Starting Chemo in September?? where are you ladies

You guys are so polite. Snappy? I am just a b*tch.. lmao and I have the patience of a flea.

Karyll

Hey MaryJo, I hope you do cut back your hours...you deserve it and you need to take care of yourself. Also, you mentioned self tanner. My friend gave me a bronzer by bobbi brown and I mix some into my sunscreen and it gives me a little color, but not too much. It's kinda pricey but a little goes a long way and gives you enough color for a healthy glow. I don't think it would look like shoe polish on your head

I woke up at 4am...It is so strange, I have woken up at 4am before every tx. I was laying there thinking maybe it's due to the decadron. 

Paxton, sorry you're feeling so snappy...I have my days too, I just have to be so careful around my son, he can be sensitive, he keeps me in check.  I love how Karyll tells it like it is ...you go girl! 

I feel so bad when I hear about you all and your cold weather. It actually is only 40 degrees here right now, but we will probably get into the 60's or low 70's for a few hours during the day. It's been an unusually warm fall here.

TX #5 today, wish me luck, my stomach is already churning acid from the steriods and anxiety... 

Marietta 

Karyll, I hate taking the decadron at night , I woke up feeling ravenous. I meet with the Onc at 12:30 and start chemo at 1:15...I'm going to pilates class this morning after I drop my son off at school to take my mind off things...My friend bought me season 1 and season 2 dvd's of Will and Grace, so I will take those with me today...

Have a good one ladies!

MJ (Marietta) 

It would be funny to watch a video of ourselves.  I know I must look funny when I've dropped ten things making a meal and then throw something on the floor swearing.  My favorite two expressions (besides just blatant cursing) are "You've got to be kidding," and "For the love of God," (yelled like Chris Farley from saturday night live).

I'm going to do my best to eat with some control today.  Eating so out of control yesterday didn't make me feel good at all. 

I think the joint pain is much much less this tx because I didn't get the neulasta shot.  Don't want to jinx myself but this is so cool.  I haven't even taken Tylenol. 

We had a big pipeline explosion up north during the night and I guess it'll raise world oil prices a little. 

Well, I need to organize my mind and start the day here.  The tv shows I can stand to watch are over and that's my cue to get my s*it together.  

Ladies,

Well, I had my 4th and final chemo treatment last week.  It was truely touch and go as to whether or not I would even show up.  Yea.  Unfortunately, the side effects seem to be lingering this time.  But just the knowledge that the end is in sight is enough to keep my spirits up.   (That is as long as I don't think about my funny looking nails, black puffy looking toes, sporatic bone/muscle pain, bad taste, neasuea, fatigue, etc.) 

Now on to Herceptin and getting my strength back.  I haven't worked (except for puzzles and on-lines spades) since surgery in August.   (Probably a bad idea, but I couldn't seem to get up the energy to do anything else.)  So, I anticipate some more pain in my future just getting back up to speed.

Best of Luck to all you other September Chemo ladies.

Hey gals got my first Taxol today it took about 4 hours, I released the hubby for this time and took one of my girlfriends but they drugged me with steroid and benadryl so much that I was napping almost the whole time anyways, I hope I was not snoring cause I caught myself drooling.. ewww... I have the Neulesta shot again tomorrow bummer...

I just feel anxious waiting for the se's to hit me ( I know that is wrong but just can not help it ) so far I am not feeling anything other than the Benadryl fatigue and some warm feeling in my feet and my head.

MJ you are spectacular for having worked through this crap you have a right to hurl around any kind of organic kitchen material !!

Pax girl, your bf is a treasure.. sitting there and laughing maybe  seemed cruel at the time but  having someone  beside you who can see the humor in this mess is very nice. Oh I was going to ask you , is it possible for you to email me the picture that you drew with the snake, or do you sell the copies ? I would like to print and hang it on my wall it is soo deep and reflects soo much. my email is triagain2002@yahoo.com.

I HAVE TO CONTROL MY STUPID BINGES. Ladies I had read somewhere that going on binges messes with your insulin levels which in turn have an unfavorable impact regarding cancer cells, thus eating small frequent meals will control the insulin and will not fee the little cancer satans.. And weight loss is basic plumbing, the more the difference between the energy spent and energy consumed the more the weigh gain. It is that simple. (easy to say right ? )

Newbie I am leaving right now to get a puzzle what a great idea !!! And congratulations on finishing chemo.

