Starting Chemo, November 2013 Group
Comments
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Northwinds I had the port removal surgery this week ( 2 weeks PFC) and my BS also fixed a dog ear from bmx under right arm. I was also concerned about it being so close to chemo, but MO said my platelet count was high enough for surgery even though red blood is low.
I do have numbness in my fingers which has not yet subsided and I have dropped a few things as well!
Ellen, yiurmhairmlooks is looking good and I am glad to hear your eyebrows are returning. I have a small bit of peach fuzz but eye brows and lashes are sparse.
Pat, I am glad to hear you are recovering well from rads. I am thinking about going back to work next week. Do you think this isms good idea based on your experience? I am worried about fatigue. I just want to start to get back a portion of my old self and I love my job. You are so right with your philosophy. I remember as I was going through the diagnosis process and pondering my fate, it really crystallized how great my life is and how I didn't want to lose it. Yes, my job is frustrating at times, my husband lost his job, and we worry about how to pay for college. But we have what we need and are comfortable. I lost that perspective before BC and i was not a happy person. Coming out of this, although I will have other struggles like all of us, I'm more appreciative of my life. So many of my coworkers are very negative and I do not want to get sucked into that when I go back. We are lucky to,be doing what we love.
BigT, sorry to hear what is going on at your hospital. All the hospitals are consolidating around here, too. Big changes in health care, indeed.
Paulette, take care of that bronchitis!
DH is improving slowly, but he is improving. I took him to the doctor yesterday (yes, I took him!) and his Dr.,reassured him that he would be ok, but it would take a week. It was really helpful in that it made DH less anxious about his condition. Dr. also locked him into getting a physical which he really needs. He hasn't had one in years. He still can't drive so I have to pick up DD after radiation this afternoon. She got a ride home from college, but I have to get her one hour away.
I hope you ladies are having minimal side effects and can have a good weekend. Hopefully it will be warmer.
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Smrlvr, What time of day is your radiation appointment? I was so exhausted sometimes right after treatment I HAD to take a nap, sometimes just tired but didn't need a nap. Since you had a mastectomy, that means rads to chest wall, right? Ask, ask, ask them to estimate how much "skin breakdown" is common in your situation, my center likes to whitewash everything so women aren't scared off from necessary treatment. Ask the rad-Onc nurse her opinion of your working through rads, ask her to be honest, tell her how necessary it is/isn't .
Do you wear foobs (can't remember if you were reconstructed). How comfortable would you be working flat at the end? The good news, if you're flat bandaging the wounds with dressings would be easier
. Skin breakdown isn't pretty, and depending on the size of your injuries, just the energy your body needs to heal the skin (never mind what's under it) takes an awful lot out of you.I'm so tired 3 days out that I couldn't possibly work more than the hour or so a day I try to put in, but that's me- recovering from surgery, infected, chemoed and radiated straight since July with no time to recover between treatments since I was already delayed. How strong is your body? Listen to it. Can you work part-time? That would be ideal. Is there time and place for a nap in the middle of the day? What would happen if mid-rads you found you couldn't continue to work?
To answer your post in winter rads- I've got an exacerbation of my previously diagnosed asthma. I've needed to use my rescue inhaler daily since mid treatment, up from once a month. I got the line about Olympic athletes too: we shall see next winter when XC ski season starts!
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GREAT feedback about Rads Pat!! People keep telling me how easy it will be. I kinda thought there might be a bit more to it. Do you have multiple sites?
Ellen - Fab hair! I've got zip right now so would be thrilled at ANY. No brows or lashes. I miss my mop, and promise never to say an ill word about it again if it will come back!
Paulette, I'm an alien too. I'm not the pretty type either that you see in the movies. More like the movie "aliens" type.
Slrvlr - great to hear you DH is doing OK. My thoughts are with you.
Tonilee, are you there???
Getting hydrated today. It helps with SE's I find but I have noticed bones are a bit worse than last already. Wha, wha, wha. I'm so tired of hearing myself talk/think about my body. I'm just not that interesting . (Some sarcasm).
