April/May 2012 Chemo hang out

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  • Gemmie
    Gemmie Member Posts: 103
    edited June 2012

    Good luck to all of us sitting in the big girl chair this week!



    To those who are posting about hair issues, I have been enjoying a few trips to the "Hair,Hair,Hair" thread, also in the Chemotherapy Forum. Those gals are a few months ahead of us, but give out some great information. on what to expect down the road with hair. They are also a great testament that our lives will return to normal eventually.

    You might want to,check it out.

    Funny, though, I've not seen anything there about facial hair.



    Vickilin,

    I go in tomorrow. And I've been where you are a dozen times this last week. Today however I feel oddly peaceful and maybe a sense of relief b/c I'm finally going to get started! The sooner begun, the sooner DONE! (At least as done as one can be after all this)

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  • nofear2012
    nofear2012 Member Posts: 160
    edited June 2012

    Vickilind61 - I too started getting nervous before my last two infusions. The onc nurse gave me ativan in my iv and that helped me so much during the infusion. Just know that the anticipation of the treatment is much worse than the actual treatment, but it is expected considering what we are going it is a kind of PTSD.

    Fierro - I am wishing you mininal se and i love your attitude.

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  • nofear2012
    nofear2012 Member Posts: 160
    edited June 2012

    Sorry meant fightinglikeagirl for the lexapro nod.

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  • rgina
    rgina Member Posts: 100
    edited June 2012

    Vickilind - we are both gonna be in the big girl chair on Friday and you are going to do fine and I'm going to do fine.  What time is your appointment?  Mine is now at 11 (CDT), are you taking a laptop - I'm taking mine, if their wifi works this time - we can check in here and hold each other's hand!  I took Xanax before every prior "procedure" but didn't on my first TX and once I got there it was okay, I had my laptop, movies, snacks, drinks, daughter - geez it looked like I was moving in.

    Kjiberty -  I have sick leave and vacation time, but it's going to be a long year doing appointments until May 2013 and daily rads thrown in too, I'm just trying to balance my time and I won't work if I really feel bad, fortunately so far that just hasn't happened and my office is great (lord I've been there 28 years this year, guess that counts for something:)It's just that I had appointments scheduled where I would only loose 1/2 day of work on the long treatments and it actually worked out with me being there 5 hours - but suddenly they needed to move it earlier, so I wouldn't be there shortly before closing time and still not sure if they really need 5 hours.

    Lsharvey - yes I'm 62 - it has to be the gene pool cause I can't say it's been healthy living:) Lots of moisturizer?  I also spend a minimum of an hour a day outside in the fresh air whether it's taking care of the 20 plus animals, gardens or my 50 some rose bushes or just doing mindless yard work.

    Fierro - hope you check in tonight, been thinking about you all day and wondering how it went.  You sounded ready and steady in your earlier post.

    Oh and that short haircut from the weekend is fading fast, the fall-out continues.  But last night when I was out with the horses and it was still in the mid-90's temps (we hit 101 yesterday) I thought to myself, wow, this no hair thing in this heat and this wind - feels pretty darn good.

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  • lsharvey822
    lsharvey822 Member Posts: 257
    edited June 2012

    now I have to go look at my stubbles! :)

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  • Husker123
    Husker123 Member Posts: 101
    edited June 2012

    rgina, I'm glad to hear there is somebody on the board that enjoys equine therapy besides me! I went riding last Friday & it improved my mood 100%.  I'm wishing I could be at a show tomorrow but I have the BGC on Thurs.

    Love the humor Fierro! Hope all went well for you.

    I've been reading the Hair, Hair, Hair thread too. I did see a couple of times when they've posted about facial "fur". Another fun thing to look forward too! Seems Nair for faces takes care of it.

    I shaved mine smooth a couple of weeks ago. I have some regrowth. It doesn't seem to want to leave. Of course it's gray & sparse.

    Wishing everyone lite SE's!

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  • lsharvey822
    lsharvey822 Member Posts: 257
    edited June 2012

    I like the breeze too Rgina! haha!! at least when I can get away without the hat!  grrr!! it's like an oven under there!

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  • rgina
    rgina Member Posts: 100
    edited June 2012

    vballmom - just saw your new picture you look great....

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  • babysammy
    babysammy Member Posts: 74
    edited June 2012

    I go this Friday, seems like there is a few of us.  Trying to get stocked up with drinks.  My biggest difficulty is drinking. 

    I am enjoying the bald head in the heat, once I get to pull the hat off.

    Hope limited se's all around.

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  • kjiberty
    kjiberty Member Posts: 1,385
    edited June 2012

    Rgina:  I hear you about the time off.  I have 10 weeks of sick time and 5 weeks vacation, plus short term disability.  I am very, very fortunate that my job is if I work even a few hours, I get paid for the entire day. With that being said, I usually worked 40-70 hours a week before my body gave me a reality check.  I feel very fortunate.  In my past position, even if I took 15 minutes off, I would have to take the time.

    Vballmom:  I LOVE your new pic.

    Fierro:  Thinking of you this evening...

