Chemo in Nov 07

I have been having more trouble than the first tx this time with my second. No energy. I tried to go to work and came home a blubbering mess. I am going to try again tomorrow. I keep thinking of Karyll saying she's working the entire time. I have a lot of respect for you doing what you have to do.



Glad to hear from Sharon again. I think all of us were getting worried. Glad you're back among us, but sorry your levels dropped so low. I understand about the fatigue, all I want to do is lie on the couch. The cooking channel gals are my new friends, although I think their food sounds good for another day.



My head has a rough stubble also. I'm thinking that it will get smooth as the stubble falls out??? I wear a thin stocking hat at home, but wear my wig out of the house. Maybe this spring when the weather is warmer and I'm more used to this dx I will brave the bare head or bandana. Right now I'm still wishing it would all go away.



MeandPC I had my husband read your post. You put into words how I feel so well. He said he could tell that's where I was with this whole thing. I have my third tx the 20th. I hope I can enjoy my family for Christmas. My daughters will have to step up some to make it all work. I know what you mean about dreading the tx. They did give me some Ativan to calm me down before treatments; hope it will help.



I think of you all often and say a prayer that you are coping well and it won't be so tough. We have to be as brave as possible and get through this to the other side of chemo. The oncologist said many tolerate the taxol better; I hope that's right for us.

Susan

Georgia's Mommy,

Hang in there baby ! I started crying when I heard about her first steps. I am SOOO glad you were there to see that precious moment ! Amen ! TX #2 yesterday ( TC ) already in the fog, belly pain, headache,but going to my daughter's Christmas concert in an hour, so gotta rally for that. We decided on me wearing a Santa hat to hide bald Mommy. I plan to stand in the back so nobody can breath bad germs on me too ( Bubble girl 2). I take my neulasta later today.

Hope you are all having a better day today. We can do this! xo cindy

Today I had to make a mad dash to the doctor's office, and found I have a UTI...Now I just want to sit & cry. I am suppose to go for tx#2 on Monday, and I am just terrified that they aren't going to want to give it to me because of the infection. I'm on an antibiotic now, but I don't think there'll be enough time betseen now & Mon to get over this..?Anyone have any experience with this? I thought that I got through my first tx fairly well; few se..but the last few days it's just been a million little things, and today was the straw that broke the camel's back, I think. *sob!*

Crystal

Thanks for all the good thoughts and prayers everyone. I am so happy to be able to get up and around. My oncologist said that we'll talk about how we'll do the next treatment at my appointment next Wednesday. I'm curious about what that means. Taxotere really put the whammy on me. I'm 11 days out from my firt tx and I'm just now starting to feel better. Whew! I don't know what I would have done had I not found this site. Everything that helped me I learned from all of the wonderful women here.

Karyll? I read about your last treatment under the Oct Chemo thread and I really identified with the pain you experienced. My hips, spine, shins and shoulders were killing me for days. I took Aleve which helped me a bit, but if I didn't take Tylenol PM, I wouldn't have been able to sleep. I sure hope you're doing better now. Good luck with work! I'll be thinking about you.

That's it. I'm shaving my head SOOOOOOON. This is the fourth consecutive meal that I've found a hair in and I KNOW who's it is! I wish that it would just fall out already. I'm actually looking forward to being bald (Cindy you ARE my hair hero). I'm sure that my husband will welcome the added counter space in the bathroom once I can put away all of the hair products. 

Hang in there crystal1 and everyone else whose experiencing the less than pleasant effects of chemo. You're all in my thoughts and prayers. We can get through this!

Be well!

Sharon 

Thank you everyone for your words of encouragement! I've managed to get a grip now, and will just try to do what I have to do to get well. I am drinking gallons of water & cranberry juice...feel like I'm going to float away!

Crystal

Hi ladies, I start my first tx tomorrow! I thought I would be nervous, but actually I'm just ready to get this done and over with!

Wish me luck!!!!!

Hi ladies, the "good days" are over since I had tx #3 yesterday.  I go for neulasta shot today.  My bloodwork was great even though I am getting over a nasty sore throat and cough.

Good luck Sharon68, I know you will walk right thru it. We will be going thru the paces this cycle together.

Sharon- how awesome you were there to see your little start walking!  that is so exciting!

