Winter 2015-16 RADS

rain...at my treatment yesterday they played Xmas music over loudspeakers....mixed feelings about that....it is distracting in s good way.... But the Grinch in me would rather listen to classical...

Our techs also will play music for you; they have Pandora. But the control freak in me wants to *control* something about this experience, hence my own music. Lots of Bach, and one x-ray day I listened to the Rachmaninoff 2nd piano concerto--possibly the schmaltziest piece of romantic music ever!

Steflove, I am 8 days post rads and my radiated side is still warm to the touch. When I was in the middle of treatment I could feel the heat through my shirt. I bought a cooling towel which I used on days that it was really hot to the touch. My techs asked me every day at the start of treatment how I was feeling and the male tech (my favorite) always took a close look at my skin. At one point it was deep, deep red under my arm. He let the doctor know. Octogirl, that is great news!

Octo, thanks for replying. The day of my sim I did meet with the RO's nurse and she gave me sample lotions and a coupon for one lotion. She said not to put anything on 2 hours before treatment. I purchased Aquaphor right after and put it on that night and around 11am before 1st treatment.

NOTE: I would pester them about lotions and sensitive skin (if you have it, like me) before using anything. I don't know why it's a secret until the day before. I love that someone got to watch a video and get information beforehand. That's how it SHOULD be.

I didn't try them before purchasing Aquaphor, and I bought a huge jar. I put it on before the first treatment and wore a cotton T-shirt - they had to wipe it off and told me to apply it after the treatment and later at night. Before 1st treatment, yesterday they noticed my breast was a little pink/red and marked it up to see if it spread.

I've done 2 things different: new laundry detergent and the Aquaphor. Today, I put it on again after treatment, then realized I should have tried the other type which is only available at the hospital Walgreens.

Today, my right breast is still a little red, warm to the touch and they called my surgeon to see if she can get me in. It might be cellitis (a skin infection). Might be having a reaction to the Aquaphor - I'll tell them tomorrow.

I made a sign from a coloring book and my first day, thinking about the Healing Rays coming down over my body. And I brought a lovely prayer for healing adapted from the one from Rebbe Nachman of Bratslav from a book my rabbi gave me when I was diagnosed. One of the techs said it with me, which was nice.

Oh, then my rabbi didn't call me after the surgery ... nor did any of my friends from the synagogue, so I quit. I am in touch with another rabbi who is praying for me and can follow my progress on Facebook.

I may have some scotch tonight; I'm a little nervous about this redness. I asked RO if I could ice it or put warm heat and he said to wait for the surgeon to call me in the morning.

All my techs are women and they are terrific. I'm grateful for them - they help me to make it as smooth and quick as possible. Haven't had music yet.

Good luck everybody

Linda

treatment three today went fine, other than the fact that they called this morning to reschedule it to be an hour earlier than planned...which was doable today but not really convenient since it meant rescheduling a meeting and leaving work early. This is the third (or is it fourth? I've lost track) time I've been rescheduled on short notice. At least this time they gave a reason: they said they had some 'special case' that was going to take a while they had to do in the afternoon, and they wanted to get me in and out before that as they were afraid otherwise I'd have been there quite late. And fortunately, I have the next two weeks off of work so after tomorrow I have much more flexibility with scheduling. They did give me apt times through NYE Day... (4 per week since they are closed for Christmas and NYD); we will see how those times hold up in their schedule book.....

and then, they came looking for me to give me: 100% aloe, a personal robe, AND written instructions on what to expect, what to do and not to do, what I could wear and not wear, etc. !!! The staff member who gave them to me said she looked for me yesterday to give it to me 'so you could have it before you started' but just missed me... (? Ok, but I am thinking to myself... yesterday was treatment number two! ). I am with you, Linda: I don't get why it is a big secret until the day before...why not give it to me at the sim?

oh well, I do like and trust the RO...and the staff seem to know what they are doing on the technical side. They could use a good office manager though. Still, so far no SEs, so I can't complain too much!

linda, hope you get more info from the surgeon, and good luck to all!

Hugs

Octogirl

lindab142...love the idea that radiation is just "healing rays"...thank you SO much for that. (I am usually so anxious about rads but am hoping the way you framed it will help not to be so anxious and will share the way you framed it with others,)

Had 2nd of 10 treatments to bone today. The first yesterday was uneventful, the staff is very friendly, music was playing and although the room was cold, they had a warm blanket for me. Both appointments were on time and went smoothly, but when I got up from the table today, I was very wobbly on my feet and crashed into the wall as I left. Turns out, I hadn't hydrated enough, so I must remember to hydrate before tomorrow's treatment!