My DH and I are hoping to get away early June, post surgery/pre rads. It is so great to think about living a bit instead of the next chemo. Anywho, hoping to get the new kayaks into the water, somewhere. Might still be snow here then.....seriously, I know Canadians talk about weather a lot but -20 c this morning. I want to see some green. Before long I'm going to have feed the Polar bears in the back yard if this polar ice cap keeps shifting!
Judy
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Pam-
hugs to you for all you are going through. You have been in my thoughts
and I will check back here often to see how you are doing. Sending you
all the very best karma... I don't know about surgery during chemo.
I know that I was not able to schedule my implant exchange surgery until
8 weeks after I finished chemo... I'm guessing it's so your body can
"bounce" back from the toll of chemo. Even with my last blood
work, my red blood cells are a bit "sluggish." Though, I don't
think it will impact my surgery.BigT-
sorry about your job situation. I work for a large global company and
have seen a lot of changes and mergers in my 25 years with the company.
It's always horribly stressful
Sorry that you have to go through
it at this time...Jab- I
am going for my implant exchange. I had the TE's placed back when I had
my double MX in October. I will now get my "final" implants.
Was funny seeing my surgeon on Tuesday...he basically left a "vapor
trail." I barely had any time to ask him any questions he was in and
out so fast. Thankfully I have complete and 1000% total faith in him and
I know i will have an excellent result. As for rads, I had them in 2007 and tolerated them extremely well. BUT, I did my rads PRE chemo then, so it's prob not a fair comparison.Veronica-
i don't think it will hurt you to go off Tamoxifen for 2 or 3 weeks. I
would have never even thought twice to post about it, and really only knew
about it because YOU posted about it...so i just wanted you to know what my DR
suggested. I have my surgery at Sloan Kettering in NYC, so I trust them
implicitly and whatever they tell me to do, I do...........Ellen-
wowie you have a TON of hair!
Yay for you. All of my lower
lashes fell out a couple of weeks after chemo. Then my right eyebrow
jumped ship a little after the lashes....and now the left eyebrow (not to be
left behind) has gone too. But, all are growing back...including the leg
hairs, lady hairs, and most voraciously, the CHIN hairs!Happy
weekend all. Tomorrow is my birthday...I am very grateful to be able to
say that and celebrate another year with my family and friends. -
pat, all: After all the pain and suffering that we have gone through, it's only natural to pause and get philosophical about life. We are changed forever because what we have experienced. It was like being in a war. We have been wounded in our fight and just like soldiers coming home from a war zone we may have hard time fitting in with the regular people, because we are now different. We see things through a new lens and measure happiness in a new way.
We are renewed because of our experience. We can seek the so called normal life, but it will be the new normal. Yes, we have been shaped to savour life differently: fuller and deeper.
Our suffering gave us a perspective on the important things in life like enjoying a sunny day or perhaps feeling the wind in our hair once again.
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Hey guys, I know I've haven't been on for a while but I thought of you when I had my last chemo treatment a week ago. My friends threw me a No Mo Chemo breakfast before I went. I thought you might like to see some pictures. They got me a mum that had a ribbon on it that said No Mo Chemo and I had a tiara that is kind of hard to see. Everyone at the clinic really thought it was funny and we handed out strawberry booby cupcakes. I hope everyone is doing well. We are going on a week long cruise that leaves next week and then I'll have my mastectomy when I get back. That will be a whole new journey. Thanks for letting me share.
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I'm really not sure if I can do two more taxotere. Today is the first day I've felt even semi human since Monday's infusion. I've lost 10 pounds. Things don't just taste off, they taste nasty and most things make me gag. I'm sleeping 14 hours a day. My joints, fingertips, and toes hurt. Even the port hurts, which it hasn't except when it flipped. Walking around the house is a chore. Poor hubby is beside himself. I'm trying not to cry when he's around, but I'm not always making it. The really bad part is I'm sooooo hungry and I can't find anything that I can eat. Also, we have tickets to see Billy Joel just 6 days after the next infusion. May not have been the best decision I've ever made. Seemed like a good ideal at the time, since we've never seen him by himself. Really, really not sure that I can do it 2 more times. It's been the absolute worse week of my entire life. Crying, sleeping, sleeping, crying. Don't know when I'll make it back to work. And to make matters even worse, my eldest sister is sick. She's down to 79 pounds and her stupid doctor didn't put her in the hospital. Part of it is gastro issues, but a large part of it is depression. And my condition isn't helping her any. I'm sure I will get through this, but it seem so hard right now.
