Starting Chemo in Nov. 2011...anyone else?
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Sueshane Congrats on being almost finished! If I recall you had mx, so I presume no rads. That's my next step. Are you going to do hormone therapy? I too can't wait to lose the weight, almost 20 lbs! I know some of it's steroid weight and fluid retention but with the nausea I've also been eating whatever tastes good. Good luck with your last tx.
I had my 4th and final TC last Thursday. I'm feeling really glad to be finished chemo, I know a lot of you still have a way to go. I think our recovery is a little slower with each cycle and the effects are cumulative, this one has definitely been the toughest with nausea and fatigue. I wonder how long it takes to start feeling "normal" again, whatever that is?
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Good morning, everyone, at least from where I live! A poor night's sleep but a a good day yesterday. I echo so many of your comments about the emotional rollercoaster. Teary at the drop of a hat. Personally, I try not to have any expectaions for my day unless I have to. So many have told me how random and variable these SEs are for everyone. I think that's why my doc downplayed them to some extent so I wouldn't freak out and there is no guarantee of what my particular body will do. I certainly have them and don't know if they are from the chemo, steroids, antinausea meds, or any of the other crap going on in my body!
I have sensitive eyes, not glued shut but definitely sensitive, especially in the middle of the night. So sorry all of us are dealling with these things, no matter how mild or severe. This is not an easy journey. So glad we can vent on here with everyone understanding!
I'm not liking what I hear about weight gain and Taxol! That's the last thing I need! I have 2 more AC tx then 4 of Taxol.
God bless everyone's day. I had a good one yesterday. Thinking I did too much and today will be more of a down day. Day 7 is definitely my upswing day, but I still have off and on days from now til next tx.
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Beth, Your night sounds indeed frightening. I hope you can get it all sorted out, because you really need your sleep. My husband put a little bell next to my bed, so that if I need him, I ring it. (My nights have been so unpredictable -- night sweats, hot flashes, waking up and having to read to get back to sleep, etc. that he's moved into the guestroom during chemo...)
Kelley and Bahamamom, I think you're right about all of us having strange symptoms related to the chemo. I've had a cough almost the whole time and wake up with nose and mouth so dry my nose bleeds when I blow it, and a headache every morning. I bought a humidifier to put by the bed, and that has helped some. And I agree that it's a bummer, waking up every morning and not knowing whether it's going to be a good day or a lousy one.
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How are you doing? I am starting 4 cycles of AC this Thursday and am nervous. Hope you are doing well.
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Beth, please keep us posted on how you are and what your doc says. Some of these days are so unnerving!
Let me just say...I. hate. hot. flashes! Grr....
Welcome, maxkolbe. I don't know if this is your first posting or not but it looks like you just joined! It's a great place to vent and compare notes and gain encouragement. I'll be thinking of you on Thursday. I've had 2 tx of AC, and am okay. Definitely have side effects - not pleasant but they're manageable. Just realize the next several months will be different for you and you need to take care of you! I'm amazed at the varied situations and am so thankful for everyone's openness and honesty. I will look forward to hearing about your first day! Do you have a port for it or will it be done IV?
Kelley, bahamamom and wavewhisperer, I have had a cough off and on too. Thought it might be from the Christmas tree and now I'm thinking not! I have had a dry nose and barely-sore throat too, thinking I was getting a cold. Sounds like SEs to me. So many weird little things! Is anyone else shaky between txs? I am from the steroids for the first ouple of days, but it lingers, especially if I drive or do too much. Forces me to pace myself, I guess.
We have flurries here and it is COLD! Thankful for warm hats!
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Happy New Year Everyone! I hope each of you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year. I am 1 week out from my third treatment. My head is itching so much, so I know the last of the stubble will be gone soon. I believe the only thing I will have left on my head is my grey hair.. I have this layer of grey hair that has been growing over the past couple of weeks. It's sparse and soft but GROWING!! lol
I have an MRI tomorrow afternoon to check the tumor size. I am very nervous to say the lest. I can no longer feel the large tumor (5+ cm) My last T/C is scheduled fro the 17th.. I am hopng that is it..I want off this rollercoaster. I will say for those that are just starting, it's not that bad, just a lifestyle change. I have iced my finger that past 2 treatments and have not had any more nail loss. A little white iodine dropped on my nails has helped with the thinning as well. I was also given the go ahead for the glutamine, my neuropathy has gotten worse. I am hoping to notice some changes soon.
Has anyone else been given water pills? I had gained so much water weight with the last treatment I was having problems breathing. so my Onco gave me a script that I started on Wed last week and by Friday followup I was down 8 pounds! I am not having the coughing or wheezing either. I am looking forward to this weeks followup Friday
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yep, got a diuretic this past week. Hope it works! Glad it did for you, Lory!
