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Anyone starting Chemo in Feb?
Comments
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Oh Karen, believe me I am not a superwoman, just not very wise at times. I was exhausted Sat. after working Thurs. and Fri. Don't think I will do anymore back to back days. So true about crying, it is great therapy. Take care, Sammie Kay
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Carynn - Good luck to you and all the Thurs. cruisers.
I had treatment #4 of weekly Taxol. I complained of feeling decadron(steroid) was causing weight gain. So he gave me a half dose. They say I may be eating too much, but I swear I am eating the same amt. Oh well, it didn't seem to cause any bad effects having 1/2 the dose. I get a funny plastic taste in my mouth when they start the Taxol. Otherwise, just a little more energy after treatment. I take advantage of it. Went to mall with dgf and bought some cute lounging outfits. Everything was on sale and then the 50 plus club extra 20% more off of the price. Actually my head was cold(went bald and beautiful) and went in to get a cap and came out with 2 cute lounging outfits, silver and gold large hoop earrings(must have without hair) and 3 shirts to wear with jeans and slacks and a lot of laughs shopping with best friend. She took me to chemo and the place was a zoo, real crowded, so she left and went shopping while I had my trip to the bar. She said my chemo was costing her a lot of money as she spent 2 hours shopping at Pier I. LOL
Jan- What nice pictures. I love the red wig. You look really beautiful.
Kim-Good luck and God bless with the 2y/o birthday party this weekend. I don't know how you guys with little ones do it. I hope you have a lot of help. I was asked to keep the 3 and 6 y/o grandchildren next week and wondering how they will do with the slower, tired version of their Gammie. I am their playmate. My dh says if I am feeling bad he will take them to the park or the movies.
Cahterine - You are priceless. I loved you imagery. I laughed and laughed. Thank you for the grins. I know how you feel. That is what makes this message board so great, knowing someone else is feeling your pain. Thanks for the lift. Sammie Kay {{{{{{{Catherine}}}}}}}}0 -
Hi All,
It's been awhile since writing. I am doing well. 2 f 4 A/C treatments down, next one is on the 15th. Been feeling pretty good minus the edgyness of the compazine, that's better then being sick though! I shaved my head last fri. It was 15 days from my 1st chemo and it was really starting to fall out so I said screw it and the hubby shaved it. Two longtime friends came in to visit too so one was taking pics and the other video, it wasn't bad at all. I'm rockin some sweet wigs now
I am hoping to run a 5k this Sat so wish me luck. I haven't been running so we'll see.
Staying positive! Good luck to all having treatment this week.
XO
Steph0 -
Steph, wishing you as good and restful a break as possible in between the trips to the bar... and bravo for the running... I can walk for ever, but has never been able to run... I bet you look terrific even without your beautiful hair... Take care,
CatherineH0 -
SammieKay, tell me more about the boat on your pic... is it the gulf? We have such fond memories of sailing in the Clear Lake area, near Galveston... Your pic brings back great sensations...
Have all a good night,
CatherineH0 -
Marsha-What adorable pictures. You are setting the bar high for the rest of us. LOL...Keep the pics coming, enjoy them. Maybe my computer literate dh will help me take some pics soon. Know what you mean about cold head. I bet that will be nice in the long hot summers here.
Linnie - Know what you mean about "a pill for everything". That's the darn truth, but good thing. LOL
4Sybil - What a keen sense of humor. Bet you and Catherine could write a screen play for a "dark comedy". Thanks for the giggles.
Hillary - Hope and pray your nausea is better. Does the zofran help? When I am in the shower rubbing my hair off, I was remembering that song from South Pacific "gonna wash that man right out of my hair", only changed it to "wash that cancer right out of my body and send it on its way."
Leah- Amen about the delayed exhaustion. I worked last Thurs and Fri and slept all day Sat. Take care and maybe you and I will learn to pace ourselves..LOL.
All you Feb chemo cruisers...Hugs and happy thoughts. the best to everyone stepping up to the bar this week. I will take a sleeping pill(wired from chemo today) and try to go bed and stay there. Love you all, Sammie Kay0 -
Catherine - Another fellow night owl LOL. That picture was taken in the Bahamas about 3 years ago. We took an after Christmas vacation to a small isolated island called Green Turtle Cay. There were very few cars on the island. Everyone got around on golf carts. Sailing is so peaceful to me. I can't help "Capt. Mike" much these days, but I really enjoy sailing along in the bright sunshine and cool temperatures.
