Starting Chemo June 2014
Comments
-
I have a question for everyone. How long after your infusion do you stay nauseated? I'm 5 days past my last infusion and very nauseated today. I've been taking Zofran and Phenergan but I'm still sick. My MO sent out a patch that I will try later today after some of the other meds clear my system. I'm hoping it will work, I'm tired of feeling sick. About the time you get to feeling somewhat better you have to start all over again.
0 -
I started to feel better around day 5. The nausea was there on day five but at night time. It is different for everyone and I know I was just in your position last week. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, It is good that your doctor is sending over a patch for you to wear. I go back on Friday and am going to ask for stronger nausea medication and also for anxiety meds too. I hope it gets better for you.
0 -
canuckmom, you look great!
dixie, everyone is different. this last round (#2) my stomach was churning the whole time, even this morning when I went in for #3. I had to ask them for a stronger med so they gave me zofran.
So, #3 done, 1 more to go, can't wait to be done with this part of treatment. Very tired today, thank goodness my in-laws live downstairs and are taking care of the girls for me so I can rest. So far #3 is uneventful except for being very tired. I think it will be better than the last one just because mentally I am over the hump and know there is only one more remaining. I love the PA at my Onc's office. She came in to check on me during infusion and i told her I left the rx mouthwash at the cabin while on vacation and she found another bottle in her desk for me, my insurance won't cover it and the company wants get this $2,000 for a 30 day supply of it! I can't imagine spending $2k on a bottle of mouthwash! But I have to say, it does work, no mouthsores at all this last round.
0 -
Canuck, you are beautiful!
0 -
Dixie after my first treatment I was so nauseated I lost 6lbs. This second treatment they gave me emend and NO nausea. Ask about it maybe it will work for you!
0 -
Canuck, your eyes are beautiful!
Islandmama, what a good idea with the roller!
0 -
thanks all for your posts...it feels good to get it over with and Islandmama, thanks for the tip...that would definitely help! It helped to see and hear your stories...feels like I'm not alone in this so thanks to all of you for staying on this thread and giving me some courage!
Dixie...ever day will get better than the day before. Emend really helps although I only had it days 1-3. I think bye day 6 I was feeling much better..I had digestion problems until about day 13. I'm having AC every 3 weeks so my last week I feel pretty good and am grateful I have that extra week.
0 -
thanks all for your posts...it feels good to get it over with and Islandmama, thanks for the tip...that would definitely help! It helped to see and hear your stories...feels like I'm not alone in this so thanks to all of you for staying on this thread and giving me some courage!
Dixie...ever day will get better than the day before. Emend really helps although I only had it days 1-3. I think bye day 6 I was feeling much better..I had digestion problems until about day 13. I'm having AC every 3 weeks so my last week I feel pretty good and am grateful I have that extra week.
0 -
Thanks everyone, I'm hoping tomorrow I will be feeling better. I've got two more rounds of EC and then I will switch to the Taxol. I've read that some people tolerate the Taxol better. Hoping I'm one of those people.
0 -
I hope you're feeling better today, Dixie1.
I love everyone's bald pictures. The friends/family shaving their heads in unity made me all teary. And Canuck, your husband is hot!
I started shedding on day 13, and the next day we buzzed it short. My daughter helped with the cutting, then my husband used the clippers. The girl thought this was the funniest thing she has ever seen, so I think our goal of making the bald thing less scary for her has been met. It's a few days later now and I'm shedding short hairs in earnest. It would be a huge mess if I hadn't buzzed it. My head is starting to look patchy and is itchy. I'm sitting here with a lint roller to run over my head periodically, and I'm still dropping hairs on the keyboard.
0 -
Loved everyone's pictures, such beautiful women!
Kimmy, I loved that your Sister shaved her head too at the same time. What a great sister!
IslandMama you have some awesome friends!
CanuckMom your Husband is rocking that shaved head along with you!!! Gorgeous couple with out without hair!
Here's mine.. I am patchy with sore bald areas...lol I had my 12 year old cut it first then Husband buzzed it. I am finding the lint roller is very handy!
Been walking around at home like this and just wearing scarves to go out. I decided wigs itch my head too much.
Hope everyone is doing ok! Am getting set for round 2 on Thursday but have to go get an ultrasound and see the Dr tomorrow to make sure this infection in my wound is healing enough for me to have chemo.
0 -
Forgot to mention, I went to the Look Good Feel better class on Monday and it was awesome. I loved it so much! it was a very small, friendly group. We learnt lots and walked away with a huge bag of makeup. Top notch stuff.. Chanel, L'oreal, Lancôme etc. So if you can, I would recommend going to one in your area ladies!
