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Comments

  • collector
    collector Member Posts: 72
    edited June 2008

    I am on Day 7 out from tx 2.  Second time through, I think everything has been a little more intense except this time I was wise and used my own judgment to avoid the constipation and so far so good in that department.  Yeterday and today I have lots of small white, painful sores on my scalp.  And my husband just pointed out that I have a circular swollen spot on my cheek about the size of a nickel.  I got the scalp sores with tx 1 but not this many.  The thing on my cheek is a mystery.  I have stayed inside due to the awful bugs right now and I really don't see a hole like from a sting.  I put some bacitracin on it and am watching it.  I also have 2 toenails turning black but not lifting so far.  Another nail looks to be turning very grey.  How is everyone else doing?

  • goldilocks
    goldilocks Member Posts: 106
    edited June 2008

    Morning sisters,

    I thought that I would check in and see how everyone is doing.  Otter, sorry to hear you are having a time of it.  Lots of fluids, that will help with bringing down the fever.  Also, for those of you that are low energy consider having a burger or steak or some form of red meat.  Onco nurse really stressed that to me during all the treatment.  The protein really does help build your energy levels.  Granted you my not taste it, and it may even seem like you are eating cardboard...it really does work.

    For those of you that don't know me, I graduated 4/24/08.  I am a 2-time BC survivor.  My energy is slowly coming back. I did get the dreaded bronchial infection.  I have been on antibiotics for the last 2 weeks. With my immune system-none, due to the chemo..I was hit hard. They even thought I had pneumonia due to some fluid in my lungs. Fortunately, that was not the case. Feeling better and getting stronger every day.  My hair is still very short 1/4 inch and thin, but I know that it will grow in eventually. Patience is hard, my fingernails are still sore and gray in color. This will also pass.

    I wish you all side effect free days. I know there are days that drag on what seems like forever....it passes. Keep a positive attitude and no matter how hard it gets remember to eat and drink.

    I'm not getting rads this time around. I am however scheduled for surgery on July 10 for corrective reconstruction. My onc dr gave me the all clear for surgery.  I am so looking forward to getting this behind me, as I know all of you are. Hold strong and my prayers are always here for each and everyone one of you.

    Thanks for holding strong. You can all do this.Cool

  • RNKaren
    RNKaren Member Posts: 32
    edited June 2008

    Hi ladies,

    Today is day 8 after tx # 4.  2 more to go. 

    I'm feeling much better.  Working, went to church today.  Just having the usual side effects- no taste, some back pain.  It's hard to be patient sometimes.  And as goldilocks said, we need to be strong. Goldilocks-I hope you get your energy and your hair back soon!

    Otter- Sorry you're feeling bad.  Rest and take care of yourself.

    Collector- Did you tell your doctor about your toenails?  Do you have circulation to those toes?

    I'm hoping to go for a walk this evening, being outside helps boost my mental attitude.  Wish I could take some of you along.

    I have a massage scheduled for 6/24, that's the earliest appt. I could get with her.  I can't wait!

    Minimal side effects to you all this week.  And thanks for your support when I was feeling so bad.

  • collector
    collector Member Posts: 72
    edited June 2008

    No, I haven't shown my nails to the onc.  It seems funny to me that when I saw her on Monday, she informed me that she had asked her patients on T/C and none had had problems with blackening nails so she "knew" I wouldn't either.  HAH!  There is circulation and with no hair, the nails seem like a very secondary issue.  Still checking on the bumps on my head.  I think Otter put some antibacterial stuff on them when she had them.  They do hurt.

  • ggrose
    ggrose Member Posts: 29
    edited June 2008

    Hope everyone is good today w/ minimal SE's.

    I'm 4 days out from TX2 and I'm doing OK.  Very tired, achy and bone pain but it's manageable.  I'm taking Darvoset for bone pain.  Hair is pretty much gone so I'll be sporting my wig when I go in to work on Tuesday.

    Hope that everyone is having a peaceful, serene day.

