December 2012 chemo group
Comments
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Bren - do u like smoothies ? Put a banana , yogurt , some milk and blueberries and or strawberries in a blender - don't think u will taste the banana very much ! I am sorry # 4 seems worse and hope u can baby yourself the next few days until u reach the good days ! You are a strong lady and you don't have far to go - try to stay positive !!!
Sandy -
Sandra, I have smoothie almost everyday - mango, strawberry, yogurt, spinach, OJ. Today I tried putting a banana in it, but all it did was make the whole smoothie taste bad. They did give me a list of other high potassium foods, so I will have to concentrate on them. I have another potassium test next Friday, so hopefully I can bring it up by then.
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Hi everyone! Sorry I have not check in for so long, I have been so busy. I have to go back and catch up on a few pages!!
I hope everyone is doing well. I have my final chemo on Tues. My 3rd one was awful and really knocked me down, so I'm a little anxious for this last one. My blood pressure has been slightly elevated too the last few weeks so my MO is thinking of putting me on a diuretic to help unload the extra fluid I'm retaining. I'm up 15 pounds since I started chemo on Dec 4! I really hope it all comes off relatively easily. It's got to be the drugs I'm on because my diet hasn't changed all that much, if anything for the better since I started chemo.
Finally was able to enjoy some intimacy with my hubby last week. I was nervous because the last time we tried it was pretty painful and we had to stop. But this last time was enjoyable for us both--two nights in a row!! If anyone else has been afraid to try again (I was), it may be worth your time if you're feeling up to it
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Bren58, are you on the 4 round regimen of TC or the 6 round? I've probably asked before...
I hope your potassium levels come up before your next round.
I'm not a big banana-eater but the other day I bought three of them. I haven't bought any for two or three years and wasn't even hungry for them when I picked them up. I suppose I have an incentive to eat them versus letting them go bad.
Steiner, you've been on the fast track all the way through this! I'm sure it hasn't felt like a fast track to you but you got those drains out in record time and now you're almost finished with chemo! You must be so relieved to be so close to the end.
My husband and I got a sex talk at the oncologist's office a few weeks ago and we came home with a parting gift - a tube of medical lubricant - lol!
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Lee, I was really hoping that I was on the TC4 plan, but found out last week that I am on the TC6 plan. So 2 more to go
DH is really sick with some kind of cold, so we are sleeping in separate rooms for a few days in hopes that I won't get it. We are also wiping everything he touches down with Lysol wipes on a routine basis.
Steiner, sounds like you are doing well. Glad you have your last tx this week!
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Hello everyone! I am on day 6 of TX 3 and this one has been a little rough. I didn't get a steroid boost and went into a fog on day 2 and am finally emerging today. I have the white tongue thing going on and it feels burnt but no sores, luckily! I can't taste much. The things that taste good are random and I feel like I am hungry but can't find anything to eat. I like drinkable yogurt, oranges, grapefruit but meat of all kinds is funky tasting. Oatmeal and Cheerios are ok.
My two dogs follow me from room to room and keep their eyes on me at all times. I told my husband that they are my care team! It's a good thing I have them because DH seems to be at a loss for how he can be helpful. I have been irrationally irritated with him because he developed an ear infection and had to go to the doctor and then he was sick for 5 days, I think from his antibiotic. Never mind that I just had a chemo treatment! His sickness is serious! Sheesh. Guess I am not feeling very sympathetic. Ha ha! -
Bren, maybe you can blend the banana into a smoothie?
My TCH #4 is next Friday, and I am a little scared of what it may be like. Going to try stocking up on things that may taste good. Someone mentioned making a "Boost Slush," and that sounds like something to try. Feel better soon. -
Bren58 ~ I'm so with you on the chemo fatigue!
A banana idea ~ if you like cream of wheat, I find it easy to chop and stir in a banana in the last minute of cooking. I drizzle a little honey on it when I put it in a bowl and find it a sweet and palatable breakfast option (good for iron too). There's always the smoothie option -- my kids' fave!
Good luck and warm thoughts from one weary chemo sister to another. I hope that you find a reasonable return to wellness after the valley of TC #4.