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Sammie Kay, OMG I have been to Green Turtle Cay twice!!! We spent a long weekend first then the next year rented a house for the week. Our friend had a 4 seater plane, flew over, to the ferry to GTC and had the best week! Did you make it to Miss Emily's Blue B Bar? The shack of a bar has business cards taped up on every surface of the walls. She (actually Miss Emily is dead, her granddaughter now runs it) has that Goombay Smash and won't tell anyone the recipe. We bought a gallon of it and took it back to the house, 2 drinks later, my world is spinning!!! I LOVE Green Turtle. All the little houses painted all the colors of the rainbow. We did a dive trip while we were there, the most beautiful coral and sea life. The guys fished right off our boat dock and we went lobstering. Had so much we were eating it for breakfast. Fresh conch fritters.....yummmy. What a small world most people have never heard or it. Last time we went we tried another non-tourist place called Lubbers Quarters, just off of Hopetown. I love that area. Marsha 0
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Catherine, I remember being in Galveston at some wharf restruant watching the shrimp boats go up and down on the waves just few feet away from the windows! Got kinda seasick watching the boats while eating!
Marcia, love your pics. The first one makes me think of Alfalfa of "spanky and our gang" or that guy on Saturday Night Live! You always bring a smile to my face everyday! I never thought about the cowboy hats, might have to see if it will still fit! Top is actually as thin as the sides on me, guess the camera exagerated the wisps on top. Don't seem to be having any more coming out right now. Wonder if the wisps stay or go since I only did one dose of chemo and going on to rads instead. The wispy hair actually makes my head feel soft. Do have some areas that hurt a little bit at times but not all the time. Wonder what would help with the tenderness.
I went without anything on my head last night and dh had tears in his eyes. I asked "why?" He said its because that shows how really sick you are. I sent him the set of pics to his work computer so he could get used to seeing me in different ways.0 -
Good morning Ladies
Hope you had a good day yesterday.
thanks to Swimmingmom for the suggestion of using a lint roller on your head. It really does work - it doesn't hurt and goe rid of so much loose hair. Earlier Superior Cat was sitting on me, he had decided that I needed a cuddle. After a few minutes he sneezed several time and departed. He couldn't stand constant falling of hair on him. He was most displeased.
Both daughters have now seen the wig and like dh approve.
It is day 14 since chemo1 and I am still amazed at the speed of hair loss since Monday. I thought last night that this year when we hold our History Dinner for the senior students I will be able to go as Queen Elizabeth I as I already have a very high forehead, cause thats where the hair has vanished from. All I will need is a very curly red wig!!
Must get some work done. Have a Yr13(grade 12)and Yr9(grade 8) to teach next so i better find what I need.
Have a great day.
Alyson0 -
Yahoo! I got chemo today. Who would have ever thought that cause for a party!!!!! But it also means I am half way through AC and one fourth of the way through chemo. Right now I am on such a huge decadron high. This did not happen the first time, instead I was exhausted. Doing laundry right now and eating!! They did get the IV in on the first time today too.
Steph let me get this straight-first you're having sex and worried about birth control and now you are running in a 5K? You must be on a different ship than me. You go girl!
Marsha, the pix were very cute. Yes, you have a cute head. I want to go to the Green Turtle, sounds fun.
wildabouthorses-I think that is what bothers me most about the hair. Now I look sick.
Catherine-I love your posts and stories. Keep it up.
Think I will keep going while I have the energy.
Thanks FCC
Karen0 -
Good afternoon Ladies!
Linnie, SammieKay - hope you are feeling well.
Tropicmom, Karen - Thoughts are with you during your trip to the bar.
Terry, Piper, Freethought & me are all scheduled for Happy Hour (Happy 3 hour??) tomorrow.
Jan & Marsha, that island sounds fabulous! Negril for me is paradise on earth, but I'm always up for anywhere tropical.
Steph - I'm right there with you. I'm at day 14 since 1st chemo (next is tomorrow) and I'm not losing clumps, but I have what seems to be hundreds of strands sheding and flying around. Wore a black suit to work today, spent most of the day picking off hairs so I didnt look like I had a cat with me! Havent shaved it yet, but I think the next tx will likely do it in. So probably this weekend, or mid next week.
Marsha, your pix are awesome. I enjoy seeing how different our decisions are with the hair loss. With me, it's all about the hair - an accessory if you will. So, I have wigs of different color lined up. I know when it's 115-120 degrees here I probably wont wear them every day, but have scarves and the big earrings lined up.
Catherine, Steph, Jan & Alyson, I'm jealous of your energy! Today is the first day since tx 1 that I've felt almost completely normal. Other than the infamous headache (which I'm nervous about for tomorrow), I've never felt that bad, just tired.