  • pmwelser
    pmwelser Member Posts: 10
    edited June 2008

    Day 13 of tx 1.  I am feeling well and the thrush is under control.

    Otter, I am sorry you are having a rough time.  You are in my thoughts.

    Collector, are you having any pain with your toenails?

    Wishing everyone  minimal SEs and good luck to all those getting tx this week.

  • collector
    collector Member Posts: 72
    edited June 2008

    No pain with the toenails - just UGLY!

  • otter
    otter Member Posts: 757
    edited June 2008

    Oh, my goodness, we're a real mess.  Bronchitis, fever, head bumps, black toenails, thrush, bone pain, burn marks. It's no wonder "outsiders" don't understand what we're going through.

    First, hi to Jisman and goldilocks.  Goldilocks, how could you go and get bronchitis this long after chemo?  I'm on Levaquin for a week, and after that I plan to be normal.  No more chemo-related diseases.

    ladybugcyndi, that thing on your wrist and hand sounds like a duplicate of what's on my wrist.  (The other one, not the one with the red line.)  Mine looks like a burn mark, from touching a hot oven.  I have the same thing along the sides of my feet.  I am pretty sure it's a form of hand-foot syndrome--at least that's what one of the chemo nurses told me.  I seem to develop the red burn marks on places where I habitually rest my hand or foot or wrist on something for a long period of time.

    My poor dh spent 3 hours yesterday and today, searching for "Udderly Smooth Udder Cream," which my onco said would help with the burn marks.  He went to Rite-Aid, CVS, Walgreen's, K-Mart, and WalMart.  Nada.  The company's website says it's sold in all those places.  So I got to write them a letter, telling them how much my feet hurt and how frustrating it was that their product wasn't sold where they claimed it was.   :)

    collector, I was under the impression that discolored and/or flaking nails were a known SE of both Taxotere and Taxol.  Here's some stuff you can use to educate your onco:

    http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/frozen-glove0805 

    http://www.medicinenet.com/docetaxel/page2.htm

    There are also lots of articles in medical journals about nail problems with Taxotere.

    My fingernails hurt a lot during the first week after this 4th tx; but other than the expected white lines, I think they're going to be fine.  My toenails have no signs of problems at all.  I do keep my nails trimmed really short, and other than keeping the dirt out, I do absolutely nothing else to them.  Maybe neglect is the key.

    Oh, and I am gonna post a no-hair pic (or, bald-bald, as Rock says on the May '08 thread).  I promise I won't wait until it's growing back.  I'm also thinking of posting some of the pics I've taken of the red burn marks and my sore feet.

    Maybe I'll even post one of the scalp bumps I got with tx #2, if it won't gross everybody out. That way, collector and I can compare bumps (which BTW my onco said were "folliculitis" in my case).  I didn't use antibiotic ointment on them--there were too many, and they covered my whole head.  I just switched to J&J baby shampoo; and they dried up, went away, and never came back.

    I hope everybody had a chance to talk to their fathers today.

    otter 

  • collector
    collector Member Posts: 72
    edited June 2008

    Oh, believe me when I say I have done nothing to keep a pedicure going!  It's sure not worth the hassle.  I see now that the white lines are obvious, too.  OK, so I'll put nothing on the head bumps.  Thanks for the references to the black nail side effects.  My onc came well recommended BUT I can see that if you do your research on the internet, you are easily more up to date on info than many of the doctors.  Plus, I get the distinct impression that collectively, the oncs would rather we knew less about possible SEs so that we don't "bring them on" from the power of suggestion.  YUP. BC has made me a paranoid person in just 2 months.  My other distressing news is that I got behind on my mouth rinsing yesterday and today and I sure am feeling the rawness.  I'll not do that again.

  • Jisman
    Jisman Member Posts: 96
    edited June 2008

    Kfalls - so far radiation is more of a hassle than anything else.  Having to go to the hospital for treatment every day, Monday through Friday, applying the lotion 2-3 times a day, having the lotion and the markings (they literally draw the entire field they are radiating on me) get all over any clothes I wear, the weekly check-in with the rad onco and the weekly blood tests.  However, it can't compare to the yucky feelings during chemo - and I had a fairly easy chemo in the schemes of things.

