October 2011 Chemo group
Comments
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I don't know if this has anything to do with it, but I've only had 2 small sores in my mouth. The first few days after chemo it's hard to drink anything, nothing sounded good. On those days, I just brushed my teeth many, many times a day. Once I could drink, I started drinking about 12 bottles of water a day. And I hate water! I found that if I put 1 in the freezer, once it starts to freeze, I guzzle it. The cold tastes so good. So I constantly have a rotation going.
Thanks for the heads up on blow drying my hair. I still have it, and have been only washing about 2 times a week. Will air dry from now on. Maybe that'll help.
Been running a low grade temp for a couple days now. It's not high enough to worry, but makes me feel yucky. 13 days since tx and I'm sleeping more now with very little energy.
Good luck to all the gals that got tx this week. May you have a weekend w/minimal se. Now that I can taste, I'm having some fried chicken this week while I can enjoy it!
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Wow Terry! How exciting!! Congratulations. You aren't just going to dump us, are you? Please keep in touch with us!
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HI Terry, thanks for the tips! Is the NEROCC 3 mouth wash a prescription? Congratulations on only having one treatment left .... I'm sure it will be a great Thanksgiving!
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Day 5 post tx #2 and I feel crappy from lack of sleep. I definitely see a nap in my future today. Yesterday I had an enormous appetite but absolutely nothing tasted good except a bag of cheese and caramel popcorn, chased with a cup of hot chocolate. This constituted my dinner. I did manage to get out and walk around yesterday, which helped a lot, but not enough to get me a good night's sleep. Hoping for a better outcome tonight.
My whole face feels numb today like I've been to the dentist. This tingling mouth is probably the most annoying thing (feels like I've been chewing dentine gum). At least this go around, I haven't had the GI problems like the first time. Also, I started taking Biotin for the potential nail problems with taxotere, and my nails are growing like crazy! I have been trying to keep them short because I have splitting nails anyway, but I can't seem to keep them that way with this stuff. I highly recommend it. Supposed to help the hair growth too. Day 5 seems to be my "emotional" day, same as the first round. If I stick to this schedule, tomorrow should be a better day! Hope everyone has a weekend of minimal SEs. Cheers!
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Perts Thank you so much and NO way am I gonna dump you girls, you's are ALL great and I will be sticking around Im not that easy to get rid of LOL , Im here for the Long run to help in any way I can, we are all in this together, One BIG family....
Tipnas, yes it is a script just ask your onco for it and they will fax it to your pharmacy..... We already had our thanksgiving I am In Canada Ours was Oct 10th :-) didnt get to eat anything due to cotton mouth but it sure did smell good and it was great to see my DH, kids and grand daughter enjoy a family meal together it made me happy ;-)
Auntienance: My nails are growing like crazy too, Ive cut them short twice in 2 weeks... whats with that LOL even my onco nurse is amazed at how fast they are growing
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Auntie Nance - I think you have me beat with the bag of cheese and caramel popcorn!! I will have to try that next time, instead of my plain Target popcorn. Oh, and yes, hot chocolate would be tasty! Like I said, I try to get a few healthy things in my body a day, but this first week after chemo its super, super hard (for me anyway) to eat anything, so even if its "bad" stuff, if it tastes palatable to me, I'm partaking!! From what I'm finding, the saltier the better, which makes sense! If I follow the pattern of my first treatment, taste started to come back the weekend after....so maybe tomorrow or Sunday....just in time for Trick-or-Treat!!!
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Hi everyone- just checking with an alert. I went to fill my water bottle that I tote all over with me to keep intake up and noticed mould growing on the inside of the lid! I was horrified and had a major meltdown. I have been so conscious of making sure about hygiene on so many levels that I couldn't believe this and I just got overwhemed by all the things we have to keep track of- it's a full time job! I know at times I am impatient with my husband and this must all seem a bit paranoid to him. Anyway, thought I'd give you a "head's up" on that one. I hadn't been putting it in the dishwasher as I always use it- go figure! Maybe the lemon and ginger mix I use had something to do with it?
