April/May 2012 Chemo hang out

Fierro:  I was in tears as well too!  I know what you mean......  It doesn't take me much to cry, but when I do, the tears are shed and I move on.  It can be something really small. Maybe once a week.  There is a lady who has shitzu's as therapy dogs and brings them in while we are doing chemo.  I wish my dogs (golden retrievers) didn't shed so much... They would be great therapy dogs.

Indigo:  I have taken the wrong pills too after treatment.  There's so many pills initially.  It's easy to get confused.  My kitchen counter looks like a pharmacy...  Wishing you well with hopefully minimal to no S/E's this weekend.  I will be the same boat as you next weekend.  Can hardly wait.......  Just have to keep thinking there's an end in sight to this chemo.....

Mary:  I am not sure on the drug whether it was via IV or not.  PS--I like your scarf and your pic.  I have to redo my pic (sans hair), but need someone to do it for me.  I still have a hard time with tying the scarves.  Have you mastered them yet.

rgina:  I hear ya as far as tugging out the hair.  On day 15, mine started coming out in handfuls after washing my hair.  I was in a meeting with 15 other people and I kept tugging and handfuls would come out.  I went to the garbage can at least 10 times during the 4-hour meeting.  I am sure my co-workers (some whom I only see a few times a year) thought I was some crazy madwoman pulling my hair out!  

Dear ladies,

I just wanted to offer some encouragement--you're getting through this however you have to! Way to go!  

Also, if any of you are experiencing dry skin (I did: elbows, knees and cuticles) I used Burts Bees Lemon Cuticle Balm almost EVERYWHERE throughout my 4 DD AC and 12 taxol b/c chemo was so hard on my skin...and the stuff works wonders. I still use it and love it.

L-lysine (supplement) really helps heal mouth sores, if you're getting any of those.

I finished all official tx this past Tuesday (6.5 weeks of rads before that chemo started 11/1. finished 3/21), and remember that I was right where you are not too long ago.  My hair is growing in thick and wavy, about 2.5 inches so far.  I thought I'd never be done. But just keep putting one foot in front of the other and you WILL be done and soon you'll be offering others the encouragement you're reading from me. It will happen!

cyber hugs,

Claire in AZ

Isharvey:  LOL!

Dancetrancer:  Do you have a dishwasher?  I put my toothbrush in when washing the load and put it on sanicycle.  (PS--I also put y kitchen sponges in their as well!) 

Claire--thanks so much for the encouragement!!

kjiberty--Thank you! I've been practicing like crazy with these scarves! I tried hats and wigs and bandanas and scarves seem to be my thing. They feel very secure and seem to give good coverage. I bought a bunch at Walmart and ACMoore(our local craft store) for no more than $6 each! I've watched a bunch of videos on tying them on YouTube and it works pretty easily!

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Sandik - yes on the smell sensitivity. A woman in my office came in last week with new perfume....it was overwhelming...brought back the metal taste and Made me sick to my stomach.

I finally sent an email to my co workers aplologizing for keeping my door closed that I was sensitive to smells including printer ink, perfume and some foods....the woman immediately came in and apologized for wearing perfume and said she would not wear any on the days I'm in the office...she thanked me for letting them know....people have no idea and I think they want to help us but don't understand what we're going through.



I felt like such a burden to everyone...but in the end they were all so accommodating.

Sherry--I had two cold sores pop up on my mouth after my first infusion. I get outbreaks from time to time but NEVER 2at once. So I assume genital would be the same.

Good morning to all!  I had a very emotional night (which you all helped me through, as usual,) and when I woke up today, my back was a little sore (I slept in the recliner for six weeks and my body is getting used to my bed again...no biggie) and I started to tear up because of a little lower back pain.  That's when I decided that I was done with that crap. 

"Listen, you!  You got to sit around, mope, and cry all evening yesterday.  Today is a beautiful day, you have 10 days until you start treatment and REALLY have something to cry about, so get out there, take a friend to lunch, take DD2 to find a new swim suit...do SOMETHING fun and normal and quit your sniveling."  That's the pep talk I gave myself as I poured some coffee, and I plan to do it.  

I just mainly wanted to pop in here and thank everyone again for the support, ideas, shoulders, recipes (LOL) and everything else I've already gained from this site.  I was at a real low point last night, and several of you in the middle of treatment, with REAL reasons to be a mess, took time to comfort me.

Thank you. 

Sherry- The answer to your question is YES.  You need to ask your onco to give you a prescription of Valtrex to help with that situation. The supplement L-Lysine can also be taken to help but you have to clear that with your onco first.  Carmex helps with cold sores in general so you might try that.

Sandik, hubby had me smell a spice rub the other day (we were grilling) to see if I liked it.  It grossed me out immediately, and I too, have not had major issues with nausea.  I kept thinking I was smelling it all around the house.  I have since learned...stay away from strong smelling stuff!  I also developed an aversion, to all things, of the taste of Zofran!  I took it so much to help keep my heartburn down (it helps with that, too - both related to vagus nerve control) that I don't want to take it any more.  When I do have to take it, instead of putting it under my tongue, I quickly swallow it as fast as I can.  I just associate it with feeling my illest and don't want to go there!

Hugs on the weddings and feelings and all that...OMG, I would be a basket case...I don't have children, but, if I try to put myself in that situation, I get weepy just thinking about it!  I too so appreciate a place where we can share our darkest feelings, and it scares no one away.

kjiberty, I would interpet that answer from your doc about the lysine as "I have no clue about supplements."  LOL!  

krazycatlady - FANTASTIC news!  Yay!!!!  Hope you get to fly free today!!!  

Fierro - great self pep talk!!!  I do that to myself A LOT.  I also journal at times.  I just keep a private "breast cancer journal" in a word document where I write the worst of the worst.  I also write some self pep talks in there, too, and refer back to them as needed.  It helps me immensely.  Now go out there and enjoy that beautiful day.  I plan to join you in that - gonna get out a bit for the first time today in 10 days (besides the doc's office).  Woo-hoo!!!

Hi Ladies,

I have not been keeping up with this thread mostly because I have felt so crappy the last few weeks.  I had my second AC on May 17th and I think I'm still not over it.  Has anyone else taken so long to get back to feeling "ok" I am really scared of my third one coming up next week.  If the effects get worse and worse I don't know what I'm going to do.  I feel weak all the time, I don't want to eat much at all.  I am trying my best to keep hydrated I just want to lay and do nothing.  How long does this take to get over?

That should be Fierro: Have fun shopping and goin out to lunch with your friend!!

Hi y'all--first time posting...I am scheduled to have 8 cycles of ACT...I had my first treatment of AC last week, and am getting my second treatment next Wednesday. I was pretty tired last weekend (saturday was the worst!), but was pleasantly surprised that I started feeling a lot better by Wednesday of this week (eating normally, good energy etc). I am feeling pretty anxious about the next treatment...worried that I will take longer to recover this time around.