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is the fluid retention/ water gain from the taxol or from a different drug..ugh..no more please!
well to top off the emotional rollercoaster, I am watching as my relationship is falling apart and may see the boyfriend move out before the week ends..this should be great fun over the next 2 months alone..whooopie.
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Kelley, I am sorry you are going through a breakup
I know it's not the same as personal together time.. But we are all here for you [[[hugs]]]The water weight gain is a combo for me of steroids and my taxo..
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Andimom: I have dry eyes and find genteel severe dry eye gel really helps them from being stuck together in the mornings. Interestingly since chemotherapy they are tearing all the time so they're sending me to an eye surgeon tomorrow to make sure my tear ducts aren't scarred!
Lory: I think I gained the 8lbs you lost this time around! I feel like a blimp. My rings are tight and my abdomen and face are bloated. But hey it smooths out all the wrinkles! I think I'll ask about water pills at my next visit. Does anyone know how long it takes for the fluid retention to subside?0 -
Sueshane and Tipnas, Congratulations on your last tx. That's wonderful.
My last (3rd) treatment was a hard one emotionally and mentally. I crashed big time from the steroids they gave me to try to keep me from reacting to the treatment. In fact, the chemo nurse said she never saw anyone get that much before. I think I nearly had a break down. I 've also developed tinnitus, that has nearly driven me crazy. It does seem better this week though. I still have it, but it's not so intense. The volume of the noise has lessened some. I meet with my onco Monday and will discuss with him some alternatives to what I've been receiving. I've since learned that 20% of those who receive carboplatin develop tinnitus that is likely permanent and I'm afraid to get anymore of it. Also he will have to cut back on the steroids some. I can't handle that. I have 3 more tx, so I'm not sure what they're going to do about it.
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grandmaV, i hope you get some relief AND some answers when you see your onco. you've had a rather rough go of it and i just hate that for you. please keep us posted on how you're doing this week.0
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Thank you YaYa, I really appreciate your concern and encouragement. I really didn't expect this kind of SEs. Totally unprepared for it.0
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Hi GrandmaV nice to hear from you and thanks for your kind wishes! Sorry to hear you're having such a tough time with SEs. The tinnitus sounds nasty. I hope your meeting with your onc goes well and he can figure out a regime that will make your treatments easier. I think the steroids were harder on me tooth's time. I've spent the last two days in bed which I've never done. I'm also feeling scared and sad. Maybe it's the new year blahs or fear of leaving the familiar, albeit, unpleasant and moving on to something new and unknown.
Anyway I wish you all the best and I know you are strong enough to get through this. I so appreciate how you are always there with kind words and encouragement for everyone else inspite of all you're going through yourself. Xoxo0 -
Tipnas,
Thank you. I'm sorry the steroids are doing that to you. It's absolutely awful. My primary doc told me that the way steroids work on the cells that it depletes your potassium and can cause a lot of mental and emotional problems, even causing paranoia and hallucinations if it goes low enough. She said it binds to the cells and can take a while to release. She also said, that she thought the tinnitus was the steroids and might take a couple of weeks to resolve. So I've been eating more bananas and drinking sports drinks to increase potassium, but trying to be careful not to overdo it, because too much potassium is not good either. It's been 11 days since my 3rd tx and I'm still feeling the effects of those steroids. Feeling better one minute and crying the next.
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oh Iam so sorry for your pain, GrandmaV. Steroids are the worse-- so many SEs and they aren't even attacking your cancer cells!!! what the..... Maybe they can decrease the dose or if you are not having a reaction, then, maybe stop them? Hang in there! Q
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kelleysgroi - I am so sorry to hear that you are having problems with your boyfriend. This is just not the time for that. I sometimes wonder what I would do if it were not for my supportive husband and daughters. They are not perfect, but they really do care about me and try to help. I hope you have other family members and/or friends to stand by you if you do split up.
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GrandmaV - This is the first I have heard or read of the tinnitis. My husband has had it for years (nothing to do with cancer or chemo), and I know it can be very annoying. I am sure you are afraid especially since the effects can be permanent. I just wonder how many of us will have some other permanent side effects in the future, like the heart, lungs, liver, etc. Sometimes I wonder if it is really necessary to have all these treatments that can hurt our bodies so much. I do know that the steroids are supposed to help us get rid of the extra fluids that the chemo drugs cause us to retain. So it sounds like we need them. I hope your onc gets a better plan to try to help you manage all these issues. It seems like you have had something pretty awful with every treatment. I sure hope things improve for you.