Not that I have enough drugs...I got some more yesterday- antibiotics for this stubbon cold...more to add to that pill box! Glad to hear that most of you are coping well. Terry- congrats- it'll be so nice to be nearing the end.We are all a family now so we must keep in touch. I wonder if any of us will be able to meet sometime? Hugs and Love to all, Have a great day, Juls
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thanks so much julsjewels: I will be sticking around for sure this is a new family to me and Im sure I will have tons more questions sooner or later LOL I met a girl Allie on the fb page for bc we keep in constant contact I call her, we text message, and we have made plans for when we go down to Brownsburg in the spring we are all goinf to the Indy 500!!!!!! And she will be coming to Canada for a week in the summer to come camping with all of us with her DH and sons..... We are both looking forward to this..... :-)
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Wildrumara, the other day someone on one of these boards said, "if it tastes good, eat it" (was that you perhaps?) Whoever it was, it's good advice and I'm taking it!
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Hi Julie:
We are on the same Chemo schedule! My first treatment was Oct. 10th and I go again on the 31st.
Glad to hear you still have your hair! My hair started falling out on day 17 (yesterday). It is bad in the morning and then I try to not mess with it during the day. I want to make it to my treatment on Monday before shaving, so fingers crossed.
Take care!
Kim
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Well, I think maybe it is too late for me now anyway. Washed my hair today and filled the trash can by the time I had half-dried it! Oh, well, I will get it buzzed or cut really short tomorrow and wear the darn wig!
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Terry, I'm not that far from Brownsburg myself. Little over an hour. Congrats on your good news!
Auntie I have finally started tasting really well so I did it up right tonight w/fried chicken and the works from our local chicky place.
I have been told we are postponing my next chemo which was supposed to be next Tues. I had lost a huge scab a few days ago from side where expander is and there's just been a big hole. Well today is blew like a geyser. Thankfully the fever I've had for 2 days hasn't gotten too high and the fluid was clear. On Wed. my PS is gonna clean it up (yes, another surgery...that's 4 since 9/7) and stitch it again. I won't heal while on chemo, so we're backing everything up a couple weeks.
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stjude10, sorry to hear about your surgical problems. The only thing I like about going for treatment is knowing I'm that much closer to the end! A delay is tough. I was lucky today, my labs were good, white blood cells and platelets were both solidly in the normal range, so no neulasta for me again. DH made dinner, I think I ate too much, ended up taking a compazine. I need to start on the smaller meals tomorrow. But I still may have a two-bite cupcake tonight!
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Thank you for your support! Your words of encouragement really helped me. I am finally done moping about my delay and switch in chemo.
Today I went for my heart echo. That was the easiest test I have had in over two months! If all turns out well I will have my second round on Tuesday with A/C instead of T/C. Now I am nervous all over again with the same fear - how will my body react to the new chemo?
stjude I truly understand how hard the delays can be. Isn't making it day to day hard enough without a delay in the chemo?
Terry congrats on only one more!
I am sorry to see we have new members, but welcome everyone!
I was lucky enough to avoid mouth sores the first time. I brushed my teeth after I ate anything. The Biotene toothpaste and rinse worked for me.
I hope everyone has a great weekend! Take care.
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Lori - I'm sorry to hear you have to have another surgery. I have a huge scab on one of my incisions and major fluid in my breasts. Surgeon is supposed to drain them on Monday but I'm afraid since my counts were so low today. I hope the surgery takes care of everything for you. Let us know.
Like you, I hated water and only drank Diet Coke . Now all I drink is really cold water with lemon. My mom is so happy because she has always said that Diet Cokes weren't good for me - she thinks they have cocaine in them!
I saw the coolest thing today. My mom sent me a recent newspaper from our local town and the whole thing was printed on pink newspaper paper. It was pretty cool. It had all kinds of different sections in it relating to breast cancer - from how to tie scarves to survivor stories.
Last story for the night. I gave the old wig thing one more try. I ordered one from TLC. It arrived today and I swear it is uglier than the other two that I've put away. It honestly looked like a rat had been in the front of it and had tried to make a nest in it. My son put it on and he looked just like Joe Dirt!
