Starting Chemo May 2015

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  • CatsRus
    CatsRus Member Posts: 310
    edited June 2015

    magnolia83, I could have written your last post - describes my experience exactly....well except for the chai latte - yuk ๐Ÿ˜‰ and ice isn't making me nauseous. But the 'full' feeling, finding hot drinks or fizzy easier to get down, taste, hunger...spot on. I have no mouth sores and also use Biotene toothpaste and mouthwash. I find I crave salt which is unusual for me. Chocolate is my usual weakness but it doesn't taste great now....this is probably a good thing, I've been trying to stop eating it, but it's hard.... my name is Sheila and I'm a chocoholic....sigh....

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  • dunesleeper
    dunesleeper Member Posts: 2,060
    edited June 2015

    I'm having basically the same experience as Magnolia. First, coffee started tasting "off" to me. Now chocolate tastes a little odd. Fortunately, I've been fine with water; but of course carbonated is best - with a little fresh lemon or lime juice added (because of my sore throat). My mouth in general tastes yucky.

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  • surprisedat65
    surprisedat65 Member Posts: 73
    edited June 2015

    rosesrx:

    I visited my doc 1 week after first infusion, a Tuesday. WBC count was very low. By Friday it was back to normal, thus validating, in my case anyway, that the Neulasta takes about 10 days to start doing its work. Same deal after 2nd infusion. My MO has me taking an antibiotic during my nadir.

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  • MarlanaB
    MarlanaB Member Posts: 292
    edited June 2015

    The weird thing about my chemo mouth is that all the suggestions I've found on the internet say to avoid meat but that's the only thing that tastes normal, just a little salty.

    As for the full feeling, I had that the first couple of days post chemo #1 and it felt like trapped air in my stomach. I kind of forced a burp by hunching my shoulders forward and pushing my diaphragm into my stomach. When I did that, the biggest burp I've ever had just exploded out of me!!! Crazy. After that, it was easier to burp and get that full feeling out.

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  • rosesrx
    rosesrx Member Posts: 458
    edited June 2015

    Ah yes, simethicone aka mylicon or phayzyme works wonderful. Happy belchingโ€ฆ my nephews would be so proud. Only day one post. Spa 2/6 no trench mouth yet. Neulasta went well. Crispy shrimp roll, wonton soup and egg roll for supper. only 20 more ounces of water to go before I sleep. I am keeping with electrolyte water like figi or powerade zero for a bit of flavor or tap with lots of ice.

    While I have abx MO said not to take without calling. Last time I had low grade fever on day 3. Marlanab and Magnolia ypu have to do what works for you. Scrambled eggs and toast with coconut butter for breakfast settled nicely. I know mu Aloxi is still working but staying on top of the zofran 8 mg just every 12 instead of every 8 hours.ย 

    Get this my pulse was only 64! Despite a flight of stairs and decadron.ย 

    ย 

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  • t100angel
    t100angel Member Posts: 54
    edited June 2015

    I'm doing great as far as attitude, but the stamina is much slower to return after AC2. Next chemo, AC3, will be on the 16th.

    I'm starting to notice that my memory is sluggish at times. Figured it was the start of chemo brain.

    For those interested, I am happy to share a small bottle of my oil mix for my scalp. It's hemp oil with nettle extract and calendula extract. It has almost no smell and I felt less discomfort as soon as I applied it. I bet it would work on dry hands and feet too. The nettle helps calm irritated skin, and the others provide moisturizing. Let me know if anyone is interested.

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  • sharapril1021
    sharapril1021 Member Posts: 42
    edited June 2015
    Hi All! I hope everyone is doing well with their treatment? I am scheduled for my #2 A/C on Monday but my darling daughter has passed her cold to my husband, son and now me! I have 3 days to try to get it out of my system. Does anyone know what OTC cold medicine does not interfere with chemo? I have been taking ibuprofen and tylenol for the past 2 days hoping to not catch the germ, but I lost that battle. I have some Advil Congestine relief which has Phenylephrine in it but am hesitant to take it. I've also been using Cold-Eeze tablets the past couple of days as well but they didn't work either :(
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  • mysunshine48
    mysunshine48 Member Posts: 1,480
    edited June 2015


    I

    I suspect all of you are sleeping since that would be the normal thing to do at 3:40 a.m. However, Inam up, as usual. Besides getting stiff sleeping in the one position that I can, because of the expanders, I sleep shout 2 hours and wake up with a headache. So, I have to get up no drink a half cup of coffee, and eat something, or my tummy gets upset. After about to an hour, the headache goes away. Anyone else ge headaches? This is all the time, but gets a little better during the 3rd week after chemo. Then, I get to do it again! Oh, and add in the bone pain the first week then too! Oh, boy! But, I would like to hear if anyone gets these headaches.

    Thanks!

