April 2012 Chemo Starters?

Singin Cindy, describe your abdominal reaction to Nuelasta. I think I had the same thing.

Sissyd - I will be calling Neulasta via a number my friend gave me specifically to report symptoms, even the NP told me it had to be the Neulasta.

c-squared my pain was all the way from the bottom of my ribs to the pelvic area but it was not intestinal feeling-it didn't make me nauseated or anything like that. Mine lasted over half an hour but right before I had head & neck pain that felt like intense heat then I broke out in a drenching sweat that lasted about 10 minutes during. I hope the steroids work next time.

Today I had a major headache and it wasn't migraine- percocet finally kicked it.

Hi Everyone, sounds like we are all managing our side effects..hurray for us!! I am on day 10 past first chemo. Still having some bone pain from neulasta but keeping it down to a 3 or 4 on pain scale with Claritin 24 hr and ibuprofen. I take the Claritin twice a day and the ibuprofen every 6 hrs. I find the generic brands of these drugs work as well as the name brands. It is strange how the pain from the neulasta is hitting us in different places....mine is isolated to the bones in my spine..also accompanied by headache and flushed feeling. It seems to get worse when I stand for a length of time, walk a distance, or do any weight bearing activity. Does anyone else notice an increase in the bone pain when you engage in weight bearing activity? I have an exercise bike and although I feel fatigued I can manage about 10- 15 minutes on it and it seems to loosen up my muscles without making the bones in my spine hurt. When it gets warm enough to swim iI am going to try swimming bc I have read in some of the older chemo posts that exercise can help with chemo side effects.

I also notice a huge difference if I forget to drink my water. Staying hydrated seems to make me feel more energetic and less foggy-headed. . I try to drink the equivalent of at least 5 -6 bottled waters a day. it should probably be more but if I drink too much it makes me queasy,

If I can figure out how to post pics on here will post pics of my buzz cut. It is really a very very short pixie. It is still not coming out at roots but was breaking off to point I needed to do something. The funny part is now I can see just how much gray I have...I've colored it for so long had no idea what was under there! So now there is just a tiny bit of color and highlights on the tips and gray gray gray all over! Kind of funny looking but it's a work in progress...who knows by next week it might all fall out. Since getting BC I feel like my whole body is a work in progress...never know from week to week what my boobs, hair or anything else will look like! Wishing a positive and healing week to all.

My scalp feels weird and is uncomfortable, not sure if I can wait till Thursday for my hair cut. I washed my hair this morning and now I have dreadlocks

These shots must affect us all differently.  I've had no pain in bone and muscle with them.  After my first one I landed in the ER because the elephant was sitting on my chest and I couldnt breathe.    For the second shot last week, I took Claritin 24 the day before and for 5 days after and ibuprofen every 6 hours.    So far,  so good.....no breathing problems or pain.  I do have a very hot flushed face and today I have felt so restless I thought I would climb the walls.    

A friend called and asked how I was feeling.  I feel awful today but can't really describe any pain.  Just total exhaustion and a slight headache. 

After the first chemo treatment I had the diarrahea from Hell......horrible burning.   So I go buy what I need and now after the second one,  it's the exact opposite.  I'm terribly constipated and had to get something to clear that up.

Right after my second chemo,  my hair started coming out.  I got up at 1a.m. and took a pair of scissors and gave myself a boy cut.  It was hurting my scalp and I just wanted it off.    Today was the first day I actually just tied a scarf around my head and went out.    I bought a wig but just wasn't in the mood to put it on.  People did stare but that is OK.    Most of them realize what is going on........

Thanks to all of you for giving your input....I've picked up some good tips from your guys.   Love to you all and best wishes for a sleep filled painless night........

I feel almost normal today.  A little bit of fuzz in the brain, and definitely more tired than normal.  But.... the darned bad taste in my mouth!  So horrible.  If it weren't for that, I would just feel almost normal, just a little "off."  I am definitely constipated, though.  No fun!

I did manage to drink all my water (plus some) today, hopefully that is helpful. 

I did work today, and was annoyed at all the people telling me they love my new super-short pixie haircut...... Soon it will all be gone, lol. 

