Chemo May 2013

Lorrie-hmm. Very interesting. I'll have to add that one to how men and women are different.



Carla

430 a.m. awake since 3. Damn hot flashes and steroids before chemo!



This is next to last chemo. Must say fatigue has hit hard with the taxol. Need nap every afternoon just to have energy to get thru the evening hours. Am really looking forward to 4 week break between chemo and rads.



Patty let us know what you find out about minoxidil. My friend has had good results with biotin but I will try anything to get my hair back. Nurses seem to know more about that stuff so I will ask them today.



Lisa

Elkatho just asked nurse....port usually stays in for rads. Last chemo is on August 8th will have bloodwork on 8/15 and port flush on 9/15.



Lisa

I had my last chemo today, yay! Not without complications but not too bad. Just issues with getting my blood drawn from my port. Eventually it all worked out. Here is to few side effects. I hope everyone has a great weekend. If the picture uploaded ok you can see me riniging the bell as I left today.

Yay Theresa! Great picture. Here's to few side effects!!

Pat

Never mind... I got it.... Yay! We don't have a bell, but I'll go running out after my last one yelling.. Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! If for no other reason than to get everyone out of my way so I can sprint out of there & never look back at the "chemo lounge" again!



Went to our fav Friday night dinner place tonight and noticed this woman staring me down... Even after I looked at her and thought shed turn away..... I felt like saying "don't worry, I'm not contagious"...



Now that I've had time to stew.... I should have bumped into her and hurriedly pulled out hand sanitizer and said "oh no! Oh dear! Here! Hurry up and use this..... I'm sure you'll be fine" and walked away. Haha

How long does the taxol pain last? I got my first treatment on Tuesday. felt fine on Wednesday. Began to be achey on Thursday. Got worse on Friday. Today is a little better and all I've been doing is sleeping! I told hubby it feels like lobsters are pinching me in all my joints. This stinks!

I have had 2 Taxol treatments and man not digging it at all, my hands are so numb and tingly, being in the heat makes me dizzy, anyone else having senseitivity to heat?

Thanks for the info, Lisa, I was worried the pinchy stings were going to go on forever! It's getting better already! Hang in there everyone, we are almost through this part, right?

Congrats to everyone who has now finished chemo! I am thinking of that oldies tune "Ring my bell..."

Sorry to hear about everyone's Taxol pains. I think mine are from the neulasta - they were back this time. I do have a little bit of numbness in the fingertips, but I am trying to convince myself it's from playing the cello (I haven't played in a while, and played a few times a few weeks ago - started up the callouses again). Chemo nurse said if I start having trouble buttoning my pants, that I should call them, and they may lower the dose to avoid permanent neuropathy.

Talking about buttoning my pants - I've definitely gained weight. In fact, the nurse at the oncologists said hello by saying "you've gained weight" with a smile on her face. Luckily we have a good rapport, and I could tease along with her. But it's disappointing.

I too am getting slightly depressed - chemo is "almost over" but now I'm reminded how there is still such a long haul ahead - surgery/radiation/hormonal treatments, etc. Friday was the first day I just mentally couldn't deal with working, so I left early. Feeling in a better mood today.

Blood results this past time showed increased liver levels - I read it's pretty common with Taxol. They are taking the CBC again this week to be extra cautious. Hoping I will keep calm about the whole thing; trying not to get worked up over these little road bumps.

Best to everyone for a good Sunday and ok start to the work week.

I'm feeling pretty yucky still.... I go in for #5 on Thursday... & if I hear another co-worker or kids or sweetie say "but, this is suppose to be your good week" I'm gonna scream!



The pain isn't horrible... Just achy and annoying.... Im sick and tired of nit being myself! Im spending most of the weekend in bed crying and feeling sorry for myself. PATHETIC, I know, but can't help it. Bugged out of going to the races last night with my sis and BIL. I sent my sweetie on without me. Cancelled our Sunday dinner tonight.... I can't muster up even ordering out and entertaining the family for the evening.... I just want everyone to leave me alone... I'm trying to dig up some energy, but it's just not there to find...



I hope everyone else is doing well this weekend....



Lorrie

Thanks gully!

Thank you for not making me feel alone!

I can't explain it! I'm a tough bird, but this has really broken me..... I have 2 more treatments,,, at this point, I'm not sure if the meds are killing me or my sanity.... I've NEVER been so negative...... This sucks!



Thank you for posting ..... Cuz I really feel so alone!

Lorrie,

Sorry to hear that. I have my "Pity Party in Progress" sign, I can overnight it to you!



Though it really isn't a pity party, it sounds more like a "fed up of having no energy" thing.

Wsh there was something I could do to make it better.



Tell the "thought it was your good week" people that the effects are CUMLATIVE...so perhaps at this point that is what is happening. Though I suspect it could be low red blood cells? Or low .vitamin D? Let your MO know how tired you are they can run the vitamin D test if they don't normally.

I was low on vitamin D and my onc had me buy over the counter supplements.

My red levels were very low and I wasn't given anything, that can affect energy levels too.



Hope you get that energy back soon. Hugs!!!

Pat

LJaeger-probably is the neulasta. Huge difference in the way I feel when I do or don't take it. Huge..

LJaeger and Lorrie-I think and hope when chemo is completed and am given a month to recoup before radiation, that the strength for the fight will return. If I need a couple more weeks than suggested, then so be it. What's a couple of weeks in the scheme of things. I really do try not to think about what's ahead of me. It is too much. One thing at a time. Sometimes that's too much too.

To those that are fatigued, I sure hope energy starts filling your body.

Teresa congratulations. Hope your S.E. are minimal on your last

chemo.



Carla

Sorry to hear everyone is so down right now.  I am with you on that one.  Done with chemo (not the SE's) but there is still so much on my mind.  I have three Dr's appointments in the next week and after talking to them I will make the decision on radiation therapy.  

We have to look forward to the day when we will have all of this behind us.  I saw someone at chemo on Thursday that had just recently finished radiation therapy.  She had really thick short hair, it was adorable.  When she had no hair her husband did a really cool henna tattoo on her head.  So I know she lost it all but she has it back, yay!  

I will be on the hormone therapy for five years, the one that starts with a T?  Tamoxifen?  I don't know....I kind of have the chemo brain thing going on today.  I haven't asked my Dr what the side effects are for that but I have seen some of you talking about it on here a while ago.  Not looking forward to that either, but it is another step that has to be taken.