    Otter - I love your dessert therapy idea.  If you are still looking for the Udderly Smooth Cream, send me an e-mail with your address and I will mail you the one I got in my Look Good Feel better package.  I haven't used it yet and you have more of a need for it.

  • ggrose
    ggrose Member Posts: 29
    edited June 2008

    Hi, hope that everyone is feeling good today.

    I'm still a little shaky but I've turned the corner.  I just went outside (first time in 2 days) and it's a beautiful day.  Birds are singing and flowers are in bloom - couldn't ask for a better day.

    Collector - I chuckled at your comment about the way onc's discuss SE's.  My onc definitely touched on all the SE's but tended to minimize each with statements like..."Nails might turn black - just cover with nail polish" or "can cause bone pain - Tylenol should take care of that" or my favorite "hair will thin" -- yeah right!  Should have asked her to define "thin"!

    I am so glad I found this place.  I really appreciate that everyone is willing to share their experiences.  It's help me more than you will ever know!

    I will keep each and everyone of you in my prayers.

  • robink
    robink Member Posts: 60
    edited June 2008

    Otter ; you can have my Udder cream also.  Glad to donate it to a good cause

  • sharons
    sharons Member Posts: 177
    edited June 2008

    Good Morning All - Otter glad you are feeling better.

    Collector - I graduated 4/30 - have the nail lines on fingernails...looks like I will lose at least my right pinky nail...however all the nails feel funny...kind of like the hair before it fell out.

    RN Karen - Glad you have turned the corner after your last treatment.

    Goldilocks and Jisman - Good to hear from you.  Goldilocks glad you are getting scheduled for the rest of your procedures.  Jisman - today is number 18 for us....hoorah!....

    I think my legs might be back.. I am considering a short run this morning.

    Sharon

  • Debbiem425
    Debbiem425 Member Posts: 27
    edited June 2008

    I have been lurking but haven't written in a while.

    Otter - I hope you are feeling better!

    I haven't noticed anything with my nails but maybe I should take my toenail polish off and check.

    Had my second C/T last Thursday and I haven't been feeling too badly - just draggy like I can't pick my feet up off the floor when I walk.  I do the shuffle.  I probably could have even gone to work today but I have a doctor's appointment so I figured why push it.

    Wearing my wig whenever I go out - I am just not into going bald.  It's just not my style.  I did order a couple of BeauBeau's but I think I ordered them too small - they feel a bit tight.  I will wear them around the house. 

    Still planning to go to my daughter's college orientation next week and am hopeful that today the doctor will give me the okay to fly.

    Hope you all are feeling good today!

  • robink
    robink Member Posts: 60
    edited June 2008

    For the first time I feel "stuck".  I've got two appointments, and errands to do so we can go fishing tomorrow.  need to do something that feels fun and normal but today I just don't give a crap about anything.  This is day 5, cycle 3.  Up until this point I've sucked it up, done as much as I could around my house, drive to most of my apointments, even feed the family but I don't want to do a bloody thing and I want someone to feel sorry for me today.

    BooHoo

    I couldn't even shave my head without giving myself razor burn.  Poor scalp.  good thing for hydrocortisone cream.

    On the other hand, I had a nice weekend.

  • revkat
    revkat Member Posts: 122
    edited June 2008

    Robin, I will be happy to feel sorry for you today. I don't think you should have to do anything on day 5. For me, through all 4 cycles, day 5 has been the worst both physically and emotionally. You are amazing for having sucked it up thus far and if you want to go to bed and stay there today, I say you can! (did it help?)

    I'm coming out of my final (yes!) tx fog. Now on day 7 and really feeling pretty good. Fingers are crossed that nothing else develops -- I had a temp last times and am hoping I won't be following otter on that again!

