The Chemosabe March Cruise

I am so glad to hear everyone seems to be doing okay (or at least better today!). My bf now has a new blonde girlfriend. I used to be a redhead but every red wig I tried on looked like it belonged on someone else's head! I tried the wig out at church last night and got rave reviews. Tomorrow I have an appt with the plastic surgeon. Time to make the boobs bigger since I got new hair! LOL It is also my last time to be stuck, prodded or poked until the 2nd when I go to the bar for #3.
I had mexican for lunch today and as good as it tasted, I guess I needed to wait more than a week from tx because it is not tasting as good right now!
Prayers to all who are at the bar. Hopefully the hangovers will be mild.

Rosebud - I'd love to take credit for your beautiful quilt!
Miss S - I think the liner does help the wig stay put - but I like it because it keeps the wig off my skin so it doesn't itch so much and it absorbs the sweat (I am always so hot in that thing!)
Taurie - I am glad you went to the emergency room. Better safe than sorry!
I hope everyone is feeling well and that se's aren't too bad. Hugs, Jacque

On the stomach pain issue -- I take prescription Prilosec and over the counter Pepcid to keep my gastritis under control. The doc said the Pepcid works on the top lining of the stomach to protect it from acid, but the Prilosec works from within the lining to keep down the production of acid. So if Pepcid alone isn't working for you, you might want to try OTC Prilosec, too.

WhiteCotton: I agree -- drinking lots of fluids probably helps with many things. My SEs would probably have bothered me a lot less this time if I'd been able to drink more the first week. I'm going to talk to my onc about it tomorrow.

taurie -- I'm so glad you got your onc to look at all your symptoms. Maybe they'll be able to do something with your next treatment to minimize the SEs.

rosebud -- Your quilt is beautiful, and that's a great story behind it.

I've been getting dark patches on my skin, too. Mine show up where I had a rash and where I was healing from the bandage around my chemo port. I've also got freckles showing up where I haven't seen them since I was a kid.

pmarsh -- Your blond look sounds wonderful. DH is also crazy about my wig's style and color, so much that I may never be able to go back to my old look. LOL

MissS -- Congrats on being UTI-free!

Sorry the ADA doesn't work for your situation, and I hope you and your manager can come to some sort of arrangement.

Jacque -- I've been battling the "C" this time, and taking Colace and Sennekot, but the last few days, I've had better luck with good old-fashioned baked beans. Go figure.

Marshabel -- Holding good thoughts for your daughter. (((hug)))

I've also run into rapid heartbeats this time, but I thought mine might be from taking Decadron for the first time. Another question for the onc tomorrow.

Your idea of walking when your stomach is queasy sounds good. I'm going to try that this time.

Cynthia -- Sorry your SEs are going on for so long. Congrats on being able to skip the Procrit shot this time around.


PW -- Hope you're feeling better.

Keenie -- That would be great to be finished by July 1. It seems like rads just go on forever (no, I haven't talked to the rad oncologist yet).


That woman in Trader Joe's was wonderful -- it was so sweet of her to reach out to you like that.

Lisa -- I know about those food cravings -- sigh. I dream, then I go eat something bland.

Jann -- Hope your SEs are manageable this time so you don't have any trouble at work next week.

Nancy -- A walk on the beach sounds wonderful! Enjoy your vacation!

See you at the bar tomorrow, Jan, Holly, onlygirl, and Jill! I hope it's true that #4 is easier than #3.

