2005 ROCK-TOBER CHEMO GIRLS

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  • ravdeb
    ravdeb Member Posts: 3,116
    edited January 2006
    thanks for that bit of knowlege, Graycie...I'm going to have my girlfriend pick up that CD for me. I love Olivia!
    ravdeb
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  • TracySeattle
    TracySeattle Member Posts: 690
    edited January 2006
    Ladies, I can use your good thoughts and prayers. I went for my last chemo on Friday and they postphoned it because I had a fever of 101.5. UGH--I was so bummed! My Hemocrits were also low (23), so I am going for a blood transfusion today. My fever is still 99.5 after 3 days and I have no idea when they are going to let me have my last chemo. Please pray for me--I so want to get this past me!

    Thanks for all of your support, I am so glad to be a member of this great group of women....
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  • ake
    ake Member Posts: 684
    edited January 2006
    tracy....hang in there. i'm so sorry you're having such a rough time with chemo. you will get past this one way or another. i'll be sending you lots of good luck thoughts!!

    -amy
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  • ravdeb
    ravdeb Member Posts: 3,116
    edited January 2006
    I'm wishing you well Tracy! You should begin to feel better after the blood transfusion.
    Good thoughts are coming your way.
    ravdeb
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  • maryannecb
    maryannecb Member Posts: 1,453
    edited January 2006
    1 to go, counts will come up and you will be done!

    Fists up!
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  • debbie444
    debbie444 Member Posts: 847
    edited January 2006
    Tracey - they are making sure you finish in style!
    Thinking of you
    Debbie
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2006
    I've had my 3rd Taxol treatment and feeling good except for the bone pain in my sternum that I have had since BEFORE the mastectomy. Therefore, I am having a bone scan just to be sure. The pain is there for a long while then disappears for a few days.

    Just need to check since they said Stage 1 but who knows if it travelled thru the blood system and not the lymphatic.
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  • ravdeb
    ravdeb Member Posts: 3,116
    edited January 2006
    terynsmom...
    I hope your bone scan comes out NEGATIVE!!!! But, don't be alarmed with whatever they find cuz bone scans tend to find just about everything! I have had hip pain for a while and they found something just on that spot when I had the bone scan. I had 2 X-rays and it turned out to be nothing. They also found a benign cyst on my ovary on my bone scan. Go figure.
    Don't worry about it now. Take each day as it comes.
    ravdeb
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  • kimmie11
    kimmie11 Member Posts: 30
    edited January 2006
    Hope everyone is doing well, I have been done with chemo since Oct and last rad right before X-mas. I am now working very hard to get energy back. I was never in great shape but nothing like this.

    Tracy,
    I read a entry from you sometime back about reading a series of books Stephanie Plum. Thank you so much, I had such a good time reading these, I am addicted now. I have even gone on to get the Full series just to get me by until number 12 comes out. haha. Anways if anyone is looking for something to do while they are down healing or whatever I suggest these books if you have a sense of humor and want a quick read.
    Kimmie
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  • Graycie
    Graycie Member Posts: 839
    edited January 2006
    Thanks Kimmie,
    I will look into those books. My sister mentioned them to me once and I totally forgot. Thanks for refreshing my memory. Graycie
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  • TracySeattle
    TracySeattle Member Posts: 690
    edited January 2006
    Kimmie!

    I am so glad you enjoyed the books! I think they need to make them into a movie! Hmmmm, wonder who would play Stephanie?
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  • kimmie11
    kimmie11 Member Posts: 30
    edited January 2006
    Tracy,
    On the website http://www.evanovich.com/ they talk about who would play who if there was a movie made. I think Sandra Bullock but she should be a bit younger. Twelve will be out June 20,2006!!
    Thank you again! Sure got me through some rough days.
    Kimmie

    Done with treatments, just need to dust myself off and get going. haha!
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  • sherryhaire
    sherryhaire Member Posts: 192
    edited January 2006

    Chemo #6 today wish me luck and good luck to those takeing treatment this week. Serendipity miss seeing your posts hope your treatment goes well tomorrow

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  • marymelodi
    marymelodi Member Posts: 515
    edited January 2006