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wallymama: It's not fun right now, but, please, hang in there. You will be in my thoughts and prayers, if that helps. Taxotere has been underestimated to say the least. I find it just as challenging and taxing on the body as the red devil. I still have one more to go, but I'm certainly not looking forward to that. I wish it would be all over. I find that I have to constantly keep psyching myself up to be able to mentally handle it. I count down the days several times a day. It sure sounds pathetic, but that's what keeps me going. I am now day 12 after my lastest infusion, but my tastebuds are just starting to wake up. Everything so far tasted like plastic or like those styrofoam rice crackers. I sometimes eat food and try to remember what it suppose to taste like. When I cook, I can't judge how to season the food just by tasting it anymore, so I only go by memory. On the day of my last infusion I ordered an egg salad sandwich with a pickle in it and I honestly couldn't tell what I was eating except the darn pickle. As far as pain, I had a severe joint/ bone pain that I was only able to manage with Oxycodone. It was a sharp shooting pain all over like pins and needles drilling in my bones. The severe pain started on day 3 and lasted about 4-5 days. I could not pick up my feet, so I shuffled around like a hundred year old. I had difficulty going up and down the stairs and was able to do it with an imence amount of physical and mental energy. I was able to do literally one stair at a time, then rest, then continue. One day I was coming downstairs in that fashion and my hubby commented that I sounded like Igor the hunchback played by Marty Feldman from the Young Frankenstein movie. I don't have the extreme pain any more, but my legs do feel heavy like they weigh a ton each and I get the odd aches and pains even in places where I didn't have it before. Lately, in my left axilla, that is on the 'good' side, so to speak. What's up with that? I guess, I have to let my MO's office know about it on Monday.
Wally, please, don't give up! Vent away, we are here to listen. I hope you will start feeling better soon.
Stonesmama: I love the No Mo Chemo theme! And congratulation on your last one!
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Wallymama, I know how you feel.... but we can do this. Really, we can.
My first two taxoteres weren't bad because I also got cytoxan with them. On Monday when I went in for chemo my doc told me he was gonna up the dose on the taxotere some, since this time (and next time) would be JUST taxotere, with no cytoxan.
I asked him if this would make the side effects -- especially the pain -- worse. He said "Probably not."
Hahahahaha.
I've been taking hydrocodone every 4 hours for the past two days and that's JUST enough to keep me out of agony, but not enough to take away the pain completely.
The bottoms of my feet are so sore that when I DO manage to get up and walk I shuffle around the house like Mr. Tudball.
My big toes hurt. Constantly. Both of them.
Typing is a chore because I can't exactly feel my fingertips.
My port is also sore, along with my BMX surgery sites---but I had that effect with every round of A/C so that one didn't surprise me.
Ditto the sore throat.
TMI, but I have a rather annoying and itchy rash... on my BUTT. That's just not even fair, on top of (or bottom of, as it were) everything else.
This sucks.
But we can do this! I don't know about you, but I plan to tell my doc when I go for my next chemo that he'd better limber up his prescription writing hand because I want some side effect relief. You do the same thing. You can do this! You are tougher than this chemo, and you can outlast it. I'm sure of it.
We've come this far: We're gonna finish this.
Edited to add: and if it weren't for chicken pot pies, I'd have starved to death days ago.
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Wallymama, Lisa, Amazon -
I did cry in front of my husband today from pain from crappy crappy taxotere. Day 2 from infusion. I also almost cried at a book store looking for a post breast cancer book. (Ha, I'm not post cancer yet...)
We will get there together. Here's my drug regime that might help you - I took 2 codeine and 2 Tramadol (a synthetic opiate) and Lyrica. I highly recommend all, if you want to stay away from Oxycodeine. I also take prednisone. 5mg and was taking the Decadron (dexamethazone) for the fisrt two days.All of these where were increased or added as a result of my last taxotere infusion and a discussion with my Oncologist regarding pain.
