2010 Sisters
Comments
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sweetaerobabe-->it really is personal preference. Many women get to be comfortable with their wigs and wear them all the time. For me, I just felt weird wearing a wig--I felt like everyone could tell. I am much more comfortable in scarves. I get a few looks, but it doesn't bother me. Most people are very kind, and some ask if I'm going through treatment. I have bought several different colors to go with most of my outfits. But now that I'm done with chemo, I sure am hoping the hair grows back quickly! That's so nice how you were treated! There really are some good people out there!
Calleigh-->sorry you have to have chemo! But you'll probably be glad you did when its all done. The CMF tx isn't too bad from what I've heard. I'm pretty sure that's what Designermom had--ask her about it.
I'm just trying to get through these last painful days from the Taxol. So glad the percocet works fairly well. I'm soooo happy to be done with chemo! Hope everyone is feeling good and enjoying the weekend.
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TMarina - Happy to hear you are finished with chemo. I'll probably be getting TCH so not looking forward to all the bone pain.0
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the bone pain was quite heavy, but for me the steroids kept it under control. Im having my port installed on Tuesday and tehn on wednesday 2nd TCH. Scared about the port. Ive wrote off this yr, but next yr after radiation is complete, im gonna party hard!!!! LOL
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Redninrah I had my port installed last Monday. (1st chemo the next day). I had no issues just a little groggy from the anesthesia. OK maybe a little sore but nothing I took any drugs for. I was out for the entire procedure but was awake as soon as I arrived in recovery. Was sitting in a chair very soon after that then on my way home.
I know you read a lot on the this forum that people had pain but you will find more people posting about problems. If all is fine then people tend not to post.
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Good morning ladies,
I made to to CA in pretty good shape. Going through security was interesting and confusing! At first they thought I had a pace maker and then when I finally convinced they I did not have one they were really confused. They went all around me with the wand and they took me to an enclosed room and all they did was swab down my hands! Don't know why I needed and enclosed room or that, but oh well at least there was no physical pat down. They had a wheel chair or a cart to take me from one place to the next along they journey through the airports. Which was really nice and allowed me to arrive here with some energy to spare to spend with 2 very excited and happy grandchildren. The weather here is gorgeous and is forecast to be sunny all week. I think, in spite of every precaution that I took, I may have caught a cold on the way here. We will wait and see if it is really a cold or just my allergies acting up. I have not been running a fever so hopefully it is my allergies. The flight attendants were really nice and helpful about making sure everything was wiped down and disinfected and they made sure I had plenty of bottled water for each of the flights and enough to get me from one flight to the next one. They also located any other medical people that were on each flight just in case I needed anything.
Does anyone has a suggest on what to take for either a cold or allergies that won't counteract or interfere with all the other drugs we have to take? My head is congested and I am sneezing and coughing. Kristen, my oldest daughter, says at the very first sign of any fever she is taking me to the closest cancer hospital, I am really hoping it does not come to that. I want to spend the time with them and not in a hospital. On a side note from my earlier post - Kristen lost the baby Saturday morning before we got here in the evening. She was able to call her sister, who had gone through the same thing several months ago and they were able to talk, which I think helped both of them.
Hope everyone had a restful night and has a joyous day.
Amy Jo
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Amyjo, glad you made it to your dd's OK. It sounds like the airline was really helpful. So sorry to hear about your dd miscarriage. It's hard to go thru so it's really a blessing her sister is there for her.
As for the cold/stuffy nose. I use saline solution - make my own with Himalayan salt. But sea salt would work too. I boil water, add the salt and when it's cool put it in squeeze bottle and spray in the nose. A nettie pot works well too. Neither have any side effects that I'm aware of. I also up the Vit C.
Check with your PCP by email if you can to see what they might recommend.
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AmyJo- So sorry to hear about the miscarriage. I suffered one and I know how difficult it is. My prayers are with you and your family.
My second TCH treatment is on Tuesday. Getting nervous. I had such a hard time with the bone pain last time, hoping the Clariton and the pain meds work. My feet and lower legs are so achy. Not sure if the Herceptin has something to do with this. Even tennis shoes bother my feet. I wear slippers every chance I get and keep my legs and feet up when I can. I meet with the Onc before infusion and I will ask is this is "normal".
