Anyone on just Taxotere and Cytoxan?
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sanasia: it's ok, don't worry bout it
I can't think of one dang good thing about missing a concert. Well, other than not getting beer spilled on you (or is that just me and the concerts I attend), or sweating it out hoping you don't get pegged for a drug test following cuz you KNOW you had a second hand high (again, could just be the concerts I go to.) AC/DC rocked though, and I'm pretty sure I'll never ever see Angus Youngs british skivvies again, nor would I want to.......he's gettin old.
The bands you mentioned are pretty young......they'll be back!
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outdoor concerts that arent totally packed are about my cup of tea now
the first day at work with a wig was a hit. the wig looks better than my real hair could. my scalp hurts, i believe from the posts that the scalp would hurt less if i just have it shaved off?? as far as concerts, ive always been a fan of outdoor concerts and staying in the back and chillin on a blanket! hope all you who started chemo today and this week and of course wherever you are in treatment are doing okay!! 0 -
Hi everyone. Today is day 6 of TX#2 of 4 TC. This round has been different. The good news is that the Claritin DID help with the bone pain that kept me in bed for 3 days after TX#1. I still had bone pain but it was manageable and did not keep me in bed. The bloating was worse and so was the fatigue and weakness. One new symptom this time is dizziness. My onc had me come in today for 2 hrs of hydration. My BP is very low and my pulse is very high (racing heart). They said high pulse is my body/heart working overtime to compensate for low BP. They want me back in tmrw for more hydration and think that the low BP/high pulse is dehydration. Feeling depressed now and having a hard time seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, even though I know it's there....it better be after all this S&%T!! Boy, this stinks!! Sorry for venting....party of one....
Has anyone experienced low BP/high heart rate??
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Sanaisa,
It didn't hit me that I was actually done with chemo and could actually plan ahead until I started getting brochures for the LA Opera and the Philharmonic. I was looking through the offerings, thinking "jeez, I wish I could do this," when I realized that I CAN! So I booked an opera visit and two LA Phil concerts. It cost me a small fortune, but after what we go through, we all deserve a treat!
So... just think of this as a temporary setback. Though treatment seems to last forever, there is an end to it--and think about all the concerts you'll go to when you feel better!
Jo Anne
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Hi All
A friend of mine who has mets from BC and has lived with chemo & pain for years actually purchases ticket insurance -- I don't know from whom -- but it relieves the worry about commiting to an event and then not being able to attend. I bought tickets to see one of my favorites in concert on 10/17. That'll be day 3 post my 2nd tx. If that day 3 is like the day 3 I just experienced, I won't be feeling great but I'll be ok. And, I plan to take hrf's advice and be conscious of the risk of catching a bug.
I'm on day 7 of my 1st cycle. None of the side effects I've experienced have been intolerable. I've taken compazine a few times and drank lots of ginger ale over the weekend to fight back nausea. Yesterday I was very wired in the morning and then crashed in the afternoon -- also gassy -- like lethally gassy. A friend kindly came over and cooked us dinner last night, my SO just had knee surgery and I'm dealing w/ this cancer stuff, so she thought we needed the help. I was so appreciative but she probably thought I was being rude ... I kept getting up and leaving the room to spare her from, well, you know ...
My hair has been hurting since Saturday and now it is driving me insane. My scalp itches like mad and the follicles are all irritated. Obviously it's time for to shave my head and I'm waiting to hear from my hairdresser who offered to come to the house when I was "ready." Well, I'm ready damnit! Here's a dumb question -- should I have her buzz it down to fuzz, or do I get it buzzed and then literally shaved? I know, no questions are dumb. Maybe I get it buzzed down to fuzz and then use a lint roller later? LOL, I read that somewhere -- whatever works, I guess.
Also, I'm having bad pain around my mastectomy scar. That surgery was at the end of July and I really haven't had any discomfort in weeks. It's either a bizarre coincidence or a chemo side effect. Not sure which.
dogsaver - I agree with you about outdoor concerts - the uncrowded kind. In my hippy youth, a million years ago, I used to go to big stadium shows out in California -- no chilling in the back during those shows.
Best
Lottie
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Hi, Lottie - you can get it shaved down to stubble and then the remaining hairs will come out. You can go without a guard, but you will need to be careful you don't get nicked, because of the risk of infection.
Dogsaver, the achyness goes away once the hairs that are going to fall out do. Once the follicles quit pushing hairs out, it gets better, though I had tenderhead as it was growing in again and occasionally still!
