Starting Chemo October 2014

Happy Halloween,

I had my second infusion on Tuesday and am feeling better than the last one.  MO added an infusion of compazine after the chemo mix because my stomach was upset at night after day one chemo the last time.  This has seemed to help quite a bit.  I didn't have nausea so much as an unsettled stomach.  It has been less so this time.  On about day nine last time, I was so hungry, I couldn't believe it.  I'm following the meds and not having a problem.  I have one small mouth sore but not a big deal.  

One step at a time, that's my motto.

Zuri,  Welcome to the board.  The best thing for you to do is go back and read what other ladies have done.  My best advice to you is to drink, drink and drink some more.  I cannot tell you how important drinking is.  Zofran will become your best friend.  Make sure you take your meds on time and continue with them, however they are prescribed.  If nausea gets to you first, you will find it hard to get rid of it.  I took my Zofran every 6 hours and even before I ate.  I usually don't eat a big meal, but do eat 6-8 small meals a day and always start out with crackers and Ginger Ale as my main dish.  Even when I left for work in the morning, I made sure I had my drink and crackers.  I didn't have any nausea the last three infusions, which I am grateful for.  However, I had the nasty metal taste and even lost my taste at times, but for a plus, I did gain my sense of smell. I started my Claritan and Aleve two days before the infusion and took them for a week afterward and had very little bone pain.  I made sure I had a piece of hard candy in my mouth when they ran certain drugs through my lines, so the metallic taste wasn't terrible.  One thing, I wish I would have done was keep my toenails painted.  My fingernails, I used Hard as Nails and didn't have a problem with them.  Toenails, however, I have two that have turned black and have an appointment with my podiatrist next week.  First and foremost, take care of yourself.  We are here for you.  The ladies here are amazing and have great advice. 

happy halloween everyone!

- Becca9800, you are right - it feels awesome to feel good  - especially when you've been feeling lousy. I start round 3 on Tues, and plan on enjoying this beautiful weekend. Becca, your pre-pubescent comment cracked me up. I'm getting younger!

- ml143333 - Mandy, thanks for sharing what your MO said about the Neurlasta bone pain/timing. I was freaked out a little because mine didn't hit hard until day 6, so glad I'm "normal"

- Leto - my MO and I took Compazine off my drug list because the headache and constipation were so severe. He let me double on Zofran if needed since I tolerate it so well. Trial and error, right?

- Kerensa75 - how's the hair? I couldn't stand the coming out in clumps part and got sheared - it was best for me. Weird choice to have to make, isn't it?

I hope everyone has a peaceful weekend. Linda

Me too, Holly, I didn't need the narcotic pain killers after either of two surgeries to remove my breast tumor but boy I did after the Neulasta shot. Just for a couple of days though. NO reason to ever suffer with all the wonderful meds on the market.

ilovecoasters, call your cancer treatment center and tell them how crappy you're feeling. They can help you over this hump. The valuable lesson I learned after my first round.... I felt awful for five days, just miserable! I thought this was to be expected. I was way wrong. After five days I went in for a scheduled appointment and when they saw how sick I was they asked why I didn't call. They loaded me up with a bag of IV fluids and anti-nausea meds and I swear I left feeling like a million bucks. Please call, don't suffer. 

Good Morning! Day 20 and the eyebrows are shedding. Interesting though that it has started first with the stray hairs, the ones that should have been tweezed two weeks ago! I look like I just had a wax. If only this could be the extent of the loss. I treated myself to a facial yesterday, it was wonderful! My skin was really bad, not from chemo but from general neglect. Looking at myself in the mirror left me feeling ugly, I needed to do something to allow myself to feel better. The facial is just what the doctor ordered, I do feel better! 

So, riddle me this Batman, when the usual stool softeners e.g. Correctol, Dulcolax are too strong what does one do to achieve normalcy? I would be feeling 100% perfect if.....

Round 2 is Wednesday, I am not looking forward to it. 

Hoping you all are well and conquering all SEs thrown at you. 

Ilovecoasters - glad you are feeling better.  Just take one day at a time!

I'm gearing up for chemo treatment #2 on Friday!  Feeling good this week so far. 

A friend came over yesterday with a surprise for me.  She had 100 pink bracelets made up with my name on them along with a bible verse (Phillipians 4:13).  I was just so blown away that she would do that for me.  She and her husband were wearing one and she had already given some to her family.  He mother did this for her when she was battling BC in 2009.  I was just so overwhelmed with emotion that someone would do that for me. 