  • otter
    otter Member Posts: 757
    edited June 2008

    Hey, thanks for the offers of Udder Cream.  Being in a sassy mood yesterday, I flashed off an email to the company that makes the stuff to complain that I couldn't find it.  A company rep wrote me back...on a Sunday!  She apologized and said they had been hearing about pharmacies pulling it off the shelves to make room for sunscreen and other summer products (like Udder Cream is seasonal?).  She asked for my address and said she'd "set me up with some."  Squeaky wheel?  The stuff is so cheap--I should have just ordered some on-line right away, but I always assumed it would be in the stores.

    In the meantime, I've discovered that Neosporin ointment feels really good on the "burn marks."  It has some nice inactive ingredients, like cocoa butter, lanolin, and vit E; and it isn't gunky like Aquaphor.  Plus, it stays put.  So before the cow stuff arrives, I'll just make-do.

    My temp hit 100.4 again, at 3 a.m. last night.  I'm on Levaquin but I had not been taking ibuprofen 'cause I didn't know if it would be OK.  So I called my onco's nurse, and she said everything sounded fine.  She told me to go ahead and take Advil, several times a day if necessary, because I am finished with my TC tx's and I did get a Neulasta shot. In other words, they aren't too worried about my wbc at this point, even if it is a little low (day 13 today). The "infection" is almost certainly my regular, seasonal sinusitis, for which my family doc usually prescribes ... Levaquin.  And he tells me to take ibuprofen and Mucinex, which explains why I don't ordinarily have a fever with my sinus problems.  It gets squelched by the Advil.  I'm feeling better already.

    I promise I'll put out a schedule update today. Instead of the usual jpeg spreadsheet, I'm just going to list screen names and treatment dates in a post.  That way, if in the future I wander off for several days at a time, someone else can copy-and-paste the list into a new post when it needs updating. 

    Hugs to all...

    otter

  • otter
    otter Member Posts: 757
    edited June 2008

    Oh, Robin, I'll feel sorry for you.  You know we all will.  This won't help all that much if your family is used to you sucking it up and working through the fog and aches.  For me, day 5 or day 6 was generally the worst. Some place here I read that all our onco's expect us to do is "survive chemo"--not do anything heroic, not lose weight, not maintain a rigid diet.  Just get through it.

    I interpret that as permission from our docs--maybe even a prescription from our docs--to take it easy. What are recliners for, anyway?  My dh and I just had a nice, relaxing hour sitting on our back deck, listening to all the birds and marveling at how comfortable the temperature and humidity are this morning (compared to usual).  We bought lounge chairs for our camping trip last summer, and they're just the ticket for a nice, lazy time on the deck.

    revkat, you cannot have my fever.  I'm not done with it yet.

    otter 

  • Debbiem425
    Debbiem425 Member Posts: 27
    edited June 2008

    My ps, even more then the oncologist, tells me every time I see him to take it easy.  He reminds me I am going through a lot and my body needs down time.  Today he gave me permission to fly next weekend - thinks my incision inflammation is heeled enough - yeah!  But he looked at my husband and instructed that I am not to overdo it - no luggage etc - I must take it easy.  This is the time to baby ourselves.  I would like to go in the pool but I was told no sun.  Maybe I will go in later after the sun goes down.

    I found this chemo easier then the last.  I could have even gone to work today (day 5) but I had told them ahead of time not to count on me being there.  But I am attacking the sweets in the house just like I did last time.

    Otter - take care of yourself - you are almost at the end!

  • robink
    robink Member Posts: 60
    edited June 2008

    Thinking I could manage I drove to my appointments (cancer exercise program and lymphedema prevention).  After 10 minutes on the treadmill (on which I was doing pretty good) my PT comes over, asks how it's going today after which I am reduced to tears.  Finally I have allowed myself to feel my fear, my frustration, my baldness, my numb deformed chest, my smaller remaining breast that I once considered my equalization procedure.  Allowed myself to say I am feeling very poorly today, I am weary, my taste buds are shot but I'm hungry, I'm cold, I hate the dark circles and bags under my eyes.  Allowed myself to be upset with friends and family who can't meet my needs because they are either halfway across the country or mostly because they don't know how to reach out to me.  Angry with myself for sucking it up all this time, playing strong for everyone when I wanted someone to be strong for me but I never said anything.  Angry with myself for choosing chemo therapy but knowing I would always doubt a decision refusing chemo, wondering if I had done everything to insure a good shot at long term survival.  Today I just want to be done.  I do not want to take a single dose of antihormonal medication.  I dont' want to have one more surgery but I do not want to look like this anymore.

