Weekly Taxol group
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Always a relief, Pommom. I hated reading stories about women who had to delay treatment because of low counts. I held my breath each time until I knew I was good to go. So anxious to get this stuff behind you!!
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Today, I missed a commitment I made with a friend. I completely forgot. Not like me. A glitch with my calendar left me with no electronic reminder. She said she understood, and knows chemo brain is real. Still, I feel awful about it.
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PennyK the chemo brain is real. I have trouble pulling up names of people.
Dori
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Chemo Brain is the worst! I can't even get through a conversation without forgetting something! Makes work a real struggle some days.. I have #8 today. Can't wait to be done!
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I too say chemo brain s</=÷# I felt like I had no attention span....I had trouble with feeling like I was "disembodied" many times... I had trouble with remembering and I often felt emotionally disconnected from things going on in my family. I already had a slight case of aphasia before treatment but it definitely got worse during treatment.... names...faces.. getting lost in conversations...but the good news is it's supposed to 'get better" over time once we've finished treatment.
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Yeah - chemo brain is really real. I go back and forth between being frustrated and amused with myself. I'm also trying to muddle through my full time job and I swear I've dropped 10 IQ points. I am not at my most productive!
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My husband just laughs at me when I'm having a brain fog...which is happening more and more. And kber - I swear I've dropped IQ points. Im pretty sure my boss is questioning my abilities hahaha
On another note - Today is my birthday. I had treatment yesterday, and all the nurses came out and sang me happy birthday and they had all signed a bday card! It was so nice!
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hi Each Day. I am of the opinion that oncology nurses are generallysaints. They are amazing!
Happy Birthday!
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Happy birthday Each day!! I hope you had a good day
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I also am finding that I have chemo brain. Went to a play on Saturday and had absolutely no idea what was going on. (I left before the 2nd act) I tried to play cards the other night and really really had to keep focused, so unlike me.
I also seem to forget things so try to write everything down. I have had 4 a/c and now just finished taxol 8. It seems like taxol 7 begun my chemo brain. I too, get so frustrated by this but I am told it will get better a couple of months after I am done with the chemo. Sure hope so!!!
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hello everyone I am now joining this group as I will be starting my Taxol treatments(12) on March 14. I just finished my last A/C yesterday-thank goodness...but not looking forward the next 3-4 days of SE'S. I sure hope Taxol will be a bit more manageable. My nausea/constipation was bad. Does anyone have a good tips for prior/during Taxol? I did buy some cold booties to ice my feet/toes but I couldn't find any for the hands? Hoping someone might have some recommendations?
Thanks in advance !
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Skygirl, I used CryoMAX packs ordered from Amazon (Cold Pack, 8 Hour Reusable Cold Therapy Ice Pack for Elbows, Knees, Neck + More, Medium, 6" x 12"). I ordered one for each hand and one for each foot. Icing wasn't fun but I have no neuropathy and no nail issues and I would do it again in a minute.
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I just found out that my infusion center has the machine for the digi-cap! DH saw the machine sitting there hidden in a corner. When we were on the way home he told me about it so I had to explain what it was 8) Hey at least he paid attention lol
Maybe it would be worth asking if your infusion center has one or something similar.
I told DH I most likely would have bought a cap if I'd known about the machine!
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I had a terrible night last night. Finally had a decent meal that actually tasted like it was supposed to. It was filet mignon with all the trimmings. I ate more than I’ve eaten for months, boy was that not good. My poor abdomen started cramping, it was awful. Kept me up all night with discomfort. Today felt a little better, but after dinner I felt nauseous so I took a pill. It seems the Taxol has made me feel a lot worse with nausea than the other chemo. This is the third time I’ve had to take the nausea meds to keep from tossing my cookies.
Only 4 more to go.
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Pommom I'm sorry your stomach got so upset after such a delicious meal!! I'm 10 days out from my last taxol and I still have to watch what I eat and how much. I still eat small meals. Hoping you'll be feeling better soon ((hugs))
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2 more tacos for me then I'm done. Had a 25% reduction last 3 treatments and it has made a huge difference in neuropathy and fatigue. Both are still present but I recover energy Saturday night instead of Monday and the neuropathy zing's only last thru Sunday periodically. The hand foot mouth syndrome is a bit worse, but only 2 more to go.
