Is there a July 2011 group?

Dexxy-you are right.  I guess I had just had high hopes I could do this without it, but I know I'd never feel 100% confident in my decision without it.  Emotions vary, as I am sure you understand.  thank you, dear

Rabbit The social worker where I got chemo told me there were some small grants I could apply for that could cover massages and cleaning form local organizations....maybe if you ask your onc soical worker they may know. I am a social worker myself so I know that when you ask you often hear about things that no one has mentioned.

Frances...enjoy every part of your day.I know how scared I felt Friday and it turned out to be OK. I will be spirtually holding your hand through this tomorrow telling you that you will be fine and that your nurses will take perfect care of you. Big hug via Figi to you.

FRANCES     I did not have a port but my thought would be you have a right to call your surgeon and tell them how painful it is and see if they have any recommendations. You don't want to show up tommorrow after all this emotional prep and be worried about your port. Docotrs go into their work knowing they will be called on weekends and you deserve to get some reassurance from them. SO please consider calling jsut to reassure yourself. Giving you a hug for tomorrow.

So, I'm down to my last four days before chemo begins. I ordered a few head coverings today. Not sure I like any of them, but I'll wait until they get here to decide. I'm making a list of items to include in my "chemo bag" and I'll be shopping later today. The motions I'm going through are exactly the same as if I was preparing to go on vacation, but this is most definitely NOT my kind of vacation!

I continue to be encouraged by those of you ahead of me that are posting updates. I hope to follow your lead!

Boy, what a tough weekend. After port installation on Thursday, I awoke with excrutiating back pain,,, I had a pulled muscle in my back from my bmx, and apparently the positioning on the table for the port was enough to pinch a nerve..... which I found out after three days in pain, meeting the onc NP at the emergency room and having a billion x-rays and a cat scan. At least I got some of the scans I never had when diagnosed, so that made me feel much better. Muscle inflamation and a pinched nerve. What a way to go into chemo thursday..... wish me luck. Surprisingly, the port feels fine.

valbee, I just emailed them, thanks for that info! 

misswim, I remember now that my back especially on the left side, was pretty sore for days after the port was put in. They had propped the left side of my back up in an arch near the top by my shoulderblade, during surgery.

Day 12 and I am enjoying my taste buds being back to normal the last few days, eating LOTS of veggies and some things not so healthy but in small amounts, made an awesome fritata with fresh zucchini, red onion, spinach, mushrooms. It's nice to be able to really taste food for the time being!  

Hope everyone is doing ok, hugs to all!  

Hi all!  Just popping in.  Today is my day 13, I think, lol.  I had my chemo on June 28th....I must have miscounted the days before...thought this was day 12..oh well.  I am doing really really good!  I havent taken any meds in about a week.  I was worred when I felt a little tired and weird on Day 9 but it passed with rest and I am almost back to my normal self now.  I can finally taste my food but I gag at any bad smells and such.  It is really weird that sights and smells make me gag.  Before all of this I worked as a CNA in a nursing home and was in nursing school so I saw and smelt LOTS of stuff and didnt every gag or get sick.  My hair was shedding badly.  I went to see my sister at her salon and had my hair buzzed.  She told me that I was not being paranoid and that my hair had thinned alot.  So now my hair is too short to even pinch.  I bought some cool bandanas and some pretty scarves and two hats.  My sister trimmed my wig for me and I wore it to church today but I feel so weird in it.  As soon as I got home it came off. 

Good luck to everyone starting soon!  Hope everyone who has started has a good day!

Jamie: What day did you notice your hair thinning? I keep thinking about doing the short cut this week. I am at day 9 today.

Good luck to you Frances....... I hear you on the weekend of pain from the port. They actually took my blood out of it today as I have awful veins, and with the numbing spray, it was painless. I wish you good luck tomorrow. Big hugs and let us know how it goes!

I just really love coming in looking in on this group. I love being informed on whats to possibly come my way from everyone. I hope to find someone who has a regimen somewhat similar to mine. As of now its hard to figure out what to expect since most of you are on the same combination of chemo. I will have 12 treatments once a week. So it is really confusing as to what to expect when you guys are talking about day 13 and things being that I will have 2 treatments whithin that timeframe.

J-Bug - So eating not so good things affect your blood count? I am a really picky eater. I am soooo afraid that I will have to eat things I don't really care for or eat the same thing that I am ok with over and over. The only thing that I have no problem eating over and over are french fries. From what I am reading that is such a no no

I also keep hearing up and down reviews about everyones port installation. I am really nervous about getting mine on Tuesday. I am hopeful everything will be ok with no pain. Everyone please cross your fingers for me.

Jamie30_ I think you and a lot of other ladies are extrememly strong in cutting there hair. I am still on the fence with that. I don't start chemo till July 18 but I think my hair will have to look kindof pitiful before I could cut it. I am soooo not looking forward to that day. I don't think it will be a good day for me when that day comes.

I do have a few wigs that someone gave me already and I have taken advantage in submitting to recieve hats frome heavenlyhats.com and I also am recieving a free head wrap/scarf from www.franceluxe.com. The wraps are normally $72 and they will send out one free. My friend was here when I was ordering my free one and the lady asked me for 3 options in case one style was out and my friend bought the other 2 for me. The wraps were 20% off. That was done on Friday so everyone should give it a look. Just click on Good wishes when you go on the site 

Bless0Mel, thanks for that link, they have beautiful wraps, I've emailed them. 

JBug thanks for those links as well, great info!! I posted in a separate thread about nadir and no one has replied...I was curious if we should feel it, I mean with FEC my nadir is anywhere from 7-14 days, I am on day 12 now and this a.m. had a crash of energy out of nowhere, had to take a nap. But I noticed about a week after my first FEC, I started losing energy and it's been like that for a week or so, just low energy, not much else. Anyone know if you can actually feel nadir? 

Paulamati: I do get the vision thing occasionally. I described it to my doctor as when I look at him he is very clear and in focus but what is in the background is vibrating and I can't just bring it into seeing one of it. He said that does happen sometimes as one of the SE's.

Frances C....so glad things are working out. You can do this.

I have had an achy night with joint and bone pain and a stiff neck...As peopel say...even my skin hurts..no nausea but a dry mouth and headache and I am keeping hydrated!

Wrote my onc in case there is something stronger than naproxen for the aches and headache.

Everyone, by well, be strong.

Thanks Frances...you sound on a similar regime to me...steroids, zofran, and they addded ativan and compazine if needed. I only had one neulasta shot  on Satuday.

I hope all goes very well for you. We are each different and I think I just need a stronger pain reliever than naproxen for the joint pain which people say can come from the neulasta although I took aleve and claritan the night before, the day of and the day after. Some people take claritan for 5 days...maybe I should hve continued it. Oh well, it is a learning curve.

I have my cat sleeping  here next to me, very comforting.

Hope all are doing OK.