August 2011 chemo, anyone w/ me?!

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  • capinva
    capinva Member Posts: 138
    edited August 2011

    Jillejo I also work at a school and will continue to work as much as possible. Yesterday's treatment went good. Came home and felt shaky but ate a light supper and that helped. Kept pushing the water and that helps. Slept 12 hours, did have a little heartburn but not bad. Anyway this morning I'm feeling good. Have to go this afternoon for the shot.



    I can't remember who suggested blessing the chemo but I did and I believe it helps.



    Thank you ladies for all your valuable information, support and love. Together we will get thru this and beat BC.

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  • vtellen
    vtellen Member Posts: 345
    edited August 2011

    Good first treatment wishes to Jill and Robyn today! Remember to breathe and accept the chemo- good stuff to help you fight the invaders!

    Robyn, I am being treated by Dr.Nunnick. He and his partner travel down from Colchester to Middlebury. It is a modest little office in a trailor type building behind Porter Hospital. I have mixed feelings about the place. I like my doctor, and I know soooo many women that he has treated. But, I suspect that he is "burned out". He's good because he says what he thinks and he listens well. But, comments like " it's going to be hard for you. You have great curly hair, and you're going to lose it. You won't like that. And you are going to get increasingly fatiqued. Very fatigued, and that will be hard for you, because you have so much energy" Maybe, I could use less honesty, I don't know. I guess that he is telling it like it is, but sometimes I find him discouraging.....Sorry, the housebound neutropenic one (me) is taking to babbling on. oh oh.......

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  • Madismommy719
    Madismommy719 Member Posts: 781
    edited August 2011

    Oh, good luck to Jill also.... Sending cancer butt kicking vibes to you!!!!



    Ellen, when does your WBC count get checked again??? Thank goodness no fever too, hang in there!!!!

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  • eekwine
    eekwine Member Posts: 7
    edited August 2011

    Hi Ladies,

    So nice to have such a great support group here!!

    Though I don't think I have EVER been so terrified in a doctors office before, everything went quite well with my first AC treatment on Wednesday the 10th. The nurses at the medi center here are AWESOME!! Got my Neulasta shot yesterday.  Fingers crossed I still feel pretty good, no nausea, just the tingling in the nose during the 'C' and then the internal alarm going off at about 4 AM... starving -- I can live with that.  I think I am turning the corner from being petrified to let's get on the road to kicking this diseases butt.

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  • Vivie
    Vivie Member Posts: 52
    edited August 2011
    Today  , Jillejo and Robyn start their tx's..good luck to them!!

     Here's to minimal SE's!
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  • aimska
    aimska Member Posts: 68
    edited August 2011

    Hi everyone, had my second TCH infusion yesterday, and I am exhausted!!!  dry mouth and stomach issues.... that's about it.   I am expecting the worse tomorrow, sunday, and monday.

    Kasi - yes it will be the last weekend with your hair.. play with it lots  :).  Think of it this way, you've given so much love to your hair (if you're anything like me) that now it's time to give other body parts some love.. ie:  your skin, your nails.. etc!   I hope that made you feel a lil better..?  I know it's going to be really rough and lots of tears, but I'm here if you need to talk or vent or scream!!!!  Wish we lived closer!

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  • Robyn6463
    Robyn6463 Member Posts: 167
    edited August 2011

    Thanks everybody for your good wishes! This board is awesome! I'm not sure how I'd get through this without all the info I'm picking up here! VtEllen - I think I've been to a HFMA meeting at Porter Hospital once, back when I still worked in healthcare. I remember it as a decent little community hospital. I am so lucky, and grateful, to have my cancer center only about 6 miles from home. They've actually got an accredited breast health program, and they're incredible. And while it didn't really matter to me, the fact that the whole team, BS, PS, Onco Doc...are female, makes it more comfortable. 

    Leaving for that first treatment in a few minutes, my best friend is taking me today. She can only go this time, because she's got a C-section scheduled during my next treatment. Very exciting! My 3 daughter's will take turns getting me to the next 3. I'm feeling pretty confident. Drinking my water bottle! I've set up my RV all nice and comfy and quiet to come back and watch movies and eat popsicles! Gonna get this stuff gone once and for all!

    Good luck to you today, too Jilljo!!!!!!

