April/May 2012 Chemo hang out

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  • rgina
    rgina Member Posts: 100
    edited June 2012

    Morning all,

    Trying to catch up again which is not easy with this thread.  Yesterday I did something really stupid, note to self:  Do not get on the garden tractor and start mowing at 6:30 a.m. and bouncing around with an empty stomach - you will not feel good and that is a promise.

    TriChick - loved the shirt, will be ordering one for myself.

    Stacie - thanks for starting the new threads - I will be there.  Last TCH is in September, then RADS and then Herceptin until May 2013, is it only June?

    Mistym - good luck on your scan today.  Also I read the following article about Aloxi and Dexamethasone regarding nausea (which is what I get prior to TCH) with Zofran to take at home later and so far this has worked, here's the link:  http://latestbreastcancer.blogspot.com/2011/08/breast-cancer-news-88-aloxi-for-nausea.html

    Speaking of hair, I know it may be too early to tell since I'm only post TX#2 by 5 days, but my short short boy cut although thinning seems to be hanging in there as are the fuzzies on my my face/cheeks which I wish would go away.

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  • Gemmie
    Gemmie Member Posts: 103
    edited June 2012

    Hi ladies,

    Just caught up on reading this thread. So easy to get pages behind in a very short period of time!

    About last night; a couple of thoughts on the bone pain (mine lasted about 3 hours-longest 3 hours I've spent since I gave birth 35 years ago) That's one of my thoughts: it was a lot like birthing. Pain would move in in a wave, intensely so, then gradually recede til the next "contraction". Mine was all lower back and it felt like some super lipped demon (think Mick Jagger) had attached itself to my lower back and was literally sucking the marrow out of my bones. (and yes, I have been taking the claritin. who knows, this may have started sooner without it!)

     2nd thought-it really is true that we need opposite extremes to appreciate the good: Pain/pleasure, sadness/joy, empty/full, etc.

    I felt absolutely blissful at the end of each spasm because my body was not in pain, just in the norm, and the norm felt FANTASTIC. So, flip that over to this emotional journey we are all on. I've seen more than one of us comment on how much more we appriciate our blessings now that our own mortality has become so much more real. I like to think of this as a walk through fire from which I will emerge a shinier, purer version of my best self. And without the misery of this journey, would I truely appriciate the many blessings in my life? I think not. I took way too much for granted before this year. I think now I will not do that so easily.

    Just some thoughts I wanted to air. 

    Thanks, Stacie for the new thread.

    Blessings to you all through the miseries! Remember, Just keep on swimming, keep on swimming, keep on swimming . . . .

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  • sandik
    sandik Member Posts: 482
    edited June 2012

    Gemmie, 

       That sounds awful! Glad you get some relief in there somewhere.

    Went for my stress test today. They stuck me in the hottest room in the hospital, the treadmill is right next to the window so the sun can beat down on me to try to kill me, oops I mean shine in. I don't think I could have done another minute. I was winded! They said I did well, but won't really know until the dr reads the report. I made them get me a bottle of water before I got up. Chugged the whole thing before I left.

    Hope you guys are all staying cool and out of the sun. Good vibes to everyone!  

    Stacie, thanks for starting the last thread. Can't wait til we are all there and out of the rest of these!  

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  • Debbie2335
    Debbie2335 Member Posts: 4
    edited June 2012

    Thanks for the welcome everyone.  This group seems to be so positive, and that's what I want to be!  And laughter is the best medicine!  Went for my chemo education today and tonight I am going to a place to check out wigs.  A good friend is going with me for support.  Not sure I want to wear a wig all the time, but want to have the option.

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

    sandik - what's up with the stress test...you having heart issues???  

    Had my Herceptin only today and bloodwork done.  Infusion went fine.  Bloodwork shows my ANC (whites) up to ~700, so now Grade 3 neutropenia.  Still risky, but I feel so much safer than when it was ~400!  Will continue with Neupogens and recheck Friday.  I really feel for all of you with the severe bone pain and Claritin not working.  This is one area where I've been really lucky on side effects. 

    My red count/hemoglobin has dropped again - now an 8 (normal is 12 to 16).  This is the lowest it has ever been.  Feeling extra tired today, this helps explain why.  Many docs transfuse if you drop below 8.  My doc said since I'm young and otherwise healthy I should be able to go as low as 6 without transfusing.  He knows I really want to avoid it if I can.  I command my red blood cells to grow and build NOW!  In the meantime...couch potato...walking slowly as tolerated...not gonna stress this heart! 

