Starting Chemo, November 2013 Group

Hi ladies,

I started chemo last Thursday (7th) and I am scheduled for six infusions three weeks apart. Anyone else have a schedule like mine?

After a week, I am finally feeling back to normal. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Mostly exhaustion and heartburn. No nausea. Now it is just a matter of time before the hair starts to go. (Got a wig to satisfy my 10-year-old, but I think I will be a scarf person.)

After dealing with drains and in-laws for a month after my surgery, I feel like I can handle anything! But March can't come soon enough for me.

hi all...gott go back and read how yall are tomorrow Real tired and resting. besides lots of potty tr ips not too many effects yet. they said my hair will be gone by the next round. my insurance doesn't cover wigs. checked out the local Acs place in gville fl...only had old lady wigs so I guess ill be a baldie! il ddrcotate it for christmas!

I asked my onc off ice about the chill cap thing and they said NO. I GUESS that's best....since I have raynauds...so ice on my nails is out too...

mandyl....guess your a few steps ahead....just got my neulasta today the decadron isntnt helping insomnia...but steroids are nothing new...just wish the exaustion from the chemo and lupus wasn't counteracting the boost. I'm sure it could b worse. trying to stay ahead of more pain since I already have had that for years! pray your good days hang on!

Paulette23 That is so cute about your grandsons. Very supportive. I see we are both up in the middle of the night. I can't sleep but need to go back to bed and try. You are in Florida though so 2 hours ahead.

welcome MN mom,

We are in sync. I also started TC on 11/7 and will have 6 cycles. Unfortunately I have had some side effects that I did stay home from work twice his week. First nausea and vomiting over the weekend, then the last couple of days relentless cramping and diarrhea. I have a great onc doc and they really are doing what they can to help with the side effects. I am hoping next round 11/27 (yes just before thanksgiving....lol) will be a lot better. They are going to add Aloxi and Emend to my infusion which is suppose to last a few days after the infusion. Also got an rx for lomotil for the diarrhea. (very strange drug but it worked...lol). I feel pretty good today considering the week. Achy and tired a little but looking forward to a great weekend! 😄

Hope all have a great weekend!

Also agree on the port issue. If you have ever seen a IV infiltrate especially with chemo, you would be convinced on getting a port. The chemo can be very caustic to the veins and tissue around the site if it were to infiltrate.

sorry I have to write separate posts for some reason after I get to a certain point my phone started going nuts and doing all kinds of letters all over the place! Yes Gia I'm a night bird too! I don't think I've had it full night sleep in weeks which I know is not healthy but I can't help it! At least I get to see some good Sun rises! I thought it is most adorable that my grandsons said Grammie we want to be bald with you! I told them they didn't have to but they insist! Now if my granddaughter who has hair to her butt says she wants to I will say no I'll buy her a baldie cap to put on! I miss them so much I live in Florida and they live in California in the middle of a moive desert Edwards Air Force Base. So far I've had off and on since like queasy since my first infusion on Wednesday and the nulasta yesterday and a bit of the go-gos.But it is kinda nice since i generally CANT go!. As far as meds and stuff....One thing I've learned after years of medical treatment it's better to stay ahead of the game so don't wait, take your meds as prescribed and if you feel the slightest twinge .....take something immediately! Weather thats pain or being nauseous, don't wait! Hoping and praying everybody has a good restful productive day and a fantastic weekend! Many

Paulette, glad to hear you are doing well, I start my first round TC today. They gave me ativan since the dexamethasone keeps me wired and I had a full 8 hours of sleep, I have never taken it but cosidering all we r going through u gave it a shot. That's funny about your grand son. my boys said no way, my 14 yr old said that my life is already established and he still has to establish his, I laughed so hard! But hubby is shaving his with me! We are sending are Christmas cards out like that ,lol. Good luck with your SE , hopefully mine will be minimal!

I totally understand being highly squeemish of the drains after mx. Had my husband and mother-in-law (retired nurse) deal with them. Even the sound of them being emptied made me nauseous the first couple of days.

