January 2012 chemo

Jenn28 ~ Top of page 39 Catwhispurrer has posted her Liver values, being high also.

Riceandbean ~ I wish you both a better 2nd infusion...I know it's hard on my husband to sit there and watch me, and can do nothing...and we swear he has worse Chemo head than me...he says it leaks out and he gets the muffin head from it. He opened the Microwave the other day because it was beeping and he didn't want it to desturb me (since my hearing has been ampliphied and certain noise is painful and still is on day 13) but...he never brought me my Tea that was in it!!  That's a Chemo Head!!  I have not had any Nausea requiring pills after the mandatory first 3 day pills.  I take 1 Amend and 3 Dex a total of four pills for three days and that's it.  I do suck on some Ginger Candy and that helps the little nausea I have and then it is gone...                       it's called GIN GIN...we all want to help, it makes me feel useful sometimes...but, we just don't have all the same side effects.  Good luck today you'll do fine, get them to give you disposable heating pads..they make me feel so much better..they look like a throw away Ice pack...I stick them all over the arm getting the infusion...I'll be doing my 4th tomorrow.

Barb

riceandbeans,  just had to say your wife is lucky to have such a supportive husband beside her.  My husband is not terribly supportive so I know how difficult it is to be solo or have someone making demands when your sick(instead of offering support). keep up the love!!!  (:

Hi Everyone,

This 3rd A/C treament hit me like a bus and then then backed over me again. Pretty much been in bed for 10 days along with being hit with a whopper cold. MO finally put me on a z-pack "just in case". Kept saying he was reluctant but since I have sounded like a frog for 12 days he would go ahead and Rx it.

I do have a couple question for you ladies. Has anyone gained weight? I am really thin in the face and torso but I cannot button my jeans and my abdomen feels doughy. Onc says it is related to the steroids. And has anyone else lost their tastebuds. I cannot seem to find my pre chemo ones. Taste was a little off first 2 treatments now eveything just tastes bad/metallic/acrid/bitter. And it's not going away this time. Anyone else???

And to a few of you that posted your ears were ringing.. Mine started after this treatment too. Oh joy......I do hope evyone else is doing well.

Brooke

riceandbean; i was told that i couldn't really boost my wbc thru foods during tx-which bummed me! brown rice and beans etc are sposed to be good for that!

my tx (which is AC) began with the flush of my PICC, Emend as well as Aloxi for nausea and then my AC stuff--not sure-don't remember -what else went in...

i had just some queasiness monday and even yesterday a tad but quelled it with compazine and some ginger hard candy-i found it at the grocery -giant eagle was mine-in teh candy aisle it's Go Naturally -gluten and preservative free-made in America called organic hard candies -ginger--it wasn't easy to find- and the chews that rachel suggests were out of stock when i tried to order... i also found ginger teas- i bought a lemon ginger caffeien free made by stash-again grocery store aisle-maybe walmart i think---

my appetite has remained and i am trying to be cautious cuz i had gastric bypass so i have to watch sugars in, keep my proteins high and i know that i am going to gain thru this tx ...last nite, hubby made samein-he actually starts witha ramne noodle packet of seasonings, adds chicken, celery, onions, carrots, whatever and the ramen noodles as well as last nite's had mucho more noodles- i got a hot flash afterwards and don't knwo if it was the noodles (carbs will do that to me-) or the decadron pill that i take for three days (2X a day) after my tx..

so funny how each of us is treated dfferently in meds!

have your wife really push the fluids!!!!

Momof2inME,

8 pounds gained in one week for me!  My MO says that it is the steroids (I only take them orally for 2 days after tx), but that if it continues through cycle #3 (tx is this Friday), she may have to put me on a diuretic!  Just what I need.

My taste buds have left town -- the only thing that tastes "normal" is orange soda (don't ask me why).    

Thank you very much Ladies!  You have all been so supportive and a source of great comfort and information.

We woke up at 5 am to 10 inches of fresh snow...took us 2 hours to get into town for the blood draw and meeting with onc...dodging hwy closures and city snow/ice drivers crashing left and right all the way.   We love our 4wd beast more and more on days like today!  

J's (my wife) wbc was perfect per the onc.  He noted that he had gotten the chemo tx right as it had knocked her down at nadir, but her body had picked up the slack and rebuilt the wbc's right back where they should be.  We don't even need to come in for a nadir bloodwork session after #2.

Session #2 went faster than #1.  Our nurse was fantastic.  spent lots of time talking se's and what to expect from taxol.  She slowed the Cyto drip down to 1 hour and that eliminated the headache that J had dreaded getting this time...instead only a bit of "bubbly feeling" in the nose.  J was lightheaded throughout...probably from the decablahblah as this was administered with the emend.

J is resting at her aunt's - stopped at whole foods for a chicken salad sammich which she polished off and reported tasting all of, in it's entirety.  Sleeping now...I will pick her and our son up this evening after work and then we head back up the mountain to home sweet home.

J's weight has stayed steady at 106 lbs (she is 5 ft 4 inches tall). We havta keep her eating and drinking water throughout this whole deal!!!

@Gayle56:  We are hoping to avoid the Neulasta at all costs.  So far so good.

@PCBarbie66:  This cracks me up everytime I read it.  I can so relate.  Not quite myself these days.  In fact today in the infusion room J turns to me and says "you are so strange in social situations...you act like you are high, but don't even know it.  what you are saying is not making sense to anyone else but you."  Oh boy...

