January 2013 chemo group
Comments
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duckiedee, can identify with you on the vice-gripped bowels. Since I am taking Colace and Miralax once daily and right before and after treatments, twice daily, I have bee fine. As miserable as these treatments make us feel, not being able to go is adding insult to injury. I was also advised to drink 68 oz. of fluids per day. I mix water and pedialyte in equal proportions and drink that throughout the day until around 9 pm. Adequate fluid intake really helps.
For pain after chemo and neulasta injections, was told to use alleve and claritin the day of treatment, the day after as well as the next two days. That combination has kept me from any achiness. Hope what works for me can help someone else.
Hang in here with us. We will survive and recover.
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I developed a big red spot near my IV injection site from my TC#1. It came out 1 week after the infusion. It was itchy at first, now 2 weeks later, it is a big brown spot. The doc said it was a SE of Taxotere, and most commonly occur in Hispanic, Black and Asian. I was told to put Aloe cream on the spot.
Just had my TC#2 yesterday, I will see if I get a rash again.
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Skimommi- My eyelashes are thin. About half gone. Started noticing it last week. I am using the Brian Josephs Gel too. I guess if I had to pick I would want to keep the eyebrows. Although, it does bum me out about my lashes. It's gonna suck when they all go. I am going to test run the fake lashes next week and see how it goes. I wear contacts sometimes, so that worries me. It will hurt if they fall into my eye while I am wearing contacts.
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Hi ladies, just checking in and catching up....loved the cabana boys...I'm qeueing up for Hugh Jackman, worth the wait!
Skimommi my lashes are starting to show a couple of thin areas...I was trying to hold off on the Latisse until after chemo, but I may break it out sooner if I keep seeing this. Speaking of hair is it weird that I still have all the hair on my arms?? I was actually looking kind of forward to losing it to see what it was like...
Also for those with expanders, do we need a special doctors note to fly? Wondering if the magnet causes any problems in airport security??? I have only had one fill so far but my PS didn't care when I came back for more...waiting to see what the rads plan is before I go back for any more. I'm pretty happy with the size, I was smallish before...might try out a little bigger before the exchange. My PS waits I think at least 6 weeks after rads to do exchange, the 3 mos later for nipples and 3 more for tattoos...is it wrong to ask for nipples for Christmas?
Hope you are all having a good weekend! -
I've got one more for the name game. My ex and I were tasting our way up and down Napa Valley. We stopped in for a tour at one of the vineyards and were in the tasting room with about 20 or so other tasters. The wine guy behind the bar was kind of snooty. He had a German accent, which my ex recognized (his parents emigrated from Germany). My ex asked what the name "cabernet" meant. The snooty pourer said, "It's a name like any other name. What does 'Ralph' mean?" My husband says, "To puke." Everyone burst out laughing except the poor wine pourer. Apparently they don't ralph in Germany. Maybe they rolph.
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LOL, on all the names. When I was a trainer, I had a guy in class named Keith Nicewonger...another student told me his sister's name was Anita.
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I found my cabana boy! Dwayne Johnson.
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I guess I now have nipple envy...
(I'm kidding! I like being a smoothie!)
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Oliverhog nice pick!! I'm drooling over here!
I hadn't thought about the flying issue with the magnets in the expanders. I don't think I'll have my exchange before going to Florida so I'll have to remember to ask about that one too.
Skigirl I've noticed a little thinning in my bottom lashes. I'm on the verge of needing to decide whether to buy another stick of gel, which will be my third. And you know it ain't cheap going. Ugh!!!
Good news girls, I just found out that my insurance company covered the entire cost of Cousin It to come visit home with me. Travel costs were over $400, and they will reimburse about $350. I have decided to donate It to another needy lady . . . someone that needs a wig but may not be able to afford one. I'm tickled red (only because I hate pink).
Treatment #4 coming up this week and the anxiety is aleady setting in. It is more difficult now because I know what to expect for the week following . . . tired, being a stranger in my own body, dead skunk . . .
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skimommi, sending hugs to get you through that anxiety. It's rotten, I know. Just remember: Each round finished is a round you never have to do again. (Also, I'm saying "tickled red" from now on. Awesome.)
Oliverhog, excellent cabana boy choice! I'll have to come visit your cabana...