    I also told the doc about a new symptom I've been having off and on the last couple of weeks - sometimes my urine has a bunch of bubbles in it - sometimes it's fine.  He's retesting my kidney function and also running a test to make sure no diabetes has crept in.  I'm trying not to worry and just tell myself it's a temporary reaction to chemo - will find out results Friday!   

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  • Stacie
    Stacie Member Posts: 607
    edited June 2012

    thanks vaball.

     Last chemo I decided to rent "A Little Bit of Heaven" cause it seemed like a good love story.  Turns out the leading lady has cancer.  I laughed at the irony really.  It was a pretty good movie.  But I'll read the small print better next time.

    "The Switch" also with Jennifer Anniston is good

    "Descendents" with George Clooney is good but not as light hearted but great drama.

    s

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  • Stacie
    Stacie Member Posts: 607
    edited June 2012

    Welcome Debbie, yes we are a Money mouth group but we can vent some other feelings like  Undecided or Cry or Yell too!

     whatever you go through we are here to support you and UNDERSTAND.

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

    movies:

    Bridesmaids is always good for laughs!

    Little Miss Sunshine is an usual but very intriguing and interesting movie!  

    The series Downton Abbey is great.  Never thought I'd like it.  It may be hard to get though - really popular at our libary.  

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  • Melrosemelrose
    Melrosemelrose Member Posts: 3,018
    edited June 2012

    Debbie- Welcome!!! We are definitely a fun bunch here.  I have the wig option but alas the poor wig is held captive in a ziploc bag.  Just too hot here in Texas for a hairy woolly hat this time of year!!!

    Dancetrancer- Your WBC and red blood cells need to get working and recover!!!! Need to have a pep rally for them!!!

    Sandik - What's up with the stress test?  Is it b/c you fainted over the weekend and got boo-boo's from the face plant?  Hope you are feeling better!!!

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  • floridatworeds
    floridatworeds Member Posts: 22
    edited June 2012

    HI Everyone,

     Going to see oncologist on Friday. Wanted to join group. Best wishes and prayers. Had surgery sential lymph node biopsy. Negative margin of tissue and negative node. I have to say I somewhat ready for next  phase, just would rather be doing something than thinking cancer is the only one at work. Will try to stay connected sometimes hard, just dont want to think ab out it. the nasty scare on my breast is all I can take some days.

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  • Fierro6
    Fierro6 Member Posts: 224
    edited June 2012
    Forida - I know what you mean.  After my UMX, I had over 6 weeks before I could start chemo, because of a pesky JP drain that wouldn't slow down.  The whole time, I just wrung my hands and paced the floor, thinking that cancer was getting a head start.  Hang in there.  Lace those boxing gloves extra tight.
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  • Melrosemelrose
    Melrosemelrose Member Posts: 3,018
    edited June 2012
    Floridatworeds- Welcome!!!!  Glad you joined us where you will find lots of support & help and a great place to vent, pout and whatever else.  We laugh a lot and we just all keep moving forward on our journeys.  I hope you will have someone with you at your onco appointment to give you support.  If you have time, make a list of questions to ask the onco.  It is still one day at a time and one step at a time.  Please be kind to yourself and give yourself a daily cancer break.  It doesn't matter what you do during that break time-- you can watch tv, read a magazine, cook dinner, go shopping---- just do something other than think about the cancer.  It does take time to accept the new you.  I can tell you that I did not check out my body after my masectomy until I was ready to look.  After I started losing my hair from the chemo, I didn't look in the mirror at first.  I knew that my body had changed and that in time, I would be brave enough to look.  Sending you lots of positive heaing and calming prayers, thoughts and energy.  You can do this!!! Once you start the chemo, you need to say out loud " I am doing this!"
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  • lsharvey822
    lsharvey822 Member Posts: 257
    edited June 2012

    @Dance - yikes girl!  come on red cells!  Tho I can attest to the safety of the blood supply if you do need a transfusion after working for a blood bank for 10 years!  :) Hope it doesn't come to that!

    @Debbie - these ladies make me laugh every day!  sometimes over the craziest things too!

    @Florida - I think most of us will agree that the waiting/wondering/dreading what's to come is often the hardest part.  We're all here for you.

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  • Fierro6
    Fierro6 Member Posts: 224
    edited June 2012

    I'm taking an OTC sleep aid tonight.  To heck with this 4-5 hour crap.