    And I want to be with my Mom but she's in Ohio, I'm in Colorado, she will never be able to travel here again due to strokes suffered after her mastectomy.

    But my house isn't flooded.  Nor my forest or home burning.  I don't have bug bites, or hand/foot problems, or diarrhea or constipation.  I don't have a fever and am not nauseated.  It's cool and damp here today but I have a dry house and heat and warm clothes.

      My dh was understanding when I called and said I just couldn't do the errands I had promised.  Said go home-go to bed -I'll take care of everything.  I'm not sure why I expected him to say anything else - guess I just needed to hear the words.

    Robin

  • beachmom13
    beachmom13 Member Posts: 85
    edited June 2008

    Robin, you need someone to say, "oh, poor baby, lie down and sleep.  I'll take care of everything."  We're here saying that for you.  Generally day 5 is my worse and all I do is sleep.  Cody, the guard dog, growls at anyone who even walks past the bedroom, warning them to leave me alone.  Would you like to borrow him for a few days? 

    I'm hanging in there, day 13 of tx, 3 and overall things are pretty good.  I still need that afternoon nap, but now that school's out, that would be on the agenda anyway.  I realize that I haven't been in school since March, but now I consider myself on vacation and no longer on sick leave.  We've spend the last 3 days cleaning the boat, a task we usually do in March/April, but surgery, then chemo/weather interfered.  Never good get a good day for both.  It's not that it's that big, but I'm moving slower than ever, and dh just doesn't clean to my standards.  Hopefully we'll finish the deck tomorrow.  Saturday dh pushed me down the steps to the cabin (actually, I fell, but that's a better story than being a clutz).  I must have bounced off the steps, I have a bruise on my butt, thigh and calf.

    I have a question.  I really believe my hair is beginning to come back in.  I thought it was my imagination, but different people have commented on this on their own.  My hair dresser gave me nioxin to try and said she would order more if it worked.  Should I go ahead and start, or wait until after my last tx (6/25).  I don't want to waste it if it's going to fall out again, but if I can get things moving along, I would really like too.  Any suggestions?

    Hope everyone is have a good day.  The weather is soo much better than last week, except smoke from the fire in the Dismal Swamp.

    Lee

  • Kfalls
    Kfalls Member Posts: 67
    edited June 2008

    Hey Lee - start the Nixoin now - I have used it all through treatment and my hair has grown. Aren't you excited for next Wed? I think I will strip and run naked through the treatment room when it is over. Although it won't be very pretty.



    Robin - I can so relate to your feelings - I pride myself in being strong and then wind up feeling sorry for myself and being angry with others. I think that part of it is the menopause this has thrown me into. In my house they never know when I will cry. I even think my dog is scared of me. :)



    Much love and few side effects to all!

    Karen

  • robink
    robink Member Posts: 60
    edited June 2008

    Thanks friends.

    Concerning the Nioxin - which number are you using? Also are you using the entire treatment system, just the shampoo - scalp treatment or what?

    Robin

  • RNKaren
    RNKaren Member Posts: 32
    edited June 2008

    Robink- I feel so bad for you right now.  Just remember this will be behind us soon, we need to take one day at a time.  A good cry really helpsCry

    Kfalls- Tell me about Nioxin.  How much hair do you have?

  • Kfalls
    Kfalls Member Posts: 67
    edited June 2008

    Here is the info on the Nioxin I am using. It is #3 for for fine hair. My sister works in quality control in the beauty supply industry and that is what she sent me so not sure why she sent the #3. She had me start using it before my chemo because she says that it strengthens and thickens the hair shaft.

