Starting chemo September 2014

Tobycc - I'm craving sweet more than usual since started chemo. I've been craving cup cakes, cream puffs, even made brownies at home. My hubby is bribing me to go for a walk then I can have some dessert. Works for me! LOL

Thanks all for sharing your side effects with me. It seems doable, if unpleasant.

I am having eye issues as well. Either they are dry and itchy, or pouring water like I am crying. Doesn't seem to be a happy medium. Drippy nose is making me crazy too! I carry eyedrops and kleenex with me everywhere I go.

I too have been craving the sweets. My weight is down 12 pounds in 3 weeks, and the doc is really encouraging me to eat, but I don't think she meant cupcakes, Oreos or Chips Ahoy! Really need to pick out some lunch snacks for the kiddo that I don't like to ward off temptation. Planning to hit the produce market today, and get some fruit to satisfy the sweet tooth. Grapes just don't sound as yummy as cookies.

Hair is shedding everywhere, and my scalp is so itchy and hurty. Thinking that this weekend at some point I will have what's left buzzed off. Having such a hard time with making that call. I think that is the point where I will have to admit to the whole world that I have cancer.

I am planning on keeping the picc line the whole time. It's only been 2 days, but so far so good. Use Glad Press & Seal to wrap it when I shower, then put a gauze sleeve over it to keep it from flopping around. It's on the inside of my upper left arm, and I hardly notice it is there. Getting the chest port freaked me out way to much.

Feeling ok today. Ended up taking my son to group last night. The theme was worry, and we made little worry dolls. My son had a blast with his friends and it was a good message for me to hear, as well. Stayed up way too late chatting with a friend, but got to sleep in a bit this morning. Only thing on the agenda today is Neulasta/dressing change/picc flush, and getting some healthy groceries in the house. Planning to squeeze a nap in there somewhere, and get my butt to bed at a decent hour tonight. My oldest son is coming in to town this weekend, and I want to rest up so I have the energy to do some fun things with my boys.

Kaya, I send my DH to the store with pictures also! He tries so hard, but there are some things he just can't find in the store. He comes home with odd additions to the list, too.

My appetite is shot for about a week post infusion. My DH is bringing me home a fruit smoothie with a protein boost today. I have no problem with the hydration, but eating food is so difficult. Extremely exhausted, too.

Badhairday, My MO said just to eat what I feel like eating. Of course she would prefer healthy foods, but she told me if I want to just eat cookies, bread or muffins, to go ahead. The one thing she doesn't want me to do is lose weight while on chemo. I may have to ask her about the appetite stimulant she has me on. I put on 3 pounds between the first and second infusion. It could be the exhaustion and lack of exercise, too. I'm not burning as many calories per day.

I felt so much better once my head was buzz cut. It was much better to shed short hairs, than my longer hair. My scalp is still tingling; very irritating. I had the same issue with it as Badhairday... it meant I looked sick to other people. I thought a bald mom would freak my kids out, but it didn't.

Studies show 50% of chemo patients put on weight during the treatment process. Guess I know which 50% I fit in.

Wishing you all minimal SE!

Poppy - you are to funny about the pictures.  I thought I was the only one in the world that has a husband that can't shop without pictures or without me being on the other end of the phone.  He can only remember one thing at a time and sometimes he forgets that!!!!!

Toby, The best part of the day starts when that wig comes off!!!!!  Hug your twins and never let them go!!!! 

mom decided to get buzz cut, was a lil hard and emotional just looking forward to when she beats cancer! She decided to go to a cheap place where no one knew her. good thing was that it was pretty quick we were in and out 15 minutes. 

Kris, I am so glad your infusion went well! Even happier that you aren't experiencing that horrible nausea. I hope it stays that way. My MO warned me that the fatigue would be the SE that would increase as I work my way through the infusions.

My DH is an excellent cook, and usually a good shopper. He just was no clue why I buy certain brands. He is excellent at choosing ripe, tasty fruit, good bread and ice cream.

Jmo, I avoided my usual place when I got my buzz cut, too. I just didn't want to think about cancer every time I walked in the door of the shop where I  usually get my hair cut. I hardest part of hair loss for me, is now I look sick on the outside.

Toby and LARock, I hope your infusions go smoothly tomorrow. My second infusion was so much easier than the first. The port made it so much easier and I knew what to expect. Since I met with my MO and a pharmacologist oncologist before my infusion, I received new protocols to manage the side effects.

Wishing you all the best!

Poppy

kayarose - yes my aunt was told no fresh fruits or veggies but since she is stubborn 😊 she didnt listen,  her onc told her same thing fear of bacteria

My moms doc said no fresh fruit or veggies from day 5 through 12 after chemo. Good compromise i think mom loves her fruit n veggies

Sorry you got the wrong dose of Neulasta. How awful!

My MO also warned me about fresh fruit, veggies and salads. I like salads, so I wash the greens very thoroughly. I peel the fresh veggies, such as cucumbers and carrots. I wash and peel the fruit as well. Products are available to help wash produce and remove bacteria, dirt and so on. I believe Bed, Bath and Beyond sells it.  Everyone on chemo should avoid the salad bars. I worked as a health inspector, and many, many food poisoning incidents were traced back to salad bars.

Jmo, good advice to avoid the fresh produce when our immune system is at it's most vulnerable.

Kaya, LMBO... your husband not knowing what a pear looks like! Regarding the runny nose... I am beginning to think my runny nose might be because I have lost the hair from the inside of my nose. Maybe TMI, but it sure surprised me.

