Starting Chemo, November 2013 Group

Well Ladies, I have been MIA for about 10 days as I was hospitalized.  I had to have surgery to remove my right tissue expander.  I had a pseudomonas infection in it and almost lost my port too,  I was so very frustrated and felt  so out of control.  I was very ill and still am not well.  I am home now and giving myself IV antibiotics.  I have 2 drains again and a very long incision.  This surgery has actually been more painful that my original mastectomy.

I was able to get myself transferred to the floor I work on as an RN.  It helped my immensely to be cared for by my co workers.  They gave me excellent physical care and such great emotional support.  I cannot say enough about them. The medical doctor caring for me really seemed to have been placed on this earth specifically for her job.  She had such compassion and empathy for how I was feeling.  I will love her forever for her emotional support as well as her medical skill.  The plastic surgeon was skillful and I appreciated her honesty and directness.  She was supportive and advocated for me.  She was not even the on call but she came to my aid when I needed her. The infectious disease doctor made sure I was getting repeated cultures and kept up with what antibiotics I needed based on changes in cultures.It was indeed a full timejob.  The general surgeon made sure I was checked on frequently and when I had a concern about a surgical resident,  He took it seriously and immediately addressed the situation.  I don't think I could have asked for any more from those who cared for me.  Walking down the unit, I was hugged and held and told frequently how much I was missed and how much they loved me.  My room was decorated for Christmas and Christmas music was playing when I was transferred to my room.  It is a wonderful place to work and the best place in the area to be a patient.  People are skilled and they truly care about you

I have not been able to keep up with you all.  I hope to be able to read all of the posts soon.

I started hair loss exactly on day 13.  One of my RN friends shaved my head to 0.5 inches and it was wonderful of her to do it.  It wasn't a tearful experience, but an easy one actually.  She was not my assigned nurse that night, but took the time to do that for me.  It was such a loving gesture and There were 5 others in the room while she shaved my hair.  We laughed and they all told me how beautiful I looked.  How lucky am I to work with such wonderful people!  I am now shedding like crazy and I am using a clothing roller to keep the shedding to a minimum,  i am wearing skull caps around the house.  

I had Christmas dinner at the hospital in the cafeteria with my family. I did not have dishes to do.

 The new Year is approaching.  I hope and pray it is all good for you all.  I am keeping the faith that it is all good from here on out.

Love to all,

Gayle

Hey Toni, 

Sorry to hear you are fighting nasty side effects. Wishing you feel better soon.   I was put on Leviquon by Doc for Possible bacteria infection or UTI And low WBC so I am couch bound also.  Hang in there we will conquer this!

Gayle, are you home now?  Sorry to hear you spent Christmas on the hospital.  Sending my best wishes your way!

Gayle: take a lot of rest when you feel fatigue and you'll  gett better soon.

Posting flowers for all of you but somehow all my pics go sideways. I was really busy doing positive things this summer when I first found out I have BC. Sorry I don't know where I could learn your short term or abbreviated words.  AC? Is that when you go for chemo? Oh I can't stand the smell of some stuff. I just feel nauseated and want to vomit. I can't eat spicy or acidity foods. My tongue is like fire when I accidentally eat it. I can't use the regular adult toothpaste or  shampoo. I use all baby stuff. That's why I wore a bonnet on one of my pics lol

I need help on where I can find those abbreviated words so I could understand what you write. 

(((Gayle))) I'm glad your were treated and supported well by your coworkers. It is a very different experience being the patient rather than the nursing side. Get well soon.

Gayle - so glad you are home and that your surgery went well!

Gayle - so sorry for all you have been through - my thoughts are with you

Ellen - when I did the Neulasta shot I had two bouts of pain - on the next day and them another about day 10 - I'm on Neuprogen now - less bone pain but more shots

All - I have discovered that there is great power in the bald head - but you have to use the power wisely. Today I was trying on hats at a department store and exposed my really really ugly bald head - immediately everyone within 100 yards stopped to stare (and I am sure they all figured out my dilemma). Anyway it was a busy place but my bald head had the crowds parting like the Red Sea and I was whisked to the front of the line to pay. It was all very sweet, and made me have new faith in human kind.

Now I'm wonder what other powers my bald head has...

JAB

Ellen -I hated that bone pain . It was crushing. I so hope your feeling better soon.  A chat with your Onc might be in order - a change in meds might help if you could determine the cause. I am finding that when one med is giving me problems there are others that work better but sometimes I'm not sure what caused the problem in the first place!

Last time I had said I didn't like cats or dogs will this cat is sure welcome himself. He follows me around. When I'm feeling sad h's right there. Is that a husky jab?

does anyone else have problems with swallowing? I can only swallow using a straw!. I can't eat any hard stuff like meat.. It gets stuck on my throat.  I'm going to get a blender so  I can eat. I'm the opposite of getting hot. I don't get hot flashes but I get cold. So I'm covering up here like stonemama who's got a cat.in front of her. Welcome to our group.

Phebe- I had trouble swallowing a couple of days after chemo.  I only eat soft foods during that time.

I'm here, alternating between bed and couch. Gayle, congrats on getting out.

regarding side effects.  I am over a month out from my one and only treatment (nov. 25 th) and still feel nauseated sometimes, have a bad rash on my scalp and have hot flashes.  I started menopause 17 years ago with maybe one or two hot flashes and then nothing so it is strange to get them now with a hormone minus type of bc.  I am also gaining weight but that can just be a result of having taste back...and craving carbs.

I hope the rest of you finish up soon and can start to heal.

Gayle, I am sorry you had to spend so long in the hospital.  You are lucky your friends were there taking care of you!

Audra and Pat, I hope you feel better soon.  I will be right there on the couch with you this week as AC #4 is tomorrow.

I love the pics of all the dogs and cats.  BigT, my dog has not left my side also.

So today is 13 days after my last chemo and I have the headache and nausea again!  I don't get it.  Also, I haven't been having too much bone pain because I take Claritin every day.  Usually it lasts 24 hours.  This time I got bone pain in my left rib cage on Friday and it is still there 3 days later.  I am getting really worried about this, that the BC has spread to my bones.  Have any of you experienced this?