Starting chemo August 2017 - would love some moral support!

Has anyone tried lysine for mouth issues? I take it occasionally when stressed or after sun exposure to prevent cold sores. A few days ago the roof of my mouth felt like it had a billion tiny bumps on it. I recalled that lysine was good for mouth and lip health and took it for two days and my mouth is back to normal. Could be just the course of my chemo or maybe it actually helped.

rdeeside- put seaweeds instead of tofu and you can put egg drops too.

Marooshka lysine mouth wash??

Hope everyone had a great long weekend, mine was uneventful I was tired and slept most of the days.

PauletteK - lysine capsule or pills. It is an amino acid and I was given clearance to keep taking them during chemo- though some are bundled with other supplements so you should check to be sure if you are interested in trying. You can get them at any grocery store or health food store. I have no idea if they really help with the mouth sores or if it was just a coincidence!

rdeesides: I thought the same thing! The first time I sobbed uncontrollably, I definitely need a release, but the next day and the next made me think it must also be hormonal. And speaking of, my cycle is definitely out of whack too...and without boobs anymore I don't have the same warning signs anymore. But also, it is one thing to just march forward and do all the things we are supposed to be doing, but the weight and reality of it all is so very heavy. So it is no wonder it would make a person cry and cry.

R - I think we all have crying fits. How can't we? Our lives have been turned upside down and it is due to no fault of our own. My DH is a big one for focusing on today, which does help me keep it together. What hurts the most is seeing how this crap affects our loved ones. For me, communicating here keeps me sane. I still think to myself at least once a day "I can't believe I have BC.

I will never forget the unreal moment -standing at my kitchen counter during the afternoon following my annual,never miss, mammo in the morning- was just a check off my to do list-had been normal thru 30 years of having them--and getting the call back that it was abnormal-was out of body experience--made mistake of looking up my films on line- work at the hospital so can access my record on line- and easily saw what the concern was on the films--it was awful having to wait those 2 days for the u/s and bx which I was prepared for to be positive-as it was- I am so fortunate to work at a nationally renowned medical center with a fabulous breast care program and was surrounded by a top notch team of experts at the top of their field--have had lumpectomy-am stage 2- doing 4 treatments of TC--treatment 2 tomorrow prior to radiation and AL's longterm. Am doing the cold capping and very hopeful I will not lose my hair--huge boost for me.

what have I learned thru this journey which still has a ways to go?-have learned to not take anything ,and I mean anything for granted in my life and to treasure and love even harder those who have loved and rallied unfailingly around me--they are true treasures..

..we can all get thru this -a big bump in the road of life for sure--just put our heads down- trust our team for the experts they are and know we will get our lives back-and be the wiser for what we have gone thru--hugs to all on this path,,,

All I know our life wouldn't be the same I don't know when this cancer will recurrence again, I could only live one day at a time. Let's hope the treatment will help to extend our health.

I'll try to hit all the points wanted

R - you look great! And I definitely think hormones are playing a huge part in the crying. i was told that my course could trigger menopause. So I could only assume it would have effects.

The Katz books look great, I'll definitely have to look into them.

K - the whole "hair coming out by the handfuls" was extremely stressful for me it was easier to just shave it!

Burning question. Is anyone else having bladder issues? I'm day 14 tx2 - The last 4 mornings when rolling out of bed I peed a little. It was just a couple drops, but this has NEVER happened to me before. I've kicked up my kiegels, but it's pretty embarrassing.

PTSD seems legitimate. I've not considered it before, but I can totally see it. Right now I'm still so sad and angry (depending on the hour) about the entire situation. And my husband just doesn't get it.

I had my head shaved this afternoon and it actually wasn't that hard. I feel like I've overcome a huge hurddle and that's a big relief!

Since this is my second go with breast cancer--my first was in 2006 and only required a lumpectomy and radiation--this hasn't been as life altering as the first time. I haven't felt scared or sad as much as just really pissed off! This is my first time doing chemo, though, and that's been challenging.

