Sept 2012 chemo

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  • Faith-Focus-Finish
    Faith-Focus-Finish Member Posts: 124
    edited March 2013

    Hope-I too am so sick of being tired!!!   It's been a very long week for me; I put in close to 60 hours.  Around 3:30pm yesterday, I started feeling 'off.'  The meeting I had been in ended at 4:15pm (it started at 1pm).  I gathered my purse, bag etc. and drove home.  I was home for about 15 minutes and I became really sick.  I was in the restroom throwing up for about 30 minutes.  Not fun in general - but even less fun with TEs!  I laid down for awhile and got up again for round two.  Weird.  I was in bed starting around 6:30pm last night and got up for the day-this morning- around 9:30am.  I was up a few times through the night.  I'm telling you - I could easily go right back to bed and sleep for a few more hours.  WTH?

    Bearcub-Thanks for the good wishes!  My mother-in-law used to say all the time - 'this too shall pass.'  She is no longer with us but I can still hear her saying that!  My exchange surgery is scheduled for April 4 and I am looking forward to some relief.

    Florbo-  Do you still have the numbness?  A friend of mine said it took just over 2 years for that feeling to go away.  On my right side, I feel like my arm is constantly sticking to the side of my body.  It's annoying.  Good luck on Tuesday!

    Amy-I looked in the mirror the other day and was checking out the 'little hairs.'  It looked like I have very light sideburns going down each side of my face.  I may just do the clipper thing like you. 

    Jojo-I agree with you about the shaving.  Since I have the numbness too, I have tried to shave while looking in a mirror.  It's not the easiest thing to do and I can't seem to get all the hairs gone.  Also, my TE's are wide and it's hard for me to reach my other side (or I have pain).  I have asked DH to help me shave ... oh joy ... he's been great about it - but really?  I'm hoping with the exchange, my range of motion will be even better and I will continue to have the mirror guide me.

    When I was last at Whole Foods, I spoke with a lady that seems pretty knowledgable about the natural hair products that they sell.  She suggested if I was unsure of dying my hair to buy a 'rinse' at first.  She said it lasts about 6-7 washes.  I haven't done anything yet ... my hair is still very dark with a little salt sprinkled through it.

    Have a great day!  Hugs!  : )))

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  • Hopex3
    Hopex3 Member Posts: 397
    edited March 2013

    Faith...sorry your sick! Ugh! I haven't thrown up in years. I bet it is hard to do with expanders. Are you running a fever. I can't believe you put in 60 hours. No wonder your tired! I just got up at 9:00 am...felt so good to sleep in but of course, I don't go to real sleep until 4. Take care and stay in bed or at least Jammie's today.

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  • Faith-Focus-Finish
    Faith-Focus-Finish Member Posts: 124
    edited March 2013

    Thanks Hope!  Been in jammies all day; still resting.  No fever thank goodness - no explanation for being sick.  Weird!  Going to dinner tonight to celebrate my dad's birthday. Hope to be home early enough to get some good sleep.

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  • marianelizabeth
    marianelizabeth Member Posts: 1,735
    edited March 2013

    Faith-Focus and Hope, I am in my jammies today too. I did not work 60 hours but feel like it this week. I had hours of nausea/vomiting on Thursday and no doubt it is for me, something to do with post anesthesia/AI/end of antibiotics etc. but is is exhausting. I had just come from a walk in the rain with friends so it was even more frustrating~~feeling good to YUK is 10 minutes! Yesterday I had a P/T appt. early and he was really happy with how the surgery went and gently went over the whole area and that was reassuring. I had a nap and then went for a walk pre rain and managed to trip over a blackberry root. No damage but unnerving for sure. I had just been trying to figure out how to take a photo of a bald eagle just above me with my new iPhone so was not fully paying attention. 

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  • Jem3
    Jem3 Member Posts: 7
    edited March 2013

    Dear Faith and Marian,

    So sorry you have been sick! Stomach flu is the worst! I hope the weekend gives you a chance to rest and that you feel better soon. I am feeling pretty tired from rads. Tough to keep up with my kids!

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  • florbo
    florbo Member Posts: 178
    edited March 2013

    FaithFocus--My numbness has decrease over the years, but some still remain.  Since I had a DIEP reconstruction, the numbness that was in the abdominal area has mostly returned .  I hope you are getting more rest this weekend.

    Marian--I hope your nausea and vomiting passes.  Are your pain meds or anesthesia making you constipated?  Because I think those things do a number on me and then I feel nauseous and dry heave a lot.

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  • bearcub
    bearcub Member Posts: 485
    edited March 2013

    Faith and Marian I sure hope you feel better soon.

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  • EnglishRose75
    EnglishRose75 Member Posts: 147
    edited March 2013

    Changed my avatar to show hair growth progress.  Still more East German prison guard than Anne Hathaway.  Still, it is coming.  Thinking about taking the plunge and adding some colour soon.  Last chemo treatment November 21.