    Headache still won't leave.  I've had it for 5 days and although sometimes it's barely there, it's never gone. I've thrown everything you can imagine at it.  Tylenol, Advil, chocolate, caffeine, and today the onco nurse suggested I try a Percocet (left over from surgery.)  It didn't get rid of it.  I'm having a long talk with my MO on Tuesday during my appointment about this one.

    OK, the griping is out of the way.  Now for the good news:  I got my appetite back!  Food, my old friend, was back in my life.  It smells wonderful, it tastes wonderful, and it makes my heart sing!  (Wow, I'm not sure WHY I have a weight problem.)  LOL 

    I'll watch the chemo notes that I'm keeping, but if this pattern holds true, I'll get my taste back on day 8 (yesterday.)  I can live with a week of not wanting food, as long as I know the following week will bring the buds back. 

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

    Florida - welcome! 

    fierro - go for it!  The sleep will do wonders for you!  Hope you get that headache to go away soon!  Does it feel like tension headache, coming from the neck, maybe?  If so, a good old neck massage and stretch may help.  If it's from meds/chemo...uggh.   But soooooooo glad you got your appetite back!!!  

    Thanks all for the cheers...2,4,6,8 Who do we appreciate?  White cells!  Red cells!  Gooooooooooo body!  Defense!  (clap clap) Defense!  (clap clap)

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  • TriChick
    TriChick Member Posts: 56
    edited June 2012

    Again, wow!  You ladies are busy...took me an hour to read and catch up!  Funny stuff too!

    Fierro (and one other was talking about sleep meds) - take them - the body does repair work when we sleep, we NEED sleep!  If you are not sleeping it is NO BUENO!  I know a lot of us feel like "no, not another pill".  But if you cannot sleep ask for Ambien or take something OTC that your dr says is fine.  Most of us are prescribed Ativan for anxiety (I think) that will help you fall asleep too and I read someone else uses Benedryl.  Whatever...sleep is key to "your little soldiers fixing things up" as my husband says.

    Someone else mentioned bone pain - I managed mine with Claritan but it looks like that does not work for everyone.  My Claritan regimen was one every morning starting on the day of the Neulasta shot for 12 consectutive days.  I had some bad rounds and some not so bad rounds.  Also, from day 1 of chemo I take an Aleve in the morning and an Aleve at night, everyday.

    Funny that 90% of the recommended chemo movies star Jennifer Aniston...?  Oh!  And Downton Abby, yes!  I love that show, have not watched in while - glad you brought that up!

    I am eagerly awaiting my T-shirt! 

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  • Fierro6
    Fierro6 Member Posts: 224
    edited June 2012
    Nah, dancetrancer.  It's an SE.  Onco nurse said that it's likely from the steroids.  And now it has moved into tension, but it's from being tensed up from driving home from work with a headache!  LOL  Right now, I'm trying different positions to remove pressure from as many pressure points as possible.  I abandoned the recliner for my bed.  I currently have pillows under my shoulders and head and knees and beside me and on and on.  DH walked in and said, "I didn't know we owned that many pillows.  :)  Of course I won't sleep this way, but I'm experimenting.
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  • vickilind61
    vickilind61 Member Posts: 338
    edited June 2012

    Ladies, you are exhausting me!  I checked yesterday afternoon and now, 24 hours later, I had 2 1/2 pages to catch up on.  Now, onto the real stuff:

    making lemons out of lemonade only works if you add some Gray Goose...

    SE's, till bone pain and fatigue.  Although, right now my tongue is feeling weird.  Not sure where that came from. 

    Fierro, I always have a headache; been my buggaboo for a few years.  Just roll with it.  That's what I do. 

    Dance: An Education (So very good)

               The Frighteners (Oldie but goodie)

               Downton Abbey (delicious fun)

               Torchwood (good sci fi fun, and John Barrowman is yummy!)

    Did some venting today regarding the fact that there were NO scans done on me....at all....despite HER2+, 3 tumors that did NOT show on any mammo's, node involvement, etc. Frustrating beyond measure. Not to mention, paranoia inducing.    Rant over...

    got to go check my other faves. back later.

