April 2012 Chemo Starters?

Cottontail:  Sorry you had a rough night. I hope all goes ok today and the thrush clears up quickly.

kjiberty: I am right at the edge of shaving my head too.  The hair started coming out a few days ago, just a little, then today a bit more. I am really hoping to make it to the weekend. My husband says he'll shave it for me. I had my hair-dresser take it to a pixie cut last week in preparation. I'm thinking this weekend will be the #3 with the razor.  A bit unnerving.

Getting anxious about next weeks treatment. I have felt pretty decent the last couple days, I don't wanna go back   But I know - short-term discomfort for long-term fix...

Thanks for the support, everyone.

I did call my MD today, listed all of my symptoms.  She didn't ask me to come in today, since my temperature was down and I'm doing ok at staying hydrated.  (Though they said if I had issues again tonight, they'd fit me in tomorrow and give me fluids.)

I did get a script for antibiotics (just in case, given my history with sinus infections/issues) and a script for the "velvet glove" liquid for the thrush.  (Mine is antacid/benadryl/antifungal/lidocaine.)  The thrush isn't even bad on my tongue, but the roof of my mouth and throat are very sore- and lunch burned all the way going down, so I think it's in my esophogus, too.  I'm thinking now that my digestive issues might be related to this, since they started around the same time I woke up with the slightly sore throat yesterday morning.  I'm making sure to swish and swallow, rather than spit, hopefully this will clear everything up, and the quicker the better.  

I hope everyone else is getting some rest, and dealing with SE's ok. 

We will get through this! Good luck with your shearing tomorrow. I will be joining you on Saturday. Thank goodness for xanax right now! The stress of this is so overwhelming at times.

kjiberty- soory it took so long for me to get back on hear and answer you- I was at day 15 when it really started falling out. My poor hubby was more upset about buzzin it than I was. But I sat and cried about it last week.

Losing the hair was easier than facing the treatments. I know right where you all are about being apprehensive. I have felt great for a week now- with the exception of waking up with headaches-still watching what I eat and all. But I am starting to get really nervous about next Wednesday's chemo. I suspect I won't sleep much from here on out. My regular doc had put me on anti-anxiety meds just befor I started chemo but I was told not to take them with the ativan. Thing is I haven't needed the ativan-but it seems like I take pills all day long. Blood pressure meds, b-6 complex, and pain meds once per day. Just finished the antibiotics off for whatever infection-I suspect sinus. and My ear is hurting alot again. I am feeling jittery this morning.

I do appreciate this board more than I can say-expeciallyl since we're all doing this at the same time, and I pray for you all to tolerate the chemo better. I am taking myself up to the hospital(I'll be wearing my face mask and gloves) to see my nephew's baby boy. 

 My wigs look great by the way-the lady who cut them had a style quite like Edward Scissorhands- I couldn't believe it!So much nicer than my waist length hair pulled into a pony all the time! 

kjiberty-thanks for the tip on the website-those are really nice. And I never really thought about naming the wigs-I may need to do that seeing that I have 2 of them. The chemo beanies look more like scarves than the chemo hats I've seen and after I made several hats I decided I'd probably prefer the vesatility of scarves.Hope your appointments go OK.

Went to see my great-nephew and of course he's just perfect.  Wore the wig and it is hot and muggy here-couldn't wait to get it off when I got home. I should have just pulled over and switched to the scarf. BTW my wig stylist said to be sure and not bake while wearing the wig-mine is synthetic-she said it seems that is a very common way to ruin it-excessive heat. 

Kjiberty: Sorry took so long.  Yes, we will get through this.  The crazy sleeping and losing all of our hair.

twostep62  I know how you feel. I was buzzed yesterday by my DH.  Took a little getting used to

jryan:  xanax and the support of  this thread gets me through all of this.

Hey ladies, I was messing around on line trying to find ways to tie scarves and found a couple of interesting sites one was coveringyourhair.com that sold very reasonably priced item like tichels-which are 36 inch scarves-which is what you need for tying versatility, snoods, and turbans. Then coveringourhair.com (the first one is covering YOUR hair-second one is OUR ) There are many free patterns on the 2nd one-and ways to tie them.

