Starting chemo August 2014
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Insomnia..urgh. I feel tried and awake at the same time. Interesting what we experience in this journey.
Wizard, am with ya these steroids, I woke up and can't get back to sleep! I took Benadryl as I was told to back off the Tylenol PM when I take the Norco, Thinking of you tomorrow!
Llizz awesome on IVF and embryos. It is amazing.
Hugs All,
-Angie
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hi gals, i start round 2 of chemo tomorrow. My cocktail is in my stats, perjeta is delicious! Haha. My hair is a distant memory.
Loaded up on gatorade, icepops and easy to prep/digest foods this time, have been fired from my job so no work concerns. Downloaded fun games and a Kill Cancer playlist on Ipad too. Keeping busy as possible, cleaning and organizing house and selling my work clothes on Ebay. Been walking and meditating. I am ready!
Hope all August gals are doing well and off we go into September!
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Hi All- Todays my first treatment-unfortunately managed to get 4 hours of sleep in total last night (steroids?) I am nervous about having all the energy I need for todays long day. despite that I'm ready to start the process:)
LLiz- Such happiness in the wake of all this, your post cheered me up. Life will go on!
Wish me luck icing feet and toes and cold capping!
Thanks ladies. Best to you all and may everyones road be easier today.
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wizard - thinking of you today as you start round 2, I'm right behind you on Friday. Taking my steroids today.
Lizz - that is pretty incredible.
LadyB - hoping for a good day for you.
Gatomol - going to try your suggestion, breaking up the zofran. Had bad pain in base of head last time, maybe that was why.
Some of you ladies stopped posting. Hope you are doing well and keep strong. Let us know how your doing.
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sorry all, I haven't been posting. I check in several times daily to see how everyone is doing. I've had a tough time of it with the SE's. Yesterday I woke up at 4 am with bad muscle spasms in my lower back. Has anybody else experienced this? A heating pad and advil helped somewhat. I have had a lot of muscle and bone pain. MO thinks it's from the booster shot. We've decided to skip it next round. I feel pretty good this morning and I'm hoping to get some work done.
Bippy, you were seriously fired??? Can they do that?
You ladies are such an inspiration. I wish everybody no SE's. Holding hands with you all! We got this.
Diane
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good luck today Bippy! sorry to hear about your job
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hi didi, yes i too had back pains. Yes, i was friendly fired, and mad at first but now grateful! That job was KILLIN ME in the literal sense. No way could i perform anyway, even part time. I need all my energies to heal now....no more family law drama to deal with. It is a good thing.
Barremom, thanks! I will check in when i can. I will be doing the nuelasta and claritin chaser on Sunday!
Everyone be well
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Bippy, well, I'm ok with you being fired if you are.... I was getting ready to go kick your bosses ass! If it makes your life easier then it is a good thing. Good luck today!
Diane
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Wizard50, good luck today!
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Ladies if you haven't done so ask Onc nurse to allow you to ice fingernails and toes. Should be started about 15 mins before chemo to 15 mins after chemo. It will help either slow done or prevent damage to nails. I have done it each treatment. If you don't have gel mits ask for plastic gloves if you can wear them. Also for the shots Claritin and Aleve reduces rhe bone pain. Check with your med teamif you don't already take the Claritin and Aleve to reduce SEs.
-angie
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Bippy,
I hope that they offered you a separation package or that you can collect unemployment insurance or even a wrongful termination settlement, because under ADA they have to at least go through the efforts of showing that making reasonable accommodations for you would be a huge hardship on them. I know it usually can be for some employers, but at least most try.
I was worried my work would do that too, so I did a little research.
Feel better,
((Hugs))
LLizz
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bippy, so sorry to hear you lost your job, but now you can concentrate on you!
Llizz , how cool to see those little guys! I know that made your day!
I am taking Claritin the morning of chemo and three days later. When I took the nuelasta shot, I didn't have much in the way of pain, but took a Norco about 9 hours later
I think I will be happy that tomorrow I won't be taking that steroid pill. Thinking it is what is keeping me dizzy feeling? Did you find that?
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Starting ct today. I am nervous but determined to see this as a positive step in preventing the return of bc. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences.
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I am new to this site. I really appreciate all the wonderful information people post. I was back to almost normal day 7 from first treatment. I worked through my treatment and found that to be a BIG MISTAKE. Next time taking that week off. I am religiously rinsing my mouth. Any other tips would help. Nervous about 2nd round coming up. I think I am ready this time. Totally caught off guard. Claritin,Miralax, and Aleve I will take earlier on. Lorazepam at night. My oncologist was against ice caps. So, I did not do that. Good luck to everyone else. I hate being part of this club and looking forward to looking back at this time in my life.
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good luck sueb, you can do it!
Terri and however using the mouth rinse. Did they say this is better than the biotene?
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Hey Lliz, it is all good, I am getting unemployment. Happy about it! Funny, how a job can be sucking your soul and you do not realize it till you go. It is no wonder to me, in retrospect, why I got ill. My only job now is recovery, and no way I could work there during tx anyway. Suddenly, all that horrible stress is gone.
All other newbies, try not to worry! My first chemo was no problem during, just boring really. It is the SE afterwards. Be kind to your bodies...rest....eat good food....minimal walking is good if you can, and do not push it. Do take the nausea preventative BEFORE you feel sick--Best tip I got from a pharmacy student. She said it is very hard to get ahead of puking once it starts. It worked for me!
