Starting chemo Dec 2007
Comments
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Happy New Year to all you Lovely Ladies. I have been so busy with the children home, sorry I have not been checking in. Laura,Sal,Suz,Sharon, thanks for the shout-outs
....Kids are back to school tomorrow, and treatment #3/TC is tomorrow @10, so I will check in more often for all your witty emails that make me BELLY laugh, just the medicine I need. Sending love, and prayers for a good nights sleep. xo cindy. p.s.How can we attach photos in our posts? I am not super cpter saavy. -
Haven't been on after a 'bad' experience with #2 Tx on the 27th. Changed meds and that might have helped, or it might have been just getting off the ones I had been on, not sure yet
Greater expense does not always = better help.Am delighted to hear all the positives in tumor shrinkage for you ladies, Lori and others. I've missed several days on here, but wanted to say I hope only the best and brightest of 2008 to each of you! You continue to be a lifeline to so many (including me). I'm sure there are many like me, that don't post often but gain valuable info from your posts/pics, laughs and tears. You women are just what the docs never order and should to every woman! Fantastic medicines!
On the hair front.....is it normal to break out from this on your head? My daughter and dh finally clipped it close, b/c of the painful follicles and it seemed worse, so dh clipped it closer and it seems better, but still is rather painful under the hat or while laying in bed. Is there anything I can do for dry scalp and the breakout? I honestly think it's related to using the 'baby' shampoo they suggested. I think my scalp reacted to it b/c it itched horribly afterwards then this mess started.
Hate complaining, but it's rather discouraging. Any suggestions?And thank you to all who've suggested ginger products. Will be getting some today in anticpation of the next round on the 17th. Appreciate all the great advice!
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Hey Wishiwere,
I now don't have much hair at all, but did experience the discomfort like you. I have had some breakouts ( stray pimples ) on my scalp, but not allot. I clean my head with Dove soap, and then after drying I use a hypoallergenic cream I got at the "Look Better Feel Better". I think that if you have a really dry scalp, and some break outs, I would call onc nurse this morning and ask them what cream you could pick up RX or that they could prescribe to you something even better. Why not, it is bothering you, and probably could be fixed quickly with the right meds.
Enjoy your chemo vacation until the 17th, and I hope you feel better each day. xo cld
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Thanks. It is more than a few and almost like a rash, and I remember feeling this after the last chemo about a week out, so not sure if it's the hair follicles or maybe one of the drugs? Like a reaction to one of them? I left my head uncovered last night and although colder than I'd like, it does seem a tad better today and less itchy too, so we'll see. I hate to get yet another script. Seems I'm getting one weekly for one thing or another. Hate meds to start with, and like someone said, when you line those bottles up, it all becomes your new reality
So long as the N/V are subsiding, I can deal with this, just thought there was a 'magic' potion you all knew off, since you've had great suggestions for so many other SE's 
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wishiwere, sorry you are having such problems with your balditude. I, too, get sore spots on the head. They are aggravated by anything that puts pressure on the scalp where there is still hair/stubble, such as the wig or hat. I just found the best thing was to wet the head when bathing and really massage the scalp to get rid of the stubble as quickly as possible. Once the stubble/hair is gone, there is no more pain. My personal theory about the pain is that once the hairs loosen in the follicles they float around and poke inside, irritating the follicles. Just a theory that I have no idea whether is valid. I also use the same moisturizer on my head as I do for my face. Good luck!
I have had a couple of pimples on the head as well, i just massaged them a lot and they cleared up. On my face, since chemo began I have had those deep, painful pimple lumps that maybe never materialize into actual pimples. I now have two on my chin. Lovely....
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Thanks Ladies. I had tried to leave a hat/scarf off as much as possible b/c I think you are right, any pressure made it itch more and then spread from the hot flash!
And I did a little online research on follicularitis or what ever it's called and saw where it's mentioned using cortizone creams, so I tried that and I think it is drying them up some. THey still itch like heck and I think while sleeping I itch them and that's what's spreading them. There aren't a ton, but as you say, mostly where there is still hair/stubs poking out. This is not my idea of a good time and I think as soon as this clears up I'll be having dd or dh give me a shave! Somethings got to work! I don't know how anyone can sleep on a 'silk' pillow in Michigan in January, not matter how warm they keep their home. ANd with hot flashes to boot, I just don't turn the heat up at all any more! Easy to pile on blankets when I'm cold which is seldom! 
