Starting Chemo in February 2016?
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Thank you for posting all of the beautiful pictures! You are all so brave and inspiring. I've just completed my 4th of 12 weeks (Taxol, Herceptin etc). My hair only just started thinning about 3 days ago, and I'm not ready to let go completely - though my scalp hurts and you've all shown me that I can do it too! I think I will let the little ones do the shaving for me so that they might think its funny instead of scary.
Thank you, you fearless, beautiful women!!!
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Imani- I had some pretty bad stomach issues days 3-5 and they told me to take Prilosec 20mgs and tums as needed. Total game changer! Another thing that I did was to wean myself off of the decadron that they gave me for the two days following my treatment. That helps too.
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Good evening, ladies. I received my first TC infusion on the 16th, last week Tuesday. Friday and Saturday were really rough days with the body aches, general flu like feeling. In addition, Friday I lost my taste completely and my mouth was sore. I figured out by Sunday afternoon that I had thrush and called the Dr. He asked how I was feeling and I told him not well. He asked me to come in Monday morning to check the thrush and run labs. My white count was .6 ! I received neupagon injections 3 days running and some nystatin rinse.
I went in today for a follow up and the white count went up to 12k. My thrush is also better. My hands have broken out on the top knuckles in hives. The dr thinks it's the taxotere and told me to stay on the claritin I was taking for the injections and to add benadryl at night.
Certainly hoping the next round on 3/8 is less eventful. I know I'm getting a neulasta injection the day after that infusion. I asked for the neulasta cartridge you wear and it dispenses automatically the next day. Anyone use one of those yet?
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dgail we don't have those Neulasta cartridges here yet, I saw online looks pretty cool. Probably wouldn't do it for your first, they like to do that in the hospital just in case there's an allergic response. After my first Neulasta I did the injections myself, I was really scared about doing it but it's actually very easy. The needle is very small and prefilled, it doesn't hurt at all it's quick and easy!
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Dgail we are on the same time frame and same tx. I had thrush also. I had to get diflucan to get rid of it though as the yeast beast was also affecting my lady parts. I felt much better once it started working. Neulasta did well for me but I am taking claritan the whole time also...for rash as well.
My next tx is 3/9.
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I think the neupogen injections are a broken down version of the neulasta, right?
I've tolerated those well this last week, so hoping it goes well.
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Neupogen is the older drug. Neulasta is a longer-acting version that's newer.
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I had the cartridge after my first infusion. It was simple but there were things I didn't like about it. It sits on the back of your upper arm so you have to be careful not to knock it off. It goes off without any warning with a slight vibration and takes awhile to administer. I really couldn't see the line indicating it was empty after the infusion easily. I'm considering just going back in the next day for an infusion instead
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Myra - If you are close, it's actually just a shot. I go back in the next day for mine. 5 minutes in and out the door.
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Chambo- my next tx is 3/8.
I'm not getting neulasta. My tx schedule is every 3rd week. I guess the third week is in lieu of the neulasta shot to build up my immune system.
My mo said that my immune system will be at its lowest mid tx schedule... How long does this last? I'm mid way right now on day 12 after my first infusion.
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I started my first TC treatment 2/18/16 followed with the neulesta shot on 2/19/16.
I was nervous of course but I am doing better than expected. I've gained 2 lbs since I'm really happy about that.
Haven't really experienced horrible side effects.
Hope all treatments go this well.
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First, everyone looks great!
Second, my chemo treatment scheduled yesterday has been postponed until Monday due to a series of unfortunate events.
Overnight I developed a big rash of unknown origin on my good arm from wrist to elbow plus some around my underarm. I woke up itchy at 4 am. When I showed the nurse, she had to get other people to evaluate it. We eventually got the go-ahead after about 1 1/2 hours.
I took the pre-meds, and then 2 nurses failed to get the IV started after 3 college tries to get the needle in. The first nurse failed to get the vein right twice. The second nurse hit the vein, but then it infiltrated(?). Each attempt was the most painful of needle sticks I've ever had.
Then we were told they could work me in between scheduled surgeries for a PICC line. After several hours, it turned out they couldn't do it until 3, but that would not leave time to start the chemo. The nurses thought a port would be better for me.
Now I am scheduled for a port placement on Monday 8 am at a different hospital. After recovery, I go directly to my hospital for chemo.
Last night I emailed my vacationing MO to update him on the changes.