Don't miss the gas - you can try Gas X - it does help somewhat - I was popping them like candy.
Revricki - I too had a racing heart - I have a skipped beat that sometimes has me on meds, but during chemo and Neulasta, it was skipping and racing like crazy. BP was down, I was dizzy too. I ended up not being able to finish my last 2 rounds because of that and some other severe se's - apparently I'm allergic to both taxotere and Neulasta. Go figure!
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Tenacious, I sent you a PM
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Hey Revricki, I had the racing heart skipping beats thing on day two of every treatment. The first time I wound up in the ER and when they put me on the monitor it showed that my heart was in Atrial Fibrulation. It converted back to normal on it's own, but eventually a cariologist put me on some drugs to regulate my heartbeat during each treatment. I had six cycles of T/C and each time the heart thing lasted longer than the time before. It can be a bit scary but now that I am five weeks out from my last T/C it seems to be getting back to normal. My ONC said that this is an issue for 1% of patients on T/C. Good luck.
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Hey gals!
Revricki- glad you made it thru #2! Half way there!!! I agree with everything you said. I have been so emotional this time and wondering how I'm going to get thru anymore of this. Today i asked my chemo nurse if next time she could just double dose me and get it over with all at once! I just keep thinking how awesome it'll be the day I walk out of #4!
Denverdiva- I like your pic!!!! I can't figure out how to get a picture on here.
So, I really hate wearing my wig. I think and have been told it looks very natural, but it sure doesn't feel natural. I keep wearing it to work, because I work in an elementary school and don't want to freak anyone out- but I think I'm going to explain the whole cancer thing to the kids (I'm the administrator at our before and after school child care program), and then start wearing a hat. The wig makes me feel sad!! I can be such a baby!!!!!!
Dogsaver- I shaved it down to a stubble, then it still bothered me a lot and shaved it to nothing. It was kind of nice to have the little color of hair on my bald head for a while, broke me in easy I guess. But it feel a thousand times better to have the stubbies gone.
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Hi chelev - thanks for guidance on buzzing my hair. i took some benedryl and that's relieved the crazy itchiness I was experiencing and my hair comes off tomorrow. Now I just want it gone so I can move on (and obsess about something else ... lol).
I am having lots of pain today. The only pain reliever my onc told me to stay away from was aspirin. I'd be interested in learning what non-narcotic drug the ladies here take for pain. I do have some vicodin but I'd prefer not to take it because I'm slightly allergic, and, as I mentioned, I'm already itching like crazy.
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Hello Ladies
I have not posted since Thrus. I was hospitalized thrus. due to a serious bacterial infection in my recon breast The plastic surgeon had to take out my expander. We are back to ground zero as far as surgery goes. My onc. said nothing can be in me now while undergoing chemo. In the hospital Thrus night(day 13) my hair started falling out in handfuls. My friend came to the hospital on Fri before surgery and shaved my head. I'm ok with going topless so far bu it is still falling out. My chemo was supposed to be tomorrow but can't do it. I see my onc tomorrow to make a new plan of action. Alittle disappointed but feeling good today and will take one day at a time.
To everyone you are in my thoughts and prayers everyday
THINK POSITIVE
Catherine
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Hi Catherine,
I had the same thing happen to me. I went to my ps because my reconstructed breast was looking strange, and wound up in surgery the same afternoon. I have small breasts, so he took out my actual implant rather than an expander.
My chest looks like a bomb went off inside, but now that I've been through chemo and am starting radiation, I don't really think about reconstruction much. I'm going to wait until next year, when I'm feeling healthier and stronger, to decide whether or not I'm going back for more surgery.
I also had a lot of setbacks with chemo that postponed it each time by a week--first a chest infection, then this surgery, then a tooth that needed pulling. It was very frustrating, but I got through it and so will you!
I hope you heal quickly and get back on the road to wellness again!
Jo Anne
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Hi everyone. Thank you for feedback. After two days of iv hydration the dizziness is much better, almost gone. I learned that staying hydrated during chemo is not only about how much you drink, but about how much you pee!! I was drinking a lot, and I'm not a big drinker to begin with, but I wasn't peeing enough. Nurse said I should be peeing every hour for the first 5-7 days after chemo. I guess my body was holding on to every drop I was giving it. The racing heart is still there a bit although much better. I think my tiny body is just overwhelmed by all the volume of crap that it has to move around. So today is day 8 after TX#2 and I'm happy to say I feel ok, thank goodness. I'm hoping to sail through the next two weeks until TX#3 on 10/14.
