April/May 2012 Chemo hang out

Isharvey- i get benedryl and anything else they want to give me.  All of those extra drugs at the infusion just help me get some rest and sleep when I get home after the infusion and also help me sleep through the night after the chemo.  Yep.... I'm a little zombie  then but I eat, drink a lot of water and go to bed !!!!! Ahh drug induced stupor and legal too!!!!

Why do hot flashes seem to occur at night? Sheesh.



Safe travels, Stacie!

Hi everyone,

Been trying to keep up and good luck today to those in the big girl chair and hopefully for others your side effects have been manageable.

I am 9 days out from first FEC treatment and just finished a week of daily Neupogen shots.

I woke up this morning at 4 a.m. in extreme pain from what I think are lower back muscle spasms but the spasms are going through my whole body.  The pain is so bad it is taking my breath away. 

Has anyone else experienced this or heard of this?

Hugs

someone asked about port placement..don't know what I had..but I want some to take home! don't member a thing..even the trip back to room..but daughter said I talked normal..was supposed to be a shot and than local for placement..musta worked..daughter said I sounded "high" but acted normal..I can think of a few times that shot would come in handy..LOL..

first day..arm didn't leave my side..ouchy..but by the next morn..was lots better..started moving arm..found it helped to sleep in the sports bra..breast weight was pulling on port..was very surprized strap did not hurt it..even tho it was directly over the port..is still a wee bit sore..but lots better..

ok..thru writing the books now..ya'll are probly tired of hearing me complain..LOL..Doris

Misty, are you taking the clairitin with the shots? Most of us take a clairitin the day of the shot, then. Again for the next 4 or 5 days. It helps the bone pain.

Doris, enjoy that coffee! I haven't been able to drink it. Can't taste it since a week after my first chemo. Boo! I loved me coffee! Try some chamomile tea for the heartburn too. I found that eating smaller, more frequent meals helped with that also. Keep drinking that water too!

Sandik:  Glad to see you back.  I was getting worried about you.  It's good to hear you made it through the wedding.  

Doris: I took Claritan after my tx treatment in the afternoon, the day of the neulasta shot and 5 days later.  I was very fortunate and had no bone/joint pain.  That's not to say this round will be the same.  (I can only hope).  I don't have a port as I will only be receiving 4 treatments, but it takes forever (at least three attempts by 2-3 different people to get a "nice" vein within it rolling.  It is very painful and frustrating and they can only use one arm/hand.  

I still have hives and today's my treatment day. I am dreading this.  I hope they give me a nice dose of benedryl.  I was up all night--I am sure it's the wonderful steriods I took yesterday.  

Stacie:  Glad you had a wonderful vacation.   

Good luck to those undergoing treatment today and tomorrow.  I will be thinking of you.  

Hello All,

I hope things are going as expected with your treatments.  Thanks for all the advice you have given me thru my first treatment.  I had a hospital stay over memorial day weekend 104 fever.  They ended up checking to make sure I had no serious infections, started me om antibiotics and gave me neupogen to boost my white blood cells.  All in all it was an ok experience I felt like a new person after I got those neupogen shots.  My daughter went to her prom on June 1, she was so beautiful.  I just had my second treatment yesterday and I'm kind of wiped outbut I have to get ready for my baby girls graduation on Saturday.  I will be there no matter how I'm feeling.  God bless you all to a quick recovery

aha!! i did it..only thing wrong is size of tumor..mine was 1.4 cm..but hey..thats close..

Yeah--Doris--You Did it

Silkuk52:  Good luck tomorrow

Sgtgee 69:  Hope you are feeling better.  So sorry to hear you were in the hospital.  Are you taking B6 for energy?  It may help on Saturday.  I am sending good vibes your way!

Welcome Newbies!!!!  Glad to have you on board on trip through chemoland!!!!  You'll find great support and a place to just vent.

Stacie - Hope you had a wonderful trip in Alaska with wonderful memories and pictures with your niece!!!Safe travels home and good luck with #4 in the big girl chair tomorrow!!!

IndigoMont11- What's up with those nighttime chemopause/menopause hot flashes?????  I'm getting them and not loving them since once I wake up from one, I find it difficult to get back to sleep even though I'm really sleepy!!! Bummer...... The other thing that has gotten me the last few days are those Decadron steroids I take around treatment time.  It will be nap time for me today ( with my boots on, of course!!!)

Sandik - Twin.... you have been one busy gal!!!!  Sorry you can't drink the coffee--- I had a cup of decaf from my make one cup at a time coffee maker and it was just wonderful.  I just wait to have one when I know my taste buds make their visit around weeks 2 and 3.  Have a fun and safe trip to the Pocono Races and try not to get sunburned!!!  BTW... I always love your grumpiness humor.....!!!

Sgtgee_69- Glad you are better after your stay in the hospital for that high fever.  I managed to dodge that bullet by that same weekend.  I had a case of chills and high spikey fever but got some antibotics quickly that brought the fever down and no ER trip.  I had #3 tx on Tuesday and a Neulasta shot yesterday. If you are having bone pain from the Neupron shots, you may want to take Claritin daily for 5-7 days to help with the pain plus Advil or Tylenol if the Claritin doesn't cut the pain.  Congrats to you and your DD upon her graduation!!!  It will be a great day for both of you!!!

Minimal side effects for all this week and those in the big girl chair this week.... smooth and calm treatments!!!! 

Featherweather9- I'm holding your hand right now and hopefully the minimal SE vibes are strong enough this time so you do better this round!!!!  Just remember that you are not alone.  Drink that water during the infusion and afterwards to help flush that chemo through.  Eat mini-meals so your tummy is fed so you won't get nauseous.  If your anti-nausea meds don't seem to be working, call your onco asap so you can get some help.  We are here for you girlfriend, wrapping you in a blanket of positive thoughts and support!!!

Best wishes today fairweather...one more down, one step closer to being DONE. 

Day after my first taxol treatment...they give you a lot of steroids through IV and wow...couldn't sleep...up all night..they warned me that would happen....a lot of energy this morning too.

They say I will probably be tired tomorrow....but who cares I'm driving to the cape to get away from it all.



Feeling for you ladies still on or starting AC its no picnic.....words of advice echoed by merlosemei ....lots of rest, fluids, smal meals....I loved milkshakes....ensure and boost if you can't eat....and stay ahead on those meds...don't let nausea get ahead of you....and if your feeling really down, frustrated with no energy and a dark outlook....you are not alone....don't hold back on thoses needed good cries...it's cleansing.



You will get through this...SE,s a few days...then back on the climb back up to feeling strong again....sending positive thoughts!

velutha-Just love hearing from you.  You always remind me that this time in chemoland will pass and we can all get through this time!!!! HUGS!!!!

Thanks to you,dear dancetrancer, i have hand lotion in every room! And in the car (along with hand sanitizer.) hope doc is right and WBC is coming up. I had my first not-great blood test my nurse had to "dig around.". I have no port but all my needles have been fine till that one, which still worked. Can I try to get the other nurse whose been 100 or is that too rude?