Have a great night everyone. See you at the bar!0 -
Thinking of you all for tomorrow, the Thursday crew, hoping headaches won't be in the picture this time for you Carynn,
Big hugs, good night all...
CatherineH0 -
Karen, it is about time you bellied up to the bar! That is great, I know you were anxious to get sailing again. I've got some closets that need to be cleaned out if you are still running hard on the steroid high!
Terry, Piper, Freethought and Carynn I will be thinking of you tommorrow!
Carynn, LOL my friend Mary is like you, always accessorized. There is definately no right or wrong way to handle all this hair trauma. (or lack of!) As an actor I have wore MANY wigs in my life so when I tried mine on all I could think of was that I looked like a character on stage. Also Florida is HOT HOT and I drive a convertible and have a mental image of it flying off and landing on someones windshield! LOL
My brother told me I looked like Annie Lennox, the singer.
Alyson, you could have a "name my head" contest with your students and offer extra points for the most original.
Steph and Catherine, so glad to hear your energy level is so good. A 5K? Wow I am impressed. I did a load of laundry today, do I get any points for that? LOL
Jan, thank you, we were trying to think of that kids name on Our Gang and couldn't. I looked JUST LIKE Alfalfa!
Anxious to hear from those who partied at the bar this week. Drop a line and let us know how you are feeling.
Love to all, Marsha 0 -
Marsha- It is a small world. We stayed at Bluff House. It was 6 months after they were hit by a hurricane, but it was still beautiful. The sailboat was owned by Brendal. Did ya'll dive with him or on your own? Brendal's Dive Shop, also takes people on sailing trips. He also plays a mean drum and is in a group called The Gully Roosters. We were there for New Year's. They has an awesome parade down the streets with all the colorful houses. There was Brendal in the parade with a huge headress and playing a huge drum. The celebration was awesome. The whole town turned out. Bright costumes and lots of great music. We actually joined the parade and danced down the streets. Fried grouper and french fries...yummm. I want to go back. It was a wonderful trip. My husband found it on the internet and made all the reservations on his own. Oh yea, the Smash...not sure if it was Goombay or just Brendal's own recipe, but he had gallons of the stuff. I don't drink, but wished I had. Everyone sure seemed to enjoy it. We went to a New Years party at the club by Bluff HOuse. It was a dinner and then the Gully Roosters were there. What fun. Let's go!!!!
Catherine-we sail a bay down by Rockport,Tx or go to a lake near us. We are not experienced enough to go out in the Gulf. I'm a little scared of the Gulf. We have only been sailing one year. Learning a lot though.
Hope everyone is doing well. I was feeling pretty energetic today. It usually hits me about Friday and I am slow for a couple of days. Some say it is the decadron, but I only get 4 mg with the chemo and this week they cut it to 2 mg. I asked them to leave it off and the compromise was to half the dose.
Hugs and warm thoughts to all. Ssammie Kay0 -
The energy level is indeed a surprise to me, too (I am 54), I never feel tired (but, again, tired from what? with the life I have, being home and free to do what I feel like doing, no kiddos to take care of, no commute time, a very small house easy to keep up with...) but my stomach remains on the queazy side... I did not touch the Kytril: do any of you have experience with it? (I try not to load my system with more drugs). I'd like to understand what makes me so burpy and with the feeling of always having an empty stomach... It's day 9 since chemo... was not this way the first time around (I had a cold, instead... oh, well...). Just watched Toys Story and I found it delightful, refreshing and an amazing piece of computer graphics... and I like Randy Newman (he did the music and sings for the movie).
Well, time to go night-night...
Until tomorrow, then...
CatherineH0 -
SammieKay, the first boat we bought when in Houston was from Rockport, TX... funny... it was written on the back (a Cape Dory named Sunburn; my DH is the sailing enthusiast here, but I enjoy it too if not too rough. Life was always too busy to sail very far, and while in Brittany, weather was not good enough most of the time... and talk about nasty rocks out there, not to mention tides that have such a big amplitude, you can't go out at all...) I wish you to enjoy sailing more and more as you get better.
Night-night...
CatherineH0 -
I've been to Port Lavaca and Corpus Christi! Both beautiful places to see the ocean. First time to ever see the ocean was for me in Corpus back in 1976, I loved it there. I grew up round a chain of fresh water lakes in Illinois so the ocean was a big deal to me. Don't like the feel of salt water though and the jelly fish were all over the place and I managed to get stung by one. I got to enjoy the ocean when we moved to jacksonville, fla while hubby was still in the navy. Lots of shark's teeth there to be found!
