Starting Chemo in December 2013

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  • kimie06
    kimie06 Member Posts: 215
    edited February 2014

    just another little rant, my mouth tastes like ass today... and I am so sick of the tastebuds taking a hike.  I just want to enjoy and be able to taste my food again.

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  • kjfromca
    kjfromca Member Posts: 283
    edited February 2014

    Hello ladies, 

    I will have my last Taxol on March 13th if all goes well... right with you Kimie and Mikesgirl.  I had my husband, Eric, take me for a drive over to the coast yesterday, beautiful weather.  I am so out of shape that my calves were hurting like crazy in the middle of the night just from walking in the sand.  I am going to force myself to do some walking every day to build up some stamina.

    Count it all joy - I don't think that I said thanks for the eyebrow tips.... Thanks.  I still have some hanging on, but they are getting harder to fill in.  I have a stencil kit and might play with it today.

    I came across a book titled 100 Perks of Having Cancer, plus 100 Health Tips For Surviving It!, written by 2 bc stage III survivors.  One of the ladies a registered psychologist and the other an R.N.  I am finding it an interesting read, as I am trying to figure out what I can do after this chemo to live a long life.  I thought that I would share this with you all, worth checking out.   I am not that far into the book, but finding it positive and full of information.

    Have a good Saturday.

    Kim

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  • kjfromca
    kjfromca Member Posts: 283
    edited February 2014

    kimie - I missed that last post.  Nothing has flavor, can only taste really sweet, really spicy, or really salty.... This ends up with me either adding to the stomach flab or adding to the daily heartburn.

    Kim

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  • Mikesgirl17
    Mikesgirl17 Member Posts: 260
    edited February 2014

    Kim, congrats on being done on the 13th :)

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  • QuirkyGirl
    QuirkyGirl Member Posts: 383
    edited February 2014

    lack of taste buds SUCKS!!!  I truly feel your pain. I'm on day 9 from last chemo and they are just beginning to come back. Only cranberry and pineapple juice taste right to me. Guess its the acidity.

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  • DJJ
    DJJ Member Posts: 229
    edited February 2014

    Kimmie,  I have 12 weekly low dose Taxols.  I have to it that way because the perjeta (4 total) and Herceptin has to be every 3 weeks with the Taxol. Today the neuropathy doesn't seem bad.  Hope it stays that way.  The bottom of my feet still get tender.  My last Taxol is April 18th, 56 more days!!!

    My fingernails are disgusting from the Hand and foot syndrome from the AC.  My middle fingernails are loose down to the middle and all my nails are yellowed like a heavy smokers...ugh! I keep them painted to hide them and have them clipped down as low as I can get them.  Only my pinkie toenails suffered on my feet. 

    How many more days did I say....56!!!!!! 

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  • Leealice
    Leealice Member Posts: 87
    edited February 2014

    Almost a week from chemo #4. The fatigue and weepiness was much worse this time. I had been able to walk and even go to zumba some but now walking short trips feels like a marathon. So depressing to watch my body deteriorate. Big toenails starting to turn black. 2 more to go. Last one should be 3/31. counting the days

    Taste buds suck. I still have an appetite but hard to find something that taste good. Chicken noodle soup is always good. some fruits ok. Trying not to drink calories but water taste yuck. What are others finding that taste good?

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  • Carol99
    Carol99 Member Posts: 116
    edited February 2014

    I like seltzer with a splash of diet cranberry juice, plenty of ice from a bag,I feel like my ice cubes taste funny. I'm grossed out by plain water, 2 weeks out from my last AC.  

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  • Lisaj514
    Lisaj514 Member Posts: 719
    edited February 2014

    leealice, water also tastes terrible and I used to drink a lot of water. I started mixing cranberry juice with water which was good for awhile then started tasting yucky as well. Changed to lemonade with water (Paul newmans lemonade or lemonade with pomagranate) because the plain lemonade by itself was too sweet. Now trying vitamin water and so far that tasted good...for today. 

    I've also had this dry hacking cough since starting AC. Anyone else

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  • QuirkyGirl
    QuirkyGirl Member Posts: 383
    edited February 2014

    orange and pineapple juice mix used to taste good. Now drinking cranberry juice and also fruit teas.  Hope you all find something that works for you.

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  • chicopeach57
    chicopeach57 Member Posts: 166
    edited February 2014

    Nothing tastes good today! The chicken and apple sausage tasted just like the biscuit and egg, all the same yucky taste. Along with the tea, vitamin water and plain water!. I know in a couple of days it will get better, I hope, but it sucks for now.  sigh.