Someone asked about hand icing? I got these 4 inch round reusable gel packs from Amazon originally for surgery (worked awesome!). I just lay one on my palm and curl my fingers around so they all touch the cold. It has helped w the neuropathy and hand foot mouth syndrome. I got the natracool booties for the feet. Though at home I also use double socks w some of the 4 inch rounds in between for my feet and heels.
No digestive issues w tacos. But I have been keeping up w my every other day miralax and daily dried apricots, dates and a few prunes for breakfast. I started doing my overnight oats again and chopped up the apricots, prunes and dates with my normal raisins and cinnamon. Wow - it was really tasty! May continue with this for a while. I went off dairy for a time bc it was making me bloat like crazy. Hope these tips help! MB1
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Do most have a port for chemo?
I was told it wasn't needed but it's becoming a challenge and my veins are blowing. Last one took 3x and was painful/burned during chemo.
Thoughts?
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Leeee—I did not have a port and it's been fine. That said, it sometimes takes twice (and once took three times). There are a few nurses where I go who consistently get it on the first try so they'll sometimes bring in one of them. I've mostly gotten Herceptin in my hand—they always find “nice juicy" veins there and there's no reason not to use them.
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I have had a port through all of my chemo (4 a/c and 8 taxol) It's been great. Just remember to put emla cream (a type of lidocaine ) on your port about 1 to 1/2 hours before they poke you. I have had no pain, ever. I think the port is a very good idea because you don't want your veins to collapse.
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i, also have a port. It’s been very useful for the infusions & blood draws. I apply the lidocaine at least two hours before infusion & have absolutely no pain. When I did that an hour before the stick it hurt like hell! Read the directions on the lidocaine tube, it said two hours.
Doris
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I have a port and am really glad to have it, since I'll still be getting herceptin for many more months after the end of chemo. Plus I work with nephrologists so I think I've had "preserve your veins" drilled into my subconscious. The port is a little annoying at times, but not painful at all. I put the lidocaine cream on 30-60 minutes beforehand.
For hand icing, my center provided those square reusable ice blocks - basically the kind that I used to get with medication or food deliveries. I'd put a pillow on my lap and then just sit with my hands curled around them.
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I have a port. In fact, my second one. I had my first one and kept it in over five years. Had that one removed because of a blood clot. I had the second one inserted before my Taxol infusions. I wouldn't have it any other way. I don't even use the Lidocaine before they access it. I've been off Taxol for 11 months. I still go every 4 weeks for blood work etc. Easy peasy...out of my port. I highly recommend it.
Hope
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I also have a port and I agree that it is extremely helpful. Years ago I had an issue with Lymes disease that required weekly infusions (anti-biotics and such) and my veins really took a beating. The port not only physically works better, but relieves the anxiety of hunting for a vein that I went through before.
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i think that the skin over my port has finally toughened up. With the last 2 Herceptin tx it didn't hurt a bit. (I was never given anything for that "pinch".)
Oh btw, DON'T EVER look at what they're jabbing you with... I wanted to see and the sight of it didn't make the pain any better 8(
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nanette7fl that jabber is murderous looking. I grabbed a quick glance at a few weeks ago. Wow that was one big needle on that stabber
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Did any of you lose your fingernails? My index fingers & thumb hurt at the tips with a dull pain. The nail has plump look to it, like it’s swollen. I can see white lines under the nail, but my thumb has a red line in it.
Doris
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My nails looked and felt like they got jammed by a door but never fell out. Eventually the nails grew out of itand looked and felt normal again.
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My fingernails got white streaks in them and thumbnails kind of pulled away from the nail bed. Except for a small area on one thumbnail, everything is pretty much back to normal (I'm about seven months PFC). My big toenails are still funky--in different ways. Hoping they'll get back to normal one of these days.
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Pommom- My big toe on each foot feels as you have described. Only occasionally though, and none of my other nails feel that way. I hope it doesn't fall off! I finished #9 yesterday.
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I have sore fingernails, and a few have developed bruises under them. I friend at work who just finished her 12 Taxol treatments had the same thing - pain and discoloration. She didn't lose any nails and the discoloration is beginning to grow out.
I find Advil helps with the pain, for what it's worth. It definitely seems like there is some swelling of the nail bed that is causing the issue.
I ice my hands and feet during Taxol treatments. The socks for me feet work better than the ice I use on my hands. I wonder if that contributes to the fact that my toenails are fine, while my fingernails are painful?
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