My chemo got cancelled today because of a cold sore. APparently the chemo will kill all those little white cells and make the coldsore herpes virus strong and virulent. SO I have to wait another week or so - maybe two if it isn't gone by next time and although may enjoy the break, am now anxious about all the juggling and time slots I have to work through AT work. To top it off, the next tx will be the night before the Staff Party and a huge head office meeting that day.... I hope I dont look too stoned on dex for that meeting...LOL...

Anyway, that's my story today. The nice thing is that I will be in my good week (hopefully) around Christmas time.... SO everything for a reason!

Karyll

Newbie, no, you're not alone.  You know the Michelin Man?  well, I feel like I look like him...

Thanks, Trigeek, for the info on the insulin and cancer cells.  That ought to be enough to scare me into action and stop this weigh gain, if I can.  I still wonder how much of it is water retention and how much is just plain fat...  anyone have an opinion on this?

Karyll, it's good your chemo folks are being careful with the cold sore. Hope everything works out well for your staff party and meeting. 

MJ, have you had muga scans or echocardiograms yet while on the Herceptin?  I had one before I started the A/C, then one before the Herceptin, and my heart was fine both times-- hope it stays that way.  Time is flying by-- your little guy is so precious and what a fun age he is.  Has your dr. told you exactly how many weeks of rads you have to have?  Mine has said between 4 and 7 and I wonder what is the determining factor.  

Happy Friday, everyone!

Mary Jo 

Hey karyll that is kind of a bummer about missing your tx, but I think it's wise in the end.

Oh newbie, the big tummy sucks...I have been buying sweaters in the men's dept lately, which is good for me anyway because I am very tall and I like my shirts and sweaters to cover part of my butt. A woman at my sons school asked me if I lost weight recently, I'm all no I'm just buying bigger longer sweaters!

Mary Jo I have not had any of those scans or echo's. Not sure why but my insurance sucks and sometimes I feel like maybe I'm getting a little less care because of it. I could be wrong...but maybe there are other determining factors. I will ask my onc next time. The Rads onc said I will have 33 tx which works out to about 6.5 weeks. I have a ct scan for rads planning on the 17th of Dec. 

I feel badly because I wanted to take my son skiing during the winter break his school takes in February...it's the week before he turns 8 and I will not be done with rads and I don't think they will give me a pass...

I had to go through all my medical bills this morning, so depressing. My insurance company is not covering things correctly and it is really scary every time I open a bill. I so regret ever going off my HMO, It was expensive and we were always so healthy....ah well, hindsight is 20/20.

I hope everyone is having a great day,

Marietta 

Pretty soon it will all be water retention under the bridge...heehee!

MaryJo that is amazing that your grandbaby is almost here. My radiologist said that many people don't experience fatigue until after they finish and sometimes not at all. So maybe you'll be up to helping out, even though it's a really long drive. Cut those work hours like you were thinking about....hint hint.

Paxton I envy that you had to make sure your port was still doing ok after all the "activity", that is so awesome. It is important to have that connection even during all this. My hormones have pretty much shut down but we still snuggle and that's just fine with me. You still haven't told me what the symbols over your head in the drawings were.

This chemo has me a bit floored this time. I am so darn tired, but I made it to my support group this morning and it was really nice. 2 new ladies in the group, sorry they had to join, but it feels good to help others and answer their questions and give them ideas and advice.

I'm going back to lay down some more until my friend gets here with pizza!

Marietta

Paxton, You lucky guys- getting snow!!! I'm wondering if we'll ever see snow again around here...  well a good snowstorm would be a good time to test that port for durability again   I don't know if mine would hold up and probably won't have to find out... my hormones and hubby's have gone the way of the buffalo, it seems

I bet the snow is pretty, Paxton.  We're getting some fierce winds right now and supposedly there is a major band of rain coming for tonight into tomorrow.  We'll believe it when we see it, because it's so dry here.  Did bf have any luck pheasant hunting?  How about the bull-- is he still around?  My brother-in-law just called and said he'd downloaded photos from his game camera and there were 5 bucks, 8 does, 3 bears and too many turkeys and raccoons to count.  The camera was mounted near a feeder on the deer lease we just acquired.  Sounds like next season might be a really good one with lots of action.  I am sure looking forward to it.  I just hope it rains a lot more so fishing season is great.  We have a drift boat that we take on the rivers here and fish for small mouth bass.  Talk about FUN!  I can't wait!