Doesn't cancer know I have kids.....
I've been in the hospital since Friday night. This time not for me, but for my son. He was two and a half hours away from home at a football game. I got the phone call no parent wants to get. The trainer called and said that they are taking Nick off the field by ambulance! His leg looked like the letter "Z". I was grateful it wasn't a neck injury. Off I went for the 2 1/5 hour drive, making a ton of phone calls we ended up having him stabilized at the first hospital and then transported to a larger hospital an hour closer to home with orthopedic surgeons on call. So, as I write this, my son is in surgery with two broken bones. He will have a rod, plate and screws inserted. This was his last game!!!! I will not let him play High School football. He suffered a concussion last year and other "minor" injuries. Enough is enough. We hope he will come home tomorrow. With me having treatment on Tuesday - I don't even know how we are going to do this.
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redninrah- For me the port surgery itself was easy. Is a surgeon or a radiologist doing yours? I had a radiologist do mine. From what I understand it's two different procedures. I felt fine until the block wore off. I was really sore for about a week. I now can sleep on it or my side without any issues. My throat bothered me quite a bit right after as well - this too got better. You may want to have soft foods on hand. I am very happy I chose to have it, especially with the Herceptin treatments. As with everything, keep ahead of the pain.
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Tmarina- yay on being all done with chemo!!!! Can't wait to join you!!!
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calleigh- I just finished my sixth CMF and, though it's not fun, it is SO doable. Yes, I still have my hair as most CMFers do. I was on the same protocol as you will be, every 3 weeks. I had my infusion on Fridays and was pretty "normal" by Tuesday.....other than the constipation, which seemed to be the biggest side effect. You need to be VERY proactive about constipation. Really boost your fiber, the week BEFORE your infusions. There is a wonderful thread called "CMF Questions". It has been running for years and those CMFgirls are incredibly generous and informative. Of course you are apprehensive starting chemo, but please know CMF is very tolerable. Feel free to PM me if you have questions. Oh! Many CMFers find they don't need steroids. Ask your Onc if they are necessary. They have their own SE like sleep disruption etc. I only had a bit in my infusion. I slept like a baby, which I really needed.
ladyinbama- How are you doing lady? Looking forward to you being out of the hospital SOON!
jag- Dang! There should definitley be a rule that NOTHING bad can happen to your kids while you are in chemo! Contact sports! The American pastime! Thankfully, my son has NO interest in team sports. He loves swimming! I will keep your son in my prayers for a full and speedy recovery. I hope your husband is helping you with all this!
amyjo- I'm so sorry for your DD's miscarriage. What a lot of emotions you all will be going through! I know those grandkids will keep the joy factor up in spite of the sadness. About your stuffiness, it may just be allergies because California has different allergens. I agree with whoever recommended saline nasal flushes. Google "netty pots" They are these little teapot-like things that you can use to flush your sinuses with saline water. They are a bit of a pain, but when I use it, it really does help. As I am lazy and don't want to deal with it sometimes, I found this GREAT saline nasal spray in a pressurized can (most of them are useless, but this one is great). It is called Entsol saline nasal spray. You squirt it up your nose. It sort of feels like you just inhaled ocean water. After you blow your nose, your sinuses are completely open.
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Netty pots rule!
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Just wanted to let you all know I am having internet issues, my bf is running out to see if he can find the right power cord. If not, you may not hear much from me for a bit. Surgery is Tuesday.
Amyjo - I had sinus surgery, although he wasnt able to finish because my sinus were so swollen, I still have issues. My ENT has me make this mixture.
1 quart distilled water, 2 lvl teaspoons of sea salf, and 1 teaspoon of baking soda. Use a neti pot or the squeeze bottle type, warm to body temp in the microwave, for me it's 32 seconds, and this is importanint, when you are squeezing the water up the one side of your nose, BREATH THROUGH YOUR MOUTH. This allows the solution to flush your sinisus and exit the other side, then repeat for the other side. You'll be blowing your nose for a little bit after, but it really does help with the swelling inside causing the congestion, and dries up the runny.