So...thanks, Oh, I was also using my facial cream for the dryness after they clipped it short, but thought that made it break out. Now I'm sure it's the baby shampoo everyone 'suggest' that did it!
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Hey wishiwere hope your scalp is healing. I have been trying to ask some women that went throught this already and have heard mixed opinions, from Arbonne baby shampoo to dove body wash-the gentle exfoliating one. My hair is just beginning to fall out as of this morning; I liken it to my Christmas tree when I touch it it comes out to clumps. So my question is, do I shave it or boy cut it? I have appointment tomorrow. I have sensitive scalp as it is and I am wondering if it would be less abbrassive to just cut is short? Any opinions would be appreciated. Wishiwere -how are you feeling a week after tx#2? Mine is next wed.day and I have some helpful friends who want to fly in the weekend after but I almost think it would be better to just to relax at home with just family.
Take care,
KMK
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Hello ladies
KMK, it is really a matter of personal choice whether you cut the hair short or buzz it right off. It seems that quite a few of us here cut it short first until it started falling out, and then buzzed it off. However, since yours is already falling out I am not sure how long you would be able to "enjoy" that boy cut. Usually once it starts falling out it continues at a fairly rapid pace for about a week after, so i am just not sure whether you'd even want to maintain a boy cut for such a short period of time. I felt it would be emotionally more difficult to watch it falling out, so I just buzzed mine off on the first day that it started to fall out (day 14 of first cycle). I can tell you that for me it (the remaining stubble) really came out like crazy around day 19, so I think if I'd hung on even with a short cut I probably would have wanted to buzz it off at that time. I now have some sparse, stubborn stubble that is hanging on for dear life, but it is really sparse.
It really sucks, the hair thing. I have felt fairly strong about it but it did/does get to me at certain moments. I had a couple of hair loss dreams before I buzzed it off. I realized last night looking at my bald self that I really resemble my dad more than my mom. I never realized this, especially because he died when I was 12. But without the distraction of hair and at my present age I can really see the resemblance. I have used knitted caps and wigs, and only the last couple of days started experimenting with scarves. They are a bit cooler than the knit caps (wishiwere - I am enjoying hot flashes too), but the knit caps are the least irritating of all, for the scalp pain. Yesterday I took my hair (which is stored in a box in 8 pony tails as it was cut off for possible donation) and tucked some of it under the scarf all along the back. It felt so nice! It felt like....MY hair, all cozy against my neck. While it looked nice, it made me a bit sad. oh, well....As far as washing the balditude, I use the mildest of the shampoos I used when I had hair, and just use a couple of drops, then dry and moisturize afterwards.
As far as visitors after your tx, everyone is different, but for me after two tx I have found consistently that day 1 (tx day) is a write off 2-3 hours after I get home from the hospital. For some reason day 2 is quite good with virtually no nausea (I was able to eat the full Christmas dinner), and then days 3 and 4 are the worst days. Day 5 I start to feel better and that is usually the first day (aside from day 2) that is not marked by significant nausea and issues with eating. It gets better from there on, with some days bringing a bit more fatigue than others, depending on what I push myself to do. As I said, everyone is different, but I am one who does not want to be around anyone on days 3 and 4, and even day 5 until afternoon or evening would be pushing it a bit for me. Good luck with your decisions.
Hugs
Laura
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Hi KMK....my experience is only with A/C and it was worse this time around for some reason. I'm not happy with the response I got today from the nurse when I asked whether there was something else we could do to prevent a recurrence of the awful V I had this last time. I know she switched around the C followed by A this time (the first time around was another nurse and the opposite infusion). I just thought perhaps there was something or more of the initial Aloxi and Decadron that would help.
The first time I had Kytril for every 12 hours with compazine as needed between. It worked, but I had a lot of dizziness and lightheadness till the 4th day as I was told to take it for 3 days following. And the headaches were constant without Advil. I felt great the first night, then had the SE the 2-5 days.