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  • count_it_all_joy
    count_it_all_joy Member Posts: 130
    edited February 2014

    I used to be lazy about drinking water, but now I easily drink a couple liters a day.  I feel thirsty constantly.  When I get sick of plain water, mint leaves and blueberries keep me drinking.    

    I have a harder time getting in enough vegetables, and I have never liked green smoothies.  My sister made  me one this weekend that I LOVED, tho.   Surprisingly refreshing!  Really hoping it still tastes good after chemo this week.  In case anyone wants to try it...

    1 1/2 c water

    1 head kale, chopped

    3/4 bunch of spinach         (mix 1st 3 ingred. in blender on low, then gradually add next ingredients, moving to higher speeds)

    3-4 stalks celery

    1 apple, cored and chopped

    1 pear, cored and chopped

    1/2 bunch cilantro

    1/2 bunch parsley

    last, add 1 banana and juice of 1/2 lemon

    Makes 3 smoothies, extra keeps in fridge for a couple days.  

    Add 1 TBSP chia seed on the day you drink it.  

    I noticed the recipe said you could freeze it, and I'm thinking of buying extra ingredients tomorrow and freezing 16 oz baggies of it.  

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  • count_it_all_joy
    count_it_all_joy Member Posts: 130
    edited February 2014

    lisaj - I was coughing for a while after my second treatment, and I always have a mild sore throat off and on.  MO said the sore throat is just from the mucus lining cells that are being killed, and the cough can be from the irritation (dry cough). or it can be the body's way of expelling those cells (wet cough).   Do you have anything you like that would soothe your throat, to see if it's just irritation?

    anyone else get different feedback/advice? 

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  • RobinLK
    RobinLK Member Posts: 840
    edited February 2014

    I HATE taxol.....A/C was easier for me. Thursday is sleep day from Benadryl. Friday is insomnia/manic day from the steroids. Also red tomato face and chest day. Saturday is pain day. Sunday is still pain and headache day. Monday will be diarrhea day. Argh... Rant over. 8 to go....

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  • count_it_all_joy
    count_it_all_joy Member Posts: 130
    edited February 2014

    Robin - 

    go ahead and rant.  weekly sounds tough.   :P    praying for us all tonight, that these drugs are being amazingly effective.   we're not doing this for our beauty, heaven knows!!   No longer leaving the house without makeup, since my eyes have gotten lost somewhere until I have my eyeliner on…    

    Mary

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  • RobinLK
    RobinLK Member Posts: 840
    edited February 2014

    I have one and a quarter eyebrows as of today. The hot flashes are brutal and my nose is either dripping or so dried out it cracks and bleeds. This sooo sucks right now. Time for bed, hopefully sleep will help with my mood. 

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  • RHGSR
    RHGSR Member Posts: 774
    edited February 2014

    count it all- breast milk storage bags work great for freezing juices and smoothies. 

    I find it kind of ironic too. ... Lol. :0)

    Holli

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  • DJJ
    DJJ Member Posts: 229
    edited February 2014


    Robin, I'm sorry Taxol is harder for you.  Just eight more and since you're one day before me that means only 52 days left and you're done!!!

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  • chicopeach57
    chicopeach57 Member Posts: 166
    edited February 2014

    Robin, I hate the manic Saturday too. I get treatment on Friday, sleep for three hours after, then up at 3 am.  Can't nap if I wanted to, too wired. Usually the diarrhea starts on Sat. too. Have been living on bananas and applesauce, and it all tastes like poo. Monday is the cramping, gas, diarrhea day also.  I am lucky and don't have the pain like you, I'll be thinking of you today, good luck.  9 more weeks, 9 more weeks...

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  • Crazywabbit
    Crazywabbit Member Posts: 563
    edited February 2014

    after weekly taxol #2 my taste is definitely getting effected. I made my favorite spicy, blackened salmon yesterday and it had no spicy taste at all, just a vague fishy taste.  I also now find peanuts and almonds are bland, also hard to swallow with continued dry mouth.  Best thing is salty stuff. At least I can still taste my morning coffee today.

    I have been using a dab of Vaseline up my nose at night and a cool mist vaporizer running in the bedroom,  helps the morning stuffy nose and  blowing out bloody chunks.  I have the constant runny nose and dry cough also. luckily I have not gotten the diarrhea, YET!   Able to walk 1.5 miles the past 3 days but thighs ache like I walked 10 miles.   

