Starting chemo July 2014

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  • maidentiredofwaiting
    maidentiredofwaiting Member Posts: 155
    edited July 2014

    Mags, I love Rose' s tummy heart, so sweet!

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  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited July 2014


    JenKay-- hope you feel better soon!

    Wizard -- I am NOT sleeping well at all! Benadryl, Unisom....none of those things are working. I guess I could ask for a prescription sleep aid, but I feel like I've got enough drugs circulating through my system at this point.

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  • Fayette37
    Fayette37 Member Posts: 15
    edited July 2014

    Elaine-  I did ok last night on Unisom; my Onco was not available to write a prescription for anything more serious, but had he been, it would have been Ambien.  At the moment, that seems like arming me with a machine gun to go duck hunting.... But, my wife and I agreed that if I didn't sleep well last night, it would be worth it.  We NEED our sleep.  I hope you can find something that works.

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  • Slappy-Squirrel
    Slappy-Squirrel Member Posts: 296
    edited July 2014

    image

    JenKay, your hat is finished and should go out Monday. Hope you get to go home soon!

    This color is called antique gold. Shirley

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  • Slappy-Squirrel
    Slappy-Squirrel Member Posts: 296
    edited July 2014

    image

    Some of the colors I picked up for chemo hats. See something you like?

    Shirley

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  • Slappy-Squirrel
    Slappy-Squirrel Member Posts: 296
    edited July 2014

    image

    More colors to choose from. Shirley

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  • Slappy-Squirrel
    Slappy-Squirrel Member Posts: 296
    edited July 2014

    image

    And here's my furry daughter. It's an old photo for a Christmas card. She's 10 years old this month and her face is mostly white now. Shirley

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  • magdalene51
    magdalene51 Member Posts: 2,214
    edited July 2014

    Indeed we are not, maidentired. We have to remember that we have been involuntarily recruited into fighting a war we never chose. We have to remember who the actual enemy is: cancer. Chemo is – maybe not exactly a friend, let's call it an ally. Likewise, our family have been conscripted, and we can see how unwilling conscripts can behave badly. Our hope is that at some they can catch a glimpse of the goal – having Mom healthy and whole again. This is a vision to share. I don't have teenage kids, but I can imagine it must be incredibly hard to convey the seriousness of our situation without scaring them or worse. But perhaps they need to see that in all its awfulness to know that they can and do play a role in our healing, and they are needed not just as conscripts or even allies but as warriors on Mom's behalf.

    Just me, musing.

    I love all the fur baby pics, they are all so beautiful. What would we do without them? I wish I could say that my Rose was a sweetheart, she's really a rogue. She's very manipulative. But the past day or so she's been curled up beside me. That's unusual for her, she's actual kind of independent. But she stuck close today.

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  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited July 2014


    Fayette, you're right that sleep is important. Maybe, I will ask for Ambien. The good news: I flew to the Northeast today and got out of that awful OK heat (that Mags can attest to). I'll be visiting my parents for 10 days, which means no cooking, no cleaning, and some help with the kids! Plus, I'll get to see my nephew (6yo) who has his own health challenges (brain tumor -- not growing right now). It's sad to think that he might need chemo Scared someday, too.

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  • magdalene51
    magdalene51 Member Posts: 2,214
    edited July 2014

    Elaine, so glad you're getting out of the hothouse for a bit, I'm even happier that you feel up to it! Amazingly, I have risen from my deathbed and DH grilled a steak and cousin baked a potato, so I have had some dinner. I really hope this is the worst it gets, hopefully since I've got the Big D under control immediately I can avoid the unpleasantness of last time.

    Have a great time and most importantly, get lots of rest. (Cool down on its way to OK)

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  • oceanbreeze1818
    oceanbreeze1818 Member Posts: 50
    edited July 2014

    Shirley,

    Received my hat today...thank you so much!!!