2nd time, during the latter part of the infusion my infusion hand swelled, felt tight and looked like shiny on the fingers like when my mother is in cold weather, like it wasn't getting blood. She bent my fingers, checked the iv and said it's okay. Then just before we finished up, I looked up at her above me and had the same problem as last time at home with my eyes causing dizziness when I looked to the side or up. By the time I drove home, I was already dizzy and nauseated, about 30 minutes later. An hour after I took my kytril I was projectile throwing up big time and dry heaving even though I'd drunk a gallon of water that day and the day before. Same thing the following morning when I tried to take it again, an hour later it came up fast and furious again. This time I called and they called in another med. One was filled and the other I couldn't get mixed till teh following day
It's filled now and ready for # 3, but....I'm not looking forward to it. I can handle N but this was horrible, as I wasn't thinking it would happen.The first time and this time, I continued to have nausea or queeziness till about the 6th day, but it was worse in the morning, a little at noon and then gone by night. So I eat light all day till dinner than pig out!
Laura's right about cutting your hair. About day 14 it started, and mine was slow to come but steady. I was still 60-70 % at 2nd infusion, but it by day 24 it was was coming fast and and I just couldn't stand any more. The tenderness sleeping after we sheared it was worse though. If I didn't have this breakout, I'd have it shaved. It's coming out well now and I do as she says and rub it well in the shower and more comes each time. I can't wait to shave it smooth now, so that it doesn't catch on everything including my flannel pillow case!
I need that warmth! Sometimes anyway 
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I need to add, I think the majority of my problems have been the anti-nausea meds I take after the chemo rather than the chemo!
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Thanks Laura and Wishiwere for input. I am sorry you were so sick Wishiwere-did you check into the Emend? We call it the miracle drug. Laura I think you look beautiful without hair-your eyes stand out. I am worried I'll look like a man...my clumps are grossing me out so I'll see how tomorrow is as far as going for the razor. I have 2 wigs and 1 "hat hair" lined up and lots of scarves from a friend who went through this last year. Try the evening primrose oil for hot flashes (500 mg)-it is helping mine.
G'night,
KMK
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A belated Happy New Year to all!!! 2008 will be the year we kicked cancer's butt!
I haven't been here in a while, life was busy, and I've been feeling a bit better. That virus we got was a doozy.
So, yay, KMK, that's good to know about the primrose oil. Ima gonna git me some--the sweats are miserable for me. I do hope they're not the giant, golf-ball sized pills that the all-day-energy ones turned out to be!! GAH!! I'm a terrible pill taker--can easily gag on a tylenol--those things are massive! I still haven't got up the nerve to try one. They do have time-release caffeine, though, which means that were no placebo effect--you guys did have energy!! Good for those days when the coffee tastes like poo.
Wishwere, hope your tummy cooperates a little better--what a miserable feeling!
And hope everybody's hair gets through the "awkward phase" quickly. I did hear somewhere that stubble can be more uncomfortable than if you leave an inch or so of hair, but then you're stuck watching it go in clumps...mine is still all hanging on--day 22--the suspense is killing me!! I got 500 hats (like the Seuss story...Bartholomew...?!) for Christmas. I think with my regimen it takes longer. Today I'll ask.
It all reminds me of adolescence, or pregnancy, or when my babies were newborns--everything is so awkward and uncomfortable, and I keep trying to figure out what causes what and I can't, because I'm too spacey and tired to pay attention, so I just stop trying and suck it up and wait it out. I can't discern any pattern to my "good" vs "bad" days, except that the streoids make me feel pretty good on treatment day, and I get bone-aches a few days later. Everything else--the appetite, the energy, the tummy aches--it's all totally random as far as I can tell.
Sal, thanks for posting your wig and hat pics--you look great! And your positivity is really infectious. Thanks. Oh, and if you aren't always feeling swell about going through chemo--um, entirely understandable? You absolutely get all the poor-baby days you need, whenever you decide to claim them. Poor baby. This sucks. You rock.
I did have one funny thing happen the other day--I have one friend who I like to talk politics with every so often--we know we love each other even though we disagree, and it's kind of like college bull-sessions--just for fun. So the other day we went shopping, and something set us off, and we got going on politics, and it was terrible!! I got all shaky and nervous, and finally after we stopped, I had to call her and make sure she still loved me and cry and cry! What the heck!!? My sister laughed that she's got to take advantage of my new-found weakness while she's got the chance, cause usually (she says
) I'm "like a dog with a bone" in such discussions!! So, fair warning: one of the side-effects of chemo seems to be a diminished ability/willingness to shred your opponents in political debate!! Can't we all just get along? Chemo again today. My dad is going with me this time. He lost his mom to breast cancer when he was only 14--that was around 1960, when there was no such thing as chemo. It's very emotional for both of us, I think, because of that, but we don't really talk about it--he's just been very, very eager to help and be here. So it's good, I'm glad he's coming. What a sweetie.
