September 2013 Chemo Group

Cougar - I just ordered the headcover with extensions too.  She said it will ship tomorrow! 

I wish everyone a good week. I meet with my BS tomorrow about my port placement. Feeling very anxious/nervous now. 

Wow, it appears as if there isn't really much of a pattern. I guess I was being a little silly thinking it would follow some grand plan and I could at least schedule a few appointments. My children have tried to come up with some awesome activities for me to do following each chemo session. I think this is exactly as they have been saying "everyone handles it differently." Thanks to all of you I truly feel I have a handle on what is about to handle. Thanks!!!'

Yes my chemo is dense dose every 2 weeks for 8 sessions. Followed by another lumpectomy n the radiation .thanks for all the great advice and encouragement,

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Kj Thanks for the tip about Claritin 2days before chemo I will try that as I have had quite weird pain in my muscles and bones on nights 3,4 and 5.
Taking Advil and anti anxiety med to sleep. The feeling in my muscles is when I lie down and the shooting pains are all over. Not sure if it's Neulasta or Taxotere but they only start up at night? Sore throat and burnt tongue but managing. I really have found this treatment mentally very strange to be honest. Thanks for all the great tips and advice K

krizo - {{hugs}} on the haircut.  Sounds like we were on the same page with that.  I let my kids help, too.  

vintagegal - I wish my infusion room was like yours with the cubicles & stuff.  Mine has two chairs and then a partition, two chairs, then a partition, etc.  But where the two chairs are, there's not even really room for someone to pull up a chair and visit.  

cougar - Yay for a baby break!    I know it has to be nerve-wracking, thinking about those awful cancer cells multiplying, but just be confident that the three treatments you've had so far have zapped them enough to keep you and baby safe until November!

Kbeee - WOW for your run!  I'm lucky if I can muster up the energy to walk to the mailbox.  LOL   I know exercise is supposed to help, but honestly keeping up with my day to day activities working part-time and being a full-time mom is hard enough.  I haven't done much other than a short walk here & there.  I hear you on the hat thing, too.  I've been careful to only have people (other than hubby & the kids) see me with my wig on.  Today the wig was giving me a headache so I just had on one of my tie-on hats when my friend dropped my daughter back off at home.  I don't know if it made her uncomfortable to see me like that, but I didn't feel awkward.

I still have a slight sore throat, and today have had a headache.  I haven't had a bad headache since after chemo #1 when I ended up in the ER, so I'm a little nervous about it.  I've been taking 1/2 a percoset with my nausea meds today in hopes of warding off the pain and/or sleeping through it.  Does anyone else get headaches from their wig?  I don't know if that's what it is from, but I wore my wig for about 4 hours today, which is the longest I've worn it so far.  Maybe I have it too tight?  I'm afraid if I loosen it it will just slide ride up & off my head.  Ugh.  I also have some weird pain/aching in my chest & throat like I have swollen glands, so maybe my whole system is just running low or I am having some aches from the Neulasta.  Who knows.  

I'm glad I don't have to work until Wednesday this week & the kids go back to school tomorrow.  My kids have been really great throughout everything, but they get SO bored at home and I just can't help it that I can't do much of anything.  They wanted to go see a movie today but I didn't want to be in a crowd.  We live on a highway so there is no neighborhood kids to play with.  It's hard on them.    My son told me today that he's been depressed lately.  He's only 11.  It breaks my heart.

Hello all! Oh my...Round two was Wednesday and I am just now crawling out from under the rubble. That was awful. I was just so very worn out I could barely function. Yesterday I spent 12 hours-yes TWELVE HOURS- reading one paragraph of my homework. And that is all I got done all day. I just couldnt' stay awake. I am so glad my kids are so good. My head has been killing me, too. I have been living in a haze of Lortabs and Ibuprofen, but nothing seems to help. Today I ate like I have never eaten before though, and I think that is just what I needed. I am so very thankful that I had someone bring me some meals ready to put in the oven because otherwise I probably wouldn't have bothered; the kids would have had PB&J and I would have just slept some more. I hope this is the light at the end of this tunnel. I don't know why it hit me so very hard this time but I am really worried about the next time if they are going to get this much worse every time. My oldest can't walk and it took everything I had to get him out of bed and into his wheelchair this morning. I am so glad I have in-home nursing during the week. I don't know what I would do otherwise. I just hate being so helpless. 

Lighthouselady: I have the whole sore throat thing, too. I am not sure if it is the same thing you are talking about or not. It almost feels like I am coming down with bronchitis or something in my chest-just a hint of it- and my throat hurts and feels swollen and tender. It actually does swell, though, too, like edema on the outside of my neck. This morining when I woke up, I could barely even open my mouth it hurt so badly. Lemondrops do seem to help some, though. 

Kbee-Did you say short run??? I don't think I could even walk a mile and a half right now...and then you said you walked 3 1/2 miles after...good for you!!!

Lighthouse-so sad to hear your son say that! I know it's hard as a parent to hear a child is feeling depressed/sad! My 13 year old has said he is bored lately. I am not letting him have friends over right now. I don't want to risk having unwanted germs in the house. We just moved here at the end of the school year so he really doesn't have any friends to invite him over. (Except for old friends who live 45 miles away) My husband has been good about getting him out there to see a friend or two over the weekend. But yes this is no fun for the kids either.

