April 2011 chemo

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited June 2011

    Sud- I have a question about your hens. Are they much work? and what the heck do you feed them. Do  you need a rooster? I am thinking about doing them. Do they stay in the yard or do the need penned up? Can they fly away?

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  • CarlaB76
    CarlaB76 Member Posts: 74
    edited June 2011

    Has anyone started into the Taxol part of their regime?  I'm a little confused on the timing of things. I'll have a blood draw on Tuesday, and infusion on Thursday. Will I be getting my neupogen shot on Wed in prep for TH, or after the chemo is administered?

    I've got to say that switching from Neulasta to Neupogen has not be the answer I for which I was hoping.  The bone pain is still there and I have shot number 3 today.  My MIL is going to have to drag me into the car kicking and screaming.  All the other side effects have been bareable.  But the bone pain and emotional basket case?  Sigh.  I asked my husband yesterday if I should seek out a therapist.

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  • axtella
    axtella Member Posts: 88
    edited June 2011

    Carla --

    I will have my second round of Taxol on Weds. What I had to do is take steroids 12 hours before treatment and then another dose 6 hour before treatment. Then 2 steroids pills for three days starting the day after treatment. I didn't get sick with Taxol but the Neulasta shot gave me much bone pain. I have my labs done an hour before my infusion and if all is ok I take my treatment. A week after my treatment I do labs again to check my WBC and platelets. Last weeks labs showed my WBC was high so onc says I may not have to take the Neulasta shot this time...YAY and hoping for this!

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  • Sudzinvermont
    Sudzinvermont Member Posts: 70
    edited June 2011

    Merilee,~ I love my hens. They are a little work  but not too much. (I have help now since I should stay out of the coops during chemo),

    If you are considering it check out  http://www.backyardchickens.com/  they have all the answers. We keeps ours in a "yard" area because I live on an organic farm and need to keep them out of the fields.

    The eggs are perfect, there are no words for how good they taste.

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  • profbee
    profbee Member Posts: 858
    edited June 2011

    So, I'm meeting my surgeon tomorrow.  The initial one is going out on maternity leave.  I don't know which end is up tonight.  Lumpectomy?  Mastectomy?  They said they couldn't feel it last month.  So, I could do lumpectomy then.  Am I risking recurrence?  Should I opt for the bigger surgery and then have more peace of mind.  I don't know what the hell to do.  I don't even know what to ASK tomorrow.  I feel like they all think that lumpectomy is the foregone conclusion because it has shrunk, and I here I am just completely confused.

    Sometimes I wish they'd TELL me what to do and sometimes I am just flummoxed by all the decisions we have to make in the middle of all of this.   

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited June 2011

    Profbee-follow your gut is the only advise that seems appropriate.

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited June 2011

    Thanks Sud, I will check out the link.

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  • pawprintgirl24
    pawprintgirl24 Member Posts: 173
    edited June 2011

    profbee the only thing i can tell you is my friend had more problems with her mastectomy than she did with chemo so..... lumpectomy for me was fine except mine did open back up but my surgeon took ALOT!! she said so there was more fluid than  maybe normal i guess... i'm just gonna live with the chance of reccurence but some people can't.you'll know what to do

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  • BernieEllen
    BernieEllen Member Posts: 2,445
    edited June 2011

    Hi to everyone, no 4 postponed.  Have to have a port put in, not looking forward to that.

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited June 2011

    Off to the healing  throne at 8 this morning for #4. I will have my laptop and will pop in here later.

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  • ginger_mea
    ginger_mea Member Posts: 264
    edited June 2011

    Good luck Merilee, and Ilike that concept "the healing thrown"..

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  • Sue53
    Sue53 Member Posts: 63
    edited June 2011

    Merilee, is this #4 your last?  Sure hope so!  Good luck!

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited June 2011

    #4 is under way yippy! Counts are excellent and

    I have my Favorite male nurse life is good LOL

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  • artiecat
    artiecat Member Posts: 257
    edited June 2011

    Yay Merilee!!!!!

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  • kg1234
    kg1234 Member Posts: 95
    edited June 2011

    Hi Ladies,

    I had taxol #3 on Monday.  I feel okay.  A little bit off, a bit of strange mouth taste (not as bad as AC), and so far, no bone aches.  Those come closer to friday for me.  Weekly taxol has been good to me so far.  I feel more human on taxol, I can get dressed, be normal, do normal things...when I was on AC I was just mostly in bed and it was bad.  I am still way more tired than I used to be.

    I am noticing some soreness in my surgery arm and wondering if I am getting lymphedema?  Anyone else noticing that?  It feels bruised in my forearm and tight-feeling.

    So now I am in single digits: only 9 taxol to go!!  I should be done officially August 23rd.!!

    Cheers, KG.

