Starting chemo July 2014

JennKay - Its been over six weeks since my last TCH infusion and just this week the nails of my two ring fingers (each hand) started hurting< overnight but several days apart, as though I had smashed them with a hammer. If you recall, I'm the one who had such bad foot syndrome.  Luckily, the feet are well, but very sensitive, I have to be careful to wear comfortable flats all the time.

boxofrockstar: Congrats on having a beautiful healthy baby, and yes, he definitely has more hair than I do!

AJ, are u having expanders put it at time of BMX?

Had my pit tit ectomy today. (Stole the term pit tits from Mags). Sore, but not too bad. I'm hoping after I heal that I will be truly flat. I had enough skin and fat left under  my arms after my double mastectomy to make a new set. Shirley

Shirley glad that is over for you.  Hope recovery goes smoothly and quickly.

Nancy

Lots going on again. Most all of it is pretty much moving forward in the process. The neuropathy isn't so great, however. I have to say that I felt terrible today. Big N and Big D at the same time. Odd how laying still on the cool tile floor actually helps.
Whine. Fortunately, this sort of se isn't life threatening, just miserable.

Congratulations Boxofrockstar! Zachary is a cutie!  So glad you are feeling better and he is here and healthy.  

Shirley I hope you have a speedy recovery.  I know what you mean about extra skin!  Just take it easy and don't try to do too much too soon.  

Who had BMx (or even Mx) prior to chemo and what do those of us having them in December need to do to prepare?  A friend who is a PT responded to my email with, "I'd likely focus on shoulder girdle and core strengthening and stretching pecs. Planks and pushups if done with good form are a quick easy way to work on shoulder girdle and core (as moms multitasking is usually best and most time efficient). You may be able to google pectoralis stretch....as long as you don't have shoulder instability i would probably recommend clasping your hands behind your head with elbows out to the side and either have Mike gently apply overpressure to your arms or you can actively bring elbows back (easier to demonstrate in person than describe)" 

So that to prep body (like with my fatigue I'll be able to do anything ... who knows)  

Now what secrets did you guys have BESIDES a recliner, we don't have one...  I've heard pillow for under arm that has SNB, pillow for seat belt, slippery pj bottoms to get out of bed easier, NON childproof tops for all meds...  what else???

Coyote: hope you're feeling better soon. {{hugs}}

knmtwins- i don't have a recliner either, but DH went out and got me a foam wedge pillow from a surgical supply store and it made a huge difference for me with sleeping and resting and even just getting out of bed.  The slippery pj bottoms  worked against me- i had to fight to stay upright and not slide out of bed so I gave those up pretty quickly.

Just a quick note about the reclining thing. We put a wedge under the head of the mattress on top of the box spring. I used a body pillow under my knees. I was dealing with a BMX, expanders, and gallbladder surgery. It worked well. Sometimes I used even more pillows tucked here and there.   Flat doesn't work.

I have had it in my feet, and now, one month out, I'm having it in my face!

hi Elaine Therese, 

I can't exactly answer your q, but I am now 4 weeks after my last TC, and all my eyebrows have fallen out SINCE!

Eyelashes too... Made it thru chemo with half, now they've disappeared. I am wondering how long it takes them to come back? I miss them!!

kebab -- wow! a quarter of an inch! You're way ahead of me. Yeah, my eyelashes are gone, too. I wear fakes on the days I teach -- I have a problem making the two sides match, but I don't think that people really notice because I wear glasses. My sons with autism are still kind-of confused by my wig/cancer hats/baldness, but there's no way to explain cancer to kids who are that non-verbal. My daughter was assigned "The Fault in Our Stars" in her English class. She can't believe she has to read cancer lit while her mom is sick. "My life is depressing enough," she whines.

BTW, I hope you're doing well enough to continue your treatment; if I remember correctly, you've had a few delays along the way.

Thanks Elaine. It looks like I'm well enough to begin cycle 5 this week after a week's delay. They tell me that after the 4th cycle on this protocol it takes longer and longer to get back to normal. We'll see how much longer I can manage it.

I had to read the book this fall. My daughter picked it up from the library and read it, so I felt I needed to read it too. I sobbed through most of it, just thinking about how she must have felt reading it. It opened up the door to lots of good conversations for us though, so even though it was difficult, it was a good thing. I'm not sure I could watch the movie though. Too close to home for me.

As for hair growth/eyebrows/eyelashes, I know everyone is different but I can tell you that when I did ACT chemo, I finished in September and went to a Christmas party in December hat-free (because I had enough hair grown back) AND wearing mascara for the first time. I was so excited! It was the highlight of my evening... I remember it vividly.    So, that was about 2-1/2 months post finishing Taxol for me.