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powermom, are you on 4x or 6x? Also, the boost slush sounds interesting. I'm going to do a search on that.
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My husband and I were thinking about taking a vacation soon after chemo ends but now I'm wondering if that's being overly ambitious on my part. It seems obvious that each treatment can be completely different than the one before and most of what I've read indicates they don't get easier as we go on.
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Bren58, this seems to be such bad season for the flu, colds, etc. My husband worked from his downtown office yesterday and when he got in the car I kept quizzing him about whether or not he had been around anyone who seemed sick!
In retrospect, I think I sounded pretty naggy in my line of questioning.
I feel like I need to find new subjects to discuss with him. I don't think he minds me droning on and on about this stuff but I've been on the other side of this and know how everything starts to become centered around The Illness.
One week I was at the cancer center four days out of five and it would have been five out of five had I been able to go in for the acupuncture treatment (it was the morning after the Neulasta shot). Sigh... This, too, shall pass.
I think I need to do what powermom mentioned doing - taking a bit of a break and getting out and gardening.
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MTJulie, I have missed our dog so much since being diagnosed. Her nickname, from the time she was a puppy, was Nurse Val because she was so attentive. In the days prior to the first chemo and after the first and second chemos I found myself searching Craigslist and other online sites for a new pal but we made a pact this past summer: no more dogs. And I know I'm doing it for the exact reason you described - they can be such a comfort/presence.
Did you see the image Bryona posted on the January chemo thread? The top half was titled "woman with breast cancer" and the lower half "man with the flu."
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I have my last treatment next Thursday the 7th, and I am so afraid to go.... this last treatment has been horrible... I have not had a good day since the couple of days before my second treatment.... it seems that anything that can go wrong, will or has with me... I knew this was not going to be easy but really this is really hard... when you have blood coming out of every possible place it can (except your ears) you can't even stand up because your head spins and your eyes go black, you get hemoroids so bad that you can't even pee (when you have never had one in your life) you can't sleep because you are in so much pain, I have twitching on my face and in my eyes to the point that my eye lids close, and my vision is getting so bad that I can't even drive.... welcome to my pity party... sorry!!! But this is why I am afraid to do it again next week... but at least it will be my last one.... thank you Jesus!!!!!!
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Judaday~I have my last AC next Friday, and like you, I dread it fiercely. I thought I'd never shake #3. My SEs usually last 3 days, but this time it was 2 weeks. Just the past 2 days can I stand without feeling faint.
May our SEs be much easier with this round. At least we can celebrate being done.
Blessings
Paula -
Judaday - wow what you've been going though sounds horrendous ! I really think you need to contact your Mo about those se's - especially the face twitching . There is no way you need to be suffering that much - and not being able to sleep. Too many good med's that can help u . I am worried about you and I am sure all the other ladies on this board are too ! Big hugs to u and please call someone that can help you sooner than later
Btw - I use tucks almost every day - tmi I know but they help preventatively too -
Judaday ~ I want to echo Sandra60's concerns. Is your MO aware of your side effects?? I was one of those people who just "toughed the side effects out" for my first 2 rounds of AC, but my 3rd round brought me to my knees (literally) and when I called the next morning I was so amazed and grateful that they had several meds to help with my SE's. Nothing much has helped my hind end but the rest of my SE's are now much better controlled with new meds.
Wishing you some good options for SE management after your last treatment. Please stay in close contact with your MO's office so that they can help wherever possible. I'll be thinking about you.
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"Toughing it out" reminds me of an article I read a few days ago on NPR.
In case anyone is interested:
Restraint and unflappability are just about as British as Big Ben and English Breakfast. But could that national "stiff upper lip" be keeping the British from getting proper cancer care?
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Judaday, I hope your oncologist can address some of these serious side effects before you get hooked up for your next treatment.
Nancy, who posts on the January chemo thread, had some serious side effects as well and I think they're adjusting her dosage. I'll find her post and edit this post to include a link to hers - in case you're interested.
Also, Pbrain on the Triple Positive thread had some heavy-duty side effects as well. If I recall correctly, her oncologist ended up changing her cocktail to one more suited (?) to her tumor size, node involvement as well (I think she was stage I as well). I'm going to see if I can find one of her posts as well.
