June 2007 Chemo

Thanks for sharing the dream! As for me I can't sleep tonight - first round starts tomorrow. I forgot to tell you that I also take melatonin, because it is supposed to ease side effects, increase effectiveness of chemo, and help you sleep while you're losing it. I think it is not helping tonight because I had to take Dexatron and it makes me feel kinda wierd.
I went to Look Good, Feel Better last Monday. What a cool bag full of make-up - and some spendy brands, I might add!

Hang in there, Shrink!

Welcome to all the new sisters, this is a great group of ladies.
Gracie, I hope this finds you doing much better today.

Bonnie, sounds like you are hanging in there, good for you!

I finally did it Saturday, had my daughter shave my head, well there is still stubble but I was so tired of having hair everywhere. I was self conscious at first but it feels very liberating to me and the breeze on my head feels wonderful. I have a dr appt today so will be the first time I venture out, wish me luck!

The nurse has been coming everyday to change my packing and dressing. It's been traumatic and I've resorted to popping a xanax before she comes along with some Tylenol. She's thinking it'll be three weeks before I'm healed which will put me two cycles behind. I am NOT a happy camper about this but not much I can do.
I see the surgeon tomorrow for a follow-up on the office procedure he did last week. Anyone else feel like their social calendar is dr visits and MORE dr visits?

Hope everyone has a great Monday!

Good Morning!
Hope everyone had an enjoyable weekend. Mine was pretty good, managed to eat quit a bit..... YEAH! Made dinner yesterday for my family and my sons GF, she turned 20 on Friday so we celebrated yesterday. Then last night I just "hung out" with my sons, ages 17 and 20. When I got to bed I just realized how much I really enjoyed that. Just hanging with them shooting the crap was really good medicine!
This morning it was off to the plastic surgeon for an expander fill; she put another 180cc's in that puppy...really looking good, if I do say so myself! I'm glad however the fills are on my "off chemo" week; don't think I could possible do both the same week.
Just wanted to check in and wish you all a good week! Remember girls we will get through this crap..... we have to, people depend on us!

Bonnie
PS: the only "herbal" remedy I might be interested in is the kind that gives you the munchies and makes the nausea go away!

sdstarfish, just curious how much melatonin and is the onc okay with this? I was reading bout this yesterday. I am due to start wed.thanks

I'm about a week ahead of you and my experience sounds similar. I had relatively few side effects which included constipation. I did take Colace, prune juice and a laxative twice. Everything seemed to go back to normal on day 6. The fog lifted too. They're probably related. I also had a little blurry vision, my skin turned red for a day or two and I cried for almost one whole day. Feel much better now. Best of luck on this journey.

Hi All,

Well I worked all day today. I am a little tire due to white cells sinking about this time, but otherwise fine. An old friend came by and went to lunch with me. Haven't seen him for a couple years because he moved away and he was in town for the day. What a lift he gave me! Of course, he gave me my choice so we had chinese food!

Terry, I am so sorry you have to have Nurse "Ratchet" come see you every day. I hope you are healing fast and can get back on the chemo train.

I am so happy I can work all through this. I think I would go crazy if I had to stay home all the time. Work really distracts me from all this stuff.

Couldn't agree more about the doctor appointments. I was so happy over the weekend when I realized I don't have one for this whole week! Hallelujah!

Take care all, Debbie

Hi gals, I just finished my chemo treatments on June 1, I had 4 ac's and 16 weekly taxols. I just finished radiation # 4 of 33. My hair started coming back at about my 12th taxol although it lacks color. I just want to say that it sounds like all of you are doing well regarding side effects, that is wonderful! AC is a tough one and taxol is easier but cumulative no doubt. I am still tired 25 days post chemo and surely rads will effect my energy as well, I just hope not to much.
Debbie- I too am a coffee lover, hated it during AC and midway through taxol I got my love for it again. So that too shall pass.
I get my port out Wed, and that will be a distant memory! Yeah! Good Luck to each of you! I am from the January chemo group and we support each of you! Holler if you need us!

Boy it is good to see so many of you are doing pretty good and staying active, working, exercising, that is wonderful!