Nevertheless, I am so happy to be living my dream on the shores of Lake Superior, even cancer can't bring me down! I've waited so long for this, t's hard to look out at my beautiful little town on that great big lake and not feel grateful.

k you look so free! I love the smile!

Bladder infection?! Jeez, I've never had one before, but I have had a UTI and this feels different.

Leatherette, I'm with you. I feel like it's always hanging over my head. While I feel better I'm still thinking about the bad. This second TX hit me a lot harder than the first, too. intellectually I knew that each treatment wouldbe worse, that the SE are cumulative... but I was naive and assumed it wouldn't be much worse. You know what they say about assuming 😕

Positive for today - I've started doing *girl* pushups in an attempt to rebuild some of my strength from my surgery. Doing those, crunches, and planks are the first exercise I've attempted since before surgery and it felt good! Maybe tomorrow I'll try a little yoga.

PauletteK--You're gorgeous!

I went thru a phase post dx where my fear of what would/could happen was overwhelming- I was afraid of everything and all things related to this nitemare-saw my arms wide unlimited life possibilities suddenly shrink to maybe no possibilities at all-all the things I still want to do and accomplish yet--poof??

the worst for me was all the waiting for appts, results, a plan of action to start after my dx- lumpectomy-kept imagining those possible microscopic leftover cells that might be circulatiing around looking for a place to land with each day that passed..

what helped me was to get started/going on the treatment plan and to use visual imagery and when watching the chemo dripping in= picturing it seeking out and killing any rogue cells--it is our friend, not enemy--the side effects will pass----

Also having success with the cold caps--so far-- has been huge.Urge their use for those who are adamant on saving their hair--

I did check out some other online support groups but quickly became upset at how many women were not listening to their team of experts and making their own treatment choices based on what they had heard /read online and not based on any scientific research of effectiveness- some were truly signing their death sentences based on ignorance or false beliefs-- we are not experts- please listen to and trust the advice of your care team--they are the experts-- and are trying to save us--hugs to all,K

it is nice to wake up to read all your posts. I find that you are the ones who understand. In regards to crying, I have had my moments and like you Cherry they are mostly from fear. I have a world of "what ifs" inside my head that I can't erase. I have been in the medical profession all my life and the last eight years prior to my retirement I worked in Hospice. So, I know my thinking is somewhat skewed and I fight hard to remember how overwhelmingly the statistics are in our favor. The new developments are amazing and we are fighters. Again, just need to ignore sentences that start with "what if". LIke you Kbythe Lake, (beautiful picture BTW) this is my someday. My husband and I have worked like crazy all of our lives. We laugh when we say we may make our 50th Anniversary next year but we have to see if we really do get along because we have been two ships in the night for the first 49. We have finally saved the money to retire (those college years wipe out your savings) and then this diagnosis upset our plans for world travel and play. I just booked a trip abroad for March and I am determined to get there. I pray that I can kick this disease to the curb and come back better than my old self.

I knew from my friends that the first chemo is often the easiest but it is still so hard to push through. I hope you all get to the good days quickly. The best part is each one is a notch on the belt and we get closer to ringing the bell.

I'm getting my wig cut today. I hope my hairdresser can perform a miracle otherwise I have wasted a ton of money. I was so set on human hair and yet the cheap acrylic looks so much nicer. I also hope I have a nice shaped head like you beautiful women. That helps I think. My bald son and I are going to have a picture taken since we look so much alike. That .should be fun.

Have a great day ladies. Thank you for all your wise words and support

Kbythelake - your picture really made me smile! Truly makes me happy to see you enjoying the moment - an inspiration for the dsy

Paulette another beautiful bald. VL22 what a great wig

I so relate to being left out. Down south we call it FOMO fear of missing out. I can't begin to tell you the special occasions that are possibly out to me depending on SE going forward.

My heart goes out to all of you experiencing worst SE with 2nd infusion. That's scary.

My biggest side effect was from the Neulasta and Onc says it won't be as bad next time but then again he was the one who told me my "hair will thin a little" . Kinda makes me think of years ago when my gyro referred to contractions as " discomfort" . Masters of all nderstatement.

Hope you all have a very bearable day.