Starting chemo July 2014
Comments
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I just wanted to say how sorry I am to Chaosrain. I hope you get answers soon. Thinking of you.
Mumford congratulations
Nancy
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Chaosrain - I thought I answered your post, but I couldn't find that I did. This is rough news. In some respects it is similar to a recurrence dx but better than finding it after 15 months. I want you to stay positive - it may change the overall plan, but you are in process - just keep on keeping on. If you decide on a mastectomy of some sort, so be it. I chose reconstruction first time around. I remain happy with my decision. My thoughts are with you.
We spent a portion of today at our friends' farm that was severely flooded. Their home is on the ridge but the gardens are all in the valley. This is the correct way to do it, but there was so much damage. The water was over half way up the green houses sides. Hubby and I walked down the farm road into the farm and out into the gardens which were all covered in mud. It was really hard to pull a boot out of the mud when my foot sunk six inches down. Fortunately they were lucky and managed to save all the live stock. Hubby helped with clean up and I figured out pretty quickly that I was useless. By the time I got into gardens and stepped into an ant hill, I was exhausted. Monty took me back up the hill in the bucket of the front end loader. I was disgusted by my uselessness. We decided that we could help by putting their sheep in our pasture. Those are some really unhappy sheep! Our town has been declared a disaster area. Our grocery store is empty because no commercial vehicles can come into our valley which is the detour for the destroyed interstate. Thank heavens I'm one of those preparedness nuts. We have some supplies that we will be able to share with neighbors.
Insurance: My secondary insurance picked up the cost of the genetic testing, which was limited and negative. I had to agree to pay the bill if it was not paid by insurance. ($700) I agreed because I wanted to know for my health and my grand daughters.
Tomorrow is infusion #4 day. We are going to try to get there. I heard on the radio that it will be a 3 to 4 hour trip back home because of the highway damage. If I have to have a Neulasta shot, we will stay in St George tomorrow night rather that try to make the trip on both Thursday and Friday.
Way to much going on around here.
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Chaosrain I'm so sorry to hear the news . Just keep calm and see what it is and how it's going to change the plan that your MO have for you.
About DMX I as yo do it with reconstruction at the same time. I just didn't want to deal with Brest cancer anymore! The reconstruction is to fell normal and I think is a plus with silicone because I can put a swim suit on and don't worry about can run jump ... They don't move kkkkkk😉
XO
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Chaos: you're in my prayers
Coyote: prayers for you and your neighbors. Really hope you make it in for your chemo.
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Chaos, please try to stay positive. The right decision will come to you.
Coyote, your story is a sobering reminder of how life (with all it's curve balls) marches on despite our sometimes single focus. I'm glad you have everything you need to cope until the cleanup is complete. A challenge for round 4, but I'm cheering for you to breeze through it. Maybe a night away is good...
The weather seemingly turned overnight here...woke up to a blustery morning...no more than 60 degrees today.
I got a call yesterday from the office of the RO to go for a CT scan today to plan for radiation. Boy, they didn't waste any time. I'll let you know what it's all about later on.
Happy Thursday.
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So a doctor friend of mine answered what this is: "Small axillary lymph nodes identified that do not meet CT size criteria." Her answer, "CT size criteria means not enlarged. It's a good thing." YEA again!
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Got an email from PinkNinja, she is still having issues getting in, which is why we haven't heard from her.
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I made it to my appointment. No labs yet. Photo for Squirrel. I found it in the hat basket..0 -
Coyote,
Love that scarf! Did you find it at the doctor's office?
Shirley
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In hospital. If you think the nightmare I lead with insurance and doctors has been bad, it was like eating candy to last night. I took my temp at dinner which I always do now, it was 100.4, by the time I looked up urgent care address and taxi and took it again it was 101.7. I got to urgent care and had to stand in line for 30 minutes, in a waiting room with people coughing, just to get checked in. Once checked in, it took 45 minutes for a nurse to take me into a room, and then another wait of 1 hour before I went back I to a urgent care room. At which point they told me my dog could not stay, I said find I will be calling the news station, to come and get him, because this blind person with no other way to see can not keep her dog and she has no family to come and take it right now.
