Starting Chemo January 2015

I don't know how many of you ladies would be down with this but as an experiment, I started oil pulling with the chemo to see how well my mouth would do. I don't know if it's from the oil pulling but my mouth has remained in perfect shape. No dryness, no sores, no bleeding. It hasn't helped my taste buds going weird but even that hasn't been too severe or long lasting. I got a bottle of sunflower oil (though you can use many kinds) and swish it around in my mouth for 20 minutes before spitting it out in the toilet. It removes toxins and even whitens teeth.

Hey Cheryl, good luck with the new "do"! You will like it more everyday that you can pop it on and go, and not have to do hair every morning! I worked 42 hours a week during chemo, and it helped so much to sleep in the extra 1/2 hour in the morning. Take care....

I am definitely going to try and go to The Look Good Feel Good here. It's scheduled 1 week after my next chemo. Thank you for the reminder and good experience you had!!

Patty

Cheryl--Good luck with work!!

I feel very lucky (so far) in that I haven't had issues with either heartburn or the big 'C' so far with chemo, although I have only had heartburn once in my life previously, so it seems I am not prone to it. I hope it keeps up! My biggest issue has been nausea and headaches. I thought I had 'turned the nausea corner' but it seems back today with a vengence, so back to rescue pills for me I was almost 2 days without. Funny how things 'flip-flop'.

Hi Ladies, I loved the workshop, two hours of freedom from cancer, and I looked great when I left. I grab all the small victories I can get. I never thought that heartburn and constipation would be a topic of conversation with my friends! I had problems during chemo with beef, gravy, and any red sauce. I never had heartburn before cancer, so I keep the big bottle of Tums handy now. I skip anything fried, garlic, or any snacks and chips. So veggies is my go to snack. So a good thing. Strangely, I had to give up any soda, bye Pepsi I guess, I still love you! The bubbles are not fun for me. Grrr....

As far as the nausea, it never stopped for me all the way through chemo. I took the meds like clockwork. For headache I took tylenol per my MO, and applied ice to the back of my neck, worked out great! I would ice my neck during the infusion as well. Never had a headache after that. Anything that works!

Have a great afternoon, and a peaceful evening! Now I'm off to rads, putting on my battle boots. LOL

Hi dstar, I hope you feel some better! I had AC/T and I crashed like a rock the first treatment. I called the MO and told her I needed a stronger nausea med, and that got me through. Popsicles, jello, cold fruit, mandarin oranges, and yogurt helped me a lot. I ate them every day, it was the only thing I could eat. And I was so thirsty, I drank bottles of water constantly. I put ice on my neck and that helped also. Maybe they can review the meds, and schedule it so you have them as pre meds instead of waiting for the side effects to hit. I am so sorry that you feel so bad, but don't suffer in silence. Call the MO so they can help you. The AC got better each time, but still no picnic either. I just hope you can get ahead of the side effects. If I can help, you can always send a PM.

Hi Dstar, I am sorry to hear that you are having a rough time! I too do not do well with sulpha (except I swell up, the one and only time I took it my dad said I looked like a plastic surgery victim gone horribly wrong ). Have you talked to you MO to get stronger nausea meds? I found that activia yogurt, apple sauce and oatmeal have become my best friends. Can't eat cheese anymore as it tastes like eating a slab of butter.

I will definitely be venting to my MO next week when I see her regarding the lack of help/sensitivity the staff has displayed.

I've read that those of you with petslet them cuddle with you; I have put up a baby gate to keep my room germ free and am scared to pet them. Am I being crazy?!?!

These are my two, the bigger one is Diesel (5) and the little one is Havok (3); unfortunately the younger was diagnosed with cancer a month before myself (my poor husband could write a country song regarding our last year), so we had to have his front leg removed to get the cancer out. He is our little tripod now.

I hope you start to feel better soon and a the other ladies are doing well.

Lots of love!

Teri

Hi Cherylfg, I am so glad that the students liked the new haircut!! You had to be be smiling from ear to ear. Feels good to have someone notice, and it's our little secret. I love your cat. I have fish, great to watch but not a warm fuzzy for me. I was concerned about cleaning the fish, and my nurses told me to keep my hands clean, but other than that I haven't had any problem taking care of them.

dstar, I am so happy you feel better. It's all about managing the side effects to get through this. I have wonderful chemo nurses, and they helped me so much with fantastic info to make it work for me. Just get ahead of it, it's nice to kick back and have some control over this nightmare! I was concerned about all the meds, and the nurses told me you have them for a reason, tough for a person that barely takes tylenol for a headache. We went through the list, and it worked every time to kill the side effects before I felt ill. But now you get it, make it work for you. I was afraid to take too many, but I was scared to not take enough! Thankfully it worked. Any other questions, just ask!