For the night I take Benydril night, Codeine, Lyrica, Tramedol and elavil (to sleep).
I feel like an official drug addict, but to be honest, it hurts so much I really don't care.
And Lisa, I also heard that high levels of pain where unusual - I echo your sentiment HAHAHAHAHAH.
Tastebuds - Like you, wally, everything taste like mold, including water. I seem to not have any 'go to ' food or drink. I have to get hydrated at the hospital because I cannot ingest enough fluid otherwise.
A few tips I have learned.
You have to use pain killers and steroids. The steroids seem to only go so far. I was using pain killers but have pretty much doubled the dosages of all.
Keep the bowel moving. I was very constipated the last two times and once things started to move, I felt better.
Stay hydrated. If you dont flush it out it the chemo stays in longer and you feel worse longer.
I found once I could sleep better, I could handle the pain better. Benydril and elavil night really helped me with that.
Also, don't wait for the pain to hit. When you wake up, take all your drugs ASAP. If you start to feel the psin ramp up, hit it with pain killers - Don't wait. Once it intrenches its harder to get rid of.
My situation is very intense for about 7 days then steps down for another 7 days and then about 4 days before the next infusion, I start to feel a better. The first 2 days post infusion I'm Ok and hopped up on Decadron. Then, all of a sudden, I'm in agony.
Sadly I found the onset of symptoms has happened earlier with each infusion, so be prepared.
Anyway - I hope this helps. Keep us posted Wally. We can help, and you will get through this!
Judy
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Judy: Thanks for the tips on meds. I will ask my MO about the drugs you mentioned. Just out of curiosity, why not Oxycodone? Any particular SE?
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I am on weekly taxols and after my 8th my haemoglobin has dropped to 7.9. My MO said that typically they do transfusion if it falls below 8 but said I don't need it right now. So I go in Monday for blood work. Also WBC counts are low and I had to take 3 neupogen shots this week. My taxol number 9 on Friday was cancelled. After two Neupogen shots my counts didn't go above 1. So they will see my counts on Monday after I had the third shot on Friday. I have been eating iron rich foods. Even had a steak. But I feel so fatigued and have been on the couch all day. I have a feeling that my haemoglobin will be lower as I am still so tired. I was wondering how many ladies have had a transfusion. What was your experience. Getting a transfusion makes me nervous. Do you feel better after a transfusion? Did you need transfusions going further? I did fine with 8 taxols. I have 4 more to go and I feel so bad I feel stressed about how I will finish. I feel discouraged. Please any input would be greatly appreciated.
Septmom
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I had a transfusion. Honestly it was mostly just a boring experience; my husband brought me coffee and I watched Mulan on my tablet and we waited for it to be over.
I can't speak to whether it made me feel better or not: I think it would have, but I was "coming down with something" (UTI) when I got the transfusion and was sick and feverish for the days I should have been feeling better.
All in all though, it's nothing to be nervous about. Just time consuming. I may have to have another; NP says probably, onc says probably not. We'll see who wins. :P
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My tastebuds had been doing okay but they shut down sometime today between lunch and dinner. Blah. I mostly do have to stick to very WET foods as my "go to" foods though, hence the chicken pot pies. Anything that's dry at all gags me.
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Hi Amazon - I cannot use Oxycodeone as I cant sleep on it. For some it is more of a rev up drug for me. - I had significant surgery on my hand a few years ago - (long story, almost chopped off two fingers...) anyway, was given Oxy and it did nothing for pain and I was wide awake for three days before I figured it out. My learning was we all have to find the 'right' drugs for ourselves and changing body chemisrty can be tricky business.
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Wallymam,
I just remembered that I used the Tylenol and Advil (extra strengh, 2 each) combo last time too in case you are delayed on getting perscription meds. It will dull the pain and help reduce swelling, and were also recommeded by my MO (along with everything above) . Once on other drugs, I was better, but these will help if you are desperate.
