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

Steph - doing a happy, crazy dance for you! So PROUD of you...this is your body and it did just fine today. Yeah!

mysunshine, when I had my fever and was sent to ER it was because a fever at or above the 100.4 can be a sign of infection and if your wbc or more specifically your neutrophils are too low, your body won't be fighting the infection. I was started on broad spectrum antibiotics while the blood work and cultures were processed and then monitored for other signs of infection. They did say that more than half the time the fever is not caused by an infection, but knowing that is impossible without the blood work. However, after being hospitalized the first time for neutropenia....the doctors (mo and pcp) let me treat round 2 fever at home while we awaited the bloodwork and cultures...even though I was neutropenic again. Round 3...no fever. Apparently my neutrophils have gotten their act together! ;-)

I'm in the Hosp with some sort of infection. Hard knots under my arm and fever. At first They thought it was an abscess or Seroms. but it's not got any fluid in it per the ultrasound I feel rough!!

GingerChi: Hope you feel better soon!

Re fevers... three days after the first round of chemo I developed a temp of 38.1 Celsius (I'm in Canada) - was told by the chemo nurse to go to ER for anything above 38. I think that's 100F. Anyway, I did go and it turned out okay - I had the start of a cold but had given myself my Neulasta shot and it was doing its job - my WBC count was up so my body was fighting the infection. Second round of chemo I was okay but this round I also developed a temp of 38 which persisted for 3 days. This time I did not go to the ER though, although I'm sure the oncology nurses would scold me for that. The temp went away on its own. If it had been higher I would have gone in for sure.

Re parents: my father passed away 4 1/2 years ago and I really miss him. I would give anything to have him here with me. He died of cancer as well (melanoma) and I think about that all the time. He was 75. I can only hope to live longer than he did! I'm doing my best, anyway. I am really grateful to have my mom still though, and she is healthy. She is coming to my last chemo with me on July 2

I'm feeling better all the time - 7 days post TC#3. It's amazing just how fatigued the chemo makes you feel...I can do housework etc. in little spurts but then have to lie down because I'm light headed, sweaty, short of breath, and feel like I'm going to pass out. But this should only last another couple of days.

I totally understand about feeling guilty about accepting help. I have a friend who is coming over next week to do some gardening for me - I tried to tell her no but she was most insistent. I am so lucky to have such great people in my life!

Andrea

I agree so glad my MO had me doing nulasta inj from the start. Littleblue i think it is me abd you headed today. Anyone else at the bar today? Positive thoughts to all.

Renee

Hey Rpayton, ok let's ride chemosabe! Hoping your infusion goes well today and sending good thoughts your way!

Ginger, hope you feel better soon! Good thoughts to you as well for quick healing!

Lynne, every time I have similar throat issues to yours. Just on one side. I had to wrap my head in a heating pad which helped, and my MO said tylenol and mucinex..for me it has to do with the fact I mostly sleep on my left side, so that's where all the mucous drains and irritates and makes my throat swell. Gross, huh? Hope you start feeling better fast and can enjoy your weekend!

Stacy, yup, that looks familiar!

I sometimes have one-sided throat pain, though not on the side I'm sleeping on. How do I know I'm not sleeping on that side? Because if I do roll over, pain in the damned port wakes me up. Gargling salt water plus Cepacol lozenges works for me.

Good luck in the chair today!

I am off to see a PT/LE person.

When I finish Taxol I have to have herceptin only for a year - think they'll let me get the port out when I'm done w/Taxol????

I heard if you continue to get herceptin they keep the port in..my surgeon did an awesome job with my port I forget it's there I feel lucky about that

princess: the herceptin is given thru your port. I'm doing the same for a year. So that darn port is there to stay.I had an excellent surgeon and the placement is good. I'm totally used to it now. Try some different comfy bra options. I found some easy front close and I also love camis with bulit in support. Just another thing we have to make peace with but small in the context of things.

Renee

Well just got home from taxol 2, my blood work was all good and I didn't have the barfing reaction this time! Was there from 0830 to about 3:30. Including blood draw and visit with MO, who thank God didn't tell my mom I had been in yesterday thinking my cancer had grown back! Kind od woozy from benadryl and wired on steroids right now, so sort of laying down and twitching.

How did yours go, rpayton?

Oh man, I finally told DH that I was late home yesterday because I was at the dr thinking I had found a lump. BOY IS HE MAD. I didn't want to freak him out if it turned out to be nothing, especially since he has been so down lately. Oooops. Live and learn. Hopefully he is talking to me again today!

I had a very positive visit with a PT/LE specialist. I found her informative and matter of fact. She confirmed that I do not have LE but do have some cording and adhesions, which we will take care of with massage, plus she'll teach me more manual lymphatic drainage techniques for prevention. She complimented my healing and skin (which I can only take partial credit for) and my range of motion and posture (which I'll take full credit for). She was happy to hear that I fidget because she wants me not to sit with my arms hanging down and my hands inactive. I assured her that sitting still is not something I do well. She's putting in the order for compression sleeves so I can get them in a week or so. She gave me many handouts to read before I see her next week, and stretches to do to get ready for radiation. She was happy that I've already been doing similar stretches to prepare.

She's going to help me develop an exercise plan that includes the PT I need and LE prevention. Not cleared for Zumba or other high cardio yet, but she did say I can start working with small hand weights and, at my request, showed me a floor exercise for the triceps. I'm only 6 pounds above the BMI she wants me to start at (30), and half of that 6 is still post-chemo/steroid weight, so that's doable. She wanted me to get to a BMI of 25, and I said that that was a weight at which I feel crummy and people ask if I'm ill. After an exam, she said that I'm built like a "Nebraska livestock handler" and a BMI of 25 was too low for my build and muscularity. I think I could get to the 28-27 range within the year, though.

My partner and I stopped at a sporting goods place and picked up a mat, a few more low-weight dumbbells, and a curling bar that I can use for more weight down the line and for some bends and twists where it's helpful to keep the arms/shoulders from flexing. I'm thrilled to have some upper body exercises. I'd like to get my arms back in shape, my pectorals more muscular, and my abdomen tighter. I feel flabby!

Next week I see her again, plus the naturopathic oncologist, plus have my last blood draw using the port.

My hair is getting fuzzy. The port are (including my jaw) continues to hurt. My toenails are cold and sore. My eyes, eyelids, and eyebrows hurt. Not much to complain about in the grand scheme of things.

Theyre thinking its cellulitis! The surgeon said if it's a blood infection my port will have to come out. I definitely don't want that to happen until after Taxol. Still in the hospital, they're changing the Antibiotics.

oh no gingerchi! Is cellulitis very serious? I am praying they get it under control like right now and you can enjoy your weekend at home!