Starting Chemo in Nov. 2011...anyone else?
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Texas Rose
I am getting Taxol every week and so far 4 tx. I am NOT getting neuropathy becasue I head it off with 30g of L-Glutamine every day. The glutamine helps with other issues along the GI tract. Chemo kills off the fastest growing cells first which means the tissues in your alimentary channel-- intestines (hence hemorroids from constipation and straining), stomach lining (acid reflux etc), mouth isses (sores etc.) and then, your hair and nails. So suppementing with it seems to be helping me alot. As I write this, I am wondering if that is why-- after I already shaved my head to 1/4 inch-- I still have my hair! LOL
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Hello Everyone! My picture is of me wearing my wig before I lost my hair. I wore a hat to the plastic surgeon's office because I didn't want to deal with the wig. I have stubble on my head that a lint roller and rubbing my head with lotion won't remove. I wear a striped hat around the house that make me look like Joe Pesci in Home Alone! I made a face at myself in the mirror the other morning without my hat and I looked like Mr Wilson in Dennis the Menace when Dennis put Chiclets in his teeth! I remember my Mom and Dad lost all their hair and I hope this stubble either grows or goes away. The buzzing of the shaver was jarring my head too much and I made them stop the madness!
Yesterday, I wore the wig into our community for the first time. My co-workers loved it. When I went to Wal-Mart, people I knew were staring at me. Now, this is not new to me. Wherever I go, people stare. I am told I have a familiar face. Yesterday, I would look directly at people I knew say Hello and move on. I got a lot of stares and it began to get funny to me. The wig was more comfortable this time without any hair on my head. The first time I wore it, I had hair it it would rise up until I looked like something had crawled under it and my head was huge!
My son and future daugher in law saw me for the first time and said I totally rock with a bald head. She thought it would be weird but everyone says I look great with no hair. Tomorrow is the local Christmas parade. Elf ears and pointed hat, hair or just a hat. I won't know until I wake up tomorrow. I am just thankful that I am to the point that I can find a bit of laughter in all of this. I can make it through one day without crying and I am halfway through my first round of chemo--AC. I have 2 more treatments before I start the 4 of taxol.
The sun is going to shine today and tomorrow with temps in the 40s and 50s. I hope each of you can find at least one bright spot today!
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SueShane ~ I am glad I could share something that may prove helpful! Good luck!
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Today is day 14 after 1st TC treatment. Hair is falling out all over the place and my head hurts so bad. How long does that last? Planning on shaving it all this weekend but can't seem to fight my headache.
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Renee, Today is my day 17.. getting it shaved tonight, I feel like I am molting. Day 14 it started.. the tightness, the headache but it moved each day. First the back of my head, then the sides then the top..as each day passed and each area stopped hurting the hair fell more and more..looking forward to stopping this mess
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Thanks for the info on when to expect the hair to go. Had my first tx yesterday and need to know when to plan my Hair Be Gone party! Friday the 16th...day 16.
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racerdeb - I will be thinking of you on Tuesday. I hope it goes well for you with minimal side effects. Try to have a restful weekend and enjoy your almost "back to normal" feeling for as long as you can.
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I got a little emotional today at the doctor's office. I was just going for labs, but she said my numbers were low and very low. That really scared me. I know many of you battle with that. She gave me an antibiotic Cipro. She also told me to go on and take Immodium for the D I had, had these last several days. She said that from now on, I will get the neulasta shot and that, that ought to help my blood counts. Anyway, there is just so much "unknown" stuff here. I was so afraid that they were going to take more blood or something that I started crying. They just pricked my finger to get the CBC.. You know, needles and blood freaks me out! My concern now is how scary is it that my numbers are so low? And will that shot definitely help a lot? The doctor asked me how I was feeling, and I just told her that it had been a hard week, that I had felt pretty weak much of the time. I didn't even think to tell her that days 4-6 included some times where I just couldn't seem to focus my vision on anything. I felt like I was going to pass out, and several times other teachers sent the principal and secretary to see if I was okay. I guess I looked scary or something to them. I was definitley moving more slowly and sititing much more than is normal for me. Does anyone know what symptoms the low counts should actually have? I know that her biggest concern was for the very low white cells becausse they couldn't fight off an infection. That is about all I know.
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bahamamom, I had the low wbc, also. They gave me Cipro and Leukine shots for 5 days. The shots brought my wbc back up right away. I also had low platelets, but they postponed my 2nd tx, for 4 days, and they rebounded on their own. If you're anemic (low red counts and hemoglobin) that could make you feel weak and fatigued. If you've had diarrhea for a few days you could be dehydrated. That will make you feel bad. I'm taking iron supplements and B12 to try to help offset the anemia and low platelets. I had my 2nd tx last tuesday and I'm worried too about the counts going down again. My doctor said I still did not qualify for neulasta shots for the white blood counts. You might try adding some sports drinks to help your electrolytes, which could be depleted because of the diarrhea.
