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March 2011 chemo-lounge

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Comments

  • divinemrsm
    divinemrsm Member Posts: 6,621

    Mauimama, I LOVE that you are treating yourself to a little furry puppy dog when your chemo is complete!  What a most excellent idea!

    Husker, that onc caught you offguard.  And the nurse gave you good information and was clearly on your side. I hope next time, if you feel he's patronizing you again, you'll be able to speak to him about how he treats you.  It's insightful to hear your mother's input about the onc.    

  • Kymn
    Kymn Member Posts: 887

    Ladies I feel totally  normal, seriously I am confused I dont feel sick, just a bit tired but heck Im always tired at the end of the day. i am eating normal I dont know this is freaky. Maybe they just gave me saline instead of FEC lol. Did anyone have this where they felt just fine?

  • mdg
    mdg Member Posts: 1,468

    Kymn:  I felt fine the day of chemo and two days after (I am on TC).  The morning after chemo I went to the gym and ran errands all day.  The second day after chemo, the same thing....felt great!  I worked out for an hour and ran around all day.  On day 3 it started with body aches.....that lasted a few days.  I never took any nausea meds at all...didn't have any nausea.  I had a good appetite, but nothing sounded good so I kept it bland as nothing just seemed to be what I wanted.  Days 3-6 post chemo were my bad days but on day 7 I woke up and felt like a new woman.  During my bad days I still managed to hit the gym on days 5/6 post chemo even though I was aching.  You may do fine or it may take a few days.....crossing fingers you do just fine!  Keep us posted!

  • lilylady
    lilylady Member Posts: 478

    So glad for you Kym. Hoping you get a great sleep tonight and feel just as good tomorrow. Doesn't look like anyone else in the lounge is doing the FEC. Maybe you can be the poster girl for that-you certainly  look pretty enough to be a poster girl for anything.

    MDG you have inspired me with your gym stories=I even took all the laundry off the Bowflex and dusted it.

    Husk-I am glad you felt the nurses were on your side and not that pompous ass of a  doc. It's a hard to rein your feelings in at a time like that. When I waited 3 hrs at the surgeons office and the nurse commented I seemed a little "anxious" it was all I could do to not wish a disease on her. I always thought that was one of the biggest benefits of my job in a factory-I can pretty much get stuff off my chest or throw something when I get pissed.

    Maybe this was just a fluke and the next time will go  really well-AND you have this one under your belt now.

  • mdg
    mdg Member Posts: 1,468

    Lilylady:  I am glad you are feeling motivated.   If you want to join my virtual exercise class join us on the surgery board under the Jan 2011 Post Op Exercise Check In thread.  We post our exercise and healthy stuff every day.  I am an aerobics instructor so since I am not teaching my regular classes now, I am doing an online virtual class.  If you come over there, I will bug you every day to workout!  I actually think I may teach my classes during the rest of chemo...I miss teaching my real classes!  I will however schedule myself off in the days following chemo to rest but the other two weeks of the cycle I feel just fine.  I do believe that exercise helps me through this so I am committed to going 5 days a week - the only days I skip are infusion days. 

  • dizzyakira
    dizzyakira Member Posts: 41

    Hey ladies, I just want to thank each and every one of you for sharing your stories :) I'm about to get my first AC dose and so far I'm not hysterical. Nervous and terrified, but very hopeful and encouraged by what I have read. :)





  • migallen
    migallen Member Posts: 46

    Hi Dizzyakira,

    I too am going in for my first a/c treatment in an hour and a half.  my stomach is messed up with nerves.  I woke up at two am and was up until 4:00 am.  Ladies if I can write back later as to how I'm feeling I will let you all know.  Off I go for my cocktail, would rather have a very dirty martini.