    Today is my 53rd birthday and thank goodness, the week of feeling terrible has pretty much ended after treatment last Thursday. My pattern seems to be that I have a week of side effects and misery, followed by a week of feeling better, up to the next treatment day. I'm having chemo every other Thursday. So, today seems to be the beginning of my "feeling better" week. Not that I ever really get back to my "normal" self - whatever that was. But, it sure beats the week following treatment. Yesterday I just wanted to lay down and cry because the prospect of two more cycles of treatment seemed too much to handle - and I felt so-o-o tired, worn out, and miserable. Today, everything seems much brighter. It's probably the effects of 7 hours uninterrupted sleep (a miracle!) and a nice Chinese food meal with my husband (he often works late and I have dinner alone). Those two things alone would probably make anyone feel better. It certainly made a difference for me. Anyway, hope you all have a good day and if you are feeling some misery today my heart goes out to you and I wish you a speedy improvement!

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  • Graycie
    Graycie Member Posts: 839
    edited January 2006

    Good luck Sherry with your treatment today and Happy Birthday Mary. I am glad you are feeling better Mary. I guess that is pretty typical with the chemo. One bad week followed by a semi-normal week of feeling better. I am always so glad when I make it past the first week after chemo. Unfortuantely before you know it it is time to go and do it all over again but you are almost there, only 2 more. I go every other Tuesday so next Tuesday will be my last, yippee! If it makes you feel any better my last treatment was easier so maybe your next one will be easier too....Graycie

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  • ravdeb
    ravdeb Member Posts: 3,116
    edited January 2006
    marymelodi...HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! May this be THE year of good health and tons of love coming your way.

    Glad to hear that your birthday comes with a "good week" before your next chemo. That's great!

    I just did #4 of Taxol and still okay! I met a "sister" from the board who lives here in Israel. We met here, moved to e-mail and then met in the breast care unit at the hospital where I do treatment and where she will begin hers. We even have the same doctor. It was fun meeting her. Went out for lunch together..us and our husbands. I love giving her tips and she loves receiving them as she goes through the inquiry part of the journey.

    Feel good everybody... we can do this!!!!
    ravdeb
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  • Graycie
    Graycie Member Posts: 839
    edited January 2006

    Ravdeb, I think that is great that you connected with one of the sisters.....I have a friend who introduced me to a girl that has just finished all her treatments for BC and I am really glad I met her. She has been a big help and as much as I love this board it is nice to have someone locally that I can call if I need to. I hope you are feeling well after your 4th taxol. Is that it for you? I forgot..Graycie

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  • ake
    ake Member Posts: 684
    edited January 2006
    I just got home from my LAST CHEMO. I can't believe it's over...I feel so surreal. My infusion nurse and I hugged when I left and we both agreed that we hoped to never see each other again I feel like I've accomplished something gigantic...and I just got through my doctorate and wedding last year....this feels the biggest. So excited. Hang in there if you still have treatments...the end will come quickly and you will realize how incredible it's all been and find the best feeling of pride within yourself

    -amy
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  • marymelodi
    marymelodi Member Posts: 515
    edited January 2006
    I'm already feeling that way and I have 2 treatments to go. I was just thinking today that there will be times in the future when I will tell myself, "You can do this thing (whatever it is) because you have gone through chemotherapy and survived. You can do this, too!" I was fantasizing that it would be going up some steep mountain path or riding a bike for a long distance - not that I've ever been much for those kind of activities, but I feel like when I finally feel well that I want to try some physical activities that I've never done before. I want to use a healthy body and mind.

    Way to go, Amy!!!!!
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  • TracySeattle
    TracySeattle Member Posts: 690
    edited January 2006
    As long as my fever cooperates, my last treatment will be tomorrow! Good job, Amy!!! I know you have got to feel excited and relieved (even tho you are going to feel icky for the next few days--IT IS THE LAST TIME!!!!)

    Way to go, girl!!!
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  • ake
    ake Member Posts: 684
    edited January 2006
    you know what i was thinking? is anyone interested in doing the avon 3-day walk for breast cancer? it's in dc the last weekend in april. supposedly it's incredibly empowering. you walk 2 days (26 miles each day) and sleep in a tent. it's women, men, children, etc. of all ages, fitness levels, treatment, etc. it might be a good chance for us to all meet the only thing is...you have to raise 1000 dollars to enter...i'm not sure if that's as a team or as an individual. anyone interested?
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2006
    Amy, I cried when I read you finally had your LAST chemo. Yes, your wedding, your school ..... they are big, but this was really the biggest victory that you won. The race of your life. Oh, I hope you never ever have to meet those nurses again!!!