Poppy

Herceptin causes the runny nose - it just runs without relief all the time no matter how many time you blow your nose.    And if you're on taxol, then you have bloody sore nose that bleeds and runs nonstop.   Also, the running nose also causes post nasal drip which will make your throat sore. I go through this every week with my chemo. I use the neti pot to ease the nose sores and bleeding along with nasal gel. I also gargle with warm water and salt constantly. So hopefully KayaRose it's not a cold; just more annoying chemo SEs.

Rose, I just wanted to mention that the pharmacology onco that I met with changed my meds so that I could sleep better. My infusion was also on Tuesday, and it has made a world of difference. I take my second dose of dex at 4pm, instead of 8pm. I also take a different anti-nausea med at 9pm, which helps me sleep. I hope you can find a good solution to your inability to sleep. We need sleep to recover.

Daniella, that's great info about Herceptin! Amazing how much info we get from each other as opposed to what we get from the docs.

Hi KayaRose, 

I'm on Aprepitant, Ondansetron, Dexamethasone, and Prochlorazine for nausea. I take these on a schedule for the first 5 days (including day of chemo) and the Prochlorazine is "as needed". The first round of chemo I didn't take the "as needed" as much and ended up with a fair bit of nausea, so this round I'm going for all the "as needed" and it's better. My oncologist also prescribed Rabeprazole for heartburn as he suspected that some of my heartburn from the first round could be causing nausea. I stopped taking it this morning because I'm constipated and it is one of the side effects of that med....but hey, it's probably a side effect of all the meds! 

Kaya, I am doing much better fighting off the nausea than with the first infusion. So far, it's still only been a few days. My new protocol is Scopalamine patch (the same on as for motion sickness), Compazine (10mg) every 6 hours, Zofran (8mg) every 8 hours. 4mg of Zofran wasn't enough, so it's been increased to 8mg. You might want to add to your Compazine, not eliminate it.

Don't wait, call your MO. Mine made adjustments and called the prescriptions in. You shouldn't have to feel nauseous.

Poppy

I have been so lucky not to have any bad problems with nausea, so far. I guess whatever they put in that IV bag does a bang up job. I've had a little very mild nausea, and I've used a (ahem) "herbal" remedy my daughter brought me. I must say it's highly effective in relieving nausea and it even helps with the heartburn. The upside is that it makes me feel generally better all over, stimulates my appetite, and makes food taste a lot better. It's been a long time since I've indulged in weed, and I'd forgotten all the other effects it produces. Suffice it to say, I'm rapidly becoming a big advocate for medical marijuana. Stupid that it's still illegal in so many places, including this state.

I'll just chime in with the others that my doc also said to stay away from fresh, raw food. He said everything should be canned or cooked. It's just as well, I've had a lot of problems with diarrhea, and I'm sure a big salad or some fresh fruit would only exacerbate it.

I live in the Dallas area, and to hear the media tell it we're all gonna die of ebola anyway, so maybe we should just throw caution to the wind. All ice cream all the time!

Poppy, kay a...thanks for the info on the fruits and veggies.  I had not been told that ( that I recall)

Will head to bed bath and beyond tomorrow. We make smoothies too of whole berries, apples, kale, protein etc

So glad Poppy they found a cocktail that is working...sounds like kris you are doing a bit better with nausea also

Rose, bad hair....sending you prayers and thoughts of better day tomorrow

The twin reunion could not have gone better....was up way too late though. Number 2 tx down. Made it to second base, or the 50 yard line!!!  Smooth...talked about night sweats...MO. Thinks it was the recent hysterectomy, lumpectomy, and now all the chemo.  We don't want estrogen now......gave me something stronger for the dreaded bone pain. Shot tomorrow then some shopping with the boys, football hoping to make church Sunday with them..

Sybil....whatever works!!!  Over 25 years since I " indulged". I would be scared now

I hope to see Gone Girl also...read the book too.  

When did everyone's fuzz from buzz (hey, rhyming here Jean) come out? I have lost 7 pounds since I started chemo, but I had gained ten from the surgeries. 

Ilovepugs...good to hear from you!!!  I encouraged three other in tx room today to find a support group online. One lady has tongue cancer, gentleman with esophagus, and another woman with a blood disorder.

Blessings to all of you....sleep soon as soon as I know boys made it safe to where they are going. Man, I don't worry when they are in college for some reason!

Sybil, whatever works girl. I'm like the others - it's been too long and I'd be scared to go there.

Tobycc, glad you had a good day and that you're with your boys. I don't think a Mom ever stops worrying. I've lost most of my fuzz, particularly on the sides. Still have some on top but that's rapidly disappearing as well.

I haven't read Gone Girl but would like to see the movie. As with most of you, my MO recommended staying away from unwashed fruits & veggies and under/uncooked protiens such as sushi and tuna. It hasn't been much of a problem as none of that sounds good to me anyway.

I had treatment #2 today. Loved my nurse. She placed the IV closer to my wrist which was SO much more comfortable than last time. She also slowed the meds way down. It took 5 1/2 hours but it was worth it. They had already cut my Benadryl in half from last time and, even at that, we only got 1/2 in. Just makes me loopy and sleepy. Like Tobycc, I met several other patients: one young guy has throat cancer and another woman I met has MS and was there for steroid treatments. It was a pleasant day. DH will give me my Neulasta shot tomorrow. I've also asked DH and DD to get flu shots on my behalf. 

Dong okay so far but I'm tired, nauseas and have diarrhea. Thank goodness it's a weekend and I've got a couple of days to be a slug if needed.