April/May 2012 Chemo hang out

I love this forum. I have learned so much.  I am tired, still don't have much of an appetite since my first T/C treatment on 4/19.  My stomach is constantly rumbling.  Maybe Pepcid?  Any thoughts?  Went wig shopping with my hairdress yesterday.  Many tears were shed, but it wasn't too bad looking.  She will cut it short on 5/4 (15 days from first treatment), so I can be "wig-prepared".  I am not getting any sleep, even with the ambien (10mg).  I sleep for maybe 3 hours, and then am up for another 2.  Any suggestions?  

Congrats, Lisa!  

Yep, been doing the baking soda thing and *hoping* no thrush or mouth sores.  So far, so good - only thing I've noticed is a little bit of a sore throat, and I'm trying to keep on top of it. 

kjberty. I took lorazapam for sleep two years ago and it worked like a charm. This is after trying 3 other sleep meds. It helps you get to sleep and stay alseep. I did ask my MO for a script today while doing my chemo teaching.

 I know a lot fo ladies here have already started chemo but I wnated to knwo what your biggest suggestions are since i'll be starting next week (TC)? I see some mention on lemonheads but i wasnt sure what it was for.

Thanks for the lorazapam suggestion, petagae.  I am going to try it tonight.  I just can't take another day/night with no sleep.  

First, I would probably go wig shopping before chemo starts (I waited 5 days it was traumatic enough)  I still haven't purchased on, but it will be done by the end of tomorrow.  Drink PLENTY of fluids before, during, and after treatment.  

My chief complaint has been my stomach and lack of appetite.  My stomach keeps churning.  Is there anything to take for this that actually helps?  Thoughts, please? 

Petage - I'm not doing your regimen but in general my biggest suggestions are:

• make a packing list and pack your "chemo bag" the day before and a cooler with food, ice, etc. the morning of 
• from your packing list make a "to buy" list and go shopping for those items the weekend before
• take/wear warm clothes and an electric blanket if you are icing (if the icing the mouth make sure you get behind the lip and roof of the mouth...mouth sores there = OUCH).  I plan to take crushed ice this time, not chunks.  
• take a computer and movies if you like them
• buy a bunch of frozen meals to have in the freezer so you have easy prep for meals when you aren't feeling well; also consider Ensure Protein plus for times when you can't get much food in but need nourishment
• take your antinausea meds on schedule and don't wean too early
• consider probiotics to keep digestive system moving.  If you get constipated, do not overmedicate...use something gentle like Miralax if ok w/onc...you may swing the other direction and don't want to make the big D worse!
• if you notice your tongue getting white it's thrush - get a script for Nystatin mouthwash ASAP 

Thankm Dance....  I missed it.  I appreciate your advice!  

Glad to hear it went okay today, Melrose! One in the books and we'll keep plugging forward. Hugs!,

@stacie i love your additude! i was just pounding my timeline on FB with music from youtube, skullcandy headphone on as not to disturb the house. i took a new profile pic today before i went in for TCH # 2. later i  took my son (he's 12) and i out to dinner at our fav mexican joint. i had a golden margarita with salt. first drink i have had since 3/27. i have drank sooo much h20 today!

funny story, i like to go to chemo comfy so i bought a several pairs of yoga pants, gray black... at the center between the infusion and the water i was drinking by the  3rd time i peed i noticed that i had them on backwards!! i looked down there was the tag in the front, such a goof ball , i laughed to myself and wondered how the front held so much of my junk in the trunk, i didnt even switched i just carried on!! soo funny. i took a chef salad with me to much on and was glad, time flew by this time.

 my wbc on 4/17 after neupogen was 12.7 today before infusion it was 4.9

my ang on 4/17 "    " was 9.3 today was  2.9

my last neupogen shot was on 4/13.  this shows chemo was still working even after my counts were back up. i asked my onc. what the plan was. i wondered when i would have surgery...