He may wear it for Halloween. That is my absolute last try with a wig. I'm done. I told my kids to slap me if I tried to waste any more money on wigs. Hugs to you all! Have a fantastic weekend!!
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Carla9112 - Love the Joe-Dirt comment. I actually pulled out "Melba" today (that's my name for the wig) and played around with her a little bit (LOL). Messed with the bangs, looked at myself with a hand-held mirror from the side, checked out the back, put some spray in it, etc.....still looks like a piece of poop! Oh well......picking up my halo wig next week! I still love the hat with scar underneath look better.....hehehehe!! My hair is almost completely gone, by the way......exactly four weeks after first chemo! Pretty crazy!
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Terry- Yeah on only one more to go.
Lori- sorry that you are having this set back and have to have another surgery. It can't be easy it's like one step forward then two back.
Carla- I haven't been able to find a wig that I would buy period. Beginning to wonder if I should stop looking. I think I should still have hair for another week or so. I want a wig but then again I'm not sure if I'll actually use it!
WIM- hopeing that everything goes smoothly for you this go with no side effects!!!
Hope everyone has a good weekend -
I did not like the wigs from TLC and sent mine back.
They all look like helmets on my head
May be is was because I still had hair. I prob should have taken them to my hair dresser and let her work with them and thin it out, but I was afraid i would like not like them. I went to a local wig shop and got a R. Welch one I like...I hope my hairdresser can trim it up for me a bit after she gives me the buzz.
I am glad it is winter so I can wear hats.
FWIIW - I sleep like crap now...I take a zannie and I fall asleep but I am up at 3 or 4 every day.
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Has anyone gotten turbans from TLC? I got three, and they look fine, and seemed like a perfect fit at first, but after about an hour they'd give me a headache. They only come in two sizes: petite/average and large. According to their measurements, I was on the small side for petite/average, which struck me as a bit odd as I'm 5'8", have size 11 feet and wear men's large size gloves. I'm going to order them again in large and see if those are more comfortable. I have plenty of scarves but I like the conveience of the turbans...and not having to worry about the long end of the scarf falling in my food. :-)
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I ordered some hats and turbans from TLC, and although my head measured 21"...which they consider "petite" (nothing else about me is petite...5'8", size 11 shoes, men's large gloves), and although everything looks OK, everything except the cloche hat runs small. I can't even wear the turbans because although they feel fine when I first put them on, they give me a headache after about an hour. I've just re-ordered almost everything in a larger size. I'm prone to headaches anyway so maybe they do "fit" OK, but the cotton beret is definitely smaller and less attractive than the one-size-fits-all wool berets that I already own. I think it will just look better in a larger size. Also, be forewarned that some of their hats/turbans come in petite, average, and large, and others only in "petite/average" and large. I mistakenly ordered a couple of hats in petite because I didn't realize there was a middle choice.
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cfdr= hope you had your two bite cupcake last night. some things are just worth it darn it! Sorry your having a hard time w/your wig of choice. My whole family has big melons...so I get it! If you could find a halo you like, then any cool hats at Target, etc. would look good over it.
thanks for all of the support girls, I really appreciate it. I figure with this delay, they'll be able to get my blood sugars all figured out w/whatever's needed and I won't have to have tx altered because of it.
Carla= I cracked up when I read the d.coke=cocaine comment. My mother also thinks it's poison and has told me all about how it'll actually change your dna, blahblahblah.
It's a very sunny, crisp day here. I'm thinking a nice walk and then gonna try to go to our High School playoff game. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
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Carla9112: In the past, my husband has given me grief because I drink diet coke (and coke zero). Now he actually asks me if I want one! This is because my oncologist said that coke can help prevent mouth ulcers!!! So, I have one once a day and so far--no mouth ulcers. Not sure if it will stay that way as I continue on with chemo, but I love my oncologists advice! (She also gave me a prescription for a mouth wash mixture.)
Lori: Sorry to hear about your surgery , fever and delay to your chemo schedule.
