January 2012 chemo

Lumpynme - it was wonderful in Northern Ohio on Sunday and sounds like it will be for rest of week after gloom today.  Yippee.  Felt like I was coming back to life, too.  I even raked a garden bed!  Wow, a few weeks ago during A/C, never thought I would ever have the energy to do that again!  What a gift!  I will try and never complain about raking garden beds again!

Halos- I have one too, but never wore it yet.  I think summer may be a better time for it, too.  I always wear wigs out, but think I am going to change that up.  Getting tired of that feeling, too.  If wearing a scarf or turban is a neon sign flashing "chemo" I don't care any more!!  

I find I have certainly gotten more bold during all of this stuff - anyone else???  I never quite know what will come out of my mouth next!

I'm getting worried.  My last AC was almost 3 weeks ago and I'm still very tired.  Have the face neuropathy. weepy eyes and absolutely no appetite.  Deciding what to eat is a nightmare.

I'm due to start Taxol tomorrow.  If that makes me more tired I'm in reat trouble.

Perhaps my bloodwork will show something tomorrow.

Peggy 

Go Karen!  I'm not at that point yet, but feel like its coming.  On my way to work last week I had to check if I put my wig on.  I leave before 7am and am not fully awake, so as I drive I take inventory - did I close the garage door, turn out the lights, grab my cell phone, get fully dressed, etc.  Now I have to add -did I put my wig on. I run around the house without it, usually bald, so I could imagine forgetting it.  I imagine that I will dump the wig as the weather gets hot. 

Peggy, I'm so sorry you are feeling so fatigued.  I found that many of the AC SEs slowly went away.  My eyes are much better and I have no stomach issues.  My skin feels better as well. Even though I am more fatigued and my body aches a bit, I just feel better overall.  Hopefully you will too!

I did learn a big lesson - stay away from people who are sick!  One of my students had a terrible cold with a fever a few weeks ago.  She is in two of my classes.  I did not protect myself and ended up with the same cold.  This led to an overnight hospitalization this weekend because I had a high fever and a cough.  Initially, they said I pneumonia which was later debated.  It was difficult to determine which of my complaints were due to taxol and which were caused by the virus.  Because they thought I had pneumonia, I was pumped full of antibiotics. Now I think I might now have thrush. My tongue feels weird.  I'll have to call the mo's office today.

Peggy:  I'm sorry you're still feeling so awful after your last AC.  My last (4th) was two weeks ago, and I'm just now starting to feel better - but still not good.  I didn't get out of bed two days ago - I just couldn't do it.  Yesterday was a good day, I think today is a good day, but I can't guarantee tomorrow.  This has been the worst recovery from a tx so far.  My MO keeps reminding me of the cumulative effects of these tx's, and I think that's what we're experiencing.  I was told it would take 3-4 weeks for the remainder of the AC to be gone from my body, so hopefully you're on the way towards that recovery. 

Nancy - What a wonderful idea of putting your hair out for the birds!!! I might consider it.

Peggy - Sorry to hear you're still dealing with the AC SEs. I hope the T isn't as hard on you. You deserve a break.

Jane - Staying away from sick people can be so hard, even when it's on your priority list. I hope you don't have thrush, and that you're otherwise recovering. Take it easy.

FLDreamer - It's great that you've found that comfort level, and that, while it may not matter, the people around you get it and support you. I sort of wish I could go bald - I never shaved my hair all the way, so I have lots of wisps of hair that I never lost and would NOT shave now, as they'll be my recovery base, but there's no way I'd feel comfortable out in public this way. Bald, yes, sprout garden, no.

I'm coming out of the #5 slump. Mostly fatigue. The past three days pretty much just happened without me, though I was up and about, just not doing much beyond contemplating meal options, emails (my only level of productivity during these down periods) and a little reading. I think my taste is planning to desert me this time, though. I've lucked out previously with just a few exceptions. But I think I'll be able to pull myself together to get back to work. 

peggy-my MO told me yesterday that hte chemo can come out thtru tears-could that be the weepy eyes you are having? i am experiencing it now

Lumpy perhaps but I think it is because they are actually dryer than normal and my body is overcompensating.

Fldreamr the doc said they would start 'unless something turns up in the bloodwork"

Thanks gals for the support.  I did go into Jerusalem for my grandaughters 4yr. birthday party at her nursery school.  Then I walked a bit to do some shopping and ate lunch at my favorite restaurant.  The food actually looked and tasted good but I couldn't finish all of it.

 I had to keep stopping to rest but made it home in time for a nap.

Bela:  Nothing wrong with wanting to know.  You're not selfish, you're looking for hope!

My 4th AC treatment was easy - and exciting, in some ways, because I knew I was done!  The first few days were great, but I did completely crash on Day 6 - never got out of bed.  Felt great the next few days, then crashed again on Day 11 - never got out of bed.  SEs were worse this time than before, but only because i've been blessed with minimal SEs so far (except for the exhaustion - that's my worst).  Multiple mouth sores from Day 3 that are just now starting to heal; and hand/foot syndrome, but only on my left hand, starting Day 3 (I have a theory about how it happened, so I suggest you simply be very gentle with your hands).  

