Chemo in May 2014

I had earaches with the first round. Not so much this time.

Thanks for sharing that debiann. I am torn between the causes and whether I should go to the ER. But your experience calms and reassures me a bit.

I lurk on April board and there is a woman on that board that just had the same reaction but hasn't updated yet after a doc appt. So I am interested to hear what her doc's dx is.

oh thanks lespring, i'll check into that.

I'm in the club now!

Welcome to the club :-)

I'm glad to hear that I can look forward to chin hairs falling out--that's something at least!

It is annoying to plan to be sick. On the other hand, I like that I know better what to expect--though I have two more infusions of AC and then change to Taxol. My onc nurse said that Taxol will be easier than AC. I hope so!

Happy 2nd Day of Summer!

Update on my rash.  My face is swollen, it's very itchy and red and has welts and pus filled blisters. I called the on call doc he thinks it's acne. No. this can't be acne. I am taking antibiotics and took a Claritin (took bendryl last night).  I mainly called the doc to see if I needed to go to the ER. he said he thought it could wait until tomorrow.  I sort of do too but I think the swelling on one side is increasing. I've been very confused about whether I need to go to the ER. I hate this limbo stage of making a decision.  It's like 2nd Guess Thursday.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0K8DaDIyvU

"Once you decide though, I think you should ask about 30 people..."

:-)

You convinced me. And my eye is almost swollen shut. I'm at the ER. Will update when I can. Thanks lespring

And I hope your pain, lespring, is something minor, too.

Thanks, Linda!

Double-glad to hear you went to the ER now. I hope both the allergic reaction and the staph infection clear up quickly. 

I'm so glad you went in. Sorry you're having to be admitted but better than than crisis in the middle of the night! Hang in there and keep us posted when you're up to it. 

I haven't been on this past week I guess. Wendy, hope you get better soon, you don't need anything more to deal with!

I have my third round this Friday and it took me a day or two longer to rebound this time. I have got to remember the mantras I keep telling my kids : What doesn't kill you makes you stronger and Life is 10% what happens to you, 90% how you react.

I have had pretty mild effects compared to most people I think, I just can't stand to lay around feeling sick and know that it's going to happen. Mostly it's the queasiness and change in my sense of taste/smell that bothers me.

Still in the hospital. Just saw the hospital doc, an infectious disease doc and the local MO (My MO is an hour away).  ID doc said it's definitely a staph infection. They're are testing me for MRSA and she is putting me in isolation until we know for sure. This means at least 1 or 2 more days in the hospital.

 *sigh*

The first thing that comes to mind is "how much is this going to cost me when cancer treatment is finally over?"  I know my health is more important right now but when this is all over and I am healthy I will still have a hospital bill and not many extra funds to pay it.

writinghelps I'm glad you're being taken care of, but I'm sorry you have the stress of the bill! A year ago my husband had a heart attack scare which landed him in ICU overnight. Without insurance. I totally understand your anxiety.

Have you checked into the organizations that offer support to cancer patients? Have you thought of doing a fundraiser? ( Because I know you have all kinds of time for stuff like that!   Please don't hesitate to reach out to your friends. Its ok to say, "You've been asking how you can help, here is something that would be very helpful to me. Could you do a small fundraiser for me?" It can all be done over Facebook or wherever you want. 

lespring, I have thought of that (a fundraiser) but it doesn't feel right. Although I am pretty sure friends would help in this way, it is very hard to say it. And I think my husband would not like the idea. Maybe partly pride but partly he feels it's our responsibility. But I'm just guessing what he'd say.

Funny cartoon, btw.

I'm still in the hospital and will probably go home tomorrow.

Debiann, do you mean hyponatremia? Hypotonia is low muscle tone. Easy to get all the "hypos" mixed up. LOL 

Writinghelps, I hear you about the pride and money part. Very few people have enough in their savings to cover several hundred thousands dollars in cancer treatments. If friends want to help, let them help. I have a good friend who is in her end days with very aggressive breast cancer. (it was stage 4 when they found it a year ago.) They ate up their savings and THEN her husband lost his job in Feb. The job loss was one of those hidden blessings, because he's been able to physically care for his wife and their two young kids, but financially they are devastated. In the meantime the bills just keep adding up. I feel so horrible for them. I didn't even think twice about contributing to their funds. I gave in the form of grocery store gift cards, and gift cards for take out for those nights there just isn't time or energy to think about cooking. That leaves them with cash for other things, like bills. 

I hate when the cancer bus hits good people. I mean, I don't want it to hit anyone, but I'd rather it hit someone horrible like a serial killer or something.