Starting Chemo in July 2017
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Tesse - sending prayers and good vibes your way! And hope you had a chance to organize your hobby room.
Sunny jay - I definitely work myself up about SE's. My husband is pretty good at talking me down:)
Hope everyone else is feeling better today.
I forget who made the comment about getting their period -but I got mine too! Unbelievable, the one possibly good SE.
I'm feeling pretty good on day 9, I just have a bothersome yeast infection and thrush? - had to look that one up. and endless mucous which bothers my throat. tmi.
My next is in two weeks. Anyone else have 6 cycles?
Still trying to figure out that darn signature line!
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Leatherette, just saw your question about Neulasta - and I'm sorry I don't know the answer. When they check your bloodwork before the next chemo they will know how your WBC are doing -maybe they are waiting to see?? but I really don't know.
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I'm going in to do my bloodwork this morning on my 7th day I would know about my WBC. Had the Neulasta shot few days ago i assumed my white blood count should be good 🤞🤞
I hope everyone are having a better day and who is going to get infusion today or tomorrow??
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my onc gave me a mouth rinse for the thrush, i suplimented with salt water
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Had my 2nd infusion yesterday, and thanks to the steroids I was the energizer bunny this morning. At least my kitchen's nice and clean - on to the laundry!
Unlike most of the folks on this forum, I take Neupogen rather than Neulasta. I live in Ontario and Neupogen is covered by our health plan, although people with private prescription insurance (usually employer-based) can probably go for the Neulasta. It means I have to give myself 8 injections for each cycle, but I don't mind at all. It saves the province a bunch of money and it really isn't difficult. If I were to have a problem with the injections then a home health nurse would come to my home every day to give them to me. And I wonder if getting it gradually helps to lessen the bone pain. Last time I had some really impressive pain a few hours after my last shot. It only lasted about 18 hours and Tylenol pretty much took care of it.
I'm expecting a few rough days ahead, but hopefully they won't last too long. Sending out positive thoughts to all of you!
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so I'm at work today and all of a sudden my neulasta pod starts buzzing and turned red. Ummmmmm. Call the office and it's defective. Took it off so it wouldn't drive me totally apeshit (it's seriously wrapped up in a hundred paper towels, stuffed in my lunch bag and thrown in a closet and I can STILL hear it beeping!) heading over to the office at 4:30 for an injection. *sigh* thankful I work at the hospital!!
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PingPong, glad you have a nice steroid buzz going. I am scared to give myself injections, so props to you. But who knows, at this point, I think I am learning about what I can actually do when needed.
Well, despite still being on steroids, reality is paying me a visit today. Woke up nauseous, had to eat saltines in bed to take my steroids, and, while it helped, I was still nauseous and took another anti nausea med. Tired, but not wiped, but definitely not flying like the last two days. I did do an 18 block walk to take my daughter to/from summer school, and got some groceries and carried them home. I figured I'd get it (exercise)out of the way early in case I feel worse later.
I feel pretty lucky though, as there is no pain or serious issues. A good day to work on a puzzle and prep my wigs.
Be well, all,
Leatherette
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well back from my hairdresser who cut my hair to about an inch all over
Also got a gift of a bunch of scarfs. Wierd, all the hair that is left is grey, seems all the brown stuff has fallen out
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JenRuns - OMG I wouldn't know what to do! So what happened to your neulasta shot? Hard to believe you have an defective shot ... what a real pain!!!
Proudtospin - I have mine cut short so I don't have to worry about bad hair day now. My grey are coming out also. Hope your thrust is getting better,
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Been a long day, but just got the call that the bone scan was perfectly normal. YIPPIE! Thank the Lord. We are so relieved.
I've read through the posts, everyone is dealing with SE in one way or another. But everyone sounds OK.
My husband and I hardly slept last night and I'm exhausted, this is day 4 and tummy is not happy off the steroids I think. Just waiting till the clock says it's a decent time to crash.
Thank you for your prayers and well wishes. Hoping everyone has a good night and sleeps well.
Love ya
Mother Hen
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So glad to hear about the bone scan, Teese!