    Karina

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  • mommymel
    mommymel Member Posts: 78
    edited July 2014

    OMG ladies you guys are hilarious ...

    If wasn't funny would be tragic :) kkkk

    Skunk , worms , hey I think we are having an animal planet version of chemo patients ..kkkkkk. On the other hand we have the best part of animal planet furry babies :)

    They are all so cutie make me miss very much my baby chowchow that pass 3 year ago...,

    Anyway good Sunday everyone 

    LOL

    XO

    P S: Shirley I simply love the gold hat that you post , love the style !!  

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  • CoyoteNV
    CoyoteNV Member Posts: 575
    edited July 2014

    JenK: Hope you are feeling better in the morning and they let you go home.

    Wiz:  I'm one of the tiny percentage of recurrent  patients that had just one sentinel node affected and had a double mastectomy..... radiation was NOT advised.  They told me it would be over treatment.  Be as aggressive with your treatment as you think you should be.  This time radiation is on the schedule. 

    Lots of nice pups... but I'm one of those crazy cat ladies.   Happy

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  • JoeysMommy
    JoeysMommy Member Posts: 65
    edited July 2014

    Hello Ladies :) I love all the furry pics ;) so cute!  PinkNinja your prayers worked... Today I felt 100% myself... finally .. just in time for treatment #2 on Wednesday...  I have cut my hair twice now in preparation for the hair loss. . First time cut off about 6 inches and today another 4 or 5... I already purchased a wig and some bling du rags that are really cool..  Hoping I can keep ahead of the loose stool this round... That was really my only annoying side effect...  hoping everyone had a good night :) I love the chemo caps too :)

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  • JenKay2001
    JenKay2001 Member Posts: 119
    edited July 2014

    Slappy, it's gorgeous! I'm so excited!

    Elaine, I've been taking trazodone as a sleep aid for a while now, it works really well for me, doesn't make me drowsy in the morning, and is OK to take even if you don't have a full 8 hours to sleep if off.

    doc told me my WBCs are up a little but, and my neutrophils are too, so hopefully I'll be back home tomorrow :)

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  • RamblingRose
    RamblingRose Member Posts: 50
    edited July 2014

    Headache! My very first infusion (A+C) was Thursday and I have had a headache ever since. A headache that is sometimes killer, sometimes just annoying. A a headache that Tylenol doesn't touch.

    I am on scheduled Compazine and Decadron...today is my last day of "scheduled". Do you think it is the steroid giving me the headache? I had a Neulasta shot on Friday and have felt no ill effects, I guess because of the Claritin?

    Just wondering. I have percosets in the house, from surgery, but don't really want to go there, ya know?

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  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited July 2014

    JennKay--trazodone, huh? I've written that down for my next appointment with ONC. Glad to hear your WBCs are up! Hope you're home soon.

    RamblingRose-- sorry to hear about the headache! I'm also doing AC, but my biggest side effect has been a low grade fever (99.4). Hope you feel better soon!

    Mags-- so happy to hear that the weather in OK will cool-off soon! My sons were at a daycamp this last week, and I can't believe they enjoyed any of their time outside, given how awful it was!

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  • Blownaway
    Blownaway Member Posts: 760
    edited July 2014

    Im taking a benedryl at night for sleep. If that doesn't do it, you might ask for an Ambien script.

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  • JenKay2001
    JenKay2001 Member Posts: 119
    edited July 2014

    image

    Thought I'd share the latest in my "bored hospital selfies" series with y'all. This is the 5am edition :)

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  • Mainlady
    Mainlady Member Posts: 12
    edited July 2014

    Mags, I too appreciate the prayers!

    Chaos Rains,  so sorry to hear about your loss.  I lost my mom a month after my diagnosis and she was always my rock.  It is hard!

    maidentired, you & I start the same chemo on the same day.  I also have always been the family caretaker (although older than you, 54!) but I know what you mean about being hard to ask for help!

