October 2013 Chemotherapy

lgkdge13 -that mouth sore sounds horrible. Thankfully, I haven't experienced any SE's other than nausea, and vomiting. No pain from neulasta shot either...THANK GOD! I pray it stays that way. Sorry you're going thru that.

Headeast - I get my second AC on Thursday and neulasta shot on Friday. I totally understand the nerves, same here. I am preparing myself for the same experience that I had the first time. This time I will not eat though. Everytime I think about what I ate during my last treatment I want to throw up! I think it's a bad idea to eat anything at all. It stays in your memory (at least mine). I can't eat turkey and cheese or wheat bread at all. And I smell it. Mind you, it's no where in my house but it is stamped in my memory. I know...weirdo!!!!! That's me.

lgk, my chemo is tomorrow, yikes!

Lonnie, I haven't had nausea but completely understand the feeling of not seeing the food you ate before. They said to eat things you don't care about so you won't feel what you are feeling about the turkey and cheese, bread. I would suggest you eat though, not eating will give you more nausea, an empty stomach is not good. I am taking pretzels with me and Mio to add in the water.

kittykate- that is terrible about brca. I would be so upset. The first Infusion was OK. Yeah the side effects suck for 6 days after but then you have the good days after and you will be like yeah I can do this . We are tough. Just go easy after treatment and let your body rest. I am the queen of resting and sleeping. I always pack a bag of snacks for chemo but never touch them. I do better not eating as well through treatment. It is pretty short time like 2 hrs for me so I am in and out before I know it. This last time treatment 3 was a but rougher for me. Had anxiety that day and had to call MO for Ativan. Yes the side effects suck but they don't last forever and it is doable. There are days which I cry and let myself have a pity party for my bald head and one boob but there are days where u will feel great too and you can conquer this!!! I try to hold onto the feeling of those days.

lonnie, do you ask to add Ativan in your infusion? I will ask that again. It helped me. I get so nervous. I am usually so calm, but I get so nervous with just thinking about tomorrow. I already made my bag with a blanket, pretzels, all the medicine the MO gave me and a list of questions I have, oh! And socks to wear while I am there, to feel more comfortable. Using the IPad now, but will take it with me too. I will add bananas tomorrow morning before I leave.

Am I missing anything? I think I will ask for Ativan so I have it for the day before TC #4.

headeast, I've never asked for Ativan. Sounds like you are prepared. YOU GOT THIS GIRL! Keep us posted on how you feel after the infusion, if you can. Hugs.

kittykate...I was so nervous too but it went so much better than I thought. You really will be okay...it will be a memory before you know it.

Hi gang,

Kittykate-You will do great! Try to be upbeat & positive and you will get through this with the rest of us die hards, lol. I am sorry to hear about your BRAC results and I would have been furious.

My SE's seem to be similiar every 2 weeks: I have a constant mild queazy sensation in my stomach for about 7 days after infusion then eases up. I have gotten sick so just be mindful of what you eat. I take 2 Zofrans every day the first week. I take steroids for two days after chemo but take only half pill now in the evening because it makes my heart race and I am not able to sleep with a whole pill in the evening. My constipation has gotten worse but still doable. I take a stool softener for a few days after infusion. Claritan on day of Neulasta shot and 3 days following. The N shot makes me ache all over. Every week I am more tired. This past weekend all I did was rest & sleep. Tomorrow onward I start feeling back to my old self.

My MO did give me a script for Ativan as I have some anxiety and think this adds to my tummy troubles. I have yet to take it but am going to try this weekend as I get worked up before my infusion and the thought of it makes me want to hurl ! Ativan makes one sleepy correct?

I do eat before infusion because during infusion which take me 2-1/2 hours I have a hard time eating crackers/drinking water so I try to have a full stomach.

I go tomorrow for another f/up transvaginal ultrasound of my ovaries as I have a cyst and a pallup my MO & my OBGYN are watching. I think I just went full swing into menopause last week as I was spotting for 11 days straight this time around , had a few major headaches, & all over body aches. It actually makes me sad what chemo does to our bodies.

I have to share that I have been so tired of eating bland food that this week I tried fried fish/fries which I have not had in two months. Well you guessed it - it all came back up. Last time I do this trick. I have to watch juice & acidy foods as I too get mouth sores.

Wanted to ask if anyone gets the pins and needles feeling in arms/legs from time to time? The women that have had lymph nodes removed, are you still numb like I am at the upper arm, upper back side and under the arm? What sensations are you having? Are you sleeping with a pillow under your arm on that side at night?

