April/May 2012 Chemo hang out

Hi everyone!  

Tears and hot flashes.... pretty much daily.  The tears I can manage; I wish I could say the same for the hot flashes.  I still think it is so weird that I feel this heat rush and my temperature never climbs.  

Pauletta, I hope everything checks out for you - just FYI, though, I think chemo itself can cause sore/swollen glands.  But I know we don't mess around with anything that looks like a symptom of infection.  I'm thinking of you!

As for drinks during chemo - my place has an ice and water machine.  So far I can handle the taste of plain old water, so I just bring my own large cup, and fill it up as many times as I want while I'm there.  I hate to say this but as far as lemon flavored stuff, the mere thought of it makes me queasy now.  I sucked Lemonheads my first two treatments and I don't think I can ever eat them again.  This last time I just nibbled crackers and drank all that water.  

Vickilind, I hope you are OK after all that hellacious hail in the Springs!  We were pretty lucky here, knocking wood.  

Quite tired today...even though it's my 3rd "good" week.  I'm noticing a pattern this past week - I feel really good one day and end up doing quite a bit, then crash the next day.  Oh well, not too upset by it - better than crashing pretty much every day like week 1 for me!  

One infusion down, seven to go! My sister who went with me for my 1st infusion said it was like going into the dragons cave. So as I see it, only seven more dragons to slay, lol. Feeling tired from the Benadryl, but thought Decadron given with the AC would perk me up?

Hey girls- well, I have called my MO nurse several times and so far have a script for magic mouthwash? a day time anti nasuea and the latest- she told me to go ahead and get my hair shaved.  It was itching so bad last night and then again this morning.  It felt like a yeast infection kind of itch?  Did any of you have this? 

Still plannning on going to work this Monday.  Take care everyone!

Jenny

jennyrjd- Here is the thing about the hair.... you take control over the hair before it takes control over you. In short, you shave it when you are ready.   I understand what the nurse was telling you bout how to deal with the physical discomfort of the impending hair loss but there is more to shaving one's head than just cutting the hair off.  Only those who have to deal with the hair loss can truly appreciate what it means to have such a dramatic change to one's appearance.   When my hair first started to leave, my scalp hurt and was tender for a few days.  It did itch a little but I thought maybe it was the shampoo I was using plus skin dryness due to the chemo.  I know my scalp alway felt better when I had my head under the shower water.  I switched to a milder shampoo with a very mild conditioner in it which seemed to help.  I'm probably one of the few who did not shave my head to the scalp.  Instead, I opted to cut it really really boy cut short and still have some hair left. I know that will probably go after my recent #3 chemo this week, and one day it will return.

Hi everyone,

I hope that you all have a good weekend and that SEs are not too bad.

I am much better today than yesterday and the pain has subsided substantially.  I was able to get out for walks and yesterday was not even able to walk.

Welcome to anyone new this week.  So sorry you had to join this club but the members are amazing and have made me feel so welcome and have so much information and I am grateful to them all.

I missed out the other day on the question about stressful lives prior to diagnosis.  My life was very stressful!  Definitely alot of life changes on the horizon for me.

Big hugs to all,

Misty

melrose- maybe i will try switching to a different shampoo/conditioner.  I just know that I cannot stand the way it is itching.  I need to find some soft headwear to sleep in and to wear out.  I have my wig for work and I wish I hadn't picked one with so much hair, oh well, it is only for short term and then I will have my own new hair back! 

Went to the mall today with my family and walked quite a bit and then came home tired but I am very glad I got out and walked. 

On a different note, if I had micrometastasics to one lymph node (when I had lumpectomy in March) and then had 10 more nodes removed on the same side and they were all clear does that mean my BC can still show up somewhere else down the line?  I know it has that chance and that is why I am doing the chemo but it is very hard to understand this cancer!

jennyrjd- You might check that TLC website to get a sleep cap if you can't find one locally.  I have some Buffs that I wear out at times.  You can buy them at a sporting goods store (REI) or go on line and check out their website.  They have UVA protection and are about $22.00.  Since it's so hot/humid in Houston, I wear a cotton bandana, or a baseball cap or a straw hat when I go out.  If you are crafty and want something just to wear at night, you might try making a night cap using a small t-shirt.

Stacie- Your chemo day saying just cracks me up!!!!!  Thanks for sharing the spoon article.  Hope your side effects are minimal and you are resting after your Alaskan adventure!!!

Hello...

I have a question about wine.  I am a big lover of wine.  I asked my nurse during the chemo class if I can drink wine...her reply was...yes if you feel like having some you can but I don't really think you will.  Then I asked another nurse a couple of weeks ago during my tx and she said...she doesn't think alcohol is a good idea...I didn't think to ask her why at the time but I wish I had. 

I really don't feel like having any alcohol during the first couple weeks but last treatment during my 3rd week I drank a couple glasses of wine...and I would maybe like to have some this weekend before I start my 3rd tx next week.

So my question is...has anyone else talked to their doc/nurse about drinking during chemo? Is anyone drinking or feel like drinking...or is it just me?
 

Melrose-loved ordering from TLC. Got my order quickly & correctly. Lots of cute hats caps & wigs. Neulasta tomorrow- gotta get the Claritan before I go. What kind? Got to read up about it. Linda K.

Having a great time at Pocono. I took a nap today and just relaxed. Last ac is on Monday. Yay!

Dear FightingLikeAGirl,

I asked my nurse about alcohol use during the weeks i am on chemo. She looked at me , laughed, and said, "honey, you're not going to feel like drinking!" Well, that remains to be seen since I take my first visit to the "big girl chair" next week, but I did read In the literature that my MO gave me, on TC (Taxotere & carboplaten) that, and I quote,

"the drinking of alcohol (in small amounts) does not appear to affect the safety or usefulness of this product." That was stated for both drugs separately. So I'm guessing a glass or two of wine should be OK, but that's just me.

If your're comfortable with it, I think it would be fine. Be careful, though. One glass may knock you on your keister, I'm thinking.

Enjoy your weekend regardless.

Gemmie

We had decided to make this weekend as calm and "normal" as possible, since chemo starts on Tuesday.  We refused some company (DH's friend) that was well meaning, but DH wants me comfortable, not entertaining others.  We have a town fair going on that is a tradition from LONG before I was born (it's a town of 800 people.)  We arranged for my 3 year old granddaughter to spend the weekend here.  (Yes, I was a grandma before I was 40.  LOL)

So, with all of the planning for a calm and normal weekend, I felt (today) like I took 2 steps back in recovery.  My arm pit hurts, I've lost some range of motion that had been gained in my left arm, and I was wiped OUT at work today.  I *did* get 40 hours in this week...I'm not sure when that will happen again.

Anyway, I have cried three times tonight.  I should feel as good as I did Monday and Tuesday.  I should get to enjoy playing with my granddaughter (with both arms.)  I should get to enjoy the fair every night, not just tomorrow.

That is the end of my whine.  I have nothing to complain about, really.  I haven't started chemo yet.  I'll be back to to complain justly after Tuesday.