Octo - glad you got some aloe - I'm thinking that's something I may need. I showered and tried the teeny tiny sample of Miaderm last night; it's still a little pink but better. That stuff is really expensive.

Have a ton of work today so hope I can get in to see surgeon and get an answer.

Happy - you're welcome - we can thank my counselor for that.

Cubbie, I'm cold too and then they doodle on me and it tickles. Then RO touches me with his freezing hands.

Problem w/hands: hydrate and I bring in a little toy to squeeze; it makes me feel better. Will take a pic.

Luckily, my appointments are around 3:15-3:30 daily, so that's good. I only have to take a little time off work.

Hope you all have a great day - think positive healing thoughts.

Linda

Cubbie, I have been offered a blanket, but I've said no, because I have these weird touch issues where it bothers me to have one side covered up and the other side not...(because I don't like the feel of where the blanket or gown falls on my body when they do that, and it bothers me enough that it makes me feel like jumping off the table. I am just weird that way). I have had to be fairly insistent to convince the (mostly male) techs that I actually prefer to be naked from the waist up. (on both sides). But they get it now. Besides, if they are going to see the 'bad' one, they might as well see the 'good' one, right? Anyway, I imagine they'd bring you a blanket if you let them know how cold you are. The other thing I've done is wear my favorite and very warm knit hat all through treatment. It is totally outside of range, and no one has told me to take it off, and remember that you lose a lot of heat through your head (especially those of us without hair :-( ). I think the hat makes a big difference, maybe you should ask if that is ok for you.

The only time I had issues with numbness in my hands or fingers was during sim, perhaps because of the longer time frame, but I do have issues with my shoulder hurting and even feeling slightly frozen and difficult to move after treatment. It happens to be on the treatment side, but fairly sure that is just coincidence: it is the remnant of an old rotator cuff injury and just doesn't like being in that above-the-head position even for a short time. I've been doing stretching, which doesn't seem to help too much but yesterday I took an OTC NSAID an hour or so before treatment and that did help...or perhaps my muscles are getting in shape. Indeed, one of the techs commented how quickly and easily I sat up after treatment: she said I must have strong ab muscles. Hah!! That's a joke and I told her she probably says that to all the girls :-) : but maybe they will be a bit stronger before this is over. One can only hope, right?

Hugs,

Octogirl

LindyC, welcome! I'm halfway through today, and so far am only slightly flushed on the treatment side. The doctor today asked if I was feeling fatigued. I told him no, but that my co-worker who just completed radiation, though didn't have chemo, has told me she was very tired after week three so I'm waiting for it to hit. He said that most patients who have been though chemo don't say they're experiencing fatigue with radiation, because it's nothing compared to what they've been through with chemo.

Hi Ladies, I had my sim today. It wasn't too bad. I came home with a few blue freckles to add to all of my brown ones ( iIrish skin LOL) The RO and staff are all wonderful. No Christmas music playing, but they had the big radiation machine ( yes that's a technical term) decorated like Rudolph. I will post a picture on Sunday. My first treatment is Sunday. They are open this Sunday because they will be closed for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I'm due for 22 treatments and 6 boosts.Best of luck everyone. I'm sending healing thoughts your way. Patty

First day of rads No holIday music, but there was a giant reindeer

Love the reindeer machine. My friends are saying it looks like a mixmaster.

I'm off rads because of redness I think from the aquaphor lotion I used before treatment. Dr. is treating it like a skin infection, antibiotic and special cream. I go back Tues. for check up to see if I can resume rads after 2 treatments only.

Have a great day!

Queenmomcat, no it's just pictures on the wail of trees, but I think they might be glass panels, and they have trees on the ceiling as well. I guess they are trying to make it as relaxing as possible. Lindab142, my friend said the same thing. He thought it looked like a kitchen aide mixer. Haha. I'm sorry you are having so much trouble already. I'm a little worried too. I am very fair, and after one treatment, I'm a little pink and feel a little tingling. Maybe the tingle is in my head, because I'm worried. I had a reduction with my lumpectomy and the skin on the underside of my breast is still a little raw. Treatment 2 tomorrow at 7:10 Ugh!!! Haha right before work. Good luck everyone