    hugs,

    min

  • Kymn
    Kymn Member Posts: 887

    morning ladies, well still feeling just fine I am amazed,I woke up at 6 feeling a bit nauseas like I ate something that didnt agree with my took my pill and now just great. heck I could be at work but hey nice to have a day off lol. If I am feeling this good will go back to work Monday for sure. Not even too tired just a tad thats it.Am starting to get my head wrapped around the fact that my hair will be gone soon seeing as the medicine is now in my body, maybe i will cut some off myself today to start detaching myself from it. I am going to start working out too. going to get the exercise bike set up by the tv that is easiest for me to watch a program helps the time go by. am I really the only one doing FEC weird I wonder why? thanks for the compliment lily lady that was sweet of you, wonder what I am going to look like bald though Embarassed

    Ok well Im off to watch criminal minds will keep you all posted

    love ya all

    kymn

  • Anniemomofthree
    Anniemomofthree Member Posts: 370

    Good luck min - i always get the pre-chemo D.  First time I though "I must be getting sick..." but then after four rounds I realized it is just part of the gig.  

    Enjoy the cocktail (as much as you can) cuz it is doing good work!

    Annie 

  • mamaoftwo
    mamaoftwo Member Posts: 9

    MDG- if you're reading this, how's the hair doing with the cold caps?  I'm so curious to hear how it works for you.

  • dizzyakira
    dizzyakira Member Posts: 41

    Good luck Min!!!! I'm still waiting for mine...been here since 830, ugh, they sure do like to drag this out. I feel like I'm a contestant on a game show lol. I was all prepared/nervous/anxious for it this morning, now I'm just annoyed that I'm still in the waiting room. Plus I'm starving and that's not a good sign...

  • Kymn
    Kymn Member Posts: 887

    dizzy and mig forgot to say good luck today, you will both do just fine just relax and know you are winning

  • dizzyakira
    dizzyakira Member Posts: 41

    Thanks Kymm,

    I just finished the A, now just getting the C. The nurses are so sweet. I hope Min is well. I'm talking to everyone trying to distract myself...you gals are great. Making this so much more bearable. I'm almost done.

  • lilylady
    lilylady Member Posts: 478

    Min and Dizzy-Happy Friday to you both-I am sending out positive thoughts for a great weekend.

    MDG-I thought dusting off the Bowflex WAS the exercise? I will check out your class-they told me today at  the Onc office "Free Pass" to eat anything-then they followed that up with-try not to gain any weight//WTF?

    Got my scans done today-they wanted some additional shots after the bone scan-hoping it was because I sneezed. Also got the Muga done and they drew blood for baseline numbers.

    They wrote scrips for Compazine and Zophran. Any comments on what meds worked best for you guys?. I am thinking more along the line of the magic Brownie fix...They have suggested I don't take anything until I see how it goes. As far as the D stuff I have had that problem for years and have had way better luck with Walmart brand Equate Anti-D. Doesn't mess you up the other way and works fast-also cheaper.

  • mdg
    mdg Member Posts: 1,468

    Dizzy and Min:  HUGS!  Thinking about you today.....you will get through it uneventful I bet.  I hope all goes well.....

     Kymn:  I keep wondering if you will get a "hangover" or not...I hope not!  (I think hangover is a good word instead of side effects - don't you?  Afterall we are drinking in the lounge!).    Come to think of it my side effects did mimick a hangover, you know foggy feeling, body aches and tired.  Hangover will be our new word for post chemo issues.... ha ha!

    Mamaof2:  Yes, I am hanging out in the lounge as I am a lush.  I had chemo on 3/2 and to date have not had shedding up top ye.....I keep waiting for it to hit.  The hair down south has been going since Tuesday of this week though but it's not a full brazilian yet (sorry if this is TMI but I am pretty sure we are all getting Brazilians from our cocktails so everyone can relate).  I have noticed the hair under my arms on on the legs has stopped growing.  I shaved days ago and there is barely stubble.  One more shave should do it for months I suppose.  I wonder when it will hit the head.  Anyone else on taxotere and cytoxan that can tell me when hair on the head started to go?  They tell me if I make it to day 21 after the first chemo with hair it will work.  Day 21 will be next Wednesday (when I am back in the lounge for my second cocktail) so I will keep you posted.

