Starting Chemo September 2015; join us!
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my eyesight is getting worse too and I have sticky running eyes all the time. My glasses are starting to be useless.
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Annie they didn't numb it? That's just wrong. Hope they numb it for you when you get your infusion. Be the squeaky wheel and tell them if you are hurting or in pain. My MO's nurse is the only one who initially accesses my port. She does my bloods during my appt and leaves the port accesses but covered before chemo. She is super gentle and I am grateful for her compassion.
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I was at the cardiologist so they didn't have anything to numb it. She pushed all around to find it. It was already swollen and purple and she just mashed on it. Then she impaled me with a broad sword. Then she injected cobra venom in disguised as dye. It's just a steady thumping pain now. Oh and the girl that did the ultrasound mashed that bastard down on my lumpectomy site and I nearly leaped off the table. It was torture start to finish. So I'm there cleaning the gel off me and look in the mirror and I just saw a monster. Bald head, read eyes, covered with purple bruises and huge scars. I feel like a monster.
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They gave me this numbing cream to apply an hour before they accessed my port. I must not have used enough, still hurt like a @#$%@ when they accessed it. Next time, I'll be applying liberally and covering it with Ceran wrap to keep my clothes from rubbing it off. Wow. Groggy today. Day 5 of 2nd treatment... par for the course. Hair thinning. Hiked another waterfall hike. This time with my son on my back. Together we shall drive these toxins out of my body as fast as possible! Coworkers like the pixie cut. Super supportive. A few of them either had wives who went through chemo or brain surgery, so they had all the stock phrases down :-)
I know it's a day or two early, but ripping the 18 week tag off my countdown was very satisfying this morning. After this weekend of nausea/heartburn, I'm not looking forward to AC round #3. But at least I can tell myself I'm halfway through the harder part. *crosses her fingers*0 -
Sweetrose623 9/15
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Annie-you are not a monster. You are a beautiful, kind, funny woman whose body and soul is being put through the ringer. I know the monster feeling--I do--but you are not. You are still you!!
Lisa-I want to be like you! Look at you hiking and rocking it!
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Been lurking around this topic for quite a while, guess it's time for me to join. Sitting at my second infusion right now (first was 9/14) going well so far. Met several kind people, and the conversation has made the time pass quickly.
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i want to be like Lisa too!
Ok I'm alright now. It was emotionally touch and go there for a while but I ate some pasta and I feel better. I'm in infusion now waiting for my decadron. No numbing cream here either but I asked for a prescription for next time. My echo cardiogram came back good so I'm a go for AC today. I took my picture sitting in this chair and it looks like my eyebrows are starting to fade.
Jimmy ' s had it hard today too. I cried, yelled and squeezed his hand. He's playing solitaire and I'm looking at him and he just looks old today. Cancer is mean to people that love us too. I need to remember that.
Happy thought are the goal the rest of today! Life is good. God is my strength. This will not beat me!
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welcome yourotherleft!
Annie: pasta could create world peace if given the chance. Glad you're on your way to being done infusion two
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Oh Annie..what a crappy day and yet you still see the effect on your hubby.. (((hugs)). Sharing this with us reminds us all that we are in this together.
Today is my 30th wedding anniversary. I'm feeling queasy still. My dear hubby, God bless him, wants to take me to the fancy restaurant where we had our real first date. It was there that he wooed me with a special romantic table and fine dining and won my heart. I'm going to be a cheap date tonight but I will put on a brave face, along with my lovely wig and do my best to put some good food down. He's trying to be normal and I love him for that. We all know how our lives have been taken over by medical procedures, appointments and dealing with horrid side effects.
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here we go... I'm wearing the same shirt to every infusion and I'm going to burn it when I'm done!
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Lindy that is so sweet. We gotta love those men because I'm sure they are hanging on by a thread sometimes. Happy Amniversary! I hope you have a nice time.
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Twiggy You Rock AND that's an awesome idea! I'm burning the wig for sure!
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Annie, you're getting jerked around like crazy and taking it like a champ! Keep it up! I wish I was that strong - I've got my mom kicking my butt to get out and do something other than wallow. It certainly helps. It has certainly brought my carb craving into full focus. Is that the AC steroids or what? I keep expecting to be on the weight loss end of things, but no. At the end of the hike, we stopped in at Salish lodge and I got to try this really tasty sandwich: Cheesy Jalepeno Bagel with chicken, havarti, avocado, aeoli, tomato, and lettuce. It was thick carbs & greasy. And I loved it. And I feel like I could eat half a pizza today. Just gotta fight my way through the groggyness. Grog grog grog. What a fun word. GROG!
