Starting Chemo in September?? where are you ladies

Hi again,

I just posted this on the main Going Thru Chemo thread in hopes of getting some veterans to answer, but I'd like to run it by you all too. It may seem like an odd post but I know you all can help me with this.

My daughter is visiting us this weekend and just called and invited me to an outdoor folk festival this weekend at the local university (Mountain Heritage Day in Cullowhee, NC), and I immediately said Yes! but then I just remembered about how chemo patients are advised not to go into crowds.  It will be held outdoors and it is a very clean environment with only local food vendors and exhibitors (no fast food or typical "fair" food or rides, etc).  Of course I always watch what I eat out like that, but will I be ok if I go and take my Purell hand sanitizer and just be careful?  What would you all do?  I'd just hate to miss time with my daughter who lives down east and I don't see her real often.  Thanks for your feedback!

Mary Jo 

I love hearing the stories.  Tri and I are going to be chemo twins, starting on the same day, the same protocol for the first four treatments!  I think it's great that several of you have few side effects, you are not bragging!  This gives hope for the rest of us.  I am just amazed at how taking the same medication for the same condition with some of us having the same stats affects us differently.  I am very sensitive to medication, so this is scary.  I can take very few OTC products, can't take Ambien, I took a 1 mg Ativan before my MRI and it made me so lightheaded.

My surgeon and onc say I will fly through this, because I have had all my troubles the previous three months.  I had so many weird things with every procedure, every surgery.......  I am off to the store with my list, so I can be prepared.

I will keep my Sept sisters updated!

Nancy

Hi Nancy and Trigeek --- it looks there are three of us that are having chemo tomorrow, although it is my second tx.  I am on an every three week taxotere/cytoxan combo.  I wish you both well and let us know how you are doing.  Nancy, I, too, am very sensitve to medication but, all in all, I tolerated the tx very well which surprised me.  I think the worst of it for me was the bone pain caused by my Neulasta injection.  So, there is still hope that you may do very well.

Hi Mary Jo --- what number treatment is this for you?  After my first treatment, I went to my daughter's soccer game because it was an outside event and I knew that I didn't have to be as careful as with an inside event.  If you get the Neulasta shot, I think that will also bring your white blood cell count back up.

Hi Ellen --- I can't imagine going through this with a little one.  I, on the other hand, have two daughters (12 and 16) who are into every activity that you can think of, so I am constantly shuffling them around.  I have had to make other arrangements, though, for the days immediately after my chemo because I am just too tired to run them around.  At least when they come home, they can pretty much fend for themselves if they need something.

Good luck everyone.  You all are amazing people!

Laurie

Hi everyone!

had my second treatment today...so far so good. I started the emend and was told to take decadron a little longer this time. Anyone experiencing water weight gain? I am. Yesterday my feet were so swollen. I exercise and drink TONS of water...Anyone experiencing chemo brain? It is so frustrating! I saw a t-shirt on ebay that said "I have chemo brain, what's your excuse?"...made me laugh, I finally have an excuse for the ditzy stuff I do.

Welcome to the new girls! We are always here, so ask questions, vent or just share.

MaryJo and Paxton I hope you're having good days...Oh. Mary Jo, I think an outside event would be ok. Maybe bring your own snacks...? You'll be out in fresh air, just steer clear of snotty nose little guys.

My husband buzzed off all of the rest of my hair when we got back from chemo today and i have to say it feels so much better.

Wish me luck for a good night, that's when it set in last time...so nervous, I think I'll go take an Ativan

Marietta

Mary Jo:  I'd say go to the festival, too.  It's outdoors and as long as you're cautious, it should be great fun.  Glad to hear you're still doing good.

I had a pretty good day today actually, so maybe the positive energy we have together here is helping...or maybe its just the added steroids .  I wasn't able to take Emend this time but don't think I need it since I feel better this tx (2nd one).  1st tx I was sicker than a dog the first week.  For newbies, I'm AC x4, Taxol x4 and 33 tx radiation. 

Nancy: I hope things go well with the meds.  I, too, was quite worried.  I already have an anxiety condition and don't tolerate new medications very well, but I have to say its gone much better than I imagined.  So, hang in there.  The oncs work well with managing meds and symptoms so really push if you have concerns or symptoms.  I explained to my onc that I was scared to take the steroid, decadron, because I heard it made you jittery and wired, which for a person with panic disorder sounds like a frickin nightmare. I agreed to do half dose and didn't notice much jittery, but I was quite sick that first week of tx.  For the 2nd tx I had on Monday I braved the full dose and got more to take home.  I think that's what made the difference why I'm feeling much better from this tx than the 1st.  I do take an Ativan (antianxiety med and antinausea) which keeps that jittery feeling under control for me.  Anyway, good luck to you.

Marijetta: how u doing?  The steroids make you retain fluid so I'm sure its possible your swelling has something to do with that.  My chemo brain isn't nearly as bad as after the 1st tx but yea its frustrating.  But I am so good that I was able to figure out my boyfriends math problem about the mileage for our trip up north with chemo brain while I was in the bathroom.

Take care ladies...

Hi Urbie and good luck on Monday!  You're lucky to have some sweet little helpers with you! I hope you do well during your tx's.

Hi Ellen and welcome!  Glad you're doing good with your tx.  You're lucky to have a darling little hugger to make you feel better!  Hang in there and try to rest as much as possible.

Laurie, good luck tomorrow!  And I have to admit, I'm not the brightest bulb in the pack most of the time, but I am so curious-- why did you onco tell you to flush twice?  And I've had chemo brain for 51 years !  Your post was humorous.