Love to all, and a comfortable day for everybody--
A
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An old essay I just found by the late, great (and fellow Smithie!) Molly Ivins:
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101020218-201917,00.htm
she still rocks.
A
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Hi KMK,
My hair also started coming out on about day 14 as well. Had DH buzz it to about 1/8 inch on Christmas day. The majority of the hair fell out within a week. Now I'm dealing with the cling-on patches that seem to want to stay. I've been using the same shampoo that I always use, Neutrogena T-Gel for eczema on my scalp. I'm happy to say it has now cleared up 100%. My scalp is normally about 20% irritated at this time of year. Small pleasures go a long way right now.
As for se's after tx #2, Day one was ok as I had tx at 5pm. Day two I felt great all day with lots of energy, Day 3 was the same until about 8pm then I crashed hard. Don't think I moved off my chair for almost 3 days. Was in a pretty deep fog the whole time. I managed to pick myself up for a nice quiet New Years Eve out at a friends house. This was my first time out socially with a wig and I felt a bit at odds with it. All in all it was a really nice evening out and DH had a well deserved break as I was the DD for the night. I still don't have much of energy and am slightly nauseous off and on but its very manageable. So... overall round two was different than the first, the biggest difference I think was changing the neupogen shots to every second day thus eliminating the bone pain and migraine headaches.
Well its almost 4am here so I've just turned 46
Wonder if that is why Ive always been an early riser. Hope everyone has a good day. A round of warm hugs for everyone on me.Love Suz
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Hey there Suz, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY my friend ! I wish you a bright day, with dreams of the future months that WILL come ,with no chemo, ses ,and doctor appointments every week ! Good for you getting out on New Year's, what a trooper.
A, I will be thinking about you too today, while you and your Daddy are at treatment. I am grateful you have eachother, and also need one another. Sounds like you have a special relationship for sure.
Day #3 after TC, spacey, headache ( not too bad though ),but overall okay. Kids are off to school, and I am going to nap. Why not? Have a great day everybody ! xoxoxo cindy
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUZ!!!! Here's hoping you have a fabulous day!
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Laurita, you'll have to tell me how to insert/upload like a pro !
What a sweet and special card. You Rock. Have a great day. cindy
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We need a birthday smiley! Happy, Happy Birthday Suz! Hope your day is calm and no SE's and just a well deserved day off! I'm a 4:30 am baby and I think it's true, early risers come from early starts!
So....the next question would be, is this going to be a new experience each time we get these poisons infused? I just ass.u.me'd that it would be the same type effects each time. But I've been so wrong through all this mess, it wouldn't surprise me to once again be in the dark!
I'll mention emend when I'm there next, thanks kmk.
A~ Best of wishes today with your treatment!
Supposed to warm up here to near 50 in the next few days! Whoohooo! 15 is not a good thing with no hair!
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Morning all! I have #3 today and have to run some errands first so I gotta keep this short!
Happy Birthday Suz! Hope you have a great day!
Amy, Loved your stoy about you and your dad. My dad also lost his mom to BC when he was 18. That was back in the 1950's, also before chemo and all the other wonderful treatments we have today. I think it has been hard for my dad..that and the fact that he and my mom are getting divorced after 46 years of marriage. He left about a week and 1/2 before Christmas and is heading home today (from his sisters in KY). So, he has not seen me yet without hair so I'm not sure what to expect out of him. I think he is having a bit of the ostrich syndrome!
Hi to Sal, Laura, Cindy, Kate, Wishiwere and everyone else I know I missed! Maybe I'll feel like checking in this evening! Have a good day! Lori
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wishiwere,
I am so sorry you are having such a difficult time with nausea. It is frustrating that so many of the drugs seem to have little effect, or as you say - perhaps they cause additional side effects you don't want to deal with. I looked up Emend, just to see what it is. Just for laughs, here's an excerpt from their website:
In patients taking EMEND to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy, the most common side effects are tiredness, nausea, hiccups, constipation, diarrhea, loss of appetite, headache, and hair loss.
nausea? from an anti-nausea med? HUH? Just my twisted sense of humor at play here....
but seriously...I think you should try all anti-nausea meds they will give you, including EMEND, and sooner, rather than later, one of them will work for you. As far as the unpredictability of your se's, I can only offer you a big hug. It's like every statement here needs to be preceded by "everyone is different". I hope it gets better for you.
