Starting Chemo September 2015; join us!

Is anyone else just sick to high heaven of thinking about "me me me me me" all the time? It's all my food my sleep my meds my pain my my my my. I feel like a Kardashian, but I avoid mirrors and the paparazzi.

Worse SE to date in order of OMGNESS...

1. Constipation That Caused hemorrhoids
2. Nuelasta bone pain
3. Baldness
4. Exhaustion
5. Mouth and skin issues
6. Nausea
7. Random weird crap that just comes and goes
8. Death of the taste buds
9. Sporadic depression
10. Having to think about this crap all the time

Annie I love your list. Can we add heartburn/acid reflux

I've been using the wet disposable Charmin wipes for the first few days after chemo. Haven't had any issues with sores, but the smell of the wipes is nauseating. I think it just reminds me that I'm not well and full of chemicals. That said, I highly recommend them to take away anything residual after wiping with tp.

Annie, your posts crack me up, and that is exactly what I need right now. Thank you

Hugs tessu. We're going to get through it because even when you have issues poop problems are just rediculous funny when you talk about it out loud

Annie - Thanks for the correction! My psyllium container says "compare to Miralax," so I incorrectly associated the two. I love you list of awfulness - our only choice is to laugh together. (Can we talk about my butthurt butthole? Srsly.)

All - Round 4 AC is in the books! I'm sure I'll be hit by any number of awful SEs shortly, but one hour after finishing, my only SE is raging hunger. (Thanks you, steroids!) So I'm taking advantage of that and EATING while the sun shines.

Hope my fellow Tuesday chemo ladies are having / have completed successful infusions. Eyes on the finish line!

Sweet Georgia Brown I am so ordering the squatty potty!!!

I used to laugh at my Grandpa when I was little because he constantly ran a hanky over his bald head. Sorry, Granpa. I totally get it now.

Yay Scotland! And yes to constipation on taxol. Had my first DD infusion last week and it came back. I am trying to return it. I was not prepared for it. I thought the big d was a given with taxol. Gonna go back to my preventative ritual.

Well, crap. My MO told me that Taxol tended to bring on the D! I was crossing my fingers and praying for that!

*sigh* Time for some Weird Al. (Tune: Complicated by Avril Lavigne)

Tell me
Why'd you have to go and make me so constipated?
'Cause right now I'd do anything to just get my bowels evacuated
In the bathroom I sit and I wait and I strain
And I sweat and I clench and I feel the pain
Oh, should I take laxatives or have my colon irrigated?
No, no, no

Annie - freeze a pad and use it....it does wonders! Easiest way to use an "ice pack" down under

If you're in a hurry: Take a diaper, slice open the end, stuff it with ice cubes. Tape the end. Use accordingly.
Make multiples and keep them in the freezer for quick use.

EDIT: Awwww... Scotland beat me to it.

Also, they had me use Tuck's Medicated Cooling Pads and Dermoplast Spray. I was wondering if it was time to break them out again. Who knew there was so much overlap... Crotch Care 101

Just got home from 7 hours of being at the center. Had the refresher course on what to do and q&a. My favorite nurse Tammy was there and she's there every other Tues. The other one Monica talks too much and repeats little details that you get the first time around. So unless you are special needs, it's very annoying. Plus I like more quiet and not gabby once the infusion is going. Got all kinds of pre meds from ativan, 2 anti nauseas, benedryl decadron steroid and other stuff I don't remember. So it took about 1/2 hour just to infuse the pre meds. Then came the red devil, AC (Adriamycin & Cytoxin). Sucked on ice chips to help prevent mouth issues. Makes for pretty orange pee!

So far, mild headache and feel a bit unsteady. Nothing major yet. Got to keep up on the massive water consumption, min 64 oz. :O First 72 hours much more important to drink water than to eat cuz chemo is done an hour after the infusion. It takes 48 hours for it to break down in your body. So you drink to help get this out asap and not marinate in this shit. Have to take nausea meds on the clock even if feel ok. Need to swish a lot with baking soda water and biotene to help prevent mouth sores. Just a few things I have to stay on top of or you'll get worse.

I'm thinking unless I'm not doing well at the 2 week mark that I'll stick with it just to get Tammy. She tends to you like no other. Had a nice breakfast and a sandwich lunch there. Other folks weren't offering their pts as much as she was me. She and Shari are stars.

I was told generally, post chemo days 1-5 are the worst. Then you slowly build back up and go up and down. You have to be cognizant of the nadir period days 7-14 roughly to stay away from crowds and sick people as your immune system is more compromised at this time.
I'm trying to get some small things done before I crash. People say you have a few hours after chemo before you have energy like a stone. Great.
Tomorrow afternoon is the infamous Neulasta shot that insurance wasn't going to approve because I was going to do the every 3 wk plan. Thank God the center/dr/hosp isn't far since I'm driving myself. I'm sure my fellow drivers on the road appreciate it too! lol

Kilaru wanted to see me on Thurs for 2nd fill in my tissue expanders. I'm like I'll be shit on that day so it's for a week from Thurs now. Not going to kill myself when I know I have plenty of time to get these things filled before I start rads after chemo is over.

So day 1 is done. And head is starting to feel it a bit more now..

Artista, you are in good company. I also spent 7 hours at the center today for #2 infusion.of course there was blood work and meeting with the doctor.

So far so good a little nausea my bad day is Thursday or at least it was last time...

thanks also for the mouth sores prevention I will try that too. I'll continue with my water regiment. Thank you for these lists....

Keep you posted on the next few days...Thanks again for all your posts

Very helpful!