The Chemosabe March Cruise

Taurie,
I have no idea why she's not been treated. Tried to talk to my friend today about it but she had a diabetic episode and ended up at the hospital herself. I'll contact her later this week to see what I can help her with.

onlygirl4
I see I'm not the only one suffering from insomnia. The Dr.s have tried me on everything but a Cruise to the Bahamas....although with all the Anna Nicole crap right now I don't think I'd want to be there either........hehe.
Angel

Just checking in and giving good luck and hugs all around. Just really tired today since coffee doesn't taste good. Maybe tommorrow? We're having on heck of a thunder storm right now so I'll check back later..hugssss

I had my first A/C on Tuesday and I woke up this morning with a horrendous headache... right up the base of my skull and the back of my head.

I am constipated, but I know as soon as I can get to the store, I'll get something for that.

I feel so bad and I'm supposed to see the vascular surgeon today, so he can plan my port insertion. Unless I start feeling better, I don't know how I'm going to make it to my appointment.

Sorry to be so glum this morning. Living alone and getting cancer treatments is for the birds.

Miss S

I'm 51!

Hi all - regarding the age question - 37, I'll be 38 on April 1st (just after AC #3 ) So, I have definitely been referred to as a "young" b/c patient.

Saw the onc. today; blood counts look pretty good, he says I should probably take off from work for a few days after next treatment, as I have been much more tired this time around.

Good luck to everyone that is dealing with the hair. My head feels much better now that I buzzed mine off. One of the patients in the infusion room told me - "God knows what he's doing with the hair loss, who has time to worry about hair with everything we have going on." I thought that was a pretty good perspective!

Steph

Uh, oh ......I have big bumps on the back of my tongue. Does that sound like thrush?

Marshabel

I do feel better, steph. Thanks for the tip on asking them to infuse slower. Do you think both meds (A/C) should go slower?

I made it to my port consult. I have an appointment for next Tuesday. My next chemo was changed to Thursday, so hopefully this will be perfect. This surgeon told me that in ten years, he has never been unable to get a port in, so I would hate to be the one to break his record. LOL

I also think it's time for my period and that has got me down. BTW, I'm 50!

Miss S

Miss S -- I'm from the February cruise, just a bit before you. I'm 3AC down with one more to go. I thought I'd mention some AC tips.
For AC, try to chew or suck on ice chips during the adriamycin push. This can prevent headaches.
The headache might also be coming from one of the meds given before the IV -- some folks get a headache from zofran.
Finally, you've got to keep on top of the constipation meds, although I've found the laxative senokot-S, which was recommended, to be too strong. I'm now using ducolax, a stoll softener.
Good luck to all you March cruisers ...

-- Hillary

Okay, today was day one for me. I am taking TAC and it took about 5 hours. It wasn't too bad. I sucked on a popsible during the adriamycin push. The nurse said she remembers because they are both the same color! I got a little bit of a headache during the Cytoxin. The taxotere started to cause heartburn but as soon as the drip of that stopped, it left. I felt really great when I left the infusion room and was fine until the car started to move. Then I started to feel horrible. My head started to hurt and I got NAUSEUS. My sense of smell is so sensitive that I can smell something a mile away it seems. And most everything smells like crap and makes me want to puke. Right now even the smell of a bottle of water makes me want to puke. And I took Emend. I am going to take a compazine shortly and hope that helps. I don't like this at all. I was expecting to get sick but not until day two or three. Oh well, just goes to show we need to be flexible because you can never know what to expect. I was so glad to have the port. I didn't use any numbing cream and it was only a moment of discomfort with the needle stick.

I will never understand why someone would not get treatment regardless of their financial status. I too have no insurance. My attitude is that I will keep walking in the door until they close and lock it on me or take me away in handcuffs!!!!!

Good luck to all on their treatments.

p.s. have y'all heard about chemoangels.com? it's a ministry, and they have volunteers send you little presents or notes about every ten days during your chemo. no cost. i signed up, and am looking forward to my first little note!

