Anyone starting Chemo July 2016?

Helen,

Did you know you had low WBC before or did you get an infection and ended up at the hospital for 5 nights? I didn't know I was into neutropenia until I went to get my blood count in preparation for my next round of chemo. My energy level was great and I feeling great. No signs of fatigue or any other possible signs to show my body was not at its best. I feel disappointed somehow but faithful in overcoming all of that soon.

Cheers,

klademancares, we are all here for you. We understand how scary it can feel!! Do you have a good support system at home? Is someone taking you to the treatment sessions?

Clauclau,

Thanks for your earlier list on supplements to help WBC. I'm taking probiotics and will add folic acid to the list. It's hard to stomach garlic, maybe garlic pills, although the idea of burping garlic makes me cringe. I go in for my WBC count tomorrow, and fingers crossed it's good. Best wishes to you, and you look amazing in the wig.

My hair started the thin and shed as well. So we decided to take the plunge. My son scheduled some time with his barber, called my brothers and cousins and we all got our heads shaved. It's liberating, but now I have to make more of an effort to put make up on and u can't forget the ear rings.

Hi girls, how is everybody doing ?

I am going for my 3rd chemo next Monday, but before I visited an alternative doctor who suggested me to be fasting for 48 hours BEFORE my next infusions.... is anyone familiar with this method? I personally have a problem staying without eating real food for even 24 hours, so I am not motivated to do it. I called my MO just to check basis, and she absolutely discarded this absurd idea. Well, I decided to pass around the subject in case any one has heard about it, or even as food for your thoughts.... Let me know if any :0

Good luck everyone with your treatments!

Clauclau

crawford- good to hear that you are positive and finding solutions to help with your SE. You are being proactive and taking control of your health. You are a good example to us all.

Clauclau- I have read on BC.org threads about others fasting before and after. If I recall, it helps! What about making homemade bone broth and using it during your fast? It is highly nutritious and great for your skin and nails. You can find tons of info on the web.

Woo! Awesome Clauclau! I heard that the AC is the rough one... hope it didn't beat you up too bad.

I get my last TC infusion this Friday and after I recover, it's on to hysterectomy, hormonal therapy, and plastics to smooth out the mastectomy scars.

3rd infusion went terribly (I did not fast that time) and I suffered from unrelenting nausea, days-long fevers, hives, burning skin, rashes, hallucinations and delirium, nighttime wandering (woke up in the park), unable to feel hands/feet, endless diarrhea that didn't let up for 2 weeks even with Immodium causing severe dehydration my BP went to 90/38, my ear holes even got infected and closed up and will need re-piercing once I'm done. I was hospitalized twice and spent a lot of time under observation, cut off from the world. Hoping the 4th infusion goes easier! I am fasting again! Maybe it will help!

It's ok Clau... not looking forward to tomorrow, but I feel lucky, if not thrilled to be getting more chemo. TC beats you up pretty bad. Love the photos. I think the $$$ will be well spent whether you donate it to ACS or BCO. I love BCO and am glad the forums are here. If I have a weird symptom or concern, it's nice to know I'm not the first to encounter it. I think my night-time wandering may be an anxiety symptom rather than a chemo SE so I'm talking to my oncologist about anxiety meds tomorrow. I cannot abide waking up at 4 a.m. in random locations. It's stupid and dangerous. So thankful I live in the best of neighborhoods. The worst that would happen to me as it stands, is I would be found by the village police and whisked into the hospital (I wear identifiers and arm bands).

I had my first round of chemo on the 12th, 5 min into Taxotere had to stop due to a really bad reaction because my body couldn't handle the dosage,(every muscle, every organ, felt like it stopped working, they said I turned really red) stopped and let my body recover about 30 mins, restarted at a lower dose, did fine after that and with second drug Cytoxan.... They had placed the automatic administering port for Neulasta on my arm (administers meds 27 hrs after chemo) it stopped administering at 6:58pm on the 13th an hour after that I was excruciating pain in my abdomen burning sensation cramping down my leg throwing up non-stop constant pain, a friend stop by to bring my son home from football so I'm in the bathroom throwing up keeling over in pain he calledl his wife she said call her doctor in Winston my doctor said take her to the local emergency room... They communicated back and forth, got an IV going pain meds and nausea meds and fluids, relief was pretty much immediately, I was released a few hours and went home and I have done nothing but sleep since, I have no energy to do anything, keeping a mild headache constantly, today is day three after chemo, this is the day the side effects are supposed to start, wish me luck....

hi ladies I finished 4 weeks ago. Has anyone had severe leg pain or muscle pain? ( Amongst other nightmare things)Can hardly walk. Had this since after 1 infusion. Told MO to check vit d levels and expects me to wait 3 months. Jerk. Hopefully I can get in to reg Dr. MO said nerve damage to let it heal. Dr never mentioned any help to my complainants on symptoms like others have posted.

Good luck to all of you, especially Criwsfirdmama with upcoming surgery. I am sorry that I am bad with remembering names and which situation each one of you is going through, but I can relate to your SE of pain ( legs, feet, joints, groint , hand).

Currently I am on taxol #7 out of 12 ( I have done all AC ) and So far bones and muscle pain arethe major problem I have, although I still have energy in the morning and I go for walks every other day. I was told to take Tylenol if the pain goes beyond #5 out of 10 Level. I am also going through menopause and besides the unpleasant hot flashes, I am now experiencing insomnia. That's when I also feel the pain at night, but I am looking forward to tomorrow morning when I have better energy.

My MO allowed me to travel for thanksgiving so I am getting ready for that. Any suggestions on airplane trips? I was told to get up every hour to get circulation, drink lots of fluids and bring a surgical mask in case my near by passengers are coughing of sneezing close to me. In case any of you are going to travel for thanksgiving, these are my tips.

AGAIN, good luck to all of you and hang in there. I know people who are survivors of over 10 years, and they are my inspiration. If they can make it, so can we!

Gentle hugs to all of you,

Clauclau

hi Girls,

Did anyone have problems with weight gain during chemo? I added 20 pounds so far and I was told not to worry because after chemo is over most of the weight will be gone. I know there are steroids and corticoides added on the pre meds of taxol, but I requested to see a dietitian to talk about it. Any suggestions?

Crawfordmom, I am happy to hear that you are ready to going back to work. It's definitely good news, my friend!

Gentle Hugs to all,

Clauclau

ClauClau - I gained about 15 pounds during chemo. I was underweight to begin with, however. Now that it's finished, my weight is dropping again. But I'm comorbid with an eating disorder, so, it probably should not be doing that and I'll probably get another lecture here before too long about my eating habits, which are the absolute worst. Last night I was able to get in about half a bowl of lentils which is really good for someone like me. During chemo I ate dead loads of cookies and ice cream and not much else because my weight would drop scarily after each treatment and I could see my skeleton even more than usual. Sugary foods are easy to get in when you really don't want to eat.

But now I know that I need to be getting actual protein and vitamins in, and haven't managed it (today all I had was diet coke). My digestive system is permanently wrecked from years of ED and chemo on top of that so I don't properly process my food and my stomach HURTS when I eat. So now it's back to the same old same old weight battle, but I'm used to it since I have had ED since before high school.

So, in short: my experience has been that the chemo weight gain or loss is temporary and your weight will go back to what it usually is after treatments are finished and you return to normal eating and exercise habits (however healthy or unhealthy they might be).