Starting Chemo December 2015

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  • sauterelle
    sauterelle Member Posts: 5
    edited January 2016

    To mvspaulding: I, too, got my period. Mine came 4-5 days after my 1st AC chemo treatment, and it was most certainly a drag! I recognized when I scheduled treatment for 2-3 days before I expected my period that this might be "a thing", but I thought it best to begin treatment as soon as I could, and I also thought it might be best that it was coming on the first round of treatment, rather than later.

    I was ready for treatment #2 two weeks later, but I made an effort to eat as well as I could, trying to make sure my blood would be strong.

    Prior to treatment #3, I had another issue creep up, which was sudden major back spasm and pain, immobilizing me for a whole day and throwing my plan and schedule off. Treatment 3 had to be rescheduled because my platelet count was not up to par.

    How did you do?

  • Sammy3
    Sammy3 Member Posts: 136
    edited January 2016

    Twirp - hang in there. We're on the same protocol and YES I get what seems like PMS'y by that 1st weekend after - right where you are. Although I have only had 1 period since. I can just tell that I am a little snippy with people. Just get through the weekend & you will be on the upswing!

    Redrock - those are super cute! I can't believe how many younger women are here. It makes me so mad! But we will get through it together!

    Brit - love your buzz cut - I still haven't done it. I am wearing my wig in public, but dang I am getting sick of having to clean up my bathroom all the time.

    KHinMD - I would ask about self injecting if it doesn't bother you. They just asked me if I wanted to - no one really asked me to prove where I lived or anything.

    Hang tough this weekend everyone!

  • KHinMD
    KHinMD Member Posts: 44
    edited January 2016

    Awesome pics everyone. It's nice to see that chemo can't stop us from being beautiful.

    mvspaulding - I hope you feel better soon. After each treatment I will be worried that it's going to take longer to bounce back.

    Karenbo - Thanks and congrats on your numbers being up. Fight on.

    KrisCrzala - My taste is off the same amount of time. There are usually 2 days where it's unbearable and the thought of food turns me off.

    Twirp26 - Sorry you are having a bad day. My emotional day is usually around day 6-8 when I don't feel like eating.

    sauterelle - Sorry to hear about the back pain and delayed treatment. So far I have had 2 treatments every 3 weeks, and I got my period each time. I'm both annoyed and worried because it's making me wonder if the treatment isn't working well enough or fast enough. I go in for treatment #3 on Monday so maybe they can reassure me.

    Sammy3 - I will see if that's an option on Monday.

  • Wenrisa
    Wenrisa Member Posts: 94
    edited January 2016

    twirp26 I'm also three days out and I'm going crazy. Does anyone else feel they they can't turn their mind off but their body is shot? All I can do is lay in bed and hope I can fall asleep. At least the nausea isn't as bad as usual... Just feeling crazy.

  • jodes001
    jodes001 Member Posts: 92
    edited January 2016

    Redrock75- you look amazing in all of your wigs! I too am trying to have fun with the wigs!

    Keep your chin up

    Jodi

  • Twirp26
    Twirp26 Member Posts: 178
    edited January 2016

    wenrisa, YES!! That is exactly how I feel. I feel like I am dreaming almost. Like my head is stuck in a big tub of butter. My chemo brain is worse this time too. Just feel slow, emotional and not like myself at all. I hate when I have a bad attitude😉 Thanks for the pick me ups ladies. I know this will pass, just needed to bitch to the people who understand me. Family and friends are great but they really don't understand how it really feels. I do appreciate them though. Hope everyone is doing well!

  • Wenrisa
    Wenrisa Member Posts: 94
    edited January 2016

    twirp26 - we are here for you! Bitch away cuz I know I do when I need it!

    My nurse even told me how it sucks that I look so good and I probably dont get a lot of sympathy for not feeling well!

  • mvspaulding
    mvspaulding Member Posts: 446
    edited January 2016

    not the greatest pic but I thought I would share my wig like everyone else image

  • KrisCrzala
    KrisCrzala Member Posts: 32
    edited January 2016

    Twirp, hope you're feeling better. I know what you mean about chemo brain. I was shopping with my daughter at the after Christmas sales. I went back to look at the wrapping paper and my daughter asked me what I was doing and I responded "Oh, I'm just peeing". WHAT? I couldn't believe it came out of my mouth. I meant to say I'm just looking. My daughter couldn't stop laughing. I told her she had to give me a break cuz I have chemo brain.