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Tipnas-
Thank you for your great message to me. I can't wait for tomorrow. I'm glad you are done. I will have tamoxifen for 5 years. If you are having the same, the topics on this website can be scary. I'm not sure I should read anymore. I did have mx, so no rads. Looking forward to my final breast exchange scheduled for March. Life should get back to normal.. You have always been so positive on this forum. Thank you for your support and kindness...
Susan
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GrandmaV:
Thank you for the well wishes. I too have such bad depression with the steroids. I will eat bananas and star fruit (I live in Florida- full of potassium). Thanks for sharing. I can not describe the depression- so dark- I wonder if there is a mood elevator our Onco can prescribe while on steroids? I will have to ask on Wednesday when I get my next treatment.
Susan
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Kelleysgroi-
Regarding your question on my weight gain. I am actually on Taxotere not Taxol. I believe my weight gain is from the steroids, eating to stop really really bad heartburn and eating more than normal. I never lost my appetite (darn) so I ate everything and anything - Not a good combination- Once Chemo is over, I plan to start weight watchers as I had lost 30 pounds once before on the program.
Susan
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Sueshane- thanks for the update on the weight gain..I understand the eating..luckily Ive had no appetite due to the heartburn, but I eat what I want when I can eat..
Tipnas..STEROIDS SUCK! period..I am supposed to take 20mg of dex tonight prior to my taxol tx tomorrow..at that point they will also give me dex with my treatment..I can not do this..this is way to high a dose..I fear I will not only lose my mind but I may chew my skin off..what is this doc thinking??? I can relate to the sadness and fear..I dont know why I all of a sudden feel this way. could it be the instant menopause that this chemo crap has thrown me into??
GrandmaV..hope those SE end soon
Bahamamom3- thank you for the support..we have been trying to blend a family and it is not easy. He is very supportive of my treatment, we just cant seem to find a common ground when it comes to the children..time will tell..and I will get through it..hell..I'm a cancer surivor!
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Hello everyone! When my husband woke up this morning, I was asleep on the couch. He took me to my PCP. I had a CBC and guess what...my blood levels and neutrophils(?) are low. I am in the hospital being filled with fluids and antibiotics. I don't run a fever so I didn't think I had and infection. My cough is still dry and irritating but I guess it will get better. I am so glad my husband called and got an appointment for me.
I didn't have the depression with the steroids this time around. I think it may be because I haven't felt well. I am hoping to have some energy back soon. I don't feel like doing anything.
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Hi Susan thanks for the good wishes too! I always enjoy reading your posts and value your input and advice. I'll be doing Tamoxifen after radiation and I agree it may not be a good idea to read about all the potential side effects. Everyone is different and hopefully we'll get through without too much bother. It's good to know the info and suppport is there if we need it. I wish you an easy last treatment tomorrow with minimal SEs!0
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Kelleysgroi, yes the steroids are tough! It sounds like you are taking quite a high dose all at once. I take 4 mgs twice a day the day before my tx and the day after and one 4 mg dose the following day. They also gave it in my IV the day of. The nurse said to take the doses early in the morning and early afternoon so you're not too wired at night. The first round was hard as my heart was pounding out of my chest but that got a little easier with each subsequent cycle. They prescribed Ativan to help me sleep at night while I was on the steroids. It helped a lot and I didn't need to take it once I finished the steroids. It may be worth asking tomorrow if they can reduce your steroid dose so you won't be feeling so bad and it does get better. I'm with you on all the emotional stuff, the chemo and the steroids really do a number on us. Hang in there!0
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bethu77--GET WELL QUICK! at least you are in the right place to get the help you need..keep us posted..hugs to you!
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thanks Tipnas- I have xanax which barely helps..considerinag asking for the ativan today as so many have suggested it. Could be a long day as the premed take about 45 min and the taxol as we know 3-4 hours..withot complications..bringing a lot of activities and snacks..at least a four hour plane ride gets me to someplace nice..what does 4 hours in a chemo chair get me..SE..oh yeah..and cancer free..
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get well soon Beth!
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Beth, so sorry to hear you've had a setback. Hope the fluids and antibiotics get you back on your feet. Every day is an adventure in our world, huh? Just curious. is this in spite of Neulasta shots, or have you not been getting them?
Anyway, hope today's a better, brighter day!
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Kelley--20 mg of Dex seems incredibly high. You are on Taxol only, right? I wonder what his thinking is? You may want to ask for a lower dose or a continuing lower dose if you do not have SEs that are allergic reactions to Taxol additive. I can only tell you that they started me on 8mg the day of infusion and the next week it was 6mg and after that, none. I feel very fortunate and I have a real huge hmmm 'distaste" for steroids.....
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