Tappy: LOL on the wig helmet! That is exactly what I thought when I was trying on wigs. I did find one that looks pretty good--I may need to get it shaped after I shave my head--but not too bad.
CarolSar: I have tried not to mess with my hair too much, but went outside today and combed out the loose hair--it was getting itchy. Loads came out, but I have thick hair, so not shaving my hair yet. Still shooting for Tuesday before shaving.
Take care!
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LOL Love the Joe Dirt comment that is funny.... My "wig's" names thanks to a friend, the long 600.00 one is grizelda and the short one FREE is Cybil LOL we have fun with them too, DH puts grizelda on and his cousin wears Cybil and I actually caughet them and got pics haha, Thank you ladies on the 1 to o, WooHoo Im so excited for that part to end, then we are on to 5 weeks of rads, Hopefull its NOT anything like chemo... My hair is like little fuzz and its funny I rub it everyday and my son says mom its not a genie it will grow back, dont rub it or your gonna rub it all off haha so I stopped rubbing it..... I have a hard time with pepsi and coke but wow can I even slam back the cream soda for some weird reason and I can actually taste it..... I dont wear my wigs either, Its a ball cap all the way, BALD IS BEAUTIFUL :-) Hope all you great ladies have a wonderful weekend
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Hi everyone - okay just when a doctor says that diet coke would be good for my mouth - I can't drink them!!! Isn't life just crazy!!
Terry you will have to let us know how the radiation goes. I'm scheduled for five weeks too. They say that it actually takes longer to get your clothes on and off than it does for the treatment. They must zap you pretty quick. The only SE's I've heard about are some people burn a little and some are tired. I just can't imagine that it'll be harder than chemo. Geez - is that even possible.
Well gonna run. Hope you all have a wonderful day!
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Carla9112: Awee thats not good!!!! Sorry you have lost your Diet Coke.... I will let you know for sure how it goes.. My cousin who had bc and is 7 years clean said the same thing, that it takes longer to get undressed and dressed than it does for radiation LOL too bad chemo wasnt that fast huh.... I am sure it will be just fine, just NOT looking forward to being gone from my DH, 2 kids and grand daughter for a week at a time seeing as the rad hospital is an hour away from us :-( My little peanut is my rock and makes my days brighter.... Hope you All have an amazing day
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Just wanted to say JC Penney has some awesome hats on sale this week. They also have some coupons online for $10 off to.
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This lack of sleep thing is awful. They gave me some Ambien but I'd rather not take it. Anyone know what causes this insomnia? What's a zannie? I am pretty sure I could cure all of the ills of the world between 3 & 6 in the morning! I had to take a compazine yesterday because I was a little sick. Have you looked up the side effects of that stuff and the zofran? They are antipsychotic drugs. Looks like I'm a nut case after all!
I'll eat about anything (except carrots) but prefer really salty food. Ritz White Cheddar crackers are amazing! Must go to Target & get some popcorn, too. We should all watch how much salt we put in our mouths, though.
There was a really cute wig on one of the web sites for about $100 but after listening to this "family" I took your collective advice and haven't bought one. I may go to to a hobby shop and get a bunch of doll hair and make a halo for some hats. that might be fun! Mine isn't coming out but according to all of you, next Thursday should be about right.
Please tell me what DH means. I just absolutely can't figure it out!
Hey Ladies, If we decide to try and meet up somewhere, we need to check out who lives where we might want to go! Like Normandy (beautiful with lots of good wine), Nashville (hmmm, music), etc. etc. How funny!
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Perts: DH dear husband, or darling husband I cant remember... Chemo brain here Grrrrrr I have been taking my steroids Dexamethosone and OMG I have been up the last 3 days between 4 and 5 AM its kinda starting to get to me I LIKE my sleep LOL Today is day 3 after treatment and I ant taste anything :-( Its all sawdust, cardboard flavored..... I cant wait till this is done....... I rinse my mouth with a baking soda/ salt water and it helps a bit..... Nov 17th cant come soon enough for me!!!!!!!!!!
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Perts1, DH stands for Darling Husband. Sometimes ambien doesn't even help.
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Thanks auntienance I couldnt remember haha
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