Starting Chemo May 2015

hi, Ruth. Welcome.

My sunshine, I'm getting tired walking from the couch to the kitchen! And my throat hurts so bad, I've barely eaten for two days. Except ice cream so I really can't complain too much!

Magnolia--I had TC#2 and can't even contemplate working today. Maybe not even tomorrow. We just our bi-annual shift chang for my department and my assigned shift is a 12 hour day so there's no way I can keep it together for that long!

Finished TC#3...I feel like I got hit by a truck. Neulasta shot tomorrow. Definitely have chemo brain. I love my couch. Only complaint is the oncology nurse I had today kept calling me Tammy.....even after I told her Tamara, twice. I haven't been Tammy since high school. Yuck😨

Welcome RuthElizabeth...sorry you had to join us but we are a great group!

Is anyone on TC have glucose levels going up?

tjh, mine went up. My MO said it was probably due to the steroid.

I did some checking and taxotere raises it as well.

My blood sugars are up and probably due to the steroids. My PCP has me doing fingersticks twice a day and I see her onthe 30th. She say it is also another way to watch for infection since our WBC's are all over the place. I have been avoiding concentrated sweets (read no desserts) Spa day the levels were over 200.

I am calling days 11-21 my honeymoon cause I feel pretty good. I would actually consider walking if the temps outside weren't around 95.

Any biking and walking are still good because the long muscles of the legs can use blood sugar directly without a lot of insulin.

I just wanted to tell you ladies that do chemo and work, that you are all BADASS! I can barely do the dishes and walk the dog and I read about you going to work and dealing with co-workers and bosses! Honestly, I admire you for having the strength and will power and you should reward yourselves everyday. YOU GO GIRLS!

I'm almost in the same boat as magnolia, my company does offer fmla however you have to be here for a year for it to kick in. My year hits on July 7th. So I'm toughing it out right now as long as I can knowing that I can fall back to fmla soon if I have to

I used the 200 hrs of sick time I had accumulated for surgery and am using the remaining vacation time to take off days 5 and 6 with each cycle. I can then apply for FMLA intermittant non paid if needed. I did have short term disability (STD) while off but it does not work for intermittant. It is just me so I will forge on, my job is 85% sitting and I am liking this getting ready with the wig thing 20 min and done if that.

Did I read somewhere that cancer is auto approval for disability? Is that SSI or LTD based on company? Not ready for that but still worried about chemo brain… drove right by road to nuring home today and wandering from room to room at home forgetting what I wa picking up or looking for. Any body else having episodes?

H is tomorrow with TCH spa day #3 on the 1st. Eyebrows and lashes still intact. Wondering if the claritin is causing the blurry vision and bloody nose, may cut it out the next week to see if it helps.

My boss pretty much kicked me out after I started missing work. I should have sued her but I didn't have the energy. I have been blessed enough that two fundraisers have been thrown for me and my two kids. Disability starts in August finally and with my parents help with rent, I can pay for a therapist!

I'm hitting a wall, May girls! Day 7 after my final AC and normally I'm feeling better by now, but this time I am feeling like a human slug...queasy, headaches, that horrendous chemo fullness (oh but don't worry I'm still hungry 24/7! Ugh), and the awful awful mouth taste. I had cereal twice today because nothing else tasted right. I hate being a complainer but it's one of those days!

Hope you all are doing ok today!

Magnolia--we've all had those days. That's what this board is about.

I had to take an extra sick day today--I've had acid reflux so bad it's effected my vocal chords and my voice is shot!

Good reminder, mysunshine, and good luck tomorrow.

#3 tomorrow morning for me too and here I am at 1:34 am with no sign of sleep coming any time soon. My fault.... I am supposed to take my 2nd dose of dexamethozone much earlier than I did.... I forgot. Feel free to complain here Ladies, we can vent much easier to each other than people who don't get it. At my lowest point after the last 2 rounds, I get really morbid and convince myself it's going to come back and it's going to be bad. I'm trying to keep telling myself to be ready for the low point this time and to remember as I recover, I can be more positive. It's hard though sometimes. But... this time tomorrow, I, along with a few more of you who are on the same regime, will be able to say "just one more". Though I hope at this time tomorrow I am in dreamland instead but before I am sure I'll have said "just one more" many times throughout the day.

Good luck tomorrow all, hope all goes well and the SEs are minimal.