April 2012 Chemo Starters?

Cyndi:  I just take the one shot of Neulasta 24 hours after chemo.  I know exactly what you mean.  I felt pretty good he next few days and then they tell me my count is extremely low.  Even then,  I felt pretty good.   And I was digging in the dirt - repotting some plants.    They told me to stay away from crowds but I would go to Kroger early in the morning b4 the crowds.     This whole thing is just so confusing at times. 

I'm glad you are almost over with your sessions too.     My halfway mark was a real celebration time for me.

Been a quiet-ish week. Se's not too bad. Just tired all the time. Not looking forward to Thursday's treatment, except that it puts me at the 1/2 way mark. I am really tired of being tired though :-)

Hope everyone is doing ok and having a nice long weekend!

My wife is done with the four doese dense AC infusions and will be starting on the four Taxol next Monday. As I posted in another forum, she's tired and bald but standing tall....

She managed to get enough energy to drink a margarita. It didn't help with the tiredness or baldness, but it sure helped her attitude! :-)

Eric

Well today was productive and I have thoroughly enjoyed myself. It was actually kind of nice to have an excuse to stay home all weekend. I continued to do dishes and tend to things around the house. I even started on the end of year teacher appreciation gifts. I decided to use what I had here on hand and came to the realization that I better get crackin' on them because my next round of chemo is Wed. and the last day of school is next Tues. No money to splurge this year so I am making aprons and chocolate popcorn as treats. The robin egg blue tablecloth was turned into 4 aprons for the women teachers and aide and for my DD's male teacher I am making a canvas apron with Godzilla iron ons.I lucked out and found a package of inkjet iron on paper for super cheap and when I bought it Thurs. I didn't even know what I'd use it for.

Tomorrow I go back to get another neupogen shot and I'm not really looking forward to it but got to keep the counts up. I remember you all in my prayers each night that you will all find a way to go on with strength and courage.

It's so hard to believe that 4 months ago the nightmare began. But I have to admit I was much more scared then than I am now. I can't believe some of the decisions I made seems kinda silly I saved my 20 inch pony tail. I've made so many scarves it seems excessive but it got me through. Well I obviously am tired because I'm rambling. So I better say good night all.

Buttons,  been wondering how you were doing.......I will start the Taxol (4 treatments) next week and I have heard the SE's are not as bad .....let's hope so.    We've all come a long way in the last few weeks.....we're nearing the finish line......

Goof luck SinginCyndi with your T/C.  

Insomnia update: I have not been sleeping at night except in fits and starts since AC number 2 and it has taken a toll physically and emotionally. It is the terrible hot flashes plus bone pain and muscle aches from neulasta preventing me from sleeping. My abdomen was also really distended. I have AC number 3 tomorrow and just didn't think I could face it so called onc yesterday morning to report side effects.. They had me come in right away.. They were worried about possible bowel obstruction bc of bloated belly. Bowel was ok.. I have been having regular bowel movements but turned out my stomach was bloated full of air! Onc was doing rounds at hospital but Physicians asst. saw me and said chronic lack of sleep interferes with your circadian rhythmss and night time sleep is when your body primarily engages in disgestion and cellular repair. So without enuf sleep i wasnt digesting well and blew up with gas! She said what probably saved me from bowel obstruction is all the senna I take plus drinking lots of water and eating lots of fruit. She said bottom line is that I must get more sleep and hopefully as i rest and relax I will fart out all the air! So how to sleep? I already take clonazepam 2X /day..she prescribed something called temazepam that is supposedly stronger. So did I sleep last nite? That would be NO. But I was more relaxed between the hot flashes...and it helped some of the muscle pain but that is all. She did say if it didn't work there r stronger things they can prescribe. I see onc tomorrow before chemo and I will tell him I need the tranquilizer they give elephants! If any of u r on something that is helping u sleep at nite please please share! Also..like many of you my white blood cell count is falling despite the neulasta shot...also borderline anemic. But my liver function and other labs were good..she attributed that to good hydration and getting sufficient protein. So ladies...i guess we need to keep drinking lots of water and try to get fruit and protein if we can bear it . I am having good luck with baked fish..beef chicken and pork taste nasty to me. For fruit I am doing berries and watermelon. Bless all of us thru this AC phase. It won't last forever!

