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Comments

  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited June 2015

    Sue, you are on the downhill slide now!

    Thinking about you gals who are having chemo today and hope that all is going well. Hugs!


  • SueH58
    SueH58 Member Posts: 106
    edited June 2015

    Thanks, Rita! And congrats on your great test results!

  • amyfsw
    amyfsw Member Posts: 51
    edited June 2015

    All went fine yesterday except that my oncologist kept me waiting in the exam room for almost 2 hours (and she only spent 10 mins with me) and absolutely no apology (she's been late before and also no apologies!)

    When she asked how I was feeling after last round and i described chest pain which was probably gas or reflux, she just said "if you get this again go straignt to ER for heart attach evaluation) - I think this was a bit of overkill. I know that if I go to ER with chest pain they will admit me for minimally 24-36 hours and hook me up to every monitor in the world (my husband went through this a few years ago). The last thing i need while suffering from chemo is this - I'm sure it was not my heart - symptoms went away with 24 hours and lots of maalox.

    ugh!

    just called hospital patient representative's office to see if i can get a different MO - I really don't like mine.

    we'll see...

    feeling ok today - but exhausted - peed about 10 times last night.

    gotta keep drinking

    hope all are doing ok

    A

  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited June 2015

    Gee Amy, I hope you can get a different MO. It is so important to have a good report with them. Glad that things went well for you!

  • socallisa
    socallisa Member Posts: 10,184
    edited June 2015

    hi Amy. I took my first driver's test in White Plains in the middle of a snow storm with no power steering or brakes or turn signals (we had to use our arms and of course no auto shifting,. 1959

  • vanmama
    vanmama Member Posts: 74
    edited June 2015

    Day 4 of Round 4--hasn't been a good day! Tongue is hurting pretty bad, but I can deal with that. Went to lunch with family, not too far from home, barely made it home before the Big D hit! Then, for pete's sake, went to brush my teeth and ended up puking my guts out! That's a first! Napped all afternoon, which doesn't happen often, and now here I sit, thinking no work for me tomorrow!

    I know it could be so much worse, but this is probably the worst I've had it.

    Just needed to whine to somebody who gets it!

    Laura

  • amyfsw
    amyfsw Member Posts: 51
    edited June 2015

    thanks all. Wish we had a "like" button like facebook.

    Feeling ok roday. No bad pains yesterday. So, so far Round 3 is better than #2. Praying it will continue.

    Lisa, wp has changed so much, even since I've been here for 13 years.

    My 20th wedding anniversary is this thursday. The day my son graduates from middle school. So much to look forward to this week!


  • SueH58
    SueH58 Member Posts: 106
    edited June 2015

    Laura

    So sorry you had such a tough round! Two more?

    I have my 4th a week from Wednesday. Really ready to start counting down the last 3.



  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited June 2015

    Have a good week, Amy.

    So sorry that you had a bad few days, Laura. Did you take your anti-nausea meds as soon as you finished your treatment?

    Sue, you are getting there. It won't be long now!

  • vanmama
    vanmama Member Posts: 74
    edited June 2015

    Of course, I didn't take my nausea meds. I never ever think to!

    I had a pretty rough start after I went to bed but eventually it all evened out and I slept fairly well. Woke up this morning to body aches and pains, tongue still very sore, but the rest has backed off.

    I didn't go to work today which is a first. I've always managed to at least get up and go, even if I came home in a few hours.

    Today's a much better day!

    Laura

  • SueH58
    SueH58 Member Posts: 106
    edited June 2015

    I had my 3rd treatment 2 weeks ago. I used to be fatigued for a day or two, and then was good to go. I've noticed after this round that I'm tired more often. Today, exhausted, for no apparent reason. Could it be the chemo is catching up with me and I'll just be more fatigued for the next few months?

  • Tobycc
    Tobycc Member Posts: 578
    edited June 2015


    I think everyone is different, but yes I did seem to get more tired as time went on

    Hang in there!

    Kath

  • SueH58
    SueH58 Member Posts: 106
    edited June 2015

    Do you think perhaps I need some fluids?


  • socallisa
    socallisa Member Posts: 10,184
    edited June 2015

    Sue, chemo fatigue is cumulative, but I bet you need to drink your mega glasses of water.

  • amyfsw
    amyfsw Member Posts: 51
    edited June 2015

    keep waking up at 5 am. So tired all the time but not sleeping enough. Good news, I successfully got my MO changed. Meet her in 2 weeks. Feeling surprisingly ok. Just want to sleep more.