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  • Sudzinvermont
    Sudzinvermont Member Posts: 70
    edited June 2011

    Sending you some positive vibes Merilee...and anyone else who's on the "throne" today

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited June 2011

    Home, after #4. Not time to go to the "bone fire of the goddesses" thread and throw in the throne LOL  finally, let the healing begin!

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  • RangerMom
    RangerMom Member Posts: 604
    edited June 2011

    Hi All of you,

    I need to cry on your shoulders again. My significant other left me on Monday. I came home from work, and all his stuff was gone. Just packed up and left, no note, no message no warning. Although I could tell the past few weeks he was not happy, seemed restless and kept saying he needed to get away. He had moved in with me in my house. I know this was hard on him and I think he couldn't take it any more. I've been crying most of the day today, I think its finally hit me he's gone. And deep in my heart, I know, its best he leave if he can't support me and what I'm going through. I'm better off by myself but its really hard and I'm really sad. 

    Tomorrow I start my first round of Taxol. I've read how is doing for others and that's good to hear. The AC has been brutal and I've been feeling really down and out.  

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  • Rowan47
    Rowan47 Member Posts: 151
    edited June 2011

    How awful for you, RangerMom!!! What a shitty thing to do. You are right, though, if he is not strong enough to support you then you don't need that added stress. You are strong on your own, and every day you will feel a little bit better. Stay strong, my thoughts are with you....

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  • artiecat
    artiecat Member Posts: 257
    edited June 2011

    Good to see you back RangerMom.  And, yes, what a horrible thing to do.  Hang tight!  We are all here for you!

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  • RangerMom
    RangerMom Member Posts: 604
    edited June 2011

    Thanks artiecat and Rowan. My heart aches. Tomorrow I will be doing chemo alone for the first time, he had always been there with me. It will be depressing but in another way, happy that its number 5 of 8. 

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  • RangerMom
    RangerMom Member Posts: 604
    edited June 2011

    I sound bipolar! but I think we all are feeling this emotional upheaval that halfway through seems to be giving us all. I had no idea I would be so emotional by the #4. It was reassuring to see everyone is feeling like this too. Thought I was losing my mind (which I think I am but hope it all comes back to me).

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  • Rowan47
    Rowan47 Member Posts: 151
    edited June 2011

    I suggest you take a lighthearted book with you to chemo tomorrow, perhaps a Jilly Cooper novel (rather racy but great escapism!!)? You CAN do this on your own; actually, you are not really on your own, you have heaps of love and support from your "cyber sisters". This could be a liberating time for you! Re feeling emotional, I too have been feeling quite discombobulated of late! I go for my 4th AC next Tuesday, and am feeling really off-balance and exhausted. Start 12 rounds of taxol after that, so still in the middle of this surreal time. Maybe tomorrow will be better??

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  • RangerMom
    RangerMom Member Posts: 604
    edited June 2011

    Thanks Rowan - I'll see if they have a good comedy to watch tomorrow. Something to keep my mind off things. And you're right, I can do this on my own and without the stress of worrying about him and why he was not communicating is gone now - almost a burden lifted off my shoulders.  I'll look up Jilly Cooper at the library I love racy escapism books.

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited June 2011

    Good job figuring this out Ranger Mom and great job supporting her ladies. I know this has been a very liberating experience for me, as someone mentioned. I got to see who would step out but I also got to see who stepped up. That in itself is an amazing gift.

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  • artiecat
    artiecat Member Posts: 257
    edited June 2011

    So - I have thrush in my mouth...onc rxed a med.  Has anyone else had this?  What did you do about it?

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited June 2011

    Artiecat

    My first treatment I  had it so bad that my whole tongue was white. I used the Biotene and it slowly cleared it but I have heard of others using a combination of peroxide and water rinse. Hope this helps, that really sucks.

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  • artiecat
    artiecat Member Posts: 257
    edited June 2011

    Thanks, Merilee!  (BTW, very punny!)

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  • Sudzinvermont
    Sudzinvermont Member Posts: 70
    edited June 2011

    Ranger Mom,

    I'm doing with a full time job and 2 daughters 9 & 13y's old. My sig other is gone...long complicated story...either way I'm doing it and finding the most unusual little blessings along the way.

    Do we eat cereal for dinner sometimes?...yes. Is my laundry done...house spotless all the time?..No.  Does any of that really matter...not in the least! 

    Keep a good thought..you are so much stronger than you think.

    Wise men count their blessings...fools count their problems. ~Michael Franti~

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  • profbee
    profbee Member Posts: 858
    edited June 2011

    Ranger Mom,

    I'm so sorry.  You said all the things I'd say TO you.  So, I don't have much to say but man that sucks and in the long run, you're probably better off, but it's okay not to feel that way right now.  Lots of love to you tonight.   

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