October 2011 Chemo group

Good morning, everyone! I am on day 11 and feeling pretty good, except sleeping like a teenager! This morning I actually wanted coffee again and it tasted good.     A bit of tenderness on my tongue, I am rinsing frequently with Biotene Dry Mouth Rinse (mouthwash section of store) and it tastes ok and soothes instantly. 

My hairdresser good friend gave me a Mia Farrow cut yesterday. She took her time and did a really good job (even tho it will only last a week) and we both had fun with it. But when I went outside it was cold and windy - brrrrr!  I'll be bald in time for Halloween! I love reading all the hair stories - we ladies sure do know how to make the best of our situations!

wildrumara - a question:  I saw you are having T/C x6.  My onc. said I was having T/C x 4, and she would push it up to 5 or 6 if I tolerated it well. We have similar dx so how did you and your onc. arrive at that number? This first one has been so much easier than I expected, so I'm not so afraid of the next ones.

Chemo brain is at work - I made a bank deposit for a group I'm in and put an envelope of cash in the night deposit box but didn't include the deposit slip. I found the slip a week later! Oops. I have a big mirror above the kitchen sink and write everything important on it with a dry erase marker. It is my command central and I never lose my list!!

I hope everyone has a great weekend!!!!     Barb 

perts -- yep sure did. Mine was in June and it's still like that only a little less so. Don't know if it's permanent or not.

Hey ladies -

First off, Barb, my tumor is a little over 2 cm....actually, i have two tumors, very close together and one of them is 2 cm.  So, I would think its because of the size of the tumors???     

 I am a little bummed today.....I must admit.  I went to the salon to pick up my wig.  First off, the color was too light.  So, I left for an hour, came back and she put some low-lights in it and it looked much better.  She proceeds to cut it to a style I am comfortable with and in the end, it looks o.k., but I paid waaaaay too much for it for it to be just "ok". It almost looked like I had a helmet head.  I'm hoping that once I wash it and style it myself I will like it better???   Just bummed. I ended up getting a wig made of human hair....she talked me into it and it does look very natural and I understand its more durable, etc....its just disappointing.  I though on one of the synthetics she had and I actually liked it better!!!!   UGH!

maggiestatas, besides red and white blood cells, platelet counts are also lowered, which means you will bleed more easily. I wouldn't say I've had a nose bleed but every time I blow my nose there is some blood.

I have read a few posts about people being allergic to the "T"

How is that determined ?  and then what ?

I am allergic to everything, it is hard for me to take OTC with out reactions.

cfdr OMG If taxatore is the same as docitaxil wow, Joint pain like you would not believe, I did have my neulasta though and holy crap I was in so much pain for 8 days now, its just slowly starting to subside.... I was so sore I was asking people to take me out and shoot me... No one would Grrrrrr LOL but yea the joint pain is horrible..... 

perts1: I had my lumpectomy in June and have not had any issue with the nipple, hope it gets better soon...

wildrumara: I know that feeling about the wig, I went and got mine before I even shaved my head and I tried on about 30 to find the "right" one that was ME... well I got one after hours in the store and you know what " grizelda" as my friend calls her is sitting on her stand on the table Ive maybe worn her 6 times, I wear a ballcap or a bandana.... :-)  try to keep smiling and stay positive. the ladies here are wonderful and so full of information... Hugs to all 

Hi Ladies, seems like most of you are doing well.  Please PM me if you have questions.  I check in about once a day.  My chemo brain is just now subsiding so forgive me if I forget something.  Sunscreen is definitely a must if you go out in it all all.  Oh and biotene rinses and baking soda/salt with warm water as well.  trust me, the 2 work well and will help with what I called "carpet mouth"  but also prevents mouth sores. 

So lets talk hair, not sure if any of you have started to loose.  Its probably the hardest part for most as it really does make you realize what is going on.  Look for loss if you are on TC at day 18-22 after first treatment.  Just want you all to have a date to prepare.  I also added Biosil drops to my juice, it contains biotin and silica.  Both are great for hair, nails, and bones.  amazon sells it.  my nails looked great all during chemo, and I think it helped with not loosing eyebrows and eyelashes as well.  plus it helped growth to come back sooner.  I'm thinking of all of you.  remember you an do this!!

