April/May 2012 Chemo hang out

IndigoMont11-  Sounds like the t-shirt head wrap is pretty easy.  I understand what you described as how to do it.  They are function similar to the Buff headwear I bought the other day.  We will both get through this together as we have with everything else!!!!  I have lost 14 pounds since my February diagnosis (I now weigh 110 & I'm 5 ft tall).  I don't think I'm going to put back of any of that weight between now and next week no matter what I eat!!!

Stacie- You have some great ideas, especially the daily to do checklist,  food plans and 7 day pill box.  I bought some colorful sticky dots to mark those prescriptions so I won't get the drugs mixed up.  I have a bin for the OTC medications.  I separated them into different marked ziploc bags so I would know which are for nausea, constipation, indigestion, etc.  Thanks!!!

Hi nfranklin hope being tired is the worst of it for you. I haven't had a bone density test before but I think that is in my future too. I heard it's no big deal either, though.

Thanks Binney! If things go south with my right arm I'll go ahead with the port. I can't tell you how astonished I was at her comment, and the more I thought about it, the less sense it made. I mean- maybe they could get blood w/o a tourniquet out of my weightlifter son, but no way would that work for me. I don't understand, as you say, what the difference could possibly be.

MUGA was fine. No big deal. The woman was super nice and was quite the chatterbox, so it went by pretty quickly. 

I made a page for myself on facebook. It's a closed page so I have to invite them in. But from day 1, that's where I have been posting everything. I have 1 uncle and 1 aunt that I have to email because they don't have facebook. But that's it. I type it and they all get it.

The puppy is doing really well. He comes to the studio with us when nobody is home, since he is not housebroken yet. Between obsessing about cancer, tests for cancer, and now the puppy, I will never get anything done! haha But, I am getting out in the sun and getting some walking in. He is such a cutie too. Totally has the two older dogs put in their place already. haha

My look good feel better thing is Monday. My daughter and her friend are going with me. I told them they can have what I don't want. Im so not a makeup person, so they will make out pretty good. 

The heat today was enough to make me realize I probably am not going to be a wig person. I can't stand heat. I may be rocking the bald look!  

Sandik-When does your chemo start?  My echocardiogram was done in 30 minutes which was the minimum time the tech said it would take.  Now to hear when my CT scan is since my insurance said no to the PET scan.  Whatever......  Glad to hear the puppy is doing well.

Haven't purchased any wigs and don't plan to.  It's going to start getting warmer and more humid down here in Texas so the idea of putting something on my head that just may heat up my head just doesn't appeal to me.  Sent the oncologist's research assistant a list of supplements to see if I can take any of them during/after chemo before my chemo starts next Tuesday.  I figured it couldn't hurt to ask.

Have a good day my friends!!

The chant for our time in chemoland is--- minimal side effects...minimal side effects...minimal side effects. 

barbyjean - Thanks for the tips and please keep coming back here and checking on us!!!!  I'm having the same chemo regimen as you had and value your input!!!!

vballmom - Sorry to hear about that additional surgery awaits you but it does give you more time to prepare for the chemo.  Keep us posted with everything.  You are not travelling alone on your journey---- you are with a good group of gals here!!!! 

Stacie- I'm in Houston, near the Medical Center part of town. Wish we lived closer to each other!!!  I went to undergrad in Dallas and my MIL lives in Ft. Worth.  I know the north Texas territory.

Stacie- Would love to meet up if you are down this way!!!!!  You are so right about staying indoors once it starts getting warm here.  I already informed my high school senior son that I most likely won't be at his graduation because of the timing of my chemo and the ceremony is held outdoors. The idea of sitting outside in the heat and being around a large group of people during chemo doesn't appeal to me.  He told me it was fine with him and he would rather be at home with me in the a/c!!!!!

Just a phone call from the oncologist's office.  All of the supplements I asked about, I can take!!!! So it's off to Whole Foods to get some.  I also asked about what I could do to hedge off the constipation.  She said to try the prune juice/ cooked prunes route and then check with her about OTC meds.  I'm okay with that since that is what I did right before my UMX and had no constipation issues.  Almost finished cleaning out my pantry of food and stuff that is a bizilion years old----where did all that stuff come from???? lol 

Melrose, no clue when I start. I hope soon. I'd never survive in Tx! It was 85 here yesterday and I was crying. haha

vball, no date yet? Mine was a piece of cake. No node stuff, so I felt no worse when I left than I did when I came in.

7doantela81, I don't know what MUGA stands for, but it's a heart scan. It checks your heart before chemo. Chemo is tough on the heart, so this gave them a baseline. I'll probably get anouther one at least once during chemo to see if it's doing any damage. The two older dogs are German Shepherds. That's what I've always had. I love them. This puppy is a boxer/shepherd mix. 

Second chemo treatment yesterday. I had major night sweats, woke up drenched with sweat. Had to change pj's, sheets, and pillow case. Went to bed with slight nauseous feeling, very tired.

