April/May 2012 Chemo hang out

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  • spicedlife
    spicedlife Member Posts: 182
    edited July 2012

    Yay for you Rose....WTG.....You did it girl!!!

  • DorisMarie
    DorisMarie Member Posts: 129
    edited July 2012
  • FightingLikeAGirl
    FightingLikeAGirl Member Posts: 69
    edited July 2012
    Finally catching up here...

    to all of you having rough SE's....hoping things will be looking up soon.

    Rose D...YaY to you!!! You made it...PFC...Yahoo!!! Which surgery are you planning to do?

    Dance & Kjiberty...I'm glad to hear you guys are doing so much better and that there is hope in sight. I'm 2.5 week PFC and my muscles & joints ache like crazy. It's actually a new SE for me. I had the neulasta pain this is different. The joint pain is so strange...I was trying to use chopsticks the other night and it was hurting my hand so much I had to stop. My pain is a bit different than luvBngGma...I'm fine if I'm sitting but once I stand up to move I feel it. I've been doing some stretches to loosen up the muscles. Wondering why this is a new SE and hoping it is going to go away soon.

    Cindy

  • spicedlife
    spicedlife Member Posts: 182
    edited July 2012

    Please help!!!  I have a headache that I cannot get rid of.  I am assuming this is a se of Nuelasta?  I am also having really bad body aches.  I got the shot on Friday, does anyone know when it will get better?  Maybe I should call the MO tomorrow.

  • FightingLikeAGirl
    FightingLikeAGirl Member Posts: 69
    edited July 2012

    I usually take Tylenol with codeine for the muscle and headaches.  I am so sorry you are suffering so much with this.  Do you have anything like that?  Is it too late to call in for a prescription?

  • Rose_d
    Rose_d Member Posts: 144
    edited July 2012

    I will be doing the tissue expander exchange for my permanent implants. Can't wait to get these boulders replaced! I did a bilateral mastectomy on Feb 8th.



    Jenny, I dont think I had a headache with Neulasta, but the steroids always did a number on me. Tylenol seemed to help (I wasn't allowed to take Advil). I hope you feel better soon,



    Rose

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

    Big congrats Rose on being PFC! 

  • nofear2012
    nofear2012 Member Posts: 160
    edited July 2012

    Congrats rose, we are both waiting for the chemo to leave our bodies & feeling better. I use aleve to get rid of my headaches.

  • spicedlife
    spicedlife Member Posts: 182
    edited July 2012

    Rose and Fighting, I have Hydrocodone and extra strength tylenol, thank you and I bet I feel better tomorrow.  I did also have steroids the day of and the day after my last infusion.  Maybe it was that. The other two times I just had them in my infusion.  Thanks ladies.  Again, Yea for you Rose!

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

    Congrats to both Rose and NoFear!

  • IndigoMont11
    IndigoMont11 Member Posts: 1,095
    edited July 2012

    Congrats Rose on being PFC!

  • vjm
    vjm Member Posts: 79
    edited July 2012

    Congrats Rose and NoFear! Gets better every day!!!! Cheers, vjm xo

  • Melrosemelrose
    Melrosemelrose Member Posts: 3,018
    edited July 2012
    Yahoo Rose and NoFear!!!!!  PFC----- How exciting is that!!!! 
  • bcbarbie10
    bcbarbie10 Member Posts: 319
    edited July 2012

    Rose and nofear, CONGRATS!!!! Im sooooo envious!!!!!

    Im 6 hours post Taxo #1 of 4. So want to rest and recover but i feel so wired up. Took half a tab of xanax and maybe that will help cool me down. My tummy's acting up, too. Cant seem to stop munching on anything!!!!

    Tomorrow i go back to the chair for my first Herceptin. Then i get my counts booster shots (granocyte) starting saturday. Seems like it's a week of battle for me.

    And just developed the hot flushes just 3 days ago!

    Bring them on!!!!😰

  • mt4ever
    mt4ever Member Posts: 105
    edited July 2012

    Congratulations Rose!! 