    Lilylady:  Now don't make me start promoting exercise in the lounge after all we are here for drinks and fun!  Ha ha!  You will get there.  Meet me on the other thread and I will give you a gentle nudge :)  My doc's give me crap about working out.  When I told my doc I wanted to teach a few aerobics classes during chemo (you know 2 and 3 weeks after a chemo session when I feel fine) she about had a coronary.  Whatever......I will teach if I feel like it and listen to my body and workout at a lower level.  I am not a complete idiot, geez!   So based on that I love the comment about eat anything but don't gain weight.....As far as the meds, I would wait and see.  I did not have any nausea at all post chemo and did not take one pill (I have zofran and compazine).  I did eat a little bland because nothing sounded good to me and I did eat 6 small meals a day when I could just to keep food in my stomach.  I drank tons of water.  The only issue that was bad was the constipation...I usually suffer from the big "D" regularly because I have IBS.  I was worried about the D coming but I was completely blocked up.  That surprised me.  I am taking Senakot and stool softeners on the next chemo day.  YOu never know how your body will respond.....I hope it goes well and you have no "hangover". :)

  • djls
    djls Member Posts: 21

    Hi.  My name is Jennifer and someone on one of the other forums told me to stop by.  I have been diagnosed with IDC and will be starting chemo on Monday.  We'll be doing the AC + Taxol protocol.  I have 2 tumors, it doesn't look like any lymph nodes have been invaded and it doesn't look like it invaded the chest wall (the large tumor is right against the chest wall).  My cancer is hormone positive and Her2 negative.  

    I just had my echocardiogram on Wednesday, my port put in yesterday and my PET scan today.  I'll be having chemo first, then mastectomy and most likely radiation, but I imagine that would depend on how things go with the chemo.

    I'm ready to start moving forward!

  • mdg
    mdg Member Posts: 1,468

    Welcome Jennifer!  (everyone say Hi to Jennifer she's new around the lounge!).  I am sorry you are joining us but glad you found us fun gals in the bar.  I just wanted to wish you luck on Monday with your first "cocktail".  We will all be here to get you through!  Try to have fun this weekend.  Please post an update next week and let us know how it went.  There are a lot of other girls on the same chemo here.  What is your "fun" cocktail of choice???  I am drinking pinot grigio on Wednesday next week...it will be my second cocktail :)

  • Silia
    Silia Member Posts: 265

    Haven't been able to read everyone's updates but just had to share that the default Brazilian is big time underway -- ughhhh!!!  Hope everyone has a great weekend.

  • maxineo
    maxineo Member Posts: 199

    I so appreciate hearing about all the hair loss. It's so surreal to think that this time next week my hair will be falling out when it feels perfectly normal now!

    Welcome, Jennifer. Glad you survived that PET scan, talk about stressful.

    All have a great weekend!

  • Kymn
    Kymn Member Posts: 887

    I agree maxine, I cut about 4 inches of mine today and still its past my shoulders and feels great and healthy and in 12 days it will be gone. Very surreal.

    Welcome Jennifer, make sure you enjoy this weekend and dont worry too much the actual chemo day comes and goes and is pretty uneventful not worth the worry we all give it. I just had it yesterday.

    Min and Dizzy hope things are going well for you today.

    Happy to report no "hangover" yet lol I like that MDG

    talk to you all later

  • dizzyakira
    dizzyakira Member Posts: 41

    Hi jennifer!! Sorry u had to join us :(

    Hi ladies, I think I was fine during the infusion, but now starting to have anxiety. Starting to feel nauseous, not sure if it's from the chemo or anxiety. When I don't think of it I'm fine, when I realized I just had chemo I freaked out and start to feel lightheaded and nauseaous. Did anyone need zofran our ativan 4 hours after infusion???

  • migallen
    migallen Member Posts: 46

    Hi Jennifer, welcome to the lounge.

