Starting Chemo June 2013!?!?!

Kati, glad you are doing well. I have been trying the Claritin24 not sure if its helping but my hips and legs still hurt. Keeping busy helps, but when I sleep at night I'm pretty restless. Ativan and all other associated meds are getting me constipated. Trying to stay ahead of that. Want to feel more normal! Shaving my head tomorrow. Figure I'll get it over with on my time. Can feel my follicles getting unhappy. Hope you are enjoying the weekend!

Still feel so shitty day four of round 3 slept another day of my life away yesterday I do every possible not to throw up now I'm constipated the joys of having cancer and I woke up today beet red is that the decadron. Still cant get rid of being so nauseous. And my onc said green tea is fine as long as its not to much I waif I drink two cups every morning and he said ok. Definetely no vitamins except D which I do take in the morning with probiotics for my intestinal tract and to ward off yeast infection or thrush....hope all of us have a great day .....

Jserenity...call and ask Dr. Goels' office people if that is possible.

If it is not, ask if there is another location he supervises chemo.

My doctor works 2 locations. She comes in while I am having my chemo iv to check on me, so I don't think I could select a different location that she doesn't cover...you never know until you ask!

Pat

Kati,like your way of thinking...got to finish this,will go for my second round Tuesday..Had 1st one the 9th,and every 14 days, four times.I drank so much water,i thought i was gonna float,more nerves im sure.Not one day that goes by that im not nauseas..pills do help.

Day 6 round 2 and I do feel better but MAN Im wiped out!! Not used to feeling so weak. Talked to a friend whos son went through chemo for years (he is 3 years clear YEAH) and she used peppermint oil for nausea so I tried it and it seam to work Hoping for a good week off getting strong again!! Going in for an ultrasound of my lymph nodes to see how much it shrunk on Wednesday and seeing my parents off to the airport back to Sweden... sure been nice to have mom take care of me and my family.

Sally Hansen hard as nails for the ugly fingernails we will get from chemo.

Hello Junebugs,

Is it really July 22nd, wow.  Finished my last AC Thurs and still climbing out of the side effects.  Nausea is kept at bay with regular dosing of meds.  My deal mostly is major fatigue, body ahches, I get a sore throat ea time day 3-4, this time also very bad heart burn.  This chemo stuff really is harsh and as others have said in the thread - sure am sick of it.  Doing a lot of sleeping and it makes me fuzzy headed.  Been going for some beach walks.  No way I could today, totally wiped out.  

Appreciate and welcome the words and reminders of those that have made it through that this is temporary and we WILL get to a point where we are feeling normal again.   

Wishing all of us as easy of a week as can be.  Stay positive.  

Hi Daisy,

Happy you found us and sorry for the circumstances that brought you.  Great group here, good place to talk and vent and share with ladies going through this at exactly the same time.  Also, so much to learn just by reading.  

I hear you re: wanting normal back and there is a roller coaster of emotions that go along with this.  Hang in there, know you are doing your best and that this will all get better.  

This has been a rough round for me.  But it's all relative.  The gal I work with is fighting metastatic small cell lung cancer and landed in the ER for 6 hours today due to a reaction to the Leunasta shot.  Makes me SE's seem petty. 

Dyvgrl - yes, light headed, dizzy.  Like a constant headrush sometimes.  I worry that I'll pass out.  I've had the ladies I work with take my blood pressure during these times and it's usually in the toilet.  When it's 82/45 I can't get off the couch.  So I work on keeping my blood pressure up.  One doc says try eating a little more salt and an article I read says drink a little wine . . . so . . . wine and salted nuts anyone?  Sounds good but I don't know if my stomach could handle the wine. 

Ocean - it's good to see you back on.  I envy that you've done your last AC treatment.  I'll be there next week and I'm dreading it cuz each tx seems worse.  Will you be doing Taxol?  If so please post your experience.  I'm SO hoping it's a little easier - although I'm not looking forward to neuropathy.  Had that with my last pregnancy and it was miserable.

It's interesting to see the various forms of treatments for what appears to be similar forms of cancer.  Makes me wonder what the logic is behind why the oncologists choose what they choose.