I was concerned about the port, but since I have small veins and only one usable arm, I had one placed. They did it under conscious sedation, so I woke up with just a bump on my shoulder. (Plus they took out my last drains at the same time so I got to miss out on that too! Awesome!) It now takes 2 seconds to hook me up for a blood draw or chemo. I hope they will remove it when I have my implants placed after chemo.

Pompom-Virginia37, Virginia t=

That was me, and I just don't want a port. Have had bilat mastectomy and then exchange to implants already within last 7 weeks...didn't want another apparatus/wound..and 4 treatments shouldn't DESTROY my veins...I used to work as a nurse....I think I'm just tired of being poked and having dressings etc...I like nothing coming out of me now...wanted to keep that normalcy...

It sure did HURT my veins though...but only 3 more...we are on same protocol and they gave me some med that keeps nausea away for 3 days...they also said drinking a ton will help with not getting nausea...and eating....they also gave me Ativan and the steroid which I did wake up a few times and tired today....Good luck, let's all get NO side effects !!!

Hi Dellanok, Nice to know someone on the same schedule! I am sorry to hear you had such a rough time with your first round. I was afraid of the nausea. I get it bad from anesthesia and some pain meds so the second my stomach felt off I started pounding the anti-nausea pills. I don't know if I would have gotten worse or not. Besides exhaustion, my biggest symptom was a sore throat and heartburn. My nurse told me to take Prilosec and it really helped me. I did have a little bone pain, but that went away quickly.

I have to go in this afternoon to have my numbers checked. After all the unhappy comments about the shot, I am hoping my white count is high so they don't add the shot to my regimen.

I am scheduled for my next chemo the day after Thanksgiving. It is my family's favorite day of the year and I didn't want to mess it up. The big issue is that it makes my 3rd chemo on the 20th, just a couple of days before Christmas.

Day 3 of tx1: I've got mild nausea, that gets less mild and I take zofran and dex that keeps things calmer. No intestinal distress! So far. My hip hurt a bit walking the dog this morning, but I'm taking my Claritin to head off yesterday's neulasta. Had a bit of a headache thru the day yesterday. Mouth slightly sore, rinsing with biotene. First 24 hours my urine burned my tissues, but that's over.

That's it. Given that I was prepared for the earth's crust to swallow me up and all life to come to a standstill, I'm surprisingly ok so far!

Virginia NJ-

Yep I had the expanders for 5 weeks then exchange. I also had a seroma in one side that they were worried could get infected with the chemo. so that's why the rushed exchange...so I have been BUSY! Glad to get those rocks out though, they felt like they went literally in my armpits...and the drains of expanders at first, and the pain of mastectomy...ewwhhh..seems like a bad dream. But my breasts look great!! AMAZING!

My first chemo. was easier so far anyway.

if my hubby shaves all his off he would look like Beeker on the Muppets! !! he doesn't have much of a chin! lil!!! I was surprised that mt grandsons thought it up on their own!!! such sweeties! I hope everyones doing well! I get off and on queezies, dirreah , cramps, a bit fluie feeling. Even though drinking my BIG BUBBA cup filled w H20 Am getting a bit dehydrated. my doc is calling home health since I can't get to office to keep me hydrated. I dont drive much and 45 min is impossible. I think my biggest contributors are all the other meds I take...for autoimmune pbms and systemic damage from that. ..this just added fuel to the fire! Still....I won't complain! God I holding me up and I'm resting in His peace! Things could be a Whole lot worse! I can handle this....ONE DOWN ...three to go!!! Best to everyone!!! This is such a blessing to be able to at least keep in touch with others! Can u imagine how it was before the internet!!!??? special huggs to All!!

VirginiaNJ-

It IS a sucky time to do all of this, but my onc. said this treatment the first week might not be the best but by week 2 and 3 should feel good...we will see...at least it will get cold and we won't miss being outside or at beach,etc...nice winter weather for naps and relaxing... I am going to take advantage of this 'season' as I have running non stop my whole life and 'this too shall pass'...I can do it and so can you!