    Thank you Kymn for the well wishes. The treatment was not bad at all.  I blew it out of proportion in my head.  The staff was great.  They did tell me that I will start to lose my hair in 10 to 14 days. I did have long highlighted hair, but now it's super short.  I will tell you something my nurse told me and I don't know if they shared this with you, the nurse told me that we had to use a condom! She said so that he would not feel the effects of the chemo.

    Hi dizzyakira, my chemo pal, Did they have you take an Emend 125 mg before they started the chemo?  SO far I feel no nausea.  My ativan was given to me prior to the A/C.  Also, I immediately worked out at the nci for 1 hour.  So far, I feel good.

    lol on the default brazilian, hey at least we don't need to shave for summer.  Are we even allowed outside during treatment? Yay, I'm 25% done with my a/c

    hugs,

    min

  • dizzyakira
    dizzyakira Member Posts: 41

    Hey chemo buddy! Lol I like that. I got emend and deca...something..lol the steroids. And something else in the iv, tomorrow I get the neulasta and an iv. I think I'm just freaking myself out. I'm just laying on my living room floor waiting for something to happen. So far my mouth feels funny.

    Thats awesome u feel great! I hope to calm this anxiety so I can enjoy what is left of the day.

  • Kymn
    Kymn Member Posts: 887

    Dizzy sorry you have such anxiety I took the zofran before chemo they gave me something in my drip and then I took one around 8 last night and then again at 6 this morning so far so good. Just feeling a tad tired. Maybe watch a movie a good comedy to get your mind off of it. The steroids gave me angelena jolie lips lol.

    Mig the nurse did not tell me about using a condom....uh oh....too late now guess I better ask about that huh, damn why wouldnt they tell us that. I also had an adivan really helped I think but dont know if I will need it next time around. I too had long blond hair sigh but glad I cut some off just to detach will get more cut off this weekend I think.

  • migallen
    migallen Member Posts: 46

    Well it did eat half a hot dog and some chips during the infusion. What else was funny is when I went potty it was red. Oh, you're doing the neulasta tomorrow, please let me know how that goes please.  I love brooklyn, i took my 2 daughters there a couple of years ago and we stayed in prospect park.  I love New York.  Is the weather cold right now?

  • dizzyakira
    dizzyakira Member Posts: 41

    The weather is great right now, in the 70s. I'm trying to drink ensure, my mom is trying to get me to eat chicken curry, not sure if I can do it. Thanks ladies, speaking really helped. My mouth is pretty dry right now. and you are right! 25% done!!!

  • lilylady
    lilylady Member Posts: 478

    Hi Jennifer-you have come to the right place-this is the hippest place to hang if you have BC----and are getting March chemo. I am also getting chemo before surgery. Port install on Mon and first chemo Weds. We will be fine-have all this good info to help us thru.

     Hey Maxine where in Indiana are you? I have BFF in Carmel who is driving over next Saturday to spend the day. She wanted me to move in with her for a year because she thinks the best BC guy in the world is in Indianapolis. And what is so stressful about the Pet scan? I had a CT scan today at 7am and late today they called to tell me they wanted me back for a Pet scan ASAP. That part has me worried but is it the test itself that is diificult? No call from the Onc office about any results.. 

  • supersally
    supersally Member Posts: 158

    ladies,

    I had some typical hangover issues.  I couldn't sleep last night, I had restless arms and legs!  I think the steroids they gave me amped me up.  I finally crashed.  I have had heartburn and a general funky feeling in my throat/mouth all day.  I've been doing a baking soda/salt mouth rinse and that is helping a lot.  I have not yet had constipation or diarrhea.  I have taken my anti-nausea, coumadin, and steroids as directed.

    I've been eating bland, some foods don't sound good to me.  I also have a drastically increased sense of smell!  I can't deal with feeding my furry nurses their canned dog food right now!  DH is hovering like a mother hen over me, petting me and making me food and brining me drinks (H2O, hah), it's nice.  Hoping he doesn't do it all weekend, that could be smothering!  He worked from home today mostly just to be around for me.  The hangover seems somewhat anticlimactic too. 