Amy, good luck today, sweet that your dad is going with you. Thanks for the TIME article link - it is a good one.
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Wishiwere,
I have heard over and over again, take the nausea meds BEFORE you get the full blown symptoms. We are all taking so many frickin rxs already, what's another one? Always take with atleast a little food, and hang in there sister. Keep us posted.
Lori, kick some bc ass today !!! Show em who is Boss !!! xo cindy
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Good Luck today Lori!
Be right there holding your hand 
Ladies, thanks for all the help. I take every comment to heart and learn something from you each time I come on here! Today is the first really good day after last thurs inf. I feel horrible that I'm reacting this way, b/c I have a high pain tolerance, just a low V response! I DO NOT normally throw up from anything. Only once from a reaction to antibiotic and a couple times from Gall Bladder problems before that was out! HATE V! UGH!
I do take the meds as instructed, but this last time, I was throwing them within an hour, so didn't get time to absorb them I don't think. Who knows. I'll be trying this new stuff ABH (ativan/Benedryl/halodol) mix and then the zophran. Hopeful they will work! Then I'll be donating that $1900 Kytril and compazine to someone else that dosn't have insurance at my last appt. I just can't believe something that expensive doesn't work, you know? Seems like a crime!
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Suz!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!
!!(That's as good as I can do on graphics--Laurita, you know all the tricks!!) Hope you enjoy, get waited on, and get those earrings your hubby was supposed to buy you. Lori--your poor dad. That's a double whammy for all of you.
Wishiwere, I get your frustration about not knowing what to expect--that's been hard for me, too, because I was definitely sick on top of the chemo for the first few weeks, and it was hard to tell what was causing what. They did say that you can get an idea of how things will effect you from how it goes at first, but I think that some things build up in your system as you go along...anyway, hope your "triple threat" works!
The hair is definitely on the outs. Got my first "chunk" this morning, and get a couple strands every time I run my hands through it. Looks like I'll be buzzing it this weekend--I told the kids they could do some--hope they don't hurt me!! Well, good riddance, I say.The cold, dry air is terrible for my hair anyway. The wig looks better! Maybe I'll do this every winter. Just kidding.
Lori, good luck today, and in the days after #3. 3 down!!
Cindy--it's good to see you back! We missed ya!
Sal--how ya doin, girl?
A
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Happy Birthday Suz!! I hope you have a great one!
I go for chemo number two on Wednesday. Fun Fun Fun! My hair is still here at the moment, but I'm sure it will be coming out soon. It definately has a different texture.
Hope everyone is doing great!
Kate
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Here's how to put a photo in your posting:
First, you have to save the photo out there somewhere in internetland, such as Photobucket, Flickr, etc, then follow the instruction below. As far as how I do these multi-photo screenshots, that would be another class
, as it is something I do all the time for my work (analysis, documentation and training for an IT project) and it uses another application.
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Hey ladies,
Took me a while to catch up from the week. Sending belated happy birthday wishes to Suz, and hugs to everyone with hair loss, nausea, and other woes. Am comiserating with those who assumed that "I've got it figured out now" only to find that the next chemo round brought different surprises... I had no nausea problems my 2nd round, but dealt with fatigue and am starting to experience twinges of muscle/joint pain. Are we allowed to say that chemo sucks? Oh, we already knew that? Ok. Moving on.
I have the straggly hairs too. A small patch of grey in the back of my head, and some ridiculous looking strands right in the front of my scalp that refuse to go. The rest is a strand of white here and there, but doesn't amount to what I would call hair. I've gotten over being depressed over it, but just wish I had more skin tone... I'm pale as a ghost and now I've got a huge pale head to stare at too. Blah. I've been invited to a cancer support group by a friend and they are having the "Look good, feel better" program that night, but it isn't until the end of the month. I'm dying to learn how to do makeup because outside of eyeliner and lipstick I haven't got a clue... and I need color quite badly now, if only for my self-esteem. I'm also hoping my eyebrows stick around until then... they have thinned, but not left the building. I was an art major in college, so I suppose I could wing it on the eyebrows. But I need "Blush 101" badly.