mommacat4, I love cold grapes, and I drank alot of 100% grape juice. Just a small 6 to 8 ounces at a time, but it was refreshing and cold. The AC/T is a rough go as I found out myself. It kicked my butt, and I still fight some of the side effects. I hope your MO's are on top of getting all of the tests for your heart. I had the pounding heart and shortness of breathe, be sure to let them know if you think anything is unusual. I also had the numb toes and hands, another thing to let them know asap to get you on the meds for it right away. I am doing pretty well with neuropathy now, it is getting better. I had #3 rads today, so far so good! Thank you for the kind words, cancer can be a very lonely place, I am happy to do anything to help.

TeriMP, I have been laying low at home simply because the flu here in Cleveland has been so bad. I don't want to get any germs. I did get my flu and pneumonia shots just in case it helps ward off the bug. I love your dogs, just adorable. People probably have more germs, I would give them a huge hug. I clean my fish tank, and they can be pretty poopish, but I wash my hands a lot, and don't put my hands in the water any more than I have too. So far so good. I picked up some long handle cleaning tools that helps also.

One thing I found out along this path is ask questions, and then ask more!! I have a social worker and a financial counselor through the cancer center. Look for resources, such as gas cards to help with travel to treatment, and the Look Good Feel Better program. It's free, and I had a blast. 2 hours of playing with make up, scarves, and no focusing on cancer. We laughed so much, it was just joyful. It's free from the American Cancer Society. It's all online, call and see if you have it close to you. I've received a handmade quilt from a local church group, they donate them to the cancer center. Others knit hats, another local group makes earrings. There are some very giving, kind, and compassionate people out there. Some volunteer to drive if you need transportation for treatment. Ask for what you need. We cannot change the cancer we all have, but we can change how we get through it!

To all of you, have a very wonderful morning, and let's teach the world to sing in perfect harmony.......much love and peace! Cheryl

dimccleland,

I had horrible fatigue. I was god for maybe 2 hours or so then I was whipped out for the rest of the day until day 11 after treatment, then I had a lot of energy, I went grocery shopping, washed and cut up all the fruit and vegetables I bought ( in preparation for my 2nd chemo treatment which was Wednesday the 28th). Drove my daughter somewhere. It was a new me for 2 days. Day 11 and 12. But by the end of the day both days my hips were hurting and I ran out of steam. Then day 13 my energy was gone. Fatigue all over again and my hair started coming out in strands. Not clumps. Then day 14 was my 2nd treatment. Now my hair is coming out in larger bunches of strands and if I just shake my head strands will fall out without even touching them. I am not telling you this to scare you but rather to share with you and maybe prepare you. We are on different chemo cocktails so I don't know how yours works.

Best wishes, praying for all of you fine woman.

Dstar

I am sorry and here is a big hug for all the horrible SE. I too laughed about that damn cookbook. I am bring followed by a Naturpathic Doctor and his diet plan is pretty much out the window too. Nothing sounds good except Strawberry Gatorade, cold cereal and maybe toast. I love peanut m&ms too I will have to try them. . I have been taking all my vitamins. I kept a journal of the SE and when I go Monday will plead for a reduced cocktail. I crashed on day 3 to 6. If not for my daughter I would have gone to the hospital.

I love all of these animal pictures. Isn't it amazing our pets know we need extra support. They know we are sick and hurting. My 14 year old cat lays right by my side. God bless her.

I read all your posts and thank you for your kind words, advice and brutal truths. Have a good day. One day at a time.

Patty

Hi Cheryl, I just had mine checked. Low vitamin D seems to be low in breast cancer patients from what I have found out. I was taking 1000 mg every morning, with the test results, the Doctor has increased it to 2000 mg. I live near cloudy Cleveland, and we have very little sun here as well. Have a great day!

Hi fellow Buckeye cherylfg!! I hope you saw the game, it was great, and finishing on top! And the best damn band in the land. What a season for them. Uh sorry Ducks. I wish my Browns, Cavs, and Indians would produce as well as OSU.

It seems that my side effects from chemo are going away, and I now have eyelashes! I even put mascara on today. And my eyebrows are almost back as well. Much easier to put on my make up. And my hair, it's 1/2" short. It is too weird to call it long! But it is so soft, and all mine. My last chemo was 8 weeks ago. I take Biotin to help my hair and nails. It is OTC.

I hope everyone is well, and resting and eating. Have a great evening. Cheryl