    Happy birthday Mary!
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  • ake
    ake Member Posts: 684
    edited January 2006

    has anyone heard of taking glutamine to help reduce the neuropathy side effect of Taxol? Nothing seems to be working to reduce this for me and it's the most awful side effect. Seriously, I would rather be sick to my stomach from AC than have this constant stinging and itchy nerve damage in my hands and feet. Glutamine is supposed to help, but I wanted to see if anyone had heard or taken it.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2006
    Sorry, Amy, I haven't had that side effect. I have had the bone/joint pain and some headaches but I just take Vicadin and then I take a sleeping pill for night time or I will end up wide awake from 2am to 5am!
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  • Graycie
    Graycie Member Posts: 839
    edited January 2006
    Sorry Amy, I don't have that side effect yet either. Congratulations on finishing chemo, that has to be such a good feeling knowing you don't have to go back there again. I can't wait.
    Terynsmom, I was wondering if it is OK to take Vicadin and a sleeping pill at the same time? I am always afraid of mixing drugs but I can't sleep some nights without a sleeping pill either. For some odd reason I didn't have any bone/joint pain with my last taxol (#3) I have one more to go but I am sure I won't be that lucky again because with #1 and #2 I had a lot of pain. I still can't believe I escaped this time. Graycie
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  • ravdeb
    ravdeb Member Posts: 3,116
    edited January 2006
    Amy,
    I am sooooooooooooooo happy for you! You are a brave young woman and you've gotten over the most difficult mountain in this journery!!!! Continue feeling better and better.
    As for Glutamine...I understand there are no side effects. A friend of mine keeps telling me to take it...it is supposed to be good for lots of things...see if you can find out more info on it. Might convince you of giving it a try.
    Good luck, feel good and go for that Avon walk...it could be a wonderful way of making yourself feel more whole again.
    ravdeb
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  • ravdeb
    ravdeb Member Posts: 3,116
    edited January 2006
    Graycie,
    So far I'm okay...the steroids they gave me in the IV have once again made me fidgety, even through the night. I didn't have this problem with the steroids they gave me by pill after AC. I really hate this feeling, but otherwise all is well. I have 8 more weekly treatments if I keep up this way and my body manages to keep the WBC up. I see it going down each week and my rbc is low, as well. I see the oncologist next week after my treatment. I'm concerned but she wasn't concerned when I saw her last week.

    But, my big question is this.... I get so down for the first half of the week after my treatment. My mood is better 2 days before the treatment and then I crash once again. I'm avoiding any kind of mood enhancing drugs as I'm not ready to add any more drugs to what I already am taking and I hope to go into a more alternative kind of approach after I finish my treatments. Just wondered if others get down like I do. I really hate it.
    ravdeb
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  • Paula15089
    Paula15089 Member Posts: 373
    edited January 2006
    hey ravdeb...
    i get down quite often lately, even though i take Lexapro. I can only imagine it would be much worse without it.
    When i start feeling that way, i keep remainding myself - this will pass, it will get better, my life will get back to normal one day. Just remember the diagnosis day, the surgery, the first chemo - we never thought we'd get through it. Well, i thought i never would. But here i am, one week past my last chemo. Its like going uphill, the end is up there somewhere, and after that, its all easy sailing.

    I also found some excercise helps, like a walk. Reading a book, but it has to be something totally unrelated to BC though! Going out shopping with friends... lots of little indulgencies - spoil yourself, you deserve it.

    But the best thing for me is to come to this forum to complain, whine, ask for advice or to give one to someone else!

    take care,
    Paula
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  • tinkermax
    tinkermax Member Posts: 269
    edited January 2006
    Hi Amy

    I just say your post about L-Glutamine and noticed there is a question about this further down our chemo page, where a few ladies have posted replies.

    Hope this helps you.

    Maxine
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  • debbie444
    debbie444 Member Posts: 847
    edited January 2006
    Hi Amy - CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!My last one is the 26th and its a bit bizarre but am looking forward to it - something else i can tick off as done!
    I get down a few days after chemo - think its when one lot of my tablets finish.
    As for the walk - go for it ! I only did a short sponsored walk but it was great - the feeling amongst those walking was fantastic - did it with husband and kids.
    Tinker - strange to see you here after speaking to you in chat - hope you are well.
    Keep going everyone - the finish is getting closer for us all!
    Debbie
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