Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
Comments
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I was at a teaching hospital. I saw my onc at every chemo except for one when she was at the San Antonio Conference. Even now I see the NP first but my onc still comes in to see me even if it's only for 5-10 minutes.
My sleeping patterns were a mess starting with the BMX then chemo etc. It took a while to get back to normal but it does come back.
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Morning all. I need........something.......advice, maybe. I had my 1st tx on Thurs. All went well. Fri. all was well. Sat. I was starting to feel some fatigue and achiness, and yesterday was just awful. I was in the recliner, until I finally got back into bed at about 3:30 p.m. and stayed there. I started to run a little fever, but got a call in to the onc nurse. Nothing Tylenol couldn't take care of, but the achiness.....OMG. I wasn't prepared to be so tired so quickly. I have had no N & V, but got a little "stopped" up. MoM helped that. I have just never been so tired. I slept off and on, but not through the night. I was under the impression that the fatigue would come later. I'll be glad to have it out of the way, but is this early on usual? I wonder if this is the way I'll be after each treatment. I really have a few errands I need to do today, but don't feel comfortable driving. I am supposed to call the office this morning to tell them about the fever to see if I need an anti-biotic. No fever this morning, though. Thoughts anyone?
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rickysgirl,
My first tx was just as you said. I think it's the body way of saying "what the hell just happened to me?" I found the txs that followed were easier than the first one. By the time I had #6 I was rejoicing the hard stuff was over. Hang in there....
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Thank you. I was prepared for hard, but this is such a shock. I'm one of those who has never been sick, other than colds and the like, so this is whipping me. It's nice to know they may get easier. Makes sense, what you said. I'm sure my system is having a fit !!!! I feel it allllllllllll over.
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rickysgirl, my first tx knocked me on my butt. I was pretty wiped out, SOOOOO tired. Barely got off the couch for about 2 days. I remained tired all the way through chemo, but nothing like that first treatment. Hope it improves for you soon!
Keep an eye on that fever, you will be approaching your first nadir soon (point of lowest white cell count). That was around days 6 to 9 for me.
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rickysgirl - My first was very hard too. Each one was a little different for me. My onc nutritionist encouraged me to eat protein - lots - hang in there!0
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Rickysgirl - for the first treatment, it is really too soon to be neutropenic (low WBC), it must be a reaction to the taxotere. My first two txs were fine, my body had a major fit after the third. I felt like I had been hit by a steamroller and for good measure (to make sure he got me) he backed up over me one more time. Be gentle with yourself and get plenty of rest, drink plenty of liquids and this will pass.
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I'm feeling like the steamroller hit me NOW. I have a scrip fr Leviquin coming later. I guess for the fever. I'm wondering if I feel this bad now, will it be worse when my cell counts drop? This is day 3 of feeling so bad. I cannot sleep because I hurt all over. I guess that's the taxotere, right? Oh my goodness.
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(((gentle hug rickysgirl)))0
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Thank you, so. I needed that !!!!
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Rickysgirl, the not sleeping could still be the steroids. The driver of the steamroller is BC, so cut yourself some slack! Chemo is NOT for wimps. Much love.
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Hugs Rickysgirl!
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As I said before meds are your friend for now - I took Vicodin for pain, Ambien to sleep and a host of other stuff for all the SE's I encountered. And when tx was over, I stopped using all of them. Did your onc give you anything stronger for pain? No reason to live with pain on top of everything else, talk to your onc and see what can be arranged. For some people the SE's lessen with each successive tx, for some it gets worse. You'll just have to see how it is for you, it is different for all of us. But its good to be prepared for the worst......
Big hugs!
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rickysgirl ~ Sorry you are feeling badly. I found the 3rd or 4th day after chemo was the worst for me. I gradually felt better after that and the 3rd week was definitely the best. Like others have said, medications can be your friend. I found I had to take anti-nausea drugs pretty consistently for the first week. Don't be afraid to ask for another drug if the one you have isn't working. Hydration is your friend as well although I know that making yourself drink water is not much fun and I hated it when my DH practically forced water down my throat
. I found ginger ale or Squirt worked for me as my taste buds had that "metallic" thing going on. The main thing is to listen to what your body is telling you. Rest if you need to and try to eat something...I pretty much gave in to any craving I had during the bad days and figured eating anything was better than having an empty stomach, especially with the meds we have to take sometimes. As for the C...I had the D and cramping. Neither is fun, for sure, but it sounds like you know how to remedy that problem. And by the way, when my counts were low I truly didn't feel any worse, even though 2 or 3 or my chemos had to be postponed because of it. So, just be sure you are careful during your nadir times and wash, wash, wash your hands! I hope you feel better soon, but truly can relate since I felt like h*** for 7 to 9 days! But, I have to say there were days in each cyle that I felt pretty good and did normal stuff...like work and shop. Let's hope you rebound really fast and remember not everyone has every side effect! Hugs to you and everyone doing TCH...you will make it through! 0 -
Day 4 for me - spent most of it in bed. I'm doing okay as far as the aches go but the nausaea has hit me hard. I haven't thrown up but I haven't hardly been able to eat anything today either. (Tried some ginger ale and it tasted so bad to me that I couldn't finish it.) I drink water when I can but I spent a lot of time just half-sleeping with the fan blowing on me (still pretty warm today). I am pretty definitely not going to work tomorrow
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Jinkala, citrus like lemon or lime would sometimes work. A sqeeze in the water, and the water had to he coooolllldddd! Also,.fizzy water like perier or lacroix, would go down. Good luck,.I found it hardest to drink enough around day 5 - 10. Thats when I found it hard to eat, but drinking kept me out of the hospital. Also a very dry cheese like Dublin white cheddar, or an extra mild one like mozzerlla would actually sit well. Very strange,.but it worked for me.
