Chemo May 2011

Got home this afternoon from my first a/c tx I feel like junk. Bad sinus like headache. Hungry but eating sounds awful. Nuelasta shot tomorrow. One day at a time... And this scary 'first' is done!

Beaglesgirl,

Hang in there!  Rest a lot.

Laureen

I got my hair cut short (or shorter). Had 13" cut off (set for donateing). I have biopsy on lung tomarrow at 7am. I should go to bed.

I wont have results on biopsy until next Tuesday mostlikely.

I still dont know when I will be starting my chemo. Things keep getting delayed.

Take care everyone.

Candice

Margie, Well for sure I am taking the claritin BEFORE my next nuelasta.....I read that only 52% even get SEs with it and my friend got it the day after each chemo and she did not have any problems with it at all and she didn't even do claritin.  With any any of my chemos if I get any sort of SE it is at least two days after and with any of them it is a cummulative drug and as you get further into it you may start feeling things you did not in the beginning, fatigue, etc.  I was fine the lst three months on Abraxane, and then started dragging after that.  Wish you all the best. 

Hi Justme1

We have all been there.  I currently do not have a port but will end up with one down the road.  We are doing my chemo prior to surgery so we are going to work with my arms/wrist for now and then we will do the port.  I hate needles and use to panic when I needed blood drawn.  they had to give me aniouxty meds for my biopsy, but as you go down this path the needles seem to become 2nd natural.  I still do not like them and don't look, but as long as the nurse is good it's not too bad.  

Good luck Fri.... 

I do project management for a living so I have taken the approached to this as a project - my Dr laugh at me in a good way.  There is so much we can not control through this that being able to orginize myself with my meds, stuff to take to chemo (I actually worked part of the day), etc makes me feel like i have some control. 

I am back home after my port placement surgery.  Everything went well.  Now looking ahead to my first treatment on Monday.

Hi Marybe, I didn't realize I resembled Florence Henderson until I started traveling for business and then it seemed like someone in every airport would insist I really was she.  So funny.

I'm on my first day after chemo #1, and I think everyone should have a Benadryl drip once in their lives.  I was not in the least interested in my book, my Droid, or my lunch.  It was hard to stay awake enough to ice my fingers and toes.  I heard someone say Oh, Look there's water all under her chair; and for a moment I thought perhaps I had not awaked to get to the restroom--but it was just one of my ice bags leaking, thank goodness.  I'm still on Zofran for nausea until tomorrow; then Compazine for the same thing.  I forget what's causing the insomnia, but Ativan did nothing for it, but Sudafed finally worked.  I think it's the Zofran:  it makes me sleepy for 2 hours, then hyper.  Started crashing this afternoon with headace, body aches, trembling legs and arms, total weakness & flu-like feeling.  Good news:  Tylenol ES pulled me up again.  Was on the Onc's suggestion sheet.

I loved my chemo #1--no pains, no scary moments, no side effects--well, except for the lovely Benadryl drip.  Even if it's downhill from here, I can at least always remember my wonderful first chemo treatment

I can ony wish others such a happy first time.

38, For me the waiting is the worst part of the journey!  Glad the procedure went well.

Welcome to fraidy cat city JustMe1--I was there all week last week waiting for my chemo #1 yesterday.  About the veins or the port:  you have 21 treatments total it looks like so I can see why you would be considering a port--I was too when I thought I might be in a Herceptin trial for a year.  I'm in the trial, but I'm in the control group not getting the Herceptin.

As I think they can do a port and continue with chemo the same day, you might consider giving the veins a try first, with this warning:  at least 24 hours beforehand if not even two days, start hydrating.  You will not only have fewer side effects from your chemo, but you will have nice, big plump veins for the nurses to see and use easily.  When you are not hydrated, the veins are harder for them to find and they also roll around on them.  You want nice turgid veins.  When I had my surgery and could eat or drink nothing from 11 o'clock one night until I finally got into my (late) surgery the following evening at 6 o'clock, the nurse had a bad time because my poor limp veins were rolling all over the place.  I mentioned this to one of the nurses yesterday because I thought she did such a fantastic job and she said hydrated veins always made her look good.

I don't know about taking care of your grandbabies; it might not be the best thing for them or you. I assume you are taking care of them on a regular basis, so that's what's bad about it--you won't know how you are going to feel on any one day as the side effects are erratic--they come and go at will and are different each week, some better, some worse--from what I hear tell anyway.  If you can take care of them only when you feel up to it, then go for it!  I sympathize with you.  I am older and have 3 dogs, and I haven't felt like taking care of them for the past two days as much as I love them.  They are much more self-sufficient, of course, but if they were children, I'd be feeling so guilt-ridden I'd make myself sicker.

The waiting is so frustrating because until you know exactly how it's going to come down, you're in limbo land with insufficient knowledge.  Good luck with whatever decisions you make, and we will all be thinking of you on the 20th.

Ruthii

Hang in there 38.  My thoughts are with you.

Marcya:  nice side note from your mom, thanks for sharing.  I'm sure we all know how hard it is at times to act as though nothing has happened.  But a year from now, this will all seem like a dream!  I look forward to that day.

Venting here:  We had to cancel an annual family trip to be taken June 18.  My HB contacted AA 3 weeks ago  to request an extension on our airline tickets for a year without penalty out of reasons of compassion - we did book the tix a year in advance so they expire this July. We haven't heard ANYTHING to date which saddens me.  I would at least expect a response.

Cyborg,

I am doing Range of Motions exercises.  The surgeon will see me in two months for another assessment if I need PT referral or not.  As of now, i'm on my own.  I'm wondering if cardio exs will be too much for someone who's going through chemo. 

How much hair are you losing now?  I saw your new picture.  I woke up this morning with sensitive scalp.  I might as well be ready for the impending hair loss.

Take care and I hope you are feeling much better now.

 Laureen

I just finished round 1 of TC.  My Infusion RN was funny, she said she's had a few patients tell her their hair fell out the very next day -""they woke up to find a head of hear on the pillow next to them""..L and it wasn't a strangers hair." 

You have to just laugh about this stuff - not sure I believe her story but it made me laugh.  But definitely don't laugh about this disease. It's life changing and we're all heros! 

Hi Marybe,

I just attended a Look Good Feel Better workshop this past Monday.  It was nice and i was glad i went.  I met new people at different stages of treatment, and got a bag full of brand name make-ups:-)  I always love freebies!  The thing is, I don't wear make-up on daily basis so I will give them to my mom!

They taught us how to take care of skin during chemo, how to apply make-up, how to wear scarves, caps, hats, how to care for hair during and after chemo, and told us a bunch of stuff of what to expect.  They recommended use of Nioxin Scalp Treatment even during chemo.  I didn't know we have to wash out scalps with shampoo and conditioner even after losing out hair.  They said it helps in avoiding ingrowns and somehow helps clean the scalp from the chemo drugs.

Have fun when you attend yours!

Take care,

Laureen