April/May 2012 Chemo hang out

Sandik, I'm sorry to hear about this new development!  At least it doesn't sound like a huge medical emergency from the way the cardiologist is reacting; must be a good sign that he says you don't need to change your activity level.  I dunno, I hate to say getting BC is ever a good thing, but I'm a huge believer in silver linings, too.  I guess they are thinking that in addition to the heat and the dehydration the other day, this must have led to your fainting episode. 

I'm sending you a purple burst; be strong, sister!  ((((((((Sandik)))))))

Gemmie- Thank you!  Feeling a little tired and dazed, but other than the tingling in my toes, not bad at all!  I am trying to remember to drink, drink, drink!

So happy for you, Isharvey!

Fierro -  I wish a headache free day for you tomorrow and a good night's sleep!

Thanks everybody! 

Sandik - uggghhh!  just what you needed right now, right?!  But you are right, this really could have been a blessing in disguise!

Fierro - I swear we are twins.  I also always run a temp in the 97s and if it goes up at all I get a headache.  It went to 101 a few years back and I thought my head would split in 2 but luckily I next to never have one.  I would definitely call the doc if it goes back up again.

Minimal side effects to everyone!!

Sandik - so sorry to hear about the heart diagnosis.  I wonder if this is part of why you passed out in the heat?  Gosh, I am so sorry you have this extra worry on your plate.  Hugs to you!  Enough already!

rn4babies - I watched that movie FIVE...it is good...and a tear jerker!!!  Just for all to be aware - if you watch it, OMG, make sure to have plenty of Kleenex.  It will stir up all kinds of emotions. 

Fierro - I run in the 97's, too.  Since I had a fever in the 99's almost nonstop my first 6 weeks of chemo, I was pretty dang miserable.  Once we decreased my dose to 85%, my fever came and went - was not as constant.  BTW, my doc ran all kinds of tests and never found an infection.  Sometimes you can get a fever from the chemo itself.  Weird things this stuff does to us. 

rn4babies - I just saw that I read your name wrong!  My oldest son was in the NICU for 6 days.  I am so thankful to all of his nurses for helping us through those rough days.  I don't know if you're a NICU nurse, but it doesn't matter.  You have a very hard job!  Thank you in honor of all of those babies' mommies!

Rgina ...my MO said that might happen to me. Instead, I just couldn't taste anything. Haha

Marcia.....I am a labor and delivery/post-partum/nursery nurse. I work in a small but very busy hospital. The very sick babies are transferred to a large city hospital NICU. I also very much admire NICU nurses. I don't think I could do that. I love what I do but it can be very stressful, too.

It looks that way to me, too!!

Ok. New day. Its beautiful outside, but hot. I'll look at it from indoors. Haha

And its Friday. What do you all have going on this weekend?

We are stripping out our school bus/ camper tomorrow. Its old, needs to go to the scrapyard. We bought another one, so we will be redoing another for nascar camping.

Sunday I have an engagement session. Sunset session at the lake. Already chugging the water to be sure Im hydrated! If I go down here, Ill fall in the water and drown! Haha

Sounds like you've got a fun weekend planned! Enjoy it!

Sandik- Take care of yourself before you go out in that heat this weekend and do anything outdoors!!!  When I used to be a chaperone for my daughter's lacrosse summer teams, I used to fill sprayer bottles with ice and cold water to mist me and anyone else to keep cool.  i also had cool face towels in zip loc bags to help cool off.  You just dampened face towels/hand towels with water and freeze them overnight.  I also froze water bottles overnight so that the water in those bottles would stay really cold.   

kjliberty- Girls weekend sounds like fun!! Stay well so you can have that last chemo next week!!!

Planning to keep cool this weekend by staying indoors!!!   Have to do my nails for next Tuesday's #4 round.  I have only 2 more after that!!!

Have to go to the internist today to get a quick check up to get my high blood pressure meds refilled.  I called yesterday to get an appointment and was told come in on Friday.  I also told the office that I need to be isolated from other people in the waiting room since I'm having chemo.  My internist is also an infectious disease doctor.  It looks like I'm getting the special treatment here since he doesn't see patients on Fridays and has only one patient coming in today besides me for a stem cell therapy treatment.  I'm still wearing a mask and won't be touching anything in that office today!!!!!  Thank goodness for kind people who work for the doctors I see.  The idea of sitting in a crowded waiting room is not something I want to do!!!!

Debbie- Go to the following link which is the first thread on the chemo forum section and you will find further links for preparation lists.  The lists will have get you started.  Although you may not need to purchase everything on the lists, it is helpful and great resource.

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/69/topic/785189?page=1#idx_1

What is your chemo regimen?  If you want, you can update your chemo regimen info in your profile.  Let us know and we will certainly give you whatever help we can!!!

trickchick - I have had ear ringing since starting chemo.  The carboplatin in my regimen is responsible.  Mine is high pitch.  It is really loud for about 3 to 5 days after each treatment, then gradually decreases in intensity, never fully going away.  I've been getting baseline audiograms about 3 weeks after each chemo to make sure I am not developing any hi frequency hearing loss along with it.  The ear ringing is permanent, but most people accommodate to it and can live with it...the key is not to obsess on it, find distraction, etc.  Hope that helps!  It really scared me when it first happened as it was also associated with loud popping a couple times from my ear.  Oh and when I open my jaw wide I can hear a strange sound, too, different from the ringing.  

melrose - that is great that your doc's office is so helpful with following the neutropenia precautions.  When I went to the ER, they wouldn't let me sit anywhere different.  I had to request a mask, and DH put me in a wheelchair as far away from the other patients as possible.  Uggh, what a nightmare that was...one I don't want to repeat!  

My weekend?  To be determined based upon my counts today!  Going in soon - come on whites!  Hoping they'll be up enough that I'll feel safe enough to get out and about.  A good friend of ours plays adult soccer, and we'd like to go catch one of his games.