Starting Chemo January 2015

cat,

One more AC to go, good deal! When is your next treatment?

Like you I have just been at home except for my brave adventure Sunday night of going back to work, now I am paying with a nasty respiratory bug. Can't stop coughing to save my life.

I still rely on my coffee each day, but I agree, it doesn't taste so great...

I hope your. GI issues stabilize soon. That is exhausting. Have a great day

Kristin,

Hope you are getting that cough taken care of and keeping an eye on your temp--don't want it causing major problems!!

Nausea seems back under control again, regular small meals seem to be helping with that. One day at a time...

Someone asked about doing the nulasta at home. I got my doctor to prescribe and my husband did it at home. In the tummy and I put a little of the numming cream on and felt nothing. I'm a big baby. Saved some tripstothe cancer center.

My docs would not let me do the shots at home because they have so much street value. LOL

hi beachbum,

Thanks for asking. You are such a kind soul. I have a really nasty upper respiratory infection with a constant cough. Called the nurses and they told me many of the patients at the cancer center have this now and it must be going around. Have been sick since Sunday. Have tried to get up and do housework, etc. and it makes me cough more and I feel so weak. I don't like being n bed all the time feeling useless... I know this will pass, though.

Because of your experience with the AC and the long term cardiac complications you have had to contend with, I did ask the nurse if she felt the coughing might be related to the heart in some way. She said the cardiac stuff is more of late effect of the chemo and it wouldn't show up this quickly. How are you feelng with the rads, beachbum? Are you very fatigued?

Thinking of you and appreciate your concern very much!

Kristin

Kristin, I know it's hard to stay put (look who's talking lol) but think of it as an investment in your future ;0)

Anecdotally I decided to slow WAY DOWN (my sister reminded me that I went for a haircut, grocery shopping, etc. the first AC time around). This time I decided to rest on the couch. It caused my entire family to be on red alert because I just stayed around the house for three days. One week later my sister was still insisting on running errands for me and we had to almost arm-wresle over it!

But all of this to say that I have consciously decided to kick it down a notch. Oh my, maybe it's my mindfullness class starting to sink in lol. The good news about that is that I am now able to catch myself trying to do three things at the same time. Now I pick one. Eating. Talking to my mom. Watching the news.

As weird as this may sound, I read sonewhere "We're all going to die one day (not of cancer), why run towards that? It really hit me hard. So I don't know if this mindfullness will help me in any way just yet but that alone was just such arevelation to me it was worth going to that course.

I find it's like tennis - someone can repeat an instruction 100 times, and then someone else says the same thing or in a different way, and THEN it permeates your brain.

Have a nice day, ladies!

Marjo who is waiting for her blood test tesults to see if she meeds the neulasta shot - NOT)

Grrr ... I've now typed a post twice and its disappeared both times ... chemo brain I think!!

I've been MIA for a few days - apologies - I came down with a mean URTI on Friday last week and have really been struggling to get rid of it. Kristin, seems like you are living parallel lives. I'm just not getting better and my MO has now told me that I need to stop taking the meds that the doc prescribed (and she signed off on) because my liver function has shot up again. My neutrophils are also low but she also doesn't want to give me a Neuprogen or Neulasta shot because it could cause my liver function to increase even more. I'm on fever watch at the moment - so frustrating!!

Round 5 of my Taxol went ahead today despite all of the above and I must admit that I am feeling very flat tonight - I haven't been to work at all this week and have absolutely no energy - permanently exhausted and fuzzy headed. Am slightly worried about how I am going to cope with the AC component of my treatment if I am finding the Taxol such tough going - one day at a time I guess.

On a lighter note, I still have some hair and I've discovered that my temperature is always 0.2 degrees higher when I take it using my left ear as opposed to my right ear. Laughing!!

While catching up on everyone's posts, I read a few about sore feet and neuropathy. I started with neuropathy after my 3rd Taxol treatment, my MO prescribed Neurobian - just a vitamin B tablet - and while it hasn't cleared up the neuropathy, it hasn't go any worse. My feet are also peeling and my the nails on both my big toes look like they are starting to turn - revolting.

Spookisgirl, I'll be with you on the long haul ... out treatment regime is very similar ... I will finish my Taxol around the 8th of April and will then do the 12 week AC component, after that surgery and then radiation ... hoping that we'll be done by end October but I guess that all depends on whether I have to have a mastectomy or not. My surgeon will make the decide whether to a lumpectomy or mastectomy after the chemo is finished. Glad your port placement went well - I also found that the small incision on my neck was far more uncomfortable than the larger incision that they made to actually insert the port. It did settle down after a few days and as soon as I was allowed, I started putting Vitamin E oil on it.

On that note, I'm off to try and have something to eat and am then heading off to bed.

Hope you all have a fabulous day :-)

it happens to me often too so now I type in Notepad and cut snd paste.

I am so sorry you are battling so hard - especially the liver part SIGH.

DO take care and have a goid night of rest!

Marjo

I totally relate to the plans thing. I hate being too far from my couch or bed now in case I suddenly need a nap. LOL! Sad but true.

Marjo—I've had the chills followed immediately with sweaty clammy feeling too. I'll feel cold, cover up with my electric throw, then 5 minutes later feeling like I'm melting. It's like my internal thermostat is going haywire. Thank goodness this particular SE has only lasted one day each time.

Cheryl—I am taking the generic Prilosec (over the counter) and it is pretty small…just a normal size capsule.

Coffee? UGH—the smell of it was about to make me gag this morning. But since I ALWAYS drank at least a cup, I was afraid that NOT having any was contributing to my lingering headache…so I forced myself to drink some. Tasted horrible.

Brandi—are you serious about the street value of the neulasta shot?? Who'd want one of THOSE?? LOL

UGH—sorry you're having such troubles dimccleland…hope there's no fever popping up!! And yes, I can relate to that "having plans…" sentiment!

Marjo,

Sounds like you have a very supportive family. I'm glad your sister is looking after you despite your resistance! Have you had to miss work at all? Sounds like you are doing well. So happy you are

Kristin

Hi Jenn,

Worried about the almost passing out thing. Can you drink an electrolyte replacement and really up the fluids? That should help get your BP up. I think in this case a little salt wouldn't be such a bad thing. You are probably on the right track with BLTs and tomato and cheese cravings, although they may exacerbate heartburn I sure hope that goes away soon, heartburn can be miserable. Good luck Jenn!

Kristin

hi Di,

So sorry to hear how rough you are feeling. Is the taxol the reason your liver is struggling so much? You have that along with neutropenia and a respiratory/throat infection? I feel for you and wish things were easier right now. I know I have mentioned this but could you check into the glutamine powder- 10 gm three times daily with your doctor? There seems to be some good science behind it for neuropathy prevention.. I pray things get easier, Di and my thoughts are with you,

Kristin

Spookisgirl, Carbs, I have been doing the same thing. I love carbs to begin with, but it's a huge problem to crave them 24/7. And all during chemo I couldn't stand anything chocolate, sugar, caffeine, or pastry. Now I freak out if I don't have a candy bar or two, coffee with a huge splash of sweet creamer, hot fudge on ice cream but I only eat a little ice cream to hold up the fudge, and cakes, pies, snacks etc. I saw my picture on the back of a Little Debbie Snack Truck!! LOL Now I feel guilty because of eating all the carbs, and craving all the sugar which is bad, but I eat it anyway.............grrr.