Starting Chemo September 2015; join us!
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Oh I forgot about more babies. Well I'll pray that works for you and keeps your system healthy. There's always room for more babies in my book!
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Grey - Good for you for seeking help for your mood.
I was in a serious, suicidal depression years ago. I know not everyone is a fan, but Prozac did the trick for me. Whether it's talk therapy or a med like Prozac, glad you are pushing to get help. I'm in a decent mood most days going through this and still (like almost everyone here), this is by far the hardest, most painful, horrid thing I've ever had to gut through.
Artista - Thank you very much for your provider's advice. I have been fearing round 4. I told my husband about your counsel just now. I said "If I'm as bad off as I was round 3, I'm going to bed and drinking water straight-up, glass after glass." I love me some coping strategies!
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Is it wrong to want to do the happy dance because I could poop so soon after chemo???
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I forced myself out of bed this morning. Pushed my self to do some windmill stretches and waist twists. I'm breaking up this Nuelasta pain rather than lay in bed for 5 days. I'm just going to do it!!! But I'm still taking a nap later...he he he.
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Annie - Good for you! My physician's assistant's two top reco's: drink tons of water and exercise daily when you can possibly manage it. I do think it's helped me.
In other news: #YouMightBeOnChemoIf :
Your grocery list has "Vegetable Soup" scratched out, replaced by "Cream of Chicken Soup" scratched out replace by "Alfredo Sauce. Chicken Gravy. Noodles."
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Alfredo yummy. I think the extra fat helps with the chemo brain. Eat up the Bacon and butter ladies!
We had chowder in sourdough bread bowls last night. It was so good.
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Grey - I agree with the others. Get the prescription. You don't have to take it forever, but if it helps you get through this, it will be worth it. I take Wellbutrin and I can tell you that I definitely wouldn't be managing this as well as I am if I didn't have it.
Annie - I too am SO relieved that it's not cancer. I've been thinking about you! And, glad you can poop!
TFoxy - I did IVF to have my son and I took Lupron during IVF. Interesting to me that they are giving it to you and Annie now and how many things it's used for. It worked for me and I hope that it allows you to preserve your ovaries so you can still add to your family!
I started my steriod today. 3rd chemo tomorrow. I am feeling nervous and irritable about starting the cycle up again.
Plus, I just realized that I haven't had a period in over a month. I wonder if it will stay gone during the entirety of chemo?
And, I need to reach out to the cardiologist's office to schedule an MRI. She wanted to check my heart midway through to see if the Herceptin was impacting my heart.
I do wear my wig a lot, but that's because I go to work M-F. When I'm at home, I wear a soft beenie. On the weekends I wear the wig if we go out. I haven't gotten up the gumption to wear caps or scarves out in public yet. I might never get there.
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In case this helps... my third AC treatment was my worst. It made me so fearful for the fourth that I considered stopping chemo altogether. I talked to the nurses and they worked with the doc to make some adjustments to my premeds and offered some different ideas for post chemo meds. They also scheduled me for fluids on day 5 (ended up not needing) Their suggestions made all the difference. Number 4 was far more bearable. Those nurses know what they are doing.
In my case I think my nausea was more like severe reflux. It was horrible. I had never had reflux so didn't recognize it as such. I upped zantac to twice a day and added pepcid in between. I also got a stronger med for nauseau and took it preemptively. Be strong for number 4 ladies!!! You can do it! To quote a wise woman: Eyes on the finish line!0 -
Shelly - From a "bad round 3 AC" vet dreading #4 next week, thank you. I'm going to reach out to my team and see what we can tweak.
In other news: after a brief break, hair loss continues. Looks like I'm gonna be rockin' the bald look after all. Heh.
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I'm through my 3rd AC but I'm curious how's DD Taxol going? Is the Benedryl really exhausting?
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I don't know which I'm dreading more: AC #4 next week, or the unknown delights of DD Taxol that follow. I can't quite shake the fatigue with AC #3. The bone/joint pain has been worse this round. Like most of you, I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired. And I haven't been as sick as many of you.
The lymphedema therapist said I could make the appointment to get fitted for a compression sleeve and glove. It may take two weeks after that to receive them. I am so ready to get rid of this bulky compression wrapping that can't get wet.
Whine over. Time for a quick nap.
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happy rainy Wednesday ladies. I agree last AC was hard. I am finishing off my first dd taxol now. No immediate reactions to the taxol. My infusion nurse said it would have happened in the first 1/2 hr. The Benadryl knocked me out & I slept for 1 1/2. Hr of the 3 hr infusion. I still will get the nasty neulesta.
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Shopgal2 - Is there anti nausea meds they prescribe again? I really hate them and it would be nice if Taxol didn't require them.
Thx
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I am making a plan for my last Chemo( far off but something to dream about). My mom and husband are going to come and my Mom bought me a pink hat and a "fight like a girl shirt" I am going to wear it and Ring that damn bell for all that its worth. She is going to film it and I am going to post it?
My Chemo started in July and then was delayed until September. I just am pushing on for all its worth to be done.
Right now I am facing some difficult medical decisions. Because of my age (42) double breast cancer and PALB They are talking about a hysterectomy as soon as I am well enough after Chemo. They say 4 weeks but my RBC are close to needing a transfusion. They don't want to start me on Tamoxifen because of blood clots for surgery and My doctor said that he really wants to Arimidex because my situation and risk factors. He said if he goes the Lupron route it would take 5-6 months to verify that I am in menopause.
Just so scared of going from chemopause to menopause it is so irreversible. Scared of the side effects of the future treatments and just overhwhelmed at all of these life deciouns about treatment. Much like all of us here.
