April/May 2012 Chemo hang out

My scalp felt pretty tender before I buzzed my hair down.  We used a clipper with no guard so the stubble that's left probably isn't even 1/8th of an inch long.  It doesn't really hurt now. I'm wondering if all of it will come out before tx#3.  

I was just reflecting a bit on Mother's Day.  I've had to spend a lot of Mother's Days away from my mom, since she lived in Missouri and now in East Texas, and I've lived in Colorado since 1982.  She's told me before that since she's loved being a mom, every day is Mother's Day.  During my hockey mom days, my son's team had to play a lot of games on Sundays, and therefore that also usually meant Mother's Day.  Well, I didn't think twice about it - that was part of being a mom for me, and I wouldn't have missed a minute of it.  This year, I've asked DS#1 to make us a steak dinner using his famous marinade.  The breakfast in bed idea is kind of appealing too, though, lol!  No matter what, I will enjoy the day somehow, and wish the same for you, Melrose - and all of us moms out there, and the moms who love us. 

Just getting back after a long day.  I spent a lot of time catching up with everyone, and reading all the posts I missed since this morning.  Sandik, I love your new picture.  I think you, and everyone else shaving your heads, are so brave.  I asked my husband about shaving mine in a week or so, and he said sure, but I don't know if I can go through with it.  I had it cut short, like a pixie cut, but I don't know if I can go down to stubble.  I may feel differently if my scalp starts hurting.  In my hippie days, I had hair down to my waist. Today was day 3 of first tx, and I woke up totally wired and with a bright red face.  My temp was only 98.3, so I knew it wasn't an emergency.  When I got to the office, I called the nurse, and she said it's a classic reaction to the steroids.  She said I should still take them tomorrow, which would be the last day for them.  I got a lot done in the office, because I couldn't stop moving and working.  Now I'm tired.  Still no reaction to the Neulasta shot yesterday.  I took Claritin before, and today.  How many days after the shot do we take it? If I still feel OK tomorrow I'll go see my mom, who's 94 in an Alzheimer's Home.  I don't know how I'll feel on Sunday, so at least I'll get to see her close to Mother's Day.  She knows me, but she never knows what day it is.  If I miss this weekend, she won't know the difference, but I'll feel guilty. 

Kim, I bought my wig today.  I felt like a chemo patient when I put them on - some more than others.  I decided to have fun with it, though and went blonde. I think I will be bald at home. I bought a nice soft hat, too. I am more into comfort than style. I also work for myself, so I don't have to worry about looking good for other people.

Pauletta, I have never been much of a "girlie" girl, and I have always seen crying as a sign of weakness in myself (never in others...I'm weird like that.)  Anyway, I've cried more since this diagnosis than I can ever remember crying in my life.  I'm buying stock in Puffs.  

You don't sound like a baby.  You sound like someone going through a difficult time.  I haven't even started chemo yet, but I sure could complain a lot about the back of my arm on the mx side.  I hear it's from the lymph nodes being removed, but it is like a bad sunburn feeling, and it's annoying as hell.

 I've been so happy to find the support here.  Lots of excellent advice.  I hope you all have an amazing weekend.  (I get to see my son and grandbabies later today!)

I don't know if it was in this thread that I read about the apple cider vinegar for mouth sores or not. I have to tell you it WORKS!! I took some on a qtip and dabbed the sore. It is GONE this morning.

I haven't lost my hair yet. Still a few days from that but a couple of friends that have been thru this gave me a tip for sore scalp. They said to use leave in conditioner on your scalp. Said it really helps!

I think this is the first time I've posted on this thread. I'm a week past my first treatment. Doing ok. Have had pretty minimal SE's. I'm knocking on wood that it continues. Being tired has been the worst of it.I have been drinking a ton of water and maybe that really does help.

@Maureen - totally agree with you on learning more here!  Hope you continue to have minimum side effects.

Just snipped snipped snipped my hair off and it feels so good!!!!  I made little ponytails before cutting my hair and got those scissors and no more bob!!!  Got tired of the handfuls of hair coming out  and the amount of hair that coming out was starting to "wig" me out.  My DH buzzed my head to clean up my snip job!!!!  Took control of that hair before it controlled me!!!  Just love it short!!!! So liberating!!!!

I have docs that don't explain much and just tell me (or half tell me) what they're going to do so I could see them telling me I was getting a Procrit shot.  Now I'll have to make sure I have all my facts before that.  Having worked for the local Blood Bank for 10 years I have no fear of a transfusion if need be.

That is great to hear about your experience at the blood blank lsharvey.  My docs don't explain that much to me either.  I'm just a really inquistive patient, so I do lots of research on my own.  It makes me feel more in control and comforts me! 

What I found out about Procrit is that it is not clinically indicated for cancer patients who have a high cure rate, because it can actually cause any lingering cancer cells to grow.  I read this straight from the prescribing pamphlet which can be found on line.  Eeeeks!  No way was I going to take that risk and negate the benefits of my treatment!  My nurse had mentioned it to me as an option (and did say it had some cancer risks I'd want to read about, so she was aware and wanted me to make an informed decision).  I don't think she had consulted with the onc yet (and of course she didn't know my particular case like he does).  Still, lesson learned for me.  No Procrit. 

Thank you so much for the advise of the salt\baking soda and water rinse. It has really helped!!! Amazing!!! I got up this morning feeling very nauseated and not wanting to eat anything at all. : 0 (  I made a cup of hot tea and that was delicous! Tried to eat a piece of toast and it seemed like forever for me to chew up one little bite of toast to make myself swallow it. That toast got thrown away and I made a chocolate protein shake. That seemed to be okay with my nausea. Been laying on the couch all day drinking 4 bottles of water since this morning and using the bathrom every little bit (YAY!). About 30 minutes ago I was able to eat 6 chicken wings (they are not big at all) and a couple of bites of macaroni salad!! YAY!!!!! I wonder if it was the water that helped and going to the bathroom alot? 

I hope everyone has a great day and a wonderful mother's day tomorrow!!!  

Hi all, since some of you have mentioned the Zofran headaches, just wanted to share what works for me. After tx#1 those headaches bothered me the worst. It was suggested to try Tramadol when tylenol didn't work and I didn't want to use percocet since that made the constipation worse. Tramadol is a non-narcotic prescription pain reliever, doesn't make me feel loopy at all. It worked great. This time I took it after my tx yesterday right when I felt the headache starting. So far, no nasty headache.



I was able to take it in combination with ibuprofen for my port soreness, and that is much better too.



Hope the Tramadol helps you; no bigger deal precribing that than the percocet.



Hugs and wishing us all minimal SEs today.

chapter4 - thanks for that tip.  I think I'll ask my onc if I can try that. 

Evening Ladies - Looks like this is my spot for the near future.  I've been hanging around for a couple of months since I was diagnosed in March (had my lumpectomy and SNB last month), get my port on Tuesday the 15th and first chemo on 5/24 - TCH regimen with the "H" until May 2013 - gonna be a long year.  Quick question - those of you that got a port - did you have down time at all?  The reason I ask is that I need to do some major barn, yard, horse stall, misc., next weekend after port and before chemo - can't do it this weekend because we've been blessed with 4 inches of rain this week - but this is part of my catch up/get ahead before chemo mode.