CMF Question
Comments
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Mary: Ah yes....prune juice! Lots of water, etc. I used Senokot laxative after surgeries. It worked well. Also, Dulcolax (a stool softener) helps and is less laxativy!
Keep on keeping on, Mary.
Deb
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Cab mom
Yes we will all make it and come out on the other end stronger than ever. I feel like I am facing down a deamon. When I get my first treatment, my thoughts are going to be something like
...take that you little "F"er. After this I doubt that much will scare me.
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Happy anniversary Harley
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I always thought of the IV drips as little pacmen just racing through my body eating up any errant cancer cells!
Mary, I'm so glad that this time was easier for you! Start taking that Senakot. It's much better than prune juice!
Rita
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Thanks ladies. Just went to CVS and bought some Senna. Will take that one of those with a stool softener before going to bed. The prune juice doesn't hold much appeal but will take it tomorrow if I have to. Is Kytril even more constipating than Zofran?
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MaryNY, not sure about how Kytril vs Zofran will affect you. I was only able to take Kytril 1 treatment because it caused a major rash for me but I wish I could have taken it because I had zero nausea with it. Hopefully you're still feeling well today!
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Deb, I meant to thank you yesterday for the play by play on your treatment. It really does help us that are going through it now. This site has been such a blessing with everyone helping us out and encouraging us along the way. Thanks again for taking the time to let us know about yours!!
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Teresa:
My pleasure, Teresa. These boards were a lifesaver for me. Feel good!
Deb
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Hi Mary: So glad that tx 2 was better than number 1. The decadron is also something that can cause constipation so you are wise to keep ahead of it with stool softeners. I ate stewed prunes during my chemo...I would cook them with a sliced lemon and add other dried fruits such as apricots and/or mango. To me they tasted pretty good but taste is so personal. I also used a stool softener for the day before plus another 4 or 5 days of each tx. That was great until my last 2 tx when I had diahrrea....figure it out...my onc quickly prescribed lomotil for those two.
Anyway, I think that chemo is not fun but it is doable. To Merilee, good luck with your tx and cab mom and anyone else out there...take care and check in to let us know how you are doing.
Hugs to all my CMF gals.
Mandy
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They were right about the Kytril and constipation. Yes, Decadron probably played a part too. I took a Senna and a Colace last night and nothing doing in the bowel dept this morning. Had cereal and orange juice for breakfast. Then I took a tbl of lactulose. First time I took this, it took effect in 15 mins but not so this time. I'd take a second dose but I'm leaving for my Neulasta shot in about an hour and don't want to be sideswiped by a BM.
Other than this, I'm feeling well. I'm very flushed from the Decadron but have no nausea.
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Hey there Mary.
Sorry to hear about the constipation but glad to hear about no nausea. As far as Colace goes, you can take up to three a day and my doctor told me you can take all three at once...it doesn't have to be spread out through the day. Re: Senna. I know with Senokot, you can take a few of those before bed in order to have a BM in the morning. I don't know exactly what Senna drug you're taking, so read the directions carefully. I don't know if you can take it with lactulose since I don't really know what lactulose is. Also, if the Kytril really constipates you, check with your onc about taking Emend if that worked for you before. Have your doc's office check with the insurance company, etc. if they will. Just tell them that the Kytril is so unpleasant for you because of TERRIBLE constipation. Don't be afraid to be dramatic. Remember...the squeaky wheel gets the grease.
I guess they don't want give Emend until they've checked out other drugs because it is so expensive but don't worry about being your own best advocate....you're worth it. Chemo is yukky enough without having to have extra SEs from the drugs you take for SEs. (What a crazy world!!!) The Decadron is a real upper so if you need to run a marathon...go ahead, just wear a hat and gloves...it's cold out there.
Keep feeling well. You're doing fabulously.
Deb
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YEAH Mary...........It sounds like you're doing pretty good! Hang in there!
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I found a couple of meditation cds geared for chemo. If anyone is interested here are the links.
http://www.guidedcds.com/cancer_treatment_recovery_meditation_imagery_CD.html
http:/www.imadulation.com/chemo_cd.htm
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Thanks, Merilee!
Hope everyone in treatment is doing good.
Thinking of you all...
Carol,
Good to see you again!
Rita, Annie, and everyone...
Hugs
Harley
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I thought I was doing well so far on CMF #2 but ... I've been really achy after the Neulasta shot, sore neck, shoulders, ribs. I took two Tylenol for it last night but it didn't seem to work. Then I'm also feeling really chilled all day. On top of that I was severly constipated, as predicted by the nurse when giving me the Kytril. I tried prunes, Colace, senna and finally had to resort to using lactulose which produced results.
I feel that I'm in a vicious cycle with all the drugs. Now that the Kytril has worn off, I've been feeling nauseous all day. I have Compazine on hand and an Rx for Kytril, but both cause constipation so I'm just trying to weather out the nausea. I also notice on the Colace bottle, that it says to avoid taking it if you are nauseous so no more of them for the moment.
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Wow Mary, you have been through the ringer. I am so sorry. I wonder if they mean to avoid Colace if you are nauseous from other things (such as a stomach virus) and whether it may be ok to take it with chemo nausea--maybe check with your onc about that. In the mean time you can continue the prunes or prune juice and hopefully that will help. Just about all of the anti nausea meds seem to cause some degree of constipation but hopefully you will be able to get the constipation under control and get relief from the nausea.
Hang in there and call your onc to see what she suggests. You shouldn't have to suffer with nausea through the CMF and I am sure there is something they can do for you.
Cyber hugs.
Mandy
PS I never had a neulasta shot so I can't advise you about that.