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Oh taxotere... Yes pain, all over, especially port and surgery site and anywhere else I'd injured my body in my entire life. Yes to drugs. Pain pills, sleeping aids, Ativan, and of course senokot and softener for the damage. I also ended up on baclofen, a muscle relaxant for the muscle cramps I got. I was on norco and dilaudid for the pain, it's no joke level pain. Tons of sympathy.
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Amazon, jab, Wallymama and Lisa: I am so sorry you are in such pain. I was on taxol, not taxotere, and I had similar SEs. Remember to drink, drink, drink to flush out the chemo! Do whatever you need to do to,feel better. I took hydros for,the first two days and Advil after that. I also took benedryl for,the rash. You can do this, Wally, you are almost done! The only thing that helped my loss of appetite was chocolate ice cream.
Stones mama, congratulations on being done with chemo. Your friends are wonderful.
Pat, thank you for the radiation info. You gave me a lot to think about. I will definitely ask about skin breakdown. I have not had reconstruction and have not yet decided what to do about the foobs and work. Mine are heavy and actually meant to be stuck onto the skin, but I haven't worn them that way yet. I just stick them inside the bra. Since they are heavy I don't know if I will want them when the skin is irritated. Even with hot flashes,they would be uncomfortable. I am thinking of buying a cheaper, lighter pair of foobs.
I am a teacher, and I will be getting my radiation after school, around 3:30. Three weeks after I go back we have a week off for spring break. The center is 12 miles from my house and school. I hope I am not too fatigued that I can't take my daily walk. I have my daughters college graduation mid May and I want to be able,to enjoy that without being exhausted.
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lisa: I totally get your frustration with the rash, as I had it too. No fun! I used Calmoseptine cream that helped a lot.
Smrlvr: I only have a temporary prostheses made with cotton and it works fine. It's light, soft and washable. This one is by Wonder bra, but apparently Sears has some too.
Pat: Thanks for your moral support, I really appreciate people like you who take the time to cheer those who need help.
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Smrlvr, you are 100% correct; drinking all the water I can manage is what helps the most with kicking these side effects to the curb more quickly. I feel about 72% human today: I'll take that!
One thing that hasn't helped me is this weird weather we have where first it's warm and then it's cold. I can't regulate my own temperature to begin with so it seems like I am always either hot or cold and I've switched back and forth between sweat pants and shorts so many times in the past few days it's ridiculous. TBH, I suspect that's even where the butt rash came from: I had a weird night the night before last where I actually slept really well, but I was sort of cold, despite being under a thick blanket, and yet my head sweated ALL night long, and I don't mean just a little bit, either. Hopefully I was flushing out lots of toxins, but I'm guessing my rash is actually a heat rash from that.... Can't wait to see what the next indignity is.
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On the subject of foobs: I have never in my life been so confused about what I should get and where I should get it. I have absolutely no plans for reconstruction, so I reckon I'm going to have to become a pro at foob shopping but wow I'm confused and confuddled at the moment.
If Sears carries them though, that might help a lot, because I can actually go there and see what I'm getting. What a headache though, either way!
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I echo Amazon. It is so great to have ladies here that are so supportive.
Wally, regarding food, I have had some luck with carbs, like pasta. I also had a couple of chicken pot pies, like Lisa, my Mother made, and I could eat them. Also, ginger cookies. Ginger is the one thing that tastes the same for me.
I am reading the book that Ellen recommended - "After Breast Cancer, a common sense guide to Like after treatment'. - It was a $15 download from Kobo, but everyone has it. Very good for affirming all we are going through, and I have also learned a lot about what is next. Thanks for the recommendation Ellen!!
Smlvrl - You had some book recos too. Any more?
Is there any other good books anyone has read on Cancer that we might all appreciate? (apparently reading will also help with the brainfog too....)
Judy
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Wally, JAB, Amazon, Lisa- I am feeling your pain and praying you will see the light at the end of the tunnel soon.
I think icing might be important to do at next infusions and wishing I had done it as my feet are still peeling and sore and I'm 9 weeks PFC...so if they are hurting already...might be an idea.
The rash is just another gift from Taxotere, I had it on hands, then hips, then hands and feet at the last infusion. New area each time.
