April 2015 Chemo Crew... Starting in April? Please join us!

Hi gals- looks like it's been a rough few days for many of you...sending out big hugs & lots of positive vibes for you all!! I was told the same thing about the Claritin..1 the night before and then continue for another six days. I do have to say that it did really appear to help with the bone aches (still felt low back pain but very manageable).

Also, here's a helpful tip for any of you that also recently underwent a bmx (or will be in the coming months). As per the suggestion of my ps, I just started using BioOil (every day you massage it all over your new boobs-especially the scars). Wow! what a noticeable difference in just one week. Don't misunderstand me, they still look crazy scarred up and bumpy but there overall appearance is much softer and improved. It's been a month and I'm still sore but now have more mobility in my arm range.

Hang tough ladies.. we are getting through this!!

Good advice on the bio oil Fran! Hope everyone else is feeling OK or getting ready to feel ok heading into the weekend. I'm in awe of you that work the day of and the day after chemo....all I can do is a fee house chores and nap. I go back to work right before AC 4 though, so I'm pretty worried. I have flexibleish hours and an active desk job. How are other working ladies handling it?

everyone's pics are so cute! My mom comes for my treatments to, bless her heArt.

Mmj, I have it I pill for as well as cookies and buds. For nausea, smoking a tiny tiny amount works the best, but my husband hates it, so I'm trying other ways that might have the same effect. I have no tolerance and tend to overdose easily. I use it for break thru nausea between pill times.

ksusan, is the co count oil for dry skin?

Ufh....wish this fatigue would let me off the couch!

ugh... diarrhea. My stomach was cramping within hours of getting home from chemo yesterday. I got up twice during the night thinking here it comes, but nooooo, it just kept my in discomfort and sleeplessness until this morning when all h#!! broke loose...literally!!! Sorry, I know, TMI. So far, that and dry mouth are my two complaints. So, I will rant no more for now!

Alibeths and God1st, hope all wentwe'll for you in the chair today...and anyone else who sat today. Great pic yesterday and today from the chemo chairs!

Hey Kbee, I used my lint remover this morning and was so happy!!! I am so ready to be rid of this stubble! It's so uncomfortable under my wig, hats, etc.

I was also told take the claritin the day before and six more. I forgot to take it my last two days last round and paid for it in achey bones.

Hope all SEs take a hike for the weekend and all you ladies have a good one.

SheShe3 you look gorgeous! Really! I love the blue buff, it matches your eyes!

I was told to take Claritin for the first 5 days. For whatever reason, I did not have any bone pain from the Neulasta. Also, I think today was the best day I've had. So, maybe the next week until my next AC treatment will be a little more positive??? A girls gotta dream. My 26 yo son is driving to see me this weekend and use his computer skills to set up a home office network so I can get some work done from home. Hopefully the weekend will treat us all well!

really beautiful pic!

Lynn, I am so sorry that you are feeling down. I would feel the same if I were in your position. But as others have said, men are not very sensitive to our needs. So instead of feeling sad on your own, you should tell him that it's a difficult time and you need all the help and support he can give. We have always been the one who takes care of the family and everything, this is THE time when we need to be taken care of. Lot of hugs!!!

Have a great weekend everyone!!!!!!!

Yeah baby! back on track! SE gone. hungry now. I think the campizine is the culprit to me not feeling the best. After I stopped taking it the clouds parted and the sun shone again.

Any way I had my husband finish off my hair last night, Its been falling out like crazy yesterday ever since I got it shaved down on Tuesday for that matter. Now my head is picky and cold. I pray the rest falls out sooner than later.

Ive noticed a pattern already with my SE and ive only had 2 AC. The biggest change is while Im "down and out" I crave salty foods. When I come out of the SE hell... all I want is sweet foods. And I almost NEVER eat sweets! I buy 5 lbs of sugar a year ladies! But all I want today is ice cream and French toast. Maybe i'll eat coffee ice cream and that will make it ok for breakfast. LOL

I hope you all have a great weekend!

