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

Just a quick note for the ER+ girls about something I read yesterday. It you're taking Tamoxifen, it is advised not to take Benadryl while you are on it, as it interrupts the metabolization/enzyme pathway and can make the Tamox less effective. I'm not sure if another type of allergy med, like Claritin would be ok, if it makes you drowsy. You can read about it in this bco article below. At the end of the article is a list of many meds that don't play nicely with Tamox.

http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/hormonal/ser...

Stephmoen - one last one. Rooting for you...come a long way, sister!

Gingeel - cross dressing, lol. It is amazing how our looks change.

Hair will return, folks. It will grow back

Whiskey, eh? I'm more of a Scotch girl myself.

"...Traveling twice the speed of sound/It's easy to get burned...."

--playing during my zapping today.

My naturopath told me about a client who was getting a cancer treatment called "5 FU," which the client referred to as "FU, 2."

Burn it KB!! And spit on it!

Hope you soon are feeling much better Renee! Just think, no more post chemo recovery after this!!!!

littleblue, I love your brother! He sounds like such fun and the perfect person to be by your side during all this!! What are you going to place inside the exploding targets?? lol

slv, hope all went well for you today! ONE more to go now!?!? YAY!!

Hi ladies - I have been so busy! Yesterday was crazy with the tornado warnings, then we lost our power. We have a generator, but Chuck was at work and had to work late due to the power outages at work. He finally came home just to get the generator working, so we had power from about 6:15 PM, but I didn't want to run anything that wasn't necessary. Power came back on around 8:30 PM, and then I finally could get online, but so tired by then! Gwen and I ate dinner at 9 PM!

I have been feeling better and better every day since day 3 PFC. The dull/tasteless tastebuds started to get better by Saturday. I have had some bone/muscle aches - that random shin-splint like pain, but I have been able to even go without ibu for a few days. I totally made the right call on the Nuelasta - I did not have the awful hangover side effects like last time. I know that I have to be careful from today on due to my WBC no doubt being low. Of course, I was happy at my last chemo, but it's sort of like someone getting paroled from a life sentence - more of a bewildered, "what do I do now" feeling. But, every day I realize that I don't have to go back to the prison, and a little more weight is lifted - a weight that I really didn't even realize I was carrying! It feels good.

For side effects - I still have neuropathy in my hands and feet, and it seems worse this time. I found that most of the chemo brain was not as bad on Taxol, so I am happy to feel sharper than I had, but I do still suffer from aphasia also. My eyes and nose started watering right on schedule, but my eyesight is better than it was on AC. I feel more in control of my emotions too. I have had fewer crying spells. But, of course, there's the toenails - gonna lose a total of 4 for sure.

I've been painting my deck, by hand, since last Saturday. I've been managing to do the stairs and 9-10 planks at a time. I couldn't do any yesterday due to the rain, and today due to the schedule, but I hope to get back to it tomorrow and finish up the first coat this weekend. The 2nd coat can be rolled. I've been also dealing with the pool - both the electrical/heating and the maintenance. I've had to vacuum it more than I anticipated - I think there might be something wrong with the filter. I'll post some pictures tomorrow - my brother totally rocked (no pun intended) this retaining wall around the filter area - it looks amazing.

So, lots to catch up on here - thinking of all that have been in the chair these past couple of days.

Addie, sorry to hear about trouble sleeping - I feel for you with three small children to look after, it's not like you can sleep all morning or take long naps. Sometimes I wonder if these doctors have a clue. Sorry, I don't get the "only 4 treatments left" logic - that's a month. 30 days. 4 weeks of NOT sleeping well - ask him how he would function on a month of not sleeping well? WTF? He can prescribe the Ativan down to the # of pills so that you have to refill week to week - you may not need much, once you have a couple nights, you might be able to get back to a natural rhythm of sleep, but if you are on steroids, it's really not fair to let you try something to help.

Heather, sounds like you had some weather fun too. See above about the aphasia.