JRyan I have been using Biotene mouthwash to help with the dry mouth-I don't use it all the time only when I feel my mouth getting dry. But cracked lips are so irratating. PS same on the hair deal:)

 So I called Neulasta today and didn't get much help from them. They took a report but I didn't give them permission to contact the doc as I don't know what their attitude would be. Anyway the guy was reading to me typical symptoms that they list on the website and the only thing close to mine was the spleen pain upper left stomach and left shoulder pain - I had those but only for a tiny while afterwards. A bit of a let down not getting any direction from them. I even mentioned that they planned on giving me steroid pills and he didn't have any comment on that.

Anybody need the number for neulasta? I could message it to you.

And a breast cancer survior friend of mine came by today and brought me cocoa butter cream, chap stick, her chemo hats, and wig. Which by the way I love and it looks pretty good on me , it's blond and only a shade lighter than my own. I even made it to excercise class this morning and I feel really good-the instructor brought me a shot of wheat grass to try -not really bad and it's said to kill cancer cells.

Have  a good day ladies.

Cyndi- thanks for posting about Neulasta.  I had a feeling they wouldn't divulge much.  And good for you for making it to exercise class. I can't even get myself outside for a walk after work.  

Glad the wig looks good!  I got a lot of compliments on mine and friends assured me that strangers would not know the difference.  Well, it turns out that even some colleagues don't know the difference.  It's a good giggle!

Keep on Fightin'  You're doing a great job!

CC

JRyan, that hair I noticed starting coming out first. I think, I will buzz my hair tonight....my scalp is sore and I'm tired of picking up the hair all over the place.

Decided last night to try to sleep without the Ativan, was wondering if that could be causing some of the brain fuzz.  Took melatonin instead.  Had terrible nightmares, didn't sleep as well.  Not sure yet about my mental clarity.  Have a bit of a headache.

Woke up with a little bit of a sore throat, and feeling almost feverish.  My thermometer is reading normal, though.  

Maybe I'll feel better after I eat breakfast.

Going to try to leave for work early this morning, stop and get a second thermometer to keep at work.   

JyRyan and Cottontail. I too have tried Melatonin to sleep since chemo and all it does is give me nightmares or a headache.  I sleep with the generic Benedryl.  That is what helps me. Sometimes if I need the pain relief I switch to Tylenol PM.  I am also on a small dose of Xanax too I take an hour before bed. Sleepytime tea worked for me for awhile. Go for the Ativan. That is what it is there for.  Hope you two sleep better/ 

JRyan and Lezza....... I've had mixed results with melatonin.  I took it years ago, and it gave me nightmares.  Started taking it again this past December for insomnia, and it helped me sleep withough the nightmares.  I think tonight I'll try a relaxing bubble bath (and Advil PM) instead.  I definitely felt better having not had the Ativan last night.  Well, better other than being tired all day, lol. I'm glad the Ativan works for some people, but it gave me some unpleasant side effects, so I think I'll save it for the night of my treatments, and maybe the day right after.

Twostep, I hope someone will have a suggestion for the restlessness.  I'm having that, too, and it's very annoying.   

KJIBERTY:   My hair came out after my second chemo  (I have chemo every 2 weeks)...  It's not pleasant to see big chunks of your hair coming out and it is also very uncomfortable with longer hair.  Made my scalp sore.     I decided to go ahead and buzz it and get my head shaved.   Feel much better after I did.

DH buzzed my hair tonight-I hate the stubble but I figure it'll fall out just as well as the longer hair would've. By then I figure I'll be a bit more used to the lack of hair. Then it'll look nice w/o the dark stubble. Wore a scarf to church tonight and DS announced when we got there-"Don't say anything about mom's hair." Too funny you never know what he's gonna say - he's autistic! Of course he says I have a boy head now.

Tomorrow I go to have the wigs trimmed up and hopefully they'll be able to fit them for me I can't figure them out.

This evening I took an abrupt U-turn from the "C train" and right onto the "D train," no stops inbetween.  I managed to briefly get things stopped up, then ate dinner and got right back on the train.  Luckily, I had already stocked up on Immodium and unscented baby wipes.

Also running a little bit of a fever.  Will have to call the nurse in the morning, if I'm not feeling better.