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skimommi: Ahhh you are so lucky though! Treatment #4 is one more treatment down and out of the way, especially with the dreaded AC. How was your #3? I have my AC#3 this Wednesday....ugh!!!!!!
Oliverhog: YUMMY!
Bryona: how are you doing?
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I pick Jason Momoa for my cabana man- i HIGHLY suggest looking him up...he's married to Lisa Bonet but screw her...i want him, he's mine. Who knows...maybe he's into bald chicks. He's also a wee bit young for me but i've found the younger you get 'em, the easier they are to train.
Oliverhog- great on the rolphing...i work in a german company and SO understand the humour...or lack thereof...
My hair has fallen out in a weird-ass way...head...mostly gone...however, i retain 10- 15% in an all-over-my-head kinda jumble...not totally bald...not quite a real (short) hairdo...just look weird. Eyelashes and brows are hanging on (for now) and while i have fake eyelashes (that look really good) i am still most concerned about the brows- bane of my existance. I am hoping to keep at least a minimum to provide a natural stencil...still think the loss of brows are my biggest worry in all this shedding. The broom hilda hairs on my chinny-chin-chin are gone (yeah) but the bigfoot hairs that sprout on the toes of my wee size 5 feets are rooted to my knees...not going anywhere. Leg and armpit hair is minimal- still there but doesn't seem to have roots- same goes for the nether regions...damn it just leave already. Kind of a bummer keeping toe hair over head hair...if only i was a hobbit... All other hair seems normal...really is no rhyme or reason to this deal-e-o, is there?
Heading into AC treatment #3 this Thursday (mar 7th)...and i am determined to jam my healthy-ass, grinning-self right up the arse of the meanie nurse who told me i would get worse. Be damned if you're gonna burst MY bubble! Still feeling good and if it wasn't for the fact that i am balder than the day i was born (according to my mom), i honestly wouldn't know i was doing chemo- knock on wood and praise the gods of all the people who are praying for me! I have 72 days left of my "100 Days of Chemo" and I CAN SO DO THIS!!! Here's to all of us...kicking insurgent ass and killing the little bastards if they lurk...NO SKULKING ABOUT HERE MOTHERF***ERS!!! xoxoxo Shannon
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smethot, my hair loss has been pretty much exactly as you've described. That's why I love skimommi's avatar -- that minion has hair just like mine.
Also, excellent choice in Jason Momoa! Ladies, in case you haven't checked him out, here's a pretty pic of our latest cabana boy:
And of course we don't worry about age or marital status here; this is OUR fantasy land!
ywheels, I'm doing okay. The AC fatigue is kicking my butt again, but I just keep telling myself it's for the last time. No more red devil for this girl!
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We are taken... not dead. We all need a bit of fantasy land through all this anyway. My hair story is the same Smethot and Bryona...
Skimommi- donating Cousin It is a great idea! And don't forget to get a donation receipt if its to somewhere like ACS. Its a tax write off just like kids... that's what I'm doing.
AC #4 is friday... cant get here soon enough. I want to kick the red devil to the curb.
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Byrona: Awesome you are doing well with AC#4 and you are DONE!!!!
Skigirl: How were you SE's on AC #3? Asking everyone so I can freak myself out more!!!!! Then you are done too!!!! Awesome!!!!
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ywheels22,
Ditto about the "stranger in my own body". Especially because I'm the type of person that, until now, found it easy to ignore my body completely (didn't abuse it, just did my thing). I only just discovered what you folks have been talking about with food tasting bad. For the last few days (starting post TC-H #3 of 6), everything tastes like cement. Or sour. I had a little success with those "Bolton Farms flavored Chai Teas" which actually have quite a bit of nutrition.
P.S. I once saw a back-up doctor for my midwives who was "Dr. Risk".
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ywheels22, we're doing treatment #3 on Wed together. My last FEC before Taxotere. I understand FEC is like AC. I also get the red devil in my cocktail. I too am very anxious about it but remember the shite feeling passes for me by day 5 so hope it will again.