    I did lose my hair after tx 1 and shaved my head in the process. But probably about 1/8 of my hair remains. I shave it between treatments as it only grows about 1/8 inch or so. I have many places that are bald, but I have kept this certain amount of hair. The thing that surprises me about it is that is is strong and healthy, not fuzz like I hear people talking about. I use the cleanser and scalp therapy now daily and she sent me the treatment to start using when it begins to come back in.



    The uncertain part of this is that I don't know how my hair would have reacted without it. But I certainly feel like it has made a difference.



    Hope thishelps.
    Karen

  • otter
    otter Member Posts: 757
    edited June 2008

    OK, TC gang, here's a schedule. I've broken it down by week, starting with 2 wks ago.  I'm going back that far because I don't know the dates for sure for next wk's treatments, so we can calculate them from the previous tx dates.  For example, TN-Michele had tx #5 on June 2, so she should be up again next Monday (June 23), for #6.  The exceptions would be those on dose-dense (2-wk) intervals:  Senora, Trii (done!), and Lenny.  On the list, I've tried to mark those with dose-dense schedules and those getting 6 tx's instead of 4.

    Week of June 2 (2 wks ago--so look at some of these same names for next week):

    Mon. June 2: TN-Michele (#5 of 6)

    Tues. June 3: delmonica (#4 of 6), algw (#4-done), sandym (#3), deecsw (#1), pmwelser (#1), LizC (#1)

    Wed. June 4: otter (#4-done), beachmom13 (#3), Kfalls (#3), catlover44 (#1)

    Thurs. June 5: SQK (#4-done), Tigwin (#4 of 6 TAC), Trii (#4-done), RJ62 (#3 of 6)

    Fri. June 6: cinlee (#4-done), RNKaren (#4 of 6), nmjohn (#2)

    Week of June 9 (last week--so up again during wk of June 30):

    Mon. June 9: clcady (#4 of T/TC), collector (#2), SusanDL123 (#2), katiesmommy (#2), Stickerlady (#1), wdornan (#1 of 6)

    Tues. June 10: revkat (#4-done), barb33594 (#4-done)

    Wed. June 11: Lenny (#3 of 6 dd), Boo307 (#2 TCH), VBG (#1)

    Thurs. June 12: robink (#3), rogam (#2), Debbiem425 (#2), judianna (#2 of 6), ggrose (#2), BBLady (#1)

    Fri. June 13: youlooklikeyouneedabeergirl (a.k.a. "beergirl", #2)*

    Week of June 16 (this week, so up again during wk of July 7):

    Mon. June 16: Lano (#4-done), Senora (#5 of 6 dd--was rescheduled from 6/12)

    Tues. June 17: Kathy (of kathy's_hubby, #5 of 6), craftygal (#3), SharonF (#3), karebear43 (#2), danismom (#2), JulieC (#2)

    Wed. June 18: MsKarin (#2)

    Thurs. June 19: jas (#4-done), cbme123 (#3), Rosario (#3), MoinTexas (#1)

    Fri. June 20:  lilwebb (#3)

    *beergirl wins the prize for the weirdest schedule for a "standard" TC x 4 regimen.  Her first tx was on a Saturday; her 2nd was on Friday the 13th; and her 3rd would be on July 4th but I'll bet that one gets changed because of the holiday.

    I hope that's everybody.  Let me know if there are additions or corrections, because they're easy to fix with an edit.  Also, some of the names might not be familiar, because some women are hanging out on the "month" threads (May '08 and June '08) and not coming here.  I try to keep up with them on the "month" threads if they're on TC, because others on those threads who aren't getting TC might not be familiar with the SE's like we are.

    Robin, you really are in the worst of it right now. Despite what others have said, cycle #3 was the hardest for me.  I had new SE's--the foot burns and the fever/sinus infection; but besides that, I really felt crummy for much longer than usual.  After cycle #2, which was my easiest, #3 really got me down.  It will get better, though--I promise. 

