Starting Chemo in JAN 2007

viddie · January 2007

Hi RobbinJaye,
Thanks for the input. I thought a 2 week cycle (every other week) was a denser dose, but what you say makes more sense. Have you had the muga scan yet? I got my port put in on Thursday and will let you know how chemo goes this Thursday. Tomorrow I am going to the Look Good, Feel Better class. I hope I am not the only one there still with my hair, but I would rather go now than wait until next month.
Hopefully this week will pass fast. My anticipation is climbing. A snowstorm is expected on Thursday... One day at a time- right?
Have a good night and thanks for answering.
Viddie

NOLONGERREADINGORPOSTING · January 2007

Day 4 TC of is a bore. No ambition, no interest, no energy. Is this the down side of a two week cycle or the beginning of a 3-month slide?!!!

kwatson103 · January 2007

Lynn - I had my first treatment of TC last week too. I had the same prescriptions for anti-nausea and ended up with a roaring headache for 3 days. I am prone to migraines and was wondering if you are too. I can take medication for the migraines, but unfortunately, wasn't able to keep it down. Let me know if you have migraines too. I'm hoping to get my meds changed to alleviate this, but I might just have to live with it as a side effect.

Glad your wig came in!!! I'm going to the ACS "Look Good, Feel Better" class tomorrow. I'm hoping it will do that...help me look good and feel better!!! Kathie

Amera · January 2007

I hear you mizsissy! Terrible headache on day 5. No energy, slight nausea, blech! I think I jinxed myself. Although, not too bad in the big scheme of things I suppose. I felt better yesterday though.
Amera

Dar1 · January 2007

Ditto mizsissy. I went to see my grandaughter on day 4 and wasn't even excited about her - not normal. But it did pass and I felt more like myself. Now I get to start it again on Wednesday. I'm "x"ing the days off on a calendar - how many sleeps until chemo is over? I envision it like the white water rafting we did last summer - there are drifting parts (the weeks between surgery and chemo, the second half of the chemo cycle) and rapid parts (diagnosis, surgery, chemo days), but at the end a dry towel and the knowledge that I made it through. We're planning a trip for April when this is over.

NOLONGERREADINGORPOSTING · January 2007

Hey Amera,

You and I are on the exact same schedule. I'm on Day 5 too. Where do you live in Mass? I used to live in Sunderland. Studied anthropology at UMass.

Woke up this AM at 6:30, still dark, but I've slept enough. Unhappy with the prospect of a big empty day of nothing to do but lie around and watch TV. And two more months of days like this. Then I lost the clicker. Wish I could go out and run or something. Ironic, first time in 2 years we have good snow for skiing and I can't go!!! Hell, maybe I will!

Decided to try painting. The painting didn't turn out but the activity was good. Feel better. Maybe I'll go grocery shopping.

Mizsissy

wendyk13 · January 2007

Hi girls and a special "hello" to mizsissy. I get my port tomorrow and start 6 rounds of TCH on Friday. I'm ready re: that loading dose of Herceptin, ERS!

But Mizsissy....I went to your website and saw your artwork.. paintings are beautiful. Keep trying to do a little, so what if it doesn't turn out exactly right. Our boobs didn't turn out exactly right either! Paint a beach as that is what I will be picturing on Friday, strolling down a beautiful, warm beach with my dh. And that will be soon that I know.

Wendy

NOLONGERREADINGORPOSTING · January 2007

Thanks for the kind words but...Whew! I should show you my outtakes, like the one I did this AM!! Haven't painted since July, and it always is like learning all over again when you go back.

TCH sounds strong. Wish you the best of luck, Wendy. This isn't fun but it's doable. I'm thinking how wonderful it will be to start feeling good again once this is over, hair or no hair!

Mizissy

NOLONGERREADINGORPOSTING · January 2007

Hello Dar...what is that short for? Just read your post. Red Deer Canada sounds like such a romantic place. Where is it?

My husband has had a love affair going with Northern Ontario since BEFORE he met me. Canoed the Puckasaw one spring during winter runoff with a friend and came home to me, kind of a farewell trip to being a wild & woolly explorer before he settled down. Where did you go rafting? Where is your April trip?

Today is looking better. Energy back, beginning to feel like normal again.

rachel46 · January 2007

Hi everyone, I am reading over the posts and wonder if I am being too ambitious (not that I really have a choice). I have my first AC on Fri and am planning on working on Monday and unfortunately it is a very busy week. Any of you go back to work and work a regular schedule the week after chemo?

Lynn12 · January 2007

Hi Sirgen,

I had TC for the first time this past Friday and today is my worst day so far. Logged in and worked about 2 hours, then went back to bed. I feel like a truck hit me.

Of course, I'm not you and we have different chemo drugs. Hopefully you'll fare better!

Lynn

Amera · January 2007

I could've worked yesterday (day 4) but today there's no way. However, there are some women who are fine. Maybe try to go with the expectation that you can leave early if necessary?
I am amazed at how individual the experiences are. I do not feel horrible, but am too tired and just couldn't concentrate enough to be productive at work today.
Amera

rachel46 · January 2007

Guess I will just cross my fingers and hope for the best!