Hi all,

Had a rough day yesterday, and a horrid morning today, but I'm doing okay now. I woke up yesterday at 7am already nauseous, so I couldn't take anything for it, just laid on the couch until around 2pm when I felt ok enough to swallow some ativan. Then, I was able to eat some mashed potatoes. That night before bed, I took a stool softener and 2 stool softeners with stimulant because I hadn't had a bm in 2 days. I woke at 6am and took some ativan cuz I was starting to feel sick already, then went back to sleep. Around 8am I started having cramps from the laxatives, which made me feel sick, so eventually I was sick at both ends (sorry, tmi). I ended up so weak that I just had to lie on the bathroom floor until I felt strong enough to crawl to the couch. I'm so glad that my children were asleep and didn't see me like that. I was on my own today because my mom needed a break, so when the kids got up, I let them eat goldfish crackers and apple fruit bars until my husband came home at lunch to help out. I took a quick bath cuz my own smell was making me queasy. I don't know how women work after chemo. I felt like such a baby.

After he went back to work, I just started bawling because I was yelling at the children, and so exhausted, and I didn't know how I was going to make it until he got home. That's when a friend who was planning to bring us dinner tonight offered to cook it here so she could help me out. She brought her niece to play with my dd, and even changed my son's diaper. I'm so grateful...it would have been an awful day otherwise. She made spaghetti and I had some plain with just olive oil, and I have heartburn now. I'm assuming from the olive oil?

So, am I doing this all wrong? I'm only taking Ativan for the nausea, and it works well except in the morning when it's the strongest. The only other thing they gave me was Kytril which I haven't tried yet because I want to save it for when I really need it. Plus, I'm afraid of more se's, like headaches.

Does anyone know if the nausea gets worse each time? I know I already feel nauseous just thinking about the infusion room. Also, any suggestions on how to take the Colace to avoid a repeat of this morning? Should I take just the stool softener today?

So, what kind of cruise are we on again??? Cuz to feel the way I did this morning, I should have at least tied one on last night. LOL

Good luck to everyone getting ready to set sail, and those already having their second round. You're in my thoughts!

Cynthia

Hillary Thanks for your reply. I'm definitely stopping off for a cup of crushed ice on my way to chemo next time. I have no idea which med is causing what. I'm sure I'll get it all sorted out eventually.

I should have stayed on top of the constipation. I bought some FiberMucil, but right now I'm still clogged. I may pump it up to something serious if things haven't changed by tomorrow.

Steph Thanks so much for your words of encouragement. I'm hoping the 2nd attempt at port placement will HAVE to work! I do want to keep my chin up!

MusicMom I'm glad your only SE so far is fatigue. May it remain that way for you!

I vote for waiting another week on the hair! But that's just me. I went and got mine cut short about a month ago.

It sounds like your daughter is having a great time. I'd love to sink my body down in a hot spring!!

pmarsh So sorry your first infusion was so rough. It does just go to show you how everyone is different. However, I felt queasy all night on my first day, too. Feel better soon!!!

Playwriter Thanks for reminding me about the grape juice. I need to pick some up. I also went and signed up for my very own Chemo angel! Thanks for the tip.

Holly Good luck tomorrow with your sweet son by your side. I have two of those!!

Cynthia Oh sweetie, you poor thing. You need to get someone to help you with your kids. This is too much to take on with no more than your normal amount of help.

Maybe someone could help you set up that Helping Hands site? LotsaHelpingHands

I know what you mean about being more careful with the laxative. That's what I am afraid of right now.

Cynthia, Ativan is not really an anti-nausea medication. I really think you should go ahead and take some other meds to fight the nausea. You are suffering way too much.

I agree with you about not knowing how women work during chemo..... Owie!

onlygirl and MisK I am praying for you two to have a good first day tomorrow. Hope you make use of all the hints for success!

I still feel gross.... but I made it through the day. Tomorrow is another day..... as my sweet Mom used to point out to me when I was upset.

Love you, ladies!!!! Hang in there!