0 -
JDMac, you look gorgeous! I love that you aren't self conscious about it. My kids are fine with it so I've just been wearing hats out & hats or nothing at home. Its so hot here right now it feels good to have no hair!
Thanks for all the compliments and yes, my hubby is a total hottie and is very supportive too!
Definitely want to go to the look good feel better class - will try to go when I can.,, who wouldn't want free makeup?!
Heading home from the family cabin tomorrow. Oncologist on Thursday and if everything is good, chemo Friday. Goodnight all!
0 -
CanuckMom Thank you. I was self conscious at first.. when it was first cut but I posted my pic to FB and everyone was so supportive it gave me strength .
It is too hot here too for wigs n too much on my head. I wear a scarf to go out in though.
Yes, for sure get to one of the Look Good Feel Better classes. The make up you get is amazing.. good quality stuff. Not just a bag of random things either.. there is something for each step.. from cleansing to lipstick. .. and matching your skin tone. The lady who did my class said she estimated there was at least $200 of make up in each bag. ..plus its a nice experience!!!
Good luck at your appointment and chemo ! Tomorrow is my chemo day if all goes well!
0 -
I will be thinking of you tomorrow JDMac. I hope for minimal SE's for you.
Hope everyone else is doing well right now also.
0 -
You all look great with the shaved heads! Mine is not so cool so I won't be taking any pictures. One of my daughters doesn't mind when I walk around with nothing covering my head, whereas the other gets very upset so I always have to have something on or right next to me incase she walks in.
Anyone have constipation problems from all the drugs we are taking? I feel worse from this than anything else!
0 -
CanuckMom Thank you! Hoping I don't get the super low white blood count again and a bunch of infections like with the first chemo. Good Luck for your onc appointment today!
Basia I had a little constipation and took senokot s a few times and that cleared it up. Now I am eating prunes lots ..lol.
0 -
Basia, my onc nurse was adamant that I take preventative medicine for constipation because of the meds - I take two Colace morning and night and a Sennacot at night starting chemo day and continue for 4-5 days after. I am not having to take any of my prescription anti-nausea medications so that probably helps. Anyway, I haven't had problems.
I finished my dose dense AC last Tuesday and the fatigue was heavy and stuck around - Tuesday night I found myself humming and realized it was finally lifting. If one more person came into my office on Monday morning to tell me how tired they were from the long weekend I might have gone off.
Have a great day all!
0 -
so today I am having the opposite problem, took too many things for constipation and now I am paying the price, lol...TMI, sorry.
Bow, so happy for you finishing up AC, do you start taxol soon?
0 -
Basia yes, I start 4 cycles of dose dense Taxol starting on Tuesday, to be completed on Aug 26th if I don't run into any delays. Not sure about rads yet, my tumor was right under the surface of my skin at my bottom bra line so am thinking it's a yes. My primary care physician (& I) thought it was a sebaceous cyst and she was thinking she could pop it out in the office! Yikes. I have white hair all over my head that started this week, and had to shave my legs this morning...weird.
0 -
Basia,
I've always had an uncooperative stomach. It seems to run in my family so trips to the bathroom after eating etc have always been little family jokes (though it always made work and dating interesting).
When my oncologist asked if I was having trouble with constipation, my answer was... "For the first day or two I loved it!" The look on his face required an explanation! I did find that by day 5 it became a little ridiculous and I was pretty bloated. I took an relax for the first time in my life that night before going to bed...the next day the flood-gates opened and I was miserable! That was round 1.
Round two, I started taking the exlax the night of day 2. It helped a little for the next two days. I was still pretty stopped up then by day 4 I was back to running for the bathroom quite often. I'm thinking this is pretty much how it'll be for the duration. Talk about Tmi!
I should mention, I have a regular gastroenterologist for any of you reading this post and feeling bad (or feeling grossed out at this point.) He was never able to address my original issues. I have diagnosis of acid reflux, ibs, and a few others, but no fixes! So...chemo is now just an excuse for my stomachs issues!
0 -
Getting ready for round 2 AC tomorrow. So not looking forward to it, but who really does.! I am hoping this goes by so fast. I hope everyone is doing well. I think about all often. It is nice to know that we have such great support here. Not many people in my "everyday" life know what I am going thru. I say prayers every night and will continue to do so. Take care!
0 -
I had my 2nd AC last Tuesday 7/1. It was pretty much the same as the first. I seemed to struggle a little more with the bad taste and eating. Only 2 more to go!!
0 -
@jdmac1199 I also went to Look Good Feel Better. Overall, I found it to be pretty helpful. I liked the part about how to create eyebrows, and the part about head covers (I have not been wearing my wig).