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  • JenJenJen
    JenJenJen Member Posts: 39
    edited June 2015

    Hi my sunshine, I'm awake too but it's only 1am here. Just had cycle 3 of AC yesterday. Went to bed early because I had that full feeling and was nauseous so just wanted to sleep it off. That full feeling is awful. I don't have an altered taste sensation but all food seems gross to me. I too take sips of water and feel like I downed a gallon of it. Yuck!

    Mysunshine, I had daily headaches after my first AC cycle that would start when I get up and be present until about the afternoon. I just attributed that to my lack of drinking enough fluids. However, I had acupuncture done my 2nd cycle for my headaches and I didn't have any after the 2nd cycle

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  • MarlanaB
    MarlanaB Member Posts: 292
    edited June 2015

    Mysunshine--I'm awake, too but that's because I work until 2:30 PST. I had headaches the first 4 or 5 days after my 1st treatment. I had the same experience as Jen in that it was more intense when I wasn't drinking enough water. If I woke up after 3 hours, I would drink 8-12 ounces of water and the headache would get much less painful after about an hour.

    Jenjenjen -- yesterday everything tasted like a metal bucket. Today, everything tastes like fish that's gone slightly off. The only things I could stomach were lightly salted tortilla chips and dark chocolate. So much for nutrition! But then chocolate is a food group, right?

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  • JenJenJen
    JenJenJen Member Posts: 39
    edited June 2015

    We must think alike marlanab๐Ÿ˜€. I had tortilla chips and some pica de gallo and it tasted so good! Even if it's not great nutrition for us I'm just glad we can get something in our system.

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  • justmaximom15
    justmaximom15 Member Posts: 264
    edited June 2015

    Hello all, just wanted to let you know that I officially jumped over to the June thread because I am actually a June beginner. First treatment was yesterday and everything went well, I slept good last night and feel fine today. I'm at work and hope to finish the day at least before any yucky SE begin. All I'm doing this weekend is resting and letting SO take good care of me.

    I'm still checking on you May girls though and best wishes for everyone.

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  • surprisedat65
    surprisedat65 Member Posts: 73
    edited June 2015

    justmaximom & all those continuing to work while on chemo: I salute you women. I suppose if I had a job and necessity dictated that I continue to work I might have been able to do it, but I'm sure glad I don't have to.

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  • surprisedat65
    surprisedat65 Member Posts: 73
    edited June 2015

    Got an iPhone? You can participate in this study:

    http://www.breastcancer.org/about_us/press_room/pr...

    I haven't figured out yet if I can do this on my DH's iPhone. I'm not too adept at using it just to make a phone call! We old fogies are still both using desktop computers.

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  • tjh
    tjh Member Posts: 469
    edited June 2015

    My oncologist didn't think my compromised immune system would do well at middle school...luckily I had 10 years worth of sick days. I have been giving them back for 3 years because I rarely get sick...until bc.

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  • perky2020
    perky2020 Member Posts: 64
    edited June 2015

    nutritionist said off taste is because of extra bacteria in the mouth that is not normally there. She recommended lots of mouth rinsing with salt and baking soda. (4cups water, 1tea baking soda and 1/2tea salt) Even rinse before and after you eat. Definitely helps a bit. On my worst days I also used marijuana. It was great, laughed and giggled, was hungry and food even tasted good!

    Gearing up for round 2 of TC next week. The first round wasn't fun but doable so not sure why I am so afraid!


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  • CatsRus
    CatsRus Member Posts: 310
    edited June 2015

    I seem to be battling something... mild sore throat, swollen neck glands. So far no fever and my appetite is good. Bah....

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  • dunesleeper
    dunesleeper Member Posts: 2,060
    edited June 2015

    That's kind of like what I've got going on Cats. The swollen glands don't want to let food go down. Had soup tonight. It went down fine. I don't have any other symptoms.

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  • mysunshine48
    mysunshine48 Member Posts: 1,480
    edited June 2015

    Perky, I have had 2 rounds of C/T and I am still afraid of #3 in two more weeks. Just going into the Cancer center makes my pulse and blood pressure go crazy. I have always had low blood pressure until this. Now, they think I have high bp because it is always high there. Just something about that place.

    Talk about feeling bad....I change from hour to hour. My power line hurts, vein where Inhad the blood clot hurts, head aches half the time, my expanders dig in and Inhave a stitch under my arm that is trying to push through the skin. I just generally ache all over. I just want to feel good again. Oh, and having no hair doesn't help. Wigs are good, but hot and I still think all wigs look like a wig.....more hair than normal. I have two and they are good ones. Guess I am just having a down day. I live alone and my family is not around here. So, today, I am just sad. My family has been very supportive, and have taken turns coming for treatments andstaying a week, but my kids have families and people have lives going on. I want my life back! :

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  • dunesleeper
    dunesleeper Member Posts: 2,060
    edited June 2015

    I totally understand mysunshine. Nothing feels right or looks right anymore. Oh yeah. Or works right. How could I forget that one? Tonight is pick on Charlene night at my house. I told a friend what my mother has been doing and she started talking about it being abuse and I'm like, whoa, not me. Mom just tries to control everything and just ends up being very unsupportive while she is trying to be supportive. And she loses it once in a while and turns into super psycho bitch mother. Emotionally abusive. Not physical. Anyway, mysunshine, I just wanted to tell you I can totally relate.