Jen

quick question- so suddenly last night I started with a stuffed nose and sore throat and headache - no temp- is this the Neulesta?i haven't been near anyone sick dispute being at work all week- supposed to do an ACLS class today but I'm going to skip it bundle up and stay home- all the things alibeths said make so much sense.

Karen - yes, based on my experience, that is the Neulasta - made me feel like I was coming down with something - sore throat and that tired achy feeling. I've been taking the Claritin since day of shot - they didn't tell me how long to take it, but I think I'll go with 7 days based on what some of you are doing.

Sheila, great picture, you really do look lovely in it, I know that you probably don't feel as good as you look, but at least you can know that you are rocking that look!

mamajencoz, I don't have any cravings, I have no appetite.

Stephmoen, my understanding is that they can only give the Neulasta from 24 hours to 4 days, then the window closes for it being most effective. However, you ended up getting a blood infusion, right? Or am I thinking of someone else.

So, after I sent the message yesterday, I was thinking about it, and decided to call DH. I asked him why he had not cleaned up, and started crying, and told him that I hated that I had to be having this conversation with him which made me cry even harder, and I felt even worse about it, because I hated the fact of what I was doing to him. I mean, he's at work, and he can't do anything about it, and I know how shitty that must have felt, but I needed to get it out. He told me to not do anything, and he'd take care of it when he got home (like 8 hours later - right), and I told him of course I was going to pick it all up, but I just didn't think I should have to be having this conversation. I was crying so hard by the end of the conversation. I'm glad I got it out, but I still feel bad and need to have a follow up conversation with DH and apologize and explain - I just haven't been able to start because I'm afraid of getting emotional again and we had stuff to do and places to be last night.

I had already talked to him about how he was going to have to "step it up" with the stuff at home and with the girls. My son is at college until early May, so he's not an issue. DH thinks that the girls should be doing a lot more, and I agree, but he doesn't realize that you have to be on top of them every 10 minutes - he thinks you can just tell them to do something, and they should do it. I guess if we were beating them if they didn't, maybe they would, but they just keep ignoring us/it. And, yes, even with consequences like taking away TV, phone, computer, etc. They don't seem to care.

I'm feeling a little bit better physically today. I took a Claritin, but skipped the Zofran to see if I could get by without it. I'm feeling a little bit nauseated right now, though, so I may need to take one. How long do you guys take the anti-nausea meds? I am chemo + 4 days today. Days chemo +2-3 were the worst. I was so tired and felt like I was fighting the flu. I have no appetite, but I can eat when it's meal time, just small amounts, then I would feel very full. I would have these weird pains in my ribcage, like someone was squeezing me, then it would go away. I hope the clearer head this morning stays - I'd like to try to get out and take a walk.

You know, all in all, the SE have not been horrible, but nevertheless, I feel like "how am I going to go through this all again?" I am not used to feeling sick or not 100% and not knowing when I'm going to feel better. It's going to be hard doing this all over again knowing what it coming.

-Lynne

Hi all...I am starting chemo the last day of April...so I barely squeaked in on this forum!

This is my second experience with cancer...I had colon cancer in 2013, followed by surgery then chemo for 6 months. That was pills though and didn't cause severe side-effects. This time it's more serious...I had bilateral breast cancers, double mastectomy on March 26. I have lymph node involvement. So now it's IV chemo. I am having a PICC line inserted on Wednesday. Hopefully all I'll need is four cycles of chemo (3 months) - then it's radiation afterwards.

I have already had a PET scan, am waiting for results. In the meantime, I am feeling great so this whole thing is surreal.

Off to shop for a wig today!

Andrea

Lynnne, I completely empathize with you. Husband's have no clue what we need right now. It's so hard, since we are used to being strong women, to ask for help. It's even harder when we do ask, and stuff doesn't get done to standard so you feel like it would have been easier to do it yourself. I'm so sorry you are going through this. My husband's response to me being sick is to basically dive into the TV and not come out. Unless I specifically ask him to do something, he wont. Sigh. He's good at denial. I wish he could see how doing basic house chores when I'm too tired is actually helping me get better! Oh well, tomorrow is a new day and only 2 more AC to go! How many do you have left?