Anyone.Starting Chemo in October 2016?

Dogwoodpos and VLH - I cut my hair super short - pixie cut - in anticipation of it falling out. I started to lose it significantly about 3 days after second treatment. I got sick of the shedding so my husband buzzed my head. I kind of regret that actually but no big deal because I will be bald in a few days. But, it did hurt - not the buzzing but the super short stubble. Hard to lay down and my caps bothered me.

sending strength

Kathy

welcome Kathy- I too had my hair buzzed and the stubbles hurt! Plus they are falling out too! I will attempt to use a razor in the shower this weekend and see if that helps! This is the place where everyone understands what each other are going thru!

Hugs and prayer

Nfullblume, I am about to have chemo #2 on Monday and I also experienced no nausea. Same regimen, AC now and Taxol later. My directions post-chemo were to take the meds "if you are nauseated" of course on a schedule, but I stopped several days ago with the thought that if nausea came, I'd take them. I haven't needed them at all. Of course, I'm fully prepared for chemo #2 to be either the same or completely different, but at this point all I'm taking is claritin for bone pain post neulasta which I also haven't had, but since it seems to prevent it, I don't really want to chance that SE.

Kate

Thanks Connie and Kate. That helps a lot! I think I will take the Zofran through Tuesday-ish and then see how I fare. That will give me a week of no meds before injection #2.

I'm feeling much more lively this morning. Day 5, hopefully my cute little red blood cells and platelets are marching around getting the job done this morning. The Neulasta headache seems to have lifted. I'm craving hot chicken wings for lunch. Clearly not the choice I will make, but I can pretend right!?

Barb, have you escaped yet? Thinking about you!

Hello ladies,

I've been mia since my 2nd treatment (Thursday) my SE have been pretty the same some nausea, very fatigue and super emotional. Lack of taste. And 24hours after my neulasta injection every bone in my body ached. These SE came sooner than the last time.

Has B2Alicia checked in? Haven't had the energy to scroll up.. welcome to any newbies, sorry you're here but glad to have you in our circle of sister hood.

I finally was able to read everyone posts and I'm sorry Barb your still in the hospital but hopefully not for too long.

Nfullblume, Regarding the nausea meds I was only told to take the pills that are every 8 hours for 3 days post chemo. That is what I've been doing I am not taking them longer then that. So far Nausea is very minimal.

for the past 2 infusions I have had a great experience at the hospital but this 3rd time not so much. I think the nurses make such a huge difference and my nurse this time was mediocre. She was also a bit rough with my port when finishing up. Also I had my 3rd infusion switched to Friday because my Onco was on vacation and I had another Onco checking in with me so when the schedule girl scheduled me for my last of AC infusion she scheduled me with the other doctor and not my own. We didn't realize it until we were about to leave and it was too late to fix it. Now I need to call tomorrow and have everything sorted out. Things like this makes it a bit annoying. My visit with my sister in law was lovely and she left today which is good because today I don't feel good. I'm still in bed with no energy but other then that I am only a bit achy so not that bad. Not sure if I will be able to go to work tomorrow though it usually takes me 2 days to recover. I hate to miss a day of work but def don't want to be stuck in the commute not feeling well.

about to get myself in the shower hoping that will perk me up a bit.

have a lovely Sunday everyone.

Alla, that stinks. Hopefully they will get you back on the right schedule with the caring nurses and your MO. I did my first injection on a Wednesday and I'm liking having Sunday to feel good before going back to work, so I think I'll keep Wednesdays. Hopefully, your ickiness lifts. If not, enjoy the vacation day!!

Have a great Sunday, everyone.

Dee,Mendoza, sorry to hear you're been suffering the side effects. I find it curious that your Neulasta reaction is quick and mine was a week after chemo. I'm wondering when everyone else's is? I wouldn't have expected that. By remaining on the Claratin every day, I had no Neulasta pain at all with the 2nd treatment. I,also have the fatigue, emotions and lack of taste. Infusion #3 is tomorrow and I'm as nervous as the first. Because I fear that the side effects I haven't had, will come in full force with #3.

How is your hair holding up.Dee

Connie, I know I seem to be the only weirdo that SE come on so quickly, Good Luck today sending your tons of cyber hugs!

deemendoza, try Miralax it works really well. I start taking it the day after chemo until I'm done with taking nausea meds since that is what causes constipation.

Kate, do you have amazon prime? good girls revolt is great! good luck with #2 hope it's not as bad.

Connie, For me nuelasta the first time kicked in on day 8 seems everyone is different. 2nd time around I felt nothing maybe because i've been taking claritin daily. Just had my 3rd chemo on Friday and we'll see how this goes. I asked my Onco and she said some people will feel it on day 10.