    I'm so glad I can come to this forum and talk. For the most part I am doing pretty good on the chemo but I have my bad days. When my husband and I go out with family, they treat me as if I don't have cancer. They went bowling and wanted me to bowl and wouldn't leave me alone. I actually started to feel bad but my husband said NO. He reminded me that I had surgery 2 months ago and I'm still healing. My kids are really understanding but the rest of the family doesn't get it. I look good so therefore I must feel good. Of course I always wear my wig when I go out so you can't tell I have BC. Maybe I should just go bald.

    Having emotional crying days and then I just want to kick someone's ass. Talk about a rollercoaster.

    Love the wigs Redrock and MySpaulding. I just ordered another one from TLC that is a little more sassier. Can't wait to get it.

    Got the norro viris flu yesterday and was down all day and most of today. It started with an unbearable back spasm which then went into somach pain and vomiting. At first I didn't know if it was chemo related or something else. Felt much better today without the back spasm but still don't have my appetite back. This was worse than chemo!!

    Hope everyone is having a good night!!

    Kristie

  • Twirp26
    Twirp26 Member Posts: 178
    edited January 2016

    mvspaulding, you look beautiful!!! I love the color and it really looks like your hair! thanks for sharing, it's a great pic! I just ran a razor over my head again. Can't tell if it was growing back, coming out, or what. It feels smooth now. I'm going to experiment;)So thankful for all of you!! Stay strong, fight on!

  • jodes001
    jodes001 Member Posts: 92
    edited January 2016

    mvspaulding - wig looks great!! :)

  • brithael
    brithael Member Posts: 224
    edited January 2016

    mvspaulding - great wig! you look beautiful!

    2nd round is tomorrow. I hope to be proactive this time about some of the problems I had first round. I.E - starting stool softener and miralax tomorrow, getting Neulasta shot day after infusion, starting Tylenol and ibuprofen at first sign of joint paint (I already take Claritin daily,) - hopefully that will head off some of the SE's at the pass!

  • mvspaulding
    mvspaulding Member Posts: 446
    edited January 2016

    Thanks everyone. I'm going to try and get used to wearing the wigs. Kris I ordered another one from TLC yesterday too, along with a couple hats. I got a long wig, thought it may be fun to experiment.

    Twirp, my stubble is hurting and driving me nuts, but I'm scared to shave again because I don't want the red bumps to come back

  • redrock75
    redrock75 Member Posts: 34
    edited January 2016

    mvspaulding your wig looks really good, very real!! I seem to now have a wig buying addiction, I need to stop! Just got this one in the mail yesterday:


    image

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2016

    Jojoba oil very closely resembles the oil in human skin. I make an herbal salve, with Jojoba oil and Shea butter, Lavender and Rosemary essential oil, and Tea Tree Oil that soothes my prickly head like nothing else I've tried! Try a bit of Jojoba oil if you can :)

  • Twirp26
    Twirp26 Member Posts: 178
    edited January 2016

    red rock, where are you ordering from? They look great!!

  • mvspaulding
    mvspaulding Member Posts: 446
    edited January 2016

    Redrock, I like it! We are allowed to spend a little on wigs after what we have been through ;)

    Thanks for the tip Birdie. I will try to see if I can find some jojoba oil. Where do you get it?

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2016

    mySpaulding, I use a lot making my salves so I order online, however Walmart and Walgreens, probably other drug stores as well, carry it. Dessert Essence is a nice brand. :)

  • mvspaulding
    mvspaulding Member Posts: 446
    edited January 2016

    Thanks Birdie! Hope you are doing well. :)

  • jodes001
    jodes001 Member Posts: 92
    edited January 2016

    Hi all,

    I still have hair, but its buzzed to about 3/4 inch. It hurts constantly, even with nothing covering it. It feels like I have a very tight ponytail in. Why is this??

    Thx

  • redrock75
    redrock75 Member Posts: 34
    edited January 2016

    Twirp, I've been looking at wigs I like and then trying to get them slightly cheaper on eBay. The one I just posted is Jon Renau "Scarlett" and usually goes for around $200 but I got it brand new in box with free shipping on eBay for $160. My other blonde wig is esthetica designs "Mackenzie" and I got it from the Paula Young site on their Black Friday sale. My brunette wigs are mostly $20 eBay cheapies shipped from China. But I'm really liking the lace fronts on my 2 blonde wigs because it looks so much more realistic.