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  • Chrys23
    Chrys23 Member Posts: 291
    edited August 2011

    Best wishes Robyn - let us know how it goes!



    Woke up with no real pain from Neulasta. Hope it will stay that way!

    Had some organic green tea, applesauce, and ginger cookies from Trader

    Joe's. Brushed and gargled with salt water and just rode my bike for

    20 mins and will walk my little Chihuahua and load up on water with

    Lemon. Hope everyone is doing well! Xoxo

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  • vtellen
    vtellen Member Posts: 345
    edited August 2011

    Hey Robyn- that sounds like fun! That's the spirit! But, are you travelling to Albany for radiation? or aren't you having any? I am going to Rutland. It's between Rutland and Burlington - that's it for radiation in this little state!

    Madismommy- I go in next weds for another count, but typically my counts should be improving by tomorrow. I have heard days 6-9, or 7-10. So, sunday I should be out of the woods, I hope. Fortunately, I love my home and have lots of space outside to move around. It's another sweet, pretty Vt day here, and I actually feel fine!

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  • ukgirl
    ukgirl Member Posts: 9
    edited August 2011

    Thanks for the tip. will definatly look at the website.

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  • Kasi
    Kasi Member Posts: 216
    edited August 2011

    Welcome Jillejo & edyem! And good luck to Jillejo & Robyn at treatment today. The actual infusions are total non-events. I hope that everyone else who had treatment this week is feeling good! Hugs to all of you!

    Summergirl - I am going to check out that Facebook group. I think my docs would have been onboard with me doing the cold caps but, honestly, it looked like so much work and I would have had to bring my own "team" to help me. Ice, dry ice, switching caps, not getting burned by the dry ice, needing people to help you fasten them on, etc. I mean, I do love my hair but all the work just sounded so exhausting. Did I really want to be hauling around a cooler? I dunno. I go back and forth on the decision every day. But, seeing how tired I am and sick I got those first few days, I couldn't imagine fussing with the caps.

    Maddismommy - My onc said that I could get fills during chemo. I only wanted to be a B cup (that's my size, didn't want to go bigger) and my TEs were filled halfway at surgery. So I only needed a few more fills and I was done with them before I started chemo. I don't see why, if you get filled the day before your infusions when your counts are at their highest, you can't. But I am not a doctor and they all say different things anyway :-)

    Aimska - I wish we lived closer too :-( But JFK is just a short Jet Blue plane ride from Portland, ME Laughing Day 8. Hair still not coming out yet. Scalp not feeling funny. Just waiting for that other shoe to drop this coming week...

    vtEllen & MaryjRN - How are you guys feeling? No fever here. I did decide to work from home today, though - there are 150 people at my company and I did not want to risk the germs.

    You guys, when all of this is over next year, it would be so cool if we could plan a meetup somewhere. I know we're from all over the place but I think that would just be so neat to meet all of you in person when this stuff is behind us all and we have kicked cancer's BUTT!

    Have a great day everyone! 

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  • Dogmom
    Dogmom Member Posts: 14
    edited August 2011

    Hard to keep up with all the posts but wishing everyone good luck! Tired but getting some things done so feel ok.

    I am so grateful to have this to run to...it helps so much, even if I can't keep up!

    I hope everyone is hanging in there and has a good day. We're gonna get through this!

    Chris (aka DogMom) 

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  • ukgirl
    ukgirl Member Posts: 9
    edited August 2011

    Kasi - wasn't that a great day in history!!!! Seems we have a lot in common. My wbc was also 1300 after the first round of chemo. Am a nurse so feel like I should know what to do but have not been given many guidlines from the doctor/office so am just staying at home for now. Would like to get my hair cut short but don't feel comfortable going out at the moment due to low wbc's. I thought the neulasta kicked in straight away and my oncologist seemed disapointed that I really had no pain.

    Michello13 -  Good luck to you on our journey.

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  • aimska
    aimska Member Posts: 68
    edited August 2011

    My stomach is killing me!!!!!!!!!   :(  anyway, about the cold caps .. I think your hair still thins and there's like limitations on washing it.. uhh eww?   If I can't wash my hair everyday, its as good as nasty!   and thinning .. I mean, that doesn't sound too cute also.   Plus the cooler, dry ice, and changing it.. didn't sound too appealing after reading more and more about it.   I don't really regret my decision, hair will grow back eventually.. Ladies, one day this will all be a horrible memory, right now we have to stay strong and FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!!