I just got a few 30x30 cotton scarves on headcovers.com. I have one (Anokhi) that I seem to wear all the time that I got at Dana Farber Friend's Place.
I really like the beautiful pictures you ladies have posted. Losing my hair has been an unexpected challenge. I thought I could do anything after chemo and bilateral! I'm about 2 weeks out now, and I'm finding the scarves to be fun!
0 -
I should have signed up for Look Good Feel Better sooner. I didn't realize they only have it every couple of weeks, and the next one in my area isn't until the 28th, when I'll already be halfway through chemo. I'll still go for the free stuff though. It's too hot here for wigs, so I'm just wearing scarves or a baseball cap. They had Big Buddha Featherweight Pashminas on sale at Steinmart for 2 for $18, in a bunch of fun patterns, so I picked up a couple of those. I'm finding the oblong shape easy to wrap around my head securely. I did order a couple of pre-tied scarfs from Amazon, but they're too small for my big head.
I don't know if y'all have noticed this, but wigs in the cancer shops are WAY more expensive than costume/cosmetic store wigs, and don't look any better. If anything, the cancer store wigs look worse. There's a shop in my area that caters to drag queens and the wigs there are almost all under $100, and totally better looking. Here's a link: http://www.fifimahonys.com/fifigallery.html.
0 -
basia after my first treatment had nausea and diaherria so I wasn't prepared after my second treatment to be constipated Tues night I laid in the bathroom floor so bloated and threw up until finally got some relief with a suPpository ! thought would wind up in the emergency room damn it slipped right up on me next time I don't know what to expect!
0 -
Had round two of TCH today. Took some Senokot s in the hope I don't have a repeat of last time when I was so constipated I cried..lol Took my anti nausea pills so I wont wake in the night to throw up like last time. I am on top of things.. I hope. Last time I was constipated the first few days then took too much Senokot s and ate too many prunes and paid the price too Basia!
I have to get the Neulasta shot every time no the day after chemo as my white blood cell count went so low and I got several infections. For those of you who get it..When should I take Claritin and for how long?
Nola70115 Still sign up for the Look Good Feel Better. You are going to be without hair for a while. There was a girl at mine who had gone through chemo and rads and her hair was growing back. Its worth it to go!! I agree the cancer/chemo wigs are wayyyy overpriced and so many look so unreal. I am just wearing scarves so far, too hot for wings and not found anything that fits me yet.. they all seem too big in the back..lol I have a flat head.
Pnak Yes I liked the part about eyebrows. I don't know if I will loose all of mine as I have some thick eyebrows..lol but its nice to know what to do if I do!!! I was worried about that. I am wearing scarves too and have a favorite I wear more. I have found some regular scarves in kmart and target for $6-$8 that work great. ..I don't even tie them, I just use a scrunchie so its really easy.
Cammychris and CanuckMom and anyone else going for chemo tomorrow.. good luck, will be thinking of you!!!
0 -
Jdmac,
My oncologist has me doing Claritan the night of chemo (neulasta shot the next day) and every night after for 6 more days (7 total days). It has worked for me...but then again, maybe I just never would've gotten the bone pain? I'm not stopping it just to find out!
0 -
Radical2Squ… Thanks for the info. I will take Benadryl tonight I guess as that's all I have now.. and hope that works to some degree..lol and get some Claritin tomorrow !
0 -
Hey all. Sorry I haven't been around too much. The fatigue this time has hit me harder than the last. Had my blood work today and pretty much all my counts are low, including the reds this time, so it makes sense I'm more tired than the last go round.
My hair is almost all gone. It's been a week since I buzzed it and I have been more than ready for it to go. The little hairs everywhere were driving me crazy. I scrubbed it like heck in the shower today, and I think one more good shampoo and it'll be completely gone. It was traumatizing, but now it's just hilarious. I sent a pic of it to my sister today laughing at how much I was starting to look like our father, who was horseshoe bald.
I wore my wig to the onc's office today and out shopping afterwards. It's hot as hell here, and it's a longer one, so I'm definitely going to have to pick and choose when I wear it. At home, I've been doing either a slip on scarf or a rocking the cue ball. Just depends on my mood. Canuck - you and your hubby are super cute! Definitely rocking the buzz cut.
Rads, I'm starting to think that you and I are twins separated at birth. LOL. I've had the same digestive issues most of my life. Many meals just go right through me. Usually within 30-45 minutes. I didn't have the constipation problem until this last round, which was #2 (insert junior high giggle here). I went 3 days and I thought I was going to pass out from a cold sweat when it finally happened. Thankfully it's been relatively normal since then. Sorry for the TMI.
Hoping everyone has a good Friday!
0