Hope you get a good sleep.
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Teese. What a relief! Thanks for letting us know.
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Paulette
My onco gave me mouthwash and it did work well, now on dif med and not getting thrush
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Yay Teese! So happy to see that as I was scrolling through just now.
JenRuns, you made me laugh with the neulasta story. Sorry it happened but that you wrapped it up and through it in a closet and can still hear it. That's what made me laugh. It's possessed.
My neulasta will be going off during staff development training at my school on Tuesday. It does beep right before it goes off and then makes a clicking sound.
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JenRuns: Don't those things cost like $6000? I hope you (or your insurance company) get a refund!
Letherette: I fully expect to fall flat on my face some time in the next 24 hours. I've had lupus for over 30 years and I have some experience with steroids, to be sure!
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Oh yea neulasta is one of the expensive shot I heard gosh JenRuns - your insurance company is going to have a fit! 🙄
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wow... I had no idea it was that expensive!!!! They had me bring the defective one in. They said the would send it to the manufacturer and they wouldn't charge me for shot they gave me in the office because they'd be refunded by the drug company. I'll have to watch for bills though, just in case!!! She did say they haven't had it happen before ... all the doctors were fascinated by it. Seems like it was freaking out more than anything they've seen ... of course
(It seriously was a high-pitched buzz/beep for five hours!)Teese, so happy to hear your scans came back good!!!
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Teese - that is great news! I hope you get good sleep and that your SE start to lessen.
I'm on Day 7 of round 2, and definitely feeling like I'm on the upswing. This round, like the last one, had the main SE of fatigue. A little off feeling in the gut for a day or two, but nothing unmanageable.
The big thing that is happening now is that my hair is still shedding a lot. I guess, technically, the cold caps are working (I still have hair), but it is very thin and definitely have bald spots. So, I've started wearing scarves (and even went on a little online shopping spree for more) and got a wig for those days I want more coverage.
I've decided, for now, to keep cold capping in hopes that it will help regrowth, but I'm no longer in it to keep most of my hair. I'm actually feeling much less stressed out after making this decision. Now I don't need to worry about all the rules around hats and heat on my head (which, as a hiker, has been an interesting thing to figure out), and all that (will still do the cold washings only two times per week, but mainly to help regrowth and to keep what little hair is left so it can protect the scalp during cold capping). I actually can't wait to be 3-4 weeks PFC so I can chop all of the remaining hair off and let it all just grow back!
Kind of a funny side note. At work, I'm known for wearing scarves... I just love them. Now I'm just wearing them on my head instead of around my neck!
Good thoughts to everyone!
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The last 24 hours seemed to be good for most... Except for Jen's Neulasta beeping for hours! LOL I love reading all about everyone's experiences. It really makes me feel like I'm not alone in all this... and that we all need to take our situations in stride, and laugh when we can. ☺
The Tylenol PM helped me get a good night sleep! I slept straight through. And despite a little fatigue this afternoon, I felt SE-free all day long. Although I couldn't sit still for long periods, I barely felt any bone pain. I don't have my 2nd cycle until Aug 8th so hopefully SEs continue to be minimized until then.
Have a good night all. Now I'm off to watch one of my guilty pleasures... Hollywood Game Night! 😉
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If going in for the Neulasta shot, they told me I had a choice of getting in the back of one arm OR on my stomach area. Which is better?
P.S. the chemo nurse said that I could try taking a Claritin the morning of the shot and the two days following the shot to possibly help avoid bone pain.
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Sweetp - I took my Claritin on my second day of the chemo. I think it is the day the shot supposed to be.
LoJo100 - I'm on day 7 and I can feel the upswing now I can gain some of the weight I lost in the next few days before my next chemo.
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sweetp6217: the infusion nurse gave me a choice and I chose my arm. She warmed up the Neulasta with her hands and then injected it slowly in the back of my arm. My MO also told me to take the Claritin one hour prior to the shot the next time since I experienced so much bone pain after the first cycle.
Good luck and hope your Side effects are minimal!