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I haven't had a chance to post the last couple of days because my internet was out. Wow! I does look like most of us are getting the same treatment. Too bad we have to go thru it but I sure am getting alot of info from those of you that just had your first few treatments. It sounds like you are all doing pretty well considering what we are going thru. Keep on keepin' on ladies! And thanks for the advice so far!!!!
TexasRose, I do have a port. It was put in at the time of my BMX so that should help me some. I'm already tired of getting stuck in the arm from all of the tests!
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Bahamamom3---I did get the Neulasta shot and today is one week post chemo and my counts were all good. I feel tired and my stomach doesn't like solid food..
Guessing next Friday my head will hurt and my hair will fall out...better get planning my head shaving.
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Who all has tissue expanders in place? I had mine filled Wednesday with 100cc. 2nd round of AC chemo yesterday. Now My right "breast" incision is turning pinkish-red. I cannot tell if it is part of my obvious "chemo-flush" or if it's a sign of an infection starting? The plan is to wait til tomorrow to see if the flush disappears and see how the incision looks then. Just wondering if anyone has had similar experiences?
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Kim137-
I have TE and my incisions are always red- never gave it a second thought. Is the red part of the scar or is it growing? You might use a marker to mark it to see if it grows like an infection.
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Thanks for the idea Sueshane! The scar is always a little red, but today it seemed to darken and spread, but I like I said I have chemo flush, so I'm kind of red from my head to my torso anyway.
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Hi all,
Texas rose, I am having taxol and herceptin every week fo r 12 weeks. Had my 5th treatmetn yesdetday, no signs of neuropathy yet. So who knows.
To all in the 1/4 inch club, I am there as well. Hair shaved earlier this week. Have wigs, but really don't like them. So far I ahve been going out with a hat or just my new do. I am told that I look pretty good, vey stylish. I think I have really nice friends.My onclogist was surpiized yesterday when I said I may just continue this way. I think I may get less questions, this way than with the wig. Ijsut can't make it look good. He said most women wear the wigs to keep questuons and staring away, but then decided that cuz I am a bit mouthy, I would probalby take of thsoe folks in no time. The biggest issue is my 13 year old daughter who has asked me not to come into her school and to always wear a wig when around her friends. I beleive I amy have to take into account her wishes jsut to make life livable here.
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GrandmaV-Thanks for the information and tips. They didn't say anything about the platelettes but said that one count was low and the other was very low, so I assumed that meant the white and red blood counts. I did have several symptoms (I found a website and read about low white counts and chem), but most of them were actually side effects of the chemo as well, so who knew? I even think I must have had a fever at least one day because I had to get in bed, add extra blankets and was freezing and shaking. But since I have read so many different peoples's side effects, and that sounded like the flu-like symptoms the doctor told me to expect, I didn't know I was in trouble. I am not sure why you do not qualify for the neulasta shots. It sounds like a lot of people just routinely get them anyway, but my doctor had said that they were not automatic, that they monitor you the first time to see how low they go. So it made sense then to me that she would say I need them from now on. One shot is bound to be better than 5 shots! I hope that your counts are better this time. Maybe the vitamins will help. I will also be quicker to take Immodium this time for the D, but honestly, I had been constipated at first and was afraid to go back to that too.
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Bonseye-I am glad that your counts were good. Do you know if there are side effects of the neulasta shot too? I haven't been able to eat much either. I have lost about 8 pounds this week, very rare for me. All I usually have to do is think about food, and I gain weight. I am feeling much better now. I will be planning my hair buzzing this week too. I am hoping it will wait until the weekend. My students don't miss a trick, so having next weekend to get used to wearing my wig will be much better than coming in one day this week with my hair, the wig the next day. They still don't know about my BC. I am thinking I will probably need to go back and get some more wraps or something. I only got one, and my daughter said she got me a sleeping one for a stocking stuffer.
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bethu-you are an inspiration! One of the things I value most is sense of humor. I strongly believe that laughter has healing powers of its own. I hope to try to be more like you as time goes on. I feel like I have a flat look on my face most all of the time now, and I don't want to be a sourpuss. Thanks for sharing your funny stories today. It reminded me that life is too precious to waste one minute being unhappy.
Here's to all of us! Try to laugh today!
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I was diagnosed as TN on October 3 and started chemo on Nov. 8, 2011. I'm having Taxol weekly for 12 weeks then FAC for 12 weeks. After that,surgery and possibly radiation.
So far I feel pretty good! (I'd feel better if I hadn't gotten a stupid sinus infection.) I started losing my hair about a week and a half ago so I got it cut short - about one inch long. Right now the most annoying thing is cleaning up the hair that falls out and the fact that my scalp is sore. Sleeping in a cap really helps with both of those.