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  • Foreverchanged72612
    Foreverchanged72612 Member Posts: 223
    edited March 2013

    Englishrose: you are not far from the Anne Hathaway side of the spectrum! But East German prison guard had me laughing. 

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  • jojo2373
    jojo2373 Member Posts: 662
    edited March 2013

    English, so nice to see you. Not even close to the prison guard! Take the color plunge, I did!

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  • Faith-Focus-Finish
    Faith-Focus-Finish Member Posts: 124
    edited March 2013

    Thanks for the well wishes; I'm feeling a little better today.

    Marian - I'm sorry you were feeling so sick too!  I hope you are feeling better each day!

    EnglishRose-Love the growth!  Not even close to prision guard.

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  • Cocobean
    Cocobean Member Posts: 135
    edited March 2013

    English rose, you look great and your comment about prison guard was hilarious.

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  • Hopex3
    Hopex3 Member Posts: 397
    edited March 2013

    EnglishRose..you look great! And not like a prison guard either! Lol

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  • Amy4978
    Amy4978 Member Posts: 473
    edited March 2013

    Just love that we are all moving along and making progress!

    I shared a link to a shampoo that was recommended by my stylist its suppose to promote faster healthier hair growth.. so since I suck at putting links on here the name of it is DS Laboratories Revita hair growth stimulating shampoo you can get it at dermstore.com

    also wanted to send another reminder out about the FB group if anyone is intersted in joining PM me or JOJO your email address and your FB user name and we would love to add you! it is completely private and lots of fun!

    Happy St. Pattys Day.....

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  • florbo
    florbo Member Posts: 178
    edited March 2013

    EnglishRose--You made me LOL!   The German prison guard didn't come across my radar of descriptions of you!

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  • EnglishRose75
    EnglishRose75 Member Posts: 147
    edited March 2013

    Thanks for all the hair comments.  My mum said this picture made me look "youthful and gamin."  Youthful, I like.  I didn't actually know what gamin meant, so I looked it up in the dictionary and it said "A neglected boy left to run around the streets; street urchin."  Hmmm.  Will be telling mother to keep her fancy words to herself or she might be off the Christmas card list!

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  • Toastiecat
    Toastiecat Member Posts: 132
    edited March 2013

    Englishrose, you are too funny! You look fab...and remember that Twiggy was considered a gamine.

    I know there are some young women on the board, so I wanted to share this: http://eonli.ne/10CZaI  It's like Make-a-Wish for young women with BC and OC. I'm preparing my application now!

    I just read The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. It's YA, but excellent (and a lower reading level is really good for chemo brain!) It's pretty great. It's about a 17 year old girl with cancer. Somehow the author really gets it...by "it" i mean the whole cancer experience.

    Thanks everyone for your thoughts on how to talk to my mom. We recently had some othe rfamily drama, so I'm going to let things settle down a bit before I talk to her.

    Is anyone experiencing joint stiffness/pain? I get pretty stiff after sitting, and I also get random zings of pain in various small joints, like knuckles, wrists, etc. Onc is not too worries, as it is pretty nonspecific, and no one joint is hurting all the time. She suggested it could be caused by menopause, but I've since gotten my period back and the pain is still happening.

    Wow my thoughts are super scattered today...hope everyone is well.

    xo

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  • Hopex3
    Hopex3 Member Posts: 397
    edited March 2013

    EnglishRose...Too Funny!  Don't you just love Mothers!

    Toastie..Im so glad to hear someone else is having the same kind of Joint stiffness and

    zingers going through your body.  Of course, it makes us panic.  I just figured since it wasn't in the same place all the time, that I'm probably ok.  But boy, getting out of a chair, I'm so stiff.  My DH says to me when I get up, Stand up straight, your all hunched over.  I said you be in my body and with that I give him a sign!  If you know what I mean.  lol.

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  • patriciahurtado
    patriciahurtado Member Posts: 489
    edited March 2013

    Hello my ladies..............i been ut for few weeks but back again............im getting ready for surgery...im so ready to get this beast off me............im mentally prepare...you guys have walked me through everything so there is nothing to be scare off.....today i will do my shopping for surgery!!!! any last recommendations?? please let me know

    Foreverchange......are u ready....we afre having same date of surgery....mine is at 7:30am i need to be there by 5:30 on the 21 of march!!!

    Good luck to all my sisters and prompt recovery for every one!!!!!!!!

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  • Toastiecat
    Toastiecat Member Posts: 132
    edited March 2013

    Patricia...good luck! Have fun surgery shopping. If anyone can make that trip fun, it's you! One thing that helped me after surgery was to have one of those 7 day pill boxes...opening rx bottles would have been impossible. Also a short, lightweight bathrobe so you don't have to worry about pulling pants up and down in the bathroom. I read your comment on the surgery thread about your sexy surgeon...lol!!

    Guys, I took a trip down memory lane, and was reading through some of the early posts on here. I got pretty teary eyed...the amount of support, love, and good sense I've gotten from this board is incalculable. It seems so strange that I haven't met all of you, because I know I will carry you in my heart always.

    hugs...