Just know this is temporary and you will make it through the awful tearful days and you will wake up each day with a new strength and energy and the bad thoughts of yesterday will be in your past. There is HOPE, there is feeling better, there is TASTE, there are days WITHOUT cancer worries coming!
Praying for you all!
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Thanks everyone for the good thoughts. I believe I've turned the corner, this time at least. The body pain hasn't really been that bad, just at night. Which is good since I can't take hydrocodone or oxycodone as they both make me sick. I can take tramadol so I'll try to get a script for it. It's the food and drink issue that really got me down. Things were gagging me. Everything, wet, dry, soft, crunchy. Everything. I've lost 10 pounds since last Monday. Being hungry and not being able to eat without gagging sucks. I know part of it was I couldn't drink much. Liquids were gagging me too. Then the rash. Only mine is on my armpit. There really needs to be some rules about what happens, when and where. These surprises are not much fun. I guess I was just having a whinny day. Thanks for listening.
Lisa, I understand about the weather changes. It was 70 here yesterday and right now it's sleeting.
Pat, never thought about muscle relaxers. My knees and calves cramp at night. My MO is a bit reluctant to prescribe things though so I may have to cause a scene.
Hope everyone had a good weekend.
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Hi everyone,
Wallymama, I'm so glad for you that you're feeling a bit better. You can do this! One of the many things I've been having to learn over and over throughout this ordeal is that one-moment-at-a-time mantra. Its so hard though, isn't it? It's hard when you sort of know what to expect, but then you get thrown all the pain and misery curve balls, so now you're supposed to sign up for two more opportunities to have expected and unexpected crap? It isn't fair, and there should be some rules, I agree.
For everyone who's having a crummy time, I'm going to share the story of my family's day. We title it,
"Is Chemobrain Contagious?"
So, today is pay-what-you-like day at our museum, which is the only way we can afford to go. DH, I and two of the three kids wanted to go, and we decided to live a little and go out for brunch afterward. We NEVER go out to eat. We're fussy and cheap, so this was a big plan for us. We get to the downtown area and find that there is a half-marathon finishing up for St. Patrick's Day. Bummer -- no parking anywhere, and I realize this also means these people are going to want brunch around the same time we will and all the restaurants will be packed. But, we forge ahead and see the exhibit we wanted to see, which was very good.
Then we walked back to the van, which was about 8 blocks away, and decided to drive by our first-choice restaurant to see if there's a line. There was, and my legs CAN'T stand for very long these days, so we drive on. We get to our second choice restaurant and there's a parking spot right in front! We go in, and the wait is 45 minutes. Blah. We get back in the car, and DD -- the only one with a smart phone and data -- starts looking up other places to go. (Alert -- here comes an important detail.) DH starts the car instinctively, since we had decided we couldn't eat at that restaurant, but then he shuts it off since DD is still calling around to find us a place to eat. DD finds us a place....woo hoo! DH starts the car again, only this time it won't start.
So, we do all the usual things to assess what's going on and decide that yet, again, we got a 5-year battery that only lasted 3, and I call for roadside assistance. I take the kids to Starbucks (we're starving at this point) and get them stuff on one of my oh-you-have-cancer-here's-a-Starbuck's-card gifts (I am grateful, truly), and DH waits for the dude with the jumper cables. Kids and I get back to the car, and DH says the dude couldn't get it started, so it's not the battery. At this point, I'm feeling tears welling up. We have to change carpool for tomorrow. How much is this going to cost? Where do you get a car towed on a Sunday? Who can I impose on to come get all of us and take us home? I'm hungry. How much is this going to cost? DD and I are going to have to take DH to work then go to her psych appt., then to my rad appt. tomorrow during traffic, ALL IN THE TWO-SEATER TRUCK.
So, I decide to make an attempt at just dealing with right now and had DH call roadside assistance AGAIN for a tow truck. And we sit. And we wait. And I keep saying to myself, just deal with right now, just deal with right now. I couldn't help it, so I sent a text out to all the carpool ppl asking if someone could switch days with us. Then, we start talking about where to get the car towed, and we figure that out. At this point, I'm starting to feel calm, and I'm even accepting the pending expense. What do you expect from a 2000 Honda Odyssey? Things seem oddly calm.
