Starting Chemo May 2015

My oncologist prescribed Prilosec....since then much better

Sorry StefLove... my heartburn was so bad my MO gave me an Rx for Pantaprazole. I still believe it was Decadron related. Hope you get some relief. It was the worst.

Mysunshine, Hope the constipation is easing up! I know nothing about Picc lines. I'm hoping my veins hold up, my MO doesn't want to put a port in for me either.

I'm having a good day today.... yeah!!

Thanks to each one of you for the great information you have taken the time to post. I will be receiving my port on June 1st and on June 2nd will see my onco for chemo treatment schedule. It really helps to know how others are responding to treatments and the different things that can help with SE. Also nice to know that we have a place where we can share our experiences for help and encouragement.

Dunesleeper, I like that you coincided some BR ice cream with buzz day! Might steal that idea

dunesleeper. You look very cute. Like a pixie.

Best wishes.

Ah heartburn…  simethicone is my friend as I already take prilosec (omeprazole) as wll as pepcid (famotidine) both of which are over ther counter in US. 

Dunesleeper,  looking good and I like the reward. I went to pick up my wig inthe new color (the other was on backorder til July) but my head is too big and they have reorder a large. Loss of control or changes are tough to deal with… learning to cope and sharing here helps defuse the disappointments. 

No reactions to the Neulasta,  feeling weird is probably due to Claritin. Anybody got tinnitus (ears ringing)? My coping is turning up the radio or TV. Happy to report that the decadron which I took early did not keep me awake. 

marlan

More about assertiveness......I have 4 treatments so my MO said I could just do an IV. OK, until this week when I got a blood clot in that arm. So, now, no needles or IV's in that arm and no IV's or needles in my affected - lymph node removal arm. So, she says, "you will have to get a pick line." Hmmmm, a pick line is a permanent place in the upper arm for IV's, blood work, etc. I asked, where will this go. She says, well we have to start meds to get rid of the blood clot - cannot go in that arm. It will HAVE to go in the lymph node removal arm. I cried. I argued. She insisted. This was late yesterday after it was confirmed by ultrasound that I did have some blood clots in the other arm. I asked if there was anything else I could do and she said NO. So, order was sent to the hospital for a pick line to be put in early this afternoon, THIS is when my real assertiveness or stubbornness kicked in. I called the hospital and located the "special procedures department" where these things are done. I asked to talk with someone familiar with doing the procedure. I asked if a tourniquet would be necessary, and was told, yes. So, now, after being told 100 times, NEVER get a blood test or blood pressure or anything done on the affected arm, here she is having me get a pick line in that arm, which puts me at high risk for lymphadema! REALLY? So, I asked to talk to someone else who could msybe help me. Actually, one of the surgeons got on the phone. I asked him if there was not some other procedure other thsn a pick line in my arm , or a port, that would not involve either arm. HE said, yes, a power line. He said it was not as common, but can easily be used for chemo and bloodwork and did not involve either arm. He said to come on in and he would explain further and show me all about it. Then, if I wanted to do that, he would call for or a new order. To keep this post from being longer, I ended up getting this without one stick in either arm. SO why did my MO not mention this????? Wait until I see her! She is going to fire me as a patient! Not a bad procedure and no more sticks! SO LADIES, we have to stck up for what we want! Not much control over the situation or treatment, but this other stuff, we can have some control. So, you can do IV's, have a port, have a pick line OR have a power line!

I will be happy to respond to any private messages. Start daily shots tomorrow to get rid of the clots.

Good job mysunshine on being assertive! High five! Now we know that there is one other option to infuse chemo.

Dunesleeper your new hairdo looks great!

Mysunshine, You should be a professional medical advocate. Way to go!

Anyone notice a change in her tastebuds? Everything tasted dull as dishwater to me during last night's dinner.

KleeKal - Before you have a port put in, ask about a Power Line! A port is bigger and sticks out and, to me, looks very ugly. I had to get something put in due to getting a blood clot in my left arm and the other is my lympth node affected arm. I am a research - look it up - want all the options sort of woman, and, I have found through this experience that we are just sort of told, this is what you will be doing. Don't get me wrong, when it comes to treatment and medicine, I am so thankful for all the doctors and their knowledge. BUT, if I can have at least a little control over how I am going to get that medicine, I want it. A Power Line is a small catheter (tube) put in your upper chest. NOT a picc line and NOT a port. It is small. There are two little tube-like things that come off the tube that is in your chest going to a vein. BUT, in the end, I will not have a big port scar. It is relatively a new procedure. I think the "standard" has been to do an IV, do a port, or do a pick line. There is another option - a Power Line

KleeKai: I just started Tuesday on Adriamycin & Cytoxan, dose dense they seem to call it, every 2 weeks for 4 weeks and then once a week for 12 weeks. I've noticed a few others talking about having gotten "chemo training" which was not available to me. Perhaps they tell you about every possible thing that might happen to you? That would be overwhelming.

Probably only a few of the side effects will get you. I was calm until the morning of, Tuesday, but things went quite well. I had been told I would be able to drive myself home, and I did without problem. I had gotten a port a month earlier. I got filled in on the procedures, they set me up with a Zofran script for nausea, plus I was getting an IV dose of Aloxi, also for nausea, and the steroid Decadron prior to the AC. I fell asleep as I was getting the infusion so the time passed quickly. Got home & noticed a foggy head with a very mild headache, ate dinner with no problem. The Decadron, I think, kept me from falling asleep until the wee hours. Wed. I had a surprisingly busy day and got a Nuelasta shot for the white blood cells, and Claritin has kept me from having any bone pain. Only nausea early Thursday a.m., no vomiting with the help of the Zofran and a cracker. I went back to sleep and awoke to easily eat a toasted English muffin and tea. I got diarrhea instead of constipation which OTC medicine arrested. Now I am constipated but am taking a vegetable laxitive with a stool softener. The fogginess & mild headache comes and goes. I continue to awaken with mild nausea and so take the Zofran as needed. My appetite has not suffered much yet (shucks!). So far for me, anyway, I've not been laid low by side effects. Hope it will be the same for you.

EDIT: You can read how others are doing on the [Google spreadsheet for your specific treatment](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1D38OYClLMt-Jmb98FWWKIRXpoWzSVfsMQhGIXCwxkuA/edit?pli=1#gid=260646442) and add your own experience if you like.

My sense of taste is off too. I'm a confirmed chocoholic but sweet stuff isn't doing it for me at all, I'm drawn to salty at the moment.

had my first chemo May 20, on day 5. The first 2 days were rough( vomiting, naseua) but on day three felt much better. One of the girls from my local group recommended smoothies instead of solid food, and for some reason I could eat them. Have slowly moved to solid food the last 2 days but my appetite is very small. 5 crackers kind of meals.

So far no constipation,have kept pretty regular so far.

Drinking lots of water helps,

But the heart burn is awful. I think I'm going to have to request something for it.

My mouth is a little sore, I've been trying to do the mouth wash solution 8 times a day as recommended, but I usually loose count throughout the day. Foggy brain!

Got out for a 6k walk with my running friends today (pushing my daughter in a stroller) normally I would be running 12k about this time of year... But I have a great set of friends that are walking instead.

Just waiting for my hair to fall out, for some reason I can't bring myself to get it cut off short... I am going to pick out s wig on Tuesday.

Tomorrow it's day surgery for my portacath installation. Fun times!

Hope everyone is managing okay. I have my up days and down days, today has been a good day... Hoping for more to come.