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I found some good info about "nadir", in case anyone wants to learn more. My oncology team didn't really explain it to me in detail: Prevent Cancer Infections
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Thanks gals, I just felt like I had a close one. Here I am thinking about my possible pain and just let my inquisitive lab dog out. After she did the easy part, in waltzes a skunk into the dog run. I jumped into defense mode and whisper shouted, "get in here!". The skunk turned around tail up and my dog was in before the worst happened, it missed me! Slammed the door, thank goodness.
Arm it is and it's my really lucky day/night. First of our dogs not to get sprayed, let alone me.
P.S. I wonder why they didn't pull out the dose (from the fridge) 30 minutes prior as instructions dictate.
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morning!
Teese...such wonderful news!
Day 4 for me....oh the fatigue! Felt like i was knocked flat on my ass on Wed afternoon. But things are generally improving. Had so much fatigue. Couldnt keep eyes open. Nausea has been minimal so trying not to complain. In the midst of this our central air quit....finally last night about 8pm we had air again. If you don't laugh, you cry so I am choosing to laugh!
Wishing good days to all.
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Runnermum, Nothing like an A/C to give up the ghost right when you need it. Before my BC discovery, we bit the bullet and replaced the central AC and furnace with a 2-stage furnace and a more ventilated system. The old system was pretty low to standard and 25 years old, so it was worth it.
Update (Neulasta) I got my shot this morning and was going to get it in the arm, but the nurse wanted it to go into my tummy (more fat in that area). Then I remembered that when I got my hysterectomy last January, they cut some nerves so it's numb anyway. Problem solved, no sting whatsoever. I almost forgot to take my Claritin and had to turn back home to do so (Chemo brain already?). Still made it on time with 5 minutes to spare.
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Runnermun - hugs day 4-5 sucks I didn't have much energy until I hit Day 7, I slept most of those days and no appetite also.
Would need to gain my weight for this week so I can be ready for next Friday chemo. Just one week I lost about 4 lbs.
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Hello all. It's day 5 and really feeling the fatigue and a dull headache. Appetite also low. Hoping tomorrow is turn around day. Did force myself to walk the dreadmill this afternoon.
My hair is just one shampoo from being gone. So I just didn't wash it today. I have a mentor through the hospital here and she said she had enough hair she felt comfortable with in public again about 10 months after hair loss. So here's to May of next year.
Sweetp - quite the skunk story, no way anyone could top that, so very glad you and your pup missed the spray!
Jen- yours is the second onpro I've read about not infusing correctly on these boards. Weird! The other gal just saw a lot of leakage around the pod all on the adhesive. I'm glad it beeped loudly so that you caught the problem. Don't want you missing out on that med.
Sunny - so glad you've hit the good days, enjoy!
Runnermum - hope today was your turn around day too, glad your SE are manageable. My fatigue is fine, and I manage my tummy by not letting it get empty.
Paulette- yay, you should have a good week ahead.
LoJo - you may not have a head full but you've kept enough so that you don't have that bald head under a cap look. I'm envious. However at this point I'm sick of the shedding and ready to move on, (typing this as I carefully tend to my few remaining locks, sigh)
Ping pong - did you finally hit the wall? Wonder what I'd feel without the steroids the first days? Hmm, thinking I don't want to know!
Proudtospin- how's your mouth doing. First infusion mine gave me a fit, this time, so far so good.
Janeway - will you have your same infusion apparel as before, or are you mixing it up?
Have a good evening all and a great nights sleep tonight. Here's hoping we wake bright eyed and bushy tailed. Haha!
Hugs
Theresa
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Everyone seems to be doing well for the most part. So glad to read everyone's posts. Unfortunately, I found out today that I have an infection around my port. My doctor gave me an antibiotic to take for the next week and I'm really really hoping that will do the trick to clear it up. Starting to regret the port
. Good news is that I'm feeling more like myself and have been out all day running errands and driving kids places so thats good!
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Emily mh-what were your symptoms regarding an infection around your port?? Mine bruised for the first time 2 treatments ago so they told me to watch it. Sorry you encountered an infection and I hope it goes away quickly.
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