Chemo in May 2014

I have to back the glutamine B6 regimen - After one treatment I've had zero tingling or numbness in my fingers or toes. Pain in my thigh bones and hips, but no toe or finger involvement - it's always something!

ADKSUMMERS, funny you should say that. When I started treatment I thought "I can do 4, but 6 is too much". By tx 3, I thought "Ok 5, but 6 will do me in." I think we try to negotiate with ourselves, break the horrible into more manageable tasks. I just finished 5 and as much as I don't want 6 I'll be back in that chair in three weeks, don't what to be a quitter. As bad as each treatment had been, I try to tell myself that I've learned something each time to make the next treatment a little better, so the things I can contol I am. B6 for the neuropathy, gatorade to keep my sodium up (water alone was flushing my sodium, ended up in the ER), baked beans work better than any pill pill for constipation, lol, and biotene and other sorbitol products to keep the trush at bay and help the dry mouth/bad taste. I go back for extra fluids which helps with the fatigue, but I know I am still going to have a really awful week after each tx, I can't control this, but just accept it and know there are only 2 more awful weeks for me to endure. Luckily I find my brain has the ability to put the awful behind me during what I call my bounceback week. I've told my MO that its good I have a short memory, or I'd never come back, lol. We just have to keep moving forward and don't look back. Good luck to you, it will all be over soon.

I'm only a tiny bit numb, no tingling, but my arms and legs feel like they're filled with cement. Just rolling over in bed is exhausting. It does not work taking care of my kids like this. I don't have enough energy to get though the day. 

I second that, kids are a lot of work when your 100%. You're a true warrior lespring. 

Today is day 19 after my last treatment. I am *finally* starting to feel better. I do have neurapathy in both my arms and legs, and some cording in my arm from my node biopsy (which is still stretching quite well) but I finally don't feel like I have to sleep all day. I have a couple other things going on but I don't think they're related. Just enough to be an annoyance. 

So good to hear you are feeling better Lespring! I really needed to hear that. I spent the day telling the DH I'm skipping tx 6, but he says no way.

Debiann, I am on day 12 after last chemo. It is such a great feeling to be done. Even the worst days were good because I knew there would be NO MORE POISON in the future.

Now that the worst days are over and I am getting back to living life without the dread of more sick days coming, it feels so good to accomplish daily tasks and it gives me a sense of control of my life. It's such a great feeling.

I am still pretty fatigued though. And my day 10 rash showed up like clockwork. I still have eyebrows and eyelashes and some pubic hair but it's not much and I wonder if this last round will eliminate all remaining hair.

I went to the acupuncturist again today. I really think this has helped reduce side effects. I will continue through radiation because insurance will cover 24 appts in a year, might as well use them. Today she stuck needles in the bottom of my feet right in the middle. Ouch!  That point is supposed to help with the fatigue.

Something I wanted to mention in case it may help others. I started taking probiotics after my 2nd round because I was also on antibiotics because of the face rash. Well I ran out and forgot to restock and I had the worst stomach issues, stomach aches and diarrhea.  I didn't make the connection until after I started the probiotics again.  I think the brand had something to do with it's usefulness too.  It is Dr. Ohhira's Probiotics. They're pretty expensive ($37 for 30 pills) but they were highly recommended (and they don't have to be refrigerated.)

I had read on here (maybe April board) that going into the last infusion many were not as exciting as they would have hoped to be. I thought that was crazy when I read it but it happened to me. I don't understand why unless it's related to the dread of upcoming sick days. I'll be thinking about you, Debiann. When is your last one?

Two down, two to go!

I'm 20 days past my last chemo.  I'm having muscle fatigue and neuropathy in my fingertips, toes, and lower lip and sometimes my tongue. A few of my nails have developed a red to black spot on them. I finished all my drugs yesterday!  Woo Hoo! I have been on Valtrex for shingles since the beginning of treatment, antibiotics and an antihistamine since round 2 because of the rash that shows up on day 10. I hope I don't get sick. I am not one to take meds. I usually look for an alternative so chemo was hard to start because of all the drugs i'd be on. But finally i'm done with that for now and i'm so glad.

I start radiation in September. I've been hanging out at the Fall Rads board.

I'm taking B6. I'll check out the glutamine, thanks.

My neurapathy is mostly gone. I have the discoloration in my nails too. They're gray, and then all the nails on one hand I have a thin black streak. My friend who is on lifetime chemo said if I'd had two more treatments I would have lost my nails. Writinghelps, do I remember that you didn't get the Neulasta shot with the last infusion? I didn't either and the fatigue lasted much longer! 

I was thinking about it and my nurse practitioner suggested it but the doc said no.  So I got it. Interesting though about the fatigue.  I'm so curious about how all these meds work. It's the science geek in me that wants to know.

Congrats debiann! I have my last one a week from Friday. There is no bell

YAY!!!! Congratulations!!!!! 

I'm now 6 weeks PFC and my hair is trying to hard to grow back in! I have white pinfeathers now. LOL