March 2011 chemo-lounge
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Good morning and happy Friday! I am ready for the weekend. DH finally got home last night. We have some fun time with family and friends planned for the weekend. I am off to the gym for a workout now and to run some errands. I have to wash my hair today and know it will shed....kind of freaking out about it. I am trying to prepare myself that it will happen and I will still have a lot left. It is so gross and disgusting right now I am even embarassed to go to the gym....that's bad because eveyone goes to the gym with bad hair! Oh well......I am going to put it up and go and then come home and obsess while washing it. I am gonna need a drink for that too!
Big shout out to all our gals that were in the chair this week! Sending "no hangover" vibes your way and a sweet little shot...watermelon shooter for fun! Can you believe I opened the lounge a month ago? We have all made it through round one and some of us round two already! A toast to my gal pals "To the most beautiful, smart, caring, and funloving gals I know....cheers!"
Cathyjoan: Welcome to the lounge! I am also a TC gal...I already did round 2 and it was better than round one with no real SE's. I am sorry about the buzzing......I am glad you have a group of others that have already done it to support you! I am glad you found our happy little lounge! I so want a massage and I have two gift cards for them but am worried I won't find someone that understands the risks of lymphadema for me and will cause me an issue.....I have to make some phone calls and see what I can find out. it sounds so good. I think our lounge should also have a spa section...don't you think? What could be better than a cool, hip lounge with good drinks, music and company with a spa on the side???? It's every girl's dream!
Supersally: I love a blast from the past like the Bee Gee's. After a few drinks I will sing to anything though......
Kymn: Thanks for the drinks sista! I LOVE the idea of hot bartenders in our bar. Nothing like having some eye candy to make a girl feel good!
Penny: I will keep you posted on what happens with the PS on Monday. I love motown! I am here in motown. Grew up with the Supremes, and more! Good choice!
Husker: I sent you a PM. Hoping all goes well today!
AdAngel: I love the name you gave your wig..."natasha". Perfect.
Bluecowgirl: Glad you still feel good and have no "hangover"....hope it stays that way!
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Just got my bloods back - day 10 post first round of FEC. Everything is good - actually more than good! So excited and feel totally back to normal. Looking forward to the weekend and wishing all of you well. xx
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mdg - Great to hear you are feeling well. The hair, as we all know, is stressful. I went and bought 2 REALLY silly wigs yesterday which made me feel better about the whole thing. One is flourescent pink and well worth the $14 it cost. Also my aunt gave me a lovely silk Hermes scarf - am too young to wear it kerchief-style, so I wear it tied silly like a do-rag, lol. Having as much fun with this as posible, and laughter is great medicine.
Maxine - Don't forget the Chlorhexidine rinse is prescription - don't drive yourself crazy looking for it in the drug store like I did
AdAngel - Congrats on your good bloodwork and have fun with Natasha
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Hi ladies, TGIF!
It has been a wild ride this first round of TCH. I thought it was going to be ok, with the typical SEs kicking in over last weekend. But Big D arrived and was fixin' to stay. I ended up dehydrated and had to come in to the hospital for a boost of saline. The dr put me on a clear fluid diet and ordered more saline for at home. I was feeling ok, even wanted to eat, but had to stick to apple juice and broth. They get old fast. I woke up this morning and heard the angel chorus when it looked like Big D was going to move on.
I had more blood work and an X-ray today and the dr said it all looks ok and I could graduate to a full fluid diet and then slowly work in more solids. I'm also getting another turbo-boost of saline and will get one at home tomorrow.
So it looks as if it will be a good weekend. I have less than 2 weeks to get this under control before the next hit (which I hope they modify!)
Relatively speaking, I still feel I'm getting off easy.
I'm not good at finding lyrics but I'd suggest putting on something from Orchestral Maneouvers in the Dark's new album, History of Modern.