Woke up with major dizziness. Ate some breakfast but didn't help. Had to make my hubby take me to get my shot. Came home and crashed for 2 hours, very unlike me. Usually can't nap much.



Started taking Lorazapam which has seemed to help with nauseousness. Have not much seen much hair loss but Imagine is it not far around the corner.

Afternoon all!  T-3 days and counting down to first chemo on Friday.  Today was a pretty good day; slept longer than I have been, felt good, worked for 5 hours today, and picked up my (prettier) wig.  The wig shop had their stylist in and he trimmed up the bangs for me just as if I was getting my real hair done.  They are soo nice.  He's from Las Vegas and when I mentioned my not-so-secret plan to take DH on a little trip to renew our vows for our 30th, they had all kinds of great suggestions for shows and stuff to do.  I am so determined to get over this as soon as I can so we can go ahead with this!! 

OK, so:  now for Indigo's little rant.  DH is close friends with a couple from out of state.  Really great people - I've met them both.  He has needed (understandably) to reach out to his network of friends about my diagnosis and treatment, and shared his fears about chemo (keeps telling me it is poison and will do more harm than good...) with them.  Well... she unfortunately has a difficult situation of her own right now-her mother is having a very bad time with cancer herself, and this after going through chemo, which apparently was very hard on her.

So she mesages my husband that she hopes I do well, but she's filtering what could happen with me through that experience and telling him all kinds of really awful negative stuff.   He read me her e-mail a few minutes ago and while he wasn't looking and before he finished, I put on my iPod.  Telling him this kind of stuff is like throwing gasoline on a fire.  It sure as heck didn't help ME any.  I am soooo pissed.  I'd love to (tactfully) tell her I feel terribly about her mother, but not to send any more messages like that to DH.  

I don't have her e-mail addy, and after cooling off quietly for a few minutes, I decided just to blow it off and as long as it doesn't seem to escalate or whatever, to accept that she in her own way was offering some kind of support - and probably needing to vent herself.  But I am sick and tired of always being the understanding one.  I am not trying to be unrealistic - everyone in this thread probably knows all about the risks of chemo by now and we made a conscious decision because we want the best chance to get the cancer behind us and go on about our lives.  

I did hear DH out the other day on his issues and then told him that I understand that he worries because he loves me - but there will be times when I have to say that I'm not listening.  And there will be times when I don't feel great and I'll have to say that I just need to be left alone until I feel better.  You'd think after 30 years this would be obvious.... but then, this is a whole new experience and I spent a lot of that time keeping things inside.  

OK, rant all done. 

IndigoMont11- Glad to hear you rant and release that whatever you want to call it.  It is just plain good for the soul.  This year will my DH's and mine 31st wedding anniversary the day after my July 17th  infusion #5.  That should be an interesting anniversary.   As all of my doctors/nurses have observed and commented to us, we are a unit and he is at ever appointment and so tuned in on getting me through all of this.  We do talk a lot to each other regardless of how hard it may be at time.  I realize how fortunate I am and  the relationship we have is not the same for others.  I also told my DH that he should talk to whomever he needs to help him.  So whenever you to let it out, please keep coming back here. We all need the positive energy and thoughts to keep moving forward with our journeys.  HUGS and love to you, my friend.

Hi 7donatela81! Welcome to our fun chemo thread.  You've joined in with a great group of gals and we shall go arm and arm through chemoland together!  Yep, back to the yummy oatmeal, blueberries and low fat milk for this chick!!!!!  I'm tired of cooking the egg/bacon breakfast and find it much easier to put the oatmeal in the microwave!!! Less clean up.

Since I'm officially in the clinical trial, I do want to keep track of everything that happens and what I eat.  It will help keep me on track with things.   Just reminds me of a science project so I guess I am the project subject this time. 

This morning was good full of energy no other apparent SE's. Could not eat or drink anything before fasting blood specimen at 12:45 today at the hospital. Took fruit, nuts, and oat bar and juice to eat after blood is taken. Had bone density test no pain at all 1:30pm, one of the easiest test. Visited with my MO 4pm, discussed the port. I really have only one good vein and they have had to stick me twice each time to put the IV in, he said that was not good so we are talking about the port sooner than later. Came home sneezing and with a runny nose, around 4:30 pm after sitting in a cold waiting room, and oh so tired again, all my energy is GONE, used up in the waiting room of the hospital. I am hoping for energy in the morning, I want to go grocery shopping, so my DH will not have to, even though he doesn't mind at all, but I like to grocery shop sometimes, it's been almost 2 months since I got to grocery shop all on my own.

I am ready for bed can hardly keep my eyes open, don't want to go to bed too early, because I will probably wake up in the wee wee hours of the morning and can't go back to sleep.

Have a good night every one.

AnnieJohn- Glad you are here and bring a husband perspective here.  Annie is one lucky lady to have you with her to support and help her! Thank you being there for her and caring for her the way you do.  It's good that you know how important being positive is essential in the healing of one's physical being.  Being and staying positive is a choice that I made the moment I got my diagnosis and continues be motivate me to move forward  with my journey, As always, great to hear from you!!!