    I am almost 24 hours PFC!  In case you are not on Facebook my day was almost ruined by a hateful nurse!  I have asked on numerous times how many people I could bring on my last chemo (wanted to bring husband, 2 daughters (13 & 11), sister and son, and mom.  Was told by more than one nurse it was fine.  Well when I go in they start having a hissy fit!  Then when they call me back to the chemo chair they tell me my youngest daughter cannot come back, which makes her cry (and me cry) because she has been there for the last 2 treatments and no one told her she could not come back.  Well this nurse just keeps getting nastier and nastier and finally I told her she needed to get away from me!!  Thanks goodness my sister works in the medical field and had enough sense to go out and call for a patient advocate who came in and told me they could move me to a private room with a glass and they would make an exeption for my daughter!  Well let's see it is my last chemo and you would have thought the nurse would have been a little accomodating seeing that none of the other nurses had a problem with it!!  Anyway with the patient advocate finding a solution and the new nurse (who I had before) the day turned out better!  But I will definitely not go back there for my herceptin infusions.  I will transfer that part down to my local Cancer Center and only go back for follow up with my MO and SO there.  Anyway long post but YEAH I am PFC!!!! 

  • chapter4
    chapter4 Member Posts: 155
    edited July 2012

    Nofear2012. I'm feeling pretty good...one week PFC. (by the way Dancetrancer....I prefer your definition)



    I too had period like cramps....I had a lot of pain from the final taxol treatment...but that's gone now.



    I'm taking ambien to sleep...but it didn't work last night....at all. I think I will try skipping it tonight.



    I lost my taste again and have numbing on bottoms of feet. Should start radiation in a couple weeks....what about you Nofear....are you doing radiation.



    I've been tired too...I think it's just stress related. So glad this part of treatment is OVER!

  • nofear2012
    nofear2012 Member Posts: 160
    edited July 2012

    Yes I will have radiation. I go thru for a consult. I too had a rough time sleeping last night. I take Ativan & I am wondering if the Ativan is the problem. I only take 1mg but I wake up at 2am all nervous/anxious. I might try sleeping without it tonight too. I wanted to swim myself off the pills be4 rads. Other than that I am doing ok, most body ache/pain is behind me. Glad to be done.

  • radioactivegirl
    radioactivegirl Member Posts: 52
    edited July 2012

    Congrats to everyone that is PFC!!!  :-)

  • IndigoMont11
    IndigoMont11 Member Posts: 1,095
    edited July 2012

    Day 13 post Taxotere #1.  No more feeling sick (yay) since Friday, and the sharp pains are gone, but I have a kind of generalized achiness and/or weakness off and on in my arms and legs.  I read reviews of nail strengtheners and bought nailtiques because its reviews were consistently highest, and it was recommended at the store, too.  Of course, after I did, I read the package insert that said it contains formaldehyde resin.  But so far, so good, in fact, after I applied it the other day, my nails seemed less sensitive for awhile.  I have used nail products containing formaldehyde in the past with no bad results.  I'm keeping an eye on my nails looking for bad signs, but so far, nothing except the thin edges from where the acrylic damage hasn't quite grown out yet, and the dark streaks on a couple of them that started while I was on A/C. 

    The worst thing, though, is just this fatigue.  Even rolling out of bed in the a.m. seems to make me tired!  I think probably getting some exercise would help but I just can't get out in this heat.  Maybe this evening if I can time it right and dodge the mosquitoes. 

     Hugs to everyone and purple wishes for minimal SEs for us!

  • IndigoMont11
    IndigoMont11 Member Posts: 1,095
    edited July 2012

    Oh, yes - my hair IS growing back.  I have silvery white peach fuzz all over my head and some strands are more than a half inch long on the top of my head.  Of course with that color, I still look bald at a little distance, and I'm trying not to be too excited about it because it could still fall out again, maybe.  Brows and lashes still pretty much gone and I don't think it looks like they are coming back yet, but being patient.  I still am a wee bit ticked that I have to shave my legs, but oh well; at least, not as often as I used to.

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

    IndigoMont- I know I'm on the rebound from the tiredness/fatigue when I just have to get out of the house and go walking somewhere in the a/c!!!  Thank goodness the fatigue factor gets better as my second week after chemo begins.  By the time the third week rolls around, I am feeling a lot perkier. 

    Everyone who is PFC- YAHOO!!!!!  YIPPEEEE!!!!!

    Sending lots of HUGS to all and minimal side effects as we continue to make our way through chemoland and heal!!!!

  • Fierro6
    Fierro6 Member Posts: 224
    edited July 2012

    I have my final A/C tomorrow, and then it's on to 4 bi-weekly Taxol.  I'll be halfway done tomorrow, but it seems like I've been doing this forever.  I'm crabby tonight.  LOL  My whites were better than they've been yet on today's bloodwork.  Reds are low, but not horribly.  I was told by both my MO and the nurse who does the blood draw that I have one of the most positive attitudes they've ever seen from someone on chemo.  If that's true, why do I come home and cry over the tiniest thing?  

