Starting Chemo October 2014

Leto, I did sign up.  Class is 11/17.  I am hoping to connect with other women in my area.  Thanks for talking me off the ceiling today.  

Trying not to freak out.  I just got a call from my MO wanting me to come in today as my liver enzymes are high.  I asked the nurse if I should be worried and she really didn't say.  She said that it could be from the chemo and Neulasta or it could be a lab error.  She said if it was still high when we get the results tomorrow that more blood work could be ordered or imaging (CT or MRI maybe). 

Now I am freaked out that the cancer has spread to my liver.  I haven't even gotten to my second chemo treatment yet.

KiLin Thank you for the response. I have been worrying about this all weekend because the readings were so low. I'm sure my little bp monitor is not as accurate, and I'm probably worrying for nothing. I finally got readings back in the 90s this morning after drinking a liter of Gatorade and some Pedialyte yesterday. Did you ever return to a normal BP level? I wonder too, if the headaches I get are caused by this.

Leto- I normally have low blood pressure but after reading your post I am wondering is it too low and is that why I am having these head aches and mild dizziness. I remember they gave me a packet with the Neulasta information but I was kind of freaked out about the possible side effects and was still wrapping my mind around getting a port in the next few days to read with any comprehension. I will revisit my info when I get to the house. I am so overloaded with information, I look to the posts to help me weed through some of the stuff.

Keep posting, this is helping me so much more than reading clinical trial information.

Leto - Even though I have one more chemo to go (last one tomorrow - woohoo!), my blood pressure has seemed to improve the last time or two.  Might be coincidental, since I haven't been doing anything different.  I wouldn't expect the low blood pressure to cause headaches, but dizziness would be a logical consequence.

See if your doctor is worried - mine isn't, and I've asked about my low BP.  He says it's a side effect of the chemo.  So you might not need to be worried even if it is low.

Oddly enough, my migraines have gone away during chemo, as have my more garden-variety headaches.  It might be due to the anti-depressant the onc prescribed to help with my neuropathy, since those are often prescribed for migraine prevention.  Anyway, it's nice to have a small silver lining!

I hope you can find a solution for your headaches!  

Mandy - do whatever works for you to get some good rest tonight! Scanxiety - I've read this is the term for what we will probably experience and we will get better at handling it. How frustrating for you to finally be getting your Treatment routine down and have this come up. Sounds like you chose good medical care as they are taking care of you. We got your back. Linda

Mandy try not to worry too too much, I know it's hard not to. I think chemo really messes with the normal functioning of everything, especially the liver. I hope you have answers soon. 

I have to echo wendee, the key to coping IS focusing on the moment. My 17 year-old son, my youngest child, was killed in a car accident 3 years ago and I NEVER thought I'd get through that dark, deep and overwhelming despair. The ONLY way I found to cope was not to look ahead, it was too sad, too scary to think about the rest of my life without my boy. So my goal was just to get thru the next 5 minutes, that was all I could handle for the longest of time. I have emerged on the other side, I can smile again, I can sing along with the radio again, I can find joy in living, All things I was sure I'd never want again. 

ilovecoasters, you CAN do this, you can! I remind myself of the droves who have gone before me. If they can survive this treatment, so can I! Start small, don't set yourself up to fail. If you are feeling physically well today (it's so hard to be positive when you feel miserable), start with telling yourself I can and I will do this. Reaffirm it frequently throughout the day, say it to others. Each time you successfully navigate a small hurdle give yourself a pat on the back. Do nice things for yourself, take a bubble bath, get a manicure or pedicure or a facial. Buy that book or see the movie you've been eyeing. Just treat yourself. Get out of the house and into that Florida sunshine, even if for a few minutes. I only dream about living in FL, in small doses the sun is so healing, rejuvenating. You CAN do this but it's your call on which mindset you'll do it with. You ARE in control of that! ((((HUGS))))

Becca, thank you. I know I need to get out of the house, it's part of the problem.  Yesterday was a very dark day but I made it. You're right.  I'm so focused on what's next instead of what's right now.  

I am so sorry to hear that you lost your son. My heart breaks for you.  I have a good friend who lost her youngest when he was 16. I just can't imagine..,.

As far as living in Florida, it was always my dream.  I had lived in NJ until I was 21.  I packed my car the day after I graduated college in 1991 and drove.  I knew nobody. Fresh start.  I couldn't imagine living anywhere else.  We are 20 mins from Daytona Beach and 45 from the theme parks.  Other than the bugs, snakes, tornadoes, hurricanes and oppressive heat during the summer - it's wonderful. Lol.  

though this is a small study, it does show actual physiological changes from meditation.  You can meditate regardless of religion!   I had a yoga teacher once that was furious that someone insinuated that she was a Buddhist,  not Christian.   I gently reminded her that they are not mutually exclusive.   

There are also studies that show that stress can change your DNA.  Would make sense then that meditation could too (for the better )

http://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/wellness/w...

Wishing y'all a fantastic day. Ive  caught my kids cold...trying to kick it's booty.

Sjacobs - So sorry to hear you have a UTI, but glad you got it diagnosed and taken care of.  Hoping that you won't get a kidney infection.

I got the second blood work results back and liver enzymes were good.  Second chemo can go ahead as planned on Friday.  My MO said that sometimes the blood sits too long at the lab and results get skewed.

ok ladies, my hair officially started falling out.  I'm trying to decide when to cut it and go with the wig.  How long before the loss becomes noticeable?  I should mention that I have short hair, and it is blond and fine.  

Hugs to Sjacobs an Ilovecoasters!

Sjacobs146, I have it on my calendar when it should be coming out. November 15th is the day, so far my oncologist has been target on for everything else so I am going with that he is probably right. I have it on my calendar and I planned to have it shaved down and start wearing my short and sassy wig the 17th at work so it appears seamless, but since nothing has gone the way I would have planned it I suspect it will start before then. I washed it last night and blew it out on a low setting but even my co-worker who helped me get it into some type of order this morning agreed with me it feels strange, like a synthetic wig and it won't curl at all and has no body. I know its just hair but I guess I want just a little control of something and with my husband being bald I never thought we both would be. Has anyone starting losing eye brows? I was told that it shouldn't happen but now I am thinking if you lose it in other places wouldn't the eyebrows and eyelashes go too. I have no idea how to draw on eyebrows so I would be at a total lost!

Becca, My eyebrows and eyelashes only thinned and I never did lose them total.  I also went to a LGFB class and learned how to draw the eyebrows on, put makeup on and lipstick.  That was a turning point for me in my journey. It made me feel so much better that I didn't look sick anymore.  Every morning I put on my face, girls and wig and confidently go to work.

She-angel, definitely go to a LGFB class.