Happy Anniversary, LindyC!
Love the turquoise shirt, Twiggy! I will love it even more when I see you post it in flames.
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Annie - if you don't have the numbing cream put ice on the port for a while before they access it. It makes a big difference.
PS - I thought that only a few professionals were allowed to access the port? In my hospital the only ones who are allowed to tap into the port at in the infusion center. Even in the MO's office they draw blood out of my arm - they aren't allowed to do the port.
When I went to the ER, they wouldn't touch my port with a 10 foot pole and said that only specially trained people should access it with special care due to risk of infection...
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They think my port is sitting against a nerve. Hoping it settles over the next week. Burning jerky intermittent pain shots to my armpit. The nurse thinks it'll settle.
Carbs us all I can stomach. I'm up 8 pounds. I need to watch it this round because I'm already too fat.
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So did most you order your wigs online? Or go to a store? If online could you please post the sight ? Thx
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both my thumbs are numb...hoping it doesn't get worse. It was acting up off and on, but it's been a few days and It hasn't gone away. I don't feel like telling my MO.
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Aga I bought mine at wigs.com because there was a sale. I like cysterwigs.com too.
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Ladies
I don't post much but you can believe I read all the posts and want to say that this bunch of ladies have to be the "cream of the crop" I am amazed to read the humor so many of you can still write while going thru some not so pleasant side effects.
I finally had my first chemo on Thurs Oct 1. That day and the 2 days following (Friday and Sat) I thought "Hmm, where are the side effects."? :-) Sunday morning I was exhausted and not much appetite. Today still some exhaustion. I am hoping it continues like this but I am expecting it may be cumulative. I am getting Gezmar and Carboplatin.
Again, please let me express my thanks for this thread and to all you great ladies who have helped me more than you could every imagine. Love to you all. I will try to post a little more but I love feeling the connection that you are all my friends
Rosieo
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Hazel tell your MO because that stuff can get treated and reversed early on I think.
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Good luck Rosieo. I hope your SEs are minimal.
I'm on the Cytoxan now so home stretch. I feel drugged sleepy but ok other than that.
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Lisa you & your little one look so cute. Aww.
Lindy happy anniversary. Maybe you can have a makeup date for you anniversary when you are done chemo. Maybe then you both can really celebrate big & enjoy.
Twiggy I agree about burning the shirt. I never want to wear my chemo clothes again. Plus I can't even look at any red liquid without getting nauseous because it reminds me of infusion. Oh yea I drink Gatorade during. Never gonna drink that after either.
Annie pasta & carbs must have that same calming effect as turkey. Glad you are ok. You are right that cancer hits our family hard.
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Ava, I bought my wig at a wig shop. You will pay more but I highly recommend trying on numerous wigs to find the "right" one. I think I have seen the lowest prices online at namebrandwigs.com.
Annie, I love the burning the wig idea! I think you have a future career as a comic about cancer care. You make me laugh frequently.
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Just Checking in I have chemo number 4 tomorrow.
Hazel and anyone who is having numbness in toes or hands. This happened to me my first Chemo. Through a long story of events it was recommended that I take Glutamine. It is a natural reaccuring amino acid. 30 grams throughout the day has been show to reduce the chances of Neuropathy. My nutritionist came in with some literature in my second Chemo and suggested that dose. I take it in protein drinks and lemonade. I was taking it for wound healing as I had a wound from surgery that didn't heal but it did completely eliminate my numbness and I have continued to take it. I am not sure if there is good research online about neuropathy and Glutamine but the hospital was very comfortable recommending it. I ordered it off of Amazon for 30 dollars for I think a two month supply.
As for Wigs my insurance did not cover mine......GRRR
I did buy mine in a store and took pictures of my natural hair with highlights. I am happy with it but it was 200 dollars. I wear it mostly in crowds or when I do not want to deal with talking about my treatments.
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Thanks Annie and Exercise. I'll look into Glutamine and let my MO know.
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Thank you for the welcome!
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Annie - I've been thinking about you all day - warm wishes and *hugs* - Lisa
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Thanks Lisa. It's been a rough one but I'm within half hour of being done! I can't wait for my bed!
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I bought mine at a wig shop. The gals there were awesome and I tried on about 30. Made piles of maybes and narrowed it down from there. I ended up buying 2 but really only wear one of them. They were not cheap but my insurance is covering them. I had $1200 that I could spend on wigs so I wasn't too concerned. I wanted to like them and find the right one. I am so far happy with mine.. I actually was asked at the cancer clinic how I was able to keep my real hair. It is quite comfortable actually.Good luck on your selection.
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