April 2013 Chemo Group

Happy Birthday Virginger! Hope you feel better soon.

Women never have to remove their hats.

Well that's a relief.  Any NASCAR fans on here?  I remember a big stink being made about Kevin Harvick's wife DeLana not removing her hat during the pre-race invocation and national anthem.  I didn't want to fall into THAT category!

Hi, all. Well, I finished my first chemo yesterday. It went far smoother than I expected. Waiting for the hangover that comes after that trip to the chemo bar. Drinking lots. Eating prunes, stool stofteners. Really hoping to avoid constipation.



I, too, am wondering what to do about speaking at an outdoor event in May. Already trying to come up with a punchline if my wig goes flying across the football field!



Thanks so much for all of you have posted suggestions. I would be so lost without it.

I'm getting buzzed tomorrow, although there's not much left to buzz.  About 75% of my hair just gently released itself from my scalp this morning.  Because I had to put my game face on and go to work, I managed to not have a complete meltdown about it.  I popped on a halo and a hat and actually thought I looked pretty good!  I look somewhat like the crypt keeper at the moment with about 30 stands of hair poking out of my head, so getting the shave tomorrow will make me look better and I can rock the G.I. Jane hair as well. 

Jen - Channing Tatum is from  a little town about 30 miles from me, Cullman AL! Hard to believe something that fine could come out of Cullman AL.

I am at day 3 after my first chemo. So far so good. I had questions about starting drugs before I knew if I would need them. So far decided to forgo the Claritin for the Neulastra (MO said OK to take Tylenol and alternate with the Claritin if needed) until I knew if I needed it. No obvious pain from that so far (24 hours after shot). I'm also waiting until I have nausea to take any other antiemitics. I did take epsom salts at a low dose to prevent any constipation (seems to be working well; no problems there). Crossing my fingers and hoping things continue this way. 

I have to say that I won't mind losing my hair too much (frizzy greying hair no real loss!). I plan to mostly wear scarves and hats (not interested in a wig). I've always wanted to wear hats, but they never worked with my hair, so I guess I'll take this opportunity to live it up and get some fabulous hats.

I was mainly wondering along with BeHereNow how you keep the hats on when it's windy. I think a scarf under will help (maybe; or will that make it worse?). Hat pins aren't exactly an option. Bonnets with ties aren't my style. I suppose tight hats would work. Any one have any experience with keeping hats on in the wind? 

Did a bit of research on hat etiquitte, Emily Post (http://www.emilypost.com/everyday-manners/common-courtesies/479-hats-off-the-who-what-when-where-of-the-hat) says cancer patients can always wear hats. Apparently not everyone has the message, (http://blogs.clarionledger.com/thebuzz/2013/02/06/hat-wearer-barred-from-paying-jackson-water-bill/ and http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2215141/Mother-breast-cancer-forced-leave-roller-rink-wearing-hat.html). The problem is letting folks know why you want to keep the hat on as well as dealing with those businesses and organizations have inflexible rules. 

Of more concern to me is losing my nails. That sounds painful. My MO is unfamiliar with icing fingers to prevent nail loss. Didn't seems to think it necessary (but open to whatever I want to do).  What are the particulars of how you do that? Just wrap your hands in cold packs? Do you have to keep it up for the whole time, or can you just cycle them on and off?

Looks like my DH has brough home a cold from his business trip to the UK last week. Perhaps the loving reunion last weekend (pre symptoms) wasn't the best idea. Sigh. 

I feel your pain hushkat! Mine is coming out in bunches and I'm hoping to make it through one more day of school before my planned buzz on Saturday. I'm afraid to wash it tomorrow because it makes the shedding worse. No matter how much time I've had to prepare for this, I'm just not ready...

Thanks, Hushkat

Virginger are you taking glutamine? Hoarseness can be a side effect of glutamine. 

Start my chemo bright and early tomorrow morning. My MO had me start taking Decadron (sp?) today. Haven't had any SE yet. Im already on a head start with the stool sofferens... that is the last thing I want to deal with! I'm surprisingly not too anxious about tomorrow. Maybe because of the false alarm last week. I hope I handle the first treatment like you PamelaKay and Retta175. I'm a stay at home mom of two precious girls (4 and 2). I'm hoping to give them as much normalcy as possible. They are definitely my inspiration! Well I'm going to try and see if I can get some sleep. My thoughts and prayers are with you all!

Hello my fellow Warriors! I had my second round on Wednesday and it seems to be going so much better than my first treatment. Hallelujah! I'm not saying I don't feel a little off but I do feel much better. So, on Tuesday the battle of the hair loss began. I started to notice it while in the shower. So I decided I would take the opportunity to fix my hair nice for the day since who knows when I might get the chance again. Later in the evening I let my little girl play with my hair, one of her favorite things to do. It looks like today is the day to buzz it off. I've invited some of my closest friends over to help me through this and am trying to prepare myself as best I can. Wish me luck!

Virginger, I hope the meds help before it gets any worse. Hugs!

Jc254 -- It sure is unsettling just waiting to see what will happen! If it's any consolation/assurance (and I know everyone is different) I waited around for days thinking it was going to hit at any moment, but it never did. I had lots of side effects but they were all really tolerable and didn't affect my ability to get on with daily life. So my advice would be, don't venture *too* far out since you don't know if you'll start feeling a lot worse, but don't just sit on the couch waiting to feel down & out, because that may never happen. I'm on day 10 post-TC and haven't have any days where I couldn't function -- I took care of my 4 year old & took him to activities and went for long walks every day and hung out with friends and washed dishes and everything I normally do. Worst was days 3-5 but it wasn't even like having the flu or anything, it was more like how you feel if you don't get quite enough sleep and ate too much Mexican food. I hope you have the same good fortune!

Thanks ladies.

No ativan for me   Dr said they would give it to me when I got there.  I was bummed because I need it NOW and felt like I was being a baby for asking.

I guess this is a lesson to ask for what I want.

Erin, call the doctor back & tell him you'd like Ativan or something NOW for anxiety. I'm sure they'd be glad to call it in right away.

In the meantime, take some very deep breaths -- lay down & place your hands on your stomach & make your hands rise with each breath. Breathe in for a count of 5, hold for 5, then breathe out as slowly as you can. I know it sounds too simple to make a difference but it can work wonders for anxiety. When you breathe deeply you are slowing down your body, your heart rate, all the little things that keep you stuck in your anxiety. I also find walking or anything outdoors & physical really calms me. Or a warm bath. Do something to bring your body to a calm space and your mind will start to follow, or at least have an easier time conquering the worries & fears.