Hello Sisters!
I am so sorry that so many of us are having a rough patch here. Most particularly Cynthia1962 Girl - GO TAKE YOUR MEDS! That Ativan helps you to rest, but it is not for your nausea. Kytril is good stuff and isn't likely to give you a headache. And if it does, but you are up and comfortably functioning because you DID take it - then what's a little tylenol to relieve a headache?!?
If you haven't taken any yet - STOP . Get up, go into the bathroom and grab that bottle, open it, put one in your mouth. Wash it down with beverage of choice. Now you may be re-seated.
Gosh - sometimes I gotta get a little bossy here!

As to the stool softner, I think you learned about that already. Take ONE stool softener. If no action in 8 hours, take another. Usually by the next morning, you'll have a "satisfying sit-down". When our GI tracts are so irritated by these chemo drugs, it doesn't take much to urge things along, as you discovered.
And hon - don't even give yourself a hard time about "how women work after chemo." You are at work. Having young'un's is pretty different from quietly sitting at a desk beng able to prioritize what gets your attention. The little buggers are non-stop top priority. I'm so glad your friend came by when she did to give you respite and a little dinner. Don't blame your heartburn on the bit of olive oil. I had heartburn like crazy for Days#3-7, whether I ate Cream of Wheat or Thai Noodles w/ Spiced Chicken - no difference. Ask DH to pick up some pepcid-AC on the way home and it will help you feel more like eating real food.

It will get a bit easier, you'll see.
Lisa

Holly - I'm glad your son will be with you for infusion #2. 18 yr olds can usually bring some levity to the situation. It's the same when my kid comes home - yes, she's going to help, but will I pleasepleaseplease feed her a HUGE breakfast first?
steph_j - great news from your oncologist about your blood counts - and good advice from him, too - it's the kick-back on the veranda deck therapy for you, sistah!
playwriter - glad to have you check in. Sounds like you remembered all the good preventive hints, Thanks for the link to chemoangels. I had someone suggest them, but by the time I got home it had completely escaped me!
whitecotton/melissa - it is extra tough when you try to stack a paying job on top of the fatigue our bodies are naturally feeling at this time. Hope tomorrow is easier.
Miss S- hope your port saga is nearing its (satisfactory) end! I had some nasty headaches for about three days, but they have let up - finally. Hope you get some relief.
musicmom3 - Wow - your daughter seems to be enjoying a fabulous adventure - you can share it vicariously (and stay warm!) I also vote that it's too early to buzz. Many women don't get the original fall-out until Day#17. You'll have plenty of warning via scalp tenderness and tingling. That's when you buzz it. I have gone to a shorter style now, but I'm on Day #10 and have a thick head of hair. I might even go to a cheeeep place tomorrow to try yet another short style - how often do you get to try a cut for 4-7 days and then be rid of it?
Patti/pmarsh34 - I'm a TAC cocktail cruiser, too - and mine took 5 hours. They tell me the next ones won't be more than 3.5 - 4. I became very sensitive to smells, too. Did a lot of turning my head and exhaling hard for the first 48 hours. It got better, but I'm still sickened by a woman wafting by with heavy perfume and I can't even walk by a joint w/ lots of fryers going. GAH!.
onlygirl - bon voyage tomorrow hon!
diamonds - that was so cool of your hairdresser to comp you a new short pre-chemo cut - and then dinner treat from a teenager. You do have the right people around you! - that was so cool of your hairdresser to comp you a new short pre-chemo cut - and then dinner treat from a teenager. You do have the right people around you!
Hugs to all my buds from your insomniac sister in CA (yes, I took a lunesta an hour ago!)
Lisa

Cynthia, Take your Kytril for at least the first three days after chemo AS SOON AS YOU WAKE UP. Do NOT wait to see if you are going to feel sick. If you don't take your Kytril - you will feel sick! If you wait until you feel sick to take it you will not have as much relief. It is an awesome drug, if used correctly. If you still have extreme nausea, even with the Kytril, call your oncologist's office. You might need to go in for an infusion for dehydration. It is amazing how quickly you will respond to this infusion. I felt better halfway through the infusion when I had this happen to me. Good luck! Jacque