please help

Hi Sue!  One down!!!  I'm so proud of you.  I can't believe you told your boss you might be at work tomorrow!  You are such a trooper.  You know, I felt ok the day after (still had steroids in my system until day 4 or so), so you may actually be able to work for a while tomorrow.  If you're feeling really yucky though, you'd better stay home!  That's an order, young lady!  If your body tells you to rest, you need to rest. 

Take good care and have a wonderful evening.  Try not to become water-logged .

Love and hugs,

Karen

Oooh, chocolate!  You know what?  I've never been a huge chocolate eater, but I've craved it during chemo (after the taste comes back).  Do you have a weird taste in your mouth yet?  I haven't had the metallic, but everything sort of tastes like cardboard.  Finally today (day 7) things taste almost normal again.

You may have an entirely different experience, but I didn't start to feel really bad until day four.  Day five has been the worst for me both times.  I never felt nauseous or anything (the meds did their job), but I just felt like I had a nasty virus.  Body aches and TIRED.  Do you get Neulasta tomorrow to bring your white blood cell count up?  If not, then your chemo probably isn't as toxic to the blood as mine.  The Neulasta was so much worse as far as side effects than the chemo itself.  I had an allergic reaction to it though, I think.  Now I give myself smaller shots for five days after, and the side effects are minimal.

You know, I think tea is just fine as a substitute for water.  I've been drinking lots as well.  I've never been much of a water drinker to begin with, and now it really tastes awful with this horrible taste in my mouth.

I wish we were together, sharing the misery of chemo hell!  It's so nice to at least be able to chat with you this way.  I honestly don't know what I'd do without these boards.  My husband thinks it's weird (but I think HE'S weird).

Much love to you,

Karen

So pleased to see you post Sue! I am sorry you are feeling a bit sick but I hope the anti-nausea meds and steroids will keep the worst se's at bay.

I am sure tea is a good alternative to water - after all it does have diuretic (spelling?) results so it should flush the toxins out. 

How amazing that you found that article about Oz! It's a good omen!

Karen, it's horrible that you and Sue and so many others have to go through this chemo thing but so great that you can give each other support and knowledge. It is very comforting to talk to people who are walking a similar path.

Love and hugs,

gb 

I'm doing TAC (Taxotere, Adriamycin, and Cytoxan).  It's very potent and meant to kick some c@#c%r butt!!  It's also very hard on the body.  I'm so glad you might not need Neulasta.  It's nasty stuff!

Sweet dreams, Sue.  I'll pray for minimal side effects for you!!

Love and hugs,

Karen

OK if your sharing then   evergreenwaste@visuallink.com

kim

Thanks 

Hey Sue...so impressed you made it to work today! Nausea always differs between us, but I think it's fair to say for the first three days or so, try to stay ahead of it by taking the anti nausea drugs regularly.



Yep, that's steroids, kinda makes you wish you had more of them regularly although we'd all grow mightily chubby.



It's good to see your picture: remember, this is laying that old bootface low!



Tender

Sue,

To answer your ?'s - the steriods drove me crazy.   They kept my mind racing and it was hard to sleep at night.

I envy the girls who could drink tons of water - water tasted like crap to me and I could not drink it throughout the whole chemo process.  I actually had a hard time drinking anything - EVERYTHING tasted like crap.

Ah, the memories........................LOL.

Valerie

Hi,

Yes a mountain it is!!! And Im right there with the sick, tired, sad angry etc...

Ive been kinda pissed about the whole thing for a few days, I think Im feeling sorry for myself. Going to have pre op testing (more poking) tomorrow. 

On the up side yiour nausea should not get worse and if it does contact your oncologist.

Kim 

Sue, it's late and I'm posting.  The mountain is in steps - first, base camp.  That's where you were before yesterday - viewing the mountain and wondering how you were going to climb it.  Now you have reached second camp, and next will be the third camp.  Just a step at a time - don't look to the top or you will be discouraged, so one camp at a time.  When you get half way through you will have reached the peak and will begin the descent to the other side.  One step at a time.

The steroids are what give you the cravings - I wanted Burger King Whoppers - never eaten them in my life, but I was craving one and we  drove miles to get one.

Keep taking your meds and if you still feel nauseous call your team for something more to help.

Wrapping you around with lots of cyber hugs for you and for Poppy. Karyll, Sunnee and all the sisters who are on this path.  You will come out to sunshine and laughter, with the spring.  Great to see you are delighted with the "girls" Poppy. 

Keep well, everyone.

Valerie S

Hi Sue! I hope your sleeping right now and having sweet dreams. I went to see one of my best friends today after work. Her birthday is tomorrow. So I took her some gifts and we talked and laughed. Boy , I needed that. It made me wish I could come see you and bring you a BIG roast chicken! Yum-ma! I know what you mean about the water! I started drinking crystal-light ice tea. That and fruit punch. Water and fizzi drinks just didn't agree with me right after chemo. I don't know how long your nausea will last , but it shouldn't for 28 days! Mine varied from tx to tx. I would take a strong anti-nausea drug for two days , then I think compazine for as long as I needed. Sometimes a week , sometimes 2 weeks.I remember always feeling better by the end of the second week after tx. Chemo , nausea and cravings oh my! Hang in there Dorothy Sue , the "flying monkeys" are circling but you will make it to the emerald city and the chemo will melt the evil bootface like water on a wicked witch!! Come on , sing with me , Some where over the rainbow...xxx Love you sister

Oh!  Forgot to mention that my onc is switching my chemo to TC only.  She reviewed my path report again and she thinks she may have been treating me too aggressively.  The Adriamycin is toxic to the heart and can cause heart failure in the future.  She doesn't think it's worth the risk for me to remain on it.  I didn't argue with her!!

Hugs,

Karen

Sue,

I am praying that you start feeling better. My mom never said much about how she felt during treatments to me except that eatins small amounts every 2 hours helped her overcome the nausa.

Poppy,

I got my new boobs Nov 2 and I also feel like showing them off. I will get my nipples done the 20th of December, then I will look closer to 'normal'.

Sheila