Starting Chemo in December 2013

oranje_mama

Sorry to hear your temp went up.  I am just a tad bit achy in the back of my neck but I did take the dog for a 2 block walk today.  Rain finally stopped for a bit and unseasonable warm out, 59.  Walked much slower then our normal and now feel like it is time for a quick nap.   I am hoping the Claritin I have taken daily for the past week will keep the neulasta SEs mild.  My mouth is really dry in the morning when I wake up. Using lots of baking soda rinses.  

Waterdog. How are you doing today?

Glad our next chemo is not until next year!

Barbara

What setting did you use the clippers on?  That is a good length.

Kim

nice cut, not being shaved completely.   taking the weight off the roots probable helps the irritation. 

No long clumps to deal with. 

Barbara 

Neskir99, in my experience, the second round has been easier than the first.  The first infusion was way easier than I expected, so I thought that they would get worse and worse.  I feel like I have been very fortunate.  I drink so much water all the time,  That has a lot to do with it I think.  The first infusion, I was so scatter brained.  I couldn't focus at all. I was thinking about 10 different things all at once and starting something before finishing what I was doing. I wasn't nauseous so that was nice.  I did take all the meds or 3 days to be safe.  This second round, I only took 1 anti nausea pill that night.  I wasn't scatter brained this time.  I got all my Christmas wrapping done. I had focused energy which was nice.  It's like my body is getting used to the meds.  I forgot to take my Claritin today and my whole upper body is achy. Neulasta was on Friday.  I recommend taking Claritin for at least 3 days with the shot. My hair is shedding badly and is making me ocd wondering if it's all over the house.  I think I will be shaving it off tomorrow.  I'm hoping it's not traumatizing when I do it.

Hello ladies,

I was so happy to find this group.  I do feel it is so helpful to share stories and know what to expect.  I begin ACTH therapy tomorrow...first timer so I have so much anxiety about the port, hair loss, nausea and all the other SE with this protocol.  Have been told that I am healthy enough to handle it but am looking at 6 sessions of AC followed by TC  and will have surgery after completing the 24 weeks.  

Wondering if many of you keep working during this phase, do any of you work as teachers or nurses?  I have been advised not to work during the AC phase and know this will be a financial hardship for my family.  I do not want to compromise my recovery.  

Not sure how to handle my hair...this is all happening so fast.

I appreciate the support of other strong women like yourselves. 

will keep you posted on Day # 1....I am terrified to be honest. 

Hi Robin, I  will look into the Ativan....I want all the help I can get!

Thanks.

welcome beths1.  I think we all have some anxiety and fear going in to our first TX....and probably the remainder TX's even, worrying about SE's, etc.  I think everyone just does what they feel comfortable with regarding the hair loss .  I am self-employed but would say I could have worked the majority of the time, so far. Everyone reacts differently to the chemo. If you have SE's, let your MO know right away. They can give you something or cut back on your next dose if they need to. Most of us here have had SE's and will be happy to help also. Good luck!

Hello ladies,

My hair dresser buzzed my hair yesterday, I will send a pic later.  My hair was hurting so bad, it was a relief. She used #5 and #3 clippers on it.  

The shedding made me cry.  Once I resolved to buzz my head, no tears, I felt more in control and it helped.

Beths1 - My friend who had bc taught high school during her chemo treatments.  I am able to do most of my work from home.  My head is really foggy for the first 4 days, so I am not very productive during this time.  I hope you have minimal SE's or none at all.  

RobinLK - Thanks for sharing your pics.  You really helped give me the confidence to get my head buzzed yesterday.

Hugs,

Kim

Thank you everyone who responded to my posts...I appreciate and embrace all the outpouring of support. At least it was just one bad bout of diarrhea and not days but my whole system is out of whack...then I think about all the crap that has been put in my body recently...between the radiative tracers from all the scans, the port and the meds that went with that placement to the chemo and the before and after meds, and now all the SE's meds ...I had to laugh and I laughed until I cried and then I got up off the couch, took a shower and made a grocery list...Christmas Eve celebration is back on...scaled back but back and I am not going to let this steal my joy not now...not ever....I go back for blood work again the day after Christmas so until then I am going to do what I can and enjoy what comes my way until then. Merry Christmas to all of you....and I pray that you all have a at least of few days without SE's....

hi ladies, I guess we are all losing our hair about the same time. I still have some left, surprisingly, and am just letting it fall out when it's ready. Wearing hats and found some scarves today. A few sprigs sticking out for bangs and a little left on the sides and bottom, too.  In the big scheme of things, it's not that big of a deal once it starts happening. I think it's the anticipation that gets to us...I hope it's not been too hard for the rest of you.

Robin, great pics, thanks for sharing. Hope there's no UTI.

I spent the day with my DD and GS's today. I took them to the park~ such a nice day today! I am trying to forget about BC for the next few days until I have my next TX on the 26th.....grandkids are just what I needed to do it!

I hope that you all have a joyous Christmas and are able to enjoy it with those you love.

((HUGS)),

Terri

I like the #3 cut, and for your spouse and sister to do the same, how awesome...really does help all of us who haven't done it yet.  I have round two on the 26th, have had so far very little hair loss, but expect it is coming with a vengeance after the next round.  Bought hairnets and a sink shower catcher today to be more proactive... Shedding all over would bother me as well.

I own my own business with a partner, and we have about 12 employees , I work in the office about 6 hours a day since starting chemo, we had the office completely cleaned and asked everyone to make sure they had their flu shot.  I think it's important to keep our lives as normal as possible as we can.  When I'm tired I go home or work at home, do chemo on Thursdays because it seemed day 3 and 4 were my worse days.

Happy Holidays to all and you are all an encouragement

well ladies its gone, it actually wasn't as bad as what I had thought, I was just done with the shedding,   fancy little scarf on it right now, kids are the ones getting the kick out of it, good thing I guess.

hi everyone sounds like everyone is doing well with the hair loss.

Kimie you seem much better this time I am back for round 2 the 26th and hoping for an easier time as welll.

I had my arm port put in yesterday chose to do a local and stay awake. It was a little bit more involved than I anticipated. Was very sore yesterday and bandage was blood soaked so had to go back to get checked and have dressing changed. Starting to feel better today. Hopefully it will be all set to use on Thursday.

I hope everyone is able to find some joy in families through the holiday.

Hang in there everyone.

Jackie, not sure about lashes. I am still shedding with the cut, but I don't notice it as much since it is so short. I have been using baby shampoo since buzzing it. Gentler on the scalp. 

My wig has little rubber-like tabs on each side. I look at the floor, holding those tabs, pull the wig on. Those tabs are "ear markers." They sit at the ears. I then move the wig backward using the 4 finger rule. You should be able to have 4 fingers on your forehead, from the eyebrows up to the hairline.. That is where the front hairline of the wig should sit. Not sure about movement yet. 

i could not image going through chemo without a port.  After an axillary node dissection, one whole arm is out of commission for  use, and the veins in my other hand and arm are not the best. They stuck me three times to get an IV in for the port placement. I had some old  left over lidocaine cream that I put on the skin before they used it the first time and never felt the needle go in. I  was happy it still worked.

Wishing everyone a quiet and joyous Christmas tomorrow.  Good luck to those getting chemo on the 26th. I go for my first post chemo blood draw.  Will be interesting to see how my WBC is holding.  

Barbara