I am heading to my MIL's place for post treatment respite again. It's so hot here at the moment with no cool change in sight so I am not looking forward to the heat with nausea. But, I will be able to get some float time in the ocean with my nude nut and hair-free bikini-line which will be nice! I am also being treated to a dinner at a very swanky restaurant the night before treatment as part of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival. That is what I am trying to focus on more than the treatment. Although my taste buds are not perfect, the end of week 3 has them in much better shape than usual. I wont be syphoning wine down like I ordinarily would (I have a random glass of red these days and for the main am alcohol free) so that will be a bit disappointing. Perhaps I should rock up for chemo with a hangover? The anti nausea meds and fluids might help LOL.
Also ditto to the "stranger in my own body".
I am focusing on the fact that after this treatment I will be coming out of the tunnel rather than going in.
You'll romp it in so GOOD LUCK and try not to freak yourself out.
J xox -
ywheels22-Same SEs on #3 but definitely more intense. There was nothing new. Taste buds went earlier, very freakin tired, huge headaches. Everything just lasted longer. So, i would have to agree that #3 has been tough. Not horrible, just tough.
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What do you ladies do about eating the day of treatments? I try to eat a healthy breakfast that will carry me through a good part of the day. But we leave about 8/8:30, after acupunture, labs and the MO chemo starts just around lunch time. So of course I'm starving then. I found anything I eat during transfusion will be ruined to me. One trip we ordered Jimmy John's sandwiches, now I can't stand the thought. I've been snakcing on blueberry yogurt, which I can tell is already ruinted to me so I may as well stick to that. Even though it doesn't sound good I would rather force it down than to take a chance of trying anything different and ruining that. The day is so long I absolutely have to eat. Anyone else have this problem and if so how are you getting through the day?
ywwheels unfortunately I have the red devil, triple cocktail for 6 treatments. I don't get to kick it to the curb as soon as the rest of you. But as you have all attested to, and I keep hearing that #3 was to be the worst. So here's to hoping that is so true.
ablydec that is so irronic you mention the Bolthouse Farms chai today. When I was checking out at the store today the cashier asked about the Naked protein drink I bought. We had a conversation about some of the other flavors and she mentioned the BF chai being very delish! Now I absolustely have to try one. My biggest weakness is Starbucks chai. I hate Starbucks, but love the convenience of getting the chai from them. The sugar content is a killer though.
Bryona thanks for the hugs. And same to you re: your distress over being the last one done.
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Skigirl72~ I completely agree that AC #3 is just tougher. Not new SE's so much as just a new depth. I hope you are able to get some good rest. I wished I had taken a bit more time off work with #3. As I recall, you are working too. Wishing you well. For me, #3 was the hardest round and I've heard that from others. Hoping it all gets easier from here on out for you.
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ywheels and jubby, I'll be sending you both loads of love Wednesday. I know we may have scared the bejeezus out of you with our round 3 tales, but it's still just one round. You can do this. You WILL do this! Just don't be like me and get some other totally unrelated problem like pancreatitis, okay? 'Cuz that was just stupid.
ablydec, I didn't get the bad taste thing until round 3, either. Nasty! I hope it gets better for you. (And, on a separate note, Dr. Risk? Really?)
skimommi, I have the same problem with eating during tx destroying whatever I eat, so I've given up on that. To be fair, the idea of eating then makes me feel sick, too, even though I know I'm hungry. The only exception is saltine-type crackers; they help a bit. I think they're just too bland to really identify, so I don't have the same aversion to them. Anyway, I use those to stave off the worst of the hunger/nausea during tx, but I don't really eat enough to count as much of a meal. And, now, unfortunately, I've also finally figured out that it's not just what I eat DURING tx; if I don't eat during, it happens with whatever I eat first after tx is done. I sure wish I'd figured that out before this round! I've ruined several different foods for myself. Fiddlesticks! Well, here's hoping we start to want those things again one of these days, when this chemo nonsense is over. After all, what is life without Jimmy John's?
Love to you all, ladies!
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They come around at lunch time and offer us turkey wraps. I cant even think about them without feeling sick now... I have been concerned about eating my favorite foods for fear of developing a bad N/V reaction to them because of chemo... Someone said to stay away from our favorite foods so we don't associate them with TX and being sick.
Nicole503- I am working part time for now. just 20 hrs a week. That seems to be ok for now. Sometimes I feel like I could pick up another shift. I think this is enough for now just to be on the safe road...
