January 2016 Chemo!

haha!!!

myraknits - There seems to be a lot of variability in what people are told!! My centre has specifically said that I do not need to avoid crowds, and has given me no food no-no's ( though sushi, raw egg, and unpasteurized cheese are givens, I guess.) The neulasta does keep your counts up, so you are not as immunocompromised. AS my MO says, you are far more likely to get sick from the bugs already in your body that those you "catch." That being said, no one wants to be doing all of this with a cold or flu, so stay away from sick people and wash your hands a lot.

However, you are on a different regime than I am, so it may be different.

it is important to have an accurate thermometer in case of fever, because a fever means action.

Off to nap:)

myraknits, other than sushi, undercooked eggs and meets, and raw cheeses, I'm clear to eat everything too. They prefer that I don't eat salads out or from salad bars, because these items might not be washed well enough. I've seen suggestions to peel all fruits and veggies that I'm going to eat, but I just wash them really well as the peel often has so much vitamin and fiber. I have been encouraged to eat lots of cabbage and garlic, and I feel better eating lots of veggie soup with chicken or sausage.

Paulinek i'm using conditioner to wash my hair, no shampoo because I figure shampoo was harsh, and conditioner washes hair while being gentle on the scalp. Have no idea what I'm supposed to do once my hair is all gone, but I've got a lot of touches on the side! I got a new wig with my coworker at lunch today! Wigs are kind of addictive

Jill - I love this one! All of yours have looked good but this one is super cool. I picked mine up today. I'll try to get a photo tomorrow. The color is a little more ginger brown than I usually do but I like it overall. And it's very comfortable, which I was surprised about.

hi all,

I'm on cycle 1 day 4. Day of infusion was uneventful. Day 2 and day 3 was fine too except I couldn't sleep last night. I also have pretty bad constipation. I haven't tried any meds. Just drinking lots of water, fiber and prunes. I no longer need to take medication so I hope I get some sleep tonight

Hello everyone, I didn't realize how long I had checked out until I noticed I had 3 pages of posts to read to catch up! I'm happy to say in spite of more SE's joining the party I am feeling more like my old self. I do have a lovely case of thrush and I am breaking out on my face, head and lower back. I had my head shaved on Saturday and I must say the anticipation was much worse than actually having it done. It's a relief not worrying and wondering if my hair was going to start coming out in clumps. The SE's I have now are more annoying than debilitating and I'm grateful for that. To the newbies who have joined recently, sorry you have to be here but you won't find a nicer group of people for support and advice

Great Wig, LovestoFly, and good luck with your next cycle!

The LGFB class talked a lot about moisturizing your scalp - washing it with something gentle, and then using a body lotion like Aveeno…

I've always used wet wipes on the plane too. Frankly, I'm more concerned about people behind me coughing and sneezing than those in front of me.

O Missbee so sorry you feel so lowsy! Do you have the phenergan gel ? It really helps and can be used between the the pills you are taking for nausea. Need to be ordered thru a compounding pharmacy.

I had first chemo last tuesday and had no problems with nausea, Had Aloxi in premed. Zofran and compazine pills and the phenergan gel. But, I have had horrible severe constipation, no bm since general anesthesia surgery for port on friday 16th.

Woke sunday morning to red raised hives to neck and upper chest also to every spot on my stomach and back that had an electrode placed during all over my testing this past week before and after chemo on tuesday. you can see the perfect outlines of circles and squares. Called on call doc as per the instruction list of reasons to call; told was most likely from taxotere, take benedryl and hydrocortisone cream. Done. no worse no better.

Constipation horrible, tried mom, miralax, apple juice, hot tea,water water water, dulcolax suppository, walked tread mill, walked in yard, belly swelled beyond painful. only ate small 1/4 cup oatmeal sunday morning and that is it. Cant force any food down. vomited last night with streaks of blood, blowing blood from nose. finally just go to bed feeling awful. did not take any nausea meds all day sunday or sunday night. Refuse to take anything to slow down the little bit of movement i feel in abdomen. refuse to call on call doc on sunday night.

This morning called clinic during office hours ,triage nurse moved my appointment from tuesday to monday said i had done all i could do at home and need to come in. PA tells me #1 the rash is nothing. and to take two bottles of mag citrate of constipation. I can not get down more than a sip of water at a time, belly distended nothing will go down. well too bad you just have to do it. Fine whatever you say i dont care. My sweet sister spoke up and told her again she cant get anything down, she cannot eat or drink! finally orders a linzess. ok fine. what do you want for mouth? she says you can have this triple mix stuff or use salt and baking soda. By this time i am very upset, sick and crying from having to beg for help from somebody who is just pissed off that i am there on the wrong day and making her Monday more busy! So i take the triple mix , pay for the crap that has no directions other than "use as directed" ,,, hmmmm was NOT told how to use it AND has no ingredients listed anywhere. WTH is this stuff, it is just for sore mouth. I have white coated tongue and roof of mouth and I know it is thrush and i need nystatin quick . ;for the nothing hives all over neck, chest and back i got iv steriods which is only going to make the thrush worse. did get 500 cc bolus of fluids which i am sure i needed. Was also told the nausea meds would not be causing constipation! WTH! Constipation is side effect for every single one! Maybe had she actually looked IN my mouth ?

Whatever, so upset over this awful day. I am calling my pcp tomorrow and begging for an appointment!

linzess actually did cause a small bm then just water diarrhea, belly still full, sore and cant eat. how many days is ok to go with no food? "Cant eat " is on the list to call. But, i am NOT going there! WOW I just went on a rant! So sorry, this is all so scary and frustrating! Yea can't sleep AGAIN because of steriods!

zinny thanks for the lgfb info, I need to go to one of those.

Missbee sorry you feel so rotten, I hope you start feeling better soon

Honesty ask about taking Claritin with the Neulasta. A side effect of Neulasta can be bone pain, taking Claritin with that seems to help. I did that last cycle and didn't have any serious bone pain. I will again.

oh no! I was away this weekend and picked up a bug. My throat is killing me! Normally I would wait it out but with chemo starting on Feb 9 im thinking I should head to urgent care for a swab. Any thoughts? TIA

yes, my head is looking pretty bad. The top still has a bit of buzz, but the sides are completely frozen. I just shaved my sideburns because they look so funny and stringy hanging out of my hats etc. I think I'm going to find somebody with clippers and get it shaved right down. It's driving me crazy. I am showering in a minute and I'm going to give it a good scrub with a washcloth

Good morning all. I'm on my way to infusion #2. I'm praying SE'S are better this time and certainly not worse.

I'm sorry some of you are struggling with them today.

My hair is starting to shed more than usual in the shower and when I gel it. Ugh. I'm. Dreading that because I love my hair!