I hope everyone is feeling well tonight.  I have Taxol #4 tomorrow-- gee the weeks are flying by!  I have made up my mind that I'm not gaining one more ounce even if I have to starve, because I am so miserable and mad at myself right now for gaining.  Tonight I feel (and look) like a pregnant Michelin Man!  Marietta, I love the pun about the water retention!   Hope your pizza was good!

Mary Jo

Hi Tri,

Sorry to hear you're having the restless leg problem.  I do have that during tx sometimes.  Now I am having leg cramps at night all of a sudden, and I plan to ask about it today at treatment.  My feet also start cramping and drawing up all of a sudden... do you have that also?  I will let you know what I find out.  Am getting the tingling in my hands and feet too, and they are a bit swollen, like the rest of me!

Have a great day, everyone and I will check in later after tx!

Mary Jo

I'm having one of those days where I'm crabby and scattered all over the place.  The house was annoying me (common after the weekend with bf in and out hunting with his friends making messes everywhere they go) so I spent a lot of time cleaning.  The landlord's tractor wouldn't start so I've still been snowed in until just this afternoon.  Its suppose to snow again tonight so I wanted to get to town and do grocery shopping.  But now its getting close to supper and I still haven't collected brush for the woodstove (or walked on the treadmill for that matter).  And I need to finish up some insulating issues.   I'm not working and have no kids, where does the damn time go??  I'm just crabby. 

I need to relax and prioritize.  I need to collect brush while its still light out.  Then I can walk on the treadmill or just do some stretching, and then work on supper.   Screw the rest.   How's that sound?  Heh!

Paxton, it's perfectly ok to be crabby.  The weather isn't exactly on your side.  I wish you could ship some of that white stuff down here.  We have three four-wheel-drive vehicles and no snow OR mud to mess around in!   I hope you can get out soon.  Just knowing I couldn't get out would make me absolutely nuts, even if I didn't need to go anywhere.  Relaxing and prioritizing sound like great ideas, and don't worry about the rest!  Just pamper yourself and don't be so hard on yourself.  Did you get your brush in?  And good for you for starting your exercise program!  I did much better with my food intake today-- no junk today and lots more water than I've been drinking.  I already feel less bloated and puffed up. I hope you get to go turkey hunting-- you will love it.  To me, it is much more exciting than deer hunting because you have to really be quiet and alert.  The first time I turkey hunted, I got one and as soon as I shot, I screamed, and my husband thought I'd shot myself!  I was just so excited, and we had a fine dinner that evening.  The breast is very delicious and tender, but the legs aren't much good eating.  Your DNR programs sound like loads of fun-- I'd love to do that one day.  Go for it and let me know how it goes!

Urbie, WOW you had a busy Thanksgiving, and that's great!  Your gift baskets sound wonderful-- what do you put in them?  You must be really talented and creative.  And lots of congratulations on your last tx and on your weight control!!

I had Taxol #4 today with absolutely no problems. In fact, I feel better tonight than I have in a long time and didn't get real groggy or loopy like I have been.  It was an eventful day in the chemo room.  My chemo nurse, who is a darling and happens to be an acquaintance, said their Monday had been crazy and I was witness to part of it!  There was a lady in her mid-30s who came in, got hooked up to her IV, and absolutely lost in right there in front of everyone, including her useless husband, who just sat there and never said one word!  She decided she did not want chemo and demanded to be unhooked until she could think it over.  She was upset because she wants more kids, and she has 3 already, but is refusing chemo-- none of which makes any sense to me!  I felt sorry for her, but at the same time, just don't understand-- why would she not want to be around for the 3 kids she already has?   Then, another lady who was having her last chemo tx for ovarian cancer had an allergic reaction to the Taxol and Carboplatin and every nurse there was tending to her, bless her heart.  She was real good natured and talkative, but was sneezing, having trouble breathing and was beet-red and scared everyone in the room.  She was still there when I left-- hope she's ok.

Well that's my novelette for today.  I hope everyone is doing very well and staying warm.  Take care and the best to all,

MJ