Jan 2008--Ain't it Great?

good morning and happy Valentines Day Jewels....may the se's leave our chocolate fix alone today!!!

had to take the sendokot S last night..sighs... time to take the advice here and start a day before tx.  Well, last night I joined the baldacious babe club, still stubble....but I'll try to get hubby to take a pic later today...

Now to see how many guys from work will hold their end of the bargain...shave their heads too, to support me.  

Off to work...tootles

Kris 

Good Morning Jewels, Had round #2 A/C yesterday went smoothly no se yet.  I'm trying a new anti nausua med this time called ondansetron I will take it after the steriods wear off thats when my awareness starts. Gotta go get my nuelasta this after. Next tx 2/27 @7am yuk way to early. My rbc is low hopefully I won't need a transfusion.

Joined the bald club Tues eve dh and ds gave me the buzz they were trembling so bad they scared me luckily I came out with both ears and no blood shed (whew).

SIS Kimberly, I'M doing a clinical for Avastin its already in use for colon, rectal and some lung cancers. Its supposed help with blood fed cancers there is a little info in the bc.org site.  It is being tried for triple neg breast cancer to help stop reoccurance since there is no preventative meds on the market for us yet after treatment is finished.  My Onc wants me to do Taxol weekly X12 after my A/C is finished since my cancer is blood fed and they not sure if there a cells floating around so she is being proactive. Thanks for asking.

Carol, I'll get out a check to you, hopefully I have my shirt in time for my next tx.

D1, Bio looks good I have a port also if you wanna through it in the mix. Thanks

Have a nice Valantines Day all!

Good Morning Jewels-

So, I got my new fridge, and washer and dryer. Oh, they’re so pretty…I know…it doesn’t take much to make me happy eh?



So, my eyes have been watering a lot. My tears are feeling like they’re burning my skin, so the skin around my eyes are a bit red. Also puffy under my eyes. This is not exactly the look I was going for tonight. I’ll be serving a lovely dinner to my dh in my new red wig and watery red puffy eyes…not the sexy siren I was hoping to be. Sigh!!!!



Denise- You know, I don’t know if this is called blogging either…but whatever it is, it’s really great!!!! I just noticed you’re from the San Diego area…I’m in Northern, Ca in Lincoln about 30 miles North of Sacramento. San Diego is a nice area. And you put out some great d words to put in front of the h…just know as Carol said…lower case is positive and upper case means there’s trouble in paradise.



Carol- Well…glad you got the 4th FUBC-er MF out of the way. :-) and that your Mirilax kicked in…oh, the simple pleasures we delight in, girls. Wow, the dh commutes part way to work on bike…impressive. Is he biking to a bus or the ferry for the remainder of his commute? Does he pack his clothes and then shower and change when he gets to work? What does he do for a living? Sorry you had a rough night…hope your sip or two of caffeine helps you stay alert driving those trucks.



D1- Wow, I’m not sure if I want those drugs you’re having or not…not recalling conversations could be a good thing or a bad thing depending upon the topic. Your gf is probably so thrilled to help out…so often friends and family don’t know what to do for us…so anything they can do no matter how small makes them feel good…but I know what you mean about how you thank everyone who had been there for you.

So…baldacious babe gets one freaked out and bolted…and one can I check your ID…so is this clerk flirting with a bald woman or does being bald peel off the years? I’d say you’ve scored even for the day. Loved the Haiku…



Vettegal- I’m so sorry the diarrea is back. I’m thinking the se’s last the whole time in varying degrees. This time for me, the energy is up and down this third week. The eyes are watering more as mentioned earlier this third week. I don’t get a bag of each of those…I have large syringes of Aloxi and other se preventatives (no pepcid). I also get my Adriamycin in a big syringe. Hope your onc can give you some advice on the digestive issues.



LJ13- So glad that your #4 went so well. Whew, done with that!!!! Hopefully the Herceptin doesn’t have se’s that are too bad especially cause you’re doing it for a year.

Your partner sounds like she’s a doll. How sweet to wear a mask, sleep in another room, and be so worried about passing the germs. Isn’t it amazing the things our loved ones will endure to show us they love us? Hope the MUGA goes well.



CHJ- Let’s hope if the truck comes, it’s not a semi and only runs over you once if it has no choice than to hit you.



Jenn- I so loved hearing about what you and the dh do…how wonderful that you work for a family owned business and they you two really are like family to the owners. Everyone should feel so supported. Glad you were up to going in last night and today.



Paula- Glad to hear your cold is only a night nuisance and that you’re able to be there for your students as they prepare for the competition.

Suz- I’m so glad to hear that sense of humor at the end…whew, you’re going to be fine. 5 years out all ready?

