Chemo May 2013

LJaeger,

Waving to you from Yorktown hts!



We are somewhat similar in the lack of remembering things. I already have a spotty memory for different things. I have NOT noticed any changes in my memory. However I have only had one treatment and it is not the same type of chemo as yours. You never know! I was actually thinking maybe it would reverse my memory problem? Lol



As for the water. DRINK something, anything! And LOTS of it. Use crystal light,or iced tea flavorings....anything!



During treatment I kept drinking from little bottles of their bottled water. When they started the taxotere I had my 7-11 cherry icee, (which I know some might not like seeing if getting the "red devil" chemo, I had hubby out it into a opague cup.



Yes, had to get up and use the bathroom a few times, the nurses were fine with that. Make sure to go before they start a new bag of junk, because they want to monitor you for a while to make sure no negative reactions. My nurses said they always tell when changing bags, I told them I just needed those extra minutes to go to the bathroom so factor that in, and they did.

When I came home I had the giant Poland spring bottle of water right next to my armchair and just kept refilling and drinking.



I hit the grocery store and purchased some flavored waters (wasn't happy to see Splenda in them, I'm not a fan of that) and drank those too In order to change it up.



I'm not much of a water drinker, but I think it has really helped me. My first treatment was on May 6....I did the most water the first 2-3 days. Now I have to remind myself to drink more water. I am off the nausea meds. the only thing I am taking is the Prilosec and Claritan. Prilosec because it says it is a 14day cycle on the package, so I figure why not. Claritan to deal with the Neulasta...I figure 2-3 more days of that "to be sure".



As for the skin problems,I'm not having that bad acne , or any noticeable change yet. My skin has always been spotty though. I will say that I feel like my skin is SOFTER than ever.



Pat

Hi Teresa,

I will also be doing radiation three weeks after finishing chemo! The radiation oncologist wants to do full external beam but I have talked to people at the Gamma West Radiation (in Salt Lake) that have had really good luck with the Brachytherapy.  Have started considering going to Salt Lake for that treatment but will see!

Good luck,

Rose

Ljaeger, which ice cream shop...I just might "happen" to be in croton and give it a try.



Ice cream as a liquid? Lol. I never would have thought of that.

I think I have been through McDonalds drive thru for chocolate shakes day 3-6 of chemo...my ONLY Time out of the house on Day 4 was to McDonalds as it was my sons birthday and I had NO energy to go out to dinner (other son had swim class anyway, so also had time constraints) and birthday boy likes McDonalds, so that's what he had. I NEVER get a double cheeseburger (or cheese) and I had one,it was very tasty considering taste was off. Anyhow, the chocolate shake was cold enough to sooth throat (minor irritation), I needed the sucking through a straw thing, and it also tasted good, so a WIN all around. I think I will be spending a lot of time at the gym to make up of all the junk I ate this week. (And I am NOT a gym rat)



Now if you have read this go drink another water!

Pat

Shelly, you will be fine.



That darn steroid IS nasty. I had no idea it would leave such a nasty taste in my mouth!

Where were the people to warn me about that! Lol...I've read all the other posts on how to avoid side effects, NOTHING about that darn little steroid pill being nasty!

And I was VERY thirsty after taking it. The second time I had to take it I made sure I had something flavorful to wash it down, followed by some food that would knock the taste out of my mouth. See, there is a "solution" to most of these problems.



I don't think there is ONE person who can say they weren't worried about going to sit in chemo, but I think I have heard ALMOST ALL say good things about it not being so bad.



I didn't even have the port that all of you have had and I had no complaints (and I HATE needles!).



You should be just fine, know how many of us have all been there, done that and soon you will look back and think "what was I so worried about" and YOU will be giving words of wisdom to the "newbies".



Deep breathes, picture a nice calm picture like a beautiful tropical island (which I WILL book when all this crap is done) and if none of that works maybe talk to your doctor about taking something for anxiety.



Wishing you all the best.

Pat

Did all of you loose your taste or did it change for you immediately after chemo? I am 7 days out and my taste still seems to be quite normal. Maybe having my mouth full of ice for 2 hours during chemo helped or will it happen after some more days?

Thank you for the encouragement.  I do have a scrip for Xanax and was thinking I might need to take one in the morning before my appointment.  Or maybe today to keep from driving my DH crazy with my worry. lol  I'm feeling some better now.  The panic seems to come and go.  I'm sure things will be much better once I get this first treatment behind me.  It's the not knowing how it's gonna be that scares me the most. 

