Starting chemo August 2017 - would love some moral support!

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  • KByTheLake
    KByTheLake Member Posts: 52
    edited September 2017

    Hey all! So far my taste is perfectly fine but I have started melling weird smells! Indoors, outdoors, they're everywhere! Has anyone else experienced this? Perhaps this is contributing to my not having much of an appetite. I know I'm not eating enough--I've lost 15 pounds since August. I actually consider that a positive, but I don't want to deprive my body of what it needs to get through this.


  • SusanGA
    SusanGA Member Posts: 147
    edited September 2017

    Sammi many prayers for Heather. I hate that you all have gone through this.

    K I too am having the weird smells. It is indescribable but somewhat metallic. I’m also retaining fluid and have insomnia. Other than that I am managing quite well.

    Reedeesides I,think you need to listen to your body and sleep when it is needed. This is a small interlude in your daughters life. Children are resilient. Her real need is for her Mom to get well and your taking care of yourself serves that end.

    Hugs to all of you and hope the weekend brings healing blessings for all

  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 2,205
    edited September 2017

    Kim - usually on day 3-5 on taxol my taste buds changed even water taste bad so I added nuun on my water. I lost about 5-6 lbs and now I'm trying to eat as much as I can on my good days so my red blood cells won't drop that mich

  • Castigame
    Castigame Member Posts: 752
    edited September 2017

    I think my lowest HGB was about 9,   Red meat helps but after eating red meat  period comes more viciously. 

    After BC, I really try to reduce red meat consumption.  Probably  got to resume juicing of cruciferous veggies. 

    dang it this BC thing still makes me work


  • Leatherette
    Leatherette Member Posts: 448
    edited September 2017

    On weird smells: I have had a very heightened sense of smell at times during chemo. Oddly, it is usually when I have the worst sense of taste! Other times, I can't smell anything. The last several days, I have had the faintest constant smell of cigarettes. There are no smokers around. It stings the back of my throat like cigarette smoke would. We had smoke from wildfires here a little while back, but that is gone now.

    For a while, I couldn't even let the dog in my room, his dog smell was so strong, even after a bath.



  • DodgersGirl
    DodgersGirl Member Posts: 2,382
    edited September 2017

    on weird smells-- add me to the list that experienced weird smells.

    I grew up in So Cal (don't live there now) where we had wild fires from time to time. You knew the fire was closer to home when you could smell it.

    I get hints of that smell from inside my house occasionally. Sometimes I have to walk around to make sure there isn't a fire and other times I can ask other people in the house if the smell smoke. Of course, they don't.

    This morning I smell wild flowers in the house and I am a month after ending chemo.

  • Walkingintheclouds
    Walkingintheclouds Member Posts: 52
    edited September 2017

    Lojo100- it is so nice of you sharing your experience about the allergy reaction! Nothing encourages more than your words! I was very frustrated enduring the suffer from the allergy reaction until you told me the new regimen worked for you! I almost burst out to happy tears being assured that "there is a hope". Really appreciate your thoughtful reply, which armed me for #3 Next Wed! Thank you!

    Many thanks to all of you who encourage me!


    Sammi-- feel sorry to hear that Heather has to go through all those. Hope she will be better soon. I feel you... I am also at my thirties, my mom is taking care of me . To a mom, nothing is worse than seeing kids suffering. Sending my best wish to Heather.


  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 2,205
    edited September 2017

    I don't smell weird stuffs and I don't want that SE, weird taste buds is enough already!

    I can't find liver in Safeway guy said he has to order it for me. So I had my burger for lunch and today is my good day for eating I'm going to eat, eat tomorrow and Monday are my bad days I need to eat all the meat I can eat today.

  • LoJo100
    LoJo100 Member Posts: 123
    edited September 2017

    Walking, glad my experience helped you. There really is hope. I had my doubts while in The middle of it, and had some moments of letting myself be really angry about it. But came out the other side!

    Good luck on the new cocktail! You will get through this! Hugs, from one itch girl to another!

  • VL22
    VL22 Member Posts: 851
    edited September 2017

    It's been very quiet on here. I for one am beyond exhausted after last AC infusion. Don't want to get off the sofa. I love when I can find women on here who are a few months out from treatment and feeling like life is getting back to normal - gives me hope.

    Hugs to all and hope youre doing well.