I just reread your first post…duh, you said you were diagnosed 5 years ago. So you can give up tips!!!! Are you taking Tamoxifin or an AI? If so, what has your experience been?



About meds. It sometimes takes awhile to find the right anti-depressant and the right dosage. I PM’d you not knowing all this info, so some of what I said won’t apply now.



Anyway, yeah, the shock of the family history and worrying about your daughters can be overwhelming, but the good news like I said is knowing so your daughters can be vigilant.



How are your family members doing?



Take care, sweetie.



Kris- Welcome to the club!!!! You’ve got to get a pic with all the guys at work that live up to their end of the bargain. And…it sounds like the dh is being supportive and helpful.



Wendy- Thanks for giving me the info on your Avastin and Taxotere x12. Interesting…hope the study bears out positive results. And welcome to you to the club…glad you still have your ears and didn’t lose any blood…not good on the blood count numbers. :-) How sweet that the dh and the ds did the honors…and were shaking ‘cause they didn’t want to cut you…I’d be a little nervous,too…but it all turned out well. Whew!!!!!



Well, gotta run to the oncologists…I’ll check in later…



HAPPY VALENTINES DAY, JEWELS.



SIS Kimberly

Hi Jewels -- just checking in before I head off to tx #3 -- HALF WAY -- Woo hooooo!! I'll catch up with everything later.

Happy Valentine's Day, Jewels! Hope you all have an se-free day!!

{{{HUGS}}} to everyone!

Julie

Helloooo and Happy V-Day Jewels!  No, I have not been lurking.. my d*mn internet router died yesterday, so I've been without internet until now.  I was gonna freak on the Verizon guy if he didn't fix it today!  So, I've been feeling good-- the neu-nasty must be doing it's thing b/c this was when I ended up in the hospital last time.  Whew!  I'm still being a major cleaning/handwashing germ freak though.  I think I have another cold (how can I possibly ever avoid it with 2 preschoolers unless I wrap them in bubbles... or me)-- I've been congested all week, as has the dh and my littlest one.  I'll take it though over some GI illness and the flu, which I know are also going around.  Ok, my shout outs... I'll add some "nursing pearls" to them, too (hope you guys don't mind.. I have no one to take care of but me, the Jewels, and my kids since I'm not working these days)...

Note about Miralax: if you need a "starter boost" (cuz nothing's happened in a few days), you can take 1 1/2 - 2 capfuls instead of the usual one. 

Vettegal:  Fruit has lots of fiber, so it can cause diarrhea.  Pectin (a fruit sugar) is another culprit also, so avoid juice especially if you have diarrhea.  Bananas are the exception, they can constipate.  Apples can go either way.  Applesauce has lots of pectin so it usually causes diarrhea.  I agree with Paula: my onc said to avoid fresh fruits when counts are low unless they can be washed very well b/c of the bacteria potential.  And my "cocktail" includes: Aloxi, saline, bendryl and decadron (added after my reaction), Taxotere, Cytoxan, and Herceptin.  I'm there about 5-6 hrs.

LJ13:  Good luck with your MUGA!  I thought this was the easiest test so far.  And I hear herceptin is easy (v. little SEs).  I can't really tell what SE is from that b/c right now I get it with everything else.  But I hear the biggest SE is "flu-like sx" the day after infusion.  I don't experience any of that right now.  I'll be curious to see what if anything I notice when I'm just doing herceptin alone (by April).

Jenn51:  Hee hee hee-- can't imagine being bald as a SE of PG!  I DID have some hair thinning though at the top of my forehead after I delivered my son .  My OB (and hairdresser) said it was from the drop in hormones.

Kris60 and Wing:  Welcome to the bald babes club!

Wing: That "o" drug is Zofran.  I love it, as I can't take compazine (allergic), but it IS very constipating (go figure!).  How low are your RBCs?  And what's your H/H (hemoglobin/hematocrit)?  Sometimes the oncs will give Procrit (a shot given once) to boost them and/or iron (pills taken daily for "a while").  I may be able to give you an idea.  PM me if you want.

SIS Kimberly:  Glad you got your appliances!  It's kinda like having a new car: all shiny, and with the "new" smell!  I had a woman who's stage 4 tell me about the runny eyes and nose thing at my last infusion (our oncs are the same, and she said he told her about it).  Evidently it is from chemo, usually the taxanes.  They cause watery eyes.  The runny nose is actually the tears from your eyes coming out your nose.  Makes sense as they are connected at the tear duct area.  And I've noticed my runny nose IS very watery, not like usual "thicker" snot.  Sorry to be gross... but I found it very interesting.  I thick our bodies contain levels of the chemo drugs in our secretions for quite some time after tx, so the mucus membranes and anything the "tears" touch are affected--probably it's why your surrounding skin gets red, too I would think.  Maybe you can protect your skin with Vaseline or Aquaphor?