Have an easy weekend ladies, especially those of you in the chair this week.0 -
Happy Friday girls, Hope everyone is looking forward to the weekend I sure know I am. Its been a long week at work and I am ready for some R and R. DH and I are trying out a new restaurant tonight I am looking forward to that. And then maybe go and visit some friends. Next week is round two so I plan on enjoying this weekend
. going to stop and buy a bottle of wine on the way home too.Ok at work now just wanted to pop in and send positive thoughts and hugs to all you lovely ladies.
Kymn
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YAY it's Friday. I came back to work on Wednesday and I was like a little kid on their first day back at school.
On massages, I too was told it's a big no-no. I even had a pedicure and wasn't allowed to get the calf/foot massage.
I heard back on my ultrasound and it came back negative. Yay, no mass or anything solid.
My song is "I can see clearly now the rain is gone, I can see all obstacles in my way, gone are the clouds that had me blind, it's gonna be a bright sunshiny day"! LOL, it's from the '70s.
Lilylady, Hi! How are you doing today. hugs to all of you and have a great weekend.
ps day 15 and hair is just coming out in clumps now, buzz cut this weekend.
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TGIF, I say! It's a beautiful day here in Dallas. We are having dinner with friends tonight, looking forward to that. Brunch with the in-laws on Sunday. Planning to watch the NCAA games tomorrow - go Butler Bulldogs! I'm originally from Indy and that is my grandfather's alma mater, so I'm pulling for them. I've planned another beach vacation today. My mom and I are going to FL for a week in June when DH goes fishing with my dad. Yeah!! I have to figure out the swim suit thing though. I'm going to go through my closet tomorrow, if I feel up to it, and move the shirts that I can't wear now, and the winter stuff out of the way. I feel some retail therapy heading my way!
I'm having the worst time sleeping. I took Ambien Tues and Wed night and slept well. Last night I took 2 Benadryls instead because my allergies are kicking in and couldn't sleep. The Benadry was out of date (2008!), so maybe that's it, but I got maybe 2 hours of sleep. It was horrible! I'm back to Ambien tonight. Also, my allergies don't seem to be bad today. The onc's nurse said my white counts are better and red counts are good, so it's not a sinus infection or cold.
My scalp is tingling and sore. Is that how it starts? I'm at day 15 now. Blue Cowgirl, I thought about treating myself or asking for a Hermes scarf for my bday. I want to have one fab scarf that goes with a lot. I plan to wear it do rag style instead of turban style also. I'm too young for a turban!
Love the music choices girls. I will sign off with "Here comes the Sun" by the Beatles. Have a good weekend and hope you girls going today have minimal hangovers!
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Happy friday ladies!
I'm getting my second AC and would love to hear the Roxettes, here comes the weekend, reminds me of lazy summer days in france and germany with my husband.
Min: great news on the scan!! I was told to buzz my hair too but nothing is coming out yet, still have a ton of leg hair, I didn't shave for two weeks in anticipation of losing hair. I'm told definitely by this week.
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MaxineO - don't you love the patches of stubble and bald spots? I told dh this morning I look like a cat with mange.
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As you all know, or most of you, shaved the ol head on sunday but not loosing any stubble as of yet day 15 today, I will be so pissed off if I am the only friggin person out there who doesnt loose their hair on this stuff
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Cathyjoan,
I kind of LIKE myself bald!
I look very stylish and I have never looked good in hats until now! I have always taken very good care of my skin and without all that hair my face looks, well...prettier. In fact, I don't think I have ever been more satisfied with my look. Now, saying that I was looking at pictures of me with my long, think, dark hair and it was nice. But...life changes and I'm good with it. Plus, LOL I have to say that everyone smiles at me now and the tellers at the stores are extra nice. I have to laugh and enjoy it for awhile.
I bought a really cool hat today that I love so much I'm just wearing it around the house. I also have a very nice wig but I do find it uncomfortable.