Elkatho - I had to make my work announcement at the time of my surgery since I had a BMX and would be out on leave recovering. I work in a management position in a large company, and have been there a long time. I focused on making a short list of people that I wanted to or felt obligated to tell myself. Also, this gives you the chance to get the accurate facts out that you want/choose to share about your particular situation. I just told them to share the news as appropriate and that way it "got around."



One thing to be prepared for is the requests for "what can I do to help?" People feel bad and while they can't do anything to help your cancer, they could start a meal train to bring you soup/meals three times a week, or take a grocery list, or go in together to hire a cleaning lady during your treatment, make a laundry visit, etc. It was hard for me to take the help but I learned to do it and it really make it easier for my husband to focus on me and/or for me to focus with what I'm dealing with......



Good luck!

Good luck to all starting tomorrow. I have to say, overall drinking enough seems to be a common theme, here and when I was going through a weight loss program many years ago. I live in Arizona, this is one problem I am exempt from having. When you live in a desert, there is no problem drinking water or anything liquid for that matter. Most visitors to Phoenix just don't understand why we have a convenience store on every corner. But after a few days in our, sometimes 3% humidity, climate they always mention how they have never been thirstier in their lives. After living here for more than 30 years, having something to drink permanently by my side is a habit. 

IPC- I see you do not get taxotere, I think its the culprit for me, they told me hair would be gone by day 14. Looks like I am right on schedule!...maybe you have longer with ACT. 

I feel good now too!. Good luck with your next treatment Thursday, my next one is on May 23rd.

Hi all....

I've been lurking on a few forums to get a better grip on what to expect from my chemo experience & finally just decided to join

I had my first of 6 T/C treatments on the 9th.... (Thursday). And felt perfectly fine until Saturday afternoon when I began feeling pain in my muscles and joints... It was much worse on Sunday with a painful scalp as well. I was able to work yesterday (barely) and today is much less painful... Just a bit tired. I haven't has any nausea! Whew! Haha



It looks like I'm about a week ahead of some of your start dates, so if there are any questions on what to expect... I can offer what I'm going through..... I know that it has helped with some of the anxiety of this journey..... Good luck to everyone!

Thanks!  My MO never mentioned anything about taking anything for constipation so good to know!

MomofSam,

Good for drinking all that water, keep it up the next few days.



I had also read of weight loss due to feeling ill, loss of taste buds, etc.



However, I don't think that had happened to me as of yet. If anything I had an increased hunger, I think steroid related...darn steroids! I also turned to McDonalds chocolate shakes to help me "feel better" as it was something that was NOT water. I also ate a few other unhealthy things along the first few days because I wanted to feel better (not that I felt that bad!). I ate my way through nausea when I was pregnant and never got sick but packed on the pounds.

I did hit the gym twice the first week of chemo...I want to say day 3 and 6, and just went again today. (Day8). As of today I am recommitting to eating healthier and going to the gym. I am hoping all the yummy eating I have done will be a bit undone by the next chemo round.



Btw, "hit the gym" for me meant 30 minutes on the elliptical-fairly easy mode-some weights-again low level and some stretching/core strengthening. I was just given my post surgical clearance when I started into chemo so I know I am not ready for my intense elliptical and "heavy" lifting. Better slow than none!

Pat

Regarding constipation, my MO said the taxotere would cause diarrhea. I'm so glad I did NOT listen to her and listened to the women here!

Lots of fluid, a stool softener at night, and in the evening (I only did one each time) and I think on Day 2 I started Miralax. Next time I will do Miralax the day before chemo and continue it until I am "normal". (Along with the stool softener) I stopped Miralax about Day6...I was not taking too many anti-nausea meds along the way so didn't need to continue. I am off the nausea meds and I think all is good in the land of bowels. Lol

Pat

I take steroids night before and morning of treatment. Nausea meds are steroids too but I didn't need them. I find now I make myself eat to stay healthy. Yogurt fruit veggies. Of course after treatment Thursday it will be back to anything within reach! I am served bfast and lunch at treatment and eat every bit of it! Before bc never ate bfast. Lived on coffee.

Thanks everyone.  Good luck to everyone else starting tomorrow with me!  Have a good night.