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Just wanted to pop in on this thread and give you ladies some moral encouragement!!
I'm 9 weeks PFC, and I remember thinking towards the middle, that chemo would never end. Well, thankfully, it does end and the SEs do go away!!You seem like a great group of strong women with great senses of humor. Keep the faith, you will get through this!!
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Hi cgesq - great news regarding being 9 weeks PFC! Thanks for the words of encouragement!
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It's so great to see everyone is thinking about future vacations, cabana boys and the fact that we're all starting to see a bit of light at the end of this tunnel. I can skip the cabana boys (I don't have enough energy to even think about them)for a week at a spa--massages every day, soothing baths, some aromatherapy, and lots of umbrella drinks that are not red: I had been drinking a lot of fluids with the MIO flavor concentrates, and one day I looked over at my glass with strawberry watermelon, saw the color and immediately thought of Adriamyacin. I nearly gagged at the thought of drinking it, so I dumped it. No more red water drinks for me!
I am two weeks past A/C #4, and I find I am out of breath a lot. Anyone else? I am starting to do more walking and hope that helps improve my strength. I also have a nagging dry cough that I need to ask my MO about when I go in for my first Taxol on Thursday. Of course, it is also high grass pollen season here, and that may not be helping matters
I can finally taste coffee, and it tastes good!! I have a limited range on my taste buds, but can taste a lot more than I could a week ago. Does anyone know if Taxol is as hard as A/C on taste buds? I sure hope not. I want my taste buds back more than my hair.
Once again, it's great to see so many expressions of joy within our group. If you have to belly-up to the bar this week, I am sincerely hoping that your SEs are limited.
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Jubby and skigirl: Thanks. Well here's hopiing it's not too, too bad! Jubby, I'll be right there witih you in spirit. Skigirl: you rock. Let me know how #4 went. Maybe that will be something to look forward to and it will be the last one!!!!
Skimommi: I don't eat during treatments at all. I bring a protein drink and that's it. I also struggle with food after treatment. I stick to one srambled egg and plain toast or a BLT, no mayo. That's all I can handle. So far these foods still agree with me and are not yet ruined. But there are many foods, even if I just think about them during and after tx, that make my stomach do cartwheels! Here's hoping, that once tx's are done, all of that will go away at some point.
Bryona: Scared yes, but it's good to know what ya'lls experiences have been. And I know ya'll made it through and are still here helping us through. I plan on joining your ranks!!! It won't be easy but you girls make me realize I can do it. Let me know how #4 is!
Take care all!
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Zorina~I finshed AC on feb. 8th. I started 12 weekly taxol this past Friday. This day 4 and so far my only SEs are, I'm a little sleepier at times. My tastebuds are a little pale, but nothing like AC. I hope this holds.
I'm taking vitamin B6 (100 mg 2X daily) and L-Glutamine. I mix 2 heaping teaspoons in about a shot glass of cranberry/grape juice and drink it 3 times a day. It's not bad.
I had that shortness of breath with AC 3. I think we become a bit anemic, and our red bloods cells carry our oxygen, hence, we get out of breath. Try eating more foods with iron.
Blessings
Paula -
Thanks, Soteria. I just did a light vacuum of the living room area rung and am winded. I know my RBC has been really low, but I was a little worried that something was affecting my heart. I didn't have this side effect until after TX#4, which kind of makes it worse than #3. I just had the usual SE for it even though they were much stronger.
I am so glad to hear Taxol has been kind to you and Nicole. I've started the B-6 and some B-12 because MO was ok with taking them at the beginning of treatment. I'll see what she says about glutamine, but I won't know until the day I have first TX. She is very against products that may have 'other' stuff in them, and I am not sure that GNC is going to inspire a lot of faith in her. But, we'll see. If nothing else, I would have a baseline for life without it.
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I'm sitting down during a break from cleaning the bathroom and just found this (the continuation of an earlier theme - actually a combination of the Shannon pug meme and the Cabana meme):
Wishing everyone a good week with little or no side effects.
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Got my neulasta shot this morning. Keeping my fingers crossed.
I know I am jumping the gun here, but a bit of hope for the light at the end of the tunnel wish.
Here's how fast will hair grow:http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Your-Hair-Grow-Faster
Jean
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