The day was not entirely a waste, just mostly. While we waited for my daughter to meet us from university, I was able to go to the cancer support group in the hospital to try out some wigs and scarves and picked one of each (free!). The platinum blond wig did not get approval from the family. They also keep a basket of dark chocolates and told me to take one for each failed needle stick. Well, no argument there! We also learned a lot from speaking with the nurses and pharmacist.
So, we are spending the weekend eating foods that are restricted during chemo: sushi, aged cheeses, and eggs with runny yolks (not all at once). As of breakfast today, they have been consumed. Will repeat as needed.
Also, I found out yesterday that a scheduled appointment with my MO on Monday had been cancelled last week, but no one had notified me. If my chemo treatment went as planned, we would have taken a half day off of work to be there. This is the 2nd time the schedulers have messed up. I've written up these 2 incidents and need to figure out who to contact.
Last night, I iced my arm to help with the needle stick pain and today found no bruising and no rash on my arm! The rash on my underarm is still there so I iced it this morning. Brisk!
Whew! Sorry for the long post. Stuffed, but frustrated.
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Thank you for the compliments re:hair and back atcha all! Such pure beauty to see here.
Hope your day is going well.
Day 9 and other than my tongue feeling burnt my appetite is still rising. It craves carbs!!! I so worry about weight gain
I can't help but worry every time the spinal compression fracture acts up. It was okay last few days. Do chemo and steroids help this pain?
Last Neupogen injection today until next cycle. I haven't had the jaw pain in days which I thought would last throughout. Thankful for that!
Oh a weird neuropathy for me? During chemo last Thursday my nose started really burning, tingling, then hurting inside. Anyone else?
Blessings fellow battlers!
Piper
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MLP3- I am on TC but it is every 21 days also. The midpoint is when WBC are at their lowest in the recovey cycle, so they do a lab check on me then (Day 10). Mine were the same as the day of chemo (despite a sinus infection and thrush)...+1 for Neulasta.
Piper - my nose streamed during infusion...I had to blow it a million times. As soon as the IV stopped, so did my nose. Weird. I hear ya on the carbs (I think it is the fluffy softness on sore tongues?) I dont have much appetite though, so while I am eating them, I am going down...6 lbs since the 16th. I am havingvto find low sigar, high protein, non acidic and soft stuff...not as easy as you'd think...lol.
Serenity- sheesh! But I am glad you are getting a port. With rolling veins, it is the only way to go!
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serenity- what an ordeal! But at least you got another weekend to indulge;)
My appetite was horrible for 4 days after my first infusion and I definitely lost a few. But now I'm eating healthy and no appetite or taste bud issues... Yet. I was secretly hoping for some so I can drop the 10-12 I've gained during this ordeal;)
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Hi Imami, how's it going?
I think I forgot my steroid this AM b/c I was nauseous and dealing with taking zofran and Ativan for that--vomited a little
So I just took it now, so maybe only once today b/c I don't want to be revving up at bedtime.Took Senna S last night and again this afternoon and things finally moved--but painfully and slowly! I least I have room to eat even if I don't feel hungry.
Keeping track of all these medicines is a bit challenging. I have to write it down right away or I'll forget. And which ones are a must and which are optional? Hmmm!
Everyone's heading out now so maybe it's nap time.
Hope you all are doing well.
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Hope you are feeling better Suzted7. I had the same problem and ended up using Imdoium ad. Only had to take it once and it worked great. Also felt sick to my stomach a few times and had to take compazine. On day 11, I developed a neutropenic fever and was hospitalized for 4 days. I'm hoping the insurance company learned its lesson on denying the neulasta after my first chemo and will approve the neulasta shot when I have my second chemo treatment this coming Friday. (I'm sure four days in the hospital costs much more than the neulasta shot). I'm trying to stay positive for the second chemo go around. Last week when I was sick, I really wasn't looking forward to 5 more rounds of chemo. I kind of wanted to be put in a coma for six months until this whole thing passed. But, I'm feeling pretty good after being in the hospital and am kinda looking forward to treatment No. 2 -- plus then I will only have 4 more treatments remaining!!
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Piper,
I had that tingling in the nose, too. I told the nurse about it when I finished and she told me to remind then next time and they'd slow down the second infusion, the cyclophosphamide. That's the one that caused it.
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thank you Dgail
I will mention again. The nurse I had noted it and said she hadn't seen that before. Hopefully she will slow it down then. Great advice.
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morning ladies
Day 10 feeling wonky. I thought I had my really bad days and on the way out. Neupogen is finished as well for this first treatment. I'm feeling bad again. Not terrible, but not myself at all.
I've always preventively taken my anti nausea meds. My neck and head ache terribly and I feel flu like.
