Starting Chemo in April 2014

I slept last night! Ok, I took a Benadryl around 9 pm figuring, what the heck, they gave me one in the morning before my infusion so it must be ok.  I went to bed at 11:00pm and at 11:30 realized I had not placed an order for futon to be delivered to my daughter s dorm room that was needed by today so I got up and took care of that.  Went back to bed at midnight and only got up once to pee and checked the clock a few times in between hot flashes but I consider all of that a good night!  All day meeting today so I am glad I slept more than an hour or two.  A first for me on stinking steroid night!

As for the hair....a little more fuzz growing half way through taxol.  Still losing eyelashes and brows are now nonexistent.  Hairs on chin and lip growing, of course!

I have been up off and on all night as well due to the steroids.  Came home from chemo and slept for most of the afternoon ... Then woke up with some energy.  Should have energy today.  Tonight will be a toss up.... Might or might not sleep.  Then joint and muscle pain will start Thursday night to keep me awake and that will last until probably Saturday.  

But this is the last time I have to go through this which is helping somewhat.  Doesn't make me sleep though!

I am also concerned with this breast thing I have going on.  Wondering if I can have radiation if it is still seeping fluid (probably not) and if there is still cellulitis (who knows).  This will delay radiation and of course I have been worried about that... How much of a delay between chemo and radiation is too much?   Have visions of rogue cancer cells that still might be left in there setting up shop elsewhere in my body if this is delayed too much :-(. 

Steroids plus worry do not allow for much sleeping!g

good morning all!

Clarrrn beautiful pic!!  You look fantastic!!

Today is round 3/6 taxol at 2 pm. Yesterday I had my bloodwork and triage. I explained how my side effects though not bad are increasing. Aches, pains in muscles and joints, increased fatigue, continued flirting with constipation although I am keeping things moving, some abdominal aches and tingly tongue. Oh yes, I Aldo hear up like a furnace most nights which wakes me up. Do all of these SEs sound familiar to anyone?  

The nurse told me that the aches and fatigues will probably increase throughout treatment although she does not suspect that it will get as intense as it was with taxotere

Ugh!

I've slept fairly well the last few evenings but today it's back to steroids and Benadryl. That = sleep for 3 hours after infusion then be wired and tired all night!!  Lol

I've been on short term disability since my surgery in March and this ends sept 17 so now it's time to submit paperwork for long term disability. Funny how the thought of returning to work stresses me right out.

I don't think I can handle my job until all treatment is completed. I remember all of the stress and pressure which I used to thrive in. Right now it's hard to get out of bed in the morning and stay focused on things. Being off allows me to do things at my own pace - stress free - and focus on me

I think back to when this started. I chatted with my onc and told him that I wanted to continue working. I'm glad that he explained to me why I shouldn't.

Have a great day!!

Thanks FBN-  with the time difference,  we will be in the chair at the same time.  I made the switch to long term disability this month,  no way I can handle the stress, mentally or physically!  Not to mention the ICU germs!  I say fill out the paperwork.   We are lucky to have the option to pay into and use LTD.  Right now the more we can focus on taking care of ourselves the better!

I honestly don't know if I can do my old job after everthing,  but again,  one day at a time!

Oh steroids....I post more w

I don't have time to write much today, but wanted you all know I'm thinking of you...wishing you a day of positive energy!

Clarrn...you look great!  Who needs a wig or a hat when you look that good  

SwissMiss,  geez.  You can't seem to catch a break!  I would call and demand results...no way should they make you wait that long!  It's much too stressful.  Let us know how you are doing.

Ddkath,  I hear ya on the arm thing.  I swear mine weigh a hundred pounds apiece!  What's up with THAT??? I hope this fatigue and muscle ache go away when the chemo ends.

Sharon,  glad to hear you're doing well.  Looking forward to the end of this treatment.  Only three more infusions to go! 

Saw my PCP yesturday...he prescribed compression stockings for me.  Nice.  I am now officially an old lady!  Haha!  My MO ordered an ultrasound on my leg...he's worried that I may have developed a blood clot. Fun.

Wishing all if you a better week!  Hugs,  lilyrose

congrats ever!  

I also had someone make contact with me and it was a special moment.  She asked how I was.

It's a special connection we'd all rather not have, but since we do, it's nice when they reach out.

Funny - Tuesday went to dinner at a little diner and a lady and her husband came in - I had my baseball cap on and she walked up to me and said "i had that hair cut two years ago - it gets better - hang in there"  It meant alot.

yay for finishing everforward . Now rest and start healing. 

I am one that had a double mastectomy 5 years ago and got breast cancer again in the left over 2 % tissue. My cancer was just in breast tissue this time Also. . Stinks 

In the hoke with neck pain from taxol. . Boo. 3 more times then I can start the healing. 

Footballnut - I slept after chemo day also.  Took me awhile but I slept 7 hours straight with no wakeful moments and very little dreaming that I remember.  HOORAAAAYY!

Didn't go to the gym but did take the dogs for a walk and an additional 20 minutes wandering around the woods trying to get one of the dogs to stop chasing the tom turkey that was flying from tree to tree.  What a great sight.

congrats to the sisters finishing up! I'm so happy for you! Seems like a few of us are on similar schedules- 3 more taxol for me! Of course, perjeta and herceptin for a year, but will deal with that when I get there!

agree with you ladies that the fatigue is really coming on now- and that the one welcome gift it comes with is sleeping better at night! I've been passed out good for the first time in months.

Tumor board says no rads for me. Scared about that, and yet relieved in some strange way- I'm tired. I know I'm too tired to seek yet another opinion on that. 3 say no, one says yes- so I'm not getting it.

Implant exchange bumped up to mid October. Can't wait to get the canon balls out of me.

Taking a week offf treatment to vacation with family- will have last infusion 9/2. Hope some of you guys will still be here on boards with me. It's better with people who understand!

Hang in there lovelies, we are almost all there!

Sandra

in reading your posts I see everyone talk about fatigue. I'm happy to hear its normal, but wish we didn't have this at the end. Kind of makes the end a little anti-climatic. Yay, I'm done! Too bad I can't walk to the laundry room to put a load in. Lol. And I see FBN talk about going to the gym? Girl, you are my hero! I'm beating myself up about cleaning up the house and feeling out of breath. The other day I went to the grocery store then went swimming and I felt like I completed a triathalon. It's like a deep muscle fatigue and not the kind that I feel like I can push myself on. When I'm done, I'm done. 

Well, enough about that. I'm 10 days PFC and I have some hair- there's something to be said for that. hope you are all feeling great and congrats to those who are finishing up! I love the stories about the survivors, they all make me cry. Oh and Clarrn, you look great bold and bald!!!! I hope I look that good when it all starts coming in evenly. 

ddkath- Thanks!

Mscaruso- I am taking the 20th off for a week vacation,  so I will finish on the 3rd of September.   We'll keep each other company! 

Timbuktu - I can absolutely relate to having to rest while doing laundry - I still have some to fold from 2 days ago!  This darn fatigue is soooo annoying.

Anybody else starting with tamoxifen, arimidex or similar?  One more thing to add to the mix.  I thought hot flashes were a thing of the past - guess I was wrong.