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Now THIS was a REAL ice bucket challenge! icing feet and toes for over an hour!!
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Llizz, that's awesome! Glad that worked. That must've put your mind at ease. Cool pics!
Good luck to everyone starting chemo today or going back in! Hope everyone is managing SEs okay.
I am enjoying this up week before 2nd infusion next Thursday.
Hugs to all, Jess
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didi, OMG, I had the lower back muscle spasms on Tuesday night. It was the craziest thing because I almost felt like I was dreaming, but no matter how I would lay, my lower back muscle would just pulsalate! I didn't have this issue last night, but I'm glad to know I wasn't alone with regard to this SE.
One love,
tp4ever
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LLizz, those photos are amazing! I have twin grandbabies on the way and we have some early images of them. But not THAT early! Congrats! So glad you had good luck with the IVF.
Thanks to all who have been posting hair and head pics. It is tremendously encouraging to see your beautiful faces and heads. My scalp has been feeling a bit tingly and sore, so it's time for me to do the preshave, too.
Has anyone made haloes or stick-on bangs from their own hair? A make-up consultant popped in on me during Infusion #1 and showed me how to do it. So i am planning to harvest some hair and give it a shot.
I am still doing well. I did not have the Wonder Woman steroid effect this week - not sure why - but energy is still decent. As i was warned, i do have some twinges in my lower back and hips. Walking helps.
Tongue continues to feel a bit burnt but i can still taste food. And i still have the "allergy" symptoms off and on.
Tomorrow will be infusion #3, with the steroid doae cut in half. Also last week they gave me Allegra instead of Benadryl so i didn't get drowsy. So tomorrow i am going to take my laptop and see if i can put in a couple of hours on my job. I normally work from home, so one chair is as good as another
Sending best wishes and big hugs to all who are struggling with SEs.
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Llizz, that is SO great!!!! What amazing pictures. I'm glad you're feeling okay. My mouth, tongue and throat feel icky, too.
Another SE that has developed from Taxol is a frequent bloody nose. Had a pretty good one last night, and then again today while I was on a sales call with a customer! YUCK! Spoke to a nurse and she said it is a pretty frequent occurrence for patients on Taxol. Have any of you experienced it? I thought the Herceptin drippy nose was gross but this takes it to a new level.
You are all in my thoughts today. Hang in there everybody!
Hugs,
Sandy
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I am excited! I wasnt going to get a wig because my insurance didnt cover it. I filled out a paper online for a free one and forgot it. They are sending me one. They even let you pick from any of the wigs at wigs.com! So I get the one I wanted! I dont know if i will wear the it all the time but its great to have the option!
Llizz your baby pics are is amazing!! I'm so happy for you.
Sandy I'm following your progress because after my 4 weeks of AC I start taxol. I'm sorry about the nose bleeds. Hopefully that will stop soon.
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I had my BS appointment today. Healing well. Need to put some hot pack below bra line as those veins are still tight and painful and keep doing my stretches, but all in all, I'm healing well.
Next my hubby took me to get my halo, wig and a pink sleep cap. I'm very happy with what I got, I will look pretty close to me!
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thinkpink, thank you! I thought I was the only one with the spasms! I could not get comfortable. They're gone now thank God. I hope you're doing ok today.
Diane
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Anyone having their voice go in and out like they are kind of losing it?
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bipsy - we are same schedule, will do 2nd treatment tmrw.
Suebe - hope all went well today for you.
Eileenpg - welcome! Great group for info and just shaing.
Barremom - let me know if the ice packs work for toe nails. Looks interesting....
Thinkpink and Didi - I had muscle spasms in my Lower back and butt after shot. This time ready with Claritin and Aleve. Hoping it makes a difference.
Kellya - good to hear you are on the mend.
Sandylovelucy - I had a runny nose and think it bled because I was blowing it often. Nurse suggested nasal saline and Claritin.
I have been reading posts and suggestions for SEs, thanks for all the information. I am geering up and ready to go. I think! Ha I took steroids today and am actually tired tonight. Could also just be because ran around like a nut yesterday and got very little sleep last night. Eating leftovers, don't feel like preparing anything.
Please keep the posts coming on how everyone is doing.
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Well Ladies...my hair is really starting to fall out. Looks like this weekend I'm going to go G. I. Jane style :-) it's going to suck for me but I look at it like ripping off a band aid..it's only going to hurt for a little bit. Now off to drown my hair sorrows in a pint of ice cream.
Hugs,
Karina
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barremom, love that ice bucket challenge!
My hair is really coming out (day 14). Even tho I buzzed it off a few days ago, it's still emotional. Be glad when it's all out. It's so itchy and messy (and my hair is only 1/4 inch long!!!)
Hoping everyone is hanging in there. I'm already dreading my 2nd infusion next Thursday ...but at least I can then say I'm half way don't with the AC portion of my chemo (1/4 way done!).
Lots of mood changes!!! Hard to keep up.
Xox jess
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Karina, right behind you on that ice cream!
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Oceanbreeze this weekend I'm shaving the head! It is bad. You are not alone. We will make it. Came home from work and got a pretty big bald spot. Tomorrow will definitely be a hat day.
Jess I go for my 2nd one next Thursday as well.
Liizz your pics made my day! I'm happy for you.
How are you guys doing that have had your 2nd infusion? Better than first or about the same? Don't want to even think it could be worse for anyone.
All you new friends, hope you are coping well.
God bless you all.
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