I meet with my plastic surgeon to find out if I can have reconstruction and the hysterectomy at the same time to just get done. I think he will be very scepitcal about it. Also my abdominal MO thinks it would be far harder on me than just doing laproscopic now and waiting for reconstruction implant swap.
I need to go find a meme I am just bringing myself down.
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Faced with all of this I feel so existential like "shouldn't I be in Hawaii in stead of here" What do you do dream and do when life turns your world upside down and I all I am doing is eating a bowl of cereal. " I have decided to have some fresh flowers in my house as often as possible I really need something live here. Or maybe some flowering mums. I need something to get me through this hump. I need to believe that there is firm ground on the other side of this.
I am wishing you ladies the same.Love compassion care-free-ness as we take on this.
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Exercise - Oh man you nailed it, every time i check into an apt they remind me I have not gone on vacation by asking, "Have you or have you been in contact with anyone who has traveled outside of the US in the past 3 weeks?" NO but I'd like to
Good vibes for your apts and fresh cut flowers in the home during this fall/holiday time is a beautiful idea!
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I've been delayed in treatment so only getting #2 next Tuesday. Hope you girls are still around when I'm going through #3 and #4 well into December.
I will take the water advice to heart. Thank you....
Like some of you it is nap time here too.
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Scotland:
What part of Atlanta are you in? Where are you receiving treatment? I am at Northside Forsyth.
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Grammy a lot of us will still have treatments in Dec you will be in good company
.Exercise - most of these decisions feel overwhelming. I had my genetic testing done yesterday and the genetic counselor kept saying " if it comes back positive then we'll help you schedule removal of your ovaries" the last time I checked it's still my decision although that is probably what I will do. I think it's easy to throw around having chemo, multiple surgeries, radiation and 10 years of drugs if you're not the one going through it. It certainly makes you want to get off the merry-go-round!
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tessu: this video shows how to use a tshirt as a head wrap
I have also seen people suggest to use cut off tshirt sleeves under scarf or wrap to add volume
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I'm not sure if this help s with Taxol or just Taxotere but I was told my someone locally to suck on ice chips during the entire Taxotere infusion. I didn't the first time because I didn't know and had mouth sores for a few weeks. I did the 2nd and 3rd times ( better the 3rd time) and I've had no mouth sores. I've still lost my taste but I'm not sure there is any way to keep that from happening. My MO has an ice machine with perfect little ice pellets. I'd suck on 2 or 3 at a time for that hour and even beyond and I think that it helped keep the SE's away.
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I will be getting treatments through the end of December, you won't be alone
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Exercise - Good job focusing on your future and short-term mood boosters like plants. <<<Hugs>>> to many of you who have a dizzying array of interconnected health challenges and open questions - hang in there.
Grammy4 - I'll start 12 weeks of Taxol in early/mid November. And that's all BEFORE eight weeks for my mastectomy, six weeks of radiation and more chemo.
Trust me, like mom2boo and many others, I'll be here with you for a very long haul.
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El Tigre I got aloxi & pepsin injections in my port line, Benadry in a small drip ( my infusion nurse said they usually do an injection of this but the injection can push it too quick & cause a reaction, thus the drip) & steroid Dex.
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mom to boo I did suck on ice for adriamycin. I didn't have time to do today with dose dense taxol. It's a bigger dose and longer infusion at 3 hrs. No sooner did the drip start then I was Zzzzz a half hour into it. Good nap for 1 1/2 hr.
I was up last nite like most at 2, then didn't go back to sleep until 530. Before I knew it alarm went off & it was time to get up & get ready. My appt was 940 with mo & had to get bloods done before infusion at 1040. It actually went quicker today with getting bloods back ( usually the hold up). I was in the chair at 1145 for premeds.I got the smaller special side of the infusion floor & the same great nurse I asked for from my previous infusion.
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Shopgal2 - thank you. I was wondering what was in store. The only thing I knew was the benadry drip but didn't see info on other meds. I tried to pay attention to the woman next to me my first dose since she was talking about her side effects on Taxol but I didn't want to intrude. I get nervous when i have to be on new things so any info is greatly appreciated. I may try and back off the Dex on Taxol but i could chicken out
It makes me feel my pulse in my head and body, not my fav.0 -
My mo said the dex is necessary to prevent a reaction to the taxol. No zofran drip with taxol only aloxi injection in my port line. Mo said I can take prescription zofran also for nausea. They said sometimes nausea doesn't affect people taking taxol; or it is lessened,it all depends on the person, thus no IV zofran. He said nausea can be left over from AC as SE since the chemos are cumulative. He said if I need stronger anti nausea meds to call.
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Shopgal2 - noted. looking forward to maybe sleeping during the taxol
Zofran is good news that stuff gives me headachesthank you
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I think had more fear going into it cause it was like starting over like AC again with not knowing what to expect. There were so may posts about weekly taxol but few about DD. I knew what to expect with AC and now have to adjust to a new set.
My mo was great. He knew I hit a wall & could see it on my face. I told him I was crying last nite & didn't want to go to chemo today. I was excited when I hit the half way mark on finishing AC but then realized I have 4 DD taxol to do. Plus the fatigue is my real issue. Sucking energy fatigue. My mo assured me there is a light at the tunnel and it gets better after treatment ends.
Now I have 5 down & 3 to do. Only 6 more weeks of crap & then port removal before rads. I guess I'll have hair in the spring like a baby chick. I have some soft fuzzy regrow but mo said taxol will take that. I'll enjoy my nice fuzz now and remember it for the spring.
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