I had my dh use the clippers to take the hair down to nubs but where my hat sits, my pillow rubs on the sides and back and other spotty places I have patches of shiny scalp.  I need to take a razor to it.  Yesterday in the shower my towel had lots of little stubbies all over it.

Time for some breakfast, take care ladies.

Cheryl

Thanks Mia, Cheryl and Sharon. I did it!!! It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. I checked in at 0900 and was out at 1130. I read my book, ate some crackers, drank juice and then it was time for me to leave. My onc told me today that he's changing the next stage of txs to weekly instead of the once every three weeks as the A/C. I'm actually ready to shed the hair. I didn't want to spend money to have it permed knowing that I was starting A/C today, so my hair is really nappy right now. I wore my wig to the clinic today because I didn't want to mess with the stuff! It's funny how the nurses try to be comedians. I know they are just trying to make me feel relaxed but, they need some new material...bad:>

Thanks again ladies for all your support, I really needed it!

Question ladies, I know that I'm going to loose the hair on my head and eyebrows, but did anyone loose hair other places too. The nurse today told me that some patients lost all hair on their body. Also, how long did your periods stay away! My onc said something like I wouldn't be seeing it for a while.

Thanks everyone!

Sharon...forgot to say that you'll be ok with just your hat until your wig arrives.  Not sure about everyone else, but I find I just wear my hat around the house most of the time anyway.  The wig only happens if I'm going out.

And now that I'm getting used to the way I look, I really feel like the wig is mostly for everyone else anyway.

sharont68, I'm losing hair EVERYWHERE. Let's just say no more brazilian bikini waxes for me...not that I've ever had one. I'm OK with losing everything but my eyebrows and eyelashes. So far, so good on that front.

Mia, I think I'll probably rely more on the hats than the wig like you do. I'm a no fuss, no muss kind of gal at home. I pity the poor person that knocks on my door without calling first!

OK...Cindy? How are you doing? I hope that you're just caught up with the Christmas hustle and bustle and not with SE's. Check in when you can.

(((hugs))) to everyone...

Sharon 

Hello all, I've been trying to load an a picture file, but having difficulty. I'll ask my computer guru friend tomorrow for help. I go back for tx 3 next Thursday and am not looking forward to it. They said my numbers this week have fallen out of the normal range and I may need shots to help with the hemoglobin. I do think the Neulasta and the Emend help tremendously. I have been teaching about three days per week. I hope I can continue to do this.



Christmas will be about as stressful as Thanksgiving with activity at my house. If it becomes too much, I'll just retreat to my bedroom. My daughter is going to remove my walllpaper in the family room for my Christmas present and start the day after my treatment. I've simplified the shopping and the cooking and my son-in-law helps with the cooking. There will be seven here. I'm the only home they have to come to and I love that they want to be here. I can't tell them no. Unfortunately, more gets put on my husband also.



I love my wig, although I am ready to get it off by 5 o'clock and just wear a thin cap. The not tweezing the eyebrows is a nice perk. Hopefully, I've shaved my legs for the last time for awhile also. I, too, hope not to lose the eyebrows and the lashes. I don't think everyone does, but they may thin.



You are all in my thoughts and prayers as we go through this together. This is the place we come to because we know everyone will understand.

Susan

Sharon- The blonde paige boy wig was given to me by a co-worker of my daughter.  She went thru bc 5 yrs ago and never used it. I decided to be a bombshell at the office christmas party thursday nite.  I have lost 25lbs so far on the "chemo diet" but I do not recommend it to anyone.  When I feel like eating, nothing tastes good so it is easy to reduce portions and limit what I eat.  I have managed to ride my stationary bicycle a few times a day too, I am sure that has helped.  It really helps with the fatigue. It sounds weird but by riding the bike I have more energy when I get off it than when I get on.

I was brave enough to go to the grocery store today in just a hat, no wig. It was okay. I'm thinking the walking sounds like a good idea. I know exercise before used to give me more energy, but somehow now I had a different attitude. Your attitudes sound like a better one.



Crystal - are you working everyday? I just can't work too soon after chemo. I come home an absolute mess. No coping skills left. I'm at about 3-4 days per week.



Keep fighting the good fight everyone. My issue right now is constipation, I'm using the pain pills to help get me through it. I'm sure it's part of the problem, too. Between a rock and a hard place. Ha.

Susan