    3rd AC tomorrow over here. Good luck to me and everyone else heading in tomorrow! ❤️

  • mvspaulding
    mvspaulding Member Posts: 446
    edited January 2016

    great idea! I never even thought of looking on Ebay for wigs.

    Jodes, my stubble hurts too and I am over it. I can rub my head over a sink and little hairs fall out all over, why won't it just come out already??

  • PezGal
    PezGal Member Posts: 99
    edited January 2016

    Hello ladies! I took a BC.org hiatus. I missed all your positive attitudes and support, but didn't miss my need to keep digging into old posts and finding things that scared the bejesus out of me. Need to find a balance. A little recap: 2 Friday's ago I ended up in the ER with a fever of 101.2 and an eye infection. A blood test showed I had an impressive 0 (none, zilch, nada) nutraphils so I ended up in the hospital till Monday. Never found the infection, but... Idk. And, yeah, that was after my neulasta shot. Last Thursday I got my WBC up enough to do my 4th (and last) AC! Yeah! Literally a pic of me below. But, I did find out that now my red blood count was low so I ended up with a blood transfusion last saturday. Wth? Soooooo excited to move on to something slightly less toxic. Now that my whites and reds are "normalish" I'm catching my sons cold. Hoping to not end up in the hospital again.

    image

    Btw, everyone's hair looks great! This is a bad pic of me pushing it today at Monster Jam with my kid and hubby. It's my halo wig made out of my own hair. I think it blends well.Messy just like I like it...

    image

  • Lou53
    Lou53 Member Posts: 81
    edited January 2016

    PezGal, so glad to hear that you are ok! I know what you mean about being scared from some of the posts. Especially as a triple negative, I struggle a lot. This disease is very scary and remaining positive is a fight in itself. I never fully understood when people talk about battling cancer until now. We have to stay strong and get through our treatment. There are so many who survive and thrive! Try to focus on that and take one day at a time.

  • brithael
    brithael Member Posts: 224
    edited January 2016

    PezGal - I, too just got out of the hospital for neutopenic fever; however, I had not had a Neulasta shot after my first infusion. They gave me two Neupogen shots when I started having a fever, but I still wound up in the hospital. I'm going in for 2nd infusion today with Neulasta tomorrow hoping to avoid future hospital visits. Glad you're doing better. Fingers crossed for me today.

  • Lemint
    Lemint Member Posts: 162
    edited January 2016

    Pezgal I'm so happy your doing better. I've been thinking about you and looking for updates. I know what you mean about so much information. Sometimes I'll look at these and other boards multiple time a day but lately not so much. Sometimes have to keep the mind clear. I tend to over think everything anyways. Here's to staying positive👍

  • mvspaulding
    mvspaulding Member Posts: 446
    edited January 2016

    Pezgal, so glad you checked in and are doing better. Your hat wig looks good!

    Glad to have a paid vacation day today. It is very cold out today so I sure didn't mind not having to get out in it this morning.

    Have a great day everyone.

  • Sammy3
    Sammy3 Member Posts: 136
    edited January 2016

    Hi PezGirl!!! We've missed you! Glad that you and everyone else who was feeling icky are on the mend. I know what you mean about reading. Sometimes I go about my business and feel really super good and feel extremely hopeful about having a long healthy life. Then it takes me reading one thing that puts me in a tailspin. I have found that this section of BCO (Just our December group) is perfect for me. Anything else, ya I need to stay away. But here its great because we're all basically in the same part of treatment and everyone is awesome. Hang in there!!!

  • Sammy3
    Sammy3 Member Posts: 136
    edited January 2016

    Hey Twirp - I wanted to let you know that I emailed Lindi about my weird/strong smelling serum. They said they were going to send me several of the sample sized tubes of it to make up for it. Did you have any problems with yours?

  • stotamom
    stotamom Member Posts: 41
    edited January 2016

    Blood counts were good this morning and I can have my chemo infusion tomorrow! 👍 The thought is that the self injecting pod that they place on my arm did not fully inject the medication to help my wbc recover. So....I will inject the medication myself. At least then we will know it was given and reduce the risk of low wbc again. Not chancing it, I'd rather give it to myself than feel like I did. So tomorrow I will receive AC #3. I might be driving in two feet of snow but I will be going! lol

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