  • Tobycc
    Tobycc Member Posts: 578
    edited June 2015

    Ready to get a hotel room and sleep for days!!!!

    xoxo

    Kath

  • SueH58
    SueH58 Member Posts: 106
    edited June 2015

    Laura, how's the hair holding out? Have you lost much?

    Not TOO much here, but I do think I'm combing out more than normal in the last few weeks.

  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited June 2015

    Hey Kath...Go for it!!!

    Happy

    Sue, Lisa is right about the cumuative feature of chemo. When you got your second infusion, you still had some chemicals in your body from the first and the same thing happened when you had your third infusion. Water helps to wash the chemical through your body. I got more fatigued as I progressed through the treatments but found that I fought the fatigue better with a little exercise. I walked alot during those days and that seemed to give me more energy to get through the rest of the day.

    Amy..so glad that you have a new MO. Hopefully this one will be more compassionate and dynamic and that you will have better rapport. That is so important. Glad also to hear that you are doing pretty good!

    Sue..as for the hair, I think we've all had a little anxiety when we notice that there is a bit more than usual on our hairbrushes. That seems to be normal, and usually you don't have to worry about losing it all.

    Laura...Hope you are feeling better now! Hang in there!

  • SueH58
    SueH58 Member Posts: 106
    edited June 2015

    Thanks Rita!

  • vanmama
    vanmama Member Posts: 74
    edited July 2015

    My hair has thinned a lot. I still have a decent amount, though...

    I have been feeling good, then bad, then good...I wasn't able to work yesterday and today my afternoon was exhausting, so I called and left a message for my MO to see if he would put me on half days tomorrow and Thursday. Our office is closed Friday and Monday. I just have no energy left by 4:30!

    My kids are coming home this week for the 4th. Oldest lives in Austin with his wife, middle is in Peoria with her family, and youngest lives in South Carolina with her family. It will be a whirlwind of activity with me sitting in the middle.

    Laura

  • SueH58
    SueH58 Member Posts: 106
    edited July 2015

    Laura, when did you lose most of your hair (between which treatments)? What percent do you think you lost?

    I'm following a couple of weeks behind you -- treatment #4 tomorrow.

  • ml143333
    ml143333 Member Posts: 190
    edited July 2015

    Vanmama - I am sorry you are feeling so very tired, but it does get better once chemo stops.  The effects are cumulative so you will get more tired with each one, but after that last one - you will gain your strength back and you won't be as exhausted.  Take your time and don't rush the process.

    Sue - I never lost all of my hair, but I'm not sure how because there was always hair in my shower drain!  I love most of mine between three and four, but everyone is different.  To everyone else, they asked why I wasn't bald so I guess it didn't look like I had lost any.  The texture of my hair changed as well.  It became much softer.

    Good luck ladies!  I will be thinking of you.

  • SueH58
    SueH58 Member Posts: 106
    edited July 2015

    Mandy, thanks. Interesting--mine has become much drier!

    Off to #4!

  • ml143333
    ml143333 Member Posts: 190
    edited July 2015

    I will be thinking of you today, Sue!

    My hair stylist said that there are really good products called Nioxin that can be used during chemo.  Talk with yours about which one might be good for you.

  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited July 2015

    I used the Nioxin products all the way through chemo and even for a month after it was all over. They are a little cashy but so worth it!

    Laura, have fun with your kids! Mine are here from Tennessee and I'm loving it!

  • socallisa
    socallisa Member Posts: 10,184
    edited July 2015

    just one word of caution. My oncologist encouraged me to exercise, during chemo and specifically liked swimming. The problem is that public pools are not the best. I did that. The chlorine doesn't kill all the harmful stuff that people with normal immune systems just deal with. With chemo we have weakened immunity and yes I caught one. So. Just think about it.

  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited July 2015

    Good reminder, Lisa! I walked and walked and walked and I always felt better on the days that I forced myself to get out there and go!

    Everyone have a great 4th of July/

    Rita

  • socallisa
    socallisa Member Posts: 10,184
    edited July 2015

    image

  • SueH58
    SueH58 Member Posts: 106
    edited July 2015

    the hair is thinning, ladies. Make it stop...

  • mandy1313
    mandy1313 Member Posts: 978
    edited July 2015

    Do not panic Sue! My hair thinned alot after tx 4--in fact I had tingling and even my onc was not sure if I would lose it. But one of the gals on this thread told me to calm down and that it would stop. And she was right! So even though my hair was a little thinner, I don't think anyone but me noticed. I never needed a wig or a scarf. So hang in there, treat your hair gently--use Nioxin or other gentle products, don't wash every day, don't brush too vigorously-- and you should be ok. Lots of hugs. Mandy 1313

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