Starting chemo November 2012

When did the common cold not become the common cold? Starting coughing up bloody sputum, headache, chest burning and so painful. No fever. Was told to go to the ER. No CXR, but a CT scan instead. No standard blood tests, but all sorts of tests, including cultures. 4th round is supposed to be this Friday. Cross your fingers! Finally really hit home I have a new normal... Yes, I am crying because this is so not me, but now I have a new me I have to get to know and accept.

yes, i think some of it is the chemo, but then all of our bodies are also more prone to catching a cold, so colds can lead to infections more easily. marayah, i hope the antibiotics kick in quickly and you feel better. as much as putting off #4 would be awful, so would adding chemo on top of a chest infection which could then get worse... old normal will be back soon, for all of us.

in case anyone needs a laugh, am i the only one who gets ferocious gas from the stool softener syrup? seriously, i work in a closed office and it is a very embarassing situation waiting to happen. kids can laugh about it, but will my coworkers? what do i tell them, chemo farts? sorry?

You girls are making me "piss my pants"  Now I on the other hand have passed the contstipation/gas stage and am in the gotta go,gotta go,gotta go right now stage - barely make it.....Peel the paint heck - my husband wants me to knock the walls out ....Remember laughter still is the best medicine

Sickofpink~This may sound crazy, but I've found that Vicks Vapo Rub is great for hemmroids. It feels warm when you first apply, but within about 15 seconds you will feel a cool soothing somewhat like a cough drop. It's hot when you put it in your mouth, but immediately gives that cool breath effect.



I've used this for years and always had good results.



I hope you get relief soon.



Blessings

Paula

Sickofpink - I hope you get some relief soon. Seems like I have a good day then a bad one. Everyone expects you to just have bad days for a week or so then switch to feeling better.  I thought I was the only one on this alternate cycle.  Good day then bad day then maybe a couple of good followed by some bad days. Just can't seem to have a full week of feeling normal in between round 3 and now 4.

 The only thing that helps with the achy legs for me is a long soak in my jetted tub BUT doctor said to stop them immediately.  Bad for neuropathy and the hand and foot syndrome.  Maybe it will help? 

I am on the good bad cycle too. Yesterday I had energy, today I am falling asleep in my chair at work and feel like my head is empty. It's 2pm here, and I am not able to do a single other task. I keep forgetting what task I am working on and meanwhile, my teeth ache and my food is sitting at my solar plexus causing me annoyance. I just want to sleep. But you gals make me grateful I don't have hemorrhoids or that awful hand foot thing.

Thankfully for me, in this country, Wed is Thursday, so tomorrow is it and then weekend. I promised my kids I would get off the couch soon, so I hope I can keep the promise... I am looking forward to leaving for Sinagpore for radiation  because I will alone and can sleep all day... in a hotel room this time (not my sister's busy house)... total bliss.

Hope all you guys feel better soon. And that the editing is progressing despite the physical discomfort, Sickofpink.

Hey - for those of you who were in school, are you back in coursework again? Is that going ok as the chemo makes you so tired?

5 days until my last chemo...I have actually been feeling ok the last few days...other then being tired...but that is ok because it is SO cold here so I am laying low...luckily my hives seem better....but I tell you I am really missing my hair with this cold...cant wait for it to start growing back...Just  a few weeks I keep telling myself!

It sounds like we all have the mid week blues!  It is freezing here too, but I gearing up for the bi weekly girl scout meeting this afternoon.  The new semester starts for my students today so I am trying to keep them or get them motivated to start working (I work with at risk truancy kids).  I go for weekly taxol two tomorrow.  Hoping I don't have a reaction so the premeds can be dropped next week.  Anyone else have the stinging neither regions when the steroids are delivered through iv/port?  I may have to take and Ativan just to go tomorrow because of this.  If I wouldn't have been drugged up on Benadrly already I would have flown out of the bed! We also meet with genetics tomorrow. 

I was so proud of my almost 10 year old daughter yesterday.  She understands that my mil is BRCA positive, which means daddy and she could be too, plus with myself ( I am neg.) and my mom....  I explained why we were meeting with them and that it was so she and her brother had all of the info they needed as adults to make educated health choices.  She looked right at me and said "mama when I turn 18 I want to be tested too because I do not want to go through this."  Made me cry how mature she has been all throughout this.  It then provoked a good discussion on the Miss America contestant. 

Wishing everyone an easy side effect free day.  Stay warm!

Hi ladies -



Wishing you all well with minimal SEs. Sounds like many of you are struggling with flu, colds, low BCs and fatigue.



I just got back from another business trip to Florida and I'm wiped out. It's now been 3 weeks since last treatment and I'm experiencing swelling in ankles and feet. My ankles look like elephant ankles - made me nervous to fly home!



I also was randomly selected to participate in the accelerated rad trial. Rads will be over three weeks with boosts. Starting within a week or so. Will let you know how it goes.



Sneaky - will help out Ann



Hugs to all!

I've just crossed the few remaining hairs on my head for you, Maryah.  And so glad to hear you're voting.

Please vote, people!  Ann's in the lead, but just barely.  You know how sometimes you just need that little something to boost your morale? I could see how winning this might be one of those things for Ann.

Sneaky - Just voted. 

Maryah - hope your feeling better.  Got fingers and toes crossed for you!

Chemo blahs continue here. 

Yesterday I went to a gathering in honour of a good collegue of mine who's leaving with pension. I managed to get dressed, put make up on and my wig.

Once there, someone told me: "You look healthy".

Me: speechless....what can I say? The stupidity of people is immense.

Eleni~I think people are looking for ways to compliment us or make us feel better. They have NO idea what goes on behind the scenes...amputation, tests, tests, and more tests, chemo, SEs, hair loss ( not just the head, but the whole body ), rads, Bloodwork, fatigue, fear, knowing we will always be looking over our shoulder for BC to rear its ugly head again.



Before dx I thought BC was BC. End of story. I had absolutely no idea what's involved.



That person probably wanted to convey to you, "considering what you're going through, you still look good."



My Pastor's wife came to me at church on Sunday and asked how I felt. I said, " I'm having chemo fog, but otherwise ok." It was only day 3. She replied, "You certainly look pretty."



I'd rather people think I look good than think I look like I'm dying.



Blessings

Paula