So good to be back online!  Hope everyone has a great rest of the day.

KathyL, I agree with you that apples can go either way with your lower GI system, but I'm pretty sure that pectin is a good thing as regards diarrhea. Applesauce is part of the famous "BRAT" recommendation for diet while suffering with the runs. Fruits like blueberries are very soothing to cantankerous intestines because of their high pectin content. (Pectin gives its name in part to Kaopectate.)

Maybe you were mixing up pectin and sorbitol, which occurs naturally in some fruits too (apples, peaches, nectarines) and which is very much a baddie when it comes to diarrhea. 

LJ:  Maybe I am befuddled with the chemo-brain... all I know is when we prescribe BRAT at our practice we always say "apples" not applesauce b/c the sugars in the "sauce" can go the other way.  And blueberries surely give me the runs   hee hee!

Vettegal:  I like the card you got.

Night night gems!  Good luck to everyone doing chemo-tinis tomorrow!

Happy Valentine Day,

To Sherry, Julie and Donna lets hope your V-day at the chemo lounge was uneventful and your feeling alright this evening.

PALady, looks like your knocking down another txt tomorrow, one step closer to the end of the tunnel!  In regards to the caffiene, it is "recommended" to avoid it while I'm taking the oral cytoxan.  Couldn't tell you why, but I'm trying to do everything I can to not rock the boat.  Albeit, I did have a little sipper of coffee this morning and god it tasted good!

Kathy, yeah for the internet guys ... I think I'd have a meltdown if ours pooped out.

I took note on your heated blanket, I've been using the heating pad (in fact its behind my back right now), and then putting it in the bed to keep my feet warm.  I think my circulation is worse now than its ever been, the poor guys in my shop at work...I walk in and crank the heat, the "big" guys are roasting and I'm freezing.  They put up with it pretty good, I guess its one of the perks of being the "gimpy" one.

I'm still having a tough time regulating my Miralax, I hate to say it but remember your cinder block comment a few weeks ago, I think my cinder block messed up the ol' hole!  Too much Miralax is kinda scary if you get my drift!  This is so sad I'm sharing this, would not in a million years think I'd be discussing bowels on a regular basis.

sista2, what a cool gesture of your dh to shave his head as well.  I think I would be scared to see my dh's head shaved.  Hopefully you get your nausea meds figured out so they are more productive for you.  I always say that any se is tolerable as long as I'm not puking!

chj, yeah for feeling good, is something wrong with you!!!!  Its great to hear somebody is having a tolerable txt.

D1, loved your story about Dave at the grocery store ... the poor guy!  It had to be pretty embarassing for him.  Glad you got some use of your "boobies" hat!

Vettegal, what a great card, must be a very personable real estate office.  Go get um tomorrow, I'll look forward to your pic proudly displaying your FUBC shirt.  I've printed out the pics of those that have shared and keep them in my "notebook" with all my "C" stuff.  I've had fun sharing as I talk with the dh, mom-in-law, friends, it really adds alot to a conversation when there is a face to the story.

LJ, hope your scan you had today has good results, hopefully your friend is feeling better soon and you escape the wrath of it.

Paula, hopefully your nights sleep are extending past a few hours at a time.  Nothing worse than that tickle cough at night.  Looks like its your turn to belly up to the bar tomorrow, we'll be sending positive vibes your way for a smooth txt.

Kimberly, have you peaked at the "more ooph questions?" posting, there are a few new post there.

The dh commute goes drive 15 min to park and ride lot, get on bicycle, ride 10 min to ferry, 30 min ferry boat ride to Seattle, then about 30 bike ride to work.  He has changes of clothes and a shower at work.  He has been driving this week, we just bought a new car over the weekend (Accord) and it doesn't have a bike rack.  I'm not too crazy about one of those hang off the trunk styles and I'm not sure if you can get the hitch type that doesn't show.  I would be the picky bitch when it comes to the vehicles. 

Have a wine for you to try, Marietta Old Vine Red (California), our neighbor has been buying it for years, starting at one of the first Lots.  Its now at Lot #44.  He shares a bottle of two with us quite often, I mow the lawn that adjoins our lots and thats my thankyou in return.

We should be getting a call later this evening from my step daughter, her boyfriend is proposing tonight, he had my dh mom's wedding ring spruced up and is giving it to her tonight.  She will be overjoyed with the sentimental value of the ring, she was soooo close with her grandma.

Well, the dh called asked if I would like to go out to dinner, I said not really, hate to say it but a bowl of Cream of Wheat is calling my name!  So much for say Lobster and a glass of wine!  But the good news is there will be many more V-Day's in the very near future.