    Isharvey:  Being bald does have it's advantages in this summer heat! 

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  • Fierro6
    Fierro6 Member Posts: 224
    edited June 2012

    I went, and we had a good time with it.  I'll post a link to my blog post about it, but be forewarned:  Most of it describes what happens for my family and friends.  YOU all KNOW what happens, so you may be incredibly bored.  I'm only linking to it so you can see some of our warped sense of humor.  I am also very raw on my blog, so if you wander around, do so at your own risk. Cool

    Overall, it went great.  We had to make a couple of stops afterwards and our last stop was Walmart.  Toward the end of our short trip in there, I started feeling funny.  I told my husband, "This is the time of day I get really tired, so it's probably just tired."  Every little thing is running through my mind like, "Is this a side effect, or just my normal pattern."  Yes.  I realize I should KNOW my own pattern.  LOL

    I have a headache, but I had that before they started, and it's just been hanging around off and on today.  It's a bit worse, now, but my daddy said something sweet to me on facebook and made me cry, so I'm blaming that.  The other is kind of foggy.  Almost a beer-buzz feeling or a slight high (if I remember right.  That's been 20 years ago!)  I feel like I could sleep for days, but people keep telling me the steroids will keep me up all night.  I don't see that happening.

    I ate dinner when I got home, because I felt normal, stomach-wise.  I thought  I should take advantage of the situation.  Now, it's just a headache (not horrible, but I don't typically get them, so it annoys me,) the fuzzy feeling, and I think I'd like to sleep.  I'm OK.  Thank you all for caring so much!

    We've moved to Wednesdays going forward, so two weeks from tomorrow is TX 2.  If my PS will agree, MO thinks my blood count will be high enough to get TE fills.  His nurse originally said she didn't think my whites would get high enough with dose dense scheduling, but I'll email her and let her know what I was told.  I won't fight it if they are against it.  I'll just inquire.

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  • dancetrancer
    dancetrancer Member Posts: 4,039
    edited June 2012

    rgina - I'd be pissed, too, if I had a work schedule I needed to make happen!  I am on TCH, but you can't go by my onc's office.  They are always late starting me...so I am there from like 8 a.m. until around 3:30 or 4 p.m.  They haven't rescheduled me, though (unless bloodwork issues).  Oh and I like kjiberty's advice - be careful not to push too hard, especially as the treatments go on. 

    indigo - so sorry your treatment goes through September...I plan on staying on here and cheering you ALL along until everyone is PFC.  PFC.  Can I get a PFC?  Smile  

    vickilind61, I would ask for something - why suffer anxiety?  We will be here to cheer you on and hold your hand through this.  The first one is the scariest - just the unknown of it all.

     nofear2012 - thank you for sharing what your psychologist had to say and also the kaiser resource.  I will definitely check it out.  It sounds like he had some really solid advice!  I hope your anxiety starts to improve  - you've got a good plan in place now!  

    Also, regarding the thrush, I found my WBC/ANC had to be REALLY high before the thrush went away.  My onc nurse and I think that since it is an infection, your whites must have to get really high to beat it (in combo with the Nystatin).   I remember I had it 2 weeks straight on Nystatin and with Neupogen, but it didn't go away until my WBC/ANC went really high.  I bet that is what is going on with you.  

    Lastly nofear, I am not on Taxol, but I am on TCH which can cause neuropathy.  I am getting little zings over the last week - face, feet, hands.  Nothing is lasting...for now.  I am taking B6 and acetyl-L-carnitine to try to prevent neuropathy.  I can only imagine what it would be like without it!  Hoping it doesn't worsen too much with my 4th tx.  I have heard Taxol can really bring on the neuropathy - make sure you tell your onc so that you both can decide how to address it.   

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  • Gemmie
    Gemmie Member Posts: 103
    edited June 2012

    vballmom and nofear,



    Thanks for the ativan tip. I think I will request some be put in my IV tomorrow!



    Vicki,

    Are you listening?



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  • dancetrancer
    dancetrancer Member Posts: 4,039
    edited June 2012
    Fierro - great to hear from you!  Sounds like it all went smoothly - YAY!!!!  
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  • kjiberty
    kjiberty Member Posts: 1,385
    edited June 2012

    Gemmie:  Good Luck tomorrow!

    Fierro:  Glad everything went okay thus far for you. 

    Nofear:  I have bookmarked the Kaiser site you recommended.  Thank you! 

    I have a question for everyone:  Does anyone attend a local B/C support group?  If so, do you find it helpful?  I have not joined any because so far for me, this is the BEST support group I could ever ask for! THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!  We have support groups here, I just haven't joined any.  

      

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  • vickilind61
    vickilind61 Member Posts: 338
    edited June 2012

    Gemmie, yes I am listening.  Foot in mouth

    rgina, I go in at 8:30 MDT.  I will be bringing my hubby, sister and daughter, plus my laptop, Nook and a book.  Just need to make sure I have all my bases covered.  I know that I can ask for something when I get there if I'm too paranoid, but part of this is just the WAITING!!!  I mean, I've been thinking about this stupid stuff since, like March!  It's taken me this long to get going on it. 