Also, I have been taking Ativan to help me sleep (my steroid high was so bad that I was hearing music in my head in the middle of the night....Barbra Streisand...don't ask me why) and onc said ativan can cause dizziness and low bp. So last night I tried Melatonin and it worked! I slept well. Onc also said I may have certain SEs from one treatment only that never return so I shouldn't expect every cycle to be the same. I will continue to post everything I learn from my experience b/c I think that is one of the most valuable and wonderful things about this site. We can compare what we are going through to other women's experiences and know that we will get past how we feel no matter how awful. Wishing only days of feeling good to everyone. Ricki
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Oh Catherine, Jo Anne, and Ricki,
I am sorry to hear of all that you are going through. It is disappointing when things don't go as planned. You are all so special to me, and I am sending you the most positive of thoughts. This too shall pass... and we will all move on to a brighter day. You are all such fighters, keep up the good work! Ricki I can think of worse things than having Babs, running through your head, but I can think of better things too!
It is definitely weird what the sub-conscious mind can do.Gentle Hugs to all,
Susan
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Hi EveryOne,
Week 2 after my # 4 TC. SE today ...my fingers huring a little, eyes still watering and feet tingle and I still have my eyebrows and eyellashes.
Still waiting for my hair to grow. Wishful thinking. All the staff and a lot of students at school have seen me with my little caps on. Just can't wear the long wig because it doesn't feel good. I just ordered a short wig in my coloe but the front of it is a headband. I am hoping that it will look and feel better. Hoping it will keep my ears warm.
Really tring to stay away from any pain pills. Am not looking forward to tomorrow. I volunteered at my church to work the Deerfield Fair. My feet have been hurting. Not going to be the best of weather. Will hope for the best and hope I don't catch a cold.
Sue. I looked on my PM on my Home page and the PM has nothing in it?
Ricki Know I know why I couldn't sleep because I had to get up and peeeee so much. Knew it was the chemo but my OC hadn't mentioned it. I should have lost 10 lbs. from all the fluid coming out of me.
Catherine are you still in the hospital? You have a lot of will power and extradinary strength. You are a remarkable woman!
Echosalvaje, when I went for my last treatement and to rehab last week, they said my heart rate was up. I didn't think anything of it until reading your post.
Lottie A friend came to my house and shaved my head. I had a little hair and attempted to use the roller. I have had stubbies the whole time.
Time to go make dinner.
Thinking and Praying for you ALL
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Hi all... had my colonoscopy today and thankfully they didn't find anything but my diverticulitis which I already knew I had...they had found something suspicious on one of my scans pre-chemo and wanted it checked. I am soooooooo thankful! Now, radiation orientation Friday and port removal on 10/2.
To all of you gals still struggling on chemo...it's tough but doable! Hang in there and will keep praying for you all!
xoxoxo
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marielf: I love your picture! Thanks for sharing it with us!
I received my first treatment on 09/25 - I thought i was doing quite well until about Sunday. I went to work Monday morning, but probably should have stayed home because after working 4 hours, I crashed the rest of that day and then almost the entire day on Tuesday. Today, Wed., I feel better than I have since Sunday. Acid reflux was very painful the first few nights/big cramping anytime I ate anything and feelings of constipation...today, things seem to be getting back to normal, whatever that is:)
My hair feels a different texture - much more dry and straw-like; is this a prelude to it starting to fall out?
Blessings to each of you!
Mary Sue
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tomorrow is tx number 2 ; I took my morning steroids but they are making blood pressure shoot up so im not taking my afternoon dose. this happened last time too, i think i will see cardiologist before tx number 3. had minimal side effects. hair has definately been going the past few days but i guess it confirms the chemo doing its job. thats my story anyways! have been supported in different ways at work. most are just really giving good thoughts and notes. others have been purchasing me big pink necklaces. im not into the big pink necklace or the plethera of pink bracelets that a coworker bought and announced and distributed during our morning meeting but it does show that people are supportive and ill take it. there are always the inappropriate comments too but i take it as people not experiencing this before. anyways i am off for the next few days to take care of treatment 2. the blood pressure issue is a bummer but hopefully tx 2 will be as mild as number one. sat and sunday were the worst that time. hugs to all!!!