  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 2,205
    edited September 2017

    VL, I'm in more groups now, you find find me at July and weekly taxol group. I finished my AC started my weekly taxol. Last AC is tough but that's the last one, taxol will be much easier. You will be there soon. 🙏

  • Clearpath
    Clearpath Member Posts: 38
    edited September 2017

    Hi Paulette - You are giving me hope - AC #4 really depleted my energy.  I start weekly Taxol this Thursday - hope it will be better.  Did you ice hands and/or feet, and if so, how did that go?  I'm worried about being freezing!  SusanGA - I know you iced - are you continuing to do so?

    Hi Cherry-sw - Thanks for the holiday wishes - my mom and I use the same chicken soup recipe that I recommended in an earlier post.  It's really good.

    "I recommend the easy chicken noodle soup recipe that can be found on mrfood.com.  Easy, delicious and authentic New York chicken soup - just like my mom's.  I use a package of soup greens and a couple of extra carrots instead of the veggies listed and add three chicken bouillon cubes.  Also, dill is the secret ingredient (which is usually included with the soup greens but if not, add a few stems of fresh dill)." Can use egg noodles instead of matzo balls.

  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 2,205
    edited September 2017

    clearpath- I got ice sock and couple packs of frozen peas for my hands, socks won't last the full hour but i can't find any more extra ice packs.

  • Cherry-sw
    Cherry-sw Member Posts: 997
    edited September 2017

    Clearpath, thank you. I cooked chicken soup yesterday. I had some chilies I grew up myself, some of them are pretty strong and I have mixed then up a bit, so I do not know what of them are hot and what are milder. Yesterday I put a bit of an ancho and another sort into my soup along with some egg noodles, have not tasted yet but we will see.

    I had my 6th infusion of Taxol yesterday and today I am not feeling this well. Yesterday evening I noticed how swollen my feet have become and put on the socks I use for flying, laid down with my feet up for a while and arrange them to be elevated during the night but still swollen today in the morning. Even my fingers somewhat are. And I have this pain in my left hand that I cannot really determine whether it is neuropathy or bone paint or joint pain. I do not feel it in my finger tips and there is no numbness but my fingers are aching when I am doing something, like in the kitchen or type on the computer. I had a conversation with my nurse yesterday about it and according to her they cannot do anything about the neuropathy but postpone the treatment when it comes. They had an educational class about it last week and the educator told them that even though they experience that B6 helps the patients there is no scientific proof for it. And I do not want to postpone my treatment either.

    I feel vey tired and worn in general, will try to go and get some more sleep.

  • MakeupLover
    MakeupLover Member Posts: 64
    edited September 2017

    hey all

    Sammi, so sorry to hear about Heather. My thoughts and prayers are with her and hoping for a speedy recovery.

    My uti is now gone and i feel better. On day 3 of my third chemo treatment. The nasty bone pain is here and it sucks. My appetite has been meh. Not much seems appealing but I try my best to eat. Even when it's not the healthiest. Ice cream anyone? I find that it helps with the dry/gross taste in my mouth. The fatigue is terrible, I feel i can sleep all day or just lay around watching netflix.

    I hope everyone's side effects aren't so bad and that they improve soon enough. Hugs to all you wonderful ladies!!

  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 2,205
    edited September 2017

    Makeover - yes I hate the no appetite days, I love eating salty food when I have AC, and make sure to eat as much as you can when you have appetite. Hugs!!!


  • Kritti
    Kritti Member Posts: 23
    edited September 2017

    Hi all you lovely ladies! I'm so sorry to hear about allergic reactions and infections - this whole process is scary enough. But to add that on top of it all makes it so much harder.

    Sammi - I hope your daughter gets released and bounces back.

    I've been busy. Sick kids - seasonal allergies leading g to ear infections and asthma, not contagious stuff, thank goodness. My daughter and I also had pictures taken the other day and I'm so happy with them. A friend really wanted to do the picts for me and at first I was excited about the idea. Then I gained 15 pounds (I'm so jealous of y'all who are losing weight!) and the closer it got the more chicken I felt about baring myself like that. Here are a couple of my favorites, they actually, make me feel pretty. I highly recommended doing it if you can, a whole glamour shot deal 😉


    imageimage

    image

  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 2,205
    edited September 2017

    Kritti - lovely. Pictures of two beautiful ladies! Who said bald. Ant be beautiful!!