Hmmm my wispy hairs are still hanging on! Wonder if they stay and grow longer than the bald areas? My mapping under the cat scan went well yesterday, they used tape strips they peeled off later instead of pen markings like alot of the gals are getting for radiation treatments. Said I get the real set up next wed under the actual machine and then next day start my rads. They will be doing both breasts at the same time. I felt so good yesterday I stopped and visited with 3 biker friends 3 different places and then ordered a Subway sandwich which I ate in quarters as I felt hungry for more. First time the flour didn't taste like paste to me. Up early this morning as I'm running to the bathroom from all that food. (I have IBS)0 -
Good morning all...
Jan your new hair is great and you look wonderful!
Marsha - you also look great and should be yourself and do what makes you comfortable.
To all those whose hair is gone, there is a sign in our chemo room that reads "God only made so many perfect heads. The rest he put hair on" Amen!
My hair is very brittle and breaking off. The least little tug and it comes out. So I guess my "change" is coming too. But my wig is ready and since I am a bank Asst Branch Manager, I guess I do need to look presentable.
I am leaving for my reservation at the bar in about 15 minutes. The Decadron has given me a headache, so I looking forward the the Tylenol they will give me.
Last round I went to work on Friday...so am hoping to do that again.
The surgeon drained another 5cc fluid from my port area yesterday, so it should be good to go this morning.
Well...need to visit the little girls room and get ready...
Caryann, Piper, Freethought...holding your hands today,
Love,0 -
Off to the bar in a few hours. Spending the morning hydrating and working from home.
Hair Update -
I posted yesterday that while getting ready for work, I was in a storm of flying hair strands. The pile left after I was done with my hair was huge! Got thru the day picking hair off my suit but still didnt stress much about it. Well, when I got home DH talked me into going to dinner to a Club he belongs to. Went in to refresh the hair and make up. This time my hair not only wouldnt hold the curl from the iron, the storm of hair was staggering. I was pretty upset as I'm in there for an hour and it just looked worse and worse, and of course everything I tried just added to the pile of hair on the counter. Finally in desperation, I grabbed the blond wig, slapped it on and was ready. DH was pretty surprised that I had it on as when I left to get ready, my own hair didnt look that bad. I showed him the shedding german shepard pile of hair and explained that at some point in the next few days I was going to have to make my public debut with the wig and now was as good as time as any.
Well, I got 3 compliments on my new hair cut from casual accquaintences, and one woman at the table with us never mentioned it (couldnt tell if she was trying to figure it out, or if it does look enough like my own hair she didnt notice). One of my best friends came up and grabbed me and whispered I love it! If you wouldnt have described it, I would have never known. My other friend there was in the middle of telling me how much she liked my new cut when she stopped and whispered is that your wig? Again, because I had described it to her previously. So, all in all I think it was a success. I did spend a bit of time stressing that someone would knock it off with the bear hugs my friends tend to give me. I did grab it once in fear when a friends husband went to "tousle" my hair and kiss the top of my head. What a site that would have made!
So, the day is here/near. My hair is so fine that from all of the loss of strands you can see slight bald spots near the part. If I feel good after chemo, we'll probably stop and get clippers today. If we put it off and dont actually shave it today, it looks like the point will be forced tomorrow, or no later than this weekend.
Sigh, so what am I now? Number 39 of the group who's hope of being the "one" who doesnt lose it - dashed!
Hope to talk to you all this afternoon. Piper, Terry, Freethought, thinking of you all this morning.
Hugs!
Carynn0 -
Carynn, i love your story!!! Yippee for you girlfriend. Sounds like you have friends like mine, what a joy. When mine starting falling out I could not believe how many hairs there were on my head. And I would say you have a guardian angel on your shoulder whispering in your ear "You might want to take the wig with you everywhere you go" LOL
Sammie Kay, We did dive with Brendals Dive Shop! If I remember correctly the dive master was actually Brendal. I have the absolute funniest story about him on that dive trip, but it is kinda between PG-13 and an R rating. Let me just say we called him the Big Bamboo and he wanted us to know it. LOL Love, Marsha 0 -
Good Morning Ladies,
Glad to see you are fairing well on the high seas:)
Well, I am back from my meeting with the OBGYN. Surgery set for March 20th at 10am. They are going in to hopefully, please God, take out the ovaries. However, if they find something else they will do complete Hysterectomy.
Worried out of my mind......... Please keep me in your prayers. It would be much appreciated.