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  • dancetrancer
    dancetrancer Member Posts: 4,039
    edited June 2012
    Awwh Fierro, that sounds miserable!  I've had those excruciating headaches before...(pre-chemo - stress).  Once they get out of control they are SO hard to get better!  Usually once they got that bad I'd break out some of my Demerol left over from my BMX and go bye-bye to pain (and any sense of normalcy, not that I'm ever normal!) for a while.  Feel better soon - maybe try one of the relaxation tapes if you are just laying down anyways?   They have one for headaches. 
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  • mary71145329
    mary71145329 Member Posts: 133
    edited June 2012

    Fierro - your posts crack me up!

    Dancetrancer -I've been doing fierro 's chant to get my own counts up in time for another treatment on the 26th. I 'll cheer for yours as well!

    sandik--hate that you learn everything the hard way but love that you have a great sense of humor about it!

    Florida and Debbie -welcome!

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  • rgina
    rgina Member Posts: 100
    edited June 2012

    Florida - welcome

    Fierro - glad you got your taste buds back, mine seem to leave on day 3-4 and return on day 8-9 - right now mine are just in that metal mouth stage - yuk.   Go for the sleeping pill - I'm not kidding since I started taking Temazepam (Restoril) last Friday, I've slept the best I've slept in months well worth it and doesn't give me a pill hangover in the morning.

    Dance - hope you get the counts up - cheering for you too

    Hope everyone had a good day.  Heading to the porch swing for some fresh country air, temps are a fluke in the mid-70's, guess in preparation for the 100 plus temps predicted for 5 plus days on the way, but it is Texas.

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  • Marcia1111
    Marcia1111 Member Posts: 368
    edited June 2012

    Thank you for all the movie suggestions.  I picked up 10 or 11.  I can't even remember which ones right now.  I figure they will hold me through the infusion and on my crash days, as well. I'm going to write your suggestions down so I can look for themfor next time.

    I just went back several pages to see who recommended the guided meditation from Kaiser Permanente because I want to thank you.   They are awesome!  I had a headache this afternoon and instead of reaching for the Tylenol, I tried doing a meditation.  I actually fell asleep (I never nap) and when I woke up,the headache was gone!  So, whoever you are,I hope you see this because I am in your debt!

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  • TriChick
    TriChick Member Posts: 56
    edited June 2012

    Torchwood!  Yes!  And if you like sci-fi the new Dr. Who (new series began in '05 I believe?) is awesome!  I am a huge Dr. Who fan!  Passed many hours post surgery and chemo days watching the Doctor!

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  • lsharvey822
    lsharvey822 Member Posts: 257
    edited June 2012

    My tongue is still bothering me and I go for tx#3 tomorrow.  Feels like 100 tiny ulcers mostly around the edges of my tongue. :( 

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  • vickilind61
    vickilind61 Member Posts: 338
    edited June 2012

    TriChick, I am a Dr Who fan from WAAAYYY back.  Like Tom Baker with the long scarf?  I think the re-boot is brilliant.  Waiting, not patiently I might add, for season (series) 7 in the fall.  Thank goodness for NetFlix.  I watch old Who all the time.  My car is named Rose.  (I always name my cars) and my hubbys 4 x 4 is the TARDIS.  Need to watch the latest Torchwood; my son brought it to me on DVD.  Now that GoT is done, need to plug those disc's in.

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  • Gemmie
    Gemmie Member Posts: 103
    edited June 2012

    Marcia,

    I know it's been posted before but this is such a busy thread it would take me a long time to find it. The Kaizer Permanente guided meditations? How do I access them? Is there a link?

    Sorry, I should have marked it before. But appreciate the help.



    Ladies,

    I too am breaking out the big guns on sleep aid tonight. Have a couple Vicodin left and I refuse to be up and awake til 4 AM again tonight.

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  • Fierro6
    Fierro6 Member Posts: 224
    edited June 2012
    Here they are
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  • Stacie
    Stacie Member Posts: 607
    edited June 2012

    Vicki my PCP ordered my scans CAT and PET prior to ever seeing my MO. My brother is a PCP and said it was his job to "move things along". That he did good. If you haven't already, tell your primary doc.

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  • lisa2012
    lisa2012 Member Posts: 652
    edited June 2012

    Hi ladies, in the big girl chair , all going well. 4 for 4 needle in on first stick. About An hour to go. So glad it happened. I wAs worried that something would get in the way. I was very motivated to reach this point. I know I have 3 weeks of still Boeing in Chemo, even though i am not gearing up for another infusion. Feeling relieved to make it this far.

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  • Stacie
    Stacie Member Posts: 607
    edited June 2012

    I am thinking about you Lisa. Thanks for reminding us all there's an end point to this madness.

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