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  • Kasi
    Kasi Member Posts: 216
    edited August 2011

    DogMom - glad you feel OK today!

    ukgirl - That is so funny! Same D-day and same WBC. I thought that the neulasta kicked in right away but my NP said it can take 7-10 days. She said my counts were what they expected them to be at 7 days after treatment. I didn't have any neulasta pain either. I read somewhere online that the neulasta kicks in WHEN your WBC is low and some people would actually feel achy when the shot was doing its work. Who knows???  Disappointed that you didn't have pain with it? That's not cool. I thought only 25% of people experienced discomfort with it, that it wasn't a given. Again, who knows?!?!

    aimska - I'm so sorry your stomach hurts!!! :-( I hope it feels better soon. And thank you for validating my feelings about the cold caps. It really did not sound appealing to me.

    I cannot wait for the day that all of this is just a distant memory for all of us. 

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  • vtellen
    vtellen Member Posts: 345
    edited August 2011

    Kasi-  at least all of us east coasters could meet? Next spring/ early summer? Actually, Maine is, of course beautiful so- I'm on board w/ it !

    I am far and away the winner in the low WBC! Yea!!! not. Mine was 0.5 or maybe by your figures 500? my sheet says patient limits : 1.5  - 7.2

    I owned and ran a clothing/ gift shop in Middlebury. I've had the shop for 18 yrs. Closed it after diagnosis. Figured it was time for a vacation!/ I miss it, but think it was the best thing to do. If you want to check it out on facebook - it is Blue Moon Clothing & Gifts Middlebury, Vt. It was a cute place, but how would i be doing it now? I was in the shop 5-6 days a week. ;)

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  • aimska
    aimska Member Posts: 68
    edited August 2011

    I've never been to Maine.. when is lobster fest????  I'd like to go for that, maybe we should all meet up and pig out on lobsters!!!

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  • vtellen
    vtellen Member Posts: 345
    edited August 2011

    To clarify: I just said "east coasters "because we aren't really all more than a few hours apart. I didn't mean to exclude. But, to me - it seems like an ocean spot would be nice. That's all  :) 

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  • Amelie_Rose
    Amelie_Rose Member Posts: 106
    edited August 2011

    Aimska, I thought about you yesterday getting that second TCH tx.  I am sorry your stomach hurts.  I had very bad cramping pains on day 5 and really didn't feel myself again until day 9.  Now I am feeling great and looking forward to all of next week.  My second tx is the week after; kind of dreading it. Hope you feel better over the weekend.

    Re: Neulasta shot.  It's so interesting to hear about people not having any pain from the shot.  I foolishing didn't take any pain med after that shot thinking I was taking too much medicine already, between the chemo, the steroids, the anti-nausea meds, etc...  Boy, did I regret it.  The pain kept me awake most the night about 48 hours later.  I most definitely won't make that mistake again.  Kasi, I hadn't heard that about the Neulasta pain being related to low WBC before.  I wonder if I should worry?  How do you ladies know what your count is?  I don't get back for my blood work until 2 days before my next tx.

    Hair:  Today, day 12 after my first tx, I still have all my hair.  I figure this might be my last weekend with hair so I plan to go on a few family outings while I don't yet look like a 'cancer patient'.  I think that's what I fear the most, the pity I'll see in everyone's eyes when they look at my scarves and hats...

    Ellen, I hope you rebound quickly from being neuprogenic (spelling?).  Take it easy while recovering. I smiled when I read about you wiping everything with klorox wipes...

    Getting together when this is all over is a wonderful idea.... How about a mini-cruise?  They leave at various ports in the northeast and some of them are pretty reasonably priced... just a thought...

    Have a great weekend, everyone!

    Amelie 

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  • michelleo13
    michelleo13 Member Posts: 342
    edited August 2011

    Love the ocean!! Anywhere near the ocean would be amazing!

    Cruise...now there's a thought! We did a Disney Cruise on spring break this year and it was soooo fantastic. Hard to believe that was only 5 months ago. So much has happened since then.

