Daily Intake (and side effect) Log

Hello Ladies.

I had my final Taxol infusion last Friday, hallelujah! I am so happy to be finished with this phase of treatment - bring on the radiation.

I was having dinner with my BFF last night and as she watched me log my dinner into my little black binder, she suggested I shared something with ya'll that allowed me to take back some of the 'control' I lost during my 4 months of chemo (I'm a gal who needs to be in control). I had 4 rounds of A/C, and 4 rounds of Taxol, dose dense (every 2 weeks).

Before chemo started, I went out to Staples and bought a little 5x8" spiral binder so I could keep track daily of all my food, liquid and RX intakes. I went crazy and titled each page with the day, date, round, and # day of the round, then I started keeping track of everything I put in my mouth, and even put down what time I had it. For the non-daily RX, if I took, say 3 ibuprofen, I would say why, like "aches in legs", this way I was able to look back and past rounds to see what kind of side effects I would have around what day of the round. I would also leave myself positive notes on days when I was really down because I just did not have an appetite or the pain was worse, to let myself know that those days would pass. Another thing I started doing was leaving myself notes and questions for my oncologist on the bottom of the page for the next scheduled infusion, this way I always remembered any crazy question I wanted to ask her. I also kept track of any exercise I was able to do, like a 30 minute walk when it wasn't freezing or raining outside. And lastly, this is a good way to make sure you are getting all the clear liquids you need each day to make sure you stay hydrated - I would underline the number of ounces of water or decaf tea consumed each day so it was easier for me to add them all up.

I keep my binder with me at all times, it's in my purse when I'm out and about so I'm sure to write everything down. I'll stop logging next Friday which would have been a chemo day - it's going to be weird to not write everything down after doing it for 4 months.

All of the ladies getting ready to start chemo - YOU'VE GOT THIS (with our without a little binder)!

Keshia