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Thanks Mandy. I'm feeling a bit better tonight. While on AC, I found that a cheese sandwich was always something I could eat. So I had one of those with a cup of tea and felt better after that. I know bread and cheese are not the best thing when inclined toward constipation but I felt I really needed to eat something. So to counteract that I've just made a large smoothie with pineapple, orange juice, blueberries and probiotic yoghurt. This is going down well. I think I'm ready to take some Colace with this now.
The good thing about the Neulasta is that it's so effective in restoring the white cell count. Bad thing is the soreness it can cause. But hopefully that will be gone in another day or so.
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Hi all! Mary, so sorry to hear that you're still struggling with the treatments. I hope that it gets better soon for you. I had issues with several of the anti nausea meds, so today they decided to try Emend and so far I feel great. I had EMEND by IV today for the first dosage and I will take 1 more pill each day for the next two days. Hoping that this will work out......Mary, maybe it's something you need to ask about if this doesn't work for you.
Number 4 went pretty smooth, blood pressure was a little high again but other than that, it was okay. Hope everyone else on CMF is doing well and Mary, I know it will get better, I just hope and pray it's SOON.
Prayers to all of you!
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Cabmom: Glad to see you have another treatment over with. I think that leaves two more for you, is that right?
I think Emend is the most effective anti-emetic but expensive. I had that while doing the four AC treatments but onc felt I didn't need something that strong for CMF. I know you broke out in a rash with the Kytril. What happened with the Zofran. Did it just not work? Do they give you steroids with the Emend? They did for me and I really hated taking them because of the crash after they wore off.
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Mary, I do have two to go. Emend is expensive but compazine did nothing, Kytril broke me out in a rash for several days and Zofran did the same, although not for as long. Both Kytril and Zofran worked for the nausea but my onc was worried about the severity that can accompany the rash if taken too long so......Emend seems to be doing the trick. I took the pill this morning and feel fine other than a headache. Drinking lots of water.......
They do give me a 1/2 dose of Decadron, which I hate because of the weight gain.....that is really stressing me out but everyone warned me that it could happen so I was somewhat prepared although I was hoping for the best unfortunately I'm having quite a bit. Have you had any issues with weight gain? Hope not, it is so depressing.
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Hi Cabmom: no problem with weight gain for me. I was overweight to begin with. Then when I was diagnosed, I did a lot of comfort eating which put on some additional pounds. At that time, I should have been working on developing a healthy diet. However, since starting chemo between loss of appetite, nausea and taste changes, I've lost about 5-6 pounds. I think this is mostly due to the fact that I've lost all interest in sweet foods. Prior to this, I had a real sweet tooth, but now can't stomach anything overly sweet. I had a real struggle this morning drinking prune juice but knew that I needed it.
I know it's not nice to gain weight but at least you are probably getting a fairly balanced diet, unlike me. Do you exercise? In the beginning, I was walking 3-4 miles a day and felt it really helped with SEs but now I struggle to do any walking. It's been so cold here in the northeast that it's not conducive to going outside anyway.
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I'm with you, Mary. I miss my outdoor walks now that weather has turned to cold and snowy!
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Wow, I can't beleive how long it has been since I have posted on this CMF thread...shame on me!
I am a CMF alumni,,,,Hi Ritajean how are you??? I just can't seem to keep up with all the threads. I haven't read back but I will start from here. Hope all those doing CMF are doing ok.
hugs and prayers,
Candie
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Wow, I can't beleive how long it has been since I have posted on this CMF thread...shame on me!
I am a CMF alumni,,,,Hi Ritajean how are you??? I just can't seem to keep up with all the threads. I haven't read back but I will start from here. Hope all those doing CMF are doing ok.
hugs and prayers,
Candie
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Finished my first treatment 4 hours ago and so far I feel nothing. Please send postive thoughts my way that I will stay fine.
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Wow, I can't beleive how long it has been since I have posted on this CMF thread...shame on me!
I am a CMF alumni,,,,Hi Ritajean how are you??? I just can't seem to keep up with all the threads. I haven't read back but I will start from here. Hope all those doing CMF are doing ok.
hugs and prayers,
Candie
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Merilee: I am so happy to hear that you did well on your first treatment. I'm supposed to start CMF on monday so I'll be following your lead closely. Of course, still haven't decided if CMF is the right chemo for me--another oncologist suggests TC/CT combo but my oncologist felt that it is too toxic for stage I. I am leaning in the CMF direction but not sure what to expect--so please keep updating us. Be well.
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Merilee: Sending positive thoughts your way that you have minimal SEs. How many treatments are you scheduled to have?
AL1841: Good luck on Monday.
Cabmon is also currently doing CMF, she has four done and two to go. And I have two CMF done and two to go. So we're all at different stages and hopefully can help one another along.
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It is almost 7 hours out of my first treatment and still feel fine. I have had Zofran & compazine and so far can't feel those either.
I got the ok to continue taking Iron to protect my blood, Milk thistle to protect my liver, omega3 to protect my heart and a natural colon cleanser to protect against constipation that is common.
I am also drinking a warm cocktail of 1 part cranberry juice, (100% juice) and water. I've been told I can sip it constantly to help keep the Chemo from setting in my bladder
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Hi Deb
Your Description of your treatment and how you travelled through it has been very helpful & so encouraging for me to read. I started AC on 24/11/09, & had my 3# AC TX 2 days ago , with 1 to go. before I start CMF for 3 months. I'm feeling like I'm getting familiar with AC & its SE's but quite concerned about CMF.
On AC, I've so far been able to taste foods, some days having a strange taste in a dry mouth which has been quite manageable. Does CMF change the taste in your mouth more than other tX's.I've noticed a few complaints about constipation - Is this related to CMF or the anti- nausea drugs. regards Vicki
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