Im sorry for your daughters loss, I have been through it too many times myself, never an easy thing. But enjoy those grandbabys! I'm bummed I cant see mine before the surgery because they have been sick, and I cant risk getting sick so close to surgery.
So, I hope everyone is doing well, and I will get back on as soon as I can.
Krisrt
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Saline solution here I come! Thanks for all the advice. I had already upped the vitamin C and been drinking extra water and resting as much as I can. So I am off to try the saline solution now.
Jag - so sorry to hear about your son's broken leg. Know that my prayers are with you both.
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AmyJo: My condolences and prayers go out to you and your family.
Jag: I'll say a prayer for you and your son too. I agree, enough is enough!
I'm STILL in the hospital. My fever went away, but something started growing in two of the blood cultures, so now they are trying to pinpoint what it is and where it originated. I've got to stay hooked up to the antibiotics until ? who knows. I was pretty upset this morning, I've been here since Wed. night. But might as well calm down and accept it as another curve in the cancer road. I've been lucky so far as respects SEs.
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AmyJo, my sincere condolences. Bama, I am so glad you are 'OK' sorta. Hope they get to the bottom of it. Jag - (((HUGS))) nothing is worse that a kid having a problem. Sweetaero - prayers are coming at you for your surgery. Redinrah - you too for next week and your chemo. Big gentle HUGS for you! Tina - keep up with the percocets. Don't let the pain get ahead of you. DesignerMom - so glad you are done and are able to get back into a 'new' normal schedule. Samsue Janet and GD - Thinking about you! Shelley Thankd God for lomotil. Still having diarrhea but I am sleeping about 6 hours/night. The shrink is helping me with exercises I do when falling asleep. Seems to be helping (along w/melatonin). I do not metabolize stuff well so I don't get 'used' to drugs. Calleigh these ladies have been there done that and DM actually did CMF so pick her brain.
Have a great rest of the weekend!
OH, yes, and I'm going to the Rays game Tuesday. GO RAYS!!!
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bama-->bummer! I was hoping you were home by now! But at least you are being well taken care--relax and enjoy it
Amyjo-->glad you made it safely! So sorry to hear about the loss of the baby. That is such a difficult thing to go through--prayers for your family. Hope you start feeling better soon.
jag--> wow--a z? sheesh, glad i didn't see that! Hope your son is MUCH better, and hope you are doing ok too!
I've been praying for all of you when I'm lying awake in the middle of the night!
Take care!
Tina
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I pop in here so briefly these days, but I hope everyone is doing well... just one quick note to say that I am one who loves my wigs! I have several and in different colors, I have fun mixing it up!! This weekend I took my boys to the Renaissance Fair and wore my "sugar cain" long, blond wig with a pretty rose and ribbon garland. I felt like a fairy princess!! When else in my life can I have fun with my hair like this?! I have never in my life had so many compliments on my hair- the wigs are truly beautiful and look incredibly real. They were between two and three hundred dollars each- quite a bargain considering how much money I've saved having my hair done!! Jag, I'm so glad you're doing great! Hugs to all
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Ladynbama- sorry you are still in the hospital. I know what a downer that can be, but hopefully they will get to the bottom of whatever is going on and you will be out soon. Know that I am praying for you.
The saline solution has cleared up my head so that I can breath better now. However my cough is a lot worse. I coughed all night, my poor DH thought I was going to choke i was coughing so hard. Needless to say this morning my chest is really sore. We are keeping an eye on my temperature and at the first sign of a fever my daughter and DH said they were taking me to the hospital. There is one really close here that has a cancer center so they will take me there. Hopefully that won't be necessary. Need to go as we are headed up to Big Sur for a picnic.
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Amyjo- sorry about your daughters loss, I had two myself- it was very hard for me. But I managed, time is a great healer.
