Chemo May 2013

Dennie I was anxious before chemo but didn't have any physical symptoms of it. I do know each ache or pain I feel makes me wonder if it is spreading. I had clear PET scan and still worry. Intellectually I know it's not true emotionally I am still adjusting to my new reality.

Ladies I need your opinions. I have appt Thursday after chemo to have hair shaved and wig styled. This will give me weekend to adjust to wig before work on Monday. DH thinks I should wait for it to fall out. I feel like this will put me in control. I cannot wear hat to work and just not feeling the scarf thing yet although that could change with time. What are your plans?

I had my husband buzz my hair to a number 2. I haven't "shaved" it though. I think it was about day 14 after my first treatment. My hair was coming out in clumps and my scalp was hurting. You will feel so much better when you do it.

I have decided to just love my hair, as long as, I can. I plan to collect it in a bag as it falls out, because I think it will come back grey (I am 49) and that way when I am allowed to dye it later on, I will have all I need to get a good match. I applaud all of you who can cut it short or buzz cut, but this is one of the areas I am not that strong. I couldn't wait for by breasts to go, but I love being a natural redhead and I want to enjoy it, as long as, possible.

I fooled around with the scarves I bought last night, not too bad.......not great either. I found a pink baseball cap in my closet, so I may try that, too. We were watching the original "Father of the Bride" the other night and in the first scenes with Elizabeth Taylor she was wearing a scarf and just letting her bangs show. So....apparently....it was a style at one time.

I really think the eyebrows are giving me the most fits, I am hoping my friend can give me lesson on how to draw those in. I am keeping a good/bad list in my head and trying so hard to focus on the good. Sometimes it is much harder than others.

Suzan

Ladies thanks for all your input. I think I will stick with Thursday. My hair is long enough to donate to locks of love and wii get it short enough to get wig fitted properly. Am really quite anxious about going to work in wig even though everyone will be expecting it. Friend will help with eyebrows when necessary. Funny how important eyebrows seem all of a sudden when in the past I haven't touched them - no plucking no waxing nothing! Thanks again all

Happy Mothers Day everyone! Even if you have no kids, we mother ourselves....so take a bow and be kind to yourself today.

I'm on day 3 after first treatment and all is well, Few SE's, a little indigestion, red face from the steroids, slight chemo brain (my kids cracked up listening to me try and order take out - couldnt get the words to come out right!). The real test will be tomorrow after I stop taking the steroids and other pre-meds. Hoping for the best though....so far it hasn't been that bad.

My new favorite chant is ATIVAN!. what a great night sleep I get with it...wake up feeling good.

Hope everyone had a restful and easy weekend. Heres to better days

Happy Mother's Day Everyone!,

IPC -I think I am going to wait until Thurday to do the buzz cut as well. Its so hard to let go of the outward appearance of not being a cancer patient for me. Somewhere deep inside I am hoping it will not fall out on day 14, maybe will get a few more days.......As someone else said though....I am really hoping my eyebrows dont go. My MO said that is a really common sentiment among patients..More worried about eyebrows and lashes than hair on the head. All I have to say is that if my hair goes it better not be my legg and armpit hair that stays!!! That just would not be cool. The only positives of losing hair is not to have to shave my legs for a few month!!!!

Annie- Ativan is my best friend these days as well!!!!!! I am a type A and cant sleep without it.

Ukkate- Good luck tomorrow with your first chemo. It really is not as bad as you are picturing in your head. My BP was so high when I went in that my MO gave me IV Ativan in the premed mix. It really helped. I slept like a baby the first night! I will be think of you tomorrow..Sending a big hug your way..take care of yourself today,its all about you today as you are a mom and deserve a break.

Hugs to everyone! We can do this hair thing girls, its just one more wonderful hoop we must jump through to get better!

Happy mother's day everyone. I'm also three days out from first chemo. Felt better the first day after chemo than today, but not feeling too bad. Took a zofran even though it's so constipating. Taking everything else to counter that, I don't like to take more meds than I have to but agree with Annie and Gully that Ativan is necessary to sleep. Half a pill seems to do it for me. Good luck tomorrow ukkate. The nurses are really nice and will take good care of you. I dozed through much of the infusion time. I'm looking forward to removing port bandages. And making some lentil soup but that never seems to happen. Afraid I'm going to feel depressed when dh goes to work and kids go back to school tomorrow.

All this talk about not sleeping is worrying me. I told the nurse during my chemo training that not sleeping is NOT happening. I will be sure to bring it up again when I start on the 28th. I still have plenty of Valium and pain meds left over from surgery. Hopefully, that will do.

My mom mentioned something about Emla, I asked the chemo nurse and she said they don't see too many patients that need it. Is it just for when they put the chemo needle in? Or is it because the port is so tender and uncomfortable? This whole chemo thing is starting to freak me out, it is the biggest unknown and I am a planner not a "well, let's just see...." kind of person.

I took a shower the next morning after my port was put in. They told my husband that I could tape Saran-wrap around the bandage and it worked.  Took a shower every morning and never got it wet.  Had my first treatment on Wednesday. Took 5 hours. I too was nervous about them accessing my port for the first time but it was only a slight prick. Not bad.  I was fine all day on Wednesday. Even went out to eat and shopping after my treatment. Got up Thursday and felt great. Worked in the yard planting flowers.  Got the shot for the white blood count in my stomach on Thursday night.  Got up Friday morning and felt like I had the flu. Was very nauseous, headache, body ache and no energy.  I told my family that I could not do this.  Got up Saturday and felt a whole lot better and today I feel great. Today is the first day that I have had an appetite and been able to eat since Wednesday. Went to Church and walked a mile.  I CAN DO IT!  One treatment down and 15 to go!! 

I am on Day 10 today and expecting my hair to begin falling out later this week. I've kept it in the same shoulder length style so far, but I have an appt with my stylist on Friday. I asked her to shave it, but she says she does a very close "scissors over comb" cut that other clients have found more comfortable. I'll let you know how it goes.



If you are able to take in a "Look Good...Feel Better" class, it is very helpful and they give a bag of very nice skin & makeup products & show you how to create eyebrows.

Ukkate - good luck today! I'm sorry to hear that you had such a hard time on Saturday - what a whirlwind!

I picked up most of my prescriptions yesterday from the pharmacy - oh boy. Funny side note - when I went to the pharmacy to drop them off, I handed over the whole gamut of scripts. The pharmacist handed back the "cranial prosthesis" script saying, "I'm sorry, we can't help you with this one". HA! 

Did anyone end up getting generic brands for their prescriptions? I made sure that I got the Emend, but they gave me generic for everything else. I hope these generics work just as well - sometimes they aren't as great, and I don't want to risk that! As for all the Ativan takers, can you get up at a normal time for work, or is it a super-sleep pill that may make me oversleep? Thanks for your input.

Ukkate-Ativan is the good stuff! Sleep like a baby and no fuzzy head in the AM. Just dont take it in the daytime when working they will think you are drunk LOL

Good luck today Ukate - and everyone with infusions this week! I start on Wed 5/15. I was delayed a week because I have a stubborn surgical drain.....it'll be in FIVE weeks and counting tomorrow. I am so sick of that thing, but my body still needs it. However this week the MO gave the go ahead to start so at least I'm moving forward again. I hate waiting for something that I so desperately want to get behind me.



Now, I'm making my shopping list in earnest, and all my pre-chemo questions. I'm using

all the suggestions from all of you who have gone before me.....the April Chemo group is a great resource as well - and another bunch of great sisters.



I'm off to get my port now. Hopefully that won't be too bad. -Amy