  • PennyCookson
    PennyCookson Member Posts: 356

    Hi Jennifer - welcome,
    glad to hear most people are going fine with their treatment.It really does seem the anticiaption is the worse thing.

    At day 15 of the first cycle I just have annoying stuff, skin gone dry and blotchy, hair coming out in clumps.  I had it cut to 1.5 ins before I started but am going for the shave today.  Husband is coming with me and insists on shaving his off too in sympathy. friends and family seem more concerned about that than anything - Will he get a sunburnt head? will he look awful?

    Bought some ear cuffs, decided if I decide to go without the wig I could dress the ears up  - see:

    http://www.harrymason.com/s.nl/it.A/id.1666/.f?sc=2&category=2003 - I bought the dolphins (expensive but gorgeous)

  • Huskerkkc
    Huskerkkc Member Posts: 471

    Hi all, especially Jennifer! I had my first chemo yesterday and the Neulasta shot at 4:30 this afternoon. I worked from 8-12 and felt fine-no hangover, except...TMI time (but y'all started it, not me!): I had gassy pains throughout the afternoon. Had taken stool softeners last night and this morning, been trying to drink, had a small can of prune juice at noon. I did NOT want to be constipated, but it has been a few days so figured it was time things got moving. First time-just gas. Second time-more regular movement. 20 minutes ago-the BIG D! Sigh. So you never know. Maybe I shouldn't have had the prune juice?!! I took two Immodium. Hopefully this takes care of it. Plus the applesauce cup I switched to instead of the grilled chicken sandwich my husband just brought home from Dairy Queen. Damn. 

    I got both compazine and Zofran for nausea (for after chemo) but have not used either. They gave me Aloxi prior to chemo, which was for nausea. Never felt any during infusion. Did have a slight anxiety moment about 10 minutes from the end, but that was it. No treatment needed. For after chemo nausea I was told to use the compazine first and at the very first sign of it. If I threw that up then I should take the Zofran. They only wanted to give me the compazine script, but I live 30 minutes from the nearest 24/hr pharmacy (we have a pharmacy in town but they close at 6 pm and noon on Saturday), so I did not want to be throwing up and waiting for up to 2 hours for my poor husband to return with something stronger. Was able to sleep all night (even with the steroids!) and no nausea yet.  

    As for the hair, I got mine cut short last weekend and went to the wig bank and a salon today. The wig bank is housed in a cosmetology school. With an oncology referral, you can get one wig free, but you are limited to what they have on hand. They are not new, but have been donated. My hair is a little darker than it was six months ago since I haven't been able highlight like I usually do, but I brought a picture of my from my daughter's September wedding so they had an idea of a color I look good in. She brought out two wigs. The first looked gray, but when combed out a bit, the style was tolerable. The second was more blonde, but curly. Think blonde Little Orphan Annie (which is what my husband told me in the car). The lady apologized and suggested I go to their bigger school 90 minutes away if I wanted more of a choice. SIGH. I took the blonde one just so I would have SOMETHING and I will take it to my stylist friend and see if it is salvagable. If you are near or in a big town, I would think you would have much more selection and better service than I did. But if my only choice is this, I will go with the scarves that arrived yesterday.

    Luckily the visit to the private salon was more successful. She only had one wig to try on, but it was in a color I liked and with all the hair swatches we could quickly find something that looked like me. I looked through two catalogs, one Raquel Welsh and one Gabor, and found two styles I think I wll like. She is going to price them for me, help trim and style when they arrive, and in generall really be much more sensitive and helpful. My mom and two daughters (25 and 20) will be here tomorrow so I can show them on the website and get female approval. My poor husband didn't know what to say. It's like asking, "Does this make me look fat?" I mean, what's the poor guy to say? So I am hopeful that I can get a wig before the hair goes. Kymn, I ama still mourning my future hair loss, but as in most things, once I took some action, looked at some styles and met some helpful people, I am slowly getting used to the idea. What choice do I have, really?! 

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