Starting Chemo in Nov 2016

Hello all - gosh, I had a lot of catching up to do. This is an active group.

I had my first treatment on November 15th (same as you, Aldea, TCx4) which put me out of commission for days 4-8. I woke up on day 9 feeling noticeably better and have been improving since then. This 21 day cycle does give you time to recover a bit.

The chemo made me feel 'bleh', but I think (based on timing) that the Neulasta shot was the real kicker. I had pain in my neck, primarily. (You can imagine the jokes I suffered when I mentioned that to my children!) Oddly, the worst pain was on day 8 and that was pretty bad lower back pain. This is with Claritan. It wasn't the worst pain, but it definitely wasn't fun and they cautioned me not to overdo the ibruprofen because they don't want you masking a fever. The fatigue is real - and precipitous. I was really fortunate in terms of nausea and I sure hope that good luck continues. I received three anti-nausea meds in the IV: Aloxi, Zofran, and the Dexamethazone (steroid) which helps with nausea also. They sent me home with Compazine and Zofran. I didn't need them, but I am listening to all of you, though, about taking them right away at the first sign of trouble.

Did anyone else have trouble with water retention in the days right after your infusion. It abated, but it was crazy for about 48 hours. Maybe I was overdoing the water...but I felt sooo good about drinking all of that water to wash those chemicals out of my system.

My next chemo treatment is December 6th. I am glad to now have some idea what to expect. Hair started to go on Sunday. That's a bummer, but one good thing about living in upstate NY is we'll all be under hats for the next 4-5 months.

Take care everyone...

Round three is over! Just had my third infusion today. I just feel SUPER DUPER tired, like the weight of the world is over my shoulders. This morning I received the sad news that the wife of one of my colleagues passed away. She also had BC, and was diagnosed earlier this year. I just cried and cried. What an unfair illness this is!

This tiredness could be a compounding effect for my last three treatments or what? so bizarre to feel like this. I am tired, but cannot sleep.

Good luck to all of you on your upcoming infusion-day.!

Rachel - I am a bad mess. LOL! I would say I only have about 3% of my hair. Honestly, I cannot wait until it is all gone. The tingling sensation and hypersensitivity is killing me.

Hi ladies!

Wow this is an active thread. I had round 3 of AC today. So far so good. I have found new relief for nausea side effects: Seabands. I bought them at Target. They are acupressure wristbands that so far are really helping, I didn't feel the nausea breakthrough at all today. I'm still taking meds, to be sure. I wanted to share with everyone right away.

Best to everyone this week!!!

Fromtritotam,

PS

Good luck on your next chemo and a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY in advance. May you be filled with more blessings and receive all the love and care that you fully deserve from family and friends.

Hugs,

Gina

SleeplessinCO - I'm so glad to hear your treatment also went well. I started losing my hair on Saturday, November 26, 2016. I'm so glad you had a good weekend with your son while he was on leave, that's awesome. The office is about 2 miles from my home, but I just opted for the neulasta patch because I knew by the time I got up and started doing this and that, time would go by super fast. I had the shot the day after my first treatment, and it went well. I hope also hope your week goes well dear.

I felt absolutely no nausea this time after chemotherapy. I was expecting it (as I had it after the first chemotherapy), but didn't. I was quite happy about that. I drank my ice cold water during my entire chemotherapy. Since doing chemotherapy, I love iced water. Prior to all of this, I was a room temperature water drinker, but not anymore (as room temperature water seems so gross to me now) lol.

Nfullblume - So far, I really like it. Once it goes off, I'll be sure to update you. Once they placed it on my tummy, it did some beeping and then a little prick (to discharge the catheter). The nurse said I was the first person she's seen that did NOT jump from it. It was NOT scary at all. I absolutely love the convenience. The little green light on it blinks (since it's doing nothing). It will give me a beep once it's ready to release it's content into me. Then it will have a solid green light (no more blinking). The nurse said once it was done to place it in a baggie and bring it back in on my next chemotherapy day.

Whippetiggy - I had a very bad episode of hot flashes/night sweats last night. I was literally soaking wet.

Gmmiph - Thanks for the read. I guess I will be going through "menopause" for a while.

I realized late last night that I was going through perimenopause prior to chemo and was already getting hot flashes now and then. So, if you add stress and chemo to that, yeah, I think I've got my answer! Now today I get my neulasta and I'll be freezing tonight. But, as long as I can fend off the nausea, it's all good!

The headache is gone this morning. Probably from stress yesterday. A good night's sleep got rid of it.

hi Aldea13 - this is my first posting here- I am also on TC and just had my second infusion. I don't get the Neulasta or Neupogen shots - but I take an antibiotic from day 5 for 2 weeks (Cipro). My bloods came back fine, and I didn't have any infections ( mouth sores though!). Anyway, didn't have to battle the joint pains! Are you getting 4 infusions? If so you will be half done next infusion😊

Joan

Thanks sleepless! Yes I probably should incorporate something with electrolytes...I don't like gatorade much, but I'll drink some :-) LOL

Hey all. I've been having a rough go this round, more emotionally than physically I think. I'm trying to sort things out in my head and see where I'm going but I'm not getting there. I hate struggling. Physically I kept the nausea at bay but I took t3 for the bone pain, which caused constipation, which I know it does to me, but I did it anyway. Think I over did the stool softeners and laxatives to get things going again so Monday I felt like crap. Things are moving again though! I took 4 naps on Monday, yesterday and today are better. I wish I wasn't on a 3 week schedule. I understand why, but it just seems to take so long between treatments. I just want it done. Oh well. One more FEC, then the 3 D's, done! If everything stays on track last chemo will be Feb 15. Seems so far away.

I'll try those Nuun tablets. I hate gatorade and never heard of those. Thanks for the suggestion. I definitely think you can get your electrolytes off with all the water.

I'm going to give the Nuun tablets a try also (just ordered some).

Kelly - I don't really like Gatorade either. Thanks for the tip about the Nunn tablets.

Leslie - I'm so sorry you're down. Hang in there. February isn't that far off.

Nfullblume - you look so cute in that hat. My RN said Taxol is usually a little easier, so I was glad to hear that. I listened to Robin Roberts' podcasts yesterday. They sure helped pass the time, and so inspiring.

Annie16- We are on the exact cycle. I start my second round on Dec 6th. My Doc is playing around with my meds a bit to help with my awful SE. She's adding more days of the Dex, a day of fluid therapy, and she's adding an anti nausea called Emend iv. Apparently this anti nausea is pretty amazing and difficult for insurances to pay but she said that because of my extreme nausea they will approve it this round. My head is throbbing too and i just started to lose my hair. You seem to have the same fatigue as I did. I'm a sending you good vibes. Keep me updated if you can on your continued journey. 1 down, 3 to go.

Dotter95- welcome! I'm happy to hear you are doing well on TC. I am on the 4 cycle treatment. I'm curious about the antibiotic instead of Neulasta injection. I might mention this to my onco. Neulasta kicked my butt. Keep me updated on your progress and many hugs to you!

Aldea, good vibes to you as well. That's right, Emend was a part of my infusion. I just looked it up: Steroids Day 0 (day before chemo), Chemo day (in IV and orally at night) and the day after; Aloxi anti nausea in infusion, and Emend in infusion. They sent me home with Compazine and Zofran, but I didn't need to use them. I hope it works for you this time.