For lack of a better way to put this...do SE return or just run in waves?
Piper
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Good morning, Piper. Im on day 13 post first infusion. Yesterday was the first day I felt a little more myself and the last couple days before that I had pockets of feeling ok, then promptly not feeling well. I think out was due to tiredness. Keep rested and hang in there, listen to your body and rest.
I believe the hair has begun it's exodus. I lost a ton of strands this morning. Good timing, I just finished sewing several hats yesterday. I need to make a soft shower cap to catch all this hair, between me and the pups, it's going to be a hairfest!
One more thing, Piper, your nausea meds may cause the headache? Something to consider. Feel better wishes at you!
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gentle bird- sorry to hear that you were hospitalized for 4days. Doesn't make going in for the second very attractive huh? But just know that you're killing cancer;) How do you get that type of fever?
Piper- my anti nausea meds gave me brutal headaches. I was happy to wean myself off of them.
Reflect- I was given a grid sheet to chart how I felt each day. Maybe they can give you one at your next infusion. I think it will be helpful to look back on as I head into the next one.
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Good morning all...Neulasta/Neopogen will also give headaches. Jump on them with Tylenol or Ibuprofen.
Piper I keep feeling a little better each day but then a new SE pops up. Today its fire itch in the backs of my hands around the knuckles...a little searching tells me its pretty common around Day 12 of Taxotere...benadryl and anti itch cream is the "cure" til it subsides. I also to Friday off and just sat in my recliner all day letting my body catch up...feel like myself now. I think needed that rest day to recharge after working all week while not feeling 100%.
Best advice I got from someone who has been through this before is to take the time (if you can) to rest more. No need to be superwomen...we just have a habit of trying anyway...lol
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Hello fellow fighters,
A/C Day 4 I woke up feeling pretty good! Tomorrow I hope to teach in the morning and then I have an appointment for MRI guided biopsy for 3mm bugger on the L. The last biopsy on the R took 3 hours. Really hope I can handle it. Have to drive myself (1 hour each way.) Maybe asking too much. We'll see.
Do you all see spikes in how you feel day to day, or general trends? Can I plan on anything? So hard because I need a sub for teaching.
Need to check out wigs too.
MLP3 a grid is a great idea. It's kind of what I'm doing but when I'm wonky it goes off.
I don't get Neulasta or Nuepoge (sp) -- what are they?
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Dgail620 - My hair started falling out this past Friday (it was day 15 since chemo). It's been a non-stop hair shower. I thought about using a razor to shave it off, but when i cut my hair short, it cut and itched. So i'm just waiting for it to fall out. It's pretty overwhelming to see all the hair on the shower drain....
MLP3 -- I got the neutropenic fever because my white blood cells went down to zero. (Insurance denied my getting nulasta after my first chemo treatment because I was too healthy). I was instructed if you have a fever of 100.4 to go to the emergency room. Once in the hospital, they filled me up on antibiotics every 8 hrs and also gave me a daily shot to increase my wbc.
Chambo -- i itched all over after chemo -- at least through day 10. My hands were terrible. I know it sounds weird, but I used preparation-H wipes to cool my hands and stop the itching. Worked like a charm. (Mentioned it to my MO's nurse and she said that makes sense and models use it to get rid of bags under their eyes).
Today is day 17 after chemo -- and I have to say, (knock on wood) I feel the best I have since chemo. This will definitely help give me strength for round 2 this coming Friday.
Hugs & prayers to all of you.
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reflect- I've been steadily improving on how I feel each day. But when I do too much one day(moved furniture, cleaned out closets and organized mudroom last week), I was tired the next day and I let my body rest up. I'm sure I'll be flat out exhausted tomorrow... Walked 5 miles with hills yesterday and just did a 3.5 walk/hike in the woods in the snow today. But it felt great, so worth the exhaustion tomorrow;)
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i'm on my third cycle and generally I find once I start feeling better, I keep feeling better. I do tend to be more headachy, Tylenol helps them pretty quickly. This time I got a cold right around the time I would start feeling better, so I'm still not feeling awesome but I think it is more cold symptoms than side effects
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Thanks MLP3 and LovesToFly, your experiences are helpful!
MLP3, I cannot imagine walking 5 miles in the woods...more power to you!
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Hi Chambo, I just saw that your cancer seems to be the same as mine. I am supposed to start chemo in 2 weeks.
Hope you are doing well
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Gentlebird - thanks for the itchy tip...I will try it!
Here's the head shave pic (not a moment too soon as it was shedding like a dog in spring time).
Work tomorrow should be interesting...
Lisa
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