Sirgen

NOLONGERREADINGORPOSTING · January 2007

Sirgen,

First I am jealous that you have a job; I'd love to have SOMETHING to get me away from the house and my mind off this BC stuff. Second, if you are planning to work the Monday after your Friday infusion I think you are being over-optimistic. Day 4 is usually the worst. But maybe this is Day 11 for you?

I was also told by the oncology nurse today that Days 7-10 are the days when your blood counts are very low and it's not a good idea to be exposed to people and germs.

Yesterday was my Day 4 and it was by far the worst; I woke up today feeling raunchy but things got better, but I'm nowhere near up to steam yet. Maybe tomorrow.

Mizsissy

Rodie · January 2007

Amera--I have Activan but haven't taken for the insomnia. Of course, last night I fell asleep before the Pats game ended and didn't find out they lost till this AM. The insomnia allows me to finalize the plans for my DD's wedding.

Ladies: have you heard about what time the hair goes? I keep checking the mirror. I've heard anywhere from 14 days out. Second AC on Ja. 31.

Minigrace · January 2007

Hi, Sirgen,

I had my first AC on Friday Jan 5 and I went back to work on Tuesday. I probably could have made it on Monday. I work in an office though and sit at a desk working at a computer most of the day. I think it depends on what you'd be doing.

Minigrace

Dar1 · January 2007

Last screening test this morning - abdominal scan. I will be so glad when this is over, and please, please, no "suspicisious" things that need further testing. Then I'm off for my blood work for round #2 tomorrow. Mizsissy, Red Deer is in Southern Alberta - 80 miles north of Calgary. We went rafting in the Rockies at Kananaskis - just outside of Banff. We plan on going to Tofini on Vancouver Island in April. It should be quiet. There is an inn on the ocean there with a world class chef, spa etc. It will be green there, but not hot - here in Red Deer it will still be brown. My girfriend has bought us tickets to "Il Divo" for April 18 in Calgary. These are my two "look forward to" things to keep my going. I think I'll need a few more along the way though...

NOLONGERREADINGORPOSTING · January 2007

Hello Dar,

So you're over to the west. Your upcoming events sound very exciting, and certainly worth looking forward to. Are you going to wear a wig?

I have two wigs, one that looks like a dead animal that I bought first, and a second wig, very expensive that looks a lot better, but I think it needs a little more styling. It's hard to imagine wearing one of those things full time, but I'm too vain to go around bald.

Is tomorrow your second infusion? How do you feel today?

Chemo terrified me but it's turning out not to be as bad as I imagined. The main issue is not having a life until this is over.

Someone should invent some worthwhile activities for chemo people to do while waiting.

Any ideas..anybody?!!!

Mizsissy

Lynn12 · January 2007

Hi Girls,

Well, I managed to get out of bed this morning after sleeping for about 24 hours straight. Oh, make that longer when you count Sunday night. Yesterday was day 4 of TC and boy did I crash. I woke up feeling lousy and went back to bed around 10:30. I literally slept all day, watching nothing on the tv because I couldn't stay awake, then slept all night.

I feel a bit more human today but am starting to feel lousy again. Must be time for a nap.

I was also having a pity party for myself yesterday. Told DH he'll have to bring kicking and screaming to the next chemo if this is how I'm going to feel. Then had a great big bowl of ice cream and felt much better!

How's everyone else doing?

Lynn

Amera · January 2007

Lynn, glad you are feeling some better. This chemo business is so unpredictable. I completely crashed yesterday--could not move without feeling faint or like I was going to vomit. Soooo tired too. Cannot describe it. But today, I feel a lot more like myself. Still not 100% though. And what's with the foggy feeling? When does that lift?

I think the thing that's botherig me is that I am *so* aware of every little feeling that I cannot concentrate on anything else. I should get out of the house and find a distraction, but am still pretty tired. I wonder if there will be some "yuck" feeling throughout or if you do get back to really feeling like yourself. I sure hope so.
Amera--ice cream helps? Maybe that's the ticket :9)

NOLONGERREADINGORPOSTING · January 2007

Amera & Lynn, so sorry to hear you did so poorly yesterday. I started out feeling so raunchy I practically had a meltdown. But the day got better with activity, and strangely enough, a diet pepsi at lunch.

There probably will be some crash days, but I think the best thing is ACTIVITY. When I was lying around "taking care of myself" I actually got worse. Decided to go for a *short* walk, but once I got out it felt so good I made it a *long*, energetic one. By the time I got back I felt perfectly normal. And don't forget to stay hydrated!!!

Anonymous · January 2007

3 more days until I start chemo. This week has been filled with tests. A CT and bone scan yesterday. A mammo on my remaining side and an echo today. For some reasons the mamo really had me nervous, but they said that everything looked OK. I am going wig shopping tomorrow morning with my husband and have an appointment with my favorite hair dresser Thursday afternoon to get my hair and wig cut. Between all of that and trying to work at least the week is going by quickly. I am incredibly nervous about that first treatment. I seem to have lost my insomnia (after 2 months) only to have it replaced with this feeling of total panic when I wake up in the morning. I think I'll feel better once I pass the point of no return and have the chemo on Friday.