I keep hearing all the talk about clariton for the bone aches with the neupogen/neulasta shots but my onc says no to clariton and yes to benadryl (sp) I haven't had any bone pain at all I take the benedryl and decadron before and for 3 days after my shots. This coming week I have 3 one the way. Slept like a rock last night and  2 hour nap this morning. Yesterdays chemo had me cracnking like crazy couldn't sit still.

 Heading out to deliver teachers gifts in an hour. Hope you all have restful days and easy SE's. 

Thanks Ladies for the tips for neulasta. I have been doing the Claritin since the first neulasta shot along with ibuprofen per the onc's suggestion...I take 2 clariton per day..one every twelve hours starting day before the shot and continuing now for about 10 days after each shot since the bone pain is erratic with me..after treatments one and two ithe pain hit me on days 7 thru ten. I take the ibuprofen about every 6-8hours as needed for same length of time. They were worried about effects of so much Ibuprofen on my liver but labs yesterday were good and they attribute it to drinking lots of water...flushing out the ibu from my system. I asked the doctor today why I am having so much bone pain from the neulasta and he says some people just do...but that it is essential to keep taking it bc it keeps the white blood cell count from tanking...that would lead to whole host of other more serious problems none of us need ! But ironically, like you all mentioned..he said I might want to try Benadryl as an alternative...will definitely do that ..as a plus it might make me sleepier...right now anything that makes me sleepy is GOLD!

He also prescribed something else to go along with the Restaryl (tomazapam) to relieve my anxiety and help me sleep .. Can't remember name of it at moment..i am in serious serious chemo fog ! I think they put a lot of "relaxing stuff in my pre-med drip today bc I was obviously so anxious exhausted and in poor spirits. They kept reminding me only one more AC to go!(guess a lot of people freak out half way thru AC). Will let u know how I sleep tonight.. With all the stuff I am taking I should sleep like a log!

Peaceful restful night to us all! PelicanGirl

Hi everyone. Had 3rd tx yesterday and slept about 2 hours tonight. Up & bored... thought I'd catch up on the board. Very restless tonight, legs, brain, back pain too. Neulasta shot at noon today, ugh. I just keep reminding myself that i am now halfway there... my onc offered me pain meds today to help with sleep & the nonstop achiness. Is anyone trying that? I am SO paranoid of addiction issues, but really hate the never-ending aches and pains that the otc's aren't touching.

Hope this finds all handling the se's with minimal issues! I am thankful for this board daily!

SinginCyndi and JRyan:  Hope you're feeling better!

Carolyn: I am keeping you in my prayers.  I had my chemo AFTER my surgery and after my oncotype test came back, which suggested I would benefit with 4 rounds of T/C chemo.  

SinginCyndi: Hives are now coming and going. They aren't as bad as earlier last week.  I was at BB & B this afternoon and a whole new crop showed up while I was in the store.  I noticed when I took a shower, they cropped up again.  I guess I won't be using my Amazing Grace soap for a while.  Went to Walgreen's and they suggested Aveeno liquid soap.  Hopefully it will keep it at bay.   

Singincyndi:  Ask your MO about MUgard.  I used it last treatment and it worked really, really well to keep the sores away.  It's an prescription and you have to see if your insurance will pay for it. My sister is a radiation therapist in Detroit and her hospital and docs prescribe it for their patients.  She gave me a bottle of it to try for my last treatment. I am calling my MO tomorrow to see if my insurance will pay for it.  ALso, where do you buy beeswax to make your homemade mix?