Just got to say - I love how everyone is so supportive and nice

It DOES make all the difference.

Hi, all,

I've been following along with all the posts, laughing and crying and praying as I go. This is a fine group of very funny very upbeat very courageous women.

I got my hair cut VERY SHORT on Friday. The buzz will be next.

I wore my hair short (not this short, tho) for years before growing it long over the past 2 years, so it's not that much of an adjustment and people have been very complimentary. But what really warmed my heart is when I saw my 17 YO DS that night. We both had caps on. I took mine off to reveal my shorn head. He took his off to reveal a very close buzz. He said he did it to show solidarity with me. So sweet. He doesn't say much but I know he is feeling this.

I had 4 good days last week free of nausea. Yesterday it came back but today I am feeling all right. I'm hoping for 3 good days before my next treatment on Thursday, but I'm learning to very much take it one day at a time and not be discouraged. Thankfully my work place is very supportive.

 Love and hugs to all -

Carla my next treatment is also on Friday so we will go through it together!!

I am going to get my head shaved on Thursday since according to everyone it should start falling out that day or the next anyway. I hope everyone has a good week and no one's side effects are too bad!

Hugs all around,

Sherry

I too am awaiting the fall out. I cut my long hair to now 1/2 inch. I run my fingers threw it every morning immediately upon awakening. I am still having a hair day today 10 post 1st tx.Barb you make me laugh I have a very expensive wig provided to me by my sister that has the honor of a spot in the back of my closet maybe I can turn it into a cat toy. I have been having alot of fun with scarfs I look like all the different looks I have been able to create everything from Biker Chick to Russion Grandma to Indian Princess . Endless. I have a HUGE head never new this because I have never worn hats except the occasional ball cap. I am trying to think Halloween. Maybe I can paint the earth on my bald head and be a globe. Black with finger holes bowling ball. Pink for awareness. White snowball. Anyone else planning on dressing up for Halloween? I love this site Thanks girls for sharing. It amazes me how we all know so much more about the effects of chemo then our health team because we are the one going threw this. It should be mandatory that our Doctors and Nurses read our posts. Got heartburn real bad today and rotten gas. I know TMI but I don't think I have ever had such an aroma. Hugs to all. Maggie

Carla - Hate my wig....hate, hate, hate it!    Spent so much money on it too, which makes me hate it even more......I look better without it.  Too funny!!  

Question for you married ladies: how is your husband handling all this?

Sunday morning DH and I had a fight...he was annoyed because I couldn't give him a timetable of when I'd feel well enough to accompany on an errand...and I yelled at him that I was sorry my being sick was such an inconvenience to him. So he COMPLETELY avoided me the entire day. And this is the morning after I'd been running a 100 degree fever, because I have swollen throat glands on top of the chemo sfx (I was already annoyed at him before the fight because the night before, he balked at the idea of taking me to the ER if my temp continued to rise).

Even on a good day, he has yet to come in the room and ask if I need anything. He says that he has made dinner for me every night, but it's just not true. A couple of nights he's prepared dinner I couldn't stomach so I've asked him to just heat me up a can of soup or leftovers, or he's cooked so late that I've just grabbed something myself. I've lost 5 pounds in 10 days. Last night he wouldn't even speak to me so I was on my own to prepare dinner....after 4 bouts of diarrhea and swollen glands all day.

I feel really abandoned...and told him so this morning. I am sorry I yelled at him, and told him so, but then I got hysterical again. I am feeling physically and emotionally about as low as I ever have in my life. I hate feeling sorry for myself, and I hate feeling needy, on top of all the physical crap. I wish I was at my sparkling best and could handle all this with utter grace, but I'm not. I'm exhausted and short-tempered and in pain.

Is it too much to ask for him to overlook my being exhausted and sick and unpleasant, and be there for me anyway?

CFDR. Men can't take it when we are sick. They should have a say this do this  don't do that book for them.He sounds scared to death of losing you and just wants you to do everything how you did before you got sick. He is mad at your illness not you.