October 2013 Chemotherapy

Hi Ladies,

I have not posted her before but started my TC treatments in late October. I just had my second TC on Thursday and am looking for advice. I have terrible stomach pains the first night after treatment. Feels like I have poisoned myself (go figure!) and my stomach is eating itself. Anyone else have this and found something that helped?

Marley -- welcome to the oct thread! I had stomach pains after my first tx, but not so much after the 2nd. The pain felt like gas pains, but I didn't actually seem to have gas -- weird. First time through I took Motrin, which helped, and Senecot-s at night as well, since I had the big C at the time. I also had been eating a lot of dried fruit (for the C), and it seemed to help when I stopped eating that. Walking seemed to help the pain, and got things "moving" as well -- I put on my headphones with some music, and tried to swing my arms and take good sized strides -- but stayed within a block of the house just in case. Good luck with it -- hope you find a combination that works.

Wrenn - don't worry too much about nausea.  They give you premeds in your IV before chemo and you are sent home w/anti-nausea meds.  If you are only given 1 take home anti-nausea (as I was)....you may want to ask them to write you a script for a back up med as well in the event the first does not work.

Regarding the steroid - If you think sleep is going to be an issue, ask them to give you Lorazepam for your anti-nausea medication.  It has a sleeping med (or some agent that makes you very sleepy) in it.  It works GREAT for being able to sleep while taking the steroids.  I didn't get that med until day 3 after my first chemo.  I was only sent home w/Compazine for nausea and it did not work well for me but I sucked it up hoping the nausea would lessen as the hours passed....it didn't - it just got worse.  So day 3 I called the MO on call and he prescribed Lorazepam.  Works wonderful for me for the nausea and makes me very tired - so it does 2 things I personally need!  Perhaps you can suggest the same if you think it would help you.

Happy Sunday to all!!!

marley- I too had cramping and it got relieved if I pass gas. I am already taking nexium for my reflux just like wren so doctor told me to take tums and it did the trick for me. Also avoided too much beans and legumes.

Kittykate- loved your picture! My scalp had been very sensitive that I can't sleep lately even if I already am using satin sheets. I started shredding more hair so I went to my hairstylist to get it buzzed. She did a Mohawk on me first which I wouldn't have dared do in the 80s before shaving it all off. It was so much fun, gave me a rush, some kind of empowerment, it's amazing! Thanks for the idea :-)

Are you putting anything on your scalp? It feels so prickly. Its hard to put on binnie or scarf because it felt like I have velcro on. Not regretting it at all as it is definitely better than seeing the bunches of hair fall off and having to pick them up too. Just looking for tips on how to care for scalp.

Thanks.

thank you so much for the reassurance guys. I would not be doing chemo if it weren't for you. I'd have chickened out.

Lisa i have lorazepam (ativan). It is an anti anxiety med and when i got the prescription rewed this week i mentioned to my doc that it was being used by many people for nausea she said it wouldn't work. I told her it stopped the nausea from my vertigo and she was surprised. The medical community is learning a lot since we all got together.

About the prickly head. If you shave before hair starts falling out i assume you have to keep shaving to avoid stubble?

I hope everyone is doing ok today and especially those about to start. Thank you again to the women dealing with SE for coming here to let us know how it is going. Xo

Hello Ladies,

I too get blood drawn every week. Just before infusion then the following week on Tuesday I go.

All my counts are down this time around & must be why I feel so tired? Everyone at work is hacking. I still have not taken the Ativan the MO gave me just in case for anxiety and nausea this time around. I know it makes one sleepy and I already am sleepy. Was suppose to visit with Mom and my brother and his family this evening but too tired and the kids are sick so I need to stay away.

Tomorrow tx #4. Then onto Taxol. I hope I do ok tomorrow as I get so much anx before thinking about it.

I hope everyone feels better soon

Hi Malakies,

LOL- I know right? So so tired.

I know what you mean about the smell. Sometimes/most times I want to vomit when I think about what we are going through. Poison in/ Poison out. I get bouts of crying or low points but this is all normal.

Take it easy

Hello,

I get weekly blood draws. (I am also anemic, not sure if this is why) Every week I go for herceptin and they do the CBC from a finger stick. Two days before TCH I go in for CBC and the Chem Panel (from port). I also always see Onc, two days before the TCH.