SpecialK - I'm not taking Zofran (that makes me sick oddly enough), but I know headaches are a side effect of most nausea meds anyway.  I'm guessing that's what the headache is from, since my nausea was hanging around longer than normal this time.  Woke up to a pounding head again today, but no nausea, so hopefully my pain meds will kick the headache and I can start feeling better!

mankatostate - My son knows a lot of kids at school, but doesn't have very many "friends" that he would hang out with outside of school.  It was so much easier when the kids were little and I could arrange "playdates".... can't exactly do that with middle school kids.  LOL  I feel bad for him, but I think this is something he's going to have to work out for himself.  I told him to just ask a pal or two for their phone numbers, and he said, "I get nervous."  Well... I'm not in school with him so I don't know these kids or their parents!  I don't want him to be lonely, depressed and bored, but it's kind of out of my hands, you know?

Sorry to ramble off topic.  Even though I spent the weekend feeling pretty crummy, I am happy to realize that I am 75% finished with AC!  I have no idea what is in store for me with Taxol, but I'll be happy to see the red devil in my rearview mirror next week!

Lighthouselady sorry about you feeling sick and I know it's hard not being able to help your son. Wish we could do more for them. Praying for everyone.

Hey Ladies,

Lighthouse - Been thinking about you and hope you are feeling better really soon.  You are one AC ahead of me so I always look to you to see how things go with you.  My Onc told me the AC will compound through all four treatments and the 4th will keep you down the longest.  I dread it.  I just did #2 so I am 50% through this AC stuff and I am really weak today and yesterday.  Even staying steady on the meds I feel like the nausea is on the fringe...I am so sorry that your kids having a tough time.  I was offered through my coordinator a counselor that doesn't cost me anything and it is offered for kids as well. Sometimes that can help to have place for them to talk freely. It helped me. I started last week after I had a big dust up with my Mom. Things have settled down but my mom is emotionally trying. The counselor helped a lot. I also spoke with the counselors at the kids schools to let them know of my status so the kids could get extra eyes and help if needed. It just hurts to see your kids hurt....

KJ - Would love to talk to you some more....our diganosis seem similar with the HER2+ and I think we are on the same timeline on treatment. Are you doing the AC (Adriamycin and cyclophosphamide)? I think yours is different.  Anyhow I may send you a note if thats ok?

Tomorrow I am going to the Look/Feel Good class that American Cancer Society offers.  Time to pick a wig and new cosmetics can't hurt a girl. I still have my eyebrows and lashes so we will see how long they last....

Been thinking about all of you ladies and the place we are in.  With October been breast cancer awareness I just want to scream from the top of the buildings for every woman to get her girls checked out.

soccermomof4 - The only things that work for me are eating something every couple of hours (I know you don't feel like it, but an empty stomach makes it worse!) and taking nausea meds around the clock.  I even set my alarm for the middle of the night to take them so I don't miss a dose.  I had my 3rd AC Thursday and am feeling a little better today, but the nausea hung around all weekend.  It's miserable!

krizo - I did the same thing - contacted my kids' teachers and counselors to give them a heads up on what was going on with me.  I figured it can't hurt to have more people looking out for them!  I wish I could go to the Look Good class, but they don't have any near me.  Booo!  

So my wig gives me an awful headache.  This is NOT good news.  I am so self-conscious and the last person in the world who wants to draw attention to herself.  <Sigh>  It's not so bad now because I still have some hair - enough to peek out  under the back of my scarf/hat and I have some bangs... but when I'm totally bald?  Ugh.  I thought maybe my wig was too tight, so I loosened it and just wore it for a couple of hours when I went to the store.  I came home with my headache back in full swing.  I am NOT going to be happy if I can't wear a wig.  I must have an overly sensitive head?

Thanks lighthouse - I have been keeping something in there, forcing something in !! I just called my doc & they are sending in some stronger stuff, but said it will make me constipated, yea

Kbee- Do you like to swim? Is there an indoor pool you could got to in winter? I dislike walking but love to swim. Even when I lived in a small town of 5000 (which was the big town in the area of farmland, being from Iowa I know u understand!) they had a hotel that with a doctors note you could swim in their pool for just a dollar. Also great ideas about how to keep you 13 yr old happy! I like the fire pit idea.Outdoors and fun.

Lighthouse- I hear you about those play dates...I miss those days sometimes.

Soccermom was it you who is dealing with nausea? I am sure you've tried Ginger. (cookies or drink)There are also some aroma therapy that some say helps. They gave me free samples at my clinic. I am allergic to a lot of fragrances so it doesn't help me.

I'm sorry so many are having bad nausea from A/C - you are making me nervous as I have that next!

BabeRuth-check in when you can, I think we are the only two doing taxol first and on the same schedule.  My hair is coming out - maybe 10-15 strands sometimes when I run my hands through and other times 1 or 2.  I'm still hoping it's only going to thin!? I'm on day 18.  Shedding started Saturday and I don't think you can see a noticable difference yet.  Still tingling is the major SE, light headedness is better this week.

KBee good job on keeping moving! I went to yoga class today, trying to find an indoor activity for when the snow and ice hit!  It wasn't too bad, my balance is definitely changed though.  Felt good on my stiff back/neck.

Hi lovely ladies

Has anyone had shooting pains in their body as a side effect at night? I am a bit worried it will be permanent and not sure why I still have them on day 7? Tried yoga today to see if that would help me sleep better but have been taking meds to get to sleep but don't want that to become a habit if possible.

Thanks so much

K

i attributed those pain to the neulesta shot making more blood cells?  i could be wrong and someone will come along who knows for sure,