Jag- hope your son recovers fast- ya football is dangerous! I hear of injuries all the time.good luck on your chemo Tues
Im dreading the port as im a belly sleeper. Port tues and chemo on Wed- its my TC and this time they are adding herceptin. I hope I dont have as much trouble as last time. Im getting all my meds ready this time. And going to just go with flow!
someone tell me that it gets better with each treatment. I was told by a few (that the 1st one is the easiest, which i fail to believe) -but im no expert.
happy thanksgiving everyone, im off to my brothers house!
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just popping in to say sorry to all you girls that are goin through rough times.if i try to remember who i would call it impossible.just know you girls are always in my thoughts and prayers.WE ARE GONNA BEAT THIS THING.
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Granny,
Thanks for being our greatest cheerleader! Love you!
Tori
DE COLORES!
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Hi,
I am a 2010 girl. I am currently ahving the same cold that many of you are. It has now been 18 days in. I imagine it is taking so long to go away because I am 4 chemos in, AC so far. I had to delay todays chemo because I still feel so crappy, and weak and have the cough remaining. I will think it is hjust a hard cough and then here comes the rest again spounding like I am choking. So far no temp though, I am about to check again.
I need to start Taxol but really couldn't see dragging myself in to the hosp and then getting sent home again like I was last week. The other times I have at least felt okay when I got the infusion, starting out feeling bad seems like a poor idea.
Someone asked about what anyone was taking to help. I have been taking Mucinex, so far it helps. I have in the past used the Netti Pot and I find it is especially useful when the air is dry.
I'll be around.
Does anyone have any experience with Taxol? I am pretty worried about the side effects on it. Anyone do okay with it?
Thanks
Ginger
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I also have been struggling with a bad cough over the last week. I am scheduled for chemo #4 Taxotere next Friday. In speaking to my Onc last Friday, basically they will check on me tomorrow to see if the cough persists--if so (and it does), they will do some blood work and then make decision on chemo this week. I don't want a delay but am kind of nervous having chemo with a cough. I have had no fever and currently do not require any antibiotics--i am pretty sure just caught some virus.
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Hi Ginger! Are you getting Taxol weekly or every 2 weeks? I just finished 4 Taxol tx, every 2 weeks. I had to do it every 2 weeks because I already have neuropathy (from chemo last year), and the weekly Taxol makes it worse. All the other se's are easier though, with the weekly. My main se has been bad bone pain. I take percocet for it, and it works pretty well--sometimes I need 2. There is very little nausea with Taxol. Some people lose, or nearly lose their fingernails. Mine are soft and peeling a little, but not bad. It may help to keep clear nail polish on them. I have been happy, overall, with the Taxol, compared to AC or the other chemo I had last year (for colon cancer). The pain is much more manageable for me than the fatigue and nausea! I'm sure others will be sharing their experiences also!
redninrah-->I hope the port doesn't bother you too much! Sleeping in a recliner might help for a few nights--then you won't be tempted to sleep on your tummy! I was sore for a few days after, but nothing too bad. I've had my port for over a year and a half now, and am very glad I have it. Make sure you are getting a "power" port, or "smart" port. Then it can be used for ct scans and such. And ask your doc or nurses about using "emla" cream--it's a lidocaine cream you put on your port about an hour before infusion. You have to use a big glob, and you can cover it with glad press n seal, or saran wrap. You won't be able to use it the first time, because the incision has to heal first.
Hi Grannydukes! thanks for your support!
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Welcome Ginger - come back often to talk. Someone here offered coffee so sit down and have a cup. The ladies here are very encouraging and so helpful. From my experience it makes it easier to walk along side someone that understands especially if they have an ear to listen.
Blessings to everyone.
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Hi Ladies -
Haven't had a chance to post in a while. Couple weeks ago I spent quite a long time writing a post that covered several subjects being discussed and somehow it got deleted when I clicked on 'submit' ???
