Starting Chemo in November 2017
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Aymerz33, Love you silly Pic! Thought I would share our Christmas Card Pic. Positive vibrations all around!
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What lovely "young" ladies on this board!! Love the pictures.
Hope
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Thanks Nonahope!
Amy - what beautiful children you have, and your silly self is pretty too! Looks like the cold cap had kept your hair - that’s Wonderful! We really do need to try and laugh this crap off of us! It’s great friends are helping you with the kids. Plus they have their holiday school break, so that makes it all a handful for you young moms.
KDK8 - I too have experienced back ache. I thought it was bone pain, but it’s muscle since the Claritin I took did nothing for it. When I talked to the nurse this morning, she said just to take Tylenol. I was feally hoping for a miracle drug, but Tylenol is it. I’ll do that tonight after dinner. It’s always worse sleeping through the night. It pulls at me when I get up to go to the bathroom. I read it’s the taxotere doing this.
I haven’t had any down below itching - but don’t want it - whatever that is. I had some runny nose problems back when I was going through the rough days. I kept forgetting to include it, but it was nothing compared to the other fun issues I had gone through.
Still waiting for my hair to fall out - hairdresser goes out of town 21st. Not much time left
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First day back to work was amazing!!! So happy to be out of the house an back to normal for a change. I did wear a mask all day at work because I am in nursing, it’s actually required when we are putting patients on and off but I just kept it on around the patients. Which of course caused patients to question why I was wearing it and did I have a cold etc. etc. Once my hair disappears I won’t be able to avoid those questions as easily. But I don’t want them feeling sorry for me. I am supposed to be taking care of them, they don’t need to worry about me. I’m in dialysis so I have the same patients 3 days a week so everyone is like family to us and to each other.
Rljes- my white count on Monday was 2.2 and that was day 12, my MO said she could tell by the other labs that is was on its way up and today I had zero aches, so I’m assuming that low white count is causing my achy feelings. I can’t imagine how low it was at day 7 if it was 2.2 5 days later.
Meowmmy- I didn’t have itching per se, but I had a break out down there. It was mostly on my bikini line but some creeped a little further in. I also got it on my face, neck and hairline. They were a cross between blisters and acne. Kinda weird. But I’m a picker, so I pretty much popped them when they showed up and they quit itching and healed up fairly quickly.
My MO put me on Claritin for my constant runny nose and it has worked wonders. No runny nose at all. She thinks I probably have allergies that my body usually fights off but now it can’t, hence the Claritin. I’m so happy it worked. She also changed how I take my steroids post infusion hoping to keep me feeling better longer after chemo so I don’t have to take so many days off work and to keep me from feeling miserable over Christmas. Fingers crossed it works!!
Hope everyone is doing well, have to catch up on reading everyone’s posts!
Hope99- how are you feeling today girl? Stay strong, you can do this!!
Tina
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That is Baby Kitty Tinker Belle and Winston
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Omg so cute!!! I love the pictures!
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Blair, I'm so sorry about your Doxy-looks like it was smiling in that pic! When do you get your stitches out?
Amy~I'm also cold capping-had a BIG shed on days 18-24 but hair is still hanging in there. I have two kiddos, too. My son is 14 and my daughter is 11.
SDK8~welcome to the board! Love your Christmas card pic!
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Lizabeth - I also had a huge shed for about a week after Thanksgiving. I was so scared it was all going to go, but it's hanging in there! My kids are (son) 7 and (daughter) 10 (almost 11)
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OMG I just took my hair down from work and brushed it out and I had to empty my brush twice. Ugh! It’s starting! Luckily I have about 5 lbs of hair, it’s going to take a bit before it’s noticeable.
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Yikes - I’m right behind everybody with hair loss! Going to a girl party tomorrow night, so hope it behaves one more day. It would be embarrassing if it were suddenly to fall out at the party.
