Starting Chemo May 2015

Marla, I'm glad your head feels better, but that had to feel so weird. I was afraid of letting that happen, so I got mine cut to about 1/4". The short pieces are still shedding though. I hate the way I look, but I think a shiny bald head would look even worse. I dunno. It's nice for keeping cool though. I don't always cover it up in the house or in the yard. I do need to work on learning how to apply makeup properly. I'm sure that would make a huge difference.

Here I am- 11 days after 2nd treatment, and I can actually taste my coffee. I should have gone bald, because ladies! My head itches, and continues to shed. Oh well! We knew this would happen, and I have no idea whether it would have been better to shave it bald, or buzz it, but I did find some nice soft scarves, and a lightweight wig for work. My son thought I should only buzz it, and that way I'd have something to begin anew with, but I continue to rub it off. It's kinda like, I'd imagine, rubbing the belly of Budha. I bought some all natural coconut oil for the top of my head as suggested by some of you ladies in earlier posts. I am NOT looking forward to Wednesday (treatment #3)- at the same time, I want to be done with it. I am thinking I'll loose my eyebrows with the next two treatments, since there's not much hair on my head to be picked on. Good news! I don't have to pluck the chin hairs. They were sparsley there a few days ago, and just kinda fell out when I touched them with the tweezers. Weird!! On another good note: We are big (brave), bald, and beautiful in the dead of summer when it's the hottest. AND! We're blessed to not have to go thru this in the Winter. Imagine how down our imune systems are, and all else we'd have to battle, like the flu! And, freezing our heads off! LOL I hope you are all enjoying the weekend.

TJH- you have a lot of energy! Before chemo I liked to sit in the sun for a short while every day. I can't stand the heat now, and to think you are bike riding in it!! You go girl!! I like to hike. I am looking forward to gradually getting back into hiking in the fall after treatments are over.

Ksusan- that's a great idea. I'll try it. It might also grab those loose hairs, or what's left of them.

Here's a new one for you......may be TMI, but it is what it is. I have been doing the salt water and soda mouth swishes many times a day. No mouth problems and I am post second treatment of T/C. I cannot take showers because I cannot get my power line wet, but I do take daily baths. I also use Pampers sensitive skin wipes every time I use the bathroom. Friday night I noticed the area around my vagina being sore. Saturday morning I had several sores in that area. I tried calling the hotline to have someone call me. I was told that was only for emergencies. No one would call lo me until Monday. (Then why have a hotline?) OK, maybe it was not an emergency, but I am on Coumiden because I had a blood clot after treatment 1. So, I cannot use many topical creams because of interactions. So, the only thing I knew that would be OK, would be to try the soda and salt water there too.....and wait until Monday. I googled this, and, yes, it does happen. Suggested using Balneal cream, but I don't know if that would interact with Coumiden. Anyone knowledgable in this SE, let me know! Ouch

I just read what you said about Tylenol. I was told Advil, Alive, etc. was bad for the kidneys. I wish there was some consistency. I just take nothing! Just put up with the pain. There is already too much going into my body. Never was a medicine person and don't like it!

I was told Aleve or Advil/ ibuprofen. For my bone pain after shot...Vicodin

My MO suggested Tylenol because Advil can cause tummy issues and as she put it, "chemo is already doing a number on that area". Funny that different doctors have different philosophies...although it could be our individual regimens/circumstances as well.

Hope everyone's having a nice weekend! I have been so lethargic lately...thinking my RBC's might be a little low because I'm getting winded fairly easily. FINAL AC is this coming Thursday...ahhh! Happy I'm almost done with this particular poison, but sad I have to deal with SE's again in a few days :

I have diarehea today too! I've been laying in bed all day feeling blah. I ate lasagna last night, and I think that's the reason. My MO told me to eat a bland diet, but since i was feeling much better, and could taste my coffee... I thought I could handle lasagna. NOPE!

I figured tylenol was ok since it is a premed for Herceptin. I am on chronic nsaid for arthritis but will ask again about that due to bleeding gums,  bloody nose and easy bruising.  I don't have liver mets,  so ask the MO. I did up my dose of pepcid (famotidine) for the indigestion which hasn't been as bad this time. The legs,  hips and thighs are aching today. Day 4 post #2. (Counting spa day as 0) 

The sticky lint roller to the head is a 3 sheet twice daily occurance it is so nice not to have to scape the chin. I had one relentlant nurse comment about the hair… love the color,  it's so healthy,  it's so thick,  I love the cut… got flustered and mouthed its a wig,  shoul have just kept saying thanks. Live and learn. 

Sorry for the probllems in the netherlands. Baking soda would probably feel better than a vinegar soak to restore the ph and soothe. A protective barrier like balneal after cleansing is an excellent idea.

Shannan--you've got a little more hair than I do but my chin hair is all gone! Yay for some things! And if I decide to put on a swimsuit this summer, I don't have to worry about waxing my bikini line. There are some benefits to this hair loss mess! I have to wear a beanie at work--we have an over active air conditioner so I would freeze to death if I didn't.

My mouth has okay days and bad days as far as taste and rinsing with baking soda/salt doesn't seem to make a difference. The weird thing is that "they" say to avoid spicy food and meat and those are the two things that I can stand to eat. My mom made crab cakes last night with extra Old Bay seasoning and I could actually taste them over the funky chemo mouth taste. I haven't had any bleeding gums, etc but I think that may be due to the popsicles and ice chips during TC#1.

As for pain relievers, my MO said no Tylenol but NSAIDs are okay. Yet I have percocet (Oxycontin and acetaminophen) for the bad bone pain so it all seems like a crap shoot to me.

I'm fast coming up on TC#2 and my bronchitis isn't all the way gone. My MO gave me 7 days worth of Zithromycin and today is day 7 and I'm still producing yuck up from my lungs. So I'm a little worried about 1) my next round is going to make it worse and I'll end up in the hospital since I'm an asthmatic and already having issues breathing or 2) my next round will be postponed. I guess I'll know more when I have my blood work done Tuesday.

I love a good steak but beef turns my stomach at the moment...will wait until I am done

mysunshine, hope everything clears up soon! No fun.

JenJenJen, do you take neulasta/neupogen? That might be the source of the pain. I take neupogen days 3-9 and I get pain in my thighs and lower back around the last day (Tylenol wipes it out easily though).

I too feel like foods with more "flavor" taste better than bland food. Also I've heard to stay away from tomatoes but tomato soup has tasted really good to me, same with pasta sauce, so who knows.

I had steak fajitas with guacamole, peppers and onions. I ate 2 small ones and they tasted great. Now I hack leftovers for 2 more meals.😁

I have night sweats, like crazy the first week after chemo. I was more tired this time than last, but part of it was the Benedryl of the angry red reaction to the makeup from my LGFB workshop. Today I feel tired after being active and going to Granddaughter's softball game but not exhausted.