For those of you going through Chemo and wondering if life will ever return to normal, if you'll ever be able to do what you used to, etc. etc ...the answer is YES. I have been painting my house (outside & on walk boards and so forth!!) and if anyone had told me 6 months ago that I would be doing that I would have thought they were crazy. My blood counts had dropped so low that I honestly had trouble walking. Once the Tx were over, my energy started returning and so did my hair :-)))))))
On the subject of hair ---- losing mine was horrible and I know how silly that seems when the more important issue is beating the cancer but still... I'm one of those people that if I was having a bad hair day, chances were it would not be a good day. Well, like many things when dealing with this horrible cancer, you have to compromise and find a way to deal with it, turn a negative to a positive. All heads are not alike - mine is undersized, I discovered, there is a flat spot on top which I blame on my twin sister, and my ears look like some mutation of a Pixie Spock - Ugh!!! and not at all adaptable to hats with no hair or scarves. Decided I would have to go the wig route and a few days after my first Tx and long before the hair came out, I found a wig shop that is excellent. I'm in the Indianapolis area and if anyone else is in this area, be sure to check out 'Wigs We Care' in Greenwood, Indiana. Wig took care of daytime but no way was I going to wear a wig to bed so found a micro fleece night cap that looked ok on and maybe even more important, was really comfortable. This source was TLC.org from the American Cancer Society. Also bought an inexpensive wig from them that is longer so I can pull it up twisted into a clip - looks like the real thing. Hair is growing back (now 2"!!!) and as the hair started returning so did my energy and strength. On the downside, however, hair at this point strongly resembles ROADKILL !! It is very thick which is good, very curly which is not so good as don't know what to do with it, was stark white but now colored to my pre-chemo color but is still hair. Am having fun with it and as soon as I get my bangs back, I'll feel like I am really back to normal and will eliminate the wigs completely. Chemo doesn't last forever, just seems that way when going through it.
Want to pass on this website for compression sleeves - they have really fun designs & why not have a little fun (mine is skin color with what look like tattoos of butterflies)? lymphedivas.com I had 30 nodes removed and am dealing with the problems associated with that ..in fact, am still looking for answers and unlike the hair, my lymph drainage system is not returning to normal. Am having problems with chest wall edema too and have had no luck at all with a PT who knows how to help. Anyone else having chest wall edema? Have a feeling I should never have had implants after 30 nodes removed and not one Dr can tell me if having them removed will help or not!! ??? Not sure what to do so am living with it right now.
Am walking 'For the Cure' on Sunday and a friend brought me a Tshirt to wear. It is great & says: 'Fight Like A Girl' over a female boxer outline wearing pink gloves, pink sports bra & pink shorts.
Thoughts with everyone in all the various stages of our BC experience.
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Well the saline solution worked great at clearing my head, but I still have this cough that is not getting any better. Called my family dr and asked what I could take and he said try some binedryl and drink plenty of water and stay away from my asthma triggers. Since I am not running a fever he thinks I will be fine by the time I get back to NC. I hope so since I have my next tx on the 19th and I do not want to postpone that. Guess we will have to just wait and see.
Today we went up to Big Sur and it was a good day, but very long and I am exhausted. My DH is telling me to come to bed and get some rest. My grandson is throwing up so I think I will stay away from him for a while. Hope everyone has a restful evening. I know I probably will sleep all night after being out in the fresh air all day.
Good nigh all and have a good evening.
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Hi Lily!! Missed you! Glad you had a great time AmyJo. You better stay away from your GS. You don't neeed to get what he has.
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rachel- how is the Taxotere SE's been? I'm doing that next after one more FEC and they have been brutal for the first few days. Sorry you've had some delays and definately your share of problems. May there be free sailing here on in.
Cathy
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I had my 1 tx last Tuesday: Taxotere, Carboplatin (& Herceptin). It's really hard to distiguish chemo SE from all the crap they give you to manage the chemo SE. Zyrtec put me in a purple haze initially but since I got seriods too had energy the first few days. Nuelasta made my upper back, neck, head and 1 rib ach a little but not too bad. I was mostly tired although today I'm a bit better.
I do have issues with a bloody nose. SE but not common. I do have heartburn (Prilosuck is not working so they are putting my on something else). Terrible lower back pain yesterday although today it's almost gone. Thank goodness. That had to be the worst. Oh and some diarrea started yesterday but not bad.
Seems as soon as you figure out you have a SE it goes away and replaced with something else. Overall not bad though. I just feel my 1st week after TX will be my worst.
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