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good luck, dogsaver. I hope the tx goes well and you have minimal se's.
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Good luck today, Dogsaver!
Lorrie
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Thinking of you today dogsaver...sending good vibes!!!
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Good luck dogsaver, I'll hope you breeze through this treatment.
fluteplayerrox - my first tx was 9/23 and by 9/25 my hair was driving me bonkers ... my scalp hurt, itched and my hair felt like thick straw. the itching grew worse until I started to take some benedryl (claritan yesterday) which calmed it down. So, even though it was only 7 days after my first tx, I had my head shaved yesterday. What a relief! It still itches a little but doesn't hurt anymore. I'd say I have about 1/8" of stubble (and a very round head and slightly pointy ears I never knew I had)
marielf -- i'm right over the Plaistow, NH border in Mass., the Deerfield Fair is wonderful and we go every year -- not this year tho :-( -- I hope you're able to make it and that it isn't too much for you. Bundle up and stay warm! Yesterday felt like winter here!
Lottie
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Hey, I'm in Massachusetts too!
Lorrie
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Hey I am in Massachusetts too! Anyone going to the gilette ctr in boston? Will be on TC myself so intersting to read whats in store. Supposed to start thurs but I have such a bad virus/ sore throat I am having trouble getiing thru the pre-test cat scans- barium swallows are just impossible. But if I gat thru i start on Thurs 10/8. Good luck to all! Valerie
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I was treated at Emerson Hospital in Concord. Excellent care and treatment!
Lorrie
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Hi DenverDiva,
I go on the 2nd for my second treatment as well. I'm sooo, nervous. I'm afraid that the SEs will be worse..... My hair going to; it started last weekend and I now can proudly say that I have a receding hairline! Something I never thought I'd ever have because my hair is so thick. It's crazy how thin it is!! And my head's cold!! I've NEVER had that problem before. Talk about an adjustment. On the plus side I've bought some cute hats!
Good luck tomorrow, I'll be thinking of you as I sit there getting the drip (I start at noon),
Kathy
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A Quick Note of Thanks. You ladies told Annabelle and me about the Claritin (or generic) remedy for Neulasta bone pain. We tried it and it worked.
We shared it with the Breast Health Navigator for our county's hospital system. She had never heard of it, nor had any of the medical oncologists practicing in the hospital system. They tried it and their patients liked it.
Now all of the medical oncologists in the entire conty hospital system are recommending it to their patients. Thanks ladies!
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Best of luck to you dogsaver!
lottie: I haven't had much if any itching yet - just strawlike hair...are you doing okay with the loss of hair? I met with a hairdresser through the hospital last week to get all sorts of ideas on wraps/hats, etc. Hope you don't have pain - let me know how it's going:)
flwgrl: I wish you peace as you prepare for the 2nd tx tomorrow - hang in there!
Blessings to all!
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Hey all of you beautiful ladies, I had a crazy day, and even though I started my Decadron today I was wiped out. I have tx 2 tomorrow, and Kathy, mine starts at noon too! So my thoughts will be with you as well, I hope you have a good day.
Okay on the topic of hats and wigs and all. I have just not been able to bring myself to do the wig thing. I don't think it looks bad at all, but I just hate the idea of it. I know it would be itchy, and I am no good with that. I am like a little kid that can't sit still. I work in a really fantastic Child Care program. I am the assistant director, so I am in and out of classrooms with the kids. I have had a ton of support, and everyone is okay with my hats, etc. I know I am lucky, but I was concerned about freaking out the parents or worse yet the kids. The thing is they have been amazing. The older pre-schoolers and school age kids, have asked questions, and I have let them see my head uncovered. They are concerned, but not freaked out. Their questions are touching and they are so sincere. One little bitty, (super cute girlie, just about to turn 3), came running up to me today to say "I like your hat!!!!!" We even had a crazy hat day today, so they all got to try out wearing a hat. When they asked my why I didn't have any hair I explained that I had to take some medicine that made it fall out, but that it will grow back, and I will let them see it when it does. They were totally okay with that. I just feel that this is what works for me. I feel a little scared, and like I should just try the wig, especially at the store, or at church. I don't know , I guess we each just have to play around with it and do what feels right.
You are all super heroes, and I appreciate so much all that you post. I will check in after my tx tomorrow and see how you are all doing. Thanks for being such a great sounding post.
Love,
Susan
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Just whispered a prayer for all of you undergoing treatment today... (((((((((hugs)))))))))))
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