Chemo May 2013

Lisa... Dont forget to tell the fam about the "scientifically proven" 22 week recovery time.

My last treatment is on the 22nd ONE MORE..... Then DONE until rads....



As I'm up getting readybto head ton the hospital for the birth of my grand baby, I am bitter that I have to be in the middle of the worse of my SEs today...

Lisa,

Someone had posted 1 week recovery for 1 week of treatment....that includes those weeks in between chemo session....so mine was 12 weeks (4treatments)...if doing rads you need to add those weeks. I didn't even consider surgery recovery time.

This isn't to make us down by focusing on how long it will take to recover from this "nonsense"...it is to give us a REALITY that , as you said, just because we finish the last chemo doesn't mean we will feel better.

I am already getting "upset" that I don't have my old energy levels back and of course I keep forgetting the "recovery time figure". Hubby has also asked if I am "all better". I guess I need to sit and explain the recovery to them as well. Of course when I see my oncologist on Thursday she better be spitting out the same quotes as I am or he will think I am scamming!



I don't know what type of "impact" Tamoxifen will have on recovery either...I guess that is another question for oncologist.



Lorrie...I am excited for you! I hope all goes smoothly. Maybe you can score a lounge chair at the hospital and take a nap while waiting! Bring your hand sanitizer and of course a camera!



Pat

Aw Lorrie. So exciting about the new arrival. It is the pits that it is during the worst of the S.E.'s . One good thing is that you will be finishing chemo the 22nd. It is better than starting the 22nd. You will be physically and mentally more available for your grandbaby sooner. ....Does that make sense? Makes sense in my head, not sure if I got down alright.

Patty-I believe in knowing the reality of what is ahead of us also. It really helps.

Kate-so sorry about you missing out on all the things you normally do. It sucks for sure. I believe next year you will get double or triple joy

when you get back to normality.

Theresa- Hope you had a lot of good sleep ladt night. Lack of sleep seems to underline any rotten thing going on in life.

Lisa-so happy for you that Thursday will be the last treatment for you. It may be the most emotional, etc, I 'm not there yet, but it will be your last and THAT is wonderful. Good luck with it. Minimal S.E.'S TO YOU.

Annie-A wonderful Sunday to you too.



Blessed day to all - Carla

Too bad we didn't all live closer so we could start an exercise regimen together.  Even just someone to go walking with would be great.  There are a couple of places here that are $10 a month to go work out, I might have to check into one of those.  I've never been a real active person, but I don't think the weight will just start to come off.  I have vowed to not drink as much pop.  I figure since I haven't drank much while on chemo due to it tasting lousy I might as well just keep going on drinking other stuff more.  That should help right?  My Mom says I look really bloated, I was like thanks Mom.  She didn't mean anything by it and it is true.  I came out of surgery with a swollen upper abdomen and chemo has just made it worse.  For my reconstruction I will be doing an implant with some lipo (fat) from my stomach, do you think I can get my PS to just suck ALL of the extra fat out?  I doubt it but I can fantasize right?

I eventually got some sleep last night.  I decided to wait and take the sleeping pill tonight instead of last night.  I will need to get some sleep for work tomorrow and today I figured I could relax all day.  So hopefully the pill will help me get to sleep and get a decent nights sleep.  

A new baby today, makes me happy and hopefull.  I hope the delivery goes well.  I only had one child, she has been married for a year.  Grandchildren will be in my future in another couple of years.  

Baby Shelbie Curry (don't ask about the middle name! LOL) is here

449pm

8lbs 9oz

19.5"

Mama, baby, dad & big sister Madison are all doing great. A very special delivery in my eyes!



One of the worse days in SE history, but it was worth it to be there! A nice reminder of how blessed our lives are!



Thank you all for the nice wishes for today! I don't think I'll be able to move now for a

week! Haha



I hope each and every one of you wonderful ladies has a pleasant evening!





Lorrie (grandma X 3....

Yay Lorrie!

Thanks for your answers. I of course stayed up all night researching, went to bed and work up after s dream of another's bx of my stomach which is crazy way to wake up. I think it's worse when I stand up, but when I am laying down there is no pain and it is soft. Only occurs when I am standing or sitting. I see my MD on Wednesday which cannot come soon enough. I am usually a sane person and don't worry about anything knowing things take care of themselves. I hate this!

Laurie, congratulations! glad Shelbie Curry has made her arrival but sorry to hear it was bad SE day for you.   