I go in Monday for an "adjustment" on my port. We have not been able to get a blood draw from it but hopefully this procedure will fix that.
I'm incredbly lucky to have a wonderfuly supportive family! My sister and/or son have gone with me to each chemo treatment and doctor visit.
Good luck everyone!
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Bethu ~ Love your comments about who you think you resemble. I am amazed at how much easier it is if you keep a sense of humor. I told my husband i look like Gallagher in my hair halo...he called me the next morning and asked if he should bring home some watermelons for me to smash! I did wear my wig to work yesterday and got lots of compliments. So many of my co-workers were so supportive and kept telling me "Honest, it looks totally natural." I am going to believe them for now since I don't have a choice...LOL! I am going to our annual office staff high tea today and am going to try the hair halo (but not with the Gallagher style) and a cute hat. Hopefully, it will look OK. Either way I am just going to enjoy the time with my friends and hope something tastes good! It's the weekend before chemo on Tuesday, so I want to have some fun.
To everyone who has had trouble with low counts....since I haven't had bloodwork since chemo I will be interested to see how my numbers look when I get my blood work done on Monday. I hope they are OK. Like Bahamamom said, it's hard to tell if the chemo side effects are making us feel like we do or if the counts are low. Currently, I do not get the shots after chemo. I hope I can avoid that, but we will see. Definitely not looking forward to the chemo on Tuesday, but keep telling myself after this one I will be 1/3 of the way through it. Trying to be a glass half-full type of person.
Have a great Saturday and hope something brings you joy and makes you smile today! Linda
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Day 16.....And so it has started, I am losing my hair.
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Hello, everyone. After 5 different doc appts. this week, I am staying home thankfully and puttering around. My name is Andi and I am very glad to have found this forum! You have all helped already, and I look forward to contributing what I can. I am 4 weeks post-op from a bi-mastectomy and had a port put in this week. I start chemo on Dec. 13th, and have been told to prepare for a balding New Year's Eve...I plan to have our son buzz my hair when he gets home from college for Christmas break, since I have buzzed his head for so many years!
Our family makes anything fun, and this will be no different, though I will say it is alot to wrap myself around. Fortunately, I have short hair already. I go get a wig-fitting next Saturday, and have had lots of suggestions from friends! I have 8 treatments scheduled (about 4 months if I tolerate everything well and can stay on track) with 4-6 weeks of radiation after. Then the reconstruction. Everyone's story is so unique...I find that fascinating! I had TEs placed at the time of my surgery and I think they will be the pet-peeve of my entire year. Can't get away from them! Told my surgeon they feel like hubcaps under my skin and he had never heard that one before...glad I made him laugh! Truly, I have been thankful for the guidance of all the docs I have dealt with. They are wonderful to me. My brother, husband and son have promised to shave and go bald with me...means alot to me.Looking forward to 'chatting' with you all more. Blessings to you!
Andi
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phgraham, and Andimom, thank you for joining us and welcome. I am hoping we can all be an encouragement to one another and help each other through this ordeal.
I am day 4 past 2nd tx and still not doing too bad. I have started some cramping, but nothing too bad, yet. I'm already eating the Brat diet, and have my immodium ready. At least I know what to do this time and am hopefully better prepared to handle the Big D when if it hits. I have no appetite and only hot drinks are tolerable at this point. It's also very cold, dark and rainy here today, so it doesn't help with the mood.
Hoping everyone is having minimal SEs and having a good weekend.
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Kim -
I hope it doesn't hurt too much! 0 -
GrandmaV - Sorry it's been cold, dark and rainy there. That can be hard to cope with. It's been snowing and blowing all day here in Nebraska so I've been glad to stay inside.
This board has been very helpful with so much good information! Right now I'm talking myself out of obsessing over the port issue. After all, it's not like worrying will change the outcome! Maybe tonight is the night I shave my head. I'll have a hot cider with you to celebrate!
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Hey Bonseye,
I started my chemo on 11/22, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be although i over doped myself, so felt worse from the anti nausea meds than the chemo itself. I'm back to my old self and trying to stay active, my second AC is on 12/13, good luck on your first, how r u feeling?
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Hi all..First AC Nov 18th, Second AC yesterday Dec 2nd. Hair is really starting to fall out, tomorrow I need to find the courage to shave my head. I have my wig, really nervous to see myself bald!
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Hi Naan,
Did you take you anti nausea meds around the clock? I felt I did the same thing my first tx, but am nervous to become sick if I don't take them. I felt great 3 days post tx by not taking steroids and anti nausea.
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Question for you ladies: What type of shampoo do you use now that your hair has left the building?? Shaved mine last night, but am wondering what I should use other than soap?
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Sandlake, I was nervous as well.. but with the hand holding of my friends and family it was alright. They made me feel beautiful and comfortable.
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