Nfullblume, I wish this can be my vacation day but I no longer have any days left. My vacation kicks in again this November but I told my HR that will be for my vacation I take in the summer. I was able to switch back to doing chemo on Thursday my last AC will be Nov 17th. Oh I can't wait. They say Taxol is easier I hope they are right. Yesterday was brutal. My whole body hurt like every part of me was bruised and the fatigue kicked in pretty hard too. Now I'm home today recovering from yesterday. I rather have these days on the weekend. I guess they were right when they said SE will accumulate. If your doing your chemo on Wed are you taking off from work on Friday?

Hi Ladies -

Barb - glad your numbers are headed in the right direction! Hope to hear you are out soon.

Kate - thanks for the recommendation about the crown - I forgot about that one.

If I am understanding some of the lingo correctly here is me: my SE kick in immediately - I get my injections on Fridays at 2 pm and by 9 pm I am taking the nausea medicine even though the anti - nausea meds are in my cocktail. Nausea for me lasts a good week. I also take colace and senna to keep things moving along but its still a process. I give myself the neulasta shot 24 hours after completing chemo so Saturday afternoon. My nadir has been the Thursday after chemo for both cycles so far - that is day 7 - then I feel like the neulasta kicks in and I am on the upswing. Today is day 11 and I feel pretty normal.

Someone mentioned "gas" - when I wound up in UC after the first injection the doctors were concerned that I had constipation and no "gas" so I think having gas might be a good sign.

I would like to talk about the "nether regions" for a moment. I have hemorrhoids and a yeast infection (thank you antibiotics) and my period and I have no hair there - which is new for me. That whole place is very unhappy right now. I take an apple cider vinegar bath, took the prescribed diflucan and use prep H. Any other suggestions?

being a bad patient today - Kathy

I really struggled with constipation after the first round. I read online that I should ask my doctor. The oncology nurse indicated that it would be okay to take Senna (as I understand it a natural from the health food store) or other stool softener.

I am hoping to plan ahead, drink more water before second chemo on Thursday, and eat the prunes I bought myself.

I started chemo on Oct 13 and just completed two rounds of TC chemo (out of 4). cant seem to get this information on my profile. I've had terrible constipation issues and have tried various solutions. Anyone have some good advice on this? Today I also seem to have some bone pain in my chest (chemo was 3 days ago). I think it's from the Neulasta. Also have had some skin issues, but am managing them ok ...How are others doing with side effects?

Whistlestop, I am in the same boat as you! First chemo Oct. 19- taxol, perjeta, herceptin. Going for my fourth this Wednesday, the mega three again. Was diagnosed sept. 27. I am at Dana Farber, though don't live in MA.

SE: diarrhea, mood swings, slight tiredness, redness on face, one sore on roof of mouth, a feeling of not being myself.

I just had a port put in a week ago. I long for the day when my port area and neck don't feel so violated. Not pain, but they both feel sad and somewhat itchy. Went to a port because of difficulty with IVs. Hoping in another week I will not be thinking of it a second much.

Good luck to you, and to everyone else on these October boards. Nobody wants to be this alone.

Nancie

DogwoodPos, I figure some people go to work and take public transportation, so driving myself to a spacious yoga studio, using my own mat, and being diligent about using hand sanitizer after the class and before I put anything in my mouth seems pretty safe. Also, the studio that I go to is not one of those where people are lined up right next to each other, and the yoga style isn't sweaty vinyasa, it's hatha, which means I'm unlikely to get anybody's bodily fluids on me...

Are you using any websites or DVDs to follow along with? I have subscribed to a couple and their streamed web classes are really good. Let me know if you want a couple of recommendations...and there are some great YouTube yoga instructors out there, too.

Just back from Chemo #2. Just as I sat down in the chair, my scalp started tingling, and about an hour later I realized that the hair behind my ears was falling out. So it begins. The top hair still seems pretty tightly attached, so I guess I'll wait a couple of days and then go down the street to the barber shop and have it shaved. Just in time for my "Look Good Feel Better" workshop in a week. I don't mind losing the hair, but I'm kind of afraid to see what my head looks like.

The oncologist lowered my dose of steroids this round, since I had such an alien invasion/unable to sleep/unable to read/unable to watch TV reaction last time, and no nausea, to my great surprise, since I get seasick even looking at a boat and that's usually an indicator of being nausea-prone. They also firmly taped on the Neulasta pod, since last time I knocked it off and had to go in the next day for the shot.

Best to all,

Kate