Dim425 - How are you today?

dlm--I have the night sweats now too.  I also understand what you mean about going from not being sick at all to having all this treatment that makes you sick and has all these lovely SE's!!  I also get a little sad about not being able to fully enjoy the summer.  

My biggest problem has been the head ache on days 3 & 4.  Anyone have advice?  I don't know where it is coming from.  Anything else has been minor enough for me to barrel through it.  I am still working my 50 hours a week so I don't have the time to deal with the little annoyances.  In fact, I think it helps me forget about them.  It can be a little hard to keep up with things.....but I think it was a challenge before all this too!!

Round 3 on Thursday.  Just another step on the Road to Recovery.  

I know it can be hard, but do your best to stay positive everyone.  I tell people..I'm not nearly as pathetic as I look!!  Another day, a guy saw my bandaid because I had bloodwork that morning and asked me if I donated blood or was it from "shooting up"?  I told him, "oh, it's from shooting up.  In fact, I shot up so much, it made my hair fall out!!"  I wear a bandana/skull cap with a hat at work so you can tell.  That definetly had him speechless!!  

Crying about the situation won't make it better.  But I sure can make some shocking jokes that no one else can get away with!!!!  

Hi beautiful ladies!

It has been a while for me.  I have just finished round 4 of a/c yesterday.  I feel just ok.  I will go on to receive dose dense taxol every 2 weeks. I will try to let you know how I do...you know what to expect...if our hopes that it is easier are true.

I can totally identify with being depressed before treatment.  Last week was the worst! I dreaded this last one.  I did feel the effects right away.  I usually get burning sensations in my sinuses after a few days, but that started as soon as the infusion of C began. 

Does anyone experience watery eyes? I don't have conjunctivitus, they just water, and are sore.  Hoping anyone can relate.  I am going to see eye doc next week, mostly because it's been over 4 years.

I get terrible headaches and was told it is probably from the zofran, but once I took my zofran too late and spent the rest of the evening over the toilet, so if you can take the zofran, the headaches are worth it.

I don't know if this helps anyone, but sure can say you all have helped me along the way.  Take care! Stay Strong!

Hi ladies-

Hope everyone is hanging tough on those wretched SE's. I'm day 7 after round 1 and feel pretty good. As long as I can keep the headaches at bay, everything else is pretty manageable. I'm dreading the cumulative effects of more rounds - I know this is just going to get worse. My biggest concern is the headache right after Cytoxan goes in - man that sucks. They act all surprised when you tell them about the SE's - c'mon - thousands of woman have done this treatment - you can't tell me you don't know. How about you try to fix it? I also get headaches from Heparin - which I noticed prior to any chemo treatments. Doc says nothing can be done - take motrin prior to any flush. Great. Painted my nails last night with Hard As Nails - hoping it works. Anyone have any tips on avoiding neuropathy? Not something I can look forward to. I have lymphedema in my right arm and worry the neuropathy might be an issue. I do know keeping active sure helps keep the bone pain to a minimum, so for all those women out there curled up in a ball - get up and get moving - it will help!! Hugs to all~

Ladies clicked here by accident but I am due for my 3rd dd taxol Thursday. I have kept neurapathy at bay by taking b6 b12 and alpha lipoic acid. I initially had sore fingertips after ac. This has disappeared and no neurapathy...ask your mo. I thought ac was easier as I had no real se's except for 2 days of sleep. Bone and muscle pain from taxol has been tough. Interferes with sleep and then I get very down. Mo has prescribed tramadol hopefully it will work.



Lisa

Hi all,

Finished my 4th round of AC today (yay) but not feeling good from the getgo - usually don't feel bad until 3rd day. Also have nasty rash on hands - dyshidrotic exzema - horribly itchy, never had before. Will take the Zofran and Compazine and if necessary the Decadron and Ativan - arsenal of drugs and side effects!

Really hope Taxol is easier and can manage the bone pain. I, too, am feeling really down and am trying so hard to be strong and remember "this too shall pass" my mantra.

Wish you all wellness and peace!

I hear about Zofran causing headaches alot for people.  Is this in your IV before chemo?  I know I get Emend in the IV but I'm not sure what the other is.  I have not had to take any nausea meds that were prescribed for after treatment so I know that is not the problem.

I have round 3 tomorrow.  Trying to figure out the cause of the headaches just in case there is a way to avoid them.