Dawn-we are true sisters in this thing! We were diagnosed the dame day, same stage, same ER/PR+ & Her2-, except I was 5.1cm and 2 pos nodes - I hope you are getting your side effects under control. They should not have been so severe and hopefully the trip to the Hospital will have your Onc rethinking what meds he's giving you for the SE.
Cynthia - I am sure the encounter at Trader Joes was most helpful to you. People seem to be much kinder when you are wearing a scarf or a hat and they can see you are in treatment. I have met 2 girls this week at 2 different support groups who are very angry about their BC and really need to get a more positive outlook on things. I got both their email addresses and sent them this website - I truly do not know how I would be getting through this without the info I've received here as well as the support of all of you. You are an amazing group of women and I thank you for your openness,honesty and beauty.
Jacque - I too have the Olivia wig - I will take a pic sometime and post it.
Playwriter-I hope you are soon feeling better. You're here but kinda quiet, so I can tell you're not up par right now. Take care of yourself and rest.
Marsha-you daughter is in my prayers. My daughter is 28 and I so worry about her too - fortunately she's a mammo tech so she keeps a good eye on things and knows what to look for, but there's not always a lump to tell from, so if it's any help at least your daughter does have a lump so she knows to look into it further and remain vigilant about it.
GrammyNancy-I am jealous! Would love to be at the beach...........going in June for a wedding, so I'll have to wait until then
Rosebud - what an BEAUTIFUL quilt! You made that just since your dx? I just finished yesterday making roman shades for my patio doors and an awning-type curtain for my kitchen window and felt like I have run a marathon when I was done - the abs were revolting and upper abdomen swelled and the boobs got harder than normal (I had TRAM flap reconstruction)
Speaking of Boobs - PMarsh, hope your appt w/ PS goes well and you get the boobs of your dreams
MissS-I also just completed #3 on Tuesday and "funky feeling" is a great way to describe this round. No extreme se's, just tired and "funky" that afternoon and next day. Taking the senekot to get things moving but no real big c problems. I am not familiar with the ADA but I encountered the same thing with my disability co - work 40 hours or nothing - so they get nothing! If you have to take a leave and are not covered by disability you should be eligible for SOcial Security
Whitecotton- your port will settle. I minded mine worse than the mast & reconstruction for awhile, but now I barely know it's there.
Has anyone had any issues with their vision? I am finding it harder to focus on things. I have new glasses ordered but I don't think they will make a difference. Mostly notice it when working at computer (then I take them off) or driving at night - which I have done very little of.
I'm so excited - a group of about 10 girls (some with DH's) are coming over tonight for happy hour(s) at my house. We were snowed out the last time it was planned. I got a recipe from a local restaraunt to make a wonderful Sangria but forgot to get brandy so need to go back to store for that today. Everyone is bringing food - maybe we'll take a group picture and I'll post it. This will be the first time we've gotten to really use our bar with this group since we moved back into the house after our fire last year, so it will be fun. Are any of you drinking? I had a glass of the sangria last night and it tasted so good. My mouth is so dry and metallic that I will have to make sure to alternate with water (which I drink tons of) so I don't overdo - if I''m getting through this with minimal SE's I'd be a fool to drink too much and feel like crap the next day of my own doing! Besides, we are FINALLY supposed to have good weather so I've got lots to do Saturday and Sunday.
If I don't check back for a few days I wish you all a great weekend full of sunshine, watm temperatures, no SE's and time to spend with your loved ones!
Diana
P.S. Beth - I'll call you about lunch next week!

HI all, Sorry I haven't posted in a while but round 2 was pretty rough. It seemed like I was not back to feeling better until about day 10. Had round 3 yesterday and so far, I'm not feeling too bad. I had terrible problems with mouth ulcers last go round. My onc called in Magic Mouthwash - had nystatin, benadryl, maalox, and a liquid steroid and it really helped He said I could use it a couple of times a day even after the ulcers were gone as a preventative. We'll see if it works. I've been craving tangerines but haven't been able to eat them due to the acid.

I turned the big 50 on the 17th. Came home to 4 baskets of flowers on my porch and a yard full of flamingos, plus about 20 cards in the mail. Seems my darling husband put the word out and my friends have really reached out. Three friends took me out to lunch and gave me a beautiful hand knit shawl that they each worked on. My brother-in-law drove 3 1/2 hours just to have dinner with us and then drove right back. My day was topped off when my middle daughter called from college and had the entire Princeton Glee Club sing Happy Birthday to me over the cell phone. She asked if a few could stay after rehearsal to sing and the whole group did. Warmed the cockles of my heart.

I've loved the pictures everyone has posted. My weeping cherry is close to blooming, so I'll try to upload it (I'll have to find the post somewhere back a few pages with the instructons). I might even get brave enough to post some pictures of my bald head!

Marsha, please let us know how your daughter is. My prayers are with the two of you. I also have a friend who had an ultrasound last week and was told she needs a surgical consult for a cyst removal. Funny, they aren't biopsying it first.

All for now, I'll try to post more regularly this cycle. It's great to hear from all of you.

Jeanne

Back from chemo #2. Tired, but so far so good other than my sinus acting up and I'm not sure that's because of the chemo. Didn't sleep much last night, but seemed to work in my favor because I slept through most of the treatment today. Had lab work done a day ahead and it saved me almost an hour today, so I'll be doing that again.

taurie: I think the next time might be better because you'll know more about what to expect -- how to pace yourself, what not to eat, what's coming. But it does sound as if you need more meds. I know it took a lot to get the meds lined up that you're taking now, but talk to your onc before next time and see if s/he can suggest something more to ease your symptoms.

pw: I've really got to line up one of the LGFB classes soon, since Taxol is coming up soon. I have a wig I like but a little variety can't hurt. Also, I've always been a minimalist where makeup is concerned, and I need help if the eyelashes and eyebrows are going.

