April/May 2012 Chemo hang out

A very nice doctor called me back very quickly and waited very patiently while I stopped crying long enough to speak.  She said to take the Emend in the morning and put the lidocaine on my port and to bring everything else with me. Thanks again!

Is the Lidocaine the EMLA cream that you apply to the port area?  If you just had your port placed, you may not be able to use the EMLA cream for tomorrow's infusion because you have an unhealed incision.  If that is the case, ask the infusion nurse to spray the port area with a lidocaine numbing spray.

Dexamethasone is Decadron which is anti-nausea steroid.  I supposed to take that twice a day the day before chemo and one more time the morning of the infusion.   Now I take it twice a day for three days ( day before chemo, day of chemo and the day after chemo)  You may also receive Decadron with your infusion.

I don't take Emend or Prochlorperazine.  I do take Zofran (Ondanestron) for nausea for three days after the infusion.  I also have a prescription for Pheagran (Promethazine) for nausea to be taken as needed.  So far I haven't had to take any!!! 

Thanks, JKBuffy.  It's good to know that there are several doing it this way.  When I thought I was the ONLY ONE getting treated every other week, I thought I may have gotten a crazy doctor.  LOL  It's stupid, but it's the kind of thoughts I have.   

havent posted in a while. 2nd round of FEC yesterday. Neulasta shot today--in the tummy, one time I didnt mind having a little muffin top over low waist. Nurse asked if I had any reaction to Neulasta last time...she looked surprised when I said that I had taken Claritin before and after the shot..and no bone pain/aches.  Forgot one day & took Zyrtec instead...Funny thing that night felt like I had been hit by a train, muscle spasms,bone pain, etc. Back to Claritin next day and had nor bone pain.  Hoping Claritin will repeat the warding off of SE from Neulasta.

This morning noticed red area around 2nd breast incision--for the benign fibrocyst. Go figure...Dr. says its a seroma. Says it could take a while to go away, if gets bigger they can try to drain.  Anyone else have one? 

just took Compazine for nausea... 1/3 of Chemo done.  Yay!

Shaved my head last weekend, small patches of hair were coming out.  I still have lots of stubble, wouldnt I be the ironic one that would only lose a patch or two of hair?  

Good luck to everyone haven TX tomorrow. Thanks for all the posts...wonderful information and invaluable hints. 

Marcia--Just wanted to jump in...it's helpful for me to keep a journal. I begin with the night before infusion and continue by date until SE's are gone. I list all meds and times I take them as well as how I'm feeling and what I'm eating. It helps me rememeber from one treatment to the next as well as giving me an idea of how I'll feel next time.

Glad to hear treatments have been going well for everyone this week. GL to those in the big girl chair tomorrow.

 Oh and vballmom--hope you got something for your nausea!

Mary71, thanks for the great idea of journaling through the SE's.  I will plan on that when I start next week. 

Marcia1111- Just like Mary71 said, it may be a good idea to have a journal to help keep track of everything.  I'm in a Herceptin Clinical Trial and a nerd at heart so I have a daily chemo journal that I made to help me record when I take the prescription chemo meds and any other meds I take for my bp, tylenol, benedryl, supplements.  I also have a food journal so I can tell what and when I ate so I will know from chemo round to chemo round what foods worked the best for me.  I also have a calendar of my side effects, like when I'm feeling good, yucky, not good to help the research coordinator keep track of my side effects to report the clinical trial.    The calendar also helps keep track of my temperature that I take daily to make sure I don't have a crazy spikey fever and have to call the onco for help.  The calendar is also helpful for tracking when the WBC are most likely to drop and when you are in nadir and then in recovery period.  It just helps you plan your down time.  If you need any further help, just ask.  Never be afraid to ask for help whether it is from your onco or here.

You are all so amazing!

 I am definitely going to start a journal.  I felt so stupid yesterday when the nurse asked me when I last took each of 4 medications I listed on my intake forms.  I couldn't remember anything and had to give very vague answers.  My husband has an amazing memory so I have been relying on him throughout this ordeal, but you have made me realize that I have to take control.  I am very disappointed in the MO's nurse practitioner.  She made light of the meds, assuring me that it would all be clear.  Clear to someone who's done this before, maybe, but not to me.

Thank you again for being there for me.

rgina...I meant this time around...I am doing my 3rd tx next Thurs.  The first time around I didn't have chemo.

I journal as well...write down how I feel physically and emotionally...I think it helps a lot.  I also have an excel spread sheet with my SE's lined up next to each other from days 1 - 14...so I can see if the SE's change from tx to tx. I have another excel sheet that list all my meds and when I'm supposed to take them and which ones are "as needed".  It really helps me especially right before tx and the first week after.

Melrose - my check book isn't that well organized!

Ok, so my Buff came in the mail today and I have been playing with it, learning how to use it.  I will say, it is VERY comfortable.  It will be interesting to see how it feels when I lose my hair. 

isharvey and melrose, I have never been able to reconcile my checking account; just really bad with money.  I get the bills paid but just not disciplined to save.  Ah well.

Thanks Vball!  Yikes!  I hope it's just a blister!  And from someone who's recently dealt with the hair fallout - you'll feel better when it's shaved!  to distracting to have it coming out everywhere all of the time!

lsharvey - I know one can get something called foot and hand syndrome on chemo.  I've never had it, I just know it can happen, especially if your skin gets dry.  Maybe that is it???  Sounds like something to report to your onc and get checked, to make sure it doesn't get any worse. 

vball - bummer about the nausea....ugggh!  Have you tried the nausea wrist bands yet?  I swear they are helping me with my heartburn.  Both symptoms are related to the vagus nerve, and the acupressure point in the wrist is supposed to help.  

rgina - so glad the Q-tip/baby oil worked for you!  

fierro - sounds like beer time to me.  

rgina - the premeds for my TCH were standard.  The dexamethasone is given to prevent an allergic reaction to the chemo drugs, which I understand can happen up to 24 hours after chemo.  Now, I also get benadryl before my Herceptin only infusions to prevent an allergic reaction...but I'm hoping we can try cutting it down some eventually b/c it does make me real sleepy.  None of this was based on my bloodwork, however I do have a history of allergic reactions to pain meds, so it is prudent to be cautious in my case.  I'm not sure if premed prior to Herceptin only is absolutely necessary, but I do know premeds/postmeds for chemo is standard practice.  Perhaps your MO feels premeds on the day of chemo is all that is needed...sounds like you did ok with it! 

lisa2012 - eeks!  Sounds like you are the 2nd person that Neulasta didn't work for.  Yep, lots of handwashing for you...but don't forget to moisturize so your skin doesn't break open (been there, done that).  Hope your counts come up quickly!