Tow truck driver arrives, and we are grateful that he is easy to communicate with because we had a plan we wanted to bring him on board for -- drive by our favorite repair shop to see if they had a lot to leave the car in, then go to the dealer if necessary. DH tells him the day's saga, we need a new battery, yada, yada. The guys says, "Do you mind if I give it a try?" DH says, rolling his eyes, "Not at all, go right ahead." Guy gets in, turns the key, car starts.
Guy says, "You left it in drive."
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I went shopping today with lots of energy, then came home and crashed. Now I'm feeling crappy, having chills on and off and paying a heck of a price for a bit of fun. (Sigh) I am hunkering under a blanket with a hot magic bag and still feeling those darn chills especially in my legs. I hope I didn't catch my hubby's cold!
I want to feel better! I want a warm sunny day! I want to own my body again. I want to forget this bc nightmare!
(Enough whining)
bec: I guess by reading your story my answer would be that chemo brain is contageous! It sounds funny now, but I'm sure it wasn't funny at the time.
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Wally, the muscle relaxant I've got is baclofen. It isn't one of those send you to la-la land, addictive things, it works differently. They give it to MS patients. Ask your MO for it- the taxotere cramps are horrible. I still get them, at 8-1/2 weeks out, one woke me up from my nap today because it was time for the baclofen. I take them every 8 hours still, and wake up when they run out. Sorry someone else got them, but at least I paved the way!
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Good to hear you doing OK Wally. I too struggle with the different SE's that crop up. It adds to the already very strong feelings of lack of control. Was that your first Taxotere?
Bec - Loved the story. DH must have been ready to hide when the tow truck driver started the car....Question - Starbucks has a free, card for cancer patients? How do they dish those out? - I'm being sarcastic, as last week I spent $15 there on two coffees and a scone. If I have to send them a CT scan for a freebee, I'm good with that.
Amazon - I think the Canack weather is suppose to change this week. Its -15c here right now,Yuck.
Audra - Thanks for your prayers and thoughts. It is great that others who are out of the chemo tunnel are staying connected too.
Pat - You mentioned you were evaluated for bone vs muscle pain - What did they do? Mine pain is in all my arthritic joints and were I have breaks but I am getting muscle twitching.
My poor DH. Its been a rough 48hrs. This too shall pass, though. I turly hope I remember these feelings a year from now, when Im feeling better as a reminder of what matters.
Have a good Monday Ladies
Judy
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Judy: my evaluation consisted of a doctor just touching me! I thought it was bone pain, but she touched my back and said the muscles were all in spasm. Sometimes the best tests are the simplest...
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Hi, ladies. Happy Monday. To those of you having chemo this week, good luck and I hope thenSEs are minimal.
Bec, that was a funny story. My husband has had moments line that, too. When we were coming back from Florida last Friday, he left his wallet in the rental car. We didn't figure it out until until we were checking in our bags and he needed ID. Anyway, it looked like he was going to miss the flight. It took over an hour for them to find the car and the wallet. Fortunately our flight was delayed an hour. I think our condition has an effect on our husbands that we don't know about because they don't talk. I think it contributes to their fuzzy thinking! My DH is still feeling dizzy. He is eating and drinking his beer, but he still cannot drive. It is starting to get frustrating, and I wonder when it is time to get more tests.
Judy, sorry your husband has been having a tough time. I ordered the After Breast Cancer book, but have not started reading it yet. I also read Anticancer, which was a quick read and described how you can change your diet to prevent recurrence. Interesting stuff.
Audra, if you have any tips on getting back into a "normal" life after all this, please let us know. I don't know how, after treatment, I am going to not think about this everyday and worry.
Just got back from my first post chemo appointment with my MO. He prescribed tamoxifen, but I am not supposed to take it until after radiation. I don't see him again until June. He wants me to have more bloodwork next month as my white counts are low! I am 3 weeks PFC. Why would that happen? What does it mean? Good news is that my red counts are up and I am no longer anemic.
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