Diana -- I've been using Liquid Tears to help with my eyes. We're all dried out by the chemo -- mouth, etc. -- and it seems to affect the eyes, too. I try blinking more often, too, but I don't always remember and it doesn't always help.

Hope you have a wonderful party tonight!!

I spent part of the afternoon outside on a lounge chair with a good book. Heavenly!

Nancy -- Glad to hear you beach time is going well. Listen to a wave or two for me.

Musicmom -- Happy birthday, and what a great one you had! Imagine being serenaded by the Princeton Glee Club.

I had trouble with mouth ulcers the first time and also used Magic Mouthwash. I was more careful with tx2, but still managed to use popsicles with juice added and managed to fry my mouth, though without ulcers. The last time I was much more faithful about eating only bland, mid-temp food, and drinks without citric or ascorbic acid, and I had minimal problems. Boring as all get out, but a lot less painful.

Marsha -- Sorry you're dealing with so much uncertainty, both for yourself and your daughter. ((hug)) I thought that was the worst part of the whole diagnosis process, the anxiety of not knowing. Congrats on being cleared for tx3!

jann -- Hope the SEs from this tx stay minimal! I like getting my labs done a day or two earlier, too.

Patti -- We can only do what we can do; there's no way we can compare ourselves even with each other because our circumstances can be so different. I know some days I'm down to just a couple of things. Other days I may feel energetic and do more, but then the next day I'm wiped out. I pretty much save my energy for working -- doing the minimum to keep the house running with a lot of help from DH -- and even at work, I just have to stop sometimes.

Uh, sex, tell me again what that is?

Playwriter-what a beautiful little girl! Your pictures bring back so many memories. My girls are 21, 18 and 15. Treasure the time when they are little, it is gone in the blink of an eye. But the good news is, there are advantages to having older children. Fifteen year olds can actually do laundry and my oldest has actually come home and fixed dinner and cleaned the house. I don't know how you ladies with small children are getting through chemo. God bless you and give you strength to get through each and every day!

PW -- Your daughter is adorable, and you really did a nice layout there.

MissS -- Sorry you got flattened this time. You're so right about not being able to box up our SEs into a tidy little time frame. One day when I was feeling perfectly well otherwise, I had to leave work because I needed to use the home bathroom. No way was I going to inflict that on my co-workers! Hope all the hurts die down quickly.

Glad you got the UTI diagnoses quickly. I think that's one condition where they should just trust the patient's diagnosis. It's so agonizing, and antibiotics clear it up so fast.

Fluid intake goal 70 oz -- yesterday 56. I find it gets harder as the day goes on, but I did disocver with a mid-evening snack, that if I took a drink of water after every bite, it was easier to get the water down. Today I'll use water with meals, since it's easier for me to drink milk by itself.

Protein consumption -- Goal, 85-90g; yesterday, 72. I was a little anemic on my last bloodwork, so I'm trying to pay more attention to this now. I never knew it was this much work to consume so much protein!

I am dissapointed in the wig liner I got from the TLC catelog! I don't recommend you buy one. The one I purchased at the local wig salon was a stretchy material with surged edges. It is comfortable, but I wished it was a little bigger. The ones that came from TLC have elastic on the edge to keep it in place - which looks and feels like a headache maker to me. I am going to return them. Drat! Jacque

Playwriter....love the scrapbook and what a beautiful daughter! I know she is your joy.

Musicmom....Happy Birthday...the big 50!!!!!

Miss Shapen...thinking of you...hope you feel better real soon. Sending you prayers and {{{{Hugs}}}}}

Nancy

Lisa, so glad you will have some help on your tough days. The wig liner isn't padded - just a material that is between your skin and the wig. It keeps it from itching and absorbs some of the perspiration. I didn't like the elastic that was on the ones from TLC - ick. Dissapointing since they are sized rather than one size fits all.
Prayers for a goood infusion on Wednesday. Hugs, Jacque

Hi ladies,
Sorry, I have been out of touch. I have an infection that has really got me down - am on antibiotics (5 days) and they don't seem to be working. Talked with the Onc. nurse today and she said to wait until my treatment on Thursday - (Taxol & Herceptin) 1st one! I don't have a fever, but I have no energy and haven't been to work in a week. Appetite is so bad - all I can eat are the mashed potatoes my nice neighbor made for me.
Hope everyone is doing as well as we can expect. Hang in there.
Sybil