Paxton, I'm glad you're still doing good today-- hang in there!  I do plan to go to the festival.  And I'm hoping to do some hiking and deer scouting on Sunday with dh, but it won't be crowded with people, and with my luck, no wildlife either.

Marietta, hope you're still feeling good after your tx today.  And those cute shirts on eBay-- I need one too!!  Maybe they offer them in lots for all of us?

Good nite, all!  Best of luck everyone for tomorrow!

Hugs from Mary Jo

I start chemo tomorrow and boy am I glad to hear that you ladies are doing fine. I have the "jitters" right now even without the steroids so I cannot imagine how I will feel tomorrow and the next day and the next day.... Guess I will find out for sure ! Nice to see the positive posts. I am armed with all the "hints" that folks left here so hopefully - all will be well.

Karyll

Good luck with your tx's today ladies.  I cried before and for awhile when I started, but it was the emotional buildup of everything.  Coming in here is awesome.  I used to read a lot of the other boards but some of them scared me more than anything.  Its good to get educated, but now I find the closeness we're developing in here so helpful. 

I'll be shaving my head this morning.  Its coming out in gobs now.  I just had my bf take my pic before he went out to run tractor.  I'll probably take my own after pic.  I don't think he's ready to see me bald yet, thou he did surprisingly well with the surgeries and such.

Well, take care everybody.

Mary Jo I went through the same denial with may hair...but once it starts coming out in big gobs....you know it's time to buzz. I finally took shaving cream and bic in hand and finished it off. The itching and the soreness is now gone! yay!

It is the morning after my 2nd tx and I am feeling way better than last time...that emend is genius! I'm so lucky, my nurse found samples for me for the next 4 txs...that is saving me over $900! I feel like I have money to shop for christmas presents now.

I am thinking about all you ladies starting today and tomorrow. Be strong.

Paxton you are brave to let your bf take pics. We haven't taken any yet, but now I'm inspired.

Have a great day all!

Mary Jo, my hair did feel a bit flat, but the tell tale sign was that is started to feel sore...like I had a bunch of ponytails in for too long and then took them out. Every time I would move my hair it ached. When it got to the point that I couldn't wash it I called my hairdresser. She is so sweet. She had me come in after hours for privacy...Two of my girlfriends went too. My hairdresser's cousin has a spa in her studio and she was there and put make-up on me. It was a real pampering...they are so sweet and they would not take any money from me. I didn't really like how I looked buzzed short. Now that I am almost totally bald and smooth I think it is much prettier (in an alien sort of way).

Have you lost alot of hair? I have chemo brain pretty badly this morning!

Marietta 

Marietta,

How wonderful that you got all that sweet pampering!  I know that made you feel so much better.  I haven't really lost a lot of hair, just some in the shower but not much beyond what I usually lose.  My hair is very fine so I'm hoping it may be less painful for that reason.

I'm glad you ask about Methusala-- M, I've been thinking about you today too and hoping you're doing much better!  Please check in when you can and let us know how you are.

MJ 

Hey MJ!  Gee we could really confuse some people here, couldn't we?  I have been called MJ for as long as I can remember, and like you, mostly by the guys.  My name is forever confused-- I'm usually called Mary Jane for some reason. My name usually gets spelled Mary Joe, which I really don't mind since I was named after my dad Joe and also my grandmother Mary.  Mary Jo is actually my first name, with my middle name being Katherine after my mom.  So, all that plus a maiden name and married name takes up quite a bit of space.  Well enough of my rattling on about my name!  Marietta is such a very pretty name!  Take care--

from your pal MJ 

Well, I shaved my head after lunch.  My hair had been brittle lately and with gobs coming out since yesterday, it does feel better to get that yucky hair off.  I wasn't fond of how I looked bald.  I cried a minute, then put on my wig, did my makeup, and went to run my errands in town.  I watched to see if people around me were staring at my wig, but I don't think its obvious so that's nice. 

Laurie: sorry to hear about your tx experience.  Sounds scary.  I hope nothing like that happens when I start the next rounds.  Glad to hear you feel good about the people in the office.  I only have my onc and the nurse that gives me chemo.  She's nice though.

Marietta: glad to hear u feel better this round, too.  I didn't get the Emend this time but took the full dose of decadron and I've been doing pretty well. 

My bf is leaving for moose hunting tomorrow.  I'm feeling a little sad.  We don't spend much time apart for one thing.  And with shaving my hair and all the emotions I feel today, I don't want him to go.  But I know I'm following hopefully soon, though really not looking forward to the long drive by myself.  Yuck! 

So, I'll probably be posting a lot being so lonesome.  Take care

Well I am "home" at a friends house post chemo this afternoon. They had trouble putting the IV in so gave me an ativan to relax, after that I didn't care too much about what was going. I have had no immediate reactions to the chemo or to the other drugs they gave me - except for feeling a bit spacy after the ativan. They were very good and attentive there and I didn't need half the stuff I brought...I did have some strange feelings in my body that were so fleeting I thought I might be imagining things. However - now once again... waiting... to see how I will feel this time. The "thing" they saw on my adrenal gland was a benign adenoma and my muga scan came through with flying colors. SO forward and onwards I say.

Karyll

Hi - I read somewhere on this forum where Emend didn't work for some people and cannot find what they took instead.  My insurance won't cover Emend and it is was too expensive for me.  Any ideas?  I am supposed to take an Emend before my first tx on Monday and don't have it.  I did get Decadron to take and Zofran, Compazine and Ativan to take as needed though (all Generic).  Will this be enough to keep nausea at bay?