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  • Wizard50
    Wizard50 Member Posts: 113
    edited July 2014

    Coyote - So sorry for your recurrence and that you have to go through all this crap again.  I'm trying to do everything I can right now so I never have to go through this again and I was left so confused after seeing my MO and RO.  Thank you for your post and advice.  It was exactly what I needed to hear and I feel more comfortable now with the decision to do radiation.  

    JenKay - I love your sense of humor and your positive attitude.  I'm sending out positive thoughts and prayers that you get to go home tomorrow.

    Shirley - I love your hats and I really like the style you knitted for JenKay.  Is it to late to request one?  

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  • RainDew
    RainDew Member Posts: 305
    edited July 2014

    hi friends,

    Curious if anyone else has run a low grade fever (99.5-100.5) almost constantly since chemo?

    My MO said to call if it hits 101 (sometimes hovers at 100.8 but not 101). I am assuming this may be normal, but wondering if I should be worried about it?

    Any one else have this? It's not debilitating, just makes me sleepy...

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  • too_young_momof2
    too_young_momof2 Member Posts: 93
    edited July 2014

    Jen-Kay LOVE the selfies !!!! You look great :)

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  • JenKay2001
    JenKay2001 Member Posts: 119
    edited July 2014

    Raindew, I'd check with your oncologist. Mine was hovering around 100 until it finally shot up to 101 and I finally went in, and now I've been in the hospital for 2 nights and may have to stay a third :(

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  • Jennliza
    Jennliza Member Posts: 184
    edited July 2014

    Hi All, this is my lil one named Pepper...though we call her Pooper b/c she had a lil issue with eating her own poo when she was a puppy...thankfully that stopped but the nickname stuck.

    So I have my first s/e...a mouth sore on my tongue. It looks and feel like I burned my tongue... it's not so bad...but annoying.

    I'm flying to Toronto next wknd to meet the rest of my fiancé's family... A bit nervous to fly...but I guess I ride the subway everyday so am around a lot of germs. Hoping my immune system holds up.

    JenKay - did you get a Neulasta shot? I hope you're out of the hospital soon and feeling better!!!

    image

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  • RainDew
    RainDew Member Posts: 305
    edited July 2014

    thanks JennKay - what a total bummer. I've probably been avoiding the oncologist because I'm scared they will tell me to go in...

    What are they doing for you in hospital? IV antibiotics or something else?

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  • mommymel
    mommymel Member Posts: 78
    edited July 2014

    Jenkay you look good for hospital picks :) 

    Hope to see you out of there soon !!

    I see that you are having the same treatment that I have. How about hercepcine ? Do you take every 3 weeks with the other 2 or is a different regimen.... 

    I'm asking because my second pathology test came back positive for her2 so I'm starting on it next week. Did you do an electrocardiogram before starting ? 

    Sending the Best energy to you 

    Take care 

    XO

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  • JenKay2001
    JenKay2001 Member Posts: 119
    edited July 2014

    Raindew, 

    IV antibiotics, neulasta shots, and keeping me from getting a good night's sleep. :)

    My neutrophils were at 200 and my WBC count was 1 yesterday when I  was admitted. Last night they were at 2.5 and 600 respectively. This morning I'm told that my WBC has gone up but the neutrophils have gone down, so I don't know how that bodes for me going home today. We shall see I guess.

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  • RainDew
    RainDew Member Posts: 305
    edited July 2014

    Ugh, JennKay I am so sorry. Sucks so much to be in hospital rather than home 

    :-(

    Glad things are looking up on the WBC at least. I'm going to hang tight and keep taking temp every hour - if we hit 101 I'll call my MO I guess....

    Good luck!!

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  • JenKay2001
    JenKay2001 Member Posts: 119
    edited July 2014

    Mommymel, 

    I'm getting Herceptin along with my other infusions every 3 weeks. And yes, I did an EKG before I started treatment.

    Thanks for the compliment! :)

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