Theresa, I still have nausea and cannot sleep at night which is getting to me.  I have tried; Ambien, Atavin, Benedryl and I still wake up most nights for hours with hot flashes and having to go to the bathroom. I toss and turn so much that I end up getting up and going to sleep in a spare bedroom so my DH can sleep.  My dear dog is attached at my hip and stays with me throughout the night. 

Lisa, my husband and I are dreaming of a vacation when this is all over but I’m too worried to plan anything since I have no idea when I feel up to it.  I would like to go to a beach it helps my soul just to walk on the beach, nap and read. 

I had my first Taxol and will have the next on Friday.  I feel Taxol has been easier then AC. They gave me Benadryl during the first infusion and I went right to sleep.  DH said I sounded like a drunk when I tried to talk.  The SE are different but the fatigue isn't as bad with AC which was all consuming. Now I have some energy and feel good that I can do some things around the house.  I had finger and toe pain for days 3-6, back and leg pain and a sense of weakness when walking.  My big toe-nails are turning dark and starting to lift up from the nail bed.  I hope I don’t lose them.  My fingers were very sore but the nails seem okay so far. 

I hope the next 3 Taxol infussions are similar to the first which so far has been easier than any of the AC treatments.  Let me know if Taxol is different with each treatment or some are harder than others.  That was my experience with AC.  #3 of AC tough and I was sick for the entire 2 weeks with SE.

I see my oncologist on Friday and the Radiologist on the 20^th.  The MO said I’ll need 4 weeks off between chemo and radiation and 5-6 weeks of radiation. 

Hope everyone has a good week and so glad to hear a few have finished or will be finishing this week!  It’s inspiring!

Robin

Robin I pretty much breezed thru ac so taxol has been very hard on me with pain and fatigue. This has been worse since taxol was supposed to be easier. It seems to take me entire week to fully recover from each dose. B6 b12 and alpha lipoic acid got rid of any pain ot tingling in hands and feet. Have really missed the beach too. Nothing like sand ocean and good book.



Patty it is supposedly chilly here too but my body doesn't seem to know it. Lol. Hubby thinks I am nuts.



Lisa

Robin 

  How was AC #4 for you?  

Lorrie,

Your story about your onc preparing you made me chuckle,

When it was my last chemo the oncologist came in and out on her happy face "usually people are excited" she said. I told her I was waiting for her to say "sorry two more rounds, just didn't want to tell you that in the beginning". She just laughed.

I also was thinking of all those still going through treatment and those who will be in the future...so I couldn't let myself feel the moment and enjoy it. Oh well.



Hope your side effects go away quickly.

Pat

My MO mentioned to me tamoxifen may be recommended for 10 years....I told him we can worry about that after I get the first 5 years in. Who knows what we will learn in 5 years.

Hannariggs—For me #3 was the worse, I never felt okay and felt like I didn’t get out of bed for 5-6 days.  I was so worried about #4 but I kept telling myself…1 more and it will be over.  #4 was okay and much better than #3.  I asked my MO if after #3 they changed the dosage for #4 because I felt better with #4.  The dose was the same so it wasn’t my complaining that changed things ;-) 

The MO told me the fatigue will get worse with each dose.  With the first Taxol it hasn’t been as bad as it with AC but  who knows what the next 3 will be like.

Carla—I had a BMX and immediate reconstruction with the Tram flap surgery.  I had 6 weeks of recovery and it was doable but I was surprised at how weak I for the first few weeks.  I  was small chested before the surgery but I wanted to have some shape, I am still small chested but I like being the same size.  The results are good and I didn’t have any issues besides just the time it took to recover.  I’ll see my PS after chemo to discuss nipples and any other issues.   I slept in a recliner for the first 2-3 weeks after I was home and am so glad I had it because it takes time to be able to stand up straight or get comfortable in bed.     The drains are no fun—I called them my jewelry.  Showering was a challenge and needed a nap after a shower for a while.  I had a bath chair and a hand held shower head that made it easier to wash.  

I had a good afternoon today, my daughter called and her boss gave her a comp day and she wanted to know if I wanted to do anything so we went to the pool at her condo, it has a salt treatment instead of clorine. It was a beautiful day, 80 and sunny. It felt so good to get into a pool and do laps.  I had fun spraying my head with sunscreen before diving in.  Hoping the exercise will help me sleep tonight ;-)

Robin