Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin

I second and third everyone's advice to have a driver the first time - the benedryl effects everyone different but it made me drowsy and although I could have driven myself home in a pinch I wouldn' t have felt real comfortable with it and I only lived 10 minutes from the center.  However everyone is different in how they react to benedryl which to me was the only culprit on driving.

Hot flashes - just like you Blownaway  - I had severe hot flashes prior to BC when I went through menopause.  I suffered with them for 2 years before I couldn't take it anymore and got HRT - a patch - had 18 months and then I found the lump.  Even with that I had mild ones but at least I could sleep.  Started back up within a week of removing the patch after I found the lump and have not subsided.  They wake me about 4 times a night and a few times during the day.   MO also gave me effexor in the beginning of all this and it also made me feel so weird that I knew it was not going to be my solution.  I get the same shoulder shrug when I ask what else can I try.  Right now I can't even try anything as my liver enzymes are still so out of whack that I don't want to add anything to the mix until that is sorted out.  I have an MRI scheduled for Friday morning.  I will say that they haven't gotten any worse on Armidex - at least not yet.  I keep hoping that eventually my body will adjust but it didn't seem like it was prior to HRT - so I don't hold much hope on that.  

lago - my DH came with me too - always watched a downloaded movie on his ipad.  I ended up talking to the guy who usually sat next to me while he wife slept through the infusion.

I could have definitely driven myself, and actually did to the last one.  Our daughter's dog escaped (we were babysitting him) and my husband had to catch him so he did that and I left for the center. DH showed up after he caught the dog. They took my BP and it was high because the dog likes to get in the pond which has alligators, or romp in the woods which has snakes and a Florida panther (and we live in the suburbs!), so I got Benadryl and Ativan.  Still drove home - we stopped for lunch on the way home too.  No problem, but Benadryl doesn't make me sleepy.  I am probably one of those "may cause excitability in children" people they refer to on the label, lol!

I had a total hyst/ooph nine years prior to dx.  Had wicked hot flashes multiple times a day and night, anyone looking at me can tell I am having one - I haven't slept through the night since 2001.  Mine did not get worse on either chemo or AI - they have stayed the same.  Interestingly, the only thing that has lessened them has been the change in eating that I made in January to an anti-inflammatory diet.

I do believe diet makes a difference. Spicy gives me hot flashes. Wine and I think caffeine can too. Also strenuous activity…but if I'm working out who cares if I'm a bit warmer 

I had my last chemo Wednesday so in 3 weeks Herceptin only! So excited. I looked at the bag and I've been getting it over 30 minutes and I noticed many of you did yours over 90 minutes. Does it make a difference if I'm only doing the H? 

Also, I was peri menopausal prior to chemo and I get serious hot flashes now but as my dh says, you haven't been acting crazy or emotional, lol so not sure if it's the steroids and chemo or actually hot flashes.

pinkninja9560 I was perimenopausal before chemo. My hot flashes were worse on chemo but still not that bad compared to others. I found they were not as bad at all after chemo even on Anastrozole. They even got better in a year. I also never had mood swings.

Menopause is so different for everyone. 

Blownaway - I had my last TCHP in Sept 2013 and my last Herceptin alone in September 2014.  I have three fingernails that still look like your ring & baby fingers.  And my ring fingers hurt like the very devil.  I did not have the problem until the summer of 2014 so I have to believe Herceptin alone is the culprit.  My derm doc has diagnosed pseudamonas infection under the lifting nails & I've been putting antibiotic drops under the nails every day.  It seems to be taking forever.

Thanks for sharing your fingernail pics.  I will be extra diligent about the tea tree oil!

I have not noticed anyone having earache ... mine have been not very bad, and are intermittent ... but definitely a new issue for me.  Of course, I don't know if it is related to TCH (I am approaching second round) or just coincidental ...

Wow Lago - I guess I'm getting off pretty light! How many TCH infusions did you do?

armamp95, I got cold like symptoms after every tx. It took me until round 3 to figure out it was one of my bodies reactions to TCH. Of course that is the round that I got an ear infection and ruptured ear drum. It all happened  in 24 hours! Not saying that to scare you, but if your ear still hurts when you go back for your next tx, make sure your MO takes a look in your ears to make sure nothing is going on.

lago and blownaway thanks a bunch for the nail pictures!!! A volunteer in my center (a survivor too), told me about her lifted fingernails but I had never had imagined that they will be looked like that. Oh my. I read about the tea tree oil but I'm ER PR + so I don't do anything anymore but clip the nails. I have 4 out of my 6 infusions and the darkened nail beds have depressed me. I feel like a drama queen now after seeing your pictures . Lol.

I can not tolerate the cold cap and nail icing. I do wear thick socks during the infusion and hide under 2 blankets too. I really force myself to chew ice during infusion so my oral intake will be good days after chemo. So far so good...:-)

Thank you so much lago. Nails fall off won't matter me as long as I could get through all these TCHJ rounds....2 more to go for TCHJ..... Woot woot...:-)

Cassie, YMMV is true - but, as a point of reference - I was 44 when I did chemo and was having a normal period.  Had my last one 3 weeks after my first chemo.  I don't recall when my hot flashes started - perhaps after my 3rd or 4th infusion??? 

Haven't had an official period since chemo but I have had abnormal bleeding related to tamoxifen and endometrial polyps.  I thought it was my period coming back, but apparently not. 

Lago - thanks for the tip on Bucky 40 Blinks. I've been wearing a sleep mask for years and I also apply my Latisse at night. My old sleep mask laid flat against my eyes and I felt like it might rub off my Latisse and even worse, spread it around a little. The Bucky mask doesn't even touch my eyes. I ordered it from Amazon.

Thanks for the feedback re: chemopause.  I don't think I was anywhere near menopause yet, so I'll be curious to see what all my body does as I move through chemo and then Tamoxifen.

it's been 6 weeks since my last tch now I'm doing herceptin only every 3 weeks and daily radiation. How long does it take before the swelling and fluid retention starts to go away?   I take lasik but I swear I think I am swelling as much now as ever!