    Friday cannot come soon enough for me at this point!!

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  • vickilind61
    vickilind61 Member Posts: 338
    edited June 2012

    vball, Tazzy was asking about you over on the 2012 thread you started.  Told her you been hanging out here.  BTW, I love, Love, LOVE your new pic!!!!  And so sad that you are still struggling with so much other "crap".  Feel better soon.

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  • lsharvey822
    lsharvey822 Member Posts: 257
    edited June 2012

    Fierro - big hugs girl!!  so glad it went well.  I'm hoping for minimal/no side effects for you too!

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  • Fierro6
    Fierro6 Member Posts: 224
    edited June 2012
    Vicki - Delayed chemo seems (in hindsight) to be worse than getting the chemo!  I don't mean all of the after chemo SE crap, but the actual infusion.  We had a good time and I felt no discomfort of any kind.  The delays and the stupid waiting game though...UGGG!  I would cry about it.  I would cry to DH, "It's not fair that this is happening, but if I can't get out of it, LET'S GET ON WITH IT!"  
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  • vickilind61
    vickilind61 Member Posts: 338
    edited June 2012

    Let's get it on oooo let's get it on.  (Oh Marvin!)

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  • lsharvey822
    lsharvey822 Member Posts: 257
    edited June 2012

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3j3okb3kuts

    :)

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  • vickilind61
    vickilind61 Member Posts: 338
    edited June 2012

    ...don't you know how sweet and wonderful life can be...

    What a loss and thanks Isharvey.  Good times.

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  • lsharvey822
    lsharvey822 Member Posts: 257
    edited June 2012

    I love that song!

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  • vickilind61
    vickilind61 Member Posts: 338
    edited June 2012
    Me too; makes me frisky....maybe DH will get lucky tonight.  Wink
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  • Fierro6
    Fierro6 Member Posts: 224
    edited June 2012

    OK, the headache is getting worse, and it hit me:  I've been crying a LOT tonight.  My weak spot is sweet little words of encouragement from friends and family who usually view me as the strong, healthy one.  Somehow, I can take it from you ladies who are going through it, but when coworkers and friends do it, I break down.  Then, I cry because I don't want to be crying.

    Anyway (wow, I'm wordy tonight) my dad posted, "love you" on my status update, and my dad does NOT post on FB.  He is on there to keep up with family, so he reads daily, but does NOT post.  I don't think he ever has.  I know Mom didn't do it logged in as him (she's done that before, not maliciously, but forgetting to change log ins) because of the lack of capitalization and the brevity.  I cried over that for a good 10 minutes.

    Thus, the headach.  (I hope.)  It's been a stressful day, I didn't have the headache during infusion.  I had it before (after being scared of it) and after (after crying.)  I just told DH that I think I'm an idiot for taking so many hours to figure this out, and I just took a Valium.   It's what I have on hand.  

    I think I'll ask MO if she'd suggest something else, since these are from the PS, but MO knows that I take them "as needed" and didn't care.  The difference is, "as needed" is usually for tightness and muscle issues, so I definitely want her input into what I should have for emotional issues.  I hope I can go to work tomorrow.  Not only do I need the money, I think the distraction will be a great thing. 

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  • vickilind61
    vickilind61 Member Posts: 338
    edited June 2012

    And now, I head to bed.   So blasted tired.  Maybe he won't get lucky. 

    Good night sweet prince(sses).

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  • Gemmie
    Gemmie Member Posts: 103
    edited June 2012

    Bummer, I hit the link to YouTube but it won't go through on my iPad. I'm assuming it was old Marvin himself crooning about getting it on?

    Thanks for the laughs, ladies.

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  • nofear2012
    nofear2012 Member Posts: 160
    edited June 2012

    Kliberty - I am going to a bc support group on thurs about an hour away from cause there is nothing close by. I am the type of person that needs to talk to people to help process, so the drive is worth it for me. Plus no one knows what we are going thru unless they are going thru it & I can acutally hug people.

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  • vjm
    vjm Member Posts: 79
    edited June 2012

    Dancetrancer - good luck and congrats on last chemo tomorrow!!!

    Kliberty - I did not join a support group - this has been so helpful doing it online.

    Also will be asking MO for Ativan this time!

    vjm

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  • FightingLikeAGirl
    FightingLikeAGirl Member Posts: 69
    edited June 2012
    rgina...I'm on TCH and my 2nd one did take about 5 hrs...my first took a little longer...they wanted to make sure I didn't have a reaction to the Herceptin so they gave it to me slowly. It must be very frustrating tho to have your appointments all set up and then have them changed around. Hope you'll be able to move things around at the office?

    NoFear...I'm glad you've got a good plan ahead of you for the emotional aspects of this

    Gemmie...I'm gonna check out the Hair Hair Hair thread...thanks for mentioning it.

    I also noticed a ton of facial hair on the side of my face...what the heck is that from??? I was thinking maybe I just never noticed it before...kinda glad to hear it's a SE!!!

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