Carol

Okay, I am sooo ready for tomorrow and I've got plenty of Jewels to accompany me on the Magic Chemo Ride. I believe WVGirl, PALady, Deb1023, Vettegal, Jenny and Peg1212 are riding with me. I'll be wearing my Jewel tee!

Julie- love your picture! I won't be looking as snazzy in my layers, but maybe I can shed them for a photo!

D1- I hate that you are still having such problems with your back. Your description of the spasms is identical to my experience after round 1. Mine first occurred 7 days after first Neulasta injection. Worse with movement--esp. when I first sat down, starting around my tailbone, rippling out and around to my hipbones and take-your-breath-away intensity. They would last about 10 minutes if I was settled, but recurred every time I changed position. I had them for 2 days and then they disappeared. I haven't had any with this round. Go in for shot #3 Saturday, so we'll see how it goes this time. I've never had any back problems before either.

Sista- keep us posted on your back. Here's hoping you don't have any problems! 

LJ- how's your partner? Wishing you both good health! 

Vettegal- what a nice card! What time is your tx tomorrow? Mine is 12:30p.

Carol- I hear you on the Cream of Wheat! I'm all about comfort foods. I love my coffee, but I don't even want it for the first week after chemo. I replace it with tea to get my caffeine fix. I've been living on hot tea and Hall's cough drops for the past week. Now there's an aphrodisiac for you!

I hope everyone has had a nice VDay. I know there won't be as much "activity" around here as usual, but we'll make up for it later. I forgot to mention that my dh's first response to seeing my bald head was "I've never 'done it' with a bald woman..." Well, I was already sick with this cold when I got sheared so he STILL hasn't....  

I'm working half-day tomorrow. Will check in b4 or after chemo (probably both--I love you all!)

Nite all, Paula

A quick shout-out to all the girls partaking in chemotini's tomorrow -- WVGirl, PALady, Deb, Paula, and Vettegal! (and anyone else I missed!!) Go kick some BCA, girls!! I'll be thinking about you!

hello everyone

 It's day 15 from my first chemo and I finally feel good. well not exactly great but no nausea like week one and my bowels seem to be back to normal from weeks one and 2. now i have the sore scalp and falling hair of the third week.

I had my wig styled today and i've been wearing it all day. Yesterday i had my hairdresser cut my hair half an inch long all over.  I thought it would fall out from there and I'd be OK with that but my  scalp hurts when my hair gets bent and it was bent all day in the wig.  My hairdresser said she would come to my house anytime and shave the hair off for me. She wouldn't take any payment for making it short yesterday then today she wouldn't take any payment for cutting the wig because she'd never done one before and said she wanted to do something for me. It feels good to know she cares. now i hate to ask her to come to the house for free.  I think i could get it all off with a lint roller but it would take a long time (just kidding) anybody try using the vauum cleaner to get it off?

D1- Happy belated birthday. Hope you could feel the love.

vettigal- thanks for sharing your card with us.

Those getting chemo tomorrow- i wish you an uneventful time and low side effects.

I hope everyone has a good restful sleep

Goodnite

Judy

Good morning to everyone!  Vettegal looks like im right with you today on this one, have to be there at 800am for round 2.  Good luck to you, and to anyone else needing some good luck today.

Good morning Jewels!  Had to say hi and good luck to today's gems doing tx before I go eat something.  Hope everyone has an easy day and all the SEs stay away (hey, that rhymes).

Carol:  so cool to hear about the stepdaughter's engagement.  It's nice to hear some good news.  And now there will be a wedding for you to look forward to

Speaking of good news... I forgot to tell you guys I'm an aunt!  My stepbrother and his wife had a little girl on Wednesday and are doing great!  My dd is so excited b/c she said it would be a girl and the baby was born on the 13th and that's also her b-day (hers is Nov. 13).

Julie:  great pic in your shirt!  I have got to get the dh on helping me mine this weekend...

I'm concerned about all you Jewels with these back spasms.  How can the docs deny something's going on here?  It definitely sounds like it could be the Neulasta since you're all on it.  Any other common meds?  Hope you all find some relief. 

Paula:  your dh sounds like mine... any excuse to "do it"!  They are so funny.  (by the way, mine hasn't had the opportunity yet either, despite the fact that I've been bald for 2 weeks now )

CarolC:  Glad to hear the Gabapentin seems to be working.  You seem to have been hit really hard with the neuropathy SE-- big hugs to you!

Judy (sheebas): nice to hear from you.  That scalp/hair pain is so weird, huh?  I found that the shorter my hair is (or when it's gone), the better.  LOL about the vacuum... my dh actually vacuums our dog and he loves it (the dog, not the dh)-- maybe it would work...