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1.) Here is a link to Nanc620's post. She mentions that her oncologist plans on giving her a 20% reduction in the chemotherapy medications. She also mentions an allergic reaction:
http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/69/topic/797712?page=52#post_3406082
2.) Also, Moonflwr from the Triple Positive thread had to have some adjustments as well due to side effects. Here's a link to her post mentioning it plus a copy/paste of it:
Moonflwr: "Pbrain, I mentioned they changed my chemo because I was so sensitive to it and it made me so suck with diarrhea and vomiting. I learned to stay on top of the nausea and didn't throw up after the first time. But by my third Tx, they had adjusted all my chemo. They start the dose based on body weight, but the adjust by sensitivity. So make sure you tell your mo ALL the SEs so if they need to change something up they can."
http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/80/topic/764183?page=412#post_3298154
3.) Last addition - PBrain from the Triple Positive thread. She had terrible side effects and her oncologist ended up switching her chemo meds completely:
http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/80/topic/764183?page=414#post_3300656
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Judaday, as others have said you should talk to your doctor. The dizziness and blackout eyes when standing up sounds like it could be blood pressure related. Mine has been running high since my 2nd chemo and that's actually one thing my MO told me to watch out for and to call her if I start experiencing. Are you retaining a lot of fluid? I am, which is contributing to the elevated BP. In any case, I wouldn't wait until your next treatment on the 7th to bring all of these things up to your MO, maybe he/she can offer some help to ease some SE and make you feel better before then.
Paula, my 3rd tx was also the worst of my 3 so far. The SE hit me the very next day to the point where my boss looked at me and said "Becky you look awful, go home." I had no idea it was written all over my face lol! But the SE started sooner and lasted longer for me. I hate the feeling of just being in a total fog, like a zombie (with the worst flu symptoms ever).
LeeA, interesting article. Thanks for sharing.
Wishing everyone who gets treatment this week the best recovery! And for those who just had it last week that you come out of the SE soon. Stay strong friends, once we get over this chemo treatment we have jumped a HUGE hurdle!!!
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Lee, I'm on the 6x plan. Should have my last "heavy duty" treatment toward the end of March then, Herceptin to finish out the year.
As for everything centering on THE ILLNESS, I was like that, too. Then I gradually began to remember what else I could do with having more time, since I'm not going in o the store. Gardening, cooking, baking, crocheting . . . It feels good to he more myself -- at least until the "dark days" happen again. -
tx #3 is kicking my butt as well - physically and emotionally. Just trying to figure out what I will want to eat is exhausting.
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powermom, "dark days" is the perfect description of it.
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jenjen, I had the same experience after my last tx. No food sounded good and everything tasted different. Water tasted gross to me and I think that was part of my problem with the SE being more intense and lasting longer, I could barely force myself to stay hydrated because water was disgusting to me (and all other drinks). This time around I've got bottled/filtered water, and some flavoring packs. But if I feel like I did last time I may even call my MO and ask to come in for a fluid infusion.
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Hi Everyone. Thanks for all the well wishes for my next round of AC tomorrow. #4 and Im a nervous wreck hoping it won't kick me into relapse of the bronchitis, which I finally crawled out of after 7 weeks. Round 3 was hell and my energy is still missing!
I had the same trouble with food and drink last round. Nothing tasted good. Someone recommended ginger ale and it is ok. I found some diet Canada Dry...just so I won't be drinking so many calories in juice. Water is just disgusting, can't stand the thought of it after the chemo. So I'm inhaling it like crazy today.
After AC, I have 12 weekly infusions of Taxol. Anyone else taking this regimen?
Prayers lifted for all of us. Best of luck to Nicole, who is just a few days behind me for AC4.
Dawn -
Dawn ~ I'm sorry to hear that your energy is still missing, and also somewhat reassured to hear it. I have had worse chemo fatigue in the last 4 days than I've had since starting this whole adventure, and that just seems weird. I'm waiting to see what my red blood cells look like tomorrow -- maybe I'm pretty anemic. Hearing that you are experiencing the same thing makes me feel a little better.
