CMF Question
Comments
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Patty - Ditto with Designer Mom on not tolerating nausea. Have had no nausea and a great appetite since beginning tx. Since I've had no nausea, I can understand how Designer ate the Mexican! I take Emend (expensive) for 3 days after tx and it really does the trick. Check it out.
Designer Mom - We have lots of chipmunks in our yard. Cute little things, but they can do damage. Their holes are all over. Hope your calf pain goes away soon.
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Hi, I have a question. The day before my first chemo I had a bone scan, while in the office the Dr. Asked the nurse if the results were in mot thinking it was the day before. My
? Is if there was something wrong on the bone scan would she call me or wait to tell me in person? Going Tuesday for second treatment and now getting nervous. Have a good day. Patty0 -
Patty - I think different docs do it differently. I remember my bone scan and some other tests last year and I got a copy of the reports which all looked Greek to me, I think when my doc was on vacation and I had a number of days to wait before really knowing that there was nothing that showed up that was significant...it was awful waiting. Good luck on Tues.
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Patty, I'm with Beanius on this one. I think all the oncs are different in the way they handle test results. For most, no news is probably good news! Try to calm your nerves down. Your second treatment will go better if you're not so nervous. I know that's easy to say and not so easy to do. Hugs to you! Waiting is so hard. I'll be thinking about you on Tuesday. Be sure to let us know how #2 goes.
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Thanks Ritajean and Beanius, Does everyone on chemo have a problem with sleeping? I haven't been able to sleep a full night since I started chemo. I thought the steriods get flushed out quickly? Funny but I used to be able to take a nap in the afternoon, now forget it. Well, doing laundry on a rainy day. Have a good one. Patty
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I had problems sleeping, especially for the first half of the treatments. I think part of it was the steroids and part was just an over-active mind that I couldn't shut down at night. I still have a few of those nights. It got better as the treatments went on. I was offered "sleep aids" but declined them. I know several gals who did do sleeping pills of some type during their journey. I think its' an individual decision and probably depends upon how much the sleeplessness is affecting your body.
Be sure to ask for some ice chips to suck on tomorrow while doing your treatment. They will help ward off the mouth sores that can be a side effect of CMF.
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Patty - I have had no problems with sleeping, but take OTC Simply Sleep 50 mg. (it's just an antihystamine) which seems to help. Have had no mouth sores during the tx at least not yet. Most of my complaints deal with stomach and abdominal pain and gaseousness! Think I will start taking Beano! Will be thinking about you tomorrow and afterward. Let us know how you are doing.
Too Many - Where are you?
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Patty - My tx was two weeks on and two weeks off. During the two weeks on I took an ativan at bedtime and slept fine. This was prescribed and worked for me.
Golfergrandma - does the antihistamine make you drowsy the next day? I've heard that's a good was to get some sleep too but wonder about how you feel the next day. Ativan doesn't seem to last, so there is no "hangover" from it, but I think it can become habit forming, which I don't like.
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I feel fine the next day after taking Simply Sleep. Actually, I take the Kroger version of simply sleep which is called Sleep Aid gelcaps.0
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patty- I never had sleep problems, but found I couldn't turn my brain off and it would take forever to fall asleep. In my research on supplements that help prevent recurrence, I found there is lots of thought that Melatonin is beneficial. I take 3 mg at bedtime and immediatley fall asleep and sleep so soundly that I actually wake up earlier, fully rested. I am actually giving it to DH now and it keeps him from wandering around at night! There is a thread here on BCO that is called "D3 and Melatonin work synergistically". There is new evidence that D3 and Melatonin work together to kill cancer cells. I say, have at it!
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I have melatonin and take 4000 mg of D3/day. Will have to try melatonin. My sister takes it with much success. Thanks. Will try to find the link.
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Patty, good luck on your treatment Tuesday...will be sending positive thoughts your way
!So how much melatonin are you suppose to take?
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So happy to report that my mammo and 6 month surgeon visit went well today
! Now 2 more appointments tomorrow....praying that those will go well too!!0 -
I just want to add encouragement...I just had a clear mammo ten years after my CMF and I am good to go...When I had it we didn't use steroids so I have no idea why they do??
I still take melatonin and VitD3 too..hugs
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cabmon YAY!!!! I'm so happy for your 6 mo mammo being clear - yippee!!! And I'm holding your hand tomorrow, definitely praying those go well for you!! I have my apts on Wed and have been sweating bullets.
SoCalLisa - You are such an inspiration, thanks for your encouragement!!
Love and hugs to you all my CMF friends! ~Beanie
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Beanius- Praying that your appointment goes well. I'm stocking up on peanuts and beer as I have eight huge picture windows that need cleaning! Just a few weeks till we are back in the country!
cabmom- Excellent news!
SoCal- You don't know how comforting it is to hear your excellent, long term, healthy success!
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I take D3 but not melatonin. How much of each are you gals taking?
Great news for both cabmom and SoCal! WHOO HOO!!!
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Cabmom and SoCal -- Congrats on your anniversaries free of BC. Yay!
Patty - Thinking of you today. Keep the faith!
