January 2013 chemo group

Armdbit,

Thanks for sharing.  I ended up sterile from the chemo.  I was a college Division 1 high jumper and hurdler and just barely missed qualifying for the Olympic trials in high jump in '84. I had been intending on continuing to work out with the team and shoot for the '88 Olympic trials.  I felt in my heart that I had a real shot at it.  I lost my abilty to complete and had those dreams stolen from.  I lost my fertility, my thyroid function, my immunity because of the spleen, my lung capacity, and now my breasts that my not be able to be reconstructed.  

I have had some blessings.  I'm married to a wonderful, kind-hearted, extremely gentle, thoughtful and patient man who is 12 years younger.  We got the news after I'd given up hope of ever being a mother, on my 43rd birthday that our niece wanted us to adopt her baby.  We were in the delivery room and took our son home on May 20, 2005.  And I have recently come home to the Catholic church and found a great deal of depth in the teachings of Christ, the bible and the church along with some outside reading by N.T. Wright, Chesterton, and Lewis.  I am a bit of loner and always have been because I was always so driven to succeed in track and in school and really focused all my energy on those, which I think made be seem aloof and arrogant, where I was in actuallity pretty shy and reserved. I didn't realize until now how many people actually care about me and my family and how many people have so much love and kindness in their hearts towards me.  I know that sounds selfish, but I don't mean it that way.  I mean it that I have seen it as a blessing.  It warms my heart and fills me with love.  Thank you all for your thoughtful, kind, inspiring comments.  They will help me get through this.

Hello sisters! Just back from round two of my a/c cocktail hour and honestly I think it went a bit better this time. Didn't take as long either! I don't have that drugged feeling like I did before. Drank lots and lots of water and will do that the next couple of days. Time to get a nap in now and, fingers crossed, the nausea and headache will be less than after treatment 1!

Nope, they started it out really slow.  I think I only had like 16 mg in me by the time the reaction occurred.  When the nurse resumed, she resumed slowly again and after ten minutes cranked it up a little.  I had my appointment with the oncologist at 2:30.  I was supposed to start chemo at 3:00 but I didn't get out with the oncologist and her nurse until about 3:30.  They said the chemo would take about 1 1/2 hours, which is a LOT shorter than the time I spend getting drips when I had Hodgkin's.  I didn't start at 3:30 because the onc nurse entered my weight at 117.0 and the pharmacty interpreted it as 117 kg, which would have made me about 260 lbs.  So they had to recheck my weight and redraw the drugs.  Thank goodness it was caught!  I ended up getting back into the IV area around 4:00.  And after taking my dexamethasone and zofran, I got the IV.  We didn't leave until after 6:30.  It was HORRIBLE.  After everything I've been through - when I went through the Hodgkin's I refused anxiety meds.  I refused sedatives for biopsies and lymphangiograms.  I was able to sort of mind control myself through it because I was a very disciplined athlete.  I seemed to have lost that somewhere.  Now I'm chicken s**t about virtually everything.  I did try to breathe my way out of the sensation as if I had somehow caused it with anxiety, but it was definitely not caused by anxiety.  They were right about it not happening when they resumed the drip and I'm hoping they're right about it not happening in the future.

Hiya.

My notes say 2 tsps of baking soda to 8 oz of H20 or 1 tsp of salt to 8 oz of H2O.  Or you can use Biotene.  Don't use hydrogen peroxide though.  Hope that helps.  I am one day behind you and don't feel too bad either.....holding my breath!

Krisitn

I was expecting to feel like doggie doo after this AC treatment. I stopped taking the anti nausea meds yesterday. Last one (compazine) was at 2pm. I did take a ativan to sleep last night, but, I think I'm gonna just take a benedryl tonight. Nothing, just some lower GI the other night. I think that was from constipation. IDK, I did hear that the first go around wasn't too bad. Does anyone know when we 'should' not need the anti nausea meds??

A friend of mine who is further along in her battle told me the next ones were tougher. We will see I guess.

I want to get back into the gym soon, but, now every idiot with a cold is out and about. I wonder if I can go to the gym in a body condom...

One more question..... this is a swish and spit, right? How long do you swish for? See, chemo brain. LOL!

For the salt/baking sodal yes swish and spit...then I do a little gargle just to get to the back of my mouth since my throat was a tiny bit dry the first time I woke up last night.  

Okay, Ladies; I hope I don't get in trouble for posting this - totally off topic, but I felt this would be so cheering to many of you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyPDQpel8bI

I understand this isn't the purpose of this site and will not do it again if it offends anyone, but it so made my day, and anything that helps us get through right now is welcome.

BTW, I've had a GREAT day. The burning in the stomach that was so miserable yesterday is gone.

Judy

Judy that was great!  It's all about findign joy in the simple things. SMILE!!!!!!!

Judy, Thanks for the video! Fun song! I am glad you are feeling better.

Soteria205, I thought I was strange for not having horrible SEs. Hopefully, they stay to a minimun for the next ones too...  My taste buds were nonexixtant for a few days. My scalp just started tingling and now I just want my hair to come out already. I want to get through that part and get on with the rest. I am trying to just roll with the punches. Sometimes I just get annoyed.

Also, I'm not usually a weepy kinda girl, but, the last couple of days I seem to be tearing up at everything. What the heck is that all about?

Hey Oliverhog and LeeA - I grew up in Downers Grove _ not far from Wheaton . I've been in the Sacramento area since 1984 ! Wow - small world .



Oliverhog - you are certainly no wimp !! Walking in your home and maybe some weight lifting and yoga would probably be great for u at home . My sister gave me a little book called morning cup of yoga and it is a very moderate intro - u might want to pick up copy . Thank you for sharing your story with us ! You certainly have been though some tough times but wih the excellent care and progress they have now for bc - you I'll have an excellent outcome! Just stay with the plan and stay positive - we are right there with u !

Hi everyone, this is my first post on this topic. Up until now I've been hanging out with my sisters on the Canadian Connection thread. The support has been wonderful and I even met one of the girls that lives close by that has had a similar experience to mine. It's so comforting to be able to talk to people that know what you are going through and the knowledge sharing is unbeatable. I had my PICC line inserted today and got my flu shot so I'm all ready to start my treatments on the 15th, physically at least. Mentally too, I suppose, given the number of good news stories here. Thank you for that. There seems to be so much to remember. Right now my top three are drink lots of water, rinse my mouth, take the meds they recommend, and fit some daily exercise in. Guess that's really four. Can't let the list get too long or I'll start to forget stuff LOL. Sorry you all have to be taking this journey but thankful to have your company. Hope the weekend is good to you!

Welcome Liz58, I am going to be getting the same drugs as you but I don't start until the 28th. I am still healing from the mastectamy. I wish you luck for limited side effects. Please let us know how your treatment goes on the 15th. Best wishes, Colleen