Starting Chemo in October 2015

4 down 2 to go! 2/3rds done with chemo. Let the SE's begin!

Sorry girls. I am having a pity party and you are all invited.

I have been in the hospital with pneumonia. A house guest flew in for a visit with a really bad cough. I didn't know what to do so I did nothing. I caught what ever she had so I am mad at myself.( and her )

I have been on weekly taxol for 9 wks. Only 3 more weeks to go. I have been having a flare of my rheumatoid arthritis. My hands are hot and swollen and I can't tell where the fatigue from the RA stops and the fatigue from the taxol starts. My other complaint is my neuropathy keeps getting worse. It was pretty sever before the taxol. Now I can barely feel my legs.

Well, that does feel better getting it off my chest. I will not complain in front of my children or neighbors. Thank goodness I have you all.

p.s. My hair is coming in really silver and fuzzy.

I am getting discharged today. I ended up having the car door attack me and the wound got infected so I got admitted on Wednesday. Wound is slightly improving with oral antibiotics, so hopefully it will keep improving.

Hopefully the rest of the hospital club gets to go home soon too.

MamaBexar, Skittlesgirl, and Kimmer--sorry you had to be in the hospital. Mama, what was your guest thinking??~! How dare they expose you! I hope they feel really bad now, about giving you this illness.

Kimmer, I hope you get out soon. I was in the ER last Fri, 3 days after chemo. Second time. At least this time they were able to determine that I wasn't septic, like the first time. I narrowly escaped being hospitalized over the weekend! no fun.

Skittles, I never even would have thought about getting a wound infection. Glad they hopped on it fast. Hate it was bad enough to put you in, though. I hope you'll continue to improve.

I'm feeling better now. Still having diarrhea, but that's just par for the course. No fever or vomiting, at least. Fatigue is better. Trying to get back into my old routine.

Good luck to the hospital club! May you continue onward and upward!

So sorry to everyone who is in the hospital! I was in for three nights after my first round and it was so disheartening. I hope everyone has a speedy recovery and gets home SOON!!!

I have been in twice now. First time was diarrhea and vomiting. Admitted for c diff infection. Given abx and fluids.

This time was no fever, but wound on the leg with differing opinions on how bad it was. Admitted and kept an additional night for observation after I pushed back on discharge the following day.

When I went to the ER they tested everything--chest xray, urine testing, drew blood from the port, drew blood from the arm. Tested my blood counts and did blood cultures. The first time it happened, the blood counts revealed some kind of infection and I was very sick, weak, could hardly walk. They kept me for 4 days because my counts were all over the place and ultimately they determined that I had sepsis, a very serious infection, indeed. I was treated with massive amounts of IV antibiotics and I was discharged on powerful oral antibiotics.

The second time, last Fri, they did all the same testing. But this time, the counts were okay, decent anyway. I wasn't septic this time. They gave me a dose of Rocephin IV (pretty powerful antibiotic) and sent me home. No oral antibiotics this time. I felt bad, but I wasn't too sick this time. I recovered by the end of the weekend.

Knock on wood I haven't had anything that would hospitalize me. Even though my parrot had bitten me a couple of times and the usual klutzy calamities of life. I guess I have Neulasta to thank for that. Or maybe it's because I work in a hospital and I don't want to go there anymore than I have to.

Wishing you speedy recoveries.

Wow...sorry to all the ladies who've had to endure hospital stays! I've been lucky so far. No fevers, sicknesses, or anything that would have me at the ER/hospital! Going tomorrow to get my labs done for next week's chemo, will be #4 out of 6!

Hi all - I haven't been posting much but wanted to check in and compare side effects and other reactions with you all. I have done 3 out of 6 TCHP treatments and I am thrilled to be half done with chemo (I'm not counting Perception as part of chemo since that will be for a year). I wanted to check in and see if anyone else has gotten sick this winter? I caught a cold from my kids and it has knocked me out. I have had a low fever all weekend (my doc knows about it) and I just feel wretched. Also, as I read through and see that certain people are on the same regimen as me, is adding them as friends a good way to keep track of their posts?

SFMama, I caught a cold about a week and a half ago and am suffering now from the lingering cough and sore throat that is keeping me (and my husband) up all night. It's only at night, which is so maddening. Nothing seems to help and it's so frustrating.

I'm also on TCHP and have #4 of 6 tomorrow. My worst side effect has been diarrhea. It was so horrible after the first round that my MO reduced the dose by 20%, which seemed to help somewhat, but I think I am just going to have some diarrhea every cycle.

I also developed tinnitus in one ear, and I found in my research that the platinum containing chemo agents (like carboplatin) can cause tinnitus and even hearing loss. My MO and the pharmacist did NOT mention this possible side effect to me and I'm worried that the tinnitus and hearing loss might be permanent. Ugh!

Good luck to you!

Homeschool- No, I haven't been tired until the last week. Also remember I am at an age where most of my friends have the same complaints and they aren't even on chemo. I am so hoping things get better for you.

Durham...love the socks! If your pants hide them, you gotta make sure you show them to everyone!

Well, I believe I jinxed myself yesterday when I said I've been lucky and haven't had to go to the hospital! Went for my labs today, and there'll be no chemo for me next week. Seems my platelet count is low at 57K when normal starts at 150K, plus my hemoglobin is at 8.9 when normal starts at 11.7! MO told me if I see any external blood anywhere to go to the ER for a platelet transfusion! I should've knocked on wood as soon as I wrote that yesterday!

How disappointing that your chemo had to be postponed igay1ord

Hoping my bloods are ok next Monday for my transfusion on Tuesday.

Lovin' the socks DurhamGirl

Andraxo, homeschool, and everyone else who has chemo tomorrow...sending lots of positive thoughts your way! Tomorrow will be 4 out of 6 for me...officially more than halfway done...sigh...

Also...does anyone have any tricks or tips that they have found lessens the severity or duration of the "totally crappy" days after an infusion? I know the crappy days are just part of this whole awful ordeal, and I should probably just accept it, but I just thought I'd ask.