Has anyone started a Dec 2011 group?

Having a very emotional day today. Woke up nauseated, quickly took my Zofran but been a weeping mess since. Everything is making me cry. This is not who I want to be! Glad everyone is still asleep or at work. I hate this.

Seacret I take 2 but my onc nurses told me to try and take them as early as possible. So I took first 1 around 6 and second around 1 or 2. They are 4mgs.



Keepn I'm sorry you are down today. That was me yesterday minus the nausea. Do you have a "happy" pill you can take.



Naan that would suck! My onc said we would discuss diet and lifestyle changes after I completed chemo. I asked her about soy because I'm ER+ and that was her answer.

lets, what is your chemo schedule, what meds, how often?  There are a lot of ladies here who have started before u and also check out the Nov thread, they are a little more advanced then most of us here.  Any questions u have don't hesitate to ask.

I am to have an infusion every other week for four weeks of Doxorubicin and Cytoxan.  Then another infusion every other week for four weeks of Taxol.     Later will come radiation and oral meds.

Lets, I'll have Taxol before u so I'll let u know how it goes once I start, but the others is not my territory, but I'm sure there are others who have the same meds as u

I never had the chemo class, not sure why. What did you cover there? For one thing, I have been worried about delays or what happens if snow means i can't get there. Any insights?

LAURA  Thanks for the tip about extra saline, I will definitely ask for that when I go for my first tx on Thurs.

 MARCIA  The chemo class I went to was given by one of the onc nurses, she gave me sort of a general rundown on how the drugs(A/C) were given and some side effects..honestly I get more info from the ladies here because they tell it like it is, which I'm so thankful for!  I think it's hard for the nurses to go into detail because everyone reacts differently.  How are you holding up?

CHRISTINE  Welcome back, glad things are going better for you!

Busy week coming us..Dr appt, wig buying, and "the chair" on Thurs.

Happy Holidays and a minimal s/e weekend for all.

Positive thoughts and hugs

Laurie

Snow. Ugh. We have had such a mild winter so far that I'm afraid we are going to get slammed in January, February, march. I manage to get myself to work when it snows so I guess I will find my way to "the chair"?

Hi ladies, steroid or Nuelasta headache and can't sleep. Might be a long one!



Peacock, hi, yes after last winter in NJ the weather has weighed heavily on my mind. I get my txs on Thursdays in Ridgewood, (not at Valley Hospital) and asked what would happen in the case of snow. They remain open unless there is a state of emergency. They are not open on the weekend. I was told that happened only once in many years. To ease your mind you might want to discuss things with your onc. The chemo class was given by a nurse at St Barnabus. Very in-depth about side effects and self care but you are correct, the ladies here do have more to offer. I have to say though the new onc office gave me a print out of possible SEs, I get more info from Rite Aid with an antibiotic!



Mardibra glad to hear your're regaining strength. Was it mostly terrible fatigue?



Today was day two and period was frighteningly heavy. (seems I am one of the unusual menopausal woman who chemo brings it back for, lucky me) I was told by the nurse I would have

to go to the ER if soaking through hourly. I was probably making things worse by being on my feet all day and finally hit the couch in hopes of slowing things down. Better now.



I don't know anything about banking blood, or the possibility of having a relative donate blood but I think I may look into that.



Rachel glad to hear you feeling better too. I hate the dry winter fingertips. I used to use heavy creams,etc, but what I find the best is to use a gentle emery board and "sand them down" when they're dry before they crack. Don't do this if they've already opened though. I was also going to inquire about the "liquid bandaid". As careful as I try to be, I always seem to have some little nick on my hands. And washing them every 5 minutes makes bandaids impractical.



And the same for feet too!



On a good note I'm so happy my daughter is home from college! My living room was filled with her stuff but the house felt normal for the first time in months. This was her first semester away and I missed her presence here so much! Even the dog was celebrating.



Ok, maybe some tea will help me to sleep, hope so.



Laura

Secret - not so much fatigue this time but it was the nausea. Didn't have any nausea on the first tx. Compazine and zofran are my new best friends. Glad for you (and the dog) that your daughter is home. Have some fun together!