i only spoke to my bs once before chemo. onc told me his plan is for all 6 of the TCH then when i recover fom nadir after 6th, i will have surgery. then about 2 weeks after will start my herceptin. so last chemo is end of july. i guess surgery will be in august. i am having the steroid rush, facial skin feels flushed not a hot flash, tender skin like sunburn. i took a xanax at 9pm hasnt put a dent in my zoom 

i had a nice spot and nice nurse today. i was in the corner with the wall on one side and a table and a window had my compter and water on it on the other. no one ever sat next to me, a few women and people that passed spoke, smiled and nodded, one woman stopped to tell me how beautiful i was (blush) i watched paranormal activity 3 it wasnt really all that scary. i had a pink flannel sheet over the recliner and a quilt from home, 2 of my smooshie pillows i was set.

im ready to see what the next few days will bring

does anyone know how to add pics, i see a place to add them but it doesnt let u upload from your computer. thanks in advance good luck to all!!

remember this...how do you eat an elephant? one bite at a time. dont give up!!

i love my bald head, i love walking around in public with a bald head, thats just me.

peace to all over the next couple day. 

Thanks for the tip - I will ask about the cream.

Hello ladies, I'll be joining this club in about a month, so I'll be staking this thread!!!

Hi there! I am also triple negative. I had BMX in Jan and a port placed in early February. I started my chemo Feb 24th. My chemo is TAC every 21 days. I had the option between that or the AC then T. I am now halfway through my chemo regimen and will have my 4th of 6 total treatments this Friday. The port is amazing. If you haven't gotten your port yet and are planning for one, ask for a power port; that way it can be used for CT scans too. I am also so glad that I chose to have 6 total treatments. After the first treatment my onc didn't schedule me for a follow-up until 5 days later. I felt fine for the first day and a half or so, then I couldn't eat and was had awful nausea (lost 8lbs). At the follow up, I got IV fluids and nausea meds. Since then, I've been going in for rehydration a few days after my treatment and I've been doing great. The last 2 treatments have been much better. They also added emend. Don't hesitate to call your onc or onc nurse after your chemo if you're feeling like crap. They've been very insistant that I come in if I need extra fluids. It's amazing how much it helps. Good luck to you all!

Good morning ladies (and men, if there are any here),

I completed TC #2 on Monday without a hitch. Received the Neulasta shot yesterday to boost white cell count. Remembered to take the Claritin on Monday and so far, so good...no aches. Thanks so much for that wonderful tip (and for the reminder to take it the day before).

Decided yesterday to take the plunge and buzz my head. Pickd up a couple of scarves and a hat but after getting all the hair cut off, I actually like it bald. Now if I could get the Michigan weather to cooperate with my bald head. It was 80 degrees in March and it's now 50 degrees in April. Could Mother Nature be going through menopause?

Melrosemelrose: you might want to take that second decadron earlier in the day, like 4 or 5 pm so it doesn't interfere with your sleep as much. 

Lisak7290: congrats on your last chemo

The sun is out here...so have a bright, cheerful, sunny day!! 

Hey all! 

Do you know if you can get those GenTeal tears at the drugstore or do you have to order them?  I never knew that dry eye could actually hurt!  At least, though,last night and today I can work up some tears if I blink a few times, and this morning I didn't wake up with the dry mouth like I have the last few days.  Still spotting (period) though, dang it!   That whole business is in large part why I was never a huge fan of birth control pills back in the day.  I did love the comment about Mother Nature going through menopause, lol.

On the other hand, the last few days I have done so much better after the BMX.  I can just about raise my left arm all the way up and I can put away my mixing bowls and stuff on my own without waiting half a day for someone else to get around to it.  Stacie, my arm still has a weird numb area down the back of it too, which I guess will probably be more or less permanent, but compared to a month ago. I've even been able to sleep (mostly comfortably) on my left side.

On the A/C they are having me take both decadrons in the morning (together).  The only one I had to take both a,m. and p.m. was the zofran.  However, I did notice that when I switch to the taxotere, I'll be taking the decadron a.m. and p.m.  

I had a dream the other night (rare in itself since I haven't been sleeping that great) that I had breasts again.  It wasn't as if the BC, etc., had never happened - it was as if I'd slept through everything since and had the "rebuilt" ones.  Granted that I don't really know exactly what implants feel like, but in the dream, they didn't feel like my original ones, were more soft and squishy - and I remember thinking, hmmm... thought I was going to ask for smaller ones....