I have only had 1 TCH and 4 H so far and I am also very tired. I clean for a bit and have to sit down, I'm cooking and have to sit down. I am trying to walk more to see if I improve, but everytime I finish one go around the block, I feel like I could just sit and fall asleep. I hope the effects of fatigue are not cumulative. I have also been eating a bit heavier/comfort food gained a few pounds(food tastes good now) and I wonder if that is also adding to it, because I know whats coming next week.

I have xanax, it works well for me even though it doesn't have the anti nausea property. It is more short acting than Ativan. I tried Ativan for a few days while in the hospital, I'll keep xanax. You may want to try it. it helps me relax and in turn it does help get rid of nausea when its at its worse.

Be well

Vivian

Hair... I had cut it very short with buzz and spiked top (1/2 inch) last week and just buzzed it yesterday to almost nothing. After washing it a lot more of the stubble just washed off, but I still have some left. I am finding a wig/turban/anything really very hot and uncomfortable. I actually went to Publix without one and just smiled at the stares.

Team Kim.......I have the bumps also. Mine is like a fluid filled little bump and if it breaks it spreads to wherever it goes and does it itch. I have mostly on my hands, but had a patch on thigh. Mine became worse around day 13-14. I was prescribed Triamcinolone Acetonide .1%.(hydocortisone,benadryl lotion did nothing) It takes about three days but it dries it out. Very dry hands feel rough and peeling, but no itch. Heat makes it worse, wash dishes and hands in cool water and if the itch gets really bad put a cool/cold wash cloth over the area. It was explained to me that even though it has left your body it leave immune system weaker and certain parts of our bodies/skin are more susceptible to stress/stressors and we can break out in those areas. I am going to get some Aquaphor to put on my hands tonight to help with the dried skin.

I hope the itchies goes away, but please try not to scratch...

Vivian

specialk- I am feeling really fatigued today. Really tired just walking up stairs. Get really tired and have to lean against wall or sit down. When is fatigued bad enough that I should call doc?

thanks for all the hair tips Lisa, Vivian and TeamKim.

Lisa, today I found silky doo rag and a satin scarf at a beauty supply store that's thin enough so head can breathe a little. I may use it for sleeping too.

TeamKim- i see that we have exactly the same chemo drugs and schedule. you are one session ahead of me so I can follow your lead

Vivian -- thanks for the tips on he itchy bumps. Mine look like mosquito bites, and are sometimes individual and sometimes in clusters. Right now I have one on the tip of each elbow, and a little spray of them on my right hip (last weekend was left hip). The only constant place is the back of my head, just above the hairline. The ones on my head are making me crazy when I wear hats or wig, so not exactly sure how I will get through work this week if it doesn't improve. I'll write down the name of the med you were prescribed and have it in hand if I need to call -- if I can hold out til Thursday's infusion, I'll have the onc nurses take a look. They have given me very practical and effective advice.

Axg24 -- good to know we are heading to the bar for our twin cocktails on the same day. Everyone is different, but I have gotten a lot of support and information out of reading posts from the gals here and on the TC thread who share my regimen..... I'll be thinking of you Thursday!

Everyone with fatigue -- I hear you!!! At work my office is on the 2nd floor and the bathroom is in the basement (historic building, no elevator). I have to keep hydrated, so I am descending and climbing those stairs frequently throughout the day. I go up 10 steps and stop to rest on each landing -- feel like an old lady! Lol! It was a little better 2nd tx with the Neulasta -- 1st tx I was really dragging when WBC was so low. The fevers I got from Neulasta were draining, but not in the same way the low WBC count was. My MO told me that the fatigue is cumulative, so will get a little worse each time, but people usually bounce back a little faster after the last tx; knowing you are done is a psychological lift. Can't wait!

next Tuesday before treatment. I got a good night sleep so I will see how I feel today. If anything like yesterday I will call

Schoolcounselor- hang in there! That must have been tough. It hits all at once sometimes and gets overwhelming, I know. We can get through this.

I am glad you treated yourself sometimes we gotta do it. My DH teases me about that there is an ice cream shortage in our town bc of me.