First chemo completed

terri and LLK - you may want to ask about taking Claritin (regular Claritin, not Claritin D) starting up to an hour prior to your Neulasta injection to help with bone pain. Some people start the day before, and we continued taking it for at least several days and up to a week. The antihistamine in Claritin is thought to help with edema that occurs in the bone marrow as it overproduces new cells.  Here is a link to the clinical trial:

http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01311336

A number of us on the triple positive thread and TCH thread used this and I felt that, for me, it was helpful.  Also, OTC Aleve seemed to provide the most pain relief for many of those who post on that thread.  I did not have to take anything stronger than Tylenol and a warm bath to deal with discomfort from Neulasta.

I also took 30g of L-Glutamine, 1500mg of Acetyl L-Carnitine and 100mg of B6 in an effort to stave off neuropathy from the Taxotere.  I did develop mild neuropathy but it dissipated by about 3 months after the end of chemo, while I was still on Herceptin.  You need permission from your oncologist first though.  I would also advise icing your fingers and toes during your Taxotere infusion, again with permission, to try to keep your fingernails and toenails from coming off.  I had no ridges, lines, or discolored nails.  I used bags of frozen peas that I brought in a cooler.  I also used clear nail polish (Sally Hansen Nail Hardener) that came in a little pouch of goodies from the manufacturer of Taxotere that I was given at my center.

We are all so different!  For me, my neoadjuvant A/C was basically a walk in the park.  I did loose hair, lost senses of taste and smell, and all appetite (I could eat but just never thought about eating unless I was reminded).  I am a 'waterholic' so habit took over and I always had my water handy so hydration was not a problem for me.  A/C never slowed me down at all.  My reactions to Neulasta were different than I've heard of.  I had no pain associated with them BUT almost to the minute, 2 hrs after the shot I would go to sleep for 2 hrs and wake up as if nothing had happened.  Many say that Claratin helps (not the long acting) - I never used it so don't know but some should come with their experiences.

My adjuvant Taxol was another story - I existed those 12 weekly infusions either on the couch in from of the TV or in bed.  Perhaps my SAD played a part in that as it was winter.

Did you have Morning Sickness?   There are no official studies but the anecdotal seems to show that issues with nausea may be associated with morning sickness.  I was a 'good girl' and 'religiously' took all my anti nausea meds on A/C.  1/2 way through Taxol, I quit taking them with no problems.  I was still given the anti-nausea and other drugs IV just before infusions.

We are all so different!