    OK, it's time to eat that last piece of birthday cake.  I hope everybody's SE's are waning like mine are, and those of you up for tx's tomorrow (a whole bunch) kick butt!

    otter 

  • beachmom13
    beachmom13 Member Posts: 85
    edited June 2008

    Karen - Thanks for the info on nioxin.  I also have #3, but I've never had fine hair.  It's been more like horse hair.  I also didn't lose all of it, buzzed it to about 1/4 inch and that's where it's stayed, didn't grow anymore from there, but I do think I've lost a bit more, especially around the area where my head rubs on the pillow.  I'll start it first thing tomorrow morning.

    You are so right about being finished with all of this.  I like you're idea, but I'm sure the others in the room won't :).  I go from here to rads and will finish up the middle/end of August, depend on what the rad onoc. says on Wed.  My birthday is the beginning of September and dh's is the midddle of August.  We plan on a real blowout when we get there.  Needless to say, I can't wait

    Probably the nicest thing since all of this began happened to me tonight.  DD and I went to the store to pick up a few things.  The lady in front of us finished checking out, turned to me and said I wish you the best of luck.  It almost brought me to tears.

    Lee

  • beachmom13
    beachmom13 Member Posts: 85
    edited June 2008

    Otter - once again you've done a fabulous job.  Thanks from the bottom of all of our hearts.

    Lee

  • sandym
    sandym Member Posts: 70
    edited June 2008

    Wow!  I've been away too long and I miss you all.

    Otter: Apologies to you- you asked about my infusion site.  You, and all the others have been on my mind and in my heart. I wanted to congratulate you on being so close to the finish line but I see it hasn't been easy.  I pray it's on the upswing now. The red spot I had at my injection site was about the size of a quarter by the time it finished growing.  It showed up a week after TX #2 . It was just below my wrist and had a quarter inch red line starting in the vein toward my fingers.  My onc asked if the Taxotere had spilled but I didn't notice.  It has since peeled and discolored but is ok. 

    TX #3 has been so different, not fun but not the worst as some have experienced.  It didn't start out well as they had to try 7 sticks before they could even get blood.  I was so pleased I hadn't  needed a port - well, not so smug now.  Oh well, just 1 tx to go.  I did follow the many recommendations to cool my mouth while being infused.  Thank you all! I brought a jug of ice cubes and added water.  My mouth has been so much better than first 2 tx. No burned mouth feeling and I barely lost my sense of taste.  I hope it was the ice water because I plan to follow the same routine for #4.  I still had a week of cramps, weakness,shakiness etc. but without the extra steriods for the eye problem, it seemed to pass more quickly.  By day #8, I was just starting to feel human so we headed to MA (2.5 hours) for the prek graduation of our grandchildren.   It went well - mind over matter? Fatigue was and still is the biggest problem but I'm glad we went.  We did get rear ended while stopped in traffic on our way home (4 cars total) but the car was still drivable and no serious injuries.

    Otter, again:  So sorry about all your sinus misery. I have a long history of sinusitis but started taking Allegra daily a few years ago and am much improved.  I still have the eye inflammation but it doesn't seem to be related.

    I see eyebrow loss is still a possibility?  I was so looking forward to keeping them.

    collector and gramadeb:  I thought I was a baby about the wig but I'm with you- can't do it.  I wear it for church and that's about it - especially now that's it's hot..  It gives me a headache but so do the scarves. 

    I've seen some mention of FOOB discomfort.  My fills haven't been too bad but after chemo and/or Neulasta, I'm so tight.  I mentioned it to the ps but he didn't seem interested. I'm thinking of postponing any more fills until this is over.  I wonder how long to wait?

    Sandy   

  • sandym
    sandym Member Posts: 70
    edited June 2008

    Correction - I referred to my bilat tissue expanded boobs as foobs.  After looking at another thread, I guess foobs are the prostheses that I no longer am wearing?  Do I have that correct? I've endured too much to call these hard lumps on my chest fake anything.

    Sandy 

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