Starting Chemo September 2015; join us!
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Hi I was hoping I could join this group as well. I had my first chemo 9/17/15. I felt fine that day, the next was spent mostly sleeping, and then the following two days were pretty good. I started to think it wasn't so bad this round. Boy was I wrong- the next week I was sicker than sick- nausea (even with taking Zofran, Emend and Compazine), diarrhea, food and smell aversions, loss of taste buds, etc. I didn't want to crawl out of bed if I didn't have to. I have slowly crawled out of that hole this last week and it's just in time to start the process again soon. Today it has been two weeks. The last couple of days my hair is coming out each time I barely touch my head- not to mention trying to brush it. I cried all morning- first time crying in a long time over this diagnosis. I know it's just hair- but boy it sucks. I need to go find myself some scarves before I am completely bald. I bought a couple of inexpensive wigs online and when they arrived, I justleft them in the package. I guess I'm scared to actually try them on. I still have a lot of hair left, but the way it's going it won't last too much longer. I have never posted on here before and have just been lurking... I am looking forward to having others to go through this with. My next chemo is scheduled for 10/8. I am scheduled to go back to work 10/5 so it will be a short work week. Luckily my work is willing to work with my chemo schedule and how I feel. I am doing the TAC every 3 weeks for a total of 6 sessions.
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Hello Southerncharm. I got mine buzzed on the 28th of September, it was so stressful having it dropping out. It is a very hard thing for any women to lose their hair. I had my wig ready and I love it. I wear a little cap thing for the gym. What I hate most is that everyone knows. I've accepted that. When I feel like crying I have a good old blubber and I do feel better afterwards the release is important. We need this treatment to help us get better and live a long happy and healthy life. Have your cry, we have lots to cry about and then pick yourself up and move forward..doesnt have to be big steps just steps in the right direction. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.
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SoCalMom5, you are welcome here and we are glad to have you, but sorry you have to be here. I will put you on the list. There is lots of good support on this board. Please come here whenever you feel the need.
Grey, thinking of you this morning.
I got one of the hair halos in yesterday's delivery, and it doesn't look bad under one of my various caps. I guess that is something to celebrate. Though as Cinque says, sometimes a good cry helps. And I think the exercise does too, both emotionally and with SEs. I haven't been to the gym but walk as much as I can.
HUGS TO ALL!
Octogirl
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Good morning September ladies and warriors!
No 2 today, will see how it goes
Thinking of all of you and wishing you the best under the circumstances
Valerie you look cute no matter what
Southerncharm miss you
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Valerie, I agree with mom2: you rock the look and are an inspiration. I also wear little earrings when I wear them at all, but getting some big dangly ones is on my list! Thanks for the smiles and encouragement! oxoxox
Octogirl
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mom2boo excellent news about shrinkage
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Welcome to all the newcomers. Sorry you have to join in on this group but it's so beneficial to all of us to have the support and knowledge of others in the same boat.
Nausea just won't quit on me. It's day 9 and I'm fed up. Told my son I'll be joining him in the wooded area of our property later tonight to join in his "ganja" party. (He's 22 years old so it's out of my hands, don't judge me..lol) I haven't smoked pot since 1982 so this should be interesting
..still, if it helps the nausea, I'll do anything. No pills prescribed have had any effect on this round. Hoping its just a fluke and I'll be ok for round 3 next Thursday.0 -
flower you look so cute and comfy! Good luck today, hopefully no hospital this time! Your head has such a great shape, I'm afraid I'll have a pointy pin head but it would work out ok for our planned conehead Halloween costumes 😆.
Welcome socalmom5, you've come to a great group full of support and laughter.
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mom2boo..omg...no word of a lie. Minutes after my head buzz, I put on a cap and came into the living room to see my hubby and sons watching Coneheads..arggghh..they had not made any connection and it just made it all the more hilarious. Thankfully, we are a strangely twisted bunch in this family that find the absurd humour in the worst circumstances.
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LindyC: I have found that mj (my sister gave me a bit of a stash) really helps me sleep. Better than Ativan (and actually less psychoactive, for me) during the horrid steroid phase (which thankfully just ended until round three, yay. I have a real love/hate relationship with those steroids). and for a lot of people it hits nausea better than any other drug. I also find that it makes me feel less groggy the next day than some other options. So I won't judge.
BUT, a few words of caution;
1. Smoking isn't a great idea, especially if you are going to do it on a regular basis. If you can stand the taste, and I can, just take a bit of a bud, put it under your tongue and let it dissolve. Easy, if the nausea will let you. Anyway, re smoking: long term harmful potential to the lungs, but also: harder to control the dosage (IMO).
2. Which leads me to my second word of caution: especially if like me, and it sounds like you also, you used it last 30 or 40 years ago and you hadn't touched it since ) MJ has CHANGED since I was your son's age. It is a LOT more potent, generally. For the stuff my sister gave me, I use a pinch that is about the size of a tenth to a fifth of my pinkie NAIL, and I have small hands. That is all it takes. Start small, wait at least two hours before upping the dose. Another advantage of a route other than smoking. If you do smoke, one toke only, then wait at least two hours. You do want to find your way out of the woods, right?
:-)
But seriously, it might really help. I hope you feel better soon!
Octogirl
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OK as a health provider I have to jump in the Cannabis discussion.
