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

Slv, when they put it in, they glued the incision shut. No strip or stitches or banfages. Today I have a couple of stitches and a tiny bandaid, that's it.

Addie, that tatoo is great! I am thinking to somehow work in a yew tree since taxol is saving us all...but I'm no artist. Or...a field of flowers? Hmmm...guess this is the next step, huh? My friend got me a gift certificate for a henna crown on my bald head, so maybe I'll get henna on my arm and chest and see how I like it..

Has anyone noticed melatonin helps hot flashes? I just started taking it, and many fewer attack me at night. MO thought it was a good idea..

Karen, radiation is going fine. I'm starting to get some tenderness and swelling, but I'm 24% done!

I was in the chair today too, another Taxol/Herceptin in the books now! So far I feel decent, a little sluggish but not too bad! YAY for all of us checking another one off the list!! Hoping for few SE for us all!

We've almost decided that the Big D I've had was caused by the diabetes med I started last week...so that has been reduced. I'm worried about reducing it since my blood sugar goes through the roof with all the steroids...... I'll be so glad when I'm done with Taxol...9 more to go. Sounds like f.o.r.e.v.e.r !

Gingeel, I had trouble with my tablet today too, it would not connect to the wifi at the clinic. I can hardly see my phone either, so I just listened to music and tried to nap.

Princess, your post was spot on.... taking this one day at a time, that's all I can really process. It gets way overwhelming trying to take in the big picture all at once!!!! When I look back at all I've gotten thru to this point its a little surprising I've gotten this far. I was diagnosed almost 5 months ago and alot has happened in 5 months!!!

Littleblue, so glad your deportation went well!!! It must feel great to have it out! Hope the next few days are painfree!!

Addie, that tat is adorable, and I'm an old fuddy duddy who doesn't care for tats! lol Even if I was game to get one, I don't think I could stand it since my chest is so super sensitive. I cant imagine enduring more pain there. Ouch! lol

Steph, so glad the infusions are going ok! Are you able to get out any during the day?

dizzpark, hope the lozenges help your mouth, that sounds so painful!

Alibeths, I hope you are feeling better soon!! I've been meaning to ask if you were happy with the results from the cold cap? I read up on them but didn't go for it I'd love to know how it worked out for you!

slv, I so understand what you mean about even vacuuming taking it out of you. I get up to do a thing or two and have to sit down and rest. Its frustrating and annoying. Hope you are soon feeling better!

Welcome Peabrain! For nausea, I only have used Zofran and its worked well for me. It gives me a headache sometimes, but that beat the nausea hands down. I had very little issues with constipation with it, but for others its a problem.

Lynne, I hope your nausea has subsided!! Are you feeling better??

Addie, ALT/AST changes as you describe are normal with chemo. I asked about this specifically since my father have hepatitis C.

You may have notice that out of range labs that would have your doc jumping up and getting tense under normal circumstances are not a source of concern during chemo. "Fasting glucose of 140? With steroids in you? Excellent!"

thank you ksusan that make me feel better. They aren't dangerous alarming levels by any means it's just that this is the first time my labs have been elevated since I've started chemo but I guess it's all cumulative. I didn't meet with my normal MO last week also so I wasn't sure if this doc paid close attention to my labs but I know she did take a peak at them while I was in the room. Just made me nervous that's all. You know always worried that my cancer has spread. Oye. I'm sure I will worry about that the rest of my life.

So apparently whatever my doc had to cut to get my port out is related to the muscles I use to twitch my nose. Ow! I keep forgetting I had chemo and wondering why I'm tired LOL.

good work running princess! You a beast!

Addie, glad your labs turned out to be chemo related!

Hope everyone is experiencing a minimal SE day..

holy frigging hair allibeths!! You look great! I want! I want!

The cold caps totally worked. My hair thinned maybe about 10 to 15% but all in all they were fine. It was an awful experience and made me physically nauseous but I do have my hair

🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉i'm usually not so text savvy but I think I created a Facebook group if anyone wants to join. It's close to the public so we can post anything and see pictures and stuff!!!!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1684006241827545/

Littleblue, yes, when I'd smile it would pull and I'd remember that I had had a little surgery!

Renee, I had a dream two nights ago that I got up to use the bathroom and fell. As I lay there with the vivid feel and colors of the bedroom carpet against my nose and cheek, I felt peaceful

Andrea- What a view! Enjoy your time

Andrea, love the mountains! Enjoy your mini holiday.