Story to share in case it helps anyone else: I had trouble with fatigue this week. Definitely hit a low, but am pretty sure my diet was the cause. I'm on a special diet (my decision, long story), and because of that my onc nurse harped on me from the beginning about getting enough protein. Am glad she did, because I started a food journal to track it (in hopes of proving her wrong). According to the nutritionist at the onc dept, we should aim for 50-55 grams of protein per day while we go through chemo.
Well, the week of my first treatment and the week after, I consistently was hitting 50-70 grams a day. The only day I had any symptoms of fatigue was day #7 after my chemo-- which is supposed to be my low wbc count day anyway-- for a couple of hours, but other than that I cruised through to the next chemo session with no fatigue problems. My wbc count that week was 1.3
But the week of my 2nd treatment, I found myself struggling to hit 45 grams a day. I didn't give it much thought until I hit the major fatigue this week... it started around Sunday and didn't go away until today. Wednesday was the worst. My wbc count this week dropped to .7
So I started forcing myself to reach 50+ grams a day starting on Wednesday, and darned if I didn't start feeling a little bit better the next day. Definitely improved by today. Granted, the Neulasta shot was doing it's job of creating new wbc's, but I don't know... I sure did recover faster than it took to hit the low. So I'm sticking to 50+ a day this next chemo round and see if I can avoid that whole useless feeling of fatigue.
Kate, I'll think of you on Wednesday since I've got my next treatment that day too.
I've missed you all this week. Big hug to you all.
-Sal
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Morning all! (Bell Ringer) "Morning after #3, and all is well!" LOL
It went fine yesterday (first infusion where I went by myself)! Blood counts were good and off we went! And yes Cindy, I was kickin BC ass all day!!
WishIwere, Very sweet about holding my hand and kind of ironic as like I said it was the first time I went alone! Thanks for that!! I'm in MI too, where are you! Where is all the upcoming rain and melted snow going to go. I live on a dirt road and am fore-seeing a big mess!! But I will like the much warmer temps!
Amy, just to clarify...the divorce is my Dad's decision and it was also his decision to leave for the holidays...and he actually left without telling up kids goodbye! He did call me about a week after he left. So don't feel too sorry for him although...but I do know it's not easy for him or my mom. The relationship with my dad is a whole other story...got along terribly when we lived at home...that got better when we moved out, but he has NEVER been one to show or express love with pretty much anything but the dog! I just keep in mind that I know he loves me and just can't show or say it! Moving along as it's day after #3 and I'm a bit emotional!!
Laura, You are a computer whiz! People with your talent amaze me! Hope you are continuing to do great!! Too funny about the Emend side effect being nausea! Sometimes I think they list every side effect possible just to cover their butt's!! LOL
Kate, Good luck with #2 next week! My #2 was way better than my first so I wish that for you too!!
Sal, I went to the Look Good Feel Better a while ago! I'm sure you will enjoy it! You do a whole makeup makeover while there (at least we did) using all of the great products you will get in your bag! All the bags have different items in them and there are a lot of great ones! Enjoy it, it is bit of fun! I have a patch of dark hair still at the nape of my neck that I can't scrub off for the life of me but if I pull it it comes right out! Other than that the only ones hanging on are some grey ones. Interesting story about the protein...I was told to get plenty also but have never really checked to see what it is!
A tip for others (and my biggest disappointment, since I have been told not to drink it) is a drink by Bolthouse Farms called Perfectly Protein. It is a cold vanilla chai usually found in the cold cases in the produce section of your grocery store. I tastes so good, is pretty low fat and a punch of protien. The problem for me is it is SOY PROTEIN, which I was told not to have soy...because I'm PR+ (I think that was the reason given). Anybody else know anything about having soy if you are PR+ (I'm ER-). I would be interested to hear what others have been told. There is another chai product that I can still have. I mix it about 1/3 chai and 2/3 milk with a little ice (just thrown in, not blended) I get it at Target and it is called TAZO Chai - Spiced Black Tea Latte Concentrate. It has a blend of tea, cinnamon, GINGER, cardamon and vanilla! I just realized it had ginger in it...that may be why it settles my tummy so well!! LOL They make an organic version that is yummy as well. For anyone who may not know how chai tastes it a bit like a mild ginger snap and maybe a little pumpkin pie (probably the cinnamon). Anyway, thought one of you may enjoy it.
Oh and Sal, Good luck on Wednesday to you too! I'll be thinking of you and Kate.
