. They range from "you look hot" to "you look 10 years younger". It's all helping me with my self esteem.

I did say to my husband this morning that I didn't think any of my jewellery looked good with my short hair and that I was going out at lunchtime to get some new earings! My 9 year old added she thought a new necklace would be good too!  Ha ha. I've trained her well.

I went and got fitted yesterday for my prosthesis and mast bra. Overall a good experience and I feel much happier now I am balanced and look like I have 2 breasts (rather than the one I have left only). The bras are quite pretty and I feel much more confident today wearing my old clothes. I even bought a sports mast bra in case I want to exercise.  I must say I have gone from being really fit and active to quite lazy. Need to sort that out!

Determined I agree with everyone else. You will be fine. The fear of the unknown can be worse than the reality when you get there. My onc gave me 4 different types of meds to take for 5 days. He decided he didn't want me to have a bad experience so gave me everything. I don't have them with me to detail but one was Emend, one was a pill that dissolved in your mouth.  I did feel nauseous for 3-4 days. I'm going to investigate accupuncture for next time to see if that helps.

Linda - I went to your blogspot but couldn't find the picture?

Hey ladies,

Went in for bloodwork today, my neutrifils were .7 (which is too low for chemo).  Was scheduled to do my chemo on thursday, but now it's delayed.  So another neupogen shot today and tomorrow...more bloodwork thursday and if it's all good...chemo will be friday.  Was hoping to be home and resting and watching the wedding.

Anyone else having neupogen and experiencing trouble with it?  I only had 3 shots, before the chest pain caused breathing problems.  Now I'm back on it.

Kg.

Also, wanted to say I really got a few laughs from the posts today. God Bless you Carla for telling us about your first hair loss. Loved it. YOu all are so wonderful and brave, I am so thankful to come here daily and read what's going on and how you are doing. LIke someone said earlier, its a place where you can let your guard down and say what you need to say. Hugs to everyone, we're all tough women.

Thanks for the info scc218. I'm not sure with this being Tues night if I have time to get the EMLA cream by Thurs. If I can't, do you know if they have something in the office to use instead? I HAve a prescrition for Atavan which I've been saving, maybe I'll use it for the first day? Not sure though cuz I want to have all my wits together for this first trip. Thanks

Carla: I'm so doing the earrings and naming thing...great idea. I could do it with all the caps I've gotten, too...hmmm...more fun while we fight the forces of evil.



My blood counts came up nicely with the Neulasta, and I credit y'all for no Neulasta pain since I jumped right in and did the Claritin. Did run a fever of 101 the second day after the shot; called the nurse, who said, nonchalantly, oh, that's the Neulasta, it should come down with tylenol. They couldn't have told me that might happen? Here DH and I were contemplating the hour run to hospital since the word from the onc was emergency room for fever. But all's well this moment, so I'm thinking earrings!

RangerMom ---

I'm getting my second round of A/C tomorrow. It really wasn't bad at all. The worst was I got constipated which made my tummy hurt...gasy pains. It will be two weeks tomorrow and Im really not losing hair yet, just a tiny bit of shedding. I have thyroid disease so its pretty much the same kind of shed. On my first round they did the A/C sperately...first the "A" the the "C". They do that so if you have a reaction they know which one caused it. They first gave me pre meds in my IV...Benadryl, Emend and Steroid. Total it took about 3 hours. The fear of the unknown is what gets you. I was so scared, I actually told my husband I felt like I was getting pre- embalming fluid lol thats horrible I know. I grew up in the early 70's so we all know how harsh chemo used to be back then! You'll do fine!

Ear rings!! Ditto...wayyyy more feminine.

Mission accomplished. 

Got great earings!! ... and a dress ... and a scarf.

Oops. There goes the credit card bill.

RangerMom -- I'm sure you could get the Rx for EMLA today.  I called around to WalMart, Target, and Publix (local grocery store) to see who had the best price (I don't have Rx insurance), and the grocery store was the cheapest ($39.95).  Then I called onco office and asked them to call in script to Publix as soon as possible.  As Carla mentioned, get an airtight bandage to stick over it -- I forgot about that part.  I thought it was more to keep the cream off your clothes, but maybe it actually helps keeping the numbing agents in the area.  As for the hair, I noticed it coming out when I ran my hand through my hair and in the shower on day 14 after my first A/C.  On day 16, tons of it came out in the shower, so that's when I decided to have my hubby shave my head.  I had Ativan, too.  That's what I took about an hour before leaving for my first appt.  It didn't make me feel out of it at all -- just kind of took the edge off the anxiety -- still had my wits totally about me.  (I don't remember what my dosage is; bottle in other room and husband still sleeping).  I will probably take one before round 2 tomorrow, too, although I'm not feeling really anxious about this one.  It was just nice (for me anyway) to be a little more laid back.  Best of luck with everything.  Keep us posted.  I think you'll do fine.  I totally understand your fear at this point -- that's where I was, too.  You'll be so relieved when the first one is behind you and then you can just keep moving forward.

I'm six days out from AC treatment #2 and it's my period! The heaviest period I've had in ages. Wasn't that supposed to stop? Maybe it's from the fasting I've been doing 62 hours before each chemo, which is supposed to protect the body from damage. (But since I'm ER+, keeping my ovaries intact may not be such a good thing.)

Meanwhile, I have the appetite of a horse (eating is the only thing that makes me not feel awful), no metallic taste, no mouth sores, etc. But fatigue and malaise off the chart. No energy, no desire to do much of anything. The only good news is I haven't gained any weight, despite eating all day long.

I got my hair cut chin length yesterday (what little is left of it), and have an appt on Saturday to get a pixie cut with the remainder. The short hair is actually really flattering and took five years off me, amazingly enough. I may go for a short wig, especially with the hot summer weather coming. Never thought I would have short hair.

Now if I could just get some energy and feel even a little bit like my normal self...

Sudzinvermont, I am beginning my first TCH, your words are encouraging, thank you