Markat - told my friends and family that when this is all done we are going on a trip. Warm and tropical sounds fantastic!



Christine

Woke up feeling more like myself today. Whew....

No, I don't have any "happy" pills but have decided if the down days are going to be more often than not, I may have to talk to someone about it. I think it's just the season.

Christmas has always been a big deal to me. My mother had always done it big...and I'm not talking about gifts, but family. It seemed no matter what was going on we always came together for Christmas. Spats, differences, forgotten and forgiven. I have tried to carry it on among my family. I have felt more like an observer than a participant this year and I believe that is what finally got me yesterday.

I also have a problem with control. I have always been the one to keep my household running, keep up with everyone, be there when needed. Now I'm the one relying on everyone else. Asking for help is so difficult for me. I feel like a burden. Yep, I was having a big old pity party for myself.

I appreciate you all for the encouragement and understanding. I value the advice.

markat:

I started my chemo with a sinus infection. I have been put on antibiotics for three weeks. As long as there's no fever you should be okay. Everyone around me has gotten sick with bronchitis, sinus infections, etc. I feel much safer with the medication. 

Hi Ladies,

Yesterday was my big meltdown day. I feel so ugly. My scalp is so tender that I cannot wear the wig and the scarves/hats hurt as well. I cannot sleep worth a damn cause what is left of my porcupine hair pokes me.  My skin has no color and my lips looks bloodless, I put makeup on and I look like a clown. I cannot win.

I realize this is temporary, but it really sucks!!!!!

Gator - i hear ya with the porcupine pain.  Its uncomfortable to say the least.  I had to wear Esmarelda all last week at work which was uncomfortable because of the stubble.  Not sure if the wig accelerated the hair loss or not, but its almost all gone "around the edges".  It has made sleeping and Esmarelda wearing much easier.  Im now wearing my "baseball hat with fake hair attached" get up.  Much more comfortable than Esmarelda until all the hair is gone.  You deserve a melt down....its necessary and theraputic.  All of us deserve a good cry now and again.

Im off to the supermarket to pick up a few final things for a dinner tonight.  Off to my Moms tomorrow.  Im hoping to see my nephews but expecting my ex-sister-in-law (unaffectionately known as "dbag") to do what she normally does and disappear with the kids.  Custody orders mean nothing to her. 

Happy thoughts to all.

Christine

Sounds beautiful Naan. Would've loved some warm weather, although it was a pretty day in NJ.



Hope you all don't mind while I reflect a bit here.



During the first 14 years of marriage, Christmas Eve was spent w my husbands large Italian family, great food, great fun. When my marriage ended 16 years ago, I took it pretty hard. First couple years while my young kids went w their dad, I went to various relatives, but always felt like out of place, so made it my own tradition to spend this night as I wished, church service, wrapping gifts, or just time to reflect.



This Christmas Eve was a little different, 3 days post tx, not feeling well, and spent most of the day very quiet, in hopes of stopping this very heavy period, no! I did not want to include an ER visit as part of my Christmas Eve memories.



So my oldest daughter opted to stay home. She baked cookies, the first sweets I've eaten in almost two months, haven't wanted any. And we had the most amazing, conversations. Conversations that 3 months ago, weren't even remotely touched upon. Now, surreal, but so real.



Seeing this level of depth, maturity and grace that my daughter possesses, has given me a gift of such peace, and I am grateful.



My younger daughter came home later w the traditional "bag o gifts" from their grandmother and we laughed at the silly, albeit, wasteful gifts that their dear grandmother indulges on them. (21 and she still gets a yearly barbie). She then modeled her sherbet-colored sweatsuit. Even cleaned up after her sisters baking extravaganza.



I want to thank God for this Christmas Eve, and thank you ladies who are a tremendous support.



Many blessings to all this day,



Laura

Good morning ladies. I hope everyone had a great holiday. Mine was very nice but exhausting. Today I'm going to clean up all the mess and prepare for my tx Wednesday.