I don't know how many times i treated cannabis induced first time psychosis in the psych ED rotation, it is scary, be very careful.
Also if you decide to use, I recommend not to use it regardless of the motivation,make sure that is clean and not laced with something else.
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(((AnnieB)) Thinking about your first wig excursion. You did great!
SoCal, my first chemo was 9/17 too. We are on the same schedule.
Well, this morning my hair started falling out in large amounts. First in the shower, then after when I tried to lightly blowdry my hair. It was seriously a lot of hair.
I told my husband that I might have to have him buzz me this weekend. Ugh.On Saturday I'm taking my two wigs to the wig store to have them fixed up a bit more so they feel a bit more like me. One I'm having colored darker brown and cut shorter. The other just cut a bit shorter. I'm thinking maybe I can have them both look a bit similar to each other so I can wear them each off and on without a big difference. This means that I'm probably going to be coming in to work on Monday in a wig for the first time - scary. And, I have a meeting with a client on Monday. Maybe I can try to get by and buzz it all off Monday night instead to just get through that meeting? I dunno...
Last night I had a good cry. I think I've been such a tough little soldier in all this and every once in a while the tension and stress from this bottles up enough to make me burst.
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So I had my crazy reaction from Benadryl, and now I will start my chemo Tuesday second attempt. Now I'm worried about the steroids . What kind of side effects have you guys had from that?
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edwsmom, I'm on the same chemo with first treatment on 9/11. My hair started shedding on day 12 and kept getting heavier each day. The morning of day 16 it came out so heavily in the shower that I had bald patches on the sides of my head. I had to buzz it that day. I'm afraid you will likely not make it to Monday. I still don't like to look in the mirror but at least the anxiety of buzzing my hair is gone.
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Flower..Octogirl..yes, yes, yes, I will take it easy. My son made me a special "tea" with very little effect so I'm ready for the next step but..baby steps for sure. Thanks for the advice, much appreciated. I too am wary of the smoking (ugh, hate the smell) but likely it will be one toke to see the effect and go from there.
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Flower When you say make sure it is not laced with something? My close friend grows her own and is going to give me a "joint" to try. This should be ok, right?
LindyC Will you just be having a "joint"? My question is if my friend gives me a joint and I just take a small puff, can I save the rest of the joint until another time. :-) LOL Sorry but I am really new to this but I have convinced myself I am going to at least try it. I hope it helps you with the nausea. To me as you said nausea is the worst thing.
Octogirl What is the bud. Would that be the part they takeand make into the "tobacco" that they roll into the joint? Also thanks for starting this forum.. What a super group of ladies! God bless us all!!!!
Rosieo
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edwsmom I shaved mine last weekend and used the wig on and off through the weekend to get used to it. I have been telling a lot of my follow up patients why my hair looks different, to some I juat mention that I have some medical issue going on now, to some I go ahed and tell about my BC, and the new ones I tell nothing yet since they have no idea about my hair. Hope this will help you some. Hugs and more hugs
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My hubby discovered a lovely new "plant" in our woods while clearing the area last month. Who knew my boys had such a green thumb!!
We will be using this plant and I have to leave it to them to construct the joint. I will ask them about the bud as well. I have no knowledge of this so I will share once I have that info.
Roseio..if you put it out after a puff or two, you can re-ignite later. That much I do know. But it reeks, so keep it in a sealed plastic bag.
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The mj talk is funny, since AZ is a legal state a lot of my friends have joked around about me getting the medical mj! So far I don't feel the need and I think I'd be too embarrassed to ask my Dr. anyway. LOL
LindyC - so funny about the Coneheads being on, we have a bit of a twisted sense of humor too and love to dress up with our kids on Halloween and embarrass them! DH always finds a costume that he can carry around a drink all night!
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Rosio and Lindy this is different,was not aware of this own-growing stuff, nonetheless please just be careful , OK?
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Flower...will do, thanks
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Hi Twiggy.
Yes - today is exactly day 16.
My regular hair is VERY thick so I was hoping to eek out a few extra days. I don't have any bald spots yet. I asked my coworker if it looked different today and she said it just looks like I didn't fluff it as much when it was blown dry...lol.
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Fingers crossed that it works for you. You were kidding about the bush right? I think your garage/back patio would be just fine.
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twiggy are you having the second one today
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It's also legal in WA so my MO is all "go for it if it helps you." My job on the other hand doesn't take that position.
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Same here. You can get MJ anywhere in WA. Having a medical prescription makes it cheaper. My oncology team joked that if I wanted to try it, go for it. On the other hand, eating really hasn't been a problem yet. And yeah, reduced lung capacity is one concern with chemo, I don't know if I want to help it along with taking up smoking. Although I wouldn't mind trying a pot brownie... coworker recommended against it due to the long-lasting effects. Boeing, unfortunately, has enough federal contracts that they really don't want people doing anything the federal government calls illegal.
Day 16 - there's a clump of hair the size of a kitten in my bathroom trashcan. Still a ton of hair on my head, but the ponytail is definitely thinner.
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Flower, my 2nd round will be on Monday. They scrunched me in on Friday the 11th to get me started but my MOs normal day is Monday so they are moving me to Mondays from now on.
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- thanks twiggie will be thinking about you on Moday
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Go, Flower68!! I just had AC #3 yesterday.
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Good for you Carolina, how many more do you have
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