Alibeths, kudos to you for sticking with the cold caps. I wouldn't have had the patience for it. I have to say, while I know how hard hair loss was for so many of us...for me, it's not even an issue anymore. It's easy, and more comfortable in the heat. And it's one less thing to deal with. With that said, your hair looks great....and full.

Renee, your right..... it's good to put the electronics down and just relax.

I had a nice nap, kbee...ate a burger and fries..devoured it actually. Came home, slept for several hours and then picked my kids up from their Aunts house. Ready to sleep again.

Princess, it's good to remind ourselves to take one day at a time. I remember the night of first AC...how horrible I felt at the time, because I didn't do the right regimen of meds at home, but I was thinking and looking ahead saying,there is no way I can do this! but the next few days I started to feel like myself again . And now here I am more than halfway done.

Little blue, enjoy your first night sans port!

Thanks for the heads up on the April Chemosabes group, I missed that somehow! Do you have the link for it, I didn't find it when I searched.

Hi - busy day here! Thanks for thinking of me - I took a zofran, and it seemed to help. Definitely more burpy than I have been in a long time. Yesterday I had a Kellogg's protein bar for breakfast, and didn't eat again until dinner (and still didn't feel like it). I drank a lot, though.

I wanted to mention that I think the B6 is working. I still have numb finger tips, and toes, but I think it's a lot less, especially at this time in my cycle. I'm taking 100mg 2x a day.

Last day of Claritin!!!!! You know, the MO, NP, and nurses ask you, "does it work?", and I wonder - how would I know? I mean, I still have bone pain, but would it be worse without it? It's the same with the l-glutamine, I wonder if my neuropathy would be worse? I only know that the B6 is working because it's different than when I didn't take it.

Jen, so glad you've been successfully deported! I hope you heal quickly and with no pain. I'm guessing the tattoo question is more for the MX/BMX gals, but I'll answer anyway. I could never get a tattoo ever for any reason, if not for the pain, for the choosing of something that I would want permanently on my body. It took me 6 months to choose my vanity license plate!

Alibeths, I love your comment "It was an awful experience and made me physically nauseous but I do have my hair" - there is no way I could have done what you did, and I am jealous that you have hair - I'm so glad it worked for all you went through. I know it sound dumb, but I wasn't that freaked out about losing my hair, but it wasn't until it was gone that I realized that I'll be dealing with this particular side effect for up to another year (if you consider hair cuts, styling, etc., what little hair I will have). That part is really going to suck, because I plan to feel a lot better, but I'll still look somewhat sick!

Andrea, that's a beautiful view! Enjoy, relax, and try to forget FC.

Renee, I know what you mean about the cumulative - it's so frustrating!

Thinking of all who hit the chair today, and will go tomorrow. So many of us finishing up, it is exciting!

Today was a good day. I took DD2 to school, came home and started making some blueberry cake with the blueberries she picked on Friday. I had to stop and remind myself that I felt almost completely normal - except for numb fingers and toes. But, still, I'll take it and be grateful. I spent the rest of the day decluttering and cleaning. DD1 is having a few friends over tomorrow for a pool party. I spent all day yesterday cleaning up the pool, deck, lawn, etc. When doing those physical things, I'm very aware of how weak I am.

I have a mylifeline.org page, and I got a card from a co-worker who said I must be doing ok since I kept my sense of humor (she has LOL's at my page). I'm not sure how to take this as I haven't been trying to be funny at all! I'll just ignore it, but boy, it sure does show how off perception is to reality.

Lynne

Lynne, thanks for the info about the fb page, I sent a pm. It may have been discussed when I was in the hospital, I never got caught up with all the posts from that week. Glad you had a good day and the nausea is better, its such a miserable feeling. I'm with you on the hair thing now that I realize just how long I'm going to have to deal with it. Before I was bald, my wig wouldn't stay on, it kept sliding up, Once my hair starts growing back, I'm going to have problems with that I guess. I'm not wearing the wig much now that its so hot, but did plan to again once it gets cooler. I still have 9 weeks of Taxol, so it'll be while before I have enough hair to do anything with.

gingeel, I don't miss my hair in the heat right now, but keep my head covered when I go out. I have to say, that the bald look is great on you tho! I just cant rock the baldness.....I look just like my brother wearing earrings! Not a pretty sight. lol

Cherie, before my first Taxol I had to take steroids before and I got them in IV, but I didn't have a reaction, so I have not taken them before since then. When I had a reaction during 2nd Taxol, they gave me additional steroids via IV. But, I still do not have to take them b4.

I would suggest you ask if they can back off them - it doesn't hurt to ask.

Lynne