As of today (Day 13) I'm feeling incredibly good.  Baked a blueberry pie this morning, two loaves of babka (chocolate bread), and a dozen blueberry/lemon muffins.  Going out to run some errands, and then making dinner.  I can honestly say I feel "normal" right now.

Just think, Bela - your last AC treatment is in two days - then no more!!!  That's something to be celebrated!  You might have a hard time - but you might not!  I've learned that I cannot predict how well - or not-well - I'm going to do with any given treatment.  Every day is a good day; some days are just better than others.

I've got my first Taxol on Thursday, so we can hold each other's hands through tx.  In fact, since I have to sit there for at least 4 hours I'll be taking my computer so I'll pop in and say hello.

Good luck, Bela - you're almost done!

I wanted to know if anyone who is doing AC has trouble swollowing? I have pain in throat and trouble with that.

Thanks

Bela 

Whiner alert - I haven't posted in a while because things around here have, well....sucked. My last A/C was brutal!! It took me almost 12 days to recover. Then I had 2 descent days before my first Taxol. But in the meantime, the stomach bug hit our house and I had to stay away from and simultaneoulsy comfort my 11 year old. My WBC's crashed to below 1 again and DH had to work.

Then my father-in-law had a heart attack (his 5th), so he's in the hospital with pneumonia and renal failure. My poor DH has to deal with the very real possibility of losing his dad on top of me being a mess.

The Taxol has not been as easy as I thought - I had excrutiating bone and leg pain for 3 days. And, to top it all off, my sugar levels have been going up, up, up, so I had to see my PCP yesterday and now I have to check my sugar levels twice a day (I had gestational diabetes when I was pregnant with my first.) My PCP said that sometimes people that are predisposed to diabetes have run into trouble with the steroids. So, I have to watch what I eat -- which sucks, because I can't have Shamrock shakes anymore! Everything that I feel like eating (carbs) I've got to cut waaaay back on.

Grrrrr....I'm angry. I only have 3 more treatments left and I'm sooooo ready for this to be over!!!

miniwheat: I have just finished 3 x FEC and between my 2nd and 3rd one my liver enzymes shot up as well (GGT at about 185!). My MO was concerned enough to cut back my last treatment so that it was just FE (5-FU and epirubicin) without the cyclophosphamide which is the one that she said can cause the liver problems. She also had me go and get tested to make sure I didn't have underlying Hepatitis (I didn't thank goodness!).

My next treatment is this Friday (start of 12 x Taxol weekly) and I'm heading in this afternoon to do my pre-treatment bloods and then have an appt with the MO tomorrow morning. Will let you know if my liver levels have come down...

CharB22: sorry to hear you've had such a bad time. Everyone keeps talking about how "easy" Taxol is compared to the other treatments we've all been getting but I am really worried because the SEs actually from Taxol do sound worse to me than the ones I had with FEC. With FEC it was all temporary stuff like nausea, mouth problems, eyes watering etc. With Taxol it sounds like the problems are potentially long-term ie: neuropathy, bone pain and more likely to limit my ability to work over the next 12 weeks (I start Taxol/Herceptin on Friday this week). Has your PCP or MO given you anything or any suggestions for how to deal with the bone/joint pain?

Jenn

Rachel - You are almost there!!!!!! I didn'y realize how far along you are in treatment.  I bet it feels good!  I wish I had left my hair a little longer when I shaved it!  Some of the longer stubble is hanging on.  Oh well, too late now

BelaT - I know we are all different, but I found my 4th AC a little easier than #3.  I think Nancy is on to something - It was exciting.  I knew I would not be facing those big syringes again!  I found that Taxol is more manageable.  Yes, I am fatigued and I have aches and pains, but my gut feels so much better.  I don't feel that overall 'sick' feeling AC gave me.  Its hard to explain.  I have tx # 2 on Friday and am not too concerned.

 Peggy - My eyes were really a problem during my final 2 AC txs.  That has since cleared up.  I'm not nearly as dry any more.  Even my sinuses feel better.  I'm glad you were able to get out and about.  I miss toddler birthday parties!  Mine are all grown up and I have no grandbabies yet.   4yrs old!  What a wonderful age!

Nancy - WOW!  You were busy baking!  Everything sounds so good!  Blueberries are my favorite.

Anyone taken neupogen? I'm missing my treatment again tomorrow due to low white count. Starting 4 days of neupogen tomorrow.

Jenn I have the no appetite thing.  

Seagrover they gave me neupogen when I was in the hospital with low blood counts.  I would get a terrible backache about 3 hours after the injection but a large dose of Tyenol would knock it down.

Peggy 

Jenn - I've got my fingers, toes, and anything else I can cross, crossed for you!  I know how scary every bump and pain is these days.