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  • Madismommy719
    Madismommy719 Member Posts: 781
    edited August 2011

    I like Amelie's idea.... a "chemo cruise".  :)   I'm IN....

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  • Chrys23
    Chrys23 Member Posts: 291
    edited August 2011

    Amelie - From what I've read regarding Neulasta, taking 24hr Claritan the day before your shot, the day of and 3-4 days after can help with the bone pain. I am trying that now.

    I dont know if it really helps or not or if I'm just lucky, but I don't have any pain thus far and I had my shot 24hrs ago. I guess only time will tell. Sorry you had so much discomfort.

    A mini-cruise sounds wonderful! I'm always up for travel and meeting new people! :)

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  • Madismommy719
    Madismommy719 Member Posts: 781
    edited August 2011

    Speaking of the neulasta shot.... i was informed at chemo training this week that i'll most likely be sent home with the shot to self administer or have my DH do it.... SCARY!!!!!  and than they told me that it costs 5,000 bucks, so if we screw it up the insurance company won't pay for two.... thanks lady. 

    I know Debb was doing her own, anyone else?  I am really not sure i'll be able to do this?  And my DH almost passes out when he sees a needly at all, let alone holding one going into my abdomen....  especially at that price.  YIKES!

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  • summergirl1
    summergirl1 Member Posts: 182
    edited August 2011

    Thanks for your comments Kasi and aimska , you are probably right I probably couldn't have gone through all that either , I am just gonna have to get used to the idea of losing my hair and go with the flow as they say, I am still very anxious about this coming thursday 1st tx , but all of you seem to be doing good, which really helps me think I CAN DO THIS. your support has really helped me thxs so much and hope everyone has a great weekend . 

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  • Grimbol
    Grimbol Member Posts: 326
    edited August 2011

    My daughter is half way thru nurse training so I'm hoping they'll let her give me the shot.  I go into today for the first one, chemo yesterday, so we'll see.  They told me depends on the insurance whether you can take it home to do.

    I need to ask for some nausea meds too, apart frmo the infusion of it they didn't say anything and I forgot when I left.  I could do with some today, jus don't feel great.

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  • Chrys23
    Chrys23 Member Posts: 291
    edited August 2011

    Madismommy - I'll be self-administering my next shot on September 1st. My center is supposed to be calling a Home Health nurse to come on that day to my home to show me how to inject it!

    My husband can't - he is way too squeamish! My chemo nurse told me Wednedsday that the best place to inject it is in the belly - taking a pinch of fat (I have enough!) and just quickly stick it in the skin. That should be fun! Ahaha!! I've got enuf jelly/belly roll to go around. :p

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  • michelleo13
    michelleo13 Member Posts: 342
    edited August 2011

    The nurse came to my house and showed me how to administer the Neulasta shot! It was easy. I agree with Chrys...the belly is the best place. It has been three days for me and no bone pain so far.



    My energy level seems to have returned somewhat today. I've been able to get some laundry done and managed to go out with my girls to buy their school shoes. Took some melatonin last night and slept a bit better so I think that helped.

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  • Doodlebug12
    Doodlebug12 Member Posts: 35
    edited August 2011

    Hi girls



    Just checking in - in answer to a few of your concerns about self-administering the neulasta shot. Take it from me!!! I am the BIGGEST chicken going but I managed to do the shot myself and am very confident that I can continue to do so. It's really easy and prob better being put into tummy fat.. Easier to see and hold!



    I am doing ok so far on this round of treatment. Slightly nauseous, very tired, bit shaky, little bit tearful, kinda achey, but alive and kicking ass..



    Hope that everyone is ok.



    xxxxxx michaela

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  • MaryjRN
    MaryjRN Member Posts: 130
    edited August 2011

    Hi ladies,

    Hope everyone is doing ok with the treatments and side effects. Take your medications if you need them!

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  • capinva
    capinva Member Posts: 138
    edited August 2011

    Just came back from getting my Neulasta shot. The nurse gave it to me in the arm and said I shouldn't have any S/E. Have advil ready just in case. Had my AC treatment yesterday and no nausea. Even went and got pizza at my favorite spot after the shot. Today is my day off from work anyway so it worked out well. Been doing some things around the house. Feeling good so far.

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