Starting chemo February 2020

Thank you for the warm welcome!

Texasmama, I think we were prescribed the same pain medicine. I'm so sorry your system didn't like it. I just get very sleepy with the stuff and it definitely killed the pain for me. Advil didn't come close to touching the pain for me. I also used good ol' socks filled with rice and microwaved for 3 minutes. Those little heat packs helped my knees and ankles so much. I'm 6' tall and my friend joked that my long bones are "very long" so maybe the Neulasta affected me even more. LOL. I'm going to try Zyrtec this time and see if it helps more than Claritin. Hope your next round goes smoothly.

Morigann - hope your thrush heals up soon and that you're not in too much discomfort.

Butterfly Warrior - great news on the tumor shrinkage. Hope your next treatment is kinder to you.

Scattered Energy - you look beautiful and your skin is amazing!

MNSusan - love the shawl! I am cold capping too and had three blankets on me during treatment. The heated chair is the best thing ever.

Hope everyone has an awesome weekend!

Maddy - Happy Friday! Glad to hear that you are having good days. Also interested in your exhaustion - So I'm not koo-koo. Me, too. And the waking up at inappropriate early hours, too. Now that you talk about red meat, I will consider cutting it out totally, because my body is not liking it, either. Just getting bored with poultry! LOL Best Wishes everyone!

Sweettalker - I can totally relate to being tired of poultry. Except for the "experiment" with the cheeseburger I have been eating the same things since chemo started. After last weekend - I have lost all desire to try anything new. I have enlisted my husband to stop me from eating any red meat if I ever get the craving again.

Morrigan - Smaller portions definitely feel better on my stomach. I have found that I have to make sure that when I eat smaller portions that I don't let more than ~3 hours go by without eating something else - even if it is just a banana.

My final A/C is on Tuesday - and I am dreading Monday night because I really get anxious/emotional the night before each treatment - does anyone else feel that way? I seem to feel better the morning of treatment. Just never like going back and knowing that I will need to go thru the Neulesta side effects. I know I am lucky to not feel the bone pain - but I really don't like the overwhelming fatigue/exhaustion on days 3/4.......

Morigann, did you find a deodorant that you like? I tried Native some time ago, long before diagnosis and didn’t care for it. I was given Piper Wai in a goodie bag and really like it. It’s a bit pricey but mine has lasted over two months and doesn’t seem close to running out.

Hray - you look fantastic in every picture.

Cricket - My MO said it wasn't necessary to switch to Aluminum Free so I'm going to finish what I have (Dove). I did see a commercial that Dove now has an Aluminum Free line so I'm going to start buying that once this one is finished.

Maddy - I have to try to remember that. I'm eating smaller portions but, I should add a fruit or something in between.

I didn't have anxiety going in for treatment #2 but, yesterday I was thinking about #3 and started dreading it.

I just keep trying to think, of the positives to get through it. We'll see if it works. I do know I can ask my MO for something for the anxiety but, I'm trying to avoid it for now

TaraMom:

I have a similar TCHP treatment plan, 6 rounds to chemo (3 weeks apart), then surgery (not sure if it will be a lumpectomy or mastectomy), then continue with two of the four drugs until February 2021. I'm getting ready for my next treatment scheduled for Thursday. Good luck and I hope you're feeling a little better!

I am at day 13 after my first treatment of CT. I feel good but my taste buds are still off. Is this what others are experiencing or should I blame thrush? I’ve been using the magic mouthwash.

My next treatment will be March 10. Do I have any chemo buddies out there?

"should I blame thrush? I've been using the magic mouthwash"

I hate Thrush. The Mouth Wash isn't working and I asked for a pill instead they give me lozenges. The Mouth Wash gives me diarrhea and the lozenge made me nauseous.

At this point I might actually prefer the Thrush.

I'm going to ask for Diflucan when I see my MO on Wednesday. It worked perfectly last time and no side effects

hray1993, I just want to say I'm sorry, I've been there, and it's hair that'll grow back. Rock bald! I got one wig that I never wore even one time. I went bald probably half of the time, including in public. Your eyes glow and sparkle like never when you had hair. Plus, rock the great scarfs out there; go for new cool earrings; or just say fuck it all and go makeup-less, bald, and be fine with it. It's early for you, but you'll adjust and be less and less surprised at the bald female that you pass in the mirror. It may be a long journey, but it's a journey that end. I was out of treatment in Oct 2017 and hair really does grow back. And you're going to be stronger for going through what you're encountering. YOU GOT THIS! Not every day will be awful nor will every day be fine, that means that when you feel like shit, the next day might be better and when you feel good, just bask in the present. My best to you.

MNSusan - My MO hasn't mentioned anything about my Liver, he just tells me if my Blood Counts are good.

My Blood Pressure keeps going down, it freaks me out but they say it's still good. I'm normally in the 117-120 / 77-82 range.

Last week I was 109/75. 🤔 you'd think I'd be worked up since it was my 2nd treatment not, chill.

Hopefully your Liver Stats recover during the next 2 weeks. The first dose is a loading dose (at least for HP) so hopefully the remaining/lower doses won't have the same impact.

thank you everyone for the kind words! I like the bald look although it still shocks me when I walk past a mirror and catch a glimpse of myself. Since Sunday I have felt terrible. I’m doing taxol right now and Sunday I felt so run down and just like I had the flu which I know is normal. Monday was the same and I tried to sleep most of the day. And this morning about 5:30 I woke up and had the worst diarrhea and threw up. I’ve had diarrhea consistently for the past 3 Days. And my nose has been running constantly. I have to blow it about every 15 minutes and it feels like there is just tons of mucus sitting at the back of my throat till I blow my nose. My throat is also killing me for the past few days but not sure why. How does everyone know if they have thrush? Has anyone experienced the symptoms I have? What did you do about them? Chemo is really starting to kick my butt. sorry for the TM

Hray - I'm told the runny nose comes from the lack of hair in the nostrils. I did have a sore throat it was killing me and i had a hard time swallowing. That was related to my Thrush. For Thrush you get white bumps/yeasty looking coating on your tongue or just inside the mouth. It's very similar to a UTI/Yeast infection except it's in the mouth (not to be gross).

Right now my thrush is being managed but, not cleared up. I feel like my mouth is on fire, i can't eat anything hot (not spicy, physically hot) and even Seltzer water sets it off.

never heard of oat milk will look for it at Grocery Store