Jen, glad you got a hold of your RO. We'll be with you for your simulation!

Steph, YAY, last chemo. I can attest that it does get better and better.

Renee - you too - I read your post yesterday about feeling crappy, and I didn't have time to respond, but I wanted to let you know that the REAL end is near - yes, you will feel better, and you WON'T be going through this again - it's such a freeing feeling! Can't wait until you get there, just a few more days . . . When are you planning on going back to work? I'm thinking in the next couple of weeks.

Gingee - sorry, I don't think anyone is going to mistake you for a guy :-) You have the most feminine features, and you totally rock the stubble, I think people would just think you are doing the androgynous look. Hope mom was able to help lots.

Lorraine - loved the picture/look - what fun!

Cherie, I hope you have been able to get some rest. It's so aggravating when our bodies won't do what we want them to do. But, good for you for going for a walk! Love the picture of Jack Sparrow, aka Johnny Depp - it looks like he's taking a selfie!

KB - that's a new one "cancerversary" I think I'm going to try to forget the day I was diagnosed and instead I'm going to celebrate the day treatment was over every year - sort of like how I remember/celebrate my dad on his birthday, not the anniversary of his death. Surviversary? Have fun burning the Tamoxifen.

Susan, I can relate to that weird feeling about an "outing" encounter. I've decided that it's just all too weird to process.

gko - OMG, I don't know what I would have done if that happened to me. But, I'm so glad you told us, because now I have prepared a good comeback for that - before the praying could even begin.

Guys, I've started to really, really wish my hair would grow. I don't need a lot, but something - anything to show me that it's happening.

I emailed my manager last week to update him on the latest - I asked him if he was ok with me working from home while I do rads, and he got back to me pretty quickly and said that he thought that would be ok. That means I wouldn't have to be back in the wig on a daily basis until sometime early October, but I would love to think that by Christmas I might be able to go wigless. Although, I honestly don't know if I could bear it for all that time.

TTYAL,

Lynne

STEPH, I love the sign. You are so strong and I'm so happy for you to be DONE💋💋💋💋

Thinking of you tomorrow.

I have a rads sim. It's never ending!!!!

Addie, what about an over-the-counter sleep med, i.e. Sominex. My MO said that would be fine.

I love the picture Steph. What sweet, sweet faces! My kids are 24 and 26 now and I can't even think of them that age without getting emotional right now, for some crazy reason.

GKO , I had a similar praying experience, although mine wasn't as public. My primary care physician, who is a nice christian lady, asked me when I was in her office if she could pray for me. I just thought she meant she would keep me in her prayers. She had her hands all over me invoking the powers of God and Jesus to remove my cancer. My husband was there. It was definitely odd, but since it came from a good place I was ok with it. But at the UPS counter??? geez!

whiskey- I prefer coconut rum. "Why is the rum always gone?" For all my Pirates of The Caribbean fans. I did aquire some Benadryl from my MIL although I didn't need it last night because I passed right out and axtually slept decent while on the topic of drinks- anyone have one here and there while in chemo? My mouth keeps watering for the taste of a piña colada.

Addie, I have to laugh because I've only had 3 drinks on chemo- piña coladas!!my MO said the odd drink was ok, but to remember that my liver is being taxed as is from chemo and alcohol can add to it. I had one piña colada that I only drank half- put the lid on and it was fine a week later. I know every MO is different so you may want to ask. 

Good luck Steph! Love the sign!

Awesome agirt my mom got for me too

Hope all goes well Steph....love your sign! CONGRATS!!!!

Slv, glad you got to take treatment yesterday and that your MO is keeping a good eye on you!!

Glad you got sleep last night Addie! I slept like a baby myself.

Lynne, it seems like my hair just all of a sudden started growing!! I never lost all my stubble, but one day ran my hand over it and it noticeably felt different... and its taken off since. You'll get a nice surprise like that soon!!

Hope everyone has a good day today...anyone hitting the chair with Steph?