Anyone starting Chemo in August 07?

Angie - It's good to hear from you again. I missed you! You sound like you're doing well.

I had the same headaches in the back of the head turning into a migraine without the Neulasta - we'll see if they're worse with it. I hope my migraine rx (RELPAX-THE-MIRACLE-DRUG) still takes care of them. (2nd Tx due today.)

Oh, btw. My 21yo son bought me a rasta hat with dred's. I love it...can't quite wear it to the grocery store yet, but maybe one more day on the steriod and I will! (What do you MEAN I can't conquer the world????)

How are your little ones holding up?..and your dad sounds like my husband. That's why I chose DS rather than DH to do the honors at "The Shearing". DS is a comedian, DH is very classy...And sometimes ya just gotta laugh.

I've put you on my calendar for the 24th for your next (1st?) Tx.
I'll be praying for you.

Hi Ladies! How did everyone do today?

I survived #2 Tx yesterday. It was easier this time, somehow. I think for a few reasons: 1) I was less apprehensive and 2) The Decadron (Steriod) didn't keep me up the whole night before. I knew what to expect this time - it was pretty much the same.
However, now I know what the ports are all about. My veins are huge, and every nurse loves them and tells me so, but this one tried 2 times to get the IV in, and finally called another nurse to do it...OUCH. Sheesh. I feel so bad for (who was it here?)... it takes the nurses 7-10 times to finally get it into her veins. I'd jump out the window screaming unintelligibles if that happened to me. This was a first! So you have my salute of respect for persevering.

I must say I was a little more tired this time...not a bad thing. The first time I was so hyped up on the Decadron, I was tired but couldn't sleep, so I read until 1:30am! This time I felt like I was wearing down, and by 9:PM I was ready to go to bed. (They started my infusion at 4:50pm, with a 30 min pre-flush and Zofran, then Taxotere for 1 hr 10 min, then Cytoxan for 1.5 hrs. It was getting late, so she sped up the last bit of Cytoxan, and I could feel it somehow (in my heart?) but it wasn't painful, just noticeable. And yeah, quite a bit more tired this time.

I went back today to have them aspirate m-m-m-my Seroma, and changed my mind. If I keep draining it, it's just going to keep filling up. So I've bit the bullet, and I'll let it go until it goes somewhere else. (Dh wants to know where, my foot?) Or, until I spring a leak and go streaking through the air to some other continent. (France is nice this time of year…)

I did have the Neulasta shot, also. No reaction yet. (no low back-ache, headache) Hopefully there will not be any. The substitute Dr. said they typically only give them with TC when the tx are 2 weeks apart. Seldom with 3 weeks apart like mine are. What I experienced with the Febrile Neutropenia was normal (normal?) ok, "to be expected", but my reg. onc had requested it this time, so I went with it. I feel a little safer. I’ll feel a LOT safer if that message I didn’t get to answer on my answer machine from my insurance says they’ll pay for it. Wouldn’t THAT be a drag if it was them calling saying NO DON’T GET IT. WE WON’T PAY FOR IT. Hmmmnnn.

Jackie – Thanks for the prayers/hugs! It helps. I know it does.

WIbeaglemom – How’d it go for you? BTW, the fact that your mom is a 34 yr survivor is HUGE. Thanks for sharing that bit of news. It’s encouraging!

And NASH – How did it go today for you? The first time I was a little spacy for a few days, but I could function, and then it got better…let us know how you’re doing.

Mom42, and Cindy, too…how’d it go?

Angie, I know you’re up on Friday. No fear. You’ll do fine. Keep us posted.

I really care about all you guys, (and that’s not the Decadron speaking!) I think about you constantly, and pray for you a lot. I’m grateful to know you all, and that we’re not alone, we’re doing this together.

Oh yeah…I got a pink baseball hat that says “QUIET! hair growing.” Dh likes it. That’s good enuf for me. Classy, yet absurd.

Hi Everybody,
And especially emg326! ((big, warm, “squishy” hug to you...)) Yep, the anticipation is the hardest…I’m sure you’ll be fine. A lot of us had nothing unusual happen at all.
(Hey, Nash, we have another San Diego-ite! Maybe when this is all over we can all go to Point Loma Seafood by H & M Landing and have an octopus sandwich! I know, I'm a desert-rat, so I’m cheating, but we do get down to San Diego frequently. Because it's paradise. Duh.)