@CharB22:  That pepermint oil trick is a doozy.  After my wife's MX the home nurse came out to our place in the middle of a snowstorm to change J's dressing.  J started feeling very nauseated at the sight of the MX and wanted to vomit.  The nurse suggested some peppermint oil.  I had some Dr Bronners peppermint soap around - soaked up a papertowel and after one whiff all was well again!  Amazing how far a little folk know how willl get you...

If I have missed anyone I sincerely apologize.  You all have been absolutely amaziing!!!  I am going to keep checkin in if it's ok...

If I can help or be of any support to anyone please let me know.  

@Kitchenella:  Our nurse today told us that the Compazine and Decablahblah combo can cause quite a bit of dizziness, but the Zofran can cause bad headaches...Are you taking these?

Nurse also said to ask onc about a lower dose of Decablahblah...Our MO agreed and now my wife will only take one per day.

Nurse suggested that the Compazine be taken before the Decablahblah (steroid) and this worked for my wife last time out...really eliminated the pounding heart, low blood pressure, and dizziness.

 Hope this helps!

riceandbean:  I can't speak for anyone else here, but I don't find the Neulasta shot to be a problem.  I take Claritin for seven days, and have not had any bone pain at all, with the exception perhaps of the neckache/headache, which seems to be resolved with Motrin.  On the other hand, the Neulasta must be doing its job because my WBC has been good after the last two treatments, and while I'm fighting a mild cold right now, I'm doing well.  I'd gladly take the headache over a low WBC.

As Rachel pointed out, we don't seem to know why the Claritin works.  My MO was surprised when I mentioned it and said they'd heard of it but don't suggest it because there's no proof - but lots of us here will swear by it.  I am not willing to give up the Claritin right now to find out if I would have pain - not worth taking the chance!  :-) 

Hugs to you and J.  She's lucky to have you supporting her and helping her through this.  I've been blessed with a husband that is incredibly supportive and generous with his time and attention.  Like you, he says he'd gladly take this for me if he could.  He's really my best friend and biggest cheerleader, and I'm so blessed to have him in my life.  J sounds like a very lucky woman, too!

@DianeNMil:  I am sorry to hear this.  I made a vow to my wife.  I will always be there for her.   I try my best to be emotionally supportive, but I know my blockheaded logical caveman mind sometimes just doesn't get what she needs.  I need to work at being a husband every minute of every day.  It's hard, but then I knew it would be when I signed up.

That being said, people have different systems and time-frames for emotionally processing and dealing with monumental moments in life.  I would hope that your husband is working through this in his own way...hard as it may be to understand.  I hope he will in time come around and share his hope, doubts and fears with you in a way that will be meaningful to YOU.

Believe it or not, I think the complete crap situation created by this disease can be an amazing opportunity to grow individually and also mature our closest, most important relationships. 

nancy; i'm in your pocket tomorrow!

i'm using the claritin per everyone's recommendation-MO didn't say that i couldn't and i am not about to chance it! it's not hurting me to do it ...

ricenbean;-10 inches of snow- holy crud- i'm in ohio and haven't, luckily, seen that much at once in about 20 years!

Momof2inME - I've been 'evanglizing' about olive oil for helping with mouth sores and taste buds. Again, no official research, but a good friend of mine who's been through 2 types of cancer, with chemo and rads, and her doctor recommended swishing olive oil. It took a little while to get used to it, but so far, I've only had my taste buds mutiny on me a few times, and they come back within a few days.

I'm sorry to hear so many of you are dealing with neuropathy. I have a slight 'callousy' sensation occasionally, but I'm hoping it doesn't progress. I hope your MOs are staying on top of it so it doesn't get worse for you.

I'm winding down for the evening, getting ready for my tx tomorrow. I think I've got enough of my work done so if I get whacked again by the Mack truck, I don't have to worry about staying home. Mom's here, and I'll get my chemo bag all stocked. I need to leave by 7:30 in the morning to get to Philly for my appointment. All the best for anyone else with treatments tomorrow or Friday. 

So many of us are at or getting close to our halfway point.  YAY!  I can almost see the end.

I can't wait to see what tx#4 brings.  I've been retaining water and my ankles no longer exist.  NP suggests support hose. My eyes are complaining, dry and scratchy!  My skin is a mess.  I think I'm breaking out in a rash.  This happened after the last tx.  The red dots show up during the 'good' week, right before my next tx.  This really is poison.  Well, at least I know it is killing something.

Good luck with today's tx Rachel, PCBarbie, & Nancy.  Am I forgetting anyone?  Joyce, I'm with you tomorrow.  Can't wait!

Nancy,

Luck with your 3rd mine will be next week. I haven't gained much either and eating all.

Tea no, sugar no.. I do crave veges. bread so so .. crave nothing else.  Had ear buzzing with first for few days but its gone, may be by next time it will stay.

Riceandbeans,

I hope u get to do something else too.Its important for you to take care of your self.

Janetaned,

I hope you feel better as soon as you are done and swelling goes away. May be they can give you diuretics?

*Hugs* to everyone.

Bela 

Good luck to all those going in for treatment today. I'm Day Nine after my second A/C and still feeling pretty rough. The last two days were spent largely on the couch. It's hard to explain to people what the feeling is. I can only say its being 'chemo sick.' Not throwing up sick, or feverish sick - just feeling like crap. See how specific I can be?



Here's hoping that with Day Ten around the corner, I'll be able to be out and about for a few days before the next treatment on Wednesday.

Annie