I got rx for magic mouth wash yesterday. It better be magic even with insurance it was $50 for the bottle!

anyone else sneeze a lot? Also, although my nose runs I feel like it is dry all time too

lgkgde- I don't sneeze a lot, but I am constantly congested. So annoying! I tried Benadryl and Claritin, but they dried me out so much that I was having frequent nose bleeds. Now I'm just living with the congestion.

schoolcounselor- I'm impressed that you're working out! I haven't been back to the gym since the day before surgery. I had been doing boxing, which I loved, but it's probably the worst exercise to do after a mastectomy!

hey ladies! for those of you with congestion, have you tried a Nettie Pot? i know it's old school and some folks think it's gross but now that im used to it, it feels so good. i do it every few days. i had to get creative with allergy and congestion issues when i was pregnant and breastfeeding since i couldn't take any decongestants. the Nettie Pot really helped, as did hot water with organic cinnamon and LOCAL honey. oh man...are we allowed to have honey?

had my first AC yesterday. wasn't too bad...kinda shcoking to get that A push. sucked on ice like y'all told me and have been rinsing with salt/baking soda water today. had to take my first antinausea pill last night....not fun times for sure. no vomitting, just a general sense of "i don't feel good" My Rx pepcid actually helped, too. I also made my first infusion room friend (yay) and have been e-mailing her today. it was great to talk to someone with the same doctor and nurses and such. plus, she is almost done with her treatment, so she is a source of inspiration for me. i go for my Neulasta shot later and she recommended putting a dot of lidocaine cream on the injection area next time so it won't hurt. cool!

thanks for all the compliments on my hair! i feel pretty bad ass, although a bit chilly it's actually a relief. now i don't have to try and style my hair while getting furry hands - eww. for everyone hesitiating, my advice is to go for it. we put on some music (Eye of the Tiger) and i actually shaved a bunch myself. i felt kinda empowered! fiance cleaned it up for me and it's all good. we will see how i feel when it's shiny bald, but im just honestly glad to be off the Taxol and onto something that will work. And, NO MIGRAINES!!!!!!

I couldn\t have the A because my brother had a heart attack. Onc seems ok with me only doing the other two.

I love my nasal rinse but I find the squirt bottle much easier to use than the neti pot. What a difference it makes.

Glad everyone is doing ok in spite of SEs.

DebD, I worry about neuropathy too. I have it in my thigh thanks to positioning during surgery. It feels awful and I am hoping it goes away eventually. I think it was this that made me question whether to bother with chemo at all. I am really afraid of heart stuff. I have an anxiety disorder and I can imagine me calling 911 daily during chemo and especially if I was on a drug that had known cardiac issues.

I think I have basically been thinking of chemo as a crap shoot no matter what we get. My tumour has metaplastic sarcoma features and this has been shown to not respond to chemo at all.

I am going ahead with chemo plan just to say I did. :-) (having a down day....may have a different perspective tomorrow or an hour from now)

Thanks for the info about the beta blockers.  I've been on beta blockers for 20 years.  No one ever mentioned it could help with A cardiac issues.  My obgyn was totally against me doing AC because of the cardiac issues.  I opted for it anyway, i couldn't worry about something that might be a problem years from now.  Nice to know that the beta blocker could be a weapon against the "rare" cardiac issues from A.  Only time will tell.  

Well, I'm sitting in a recliner in the chemo suite, watching the red devil drip into my body.  Crazy how I was so nervous that I would not be able to get it today and yet it's the thing that will make me feel hideous in a few hours.  

Hope everyone who has visited the chemo bar this week is muddling through ok.  

Good evening girls, I'm on day 8 of tx #3 and am still having stomach cramps. I was told to take Prilosec but it doesn't seem to be working too well. Any ideas? Thank God I only have 1 A/C left next Friday. Does anyone know if you get cramps with the Taxol? I'm hoping it's easier than the A/C. I can't wait to be done with all this crap and move on. I actually have 5 days in a row with no appointments, injections or tests scheduled!!! Nothing to next Thursday when I see my onc. Try and have a great weekend everyone! I'm waiting for my grandbabies to come over for a visit:)

kbee - thanks yeah my MO office called back and said one week. Good thing I asked! Thanks

Gramof2boys, I had the really bad cramps, I take prescription Prilosec don't know if it is the same OTC, tylenol 3, and xanax.  I really think the xanax helps relax the stomach muscles and helps with the cramps.  

Lonnie, that's imteresting. My MO said I could go to the gym. Just not work out next to any obviously sick people. He also said I could walk the mall. He said there is no reason to isolate yourself. I started to feel like I would go crazy, then it occurred to me, I have TC on Thursday so this is the week I feel most like myself. My gym is also 24 hours so I can go during the times that have less people.

Pam - I wonder if we are around the same age?  Fatigue has been a HUGE issue w/me; it lasted 5 days after chemo #1 and 9 days following chemo #2.  I was warned:  "fatigue will probably be an issue you have to deal with and likely will not be able to work as much as you think you are going to be able to" and they were right!  (I will freely admit I am really worried about how bad the fatigue will be after #3 & #4!!!!!)

You know, when I heard "fatigue" I figured....ok, I'll be tired more often and will need naps.  Well, was I wrong!!!!  I now know fatigue is when every muscle in your body is so very weak that walking 50 feet can wipe you out.  So I completely understand your need for rest periods while at the mall.  Normal changes due to circumstances, doesn't it?  I think we are all now experiencing our "new normal".

I'm 49 - how old are you, if you don't mind my asking.

thanks Jen!!