Have a great weekend all! Lori
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OK, Lori--my sympathy is firmly with you! Sounds like your dad is looking out for himself ok. Life is hard... But not telling anybody he was leaving right before the holdiays...that's the last thing you need with everything else you're going through, eh? Sorry to misconstrue and set off an emotional topic!
Am feeling very unsettled, because it seems the time is coming to buzz the hair and be done with it (lots of hairs coming out now)--but I'm kinda feeling chicken about doing it. There's a neighborhood party tomorrow, with some new neighbors that we don't really know, and I'm going to feel so self-conscious....I was thinking of waiting til afterwards...but then again, I'm worried there won't ever really be a "right time"... blah. i wish I were more confident.
Sal, I completely sympathize with the whole make-up dillemma--I'm not really a make-up person myself, but--especially since my terrible acne breakout--I've been using a lot more and feeling like a monster when I don't. AND, like, you, I've been holding off buying anything til I get my freebies at the workshop they're setting up at the chemo center! Blush is good, though--it really does work to make my pale, sallow face look a little healthier. Hope you're feeling more chipper-er and full of protein--that's a really low wbc you were sporting. Chemo sucks, no two ways about it. And you're allowed to say that as many times as you want!!
Laura, that Emend side effect warning is hilarious. thanks!
blagh--
A
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Happy belated birthday Suz. I wrote a long message yesterday, changed the page lost everything and was too frustrated to start over. I need lessons from Laura-wow I say to above tutorial. Day 2 of losing my hair, I went to stylist after filling a whole waste bucket of my hair. She turned my chair away from the mirror per my request and cut my hair very short-Mia Farrow style. Then I put on one of my girls (wigs) and went shopping and out to dinner with my husband. We sat outside (I am in AZ) next to heat lamp and I began to feel my "hair" heating up so I changed seats. I have been warned the wigs are very flammable and to take them off when baking. It was okay, I was self definitely self-conscious so I know what you mean A. My husband wanted me to go to gym today but I am not comfortable to take that step until I figure out which hat will stick to my head. Has anybody been out on a windy day with hat/wig? Sal I really like your Annie Hall hat -where did you get it? I think when I go out (dinner, church, mall) I will wear wigs and then around home/neighborhood/grocery stores I will wear hats though as I get more accepting of the new me that could very well change.
When I had my consult with the nutrionist at the cancer center, she also told me to avoid soy. Once in awhile okay but not daily. As far as the evening primrose oil capsule, Amy take 500 mg. My mother bought me 1300 mg which are an inch and 1/2 long which I could not think of swallowing. The nutrionist told me my Flinstone complete vitamins are great (I hate swallowing pills too) and to add calcium (again chewable is fine- Viactiv) and protein as Sal mentioned. Also told me to take 1 T of flax seed which I add to my granola and yogurt.
Who sponsors the Look Good, Feel Good classes?
Great for you who have completed your chemo this week-it does suck! Kate I have #2 this Wed.day as well-I will think of you. There seems to be a range of effects with the 2nd and 3rd. I am picking up my Emend prescription today. I'd rather be tired than nauseas. I am not sleeping alot since beginning chemo. I don't know if it is mental or the poison. I am not looking forward to the steroids.
Have a great day,
KMK
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Well I did it! I've officially joined the Sisters of Balditude! My husband obligingly (but not quite gleefully) buzzed me down to 1/8 of an inch this morning. I got a new camera, though, and can't get it to talk to the computer yet, so I'll have to send pics later.
Number one surprise: my head is COLD! Can't stand to have it uncovered! But I have a nice soft hat, made out of dark grey jersey, that is very comfy to wear around the house.
It looks kinda cute actually--not as bad as I was expecting. It feels nice, and looks very simple--like unadulterated me. Anyway, I'm glad I did it, and got it over with.
This morning, I asked my 4 year old if he'd still love me when I was bald, and he said, "I don't love you for your looks, I love you for your niceness. That's what love really is."... Can you believe that!? Where does he come up with this stuff!? He is brutally honest, though, so I know he meant it.
I have been super queasy all day, though not officially nauseous--does anybody know--are the anti-emetics supposed to help just with vomiting-level nausea, or are they supposed to help with general oogi-ness? I'd ask to try another if I thought they'd help for my less-serious discomfort.
Yuck. Felling very chemo-y today, which is a bore. Anybody watch any good movies lately?
Love to all--
A
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