    I actually  may know the answer to that.  I think I'm pushing too hard to get my hours in (32 on chemo weeks, 40 on non-chemo weeks.)  I'm doing it to myself.  We do need the money, but 3 or 4 hours less a week wouldn't kill us.  I think I'm just wearing myself out too much.  I come home, change into jammies, and climb into bed.  I don't go to sleep, but I veg in here.

    Yup.  I think I'll quit forcing the 40 hours and come home a bit earlier each day.  Maybe I could hang out with my girls without the three of us being piled into a queen size bed.  And maybe I'll quit crying about nothing. 

  • Marcia1111
    Marcia1111 Member Posts: 368
    edited July 2012

    Rachel, It sounds like you are working hard on having a positive attitude for others and it's draining on you.  I'm glad that you'll be able to make it work on fewer hours.  You have to take care of you!

  • Fierro6
    Fierro6 Member Posts: 224
    edited July 2012

    Yeah, being phone support means "smiling" the whole time I'm on a call.  There are some of my larger customers who know my situation and will ask about how I'm doing, but for most, I'm just a faceless customer service rep, and I have to be "on."  I can't afford to cut my hours back much (maybe 4 hours a week or so) but I can log off the phones and work on other things.  That might help.

  • nofear2012
    nofear2012 Member Posts: 160
    edited July 2012

    Fierro6 I am in awe of u that u can work 32 let alone 40hrs per week. I am on the same treatment regiment as u & I was lucky to work 5 hrs a day. I went on long term disabilty be4 I started taxol knowing I was not going to be able to work, which I was right. But chemo se hit me real hard, I never really bounced back in between treatments. Take the time off & give yurself a break, u deserve it & yur kids will enjoy the time w u.

  • Fierro6
    Fierro6 Member Posts: 224
    edited July 2012

    It really wasn't a choice thing.  Our company is being great about working with me, but their short term disability plan kinda sucks.  If I don't work, or even cut it in half, we lose the house.  It really is that simple.  I have said all along that God knew that and that's why I haven't been nauseous or suffered worse SEs.  I can work tired and I can work with a headache.  I can't work while throwing up.  LOL  

    I am a positive person by nature, and people keep telling me that I will continue to do well if my attitude stays positive.  The problem is, chemo keeps revealing weaknesses, both physical and emotional.  I don't deal well with being a puddle of tears.  I am feeling a bit better now than I was earlier.  I suppose I just needed to get it out.  Again.

  • nofear2012
    nofear2012 Member Posts: 160
    edited July 2012

    Well u inspire me. I wish I didn't suffer from bad se maybe I could have pushed myself more & stayed working. I have lost almost 15lbs during chemo cause I couldn't eat due to stomach problems. I am hoping radiation is workable & I can go back to work cause I would rather work than stay home. Taxol will probably be equally as easy w se for u. Good luck!

  • dancetrancer
    dancetrancer Member Posts: 4,039
    edited July 2012
    Rachel - glad to see you be able to take some extra time for yourself and lighten the pressure a bit.  Be easy on yourself.  Rest when you can.  Don't force yourself to be strong for others.  Channel all of your energy into healing energy for yourself.  This is such a tough thing to go through.  Hugs! 
  • IndigoMont11
    IndigoMont11 Member Posts: 1,095
    edited July 2012

    I know, I am so lucky that I can work from home. I wish there was a way you could do that; are you sure there isn't? For me to be able to work from home more than 3 days a week, I had to make a formal reasonable accommodation request, but all I need is a phone and a computer. Unless you have to meet customers pretty regularly face to face?

  • Melrosemelrose
    Melrosemelrose Member Posts: 3,018
    edited July 2012
    Fierro6- Geez, honey----- Ease up on yourself!!!!  Glad you come here and let what needs to come out, come out.  As for the crying sessions, we all have them.  Sometimes, it just from everything and sometimes just from nothing in particular.    It just happens.  I know some of my teary sessions are from the chemo itself and not because I'm sad, unhappy, etc.  Last time I checked, there wasn't any limit on the number of teary sessions for any of us.  So when the moment hits you, go with it and be done with it.  Human courage comes in all forms and at any time.  when we see it, we know it.  HUGS to you, Rachel!!!

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