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For some reason after chemo one I was all over McD's fish sandwich. Just that one round. Didn't eat them before nor since. Try stuff, sometimes weird things actually work.
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Omaz ~ I had a McD's fish craving, too! Luckily it was during Lent and they were on special. LOL! Seriously, even my MO said that when I had a weird craving to just go with it. Sour stuff did seem to work great. I got on a lemon drop kick, too. It seemed like they helped a lot with the taste in my mouth and the nausea. Sweet stuff was disgusting to me during chemo, sure wish I could have kept a little of that problem for now.
Jinkala ~ Hope you feel better soon. I know what you mean about the heat we are having in Southern CA...it's definitely sticky and hot. Hope you can relax and stay as cool as possible. Like Omaz said, try something weird to eat. Seriously, I did the same thing and it really worked. I was usually a toast and tea person when I felt nauseous. During chemo both of those things were not for me so I had my poor DH going crazy buying stuff. For some reason Fritos worked for me. WTH...I never usually would even dream of eating them, but somehow they actually tasted almost decent. Definitely keep hydrated. Sounds like you are doing your best to cope. Positive thoughts are coming to you from Escondido!
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Hi all. I too see my onc two days before my treatment to discuss anything and if I have issues I can email or text or call. I feel blessed to have her on my side. I keep a diary after each treatment to see what worked for me for what side effects. Crazy sleep patterns-I just sleep when I can. Stopped taking nausea meds as they make me too loopy to cope. Lots and lots of water. After about 5-6 days the "light switch" comes back on and I am able to go back to work.
Relda - did you have mixed feelings about stopping at 4 treatments? I have dr appt tomorrow and will be discussing exactly that as u have had so many se's that I've had to postpone #5.0 -
Rickysgirl and jinkala- hugs to you both! Hope you feel better soon!
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Morning everyone. Thanks for all the tips. I have one more bugging question. I feel like I am "on the verge" of getting a headache most of the time, so far. I never do, but am close. Feel kind of dizzy, shaky and not real clear headed. I am careful about the way I walk and hold on to things. Normal? It also seems like my sugical sites (mastectomy & port) hurt more. They had eased up, but now ache. Oops, that's two questions.
Thank for being here everyone. I really do appreciate you all. Seems right now you guys are all I have, and I am grateful.
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rickysgirl,
Sounds like the 'roids crash......
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Yep, agree with sewingnut. Take whatever they recommend for the headache. Even a baby aspirin helped me, and I take one everyday.
One other thing. Let us know if any of our suggestions work for you. We like the info feedback! LOL. That way, maybe other people will try it if they are shy and not posting, just lurking. Much love.0 -
linny - That's too funny!!0
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hey all,
i finished my 6 rounds of TCH july 17th. I had bilateral on wednesday aug 8th, had them take right uneffected breast as well. no reconstruction. took 4 nodes in sentinal. 4 drain tubes. I have been pain killer free since 5 am on thursday 8/9. was home at 7 pm on 8/9. i used some ice for the first day, but have been fine ever since. the pain was tolerable. i started taking arnica montana pellets the week before and ever since. I recommend you look it up and see if it is for you. I have had a nurse visit my home and change my dressings. I have been sleeping pretty good, hard to sleep upright, as i am a side sleeper. got the call today that my nodes and margins were clear!!!
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Great news Lisa!!0
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omaz!!!0
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This is crazy..I read a few months back when someone suggested the McD fish sandwich when I was doing chemo. I had one after 2 of my tx. Never ate them before and haven't since. Power of suggestion , maybe?? It worked!!
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Lisa, congrats! I know you are relieved!
Msbelle, whatever works. I think food like works because something in that particular dish hits the taste buds right. Not everyone has the same reaction to it, but groups of people like this one and other groups like others. That'd why we have to share, both ideas and whether it works for us or not. Micro research! LOL0
