August 2011 chemo, anyone w/ me?!

Istreet, I also have insomnia. I'm not a good sleeper at the best of times, but 5 hours is a good night for me right now!

Hi Everyone...Just had my 4th tx last tues and I've been having really bad constipation. My dr. prescribed me lactolose which I take at night and its not working!! I can't eat any fruit bec. of the indigestion and acid reflux!! Any ideas??

Taylor777, when I was having severe constipation (and nothing was working) I was told to buy "magnesium citrate" which sells everywhere (I found it in my local supermarket even). It comes in a glass bottle, and is in the area of all the other digestion meds. It doesn't cost more than 2 bucks, and apparently its the stuff they give you before a colonoscopy. That was my 'last resort' before I was to call the doctor back. It worked, but its like a freight train. But when you need something, it works. Try that.

Hi everyone hope all S/E are minimal for you went to see the oncol thurs got blood work done evrerything is fine for Taxatore treatment # 5 tommorow not looking foward to it after last one ended up in bed for 2 weeks.I ask the oncol about the sleve for flying incase lyphemadema sets it he just shruged it off and actually laughed and said you only had sental node no need for a sleeve.He said he would reduce the taxatore a little tommorow bur severe bone pain is a S/E and pretty much you have to deal with it.I dont like my Oncol period.

Sandy I had 8 nodes removed and my ONC let them use that arm for chemo since the lab took blood on the other side on the morning of one of my tx so they couldn't use it. There seems to be so much conflicting information about lymphedema.

Taylor, I've been taking Senokot and eating All Bran and it seems to work so far. I start the Senokot on the day of my infusion before the problems start!

My ONC is leaving on maternity leave before my last infusion. She's having twins!  I'll see her one more time and then I'll see someone else...not sure who yet.

Taylor--I have found eating 3-4 prunes at night really helps and I had some pretty bad constipation with 2 hemorrhoids



I have #3 taxol tomorrow then only one left. Last tx is on Halloween! I have found that taxol is harder for me to recover then the A/C. Takes about 10-12 days before I have more energy. I have my genetics appt tues. Hopefully I will be able to drive myself the day after my tx



Hopefully everyone has a good week. Congrats to all who have finished!

Love and hugs,

Jennifer

Hi ladies,

Just got back fromTaxol #4...8 more to go.  The IV Benedryl ended up putting me to sleep this time.  I certainly can't complain about 'nappy time'!   I am trying to get info on getting a flu shot.  She said they normally advise the chemo patients to get it during the week they are not receiving treatment, but since I am a weekly gal, I need to check with my MO.  I see him next week.  So far I am achy right now, even my hands.  

These d*mn s/e.  Constipation, insomnia, rashes, enlarged/scratchy tongues, neuropathy, v*ginal dryness...sheesh!  It's a good thing we're strong, but many times I get tired of being strong.

I started using 'tart cherry juice' to help with insomnia and I will report back about that.  So far, I have used it 6 nights, and I am not waking as frequently during the night, and it seems to have helped my hot flashes; but that could be a coincidence.  But, I don't seem to sleep past 4am.  The jury is still out, and like I said, I will report back with a recommendation or not.

Robyn...Way to go on your chemo graduation! 

Waving hi to everyone else.  Hope you have a great day!

When I asked my ONC about a flu shot, she said I should definitely get one and to do it during the "off week". Who really knows???

MarjRN - I'm having terrible insomnia too!  Will be interested to hear how the cherry juice works - I hadn't heard about that.  I started taking Ambien last week, but it's not helping at all.  I go for Taxol #2 of 12 tomorrow.

My ONC says it's fine for me to get a flu shot, and they're going to give it to me tomorrow when I go in for chemo.  It is so interesting how much variation there is in these things - makes me kind of nervous.

Hope everyone's week is off to a good start!

Lucy

MaryjRN and Istreett--after enjoying a couple months of very good sleep (thanks, I think, to Ativan), I have had terrible insomnia for the last three nights.  I haven't been able to fall asleep until 3:00am; the Ativan isn't helping.  Is this a SE of the chemo or the chemo-induced menapause?  I'm on Day 11 and should be feeling pretty good; instead I'm wiped out because I'm not sleeping. My husband had to sleep in the guest room because even though it's 50 degrees outside, I have the windows wide open and the ceiling fan on.  What's tart cherry juice supposed to do?  Anything else we can take?

My onc gave me a flu shot right before my last infusion.  He said it was a good idea as long as the virus was dead or "mained."  I don't think I had any negative side effects from it, but my friend who has weekly infusions had one last week and has run a low-grade temperature ever since.  It makes you wonder how much of this they're just guessing at! 

Crystal, good to hear from you! Glad to hear things are moving with your rads but that schedule is crazy. As far as I know, the radiation centre here has the same hours as the chemo suite, pretty much 8-5 daily.

Ellen, everyone I know who has had rads has said they drove themself. My plan is to do that. Mind you the cancer centre is a 10 minutes drive from my house. If I had any distance to drive, I'd feel differently.

Deb, I think there's a lot of guessing going on as far as cancer treatment is concerned. I made the mistake of asking my ONC last week "So when this is all over, how do we know if it worked?" I think I knew the answer before asking but thought I'd ask anyway. Her answer was "We don't. We don't do scans or anything but we will monitor you closely for symptoms." Given that I basically had no symptoms before diagnosis, this was not very reassuring! I guess that's the reality we'll all have to live with once our tx are over.

I could be wrong but my surgeon told me after the MX that the cancer was GONE and that the chemo and radiation was just extra assurance to prevent reaccurance , so that is what Ive been going by well at least I hope he is right in what he said. they call it "mop up" 

Summergirl - you won't be alone...I finish Jan 10th! Aaaugh that seems so FAR away to me though..

  I went for a blood draw today...they AGAIN had to stick me 2 times and the first stick was a big FAT FAIL.I was yelling GET THE NEEDLE OUT.It freaks me out , I told them to get the child sized butterfly stick and they got the ADULT one, and they don't listen to me.I had to break down after breakfast in front of the space heater ( we didn't get the heating turned on till late afternoon , and it was like 40F ( 5-10 C ) out there! Winter came early and with a vengeance!! 

 It's 1 am here , I've been watching a movie..I'd like to just forget that I'm going through that...even if it's called extra insurance or mop up or security net or whatever.

 I'm starting to think that I should've advocated for a port.Tried to , last time but I got talked down bc it's only 5 treatments remaining and it's not worth it.UGH.Tomorrow , before the tx , I have to meet again with the doctor.We'll see what happens..ugh.At least I'm halfway point and I'm switching meds in November..two tx's in Nov , one in Dec , and last one in Jan , right after the holidays! Doing taxotere..I hope that one doesn't have any nausea bc my reflux is at a bad point.

Girls that will do radiation , good luck! I decided to not do it , it scares me a big deal.even more than chemo.

Carol, don't feel too bad...my last tx isn't until November 15 so I'll be here with you for a while. Also, that's pretty much what they told me...they believe the surgery removed all the cancer. I guess the bottom line is...they don't have any way to know for sure and that's why they do chemo and rads. I have to believe that's the case...can't allow myself to think any differently.

Dianamaps, I swish the magic mouthwash and then spit it out, but my ONC told me you can drink it if you have a sore throat so I don't think it hurts to swallow it.