While she and her husband were there, my 13 year old son came downstairs and she explained them to him.  He reached right in the bag and put one on.  I just wanted to cry.  He also took a few and put them in his book bag to take to school to give to a few friends.  He told my friend about how he was ready to shave his head when we told him about chemo but now will wear the bracelet since I probably won't lose my hair.

I went online to Facebook and put up a picture of the bracelets and got an amazing outpouring of friends that want one.  All I can say is WOW! 

I hope everyone has a great day!

Happy Monday everyone. I had my 2nd infusion and labs on Thursday and the MO told me I could reduce the steroids for days 2 and 3 after chemo. Thank goodness - it was really causing dizziness and headaches. During the Neulasta visit on Friday, my white blood cell counts were high, which is to be expected from the Neulasta, but my Blood Pressure was low. I've always had a normal blood pressure reading until then. I've been monitoring it all weekend and I'm hoping it goes back up. It's not dehydration - I've been drinking so much water, I could float around the house. Anyone else reporting low blood pressure after chemo?

Becca - been there! I tried prunes, prune juice, blackstrap molasses, Ducolax after chemo round 1. Needed something more regular so I talked to my MO who said NO to enema, suggested Psyllium Husk (natural dietary supplement) which gagged me so he said try MiraLax. I can put this in my morning juice/tea ( God, I miss coffee! It tastes like ashes!) and not notice it. 5 days regular, so... I use generic brand and add may put Ducolax back in rotation after chemo this week. Steroids and anti nausea meds aggravate constipation with me.mak 

Had my first infusion on Halloween. It was a very long day with my veins not cooperating. I will be getting the port put in. All in all I have felt fine just tummy felt off kilter not nauseous just weighted down. The anti nausea stuff I took the first 3 days worked well. My energy level seemed what is norm for most, when I am tired I sit it down. I just thank God for carrying me because it is a lot to deal with. My chemo bag of stuff came in handy to keep me occupied and not room watching so much with me being a newbie and the headphones for my music were a must. I normally have dry skin but since the first treatment my skin is like the dessert and my hair feels like straw. Over moisturizing a must now. I really think working out is one reason I have been doing well, it takes away a lot of my stress and refocuses me of only for an hour. Just looking forward to moving ahead and getting better. I pray for us all as we continue with our own personal journey through this trial of life. Have a good week 

Speedcat88 - I don't know what it is about the Hard as Nails but I have used it throughout chemo and have not had an issue with fingernails.  However, I have two toenails that have turned black and have an appointment with my podiatrist to take care of these things.  Did you get snow?????

Cold and rainy here, but the fireplace is going.  I did not use polish on my toes and that was foolish.  I have the toes next to the big ones that grow funky toenails, (my son calls them Raptor toenails) and now they have turned black.  I am headed Wednesday to see my podiatrist. 

I love coasters, sit down. Take a deep breath. And be mindful of where you are right this very second. You can do this. I have 100 percent confidence in you. You'll most likely be like me, my second infusion would actually much easier than my first. I was able to anticipate the side effects and do what I needed to do to lessen them. You are a beautiful strong lady.

when things tend to be coming across as overwhelming, it's generally because we are thinking about the past, or thinking about the future. If you focus on what's going on at right this very second, you know that you are capable of handling anything.

every single one of us is here for you, I will be sending you positive vibes today tomorrow and for the rest of your time in chemo land

Everyone keeps telling me I need to develop a more positive mindset, be stronger, take one day.....I just don't know how.  I'm frustrated that I'm not feeling myself, feeling robbed  of living.  I haven't left my house except for doctor appointments since 9/18. Friends or  their kids have been sick off and on, so no visits. feeling like a recluse.  I'm sorry to whine, so sorry.   

I love coasters, it doesn't have anything to do with trying to force yourself to be more positive. The way that I've learned to handle times in the past where I have felt absolutely overwhelmed. Is too literally take every second every minute every hour and focus on it as it comes. The more that I think about the past, and the more that I think about the future, the more overwhelmed and out of control I felt. 

you are absolutely not whining. See if you can go sit outside for even just 2 or 3 minutes today.I tried to sit outside every day even if its just for 5 or 10 minutes. Makes me feel a little bit better