I guess I said the wrong thing, I don't think I ever saw a doctor, after 7 more hours there. If I did she did not introduce herself as one. After five hours I asked for water and was told I was to rude to have any. My iv was started and the alarm went off ever 5 minutes and they would not come in fix it for 30 minutes, so annoying. At 8 ok I asked if I could have my nausea meds giving to me, I was told yes, I asked 7 more times and they finally gave it to me at 11:30, when I started gagging and flooded in half from nausea pain and an empty stomach. I asked for crackers since I had not eating and they refused to give me any. I was allowed to eat and drink, actually when they finally sent me to the hospital they wanted me to eat even at 2 am and ordered me food. In 7 hours they had not even got me 1 bag of antibiotic, once transferred they had a bag in me in an hour. I was there for 7 hours, other than when nurse first saw me, they took no vitals, they did not take my temp and they did not check my sugars. They told me if my oncologist did not insist they send me to the hospital they would make me leave, when I asked what her name was she said get it right I am the head nurse. At shift change a nurse came on that was good, she fixed the iv so the alarm did not go off anymore, she got me some crackers and she gave me water, at this point I had been there for more than 6 hours. I asked her what was happening since I had not been told anything and she said we are transporting you to the hospital in a half hour. She is the one that got me my meds. When I was leaving the head nurse told me not to come back.
I was transferred to a hospital and the doctors have been in four times in less than twelve hours to see me. The nurses are wonderful. I have had vitals taken every few hours. I have been told what is going on. Although I don't know because they don't know. They took blood work here. They took a chest X-ray here.
I will say two other things about that other place, the minute I got here I asked for a new robe, they asked why, I said this one smells of old sweat and I'm not sweating. The other thing is this place is clean, even blind I could see the dirt and filth at the other place.
I am sure I am leaving out huge chucks of how mean and rude the HMO urgent care was. I hate having to go there first.
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Got labs Whites are good. No Neulasta tomorrow!
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Squirrel - Yes, It was at the Dr office. I knew you would like it.0 -
Giles - so sorry, I just don't know what to say besides that, except sounds like the hospital is doing well by you, unlike that other place.
Coyote - I get the shot no matter what my WBC is, wonder why there are so many different protocols, except, that is a $7,000 shot.
Jennliza - are you still in the hospital?
Rain - when does the tumor board meet? Mine is every Tuesday morning, so info seems to come on Tues afternoon.
MommyMel - they put the implants in at the same time as the mastectomy? So straight to implants, no tissue expanders?
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Giles, Sounds llike you finally found a better place. I hope it stays that way. Putting my ice mitts on now, so I can't text. I'll check in to see how you're doing later.0 -
I am soo soo sorry Chaos
that news breaks my heart for you... Was your treatment plan chemo first and then surgery or did you already have a lumpectomy? I had lumpectomy first then chemo.. Because I had stage llb grade 3 which is agressive I had it removed as soon as possible.. Just. Curious what your MO's plan was being you had the same agressive cancwr/treatment as I. Hugs and prayers for you... 0 -
I just went back a few pages and it seems like I missed alot! For some reason, I can't get on here from my Ipad anymore, so it has to be my phone (which I can't even see to type!) or my laptop.
Anyways, got my labs yesterday and I'm anemic again. That would explain my fatigue. My onco told me that before I was done with chemo, I would need a blood transfusion to get the rbc's up. Chemo anemia is different than regular and no iron pills or iron rich food will help.
I am hoping and praying that #4 next week won't be as bad as #3, it's about killed me
Mumford, congrats! I'm so envious
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Mitts off. Almost finished with infusion. Neulasta requires a 4 hour round trip to the clinic. I don't want to do it unless I have to, MO says that's fine if I will if she says that I must. We have an agreement. 😊
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Chaos: you are in my prayers. Was your tx plan chemo then surgery?
Giles, glad the hospital is treating you well!
Coyote, mitts? I may have to get some. Any suggestions. I stick my hands in ice during my treatments.
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Giles, I hope you feel better soon and can go home.
Coyote, glad to hear you made it to your treatment! You certainly have had your share of adventures in your part of Nevada.
Teaching days are always so exhausting for me. I think it's because I have to trot half-way across campus to my classroom buildings. Oh well, at least the weather has cooled down so I'm not all sweaty in my wig. Today's chemo moment: I accidentally ate my secretary's TV dinner for lunch. We both brought spaghetti with meat sauce TV dinners, but hers was definitely higher quality (and calorie). How embarrassing!
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Good Morning,ladyb. My husband gave me Elasto-gel mittens for my birthday before I started chemo. We bought the regular thermal gloves which send up being somewhat less expensive -but they are the same thing. The difference is that you buy the thermals as singles and the printing is only on one side - they look mismatched. It takes at least two pair and an ice chest with ice. We prefer using dry ice. So far I have no nail issues and my MO is quite pleased.
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Where is everybody?