I have my next treatment on the 5th then I am 50% done! Also spoke with my oncologist today and mentioned my lymphedema, very very slight but still worrisome. He took me seriously and has booked me in to see one of the best physical therapist in the region.
Hope you all have a great weekend.
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Doctor called back about the headaches. He thinks it's the Zofran. I'm not buying it. 7 days later? Well, I won't take the zofran next time and I'll tell him not to give me Aloxi, since that is a relative of the Zofran. If I keep getting headaches, then I would say it's safe to assume that it isn't the zofran.
How frustrating.
I guess we'll see!
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Ha ha Lilylady, I went back to check and see if that's what I really wrote b/c I was so off last night I had to keep going back to fix all these typos! What a pair (or group we all make with the chemobrain!) DOes anyone know if our brains and tastebuds will go back to normal after all this or is it permanent senility and no taste forever?
Maxine, you will be thrilled with the buffs, I wear them to bed and everywhere, save the scarves for work since they are a little fancier. Don't know if I mentioned this but due to the expense of the buffs I went to Joanne's Fabrics and bought some knit material and cut it by eye, measuring up to my survivor buff, folded it in half and sewed up the one side (well my mother in law did that part), worked quite well!
Have a great weekend everyone!
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Hey ladies,
I'm getting AC right now and suddenly my tongue and throat is getting numb, I've had this slightly the first time but it was much later in the day. my throat feels kind of sore and it takes slightly more effort to breathe. The nurse doesn't think it's an allergic reaction. Had anyone experience this before? It's quite difficult to swallow.0 -
For those of you with mouth sores, your doctor can have the pharmacy mix up a concotion of lidicaine, diphenhydramine (benedryl) and an antacid. Some doctors had an antifungal or an antibiotic, depending on what is going on.
I started getting sores on my tongue last weekend and he gave me a script for the lidocaine/diphenhydramine/antacid concotion and it worked miracles. First I tried the "swish" method (that's what was on the directions), but my lips way too numb. Then I started using a Qtip just to put it where the sores were, thus eliminating my whole mouth and lips from being numb. Stuff worked miracles. I suspect it is the benedryl part that does the trick, but I'm not a doctor.
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Timerdog,
From your little photo you look beautiful and I hope to feel the same way. My friend is coming over in one hour to shave my head and I think I'm ready. It's nice to hear you are enjoying your new look and getting special treatment.
I guess it's good to mix up our looks every now and the. I tend to get stuck in a rut.
My second treatment is the 6th. Like you, I'll be 50% done! Yippeee...
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Love the attitude TimerDog! And you're right, you do look good bald. You're giving me great hope for when I lose my hair. It's day 12 and still no sign of it going. Maybe having fine, thin hair to begin with is helping me keep it. My throat hurt and I felt like I couldn't swallow, but it didn't last long. I think I've had every symptom there is, but luckily they all went away quickly. Hope that will keep up with the second treatment on Monday. Have a good weekend all. This goes out to all of you, Everybody's Waiting for the Weekend.
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My efforts to explore the other side have once again proved fruitless. One of my girlfriends sent me to her health food store-called "Mother Earth". She had called the lady and when i gave her my name she was all ready
WHAT A NUT!!!!!!
I have been quite open to anything anyone suggested because from where I'm at I can't afford to dismiss anything.
Can I say again WHAT A NUT!!!!
First of all she asked me left or right breast-which seemed a little odd but I told her right breast. She immediately announced to the whole store I have long standing "man" issues. Husband, boyfriend, father, brother-- the root of my cancer are emotions that I have not dealt with that concern a man. If it is left breast it is children issues (in case some of you wondered)
OK-so now I have my diagnosis we are on to the treatment (and things went downhill). First she asked in a horrified voice " you aren't allowing them to put poison in your veins, are you?" She had the name of a man who was exposed to Agent Orange who is still living that has pretty much all the answers. She had his name written on a piece of paper but was holding it out away from me because until I renounced putting chemicals in my body I couldn't have it.