    I haven't seen Sammi for days I am worry about her and Heather, hope she is okay and returned home already

  • toughcookie_21
    toughcookie_21 Member Posts: 185
    edited September 2017

    gorgeous pictures Kritty! Hope it's ok I still jump on here from time to time. I was supposed to start chemo in august but got pushed to September due to an infection.

  • rdeesides
    rdeesides Member Posts: 459
    edited September 2017

    Kritti, beautiful photos!

    Sammi, hope Heather is bouncing back.

    I just had #4 AC today. I feel like I deserve some kind of reward. ;-)

    Rebekah

  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 2,205
    edited September 2017

    rdeeside - I was thinking about you today! I even went to your mouth sore post to check on you! Congrats finished your AC ..... here's come taxol!!


    I was thinking next year most of us are done with chemo, and beginning to have our hair back, I wonder can we check in here once in awhile to show off our hair? We went through such a bad time together we should share our good moments even we have an easy life. What do you think?

  • Cherry-sw
    Cherry-sw Member Posts: 997
    edited September 2017

    Oh, Kritti, they are gorgeous, the last one is so beautiful, my absolute favorite.

  • Cherry-sw
    Cherry-sw Member Posts: 997
    edited September 2017

    rdeesides, is it your last AC? Yay!

  • SusanGA
    SusanGA Member Posts: 147
    edited September 2017

    Knitting your pictures are gorgeous. I have been afraid to shave my head because I seem to have swollen follicles but I think it looks much better than this thin crew cut I have

    Like all of you, I am worried about Heather and hope we hear very soon that all is well.

    Cherry, my legs and feet got very swollen and I stopped urinating. Then at night I couldn’t top peeing and woke up with no more swelling . This happen only once on the last cycle as well. I hope that is the end of it fo both of us.

    Have to admit that I am beginning to get afraid of my third dose next Friday. No matter what I prepare for I have different and more annoying side effects.

    Hooray for all of us progressing through this maze. We will find the way out together.

    Have a good weekend

  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 2,205
    edited September 2017

    Susan - couldn't be your feet rest at night so your feet won't swollen. Do you think drink some cranberry juice might help out urinating??how many more does do you need to do on taxol??


    We went though some rough time together the last few months, and we could share more news about the life after chemo. How we stay health, lose or gain back the weight we lost!

  • DodgersGirl
    DodgersGirl Member Posts: 2,382
    edited September 2017

    thought I would post my good news this morning.

    I finished Taxol on 8/16/17. I lost lashes and eye brows during Taxol. Today I see eyelashes growing back in!! They are really short right now but it looks like they are all coming in all at once!!

    Still no eyebrows though.

  • VL22
    VL22 Member Posts: 851
    edited September 2017

    Kritti - beautiful! Made me smile!

    R - isn't it great to be done with AC? I start Taxol next Thursday - I just want it to be easier. I'm really tired.

    Paulette - I love your idea of updating, especially as we conquer chemo and start growing hair and hopefully start feeling "normal"!

    It can be so hard ladies and easy to get down- so nice to have you all

  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 2,205
    edited September 2017

    VL - this is the toughest time in my life emotionally and physically. I'm just lucky to have God and my hubby with me. I'm going to have my #3 taxol today and pray for me.

    Still no hair no eyebrows and hair in my nose. 😕😕

  • rdeesides
    rdeesides Member Posts: 459
    edited September 2017

    Has anyone on Taxol seen some hair grow back? I surprisingly still have "lots" of hair but it is buzzed cut and very thin on the sides and the part keeps getting bigger, ando also grey-ish but I'm not bald. Wondering if any will start to grow back during Taxol. Still hanging on to eyebrows and lashes, but it sounds like they can even fall out PFC.

    Glad to keep up with all your posts even if I don't always post too and so thankful we are all getting through this journey that none of us asked to go on.


  • KByTheLake
    KByTheLake Member Posts: 52
    edited September 2017

    Kritti, your photos are amazing! You and your daughter are both beautiful!

    I, too, am hoping to hear good news about Heather.

    Not much going on here. I am more fatigued than with my first treatment so even during my good days I find myself napping a lot. Treatment #3 is on Tuesday. I'm registered for a 5-day writing class the week of October 16. I hope I have the energy for it!


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