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Coyote: I'm sitting here in my recliner, just finished covering my 2 tomato plants as there's a frost risk tonight. Ate my ice cream. Today I found a free walker at the ND Assoc of Disabilities, no charge, will pick it up Tuesday. I listened to the tape I'd made of my RO appt last May, which was before my surgery. Pleased to hear the part that if lymph nodes were clear rads could be as short as 3 weeks, I'd forgotten that part. Was also a reminder that I was only 5 weeks post op from my rotator cuff surgery at that time, and was excited I'd been cleared to hold my hand out to wash my hands under the faucet. What a year this has been, can't believe the whole year will be related to getting me healthy.
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Coyote,
I'm lying in bed, following high school football scores online (daughter is at her school's game), and getting ready to sleep. It has been quiet here today.
Had a fairly productive day, even though it included a faculty meeting (those are never productive). On the upswing from AC #4 and getting (mentally) prepared for twelve weeks of Taxol.
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Coyote
I'm trying to figure out if the big d and fever I've got is a virus or the Arimdex I started 9 days ago. Bleh.
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Evening, ladies. Apologies for my absence. Coyote, I'm just sitting here in the dark with my laptop, watching a news show. Yesterday – 9/11 – was a day of reflection for me. I have a personal connection with the tragedy, though at one remove. In any case it's seemed to get more intense for me as time passes.
Today I just sat in the recliner & played. It's been rainy, mid 50ºs, and I'm just fatigued. Tummy acted up a bit, not bad, just uncomfortable.
I'm hoping our hospital patients are doing ok and going home soon. I'm continuing to pray for all of you. Take care.
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Yesterday was chemo day and I'm surprised that I'm really rather functional today. I'm doing compute graphic work today as a fund raiser for the farm. A few years ago I made all the gift card boxes for the nearby Nevada State Park. It became just too much work to keep up. I have materials left, so I am making boxes of cards with photos of the farm...pre-flood. I am also printing a calendar with the photos. These are the kind that fit in CD cases on a desk. I need to get some done tonight, because I expect tomorrow with be a down day for me.I got in trouble with my MO yesterday when I told her that I had been at the farm trying to do clean up. She asked me if I was suppose to do that? I told her that I found out very quickly that I wasn't. She said she was glad I was listening. She is funny. I really like her. I took her the newest information that was in the news about Ativan. It is one of the drugs that is suspected to contribute to Alzheimer's when taken for too long or too regularly. I had read about the possible side effects being permanent memory loss two years ago. I pretty much stopped taking it then. Dr. Lin said that she is not really in favor of taking it as a regular drug for stress or sleep, but that it is extremely effective as an anti-nausea drug when nothing else works. Guess we can tell that I'm still up on steroids.
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Yesterday was chemo day for me too and the steroids still have me flying high. I had a fairly quiet day today but went for a nice walk with my hubby and kids after dinner and then we had a movie night at home. I've been really lucky this time. Almost no nausea at all. I've backed way off on the anti-nausea drugs today and still seem to be doing ok, which is nice because the lack of meds leaves me a bit less dopey too. Fingers crossed that the low SEs continue for me.
Sending up good thoughts and prayers for all of you who are struggling, and cheers for those of you getting closer and closer to the finish line.
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for what it's worth, with all this talk of icing nails- I haven't done a thing with mine and they're fine. Of course, I didn't do anything with my head either and I *did* lose my hair... But I wasn't too concerned about that to begin with, and honestly, with the heat, it's kind of nice getting a breeze on my bare scalp
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I was wondering where everyone was too
My primary dr called me yesterday and told me that the culture she did on one of the little bumps on my head was NOT MRSA (staph infection) so that was good news. I guess it's just a mild case of folliculitis again. I only have a few bumps this time and I am going to buy an aloe vera plant so I can squeeze the juice on it. I think I asked this awhile ago but with chemo brain, I forgot what you all said. For us baldies, what are you using to wash your scalp and also are you using a product to moisturize it?
I am gearing up for round #4 net Wednesday and it stinks because I almost feel *normal*. I can't believe that I didn't get the big D this round. I had a lot more nausea but it was probably from all the antibiotics. I've been juicing and eating a lot healthier and eating tons of yogurt and taking a probiotic so I think that helped.
I hope everyone is doing better. Praying for all of you!
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kebab -- glad to hear you were able to have your chemo! I thought your labs hadn't been too good recently. Too bad the steroid high doesn't last forever! But, seriously, hope your SEs are tolerable this time.
Coyote -- MO gave me Ativan for insomnia, and I've taken it maybe twice. Call me a coward, but I really don't need a drug with too many complications.
JenKay -- I haven't done anything for my nails and they're fine (and growing) as well.
pinkninja -- I just use dandruff shampoo on my scalp. So far, it's been pretty healthy. Then again, I normally have oily scalp, so all chemo's done is to dry it out a little.
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