Woa...I start chemotherapy next week!

Hi swissmiss, sorry you have to join the chemo club, but welcome   I did the dose dense schedule also.  The hair loss isn't fun, but for me it wasn't so bad once my hair was actually gone.  It was the anticipation and  the process of losing it that ended up being the hardest for me.  

You might not gain weight, I got really bloated from the chemo/steroids, but didn't actually gain any weight.  So while I did look pudgier around the middle, once the chemo was over the bloat went down.  

Hugs to you!  I know I was pretty nervous heading into my first chemo.

hi swissmiss, welcome, but sorry you have joined this group. I think you feelings are normal from all the posts I have read here. The information, the venting , the questions to ask, the laughs and everyone's personal stories have helped me so much, I hope you you will keep everyone posted on how things go for you . I have two children, 14 and 11 years old, I wear my wig around their friends and school functions....at home various hats or nothing.  Neither like the look ,but are getting used to it....my daughter (14) says I look like someone out of an insane asylum ...I laughed and said I know it looks weird and too bad it's not Halloween  , we could have fun with it. I chose not to be offended as she is young, and I am her mum ...not looking like "just" her mum and then told it was ok ...and won't be permanent. I still have a little bit of hair, I go for my last chemo on April 11 (yippee). I also bought a cake when I got my head shaved , to celebrate with the kids , trying to turn any of this crap into something positive ...I am always trying to find the humour or positive in all of this cancer crap to help me and the family. 

Just like kcat2013, I am also bloated...feel like I'm pregnant ...but no weight gain....hoping the feeling leaves when chemo is completed. It just starts to feel better, then I go in for another infusion, but I am on a different chemo than you. 

I wish you minimal side effects, and ask your oncologist anything you are not sure of...and  remember to tell them everything, it is not worth suffering...they have so much now to help with side effects.

Sending you and your family big hugs and sorry  you have joined this group. There are so many amazing women here to help. (Hugs)

Swissmiss, Welsome, but sorry you have to be here.  I finished chemo in November.  My kids were 9, 11, and 13.  I involved them in things like helping pick out wigs and hats, and we had a big head shaving party.  That made all of that fun, and not scary for them.  I loved my wig; it is the hairstyle I always wanted, but my hair would never cooperate.  I also had hubby help me have plenty of stuff for school lunches in the house each Sunday (so we cut up fruit, etc)  The kids then started packing their own lunches.  They have continued to do so.  They like it because they get to pick what they want for their lunch (within reason) and it's one less thing for me to worry about.  I also had them help do their own laundry.  This is a good life skill, and it was time they learned anyway.  I praised them for it and let them know how much it helped me to not have to do it.  I think that gave them a good sense of empowerment.  I also made our basement their zone.  They could have friends over, and pretty much do what they wanted down there.  I stayed on the main floor.  This kept germs away from me, but gave them their space, and they didn't feel like they were missing out on friends coming over, etc.  I remember vividly the first tiem my son and his friends plowed through the house when I was bald and had no wig or hat on.  I was surprised when none of them gave a second look.  I told him later that if he gave me a minute warning, I would put a wig on, so he didn't feel uncomfortable.  His reply still sticks with me.  "Mom, my friends don't care if you have hair."  He was right.

Also remember that your friends WANT to help.  When they offer to help with meals or household tasks, give them a date for a meal (or have someone set up a mealtrain) or a task such as vaccuuming.  They will be happy, because friends feel helpless and want to help. It will make them feel good to help  You are helping them, they are helping you...win-win.  You can pay it forward later.

I highly encourage you to join the April 2014 chemo group.  My September ladies were my lifelines and sanity savers.  No one understands what you are going through like people going through it at the same time as you.  We picked each other up when we were down and learned tons from each other about side effects, etc.  The Sept ladies rock, and I am sure the April ladies are an amazing group as well. 

Good luck.  It is doable.  You can do this.

Swissmiss, I also did the 16 week DD chemo schedule, finished at the end of December.  I was so afraid of all of the possible side effects, and luckily, mine were very minimal.  I too was extremely concerned about gaining weight, but I never gained any throughout the entire treatment.  And I WAS able to eat, I had no nausea and never lost my sense of taste.  I did work full time throughout, and I work on my feet, so I'm sure that helped.  I also made sure I ate very healthy foods.  Just eat right and keep moving and you'll be fine . My sons are 12 and 14....they never had any problem with me being bald, and now that my hair is growing back they love watching it grow in lol.  Involve your kids as much as possible, or as much as they want to be involved...my sons got a lot of reassurance out of helping me around the house, it made them feel a part of the process.  

Like KBee, I picked put a wig in the hairstyle I always wanted and I get so many compliments on my "great hair!" I'm almost sorry to have to give it up soon!  Don't feel like its vanity to want to look good, or like yourself.  For me personally, looking the way I usually did and carrying on with my daily life is what got me through it.  My doctor told me at the start, this will fly by.  And it did.  The very best of luck to you!