I had just gotten a handle on this situation and here the roller coaster is off again. There's not supposed to be roller coasters on cruise ships:) Maybe it is just a storm that will pass.
Keep on sailing....
G.I. Jel.0 -
Prayers of comfort going out for you GI Jel, may your seas be smooth sailing.
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Jel, you are always in our thoughts and prayers. I truly hope that the roller coaster turns out to be just a little bump in the road.
(((((Jel)))))
Carynn0 -
Hi all...I'm back. Waiting for the hair to fall out. Actually I'm about ready to just shave it. It's still all there...BUT I am usually a bottle blonde ans have been forever and the roots are 2 inches long and dark..Yuk. This is worse than the wig!!! At least with the wig I'm Blonde...I got a shoulder length and it feels great to have long hair again.
CatherineH-- Try eating a couple of small pieces of dried mango before you even get out of bed. This has really stopped the queezyness for me. I keep it handy during the day too, especiall if i snooze
Just wanted you all to know I come to this sight every morning because you are all so positive. It makes me start my day right. Fortunately until now I have never had any major problems or surgery so this has been a shock. I feel much more confident with you all here.
Patti0 -
GI Jel, we will for sure be with you on the 20th. You hang in there girlfriend, maybe we passed thru the Bermuda Triangle and will come out the other side for you with smooth sailing.
Patti, good to hear from you. Dried mango sounds good to me and if it helps the first of the morning queasies I'll give it a try. My stomach is so empty then I too feel a little icky. Maybe you should just shave down to the black roots, wear that for a while and move to the wig when need be.
Hope everyone is having a great day. Hugs, Marsha0 -
Good morning Patti! Nice to hear from you. You are right, it's nice to start the day off with the ladies. Everyone always has a funny story or thought to share.
Dont be a stranger!0 -
Since I was the first, and started all this, I thought I would share a funny sequel to the Hair Story:
I had the 3rd treatment on Thursday afternoon,and when we got home, I took off my wig. Proceeded to wear either a fleece beanie or "went bare" all through the weekend. My fuzz is white (i am a bottle brown) and my wig is my bottle brown color. When I put it on on Monday morning, I was shocked at how 1) dark it looked and 2) how funny it looked after the fuzz look for the last 4 days! I am telling you- you can used to anything! I don't have a cute head, but I did get used to looking at myself that way in short order!
That sequel was a surprise to me- me, who wasn't even going to let my DH see my head!
Happy belated birthday, Marsha. I think you look adorable.
And I love Catherine's literary descriptions of her head- all of the images she portrayed occurred to me to as I looked at the baldness.
Another procrit today. You all know how I love those shots. But the port worked for blood draw- so the secret is not to NOT USE IT in between- you have to keep it clear of myelin sheaths which "healthier younger" bodies seem to grow around the tip of it!
Happy day to you all. Sharing the worry with all of you about our collective experiences. Love.0 -
Hi all,
Will be thinking and praying for you Jel on the 20th. Hope all my fellow cruisers are doing well this week. Carynn, I hope they slow that drip down for you so you can get rid of that darn headache.
Jan and Marsha, love your pics. It's funny how we all lose it differently. My top went first (so I'm sporting that bozo look) but I still have sides and it's patchy and thin in the back. I try not to look too much. I've been sticking with hats with bangs in the house since it's the most comfortable, my wig when I go out, and a comfy sleep cap at night to keep my ears warm. It hasn't bothered me as much as I thought it would. Maybe because it has been a gradual process. I'm 31 days out from my first A/C so I kept in longer than I expected.
For me, the side effects have been similar on this 3rd round except I do feel a little more fatigued than the last two times. Felt great the day after but today queasy. Definitely manageable, though.
Catherine, I wasn't given Kytril (compazine and ativan instead) but I'm with you on the burpy issue. I talked to them about it on Tuesday and they gave me, YET another drug, because I said the pepcid ac wasn't helping. I absolutely hate taking all these drugs and admire you for holding out as much as you can. I've never had heartburn before. I'm sorry you're having a hard time with your hair but glad you're energy level is so high. That's what's important!
Love to you all,
Linnie0 -
I am home from my trip to the bar. Everything went ok. Just hoping I don't get the headache this time. My wbc were down even with the shots. Oncologist said if they are down more next time he will have to delay the treatment 1 week. Keeping my fingers crossed. the hair is really starting to go now. There is hair everywhere. My husband and I were driving down the road and he complains something is tickling his arm. Guess what it was? my hair. I guess the time is coming near to when I will have to shave it. Probably this weekend.
LuLu0
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