Don't ask me why I didn't leave but I told her I was looking for complementary treqtment-she came up with this DVD called the China Study and said she couldn't even speak to me until I had seen it or read the book. When I tried to buy some Complex B and some l-glutamine (which I have read about in here somewhere) she took them outof my hands and said-WATCH THE VIDEO".
I tried to buy a bottle of pure cherry juice and she wouldn't even sell me that. Another lady followed me out the door without buying anything-and guessed what she said?
"WHAT A NUT!!!!
All of a sudden laying in the floor of the shower giving myself a coffee enema, while eating aspargus washed down with lemon juice didn't seem so quacky.
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cellomomof5: my friend said I look like I shaved my hair to look like a cheetah! Definitely a dog with mange look.
The hair loss DID start with scalp pain for me. Not tingling. Pain. In fact, it still hurts as it continues to fall out in patched.
jenn_h I am excited about the buffs. I also got a free hat/wrap fro Gaila in the mail today. Very pretty, but definitely for dressier occasions. All cancer patients get a free hat, so check it out.
lilylady: so funny. I'm laughing out loud at the insanity of some people.
djs: I'm going to ask about your mouth sore concoction too. And thanks for the heads-up bluecowgirl. I will ask my dr. about the prescription.
timerdog: yay for you loving the bald look. My dh loves me bald. Go figure. The guy who usually freaked when I got my hair trimmed. Maybe it's like having a new wife.
All have a great weekend. Don't freak out when the hair starts coming out; it goes FAST.
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Hey y'all? I'm remiss in writing and keeping up. How are you all doing? With my crappy WiFi connection, it might take me a week to catch up with your posts. Anyway, just want you all to know that I finished my AC chemo last week and had literally NO side effects (other than losing much of my haie).
So, hang in there gals! I hate the term "do-able", like we have any choice! It goes faster than you think.
Love to all you March ladies!
Michelle
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timerdog - you look great with the hair shaved, I got up this morning and looked like a priest - the stubble on top had come off but I had a ring round the outside - had to do a quick shave to get rid of the rest. - so kymn I reckon yours will go eventually, you have not shorn in vain, but it can take a while
I also still have leg hair cellomomof5 - how wrong is that.
dizzyakira and dils - I had mouth and throat problems and sucked vegemite - this is a uniquely Australia food, which all Americans find disgusting, but which is full of Vit B. I am prepared to send food parcels to the less enlightened part of the world if it will help.
migallen - hurrah for the neg ultrasound - isn't good news lovely
I love the "I can see clearly" song - it somehow seems to have been playing at all the important moments in my life. My children have been instructed to play it at my funeral -(but thats not for a long, long time)
adangel - glad the blood work is good - my onc said some of my tests were better than before I started chemo - I have a horrible feeling that she means my liver function test as I have had to cut out my significant amounts of good red wine.
pasmithx2 - sorry about the big D - I was bad for the firstcycle , but knowing it was a risk has made me handle it better this time, took drugs early and ate bland stuff and its much better.
lilylady - I love the organic store story, clearly since mine is Rt breast I can now go and give Hubbie a hard time since he caused it, I have a similar lady who insists I should only eat Kale, goji berries and something called Maca powder from the Pumpush people who live 4000m above sea level in the Andes (seriously that's what it says on the packet)More advice from my mum - Apparently ever time I look in the mirror (and you do look in the mirror alot Penny), I am to ignore the fact that I look ugly and say "I am alive"
Have a great weekend everyone.
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Penny- that's funny about the vegemite. My husband is Australian so we have a couple jars in the cabinet. And I have to say that since I didn't grow up with it, I found it truly gross, and might just suffer if I get mouth sores:) He's hoarding the jars for himself anyway.
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Had my second TCH on Wednesday followed by Neulasta on Thursday. Have been a little tired so am now just catching up with all the post. So many - what a great group. So far no really bad SEs, some pretty bad heartburn - more than last time. Any suggestions?
