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

happy to say I'm finally home my wbc are up..I surprised my 5 year old picking him up from school I've never seen him so happy to see me it was a great feeling! Start back up next week lets hope this time I can stay out of the hospital hoping everyone is doing well!

fmmbw and gkodad - so glad you are done with #1.

fmmbw, not sure if you are talking about the metaphorical or the real list, but you are already on it. Because we are done with first "April" infusions as of today, I've resorted the list by screen name: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Goesf6x_13... it might be easier to find peoples' info that way.

gkodad, you might want to just have some crackers or some other small snack before you go to bed - waking up on such an empty stomach might increase the nauseated feeling.

I have been getting daily emails about updates on my insurance claims sites. I ignore them mostly, I met my out of pocket maximum, so no worries, right? For some reason, i decided to go look, and I see that I have an "amount you might owe" on my infusion claim. It's for Ondansetron, 1 Mg that they gave me orally (honestly, I don't remember that, but she did bring me Dexamethason to take orally, and maybe she did bring another pill. Anyway, the explanation says that my plan does not cover that prescription drug. Here's the thing - that's the Zofran, and I already had a prescription filled for it. WTF? I guess I'll have to call the insurance company. It's already been processed, so it probably means I'll have to file an appeal. I think for next Monday, if they try to give me that, I'll just say we can use one of mine from my script.

Lynne

hello everyone - well after a lovely week feeling close to normal I'm headed to AC#2 tomorrow- labs drawn today - it's also hair day for me tomorrow so 9 am shave head then off to "SPA" and after back to pick up wig made from my own hair - it will be really interesting to see how it turns out!

Glad to hear those of you who were having a hard time SE wise are feeling better

Good luck to anyone else headed to the "chair" tomorrow - I'm hoping for the best planning for the worst - so have all my work at home so worst case I can just work from home - we will see

Karen good luck, so far I found #2 easier and less s/e than #1. Hoping the same goes for you...Good vibes!

(((hugs)))

well that gives me hope for a better ride this time

AndreaC

Im so glad you are feelinng good after tx. I too am feeling good after tx 2 on Wed. compared to tx1 last week. You sound just llike me........I hate water so Im not doing the best with hydration. I've been trying different thinks without too much sugar but other than seltzen which bloats me theres not much. I found V8 splash yesterday with only 8 gr of sugar but havent tried it yet. I too gave myself my Neulasta shot.

(((hugs)))

gkodad

Im glad ur tx went well. This is only my personal opinion but Im told staying hydrated is important. Missing one eal wont kill us but it is important to eat and protein at every meal I am told. Im sure you will get many responses with different opinions here . My problem is I hate water so I dont hydrate as much as I should but do eat my protein. Go figure!

(((hugs)))

Lovlilynne

I never even thought about having to pay for these drugs. I have Medicare and seccondary insurance and havent been billed for anything as of yet, well I guess I'll get some surprises in the mail too. I couldn't even get any re-imbursement for a wig, imaging........not even a partial reimbursement. Go figure, Medicare is going to the dogs these days. Better days ahead!!

(((hugs)))

slv58

Thanks forr the reminder of why we need to hydrate. I will try harder........II got a slight background headache from the Neulasteer last tx and it came about day 8 or 9 after shot. Only lasted about a day and a half, I took claritan for the bone pain and tylenol for the headache.

I too dont sleep well, been up since 4am and hate it because it is such a long day although I have a planned day today but rather sleep until at least 8am. The ativan puts me to sleep but not for a long enough period of time.

I guess we cant have everything hugh?

(((hugs)))

lovlilynne

The bone pain was in in lower back and spine and also in my toes. It was like pulsating (stabbing) but not excruciating pain. It only lasted less than 2 days as I stayed on the Claritin. Yes stay o the Claritan as long as you have to but if you dont have it with you try tylenol because I guess it at least take the edge off.

I bought a carry case for my meds and put a few of each to carry around for reasons you are experiencing, get one it will come in handy.

(((hugs)))

Good morning all you lovely ladies!

Praying for all of us today....for few side effects and great cancer killing impacts!

I'm heading to the spa this afternoon for TC#2. Been hydrating big time today, took my steroids yesterday and started claritin as well. Hoping for fewer side effects and no fever! Don't want to go to ER/hospital this cycle!!

Praying for all!

So here is what I learned yesterday:

I am scared. Nope, terrified, that this will kill me. I want to have children and outlive my parents.

And, that fear is natural and appropriate, and needs to be faced,

And, dissociation from our bodies is a healthy defense mechanism at times like this.

But, when the fear is recognized, it is possible to re engage the higher functions of the mind.

Our bodies are not the enemy. Cancer is the enemy. Cancer is what we fear and face. Cancer has a name.

Names have power. My Doctor says the cancer that I had is gone, removed by surgery.

With the power of the name, comes knowledge. All of medical science is intending to CURE us with these brutal, barbaric poisons and surgery.

We can now fight with tools.

I am angry. Sometimes is a berserker rage, like what got me through surgery. Rage is energy. Rage is fire. Rage is natural, and must be faced.

Rage can not be sustained.

My rage is NOT the rage of the powerless. I have power over this disease.

Like a coyote in a trap, rage let me cut my boobs off without a second thought to save my life.

When I face my rage and fear, It isn't comfortable. It hurts. I cry.

And then I realize these basic emotions led me to all these tools to fight cancer.

medical science, which intends to CURE us. Billions of dollars, hundreds of years.

Complimentary medicine. Yep, my MO is all for MJ, and it works so well!

Radical self care right now, to learn to know and love our new bodies.

constant vigilance, against a known and familiar enemy. From you ladies with reoccurance, I have learned that this will save your life. Thank you.

my friends, my family, my work family, volunteers, you guys..all of us praying together and supporting eachother.

we are never ever alone, even in the depths of fear and rage and sickness. Never. There is always someone who values your life,and is doing everything in their power to heal you. Let that in. This is one time when going your own way isn't best. Follow group oppinion and GET BETTER forever. It would be rude not to! I am praying for all of us. Right now.

Since people are having trouble finding a beverage, I want to say again that there's low calorie Gatorade, which helps with electrolyte balance, too. My MO prescribed a 20-oz. bottle a day. It's actually on my clinic prescription list--think I can deduct it? :-)

Thanks for all the good advice on eating.  I ended up with a small bowl of mashed potatoes and that seemed to work.  .I'm staying hydrated probably to the point there is no room for food in my stomach.  I'm day 2 and right now am feeling almost normal.  I had IV Emend at my chemo session and was prescribed backup Zofran and then backup Compazine.  The oncology nurse suggested that I start the Zofran last night and continue it for several days, since I am prone to nausea and motion sickness, instead of waiting to see if I would have breakthrough nausea.  So far, so good.    My neulasta shot has been postponed due to insurance refusal to pay for it to be administered by the doctor, but they pay in full if I give it myself.  So Monday I go in for shot training and then give myself the shot.  Hopefully, it's an easy shot to give oneself.  I've given myself blood thinner before so hope this about the same.

Littleblueflowers- That post was amazingly powerful. Every word you wrote had incredible deep meaning. Seriously, it was so moving and poetic . Thank you for sharing. I Couldn't agree more.

Lisa