February 2011 chemo pals

 Congratulations to those of you who are also done chemo! And so sorry to hear that some of you are dealing with exta issues on top of all this...

I'm wondering if any of you have some advice. I am 10 days post my last chemo. I can't eat much of anything because my taste buds are so altered everything I try to eat makes me feel ill. I have lost about 10 pounds in 2 weeks. I cook for my DH and force myself to eat small amounts but really I just don't want to eat anything. Have any of you experienced this and did you find anything that you COULD eat? I am existing on chocolate milk I think.

Emily in Ont,

I have also encountered the loss of appetite up to 10 days post chemo - but so far I can force myself to eat certain things. Seems like sweet things taste especially bad to me but usually my acid reflux rears its head during that time too so I am limited to bland stuff like rice pudding - don't think I will ever eat it again once I'm finished with chemo.  Anyway, two people who have been through this before have told me that it helps to drink smoothies or protein shakes with a straw - the straw gets the food past the screwed up taste buds.  I haven't tried it yet because I eat so much following the 10 days with limited appetitie that I have actually gained three pounds over the course of my chemo, but I may try it this time.

I have had a horrible time with nausea the last two treatments and have increased my prilosec (after asking the oncologist) to 3-4 daily.  I think the acid reflux has caused some of my nausea.  I get chemo again tomorrow and then just one more on June 13th.  YAY!!!  I cannot wait to get through the chemo. 

I also did TAC. Do you get the Nuelasta shot afterwards? I think that, along with the Taxotere, caused most of my pain. And if I take Claritin the day of chemo and for about 3 days afterwards, I have no pain or very limited. I stopped a day short this time and felt more pain than the past few chemo cycles.

And I also had muscle cramps. Are they checking your electrolyte levels? My potassium was low several times and had to supplement. However, I also felt like every muscle was just jumpy for a few days anyways. It was the strangest feeling. I hope you get some relief! 

We're waiting for severe weather to blow in in my neck of the woods.  But the weather was gorgeous all weekend!!  I hope you guys have been enjoying your weekend.

A big THANK YOU to everyone who expressed concern regarding my MIL.  My DH is with her this weekend and we're all praying and hopeful that the chemo will buy her some time.  I do worry about her - she's kind of fragile.  I worrying about whether she'll be able to withstand the ups and downs of chemo.  But I guess she really has no choice...

I'm on Day 3 past TCH #5.  Yesterday was a challenge.  I even had to break out the Compazine.  Go figure.  I think it's the heat though.  It's not really "hot", but humid and I've been too cheap to turn on the AC.  Well, that all changed today.  I turned on the AC and I cleaned out my fridge, the kitchen and I'm heading to do the bathroom once I get through with this post.    It was just too much for me to deal with chemo and humidity. 

Alison - where are you?  Hope you're feeling well this weekend!  We're almost there - just ONE more!

Rads were discussed with my onc this week but we postponed scheduling with the RO until I know whether I'll be doing rads locally or in Des Moines were my MIL is.  I'd like to do them face down if I can, but I'd be willing to bet that my local facility doesn't have that capability.  Des Moines may work out well in that respect.

OH!  And I finally mustered all my courage and asked my onc about the crazy stuff going on with my eyes.  He said that in order for a brain met to produce the papilledema (swelling) that I'm seeing in my eyes, it would be the size of a grape.  And if I had mets that large, I would have terrible headaches, vomiting and probably wouldn't be able to stand.  He also added that in HER2+ patients, it's very unlikely for them to have mets while in active treatment.  Additionally, he said that the eye doctor can see a very large portion of the brain when they dialate the eye.  He would see something unusual.

I have to admit, the skeptic in my still worries.  But my eye doctor has 22 years experience, my onc has 27 years experience.  I guess I should trust them.  I hate the rollercoater that BC has put me on.  But I'm thankful for good news.

Who is going into the chemo chair this week?  Who is finishing up?

Melanie Ann,

I do get Neulasta - I haven't tried the Claritin - mainly because when I took it pre BC it kept me awake at night - but that probably wouldn't be an issue the first few days after chemo because I stay pretty sleepy.  I agree - I think the Neulasta and taxotere have produced the muscle and bone pain - and I blame the Adriamycin for the nausea.  Well, time to take my second dexamethasone dose - then I'm going for a walk to calm down!!! (That's what my face looks like from the dexamethasone BTW!!)

coffegirl...nothing really helped my pain around the house, I asked for pasin meds and get oxycontin...Vitamin B complex helps the neuropathy stuff too...sry! I know how you feel!

Mel-Congratulations! My last taxol is Thur. Yay! to being done...boo thinking ahead to the pain...

So here's a question...my hair is peach fuzzin' its way in...how long until it reaches a hatless length you think? Unfotunately it seems that it is all white/grey...maybe some blonde in there (wishful thinking)...I'm ok with the hats and scarfs but kind of missing my color...