I'm still trying to keep myself off of the bed for more than 10 minutes just getting smacked I guess. I sure hope the Neulasta shot helps me come around quicker this time although I am feeling more pain from the shot but so far it hasn't been real bad, just twinges mostly.
I've had more nausea the second time and noticing some neuropathy in my feet.

Good morning!

Bonnie, too funny about the herbal request for munchies and anti-nausea help....you do know NY is considering legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes. ;-) I'm glad you had a good time just hanging with your kids. Sometimes, most times?, it's the simple things.

Diana, Shrink and all the newbies, I wish you well on the chemo front. Most of you seem to be doing well with minimal side effects, all great news!

Good luck to those starting this week!

Melody, too sweet about your dream and your dad. I hope he was able to give you some comfort. Hope your knee is some better and I so understand your frustration with possibly adding MORE dr appts....arrghhh....

DebbieK, it's great you've been able to work through this, good for you! The surprise visit with your old friend sounds like a wonderful tonic to lift a body's spirit.

Cy, so glad you have your MIL settled so now you can concentrate on you! One less stressor for you.

Nancy from the Jan group, thanks for the offer of help, always nice to hear from women who've already made this trip. I'm jealous you're getting your port removed!! LOL Not that mine is that much trouble, just knowing it's there and I was so adamant about not getting one in the first place. The things we do to ensure a better outcome.

Lisa, let us know how you're doing!

Pam, I'm so sorry this go-round is getting the best of you. I can't remember what drugs you're taking. I do hope you are able to bounce back and have a couple of good days before your next cycle.

Lisa, I had no pain from the actual Neulasta shot, none. I did experience pain in my lower back and pelvic area about 4 - 5 days after receiving the shot. It was managed well with Tylenol.

I have a follow-up with the surgeon this afternoon that I'm not looking forward to. I feel another xanax day coming on. The nurse yesterday did comment that I'm healing nicely with little drainage, so great news on that front. It just hurts like the dickens when they have to repack the wound. Ouchie! I need a new mantra about this because 'this too shall pass' isn't working anymore!
Any suggestions? LOL

BTW, has anyone heard from the 'other' Debbie? I believe she lived in MA? I hope she's doing ok.

Terry good luck today with the surgeon, it really does sound painful.

It will get better? Things could be worse?

Wish I had a good one for you,

Thanks so much for the info, Pam. I feel yucky today. Like a mild flu.
Blehhhh

Hey, Bonnie:
Just wanted to tell you that this post really inspired me today. I'm feeling yucky, but it helped me see a light at the end of the tunnel! Thanks.

Susan , I will definately be praying for B9 results for you so you can get your treatment started. I'm glad to hear your core biopsy was painless.
Lisa , sorry to hear you are feeling bad. Hope it doesn't last long.
Pam , hoping your feeling better. The nausea really gets to me too.
Terry , I really am praying you heal quickly. That sounds like alot of pain to me. And yes , it was a comforting dream of my Dad. And my knee is feeling much better.
Thanks everyone for your posts , they really are so much help. Hugs and Prayers , Melody

Susan, I'm so glad your biopsies went well. Let us know what you find out Friday.

Pam

Good afternoon! I just got back from the oncologist's office and I'm cleared to start chemo on July 2nd, which would've originally been my 3rd tx so I'm only one cycle behind. The wound is healing nicely but will take weeks to completely heal from the inside out and he didn't want to wait that long, not to mention the stress factor on me!

Susan, good luck on your reports and I'm thrilled to hear that your core biopsy wasn't painful. Sometimes the anticipation is much worse than the actual procedure.

It's heartening to read of everyone's supportive husbands and boyfriends, where would we be without them? I know mine, as well as my kids, have really been here for me throughout the whole affair. My son came home with a buzzcut the other day, surprised me! LOL He still has more hair than I do at this point, but I appreciated the gesture.

Kathy, good luck with the counseling. IMO, the first step is the hardest and the fact you recognized you need some outside help says a lot about your recovery efforts. I really wish you well! My onc's office has a social worker available as well and I'm glad she's there just-in-case.
Hope everyone is enjoying their week!