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Hi, Well im on my way back home. blood count was borderline. going back on thursday, will have to have the shot 24 hrs after. hoping it will get approved by y ins. co. does anyone know co pay costs? Im bumned i wanted yo get another one down. take care patty
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CabMom, SoCalLisa, Beanius and anyone I am missing: Congratulations on your anniversaries. WAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Patty - Have had two neulasta shots so far and my insurance covers it, but I'm on Medicare and also have a medigap policy. Every co-pay and insurance coverage are different. Some of our younger members will be of more help.
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rita, I take 3 mg of melatonin, but am trying to work myself up a bit..I started at 1mg oh, and 4000 units of D3. But with Vitamin D, the blood needs to be tested to see where you are before you take the Vitamin D
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Golfergrandma- I'm on medicare also, due to pror back,neckand shoulder oh hip surgery... anyway my husband is retired so i have drug coverage with his company.it has to be approved by the ins. Ompany . I beleive the co-pay is $150.00 per dose whew. The drsaid i was borderline with the wbc so we will try again on thursday. Im sure medicare wont pay anyghing because it is a rx. Im wondering ifyou go back to thedrs officr nextday would it be covered? Also ghe dr. Said due to me needing the sjot i shojld do it every two weeksand be done with it. Thanks for caring. Patty
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ritajean- I take 3 mg. of Melatonin about an hour before bedtime. I started with 1 mg. Initially it made me feel a bit woozy at bedtime, but then my body seemed to adjust. I fall asleep instantly, never wake up, and wake up totally fresh. I am on prescription strength vitamin D again to try to get my pathetic levels up. They were only 26 when tested, better than 14 six months ago, but I want to get them much higher to be protective. There is some talk that you should look for vegetarian melatonin. It seems most is made from the pineal gland of beef (I believe). I don't know about all you, but I don't think the beef industry is regulated well (Mad Cow Disease etc...). If there is a vegetarian alternative, I would rather have that.
Patty- Sorry for your delay. Hoping your shot is covered by insurance. Your Onc's office should be able to get that aproved. I think some of the ladies said one version was covered and one wasn't? Neupogen versus Neulasta? Also, ask the ladies about Claritin with the shot. It seems to take care of side effects like bone pain? I never took them so don't know. Best of luck!
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DesignerMom and SoCalLisa...thanks for the info on the melatonin. My vitamin D level was 26 two months ago when it was tested. My onc thought that was normal so I didn't think anything more about it. I take vitamin D each day but maybe I should be taking more of it, too. I am certainly going to check into the melatonin.
Patty, I hope the shot is covered by insurance for you. I just had an HMO and mine was completely covered but that's been nearly four years ago now. I had the Neulasta shots. Although I know you're bummed about not getting another treatment out of the way, it is better to take the treatments when your counts are up. Hang in there. As for the bone pain, I escaped that too with the Neulasta so I guess I was lucky. I do know several gals who took Claritin before getting the shot and for a day after getting the shot and they swore that it kept the bone/joint pain away.
Well I have some more plants to get into pots. Our yard is in a wooded area so I don't have a big selection of plants to choose from. Last week I planted ajugas around the sidewalk. They grow well out here. My iris are beautiful right now. I wish I had Lisa's talent with a camera!
Off to get something done before golf later this afternoon.
Hugs to all of you.
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Hi, Ladies... My specialty ins co said it is covered, but the co-pay is high. I sm looking into some sort of assistance for the co-pay. Has anyone ever been down that route? I get assistance from Nord for my sons rx $13,000 a month. The co-pay on that is 300.00 or more depending on the dossge. I feel it doesn't hurt to try. If i have to pay full price it will only be for seven treatments hopefully. ThaNks again , sll of you ladies are very nice. i feel more comfortable here than going to. Support group. Patty
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Congrats SoCalLisa on your anniversary....so HAPPY to hear your news too
! Patty, sorry your counts were down. We all understand the feeling of wanting to get another one DONE but it's so important for you to be at your best when the treatment is done. Will be sending up prayers for you on Thursday.
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Mandy, thanks for the GREAT advise on waiting on the hysterectomy....my onc totally agreed with you and I am so thankful that I'm not having to go through something new. Thanks again
!One more appointment to go........
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Patty - My neulasta shot was covered without a co-pay, and my anti-nausea drug (Emend) was covered by Medicare Part D. Am afraid these shots will put me in the Donut Hole though. The cancer center said I could get assistance with paying for the Emend so maybe you can get help for the neulasta shots. Do take Claritin for the bone pain the day of and after for a few days. I take it for allergies anyway. I needed to delay one of my tx for a week because of low WC and then had neulasta after the next tx. It works!
Designer Mom - Am I supposed to look for vegetarian melatonin? I think what I have is synthetic. Is that not as effective? Also, have never had my D levels taken. Guess I should do that. Can that test be part of blood work at the cancer center? Hope so.
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ritajean- I think the doctors are very slow to understand the vitamin D deficiency link to BC and other disease. Even my very medical Onc agrees that D3 levels need to at least get into the normal lab range. I am going by memory, but I think my lab normal range is 35-50. A lot of doctors want BC patients to be at least 50. Some ladies try to get their levels as high as 90 (I believe). There is a lot of good info on vitamindcouncil.org. I definitely feel mine are too low at 26....don't know how high I will go, but since it is a slow crawl, I am working on it.
golfer- I can't speak to the issue of natural versus synthetic melatonin. Maybe someone else knows. I just know I would rather have plant-based vitamins rather than from a gland of a cow (where I am unsure how that cow has been raised etc...).
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