Donna- I had those eye problems and mine usually were a prequel to a migraine. I had never had a migraine before but now when I get those floaters, I take some excedrin migraine and it stops them and I usually don't get a headache. I barely had ever had a headache before this. I'm hoping it's just temporary and won't be a problem once my body adjusts back to not being shot up with drugs.

dragonfly-I think I start rads on the 20th as well. I'll find out in a couple of weeks though. I have an appt. with the RO on the 7th of June. 

Christina- OMG my face was so flushed this last round with chemo. They thought I had an infection. It then flushed again a few days after and everyone thought I was really hot. haha. It's better now, but I'm glad that's over. 

Yay Jenn! Almost there! I can't wait for my hair to start growing back in. On my head of course. I wouldn't mind if the legs remained hairless but I doubt I would be so lucky. 

Sorry you're having a rough day! I've been feeling freakish as well lately. Although I do believe I escaped with a bit of luck. Most of my eyebrows stayed and I only lost bits and pieces of my eyelaashes. It's easier to fill them in than replace them altogether I'm sure. I was kind of excited to see what I would look like bald, back in February. But I'm over it now.  I want my hair back. I want to curl it, wash it, braid it...just have it! It feels like it will be forever until it's long enough though. I finished last week so I'm going to start hoping for sprouts here in a couple of weeks.

I hope your day is better Vicky! 

My lashes and eyebrows are starting to fall out rapidly - had my second of four taxol less than two weeks ago. I've got the gear ready to go but was hoping I wouldn't have to use it . I've only tried fake lashes once and it was a disaster. I'm thinking I might wear my glasses instead of contacts until they grow back. In addition to camoflauge it would certainly help with vision because I too am getting the blurries from extra film in my eyes.

Hi everyone!  Had my first Taxol last Monday and my second Herceptin today.  I was getting the Neulasta while I was on AC and never got bone pain.  I got it from the Taxol last Thursday to Saturday.  I tooked Advil and it helped a lot.  I asked the onc today about taking Claritan with the Taxol too.  She said to go ahead and try it, but didn't think it would work, but report it back to her if it did.  I'll give it a try.  She offered me Vicodin or Oxycodin, but I really don't want to start that if the Advil is helping enough, especially since I already have constipation.  We'll see, only three more to go.  I can do it....I think.  Good luck everyone.

CharlottesMama,

I suppose being exhausted after surgery is normal but frustrating, too.  Bless your heart.  While I'm sorry you gotta have a little more chemo, I'm glad the doc is watching out for you, I'm all for a "cleanup crew."  It's much less awful than AC, but then again, when it decides to twist your femur leg bones and crush your pelvis, welllllllll... but like AC, it takes a few days before it attacks!!  I take prescription pain meds just like on AC.  One of the ladies said she kept her nails real short, so that's what I did, I'm on Taxol #5 and I've still got them.  I have noticed like AC, the Taxol seems to build a little, because this week was my worst.  Me and MamaV will be on chemo until July 7, but I ain't going anywhere becuz I still got surgery and rads, altho I guess I should add forums for those. 

GG

Charlottes mama- sorry to hear about the Taxol but you should find it SO much easier than the AC.  No nausea- yay to that.  I have not had any bone pain or finger/toe numbness or really any other side effects besides lower immune system, but I know others have.  I'm swearing by the natural remedies that the sloan kettering naturopath recommended, including Acetyl L-carnitine and vitamin B-6.  Hang in there, I hope it goes by quickly for you.

Laura

Well, My first taxotere was not at all kind. I'm not willing to say its worse than AC but it certainly wasn't better. The bottoms of my feet felt like I was walking on pieces of broken glass. I didn't take claritan for the bone pain but will follow that advice next time. I'm having hot flashes about every 15 mins. so that coupled with the flu symptoms has not made for a pleasant couple of days. I did use the frozen peas and my fingers were still quite sore, not as bad as my feet though so maybe I'll ice them also next time. I'm on day 7 and am just able to function now. Still having massive waves of hot flashes but I can walk again and have emerged from the curled up fetal position I have spent the last 4 days in. I'm definitely going to require some stronger meds. next time. I have had a dull headache that just won't seem to let go since last Thursday,and a persistant dry cough. I'm going to give the taxotere pain an equal rating to the AC nausea and call this a draw. I still find it hard to believe that this is making us better. Oh well, 3 more times, I've got my big girl panties on and will do it.

I don't finish up until July 20th. It seemed like it was never going to happen but watching some of you finish up has given me a renewed hope for an end to this ordeal. I'll still have surgery and rads after that but I'm hoping this is the worst of it out of the way.

Thinking of all of my fellow sufferers. We are making progress together.

Sukie Hang in there...I'm getting 6 rounds of Taxotere and I hate it! I have had miserable side effects and I'm on round 5 right now with number 6 coming up next Tuesday. I can't wait to finish. I have terrible hot flashes as well which has made sleeping very difficult. I ice my nails as well which has seemed to help. I had a terrible headache on the first round but have not had it on the rest-staying VERY hydrated seems to help a lot. I think taxotere is awful so I can relate to what you are going through-it will get a little easier as you learn your specific Tax SEs...wishing you all the best and hoping you feel better soon!

The Taxol Chair awaits me again tomorrow - Lord help me get through this!