Thanks for the tip, kjiberty!  I already have three of the beanies in my cart already!

You're welcome ladies.

Now for a little chuckle, I've been in the kitchen baking with a single layer head scarf on. Today it is low 60's out a single layer cotton isn't enough to keep my head warm. Anyway I'm baking some granola bars and got way too hot so I took off the scarf. In the meantime I look out the window and there's a guy sitting a car out front and I knew my 10 yo daughter was out there playing. So I'm craning my neck looking for her getting my shoes on she barges in to tell me there some guy out there asking for me. SO I fly out the door and about run into a second guy that's there to take donations for the fire department. Needless to say I think he was more shocked to see me than I was to see him. Kinda funny to be looking at a guy that has more hair than me-especially since 3 weeks ago I had waist length hair.

Twp Steps:  What's the mixture?

Thanks twostep62. The dry skin is driving me nuts! A little nervous about going to work tmw doning the scarf, but i guess its better than going without this bald thing is a very strange feeling.

Mixed emotions on the upcoming week. I get my tissue expanders expanded on tuesday (yeah) then treatment thursday. I know i need it and the greater good and all that, but i have enjoyed the last few days of feeling better!

Joining in- this is my first post, although I have been reading them for a month now. I had a lumpectomy on Feb 29 (Leap of Faith day?). And started chemo on April 30.. Today is day 6 and I have had mild SE's so far. I am on TC x 4, 3 weeks apart, am 66, and have a sister who is 7 years cancer-free. I posted my DX, and I guess it will post here? If not, let me know. I am in a study that looks at whether Neulastin Must be given at the outset, or can it wait until needed? So, I have not had it and judging from all your comments, I am glad I have not. On day 1, I came home and made a pot of Weightwatchers soup( veggies and chicken broth, mostly) and ate a normal dinner. . Took all the anti-nausea meds and didn't sleep until about 2am, but did. Day 2, I had mostly a mild tummy /intestinal ache and ate my soup and drank lots of fluids. Day 3 I felt so well we went into town and did errands and then I rested in the afternoon.


I did experience the red, flushed face, the restlessness on day 3, and took rests in the pm. DH ( is that Dear Huaband?) and I ate pretty normally. Oh, yes, on day 3 I retained all that water I was drinking. It's gone now. I also managed a walk of 1 1/2 miles day 3.



All of this is not to brag, just share my experience. one thing to know is that since I was not nauseous, I stopped taking the Compazine, and other pills, so maybe that helped the sleep situation. My DH reports I have been "sleeping hard", snoring.



I was very scares of doing chemo, crying about it, so I am very relieved at my experience so far. I wanted to encourage others that maybe they too will be so lucky. I think a lot of it is due to the lack of neulasta. I guess my OC will five it to me I'd I need it, but i'm not looking forward to it.



I have my wig ready and have been on tlcdirect.com to pick out some cute hats,etc. I was also really upset about the hair situation, but I have now come to terms with it.

My next tx is 5/21, with an OC appt on the 10th. Am attending a class with theCancer Soc tomorrow-"Look Good, Feel Better" to learn about skin care and makeup. They also gifted me my wig.

It sounds like we are all experiencing various levels of pain, fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, scalp itch/pain, and hairloss. I too have had most of these to some extent.

I finally started to lose my hair on Day 14. Day 15 brought more hairloss, and Day 16 my daughter buzzed my head. Today, I am shaving it. There were too many large bald spots. Oh well, hair today, gone tonight! Sorry...a little humor.

 I have chemo 2 on Tuesday, May 8. Wish me luck!

Love, hugs, prayers, good joo joo, and good vibes!

Diane

Good Morning.  Welcome Loiskcal.  Here's hoping to a week of minimal SE's and lots of kicking cancer's @ss!  I am feeling pretty darn good this morning   After shaving my head Friday, I was a little freaked out about leaving my house - being a little vain. But here I am, at work, rocking the scarf/beanie from Transitions (cancer support center at hospital).

It seems as though there were several of us that took that jump this past weekend.  I hope everyone is handling it well. I didn't think it would be so tough, but today my outlook is much better

DianeC- I'm a week behind you with the #2.  Hope all goes well with your #2 treatment!!!!