March 2012 chemo

masserz - your hair description evokes such a vivid image...be sure to take before-and-after pics so that when all the BC crap has passed, you and your family can LAUGH!

Just spent 30 minutes typing (one handed) a long post to lots of different people and then POOF it was gone. ARRGHH! So... I'll have to be pretty general because I don't have 30 more minutes and I don't want to leave anyone out.

I'm so glad to have found such an amazing group of women to "talk" too. It helps me so much to read everyone's posts and I wish I could write more but my current one armed situation makes that hard.

Quick update - I was supposed to have my head shaved yesterday but my wig was on back order and they loaned me one until mine comes in. It's a slightly different style and I didn't want to be so obvious about switching wigs after a few days so I decided to hold out until Tuesday. I may cave and get it shaved this weekend if necessary.

My wrist surgery is still scheduled for Monday. I have the most horrendous, gigantic bruise above the cast that has me a little freaked out. If they have to cancel my surgery for any reason I may go off the deep end. I cannot handle one more thing.

So here is the way next week is shaping up for me - wrist surgery on Monday, head shave on Tuesday, and chemo (#2) on Wednesday. Sounds fun, huh? The good news is that my daughters love my wig, and they were sooooo worried about that part.

I hope everyone enjoys their weekend. I will be cheering loudly on the sideline of my girls' soccer games! Thinking about wrapping myself in bubble wrap as a precaution...

Hugs!

Jeanne

Michelle - glad your surgery went well. I have had mine for 2 weeks now and it really doesn't bug me. I notice it sometime but the two seconds it takes to get the little thing in to do the blood draws and ivs makes it well worth it. Ok what is that called people?



Jeanne I hate it when I post and that happens! When I have my laptop out I actually open two browsers and read on one while replying on the other. One wrong click and it's gone! Good luck with surgery on Monday. Hope that it is uneventful.



Cucho the only thing I have been told about caffeine is that it isn't good for hydrating so to avoid for that reason. If you ate drinking plenty of other liquids I don't see where it would hurt. Just my opinion.

Personally I have totally lost my taste for coffee and diet coke so it hasnt been an issue but that probably made my headaches worse!

jeanne- busy week!  Hope it goes well and have a blast at your girls soccer games!  I think I heard once that bubble wrap is one accessory that goes with any outfit

cucho- I was told coffee was okay but to remember it dehydrates so to compensate with water,  Heck, they told me I could send my husband out to get me some coffee during chemo! I don't know if I could make it through the day without my coffee. My taste buds have changed a bit and all coffee kind of thats like that really late night coffee you get at Dennys but I still drink it. (I just add cocoa). Still tastes weird but it's coffee.

Cmclean - I just look at my Keurig I got at Christmas and sigh.



Alice - oh my!! That is crazy. So glad that they got you pumped full of antibiotics. What do you do from here? Just lie low until next TX?

I am jealous of y'all with your steroid energy!  I think the only thing they did was interfere with my sleep.

Here is another topic that I just saw referenced on another board.  Do any of you feel that the SE's were very much downplayed to you before treatment?  My family is VERY supportive, do not get me wrong, but they have told me on numerous occasions that my BS told them after my port surgery that the chemo would basically be not a big deal, that there are such good ways to control SE etc...that people went on with their lives/work, etc...which I know is true for many people.  But that has not been the case for me. 

Now keep in mind that this was my BS not my MO.  I guess maybe because she is just a more "happy happy joy joy" personality.  My MO didn't do either.  She simply presented all the side effects in a clinical/matter of fact way.  I just sometimes feel like I am supposed to be "getting over" my SE.  Again, I am totally not complaining.  I do nothing around here.  DH is going to work, my parents are taking care of the house and kids and everyone is telling me how I just need to rest/recover, etc...but part of me wishes that the BS wouldn't have presented that information to them in that way because I think it is really inaccurate. Or it is for me at least.

Karri- thanks. Did yours feel tight? That's what's bugging me the most. My MO told my husband that SE would be rough but not like they used to be. He also told him that I would need to exercise. Hubby thinks we'll be out doing 2 mile walks!



Alice- sorry to hear about that. We have so much going on and then that happens. Hopefully they fixed you up and you're on the road to feeling better.

got a couple questions....

does n e one know if it is better to get hair cut short after the first tx....then go to beauty shop when that starts to do and get it buzzed????

a friend told me after she got it buzzed she ...at one point could draw like smiles in the fuzzbuzz and it came out...and she wore a satin nite hat as it irritated her at one point when it was buzzed and started falling out.

also, do u have to put a cream on your head after it comes out...if so...what kind

 know i will have more ?? later

I have had such a problem with headaches this round that my ONC told me to drink caffeine. They finally stopped after day 9 and some caffeine. Stomach still not right. Anyone else having these lingering SE?

Kltb04- I hear you. My BS also told me that she has several patients in college and/or working full time with no problems because they're able to manage SE's so well. Well, now I feel like I'm being a big baby or something, because I haven't been coping do well with the SE's. I'm on day 11, and I'm STILL struggling with fatigue and nausea. I had to leave work early 3 times this week. I just feel like maybe I'm not as strong as these other super women that she was talking about.

Msbelle- I'm still having some lingering SE's too. Not only do I have the fatigue and nausea, but I have headaches and diarrhea too. Fantastic.

Regarding hair, today is my Day 11 and the first strands of hair have come out, just a few, but it is definitely happening. Before I started chemo, I cut my mid-chest long hair down to a few inches. I am planning to go for a buzz cut as soon as I get the courage together to do it.. I didnt expect it, but I am experiencing a strange sense of "hair mourning"..I guess its becuz its hard to say goodbye to anything you really like.

I was suffering from very bad headaches as well after chemo, even tho I dont regularly drink caffeine. But caffeine is helping reduce these headaches now, but even better is the Extra strength Aceteminopen- highly recommended to all!   

I believe in the power of the mind and positive thinking.  My MO didn't really gloss over my potential SE.  He listed the things that may happen to me, but they may not.  He encouranged (really insisted) that I work, continue my exercise and clean diet and get by the best I could.  Yes I would have bad days, but I would get through it.  

I liked that approach.  I have done enough reading and research to know how bad it can be, but I have chosen to go in hoping for the best and preparing for the worst!

Dear Mary, I was a first timer today and went back to look to see if anyone had read my post and now I can't find the forum I was in LOL..................but that must have planned because I read your post!  How wonderful to hear that you are well and active and once again enjoying life.  I am not in a good place ..........waiting to start chemo and scared.  Your diagnosis is somewhat similar to mine and of course not the same LOL.  Your post just gave me such a boost on a night where I am trying to figure out what I will do and how I will do it.  Yep, a planner, type a/b .  God love ya, gave my heart a smile! MaryIIa