As of Monday (Day 20 from first treatment) I had a full head of hair. I have very thick hair and it had started to shed but not noticeably. ( I was convinced that if I lost even 70% I could still look OK but then again I am the person who heard that 3% of women don't feel pain in childbirth and I positively believed that I was one of them!!!) Well, after washing gently in the shower on Tuesday it got all matted and when I tried to comb it out I lost about 75% - since my hair was shoulder length and the top got sparse I was stealing that Ben Franklin look! Was not as traumatic as I thought - the anticipation was worse.
huskerkkc - I cut it short and am just letting it fall out and have no pain or tenderness. I wear a hairnet to bed so no mess. Last night I did a Donald Trump combover and put the net on and I almost looked like I had a do!
Bluecowgirl - I also had the red blossom cheeks but mine rash had raised welts as well. I also got a cold sore on my lip and all cleared up with famciclovir (sp?).
anniepas - Both of us on the TCH - forgive me if I got your name wrong - the last time I went back to double check a name I lost my message and had to start again. Hope you are doing better with the big D. I eat a lot of fiber for several days before (36 grams) and and after and so far have not had an issue. I fogot today and can't face any food tonight so we wll see.
Lily - Hilarious story. I am thinking of you.
mgd - Thanks again for starting this - I don't know how you do it all.
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Hi ladies. I am having a problem I haevn't heard of yet, and hope none of you get. I have tiny red bumps on my scalp. They are sore, like little blisters. I am going to the chemo board to see if anyone reports this problem and what to do about it.
Have a wonderful weekend. I plan to... and a week free before I have to take infusion #3.
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lilylady- Someone who was trying to be helpful when I was first diagnosed told me about something called German New Medicine. The theory, simplistically, is that a cancer in the left breast relates to a conflict with a child. In the right breast, it's a conflict with a husband or partner. She was so serious telling me this so I could research it and incorporate it into my treatment.
I was tempted to respond with, "Are you F---g kidding me?!?!? This is your way of being helpful?!" But then I decided to respond with dead air. I had enough to occupy my mind without getting myself in a snit over some ridiculous idea that I'm somehow to blame for my own cancer.
I'm a researcher at heart so I did look into it briefly. It is a real movement and they do believe you can cure cancer because it has emotional triggers. There have been some lawsuits involving the families of people who traded standard cancer treatment for GNM and died as a result.
But I'm with you: WHAT A NUT!!0 -
Hmm...Well, I have cancer in my left breast, but I have no children. Guess wanting to have a child gave me cancer? Will adopting one cure me? I have a benign cyst in my right breast...Does that mean less serious probs w men? Oh wait...I have TWO tumors in my left breast...do I need to adopt twins? What conflict caused it to spread to my lymph nodes? Enquiring minds want to know!!
What a CLUCKING nut, I'd say! Heh, I forgot what thread I was posting on...those of you who have slightly sick senses of humor like I do should check out the "OMG They Found the Cure For Stupid" thread if you haven't already...lots of laughs.
Hope everyone is feeling well today; I am thrilled to say this 2nd round of AC has been so much easier than the first, I am like a different person
Hope hearing this makes someone sleep easier tonight, as I was sooo worried it would get progressively worse...I am proof it's not always like that!!! 0 -
Oh one more thing for a good laugh...I have a blog about my cancer treatment, and yesterday I was feeling like busting some cancer myths and encouraging my friends to go get mammograms. Well, thanks to chemo brain, I accidentally wrote, something like, "Everybody I know needs to go get a MASTECTOMY!" I was horrified when I went back and re-read it a few hours later.
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Penny, I find your mum's words of advice to say "I am alive" at our reflection in the mirror to be very inspirational this morning.
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Charlottesmama - congrats on finishing AC!
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BlueCowgirl - that is hysterical!
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