Amera · January 2007

Jem, you will be fine. Easy for me to say, I know. As I've mentioned before, the infusion itself is nothing really. The way I felt yesterday was bad, but nothing, nothing like you imagine it will be. None of that Lifetime movie of the week stuff. Honestly, I think that if I weren't going through chemo, I'd say, "oh, I had some sort of yucky bug yesterday." I think the "chemo" part makes it seem so much worse. The panicky feeling went away for me after my first treatment. Good luck. You can do this!!!
Amera

meliaanne · January 2007

Hi Sirgen (and everyone else!),
I had my first chemo on a wed after work and worked thurs and fri, but crashed sat. I would love a nap around 1 pm, but do find that working is good for me. It keeps my mind off my panic ...and I have an office job that is quite sedentary. Having said all that, I was asleep last nite by 7!

Melia

Dar1 · January 2007

Hi all - the ab scan went OK - but I found out I have gall stones. I don't seem to be able to completely pass any of these tests! I feel pretty good today. CBC must have been OK as the Cancer Centre hasn't phoned, so it's round 2 tomorrow. I'm nervous, but not as much as the first time. I'm dressing up and we're going out to dinner tonight. I plan on taking an Ativan before I go for my treatment and I've been drinking water like crazy - so I'll be up a few times tonight for sure. Mizsissy - I have a wig and it looks good, but it's a little itchy so I don't wear it around the house. I wonder if it will itch less when all the little hairs are gone? My hair started falling out on day 13 and is pretty much all gone a week later. Hope all are doing well - January is almost over, and this will be over too - time passes whether you're having fun or not!

Anonymous · January 2007

I am so frustrated! My onc office just called. I have been randomized into the clinical trial and got the FEC arm. That's fine - but the bad news is that the E comes from NIH and won't ship here in time for me to start on Friday as planned. All week I've been rushing through tests, frantically planning child care and school transportation for my kids and now my chemo date is changed to next Wednesday. So - back to the drawing board with all of that planning.

Emotionally I am a wreck. I just don't do anticipation and waiting well at all. I know I'll be OK once this gets started (just like the surgery) but I just HATE the waiting. And now to add 5 more days of waiting. Well, I just can't wait to get the kids in bed tonight so that I can have a good long cry and eat a bunch of chocolate.

NOLONGERREADINGORPOSTING · January 2007

Dar, so you have an infusion tomorrow? Hope it goes well. I don't get another until next week.

I tried wearing my wig around the house today and it got very uncomfortable after a while. I think I'll just want to wear it for special occasions. I'm used to wearing a kerchief tied in a knot on top of my head, old fashioned style, when I set my hair, so that will do again. It seems to be much less severe than a scarf tight around the head and knotted in back.

I was doing fine until I got a call today from my gynecology office, who finally decided to look at a lab result from LAST WEEK (before chemo) and find out that I had an INFECTION and I have to start antibiotics. I went to him because I wanted to get this stuff taken care BEFORE CHEMO.
So I filled the prescription and am taking the antibiotics and now I'm nauseous for the first time. Guess I'll break down and take a compazine. Great to have to do this just as my white cell count drops!!!!

Rodie · January 2007

Hi Girls: Answered my own question about when the hair starts to go. Today I've had a pain on my scalp--like the hair follicles hurt. Tonight combed hair and guess what I found. Just like I heard--within 14 days! Tomorrow I have onc. appointment and blood work. I wouldn't mind if hair loss came with weight loss!

Good luck ladies, have a good night.

PS Even though you know it'll happen it's still a bit of a shock and reality hitting in the face.

irelandmb · January 2007

Hi Ladies,
Finally got released from the PS and will Start TC on Monday.
Thanks for all your information re TC. I will keep you posted of my progress also. I hope I fair well.......You all seem to be doing so well. Keep up the good spirits and we'll all be through this really soon and can look back on another chapter closed.
Cheers for now.....Keep smiling and stay healthy!

sharon56 · January 2007

well going through all of these posts so much happens in only a few days .....
my head hurts and my hair is falling out , it itches and I am shedding like my dog Going to look Good feel Better session on Thurs where I hope to meet some local girls and learn how to keep my head warm . Is cold outside here , i plan to go with the sporty look , scarves and basball cap .
mizsissy i live in ontario and love camping we go all over the place we have a truck camper and boat . I also am a bit of an artist and sew , I have the basement set up , but yep it is hard to focus and start large projects . I am blogging and working on that everyday I spend a few hours in the afternoon puttering ...... little things and before you know it the day is almost done. I am off on long term disablity my job is just too stressful to do both . I am lucky that way all I want to do is get BETTER .
I go back for my second session Jan 29th and my main problem has been nausea . I am sure that there will be a different combo of meds they can give me to help . I do use ativan , it keeps me mellow and helps me sleep .

Starting Chemo in JAN 2007

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