    Some days are better than others.

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  • rosesrx
    rosesrx Member Posts: 458
    edited June 2015

    Hugs to all of you/us facing the chemo/surgery yuck/sucks. I wish this could all be made to fade to a distant memory sooner that later. It willโ€ฆ the most sucky platitudeโ€ฆ this too shall passโ€ฆ it get easier with time.

    Be kind to yourself and let yourself wallow for a while but try not to get stuck there. Wish I knew the recipe.ย 

    I am still flying on steroids, ย can you tell? My crash will come this weekend and you can help pick me up. That is why we are here for each other.ย 

    Retail therapy worked wonders today along with lunch with a friend.ย 

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  • dunesleeper
    dunesleeper Member Posts: 2,060
    edited June 2015

    Hugs back to you Rose. I'm glad you enjoyed your retail therapy today. I had lunch with a 3 year old. That's just not the same thing is it?

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  • MarlanaB
    MarlanaB Member Posts: 292
    edited June 2015

    Dunesleeper--is your mom related to mine? They sound a lot of like. My mom is a retired psych nurse that we kids called "Nurse Ratchet" because she physically resembles the actress that played her in the movie and her bedside manner is pretty similar.

    I've been working when I can. I was off for six straight days after round 1 and I'll be off for another six after round 2. I've also been working overtime when I can and comping my time to keep my leave bank up. I'm fortunate to work in a field that is chronically short-staffed nationwide. The downside of that is overtime mandates when I don't want them. I had my MO write a note so that I don't have to work any mandated ot.

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  • dunesleeper
    dunesleeper Member Posts: 2,060
    edited June 2015

    Oh Marla, that's funny. I may start calling my mother Nurse Ratchet.

    Kudos to you for working through this. I've been basically a slug since the pain started. However, the bad pain only pops through occasionally now, so I have joined the gym. I just have to get myself there. I plan to be there tomorrow.

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  • shelly4321
    shelly4321 Member Posts: 16
    edited June 2015

    day 2 after 1st treatment of CT and I feel pretty good except my period started. I don't get cramps it anything the only warning I had was breast tenderness, but now that they are gone I don't have to deal with that. The steroids make me a little flushed but I look like I have blush on. Let's see how the side effects turn out

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  • MarlanaB
    MarlanaB Member Posts: 292
    edited June 2015

    Shelly--I didn't even have the breast tenderness. Which is weird because it looks like you had a double mx and I had an lx. Keep up with your fluid intake--it really seems to help with the SE's

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  • MarlanaB
    MarlanaB Member Posts: 292
    edited June 2015

    Got home from work about an hour ago...took my what hair I had left out of a ponytail (probably lost about a 1/3 over the last week) and nearly all of the hair I had left went with the ponytail holder. I'm too tired to shave what's left right now but first thing when I get up I'll be shaving--provided that the rest doesn't drop out in the mean time. But my scalp already feels better

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  • lman
    lman Member Posts: 22
    edited June 2015

    I wonder where Jo68 is? She started this thread and hasn't posted since. Hope things are going okay with you, if you are following along silently.

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  • surprisedat65
    surprisedat65 Member Posts: 73
    edited June 2015

    Iman: I have wondered the very same thing and am glad you brought it up. Where are you, Jo68, and how are you?

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  • Shanann
    Shanann Member Posts: 106
    edited June 2015

    mysunshine- thank you for posting. I shared your post on my facebook wall. My son and I were just discussing those thing. My son is very into eating grass fed beef, and butter, and has cut out all sugar. He eats very few carbs, but I think he eat sweet potatoes, because he says women need a few more than men. He will also only eat wild caught fish. Anyway, funny story! I had my second round of A & C last Wednesday (feeling pretty good now. About a week after the treatment my head was itching really bad at work all day (I wore a do rag). My son had shaved my head, but not bald. As soon as I got home from work I jumped in the shower, and washed my HEAD, and couldn't stop rubbing it. My daughter asked if she could enter the bathroom, I said 'yes', and as i was drying off she looked at me sad, and said, "You look pitiful!" I looked in the mirror, and saw that I had rubbed bald spot. LOL We knew this was going to happen. So, wit hthe second round I don't think the SE's were as bad, but probably lasted longer. I was tired a few days longer. But, I could actually taste my coffee this morning! First time since starting chemo on May 20th! Two down, and two to go before starting four rounds to T.

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