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  • JodiRocksthePink
    JodiRocksthePink Member Posts: 23
    edited March 2013

    I had my follow up appointment with my plastic surgeon from my exchange surgery today....My Dr came in the room and told me today is a big day....he changed my status from "in treatment for Breast Cancer" to "History of breast cancer". I love that! I made it! WE MADE IT!



    Good luck to everyone now going through surgerys and TE fills. I had a double mastectomy with TEs before chemo, had fills during chemo and am now 1 month out from my exchange. I'm very happy with the results and they are so comfortable....feels like me again. The pain from the TEs was worth it, so hang in there when it gets tough.

    Don't forget silk or satin pants to help slide in and out of bed...you won't be able to use your arms.

    Dx 6/12/2012, IDC, 2cm, Stage IIa, Grade 3, 0/2 nodes, ER-/PR+, HER2+Surgery 08/01/2012 Mastectomy (Both); Lymph Node Removal (Right); Prophylactic Mastectomy (Left); Reconstruction: Tissue expander placement (Both)Chemotherapy 09/21/2012 Cytoxan, TaxotereTargeted Therapy 09/21/2012 Herceptin</div
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  • allurbaddayswillend
    allurbaddayswillend Member Posts: 355
    edited March 2013

    toastie, sometimes my middle back is stinging, painful, and hot, kind of between my shoulder blades. I am currently blaming the tamoxifen because I've had some joint achiness much of my life but this one's new.

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  • Cindi74
    Cindi74 Member Posts: 363
    edited March 2013

    Jojo, English Rose, Toastiecat, allurbaddays,

    YOU HAVE HAIR LINES.  I have a few tiny white hairs probably left after the A/C on my head, but most is shiny bald and like my knee.  I am 4 weeks past A/C and 12 Taxol, and feeling a lot better, but a long way from my self of a year ago.  Start rads tomorrow.  Keep the hair pix coming.  I need encouragement.

    Oh yes,  Gamin is Audry Hepburn in Roman Hoiiday.  Definitely a compliment. 

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  • Amy4978
    Amy4978 Member Posts: 473
    edited March 2013

    toastiecat.... right back attcha! Laughing

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  • Cocobean
    Cocobean Member Posts: 135
    edited March 2013

    Appt with PS today....he couldn't believe I was 6 days post rads...very impressed with how my skin looked and the work on my RO...even said to make sure I tell my RO how good it looked....so happy to hear it! Scheduled my exchange surgery for aug 1....wow it's been a crazy year.



    Also he said because the implant will be shaped differently than the TE, I will not have armpit boob...



    Moving forward!

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  • Amy4978
    Amy4978 Member Posts: 473
    edited March 2013

    Cocobean... oh thank the lord for no more armpit boobs! lol Congrats.... so did you even get red during rads?

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  • jojo2373
    jojo2373 Member Posts: 662
    edited March 2013

    Cindy, let us know how ur rads is going. I have 2 to go, 31 done

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  • Foreverchanged72612
    Foreverchanged72612 Member Posts: 223
    edited March 2013

    Okay, so surgery on Thursday. Patricia, I don't know if I'm ready!! I have my room all set up for me when I get back from the hospital and I have my bag packed but am I really ready?? I have to meet my surgeon tomorrow for dye injection. I don't really know where I am supposed to meet him. Why didn't I write this down?!? Must call first thing tomorrow am. Oh, and Patricia, it seems that not only do we have surgery same day but same time, too!! I will be thinking of you as I go into the OR!!

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  • Hopex3
    Hopex3 Member Posts: 397
    edited March 2013

    Forever and Patricia...good luck to you on your surgeries. Don't forget a pillow for the ride home!



    JoJo...Can't believe your almost done with Rads! You must be beyond excited!



    Cindi...Hope your doing ok with the rads so far!!!

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  • florbo
    florbo Member Posts: 178
    edited March 2013

    Cindi--Good luck on your rads tomorrow.

    Toastie--I do have stiffness and joint pain mostly in my right hip.  Sometimes when I'm sitting on the floor playing with my kids, I can barely get up.  I feel like I've taken root.

    My breast surgeon called me this morning to tell me that the pathology of the tumor from 3 weeks ago is now Her2 amplified.  My biopsy in August was Her2 negative.  Onco calls me 5 minutes later and we will be starting Herceptin next week.  I was totallly not expecting this. I was just thinking of the upcoming rads.  Also, my port has been taken out. Boohoo!  I'm going to see how long my veins can last before I have to get a port.

    I show up 30 minutes later at the cancer to get my CT and simulation for rads.  The nurses save some veins for my infusion next week.  Then I get a call from rad onc that the CT showed that I have a blood clot in my chest from the port. Thank good it is small enough that it will dissolve with daily aspirin and that it hasn't made it to the heart or the lungs.  

    I should be grateful that there is treatment for Her2 positive ladies.  But I felt today was almost like taking a wound and pouring salt on it.  I had been thinking I'm almost done and then Herceptin for year.  So tired of this health drama!

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