    Big day today, returning to work, part time (3 days a week) and 60th Birthday. Told my office I really was not into much celebration this year but knowing my staff they will probably have a boobie cake. For the first time I am actually feeling my age.

    Barbara

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  • Leealice
    Leealice Member Posts: 87
    edited February 2014

    Happy Birthday Barbara! 

    Thanks all for the drink ideas. I was doing smoothies for awhile and then they tasted yuck but think I will try them again. If you freeze it you can eat it like ice cream and the taste isn't as strong.

    I keep aquaphor on my lips and nose and eyelids all the time due to dryness. I get the dry hacking cough also. Sucking on candy helps the cough and bad taste in mouth

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  • RHGSR
    RHGSR Member Posts: 774
    edited February 2014

    happy birthday Barbara!! 

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  • kjfromca
    kjfromca Member Posts: 283
    edited February 2014

    Morning ladies,

    Count it all joy - Thanks for the smoothie info.  I think I will try it. 

    RobinLK - I am sorry that you are having a rough time.  That steroid roller coaster drives me crazy.

    I too have had the runny nose since AC, pain in the arse.

    Barbara - Happy Birthday.  I hope that you can taste every morsel of your birthday cake.

    Kim

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  • RobinLK
    RobinLK Member Posts: 840
    edited February 2014

    Happy Birthday Barbara! Hopefully, when we are all done with these treatments, we will be able to celebrate all milestones with complete enjoyment!!

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  • chicopeach57
    chicopeach57 Member Posts: 166
    edited February 2014

    Happy Birthday Barbara!  Hope the cake tastes good.

    Well ya'll I went into work this morning and found a surprise waiting for me.  I have worked in the same office for 19 years as a State Health Inspector, next door to us is one of the State Probation Offices.  Of course we see each other in the parking lot and exchange greetings and such, but don't really know each other.  One of the ladies from next door crocheted a beautiful hat and scarf for me and left it with a really sweet card.  I haven't talked with her about my cancer, but know she saw my bald head through the window while I was sitting at my desk.  What a sweet and thoughtful thing, I am amazed at how giving some people truly are.

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  • RHGSR
    RHGSR Member Posts: 774
    edited February 2014

    chicopeach- how wonderfully sweet and uplifting. Gestures like that have been some of the sweetest blessings in all of this cancer mess. 

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  • Crazywabbit
    Crazywabbit Member Posts: 563
    edited February 2014

    thank was very sweet of her.  I have been amazed at the outpouring of  support from people.  Neighbors doing my snow blowing, dropping off meals, and friends  calling or texting just to chat.   Lets you see the nicer side of humanity. 

    I have tried to be supportive  of two friends who are also undergoing chemo, one a 37 year old recently dx Stage I BC.

     The other has with stage 3 lymphoma. We think our chemo is rough, she gets the AC as well as two other chemo drugs all the same day and then days of high dose prednisone.  She has been totally miserable. At least she only gets 6 cycles total. 

    Barbara

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  • jackieak
    jackieak Member Posts: 169
    edited February 2014

    happy Birthday Barbara...have a great day back at work!

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  • Jodi040812
    Jodi040812 Member Posts: 383
    edited February 2014

    happy birthday Barbara!!!  Have a great day!!!  I hope your day is wonderful and free of all SE's!!

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  • count_it_all_joy
    count_it_all_joy Member Posts: 130
    edited February 2014

    Happy Birthday Barbara!  I hope today is special in its own way.  Sending you a virtual hug and proud that you have made it so far!!  Seriously - a boobie cake??  You must work with a funny group.  

    Kim - I just noticed that you said thanks for the eyebrow tips - wanted to make sure you knew I meant eyelashes!  I would never recommend black eyebrows for your pretty, fair face!!  ;)  I HATE using eyebrow pencils/powder.  Even went into a Sephora and had them do it for me, and didn't like that any better.  Sigh.  Vanity keeps taking a beating.  

    Robin - is today any better at all?

    chicopeach - the thought of her watching your bald head through the window and going home to crochet for you made me tear up. 

    Am I the only one getting surprisingly comfortable with my bald head??  It's warmer here, so I go bald in the house, bald in the car, bald if friends come over and I don't feel like putting anything on.  Loving how quickly I can get ready to leave the house, other than my makeup taking me longer than it used to.   This must be what it's like to be a guy!   ;)

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