Oh, BTW Emg326 – re the gal you met in Target who gained 15 pounds on TAC. I’ve found that the 3 – 4 days around TX week I drink so much to hydrate that I balloon up, that plus the IV’s don’t help, but then it seems to even out (a little?) and I feel more normal (less bloated?) the farther away from tx I get. I know I’m “up” weight-wise, but it’s hard to know what’s really fat, and what’s water at this stage. I just know I feel gross and dumpy. We just have to keep the big picture in mind. This isn’t a fashion contest. It’s a war. Priorities. Priorities. Priorities. (And please remind me of that next month when I forget!)

Ggma (Debbi) – How are you doing? Is anything helping the dreaded YI?

Angie and Jackie – how are your headaches? I read that Zofran can cause them, too. I think that’s where mine are coming from. Getting too tired (as I discovered last night) can cause them too. Such a bummer.

Nash – you made me laugh with the “loopy” comment! That’s EXACTLY what I feel like. Hung-over without the party the night before. I’m trying to explain to my dh what I feel like, and the only thing that comes close is an acid trip in the 70’s. (sheesh!) I’ve been thinking about you guys with little kids, do you have friends or neighbors who can help you with their schedules?

Harley – FEAR NOT HAIR LOSS. The fear is worse than the loss. I am SO lovin’ my wigs! And remember – it’s temporary. Go on down to a GOOD wig place, and splurge on two if you can. My 25 yo daughter has short, curly auburn hair, and she went with me and tried on a long blond number and she’s hooked now. You can be a whole NEW HARLEY if you want to! You can be SEVERAL NEW HARLEYS! I wish I was a millionaire because I’d have a jillion.

Mom42 – ditto on the Vicodin! I’ve NEVER been able to take it. It and Demerol are very nausea-inducing. My personal favorite is Zofran. (Chorus of Angels singing in background.)

And Jackie – I have you fooled. Truly, I am a child of the ‘60’s and I HAVE no brain cells left. Stopped that nonsense in 1977, but what I do is take notes. I have a list with everyone’s name on it, and info I want to remember, like where you guys live, the diagnosis, and then a calendar with your treatment dates on it so I can pray specifically. Then when I read the posts, I show it in “flat” format, and take notes all the way down. There are times when I read and I’m just so overwhelmed with confusion (especially tx week) that I just close it down and figure I’ll come back later. So, no, I’m a mental incompetent who has learned rudimentary skills with a pen and paper. I don’t know how I get by, really.

Hey, btw, thanks for the Neulasta tidbid. I had no idea it could hit a week later. That’s when neutropenia hits also (7 – 12 days after tx), and apparently they have similar manifestations. (achy joints, low-grade fever, aches). So be careful! I had the Neulasta, but I’m still staying away from people, fresh veges, fresh fruit, etc. all that week. The Neulasta should keep me out of the hospital this time because the wbc’s don’t get so low, or for as long, but I’m not taking any chances!

Good Grief. I just realized how long this is. I’m sorry! I guess the coffee has taken over.

Have a great rest-of-your-weekend!

Harley, You'll get your hair back! Don't worry! Steady, patience.
I don't know how you can stop him from seeing you w/o hair during this time - that would be a huge burden to put yourself under. Would he really freak if he saw you, real?

You have one job right now, and that is to take care of yourself, and get well. Period. Hell will break loose. Expect it. It goes away. We'll have days where we feel ugly, stupid and nasty. But the goal must be kept in mind...we're fighting a war. Remember that the essence of who you are is much more than your hair, your breasts or any other aspect of your body. And remember, he's allowed to melt down, too. We all need space. People by nature are: insensitive, ungrateful, greedy, selfish...and caring and supportive and encouraging, too! Patience is so hard, keeping an "even keel" is so hard now... but it's all going to work out eventually.

You know we're here for you, girl.

Oh my gosh, Angie...I read your post and burst into HAPPY-tears! We are SO EXCITED TO HEAR THAT NEWS!!

And you've got one on me...I haven't gone to the store bald. YET. NOW I'm INSPIRED!!!