Wishing you a super smooth infusion tomorrow, and a really manageable trip back to the chemo cave. Rest well there. You will only have to work your way back out once. I keep hearing that the Taxol cave is much less deep and dank.
Keep us posted on how you are doing.
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Hi Nicole. I am mildly anemic and have been even before I started the chemo. Thanks for your kind words. I will try to not disappear this time and let you know how I'm doing as I know you will be entering the cave shortly after me.
I totally understand what you're saying about feeling even more tired when we think we should be feeling our best. I am there too. I have felt better the last few days (from the coughing) and expected my energy level to bounce back. It didn't! I still feel very lazy and sluggish and tired just from climbing the stairs in the house. I don't like this wiped-out feeling. I hope we both locate our energy SOON!
Hugs,
D -
Bren58 - Good morning ladies. Just checking in and saw Bren58 post on bananas...I have been putting a banana in the blender with some frozen strawberries and Kefir (probiotic yogurt). It makes a nice shake and takes out the texture. Maybe you would enjoy this too.
I had TC#3 on Friday. The chemo fog set in quickly and that overall queasy feeling is back. I am also waking up every 2 hours at night. Any thoughts on how to get a better nights rest or is this just par for the course and sleep will return when chemo is done??? Being tired all of the time is terrible and makes working from home a bigger drag...
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My doctor (not the oncologist) prescribed Ambien for sleep issues. I asked for the lowest dose. It seems to help.
Someone else (I think it was Paula?) mentioned Unisom so I bought a box of that (OTC) as well.
"Overall queasy" is a good way to describe it.
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Dawn~I have my final AC this Friday. Mine have been every three weeks. Then I get 12 weekly taxol. AC #3 beat me up and mopped the floor with me.
My SEs normally lasted days 6-8. With #3 SEs started day 3 and lasted almost 2 weeks. I felt faint when standing, no tastebuds, chills, sinus crap, short of breath, and it took all my strength just to walk from the car to the front door.
My sister, Jan, has taken me to all my chemos so far, but she starts a new job on Friday, so I'm going to have to find someone else. I guess it's time to hit up some of those people who keep asking, " what can I do?"
Blessings
Paula -
I am having such a hard time with round 3 of TAC. I am an emotional mess, I don't know how I can do 3 more of these. I question everything and I am so damn scared again. For some odd reason my hair is starting to grow on my head...why?? Does that mean TAC isn't working? I don't understand.
I go back to work tomorrow and I am having such a hard time finding the motivation and I work from home. I have so much of this journey to go.
I am hoping that I wake up in better spirits tomorrow.
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Jenjeni~Don't entertain the thought for one moment, that the lack of SEs means chemo isn't working.
All the SEs they tell us we can expect aren't 100%. We're all different. I haven't had nausea at all, but the fog and fatigue, and shortness of breath have about done me in.
I've buzzed my hair weeks ago, but still have all my stubble.
This doesn't mean the chemo isn't working. We all have different degrees of tolerance.
Don't ruin today looking for what probably won't happen tomorrow.
You will get through this and be here to encourage some newbies this time next year.
Blessings
Paula -
Been in the hospital with the flu, scared my doc it was bad. I even had a spinal tap, thought my head was going to explode. Was in hospital for one week influenza type b everyone wore masks and gowns around me. I received 2 pints of blood still weak. Be careful ladies I did have a flu shot. Stay well .
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volleymom77 ~ so glad to hear you are out of the hospital and recovering!!!
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Volleymom - so sorry to hear about your hoapitizaton with the flu - no fun at all ! It sounds like u are home now so hopefully you will get stronger . Big recovery hugs going out to u ! Thank you for the warning - been trying to avoid public places but when I am feeling good I forget .
Jen Jen - Paula is right - take it one day at a time !! You are taking the right steps for your long term health by doing these treatments - and we are here to cheer u on too ! I know what you mean about being scared - I go there sometimes too but then I reel myself in and try to thinki about the phrase one of the posters shared - "always think about the most positive outcome and focus on that " - mind over matter !!!
Paula and all - you are all so helpful and I am so grateful for all of you !
Sandy
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