Lgk- infusion on your Bday & Done-Yippeeee

Suckit- I hate taking pills as well so I will hurl with you!!! You made me LOL.

Vintage- Happy belated BDay Lady! Hope you pamper yourself when your spirits are up!

Macy- I too am tired of all the office visits and did not think of asking to skip my bloodwork up until now. I don't have any of the lab results on my off weeks. No one gave them to me but I do have all my CBC 's from my infusion days. On infusion days my #'s are ok -consistently dropping down though. I am going to call tomorrow to get my lab results this time around because I can feel the fatigue.

Jianchi- my best to you and no SE's

All the best to everyone here & I just want to say I am glad you ARE here as it is a comfort to me (((hugs)))

Uds-All of this does suck big time, but as far as the hair goes, after a few days you'll actually start to feel a little relieved that you don't have the maintenance of it. My showers are 5 min now, after the shower there's no time needed for styling, and when you're feeling sick it's one less thing you have to think about. I bet you look beautiful like the rest of us!

Furfriend-I am still numb all over & I only had 1 node removed on each side, but I did have BMX. Trying to soap under my arms is the worst, it feels like when you try to walk on a foot that has pins & needles.

SpecialK

thanks. Yes I had the symptoms, worse as each day went on after chemo ( a week) no energy, no appetite, dizziness, shortness of breath & could function only about 3 hours after waking then crashed.

My HGB was at 9.0. I assume that is why they decided the fluids rather than transfusion.

My RBC 2.85

& WBC 1.0, so that was quite low compared to normal of 4-11ish?

Uds, we had our first chemo the same day, I thought I was ready for this too. I even have a buzz cut, cut seeing bald spots is a whole different thing. you know we also hope to be the exception. Since I am African American with natural hair, they do not really make realistic looking afros, so I went to the wig store to get a straight wig ordered, but I really hate it and know I will never wear it, insurance covers it, but what a waste of a wig. I still have to decide whether to pick it up or not.

Kitty, I am so sorry. sounds like a lawsuit to me....

Vintage, Happy birthday. Here's to many many more..( raising my glass of yogurt and mango puree to you)

I did not schedule my annual OBGYN meeting which was due in October, my rationale is if there is cancer, this chemo will take care of it. I am so doctored out, but realize this is going to be the new normal.

I had a few pins and needles, but the social worker told me never to walk around my house barefoot and always wear gloves wen going out, even if it is a little cool. Additionally for nausea, I used "sea bands" and kept them on for a week and had no nausea.

What is it about a shower that makes it so easy to cry in it?

Also I went to the supermarket yesterday with a scarf on, and while I got looks (perfectly normal, not offended) what was nice were people were going out if their way to be helpful. I did not feel walking around, so if I asked where something was, the workers were running up and down the aisles grabbing things for me. Nice, I guess..

We got this ladies!

Headeast - I hope it all went well for you today. I started taking the Ativan the morning of the 2nd tx and it really calmed me down.

Relocated - my SE's have all been pretty similar. No digestive issues, mostly icky feeling, fatigue, and back and stomach pain and cramps. How did it go with Dr. D?

Travelmom - try a new MO. You need someone who is available and responsive.

My issue this week is how incredibly beautiful I feel (sarcasm). I just look and feel tired and lumpy. And grumpy. Trying to stay isolated so I don't have to see anyone.

I go for my last TC tomorrow - while I'm glad to be on #4, I am dreading the next 2 weeks of SE's. Had a big bowl of ice cream last night because I could taste and enjoy it! Hence the lumpiness!

Hang in there everyone. We know what you are going through!

Hi everybody for the nice words to me. I didn't expect my first day of AC being so maerable. People all say the first day you don't feel anything...really?! I felt AWEFUL! I felt nauseous and couldn't fall asleep. threw up twice during the night and my head is heavy like a log...

lgk I had magic mouthwash, only used it once. I found club soda worked well for me. In regards to senekot/Colace. If you use restoralax/ miralax, u get less cramping & gas, at least that is what I found. I also found it worked better, less see-sawing between big D & C.

debdylan, that is awful. I had my first infusion with IV and had no problems other than them not being able to find my veins. I just got the port on Monday and I am scheduled for my 2ND AC treatment on tmrw. I would be raising holy hell. Sorry but we are going thru enough as it is. Somebody would be hearing my mouth! I hope you don't experience that ever again. Sounds like an incompetent bunch.