LizabethM - Tinker Belle and Winston are adorable! These pet pictures make me smile and laugh. When this mess is over, I might have to find myself a rescue pet to love. Yes, my Tahnee was a smiler. She was quite old in that photo, but she was happy I think until the end. I miss her comical ways and her presence
My stitches came out yesterday and this morning was the dentist visit. Lucked out only needing my front tooth to be sanded. I have two tiny bumps though still on my lower lip. I hope it flattens out in time. Still a bit sore too.
My only complaint right now is my stiff back. This is a side effect I didn’t t expect. Definitely will take some Tylenol tonight. Wakes me up at night. It’s the toxatere causing this.
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Oh, I love all the pictures! Keep them coming! Kiddos and pets are a great distraction.
I think I jinxed myself today. I went in for treatment #5 and told the PA how great of a week I had. The only SE was minor fatigue. Even my bowels had seemed to sort them selves out for a while. Even my WBC was up! So I had treatment, chilled out watching some Dr Who, went home and napped. Then woke up to an itchy rash on my arms and and the big D was back. Ugh. Every week is different.
On a brighter note, I’m almost half way through the Taxol phase. Yay! S
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Hi shaneswife and screenwriter,
Noticed yours being early triple neg too, like mine. I'm a bit undecided if to go for ACx4 or extra paclitaxel. Different MO has different opinions.
How did you decide?
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Tina...So happy you had a good day at work. It feel great to "feel" somewhat normal! Hope it continues for you.
LizabethM...OMG! Your cat is my cat reincarnated! Mine looked identical. The crazy thing is that there is this identical cat, who lives a few doors down from me, who comes to visit every day. When he first appeared at my door, my stomach dropped. I have been giving him little tidbits of food when he visits, so of course he visits on a daily basis! Winston is beautiful!
Frozentoes...I agree -- every week is different. You got this! You're headed to the finish line soon.
Have a great day, ladies. Keep me in your thoughts and prayers that my liver ultrasound tomorrow has uneventful results.
Hope
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nonahope, thinking if you heading for liver u/s. When do you get results?
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Me too Nonahope - wish the best results for you!
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Thanks, ladies.....not sure when I will get results, but usually I get results in a day or two -- sometimes, the same day.
Hope
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Hello all: Had infusion 1 yesterday day. It went well. Since I was expecting to stumble out afterwards in a daze, nauseous and exhausted, I was surprised to feel normal. So far today, continue to feel normal. I know side effects will likely kick in sometime during the next few days or so. Taking this one day at a time, now is good.
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Hello all: Had infusion 1 yesterday day. It went well. Since I was expecting to stumble out afterwards in a daze, nauseous and exhausted, I was surprised to feel normal. So far today, continue to feel normal. I know side effects will likely kick in sometime during the next few days or so. Taking this one day at a time, now is good.
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You got this Emalyn! Keep your water in and eat small meals throughout the day. If you can, go for walks and enjoy the fresh air
it helps so much! Even when you aren't feeling your best. 0 -
Aymerz33 - Thanks for the encouragement. Will follow your advice.
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The Day #3 of chemo ( FEC ) :
Generally I feel OK, not good, not bad, something in between. the first day is hard to me. I did feel heavy head during and after infusion. Numbness in my both hands made me fear, but the feeling is acceptable generally . also I experienced palpitation in the first day only. taste change and constipation kill me . I do not know how to manage this SEs .
Also I feel tired and sleepy all the time . I need to fight with my children with no reason, my mind not OK .
Now I use "MOUTH WASH ", red bottle, bad taste, gargling then Swallow, not spitting as usual ? its written for external use only but my doctor told me to swallow it!!
My treatment :
- Embed 80 mg .
- Dexamethasone 4 mg.
- Kytril 1 mg.
- Esomeprazole 40 mg . ( for stomach before eat, 1 a day )
- Docusate Na 100 mg .
- Senna 12 mg ( for constipation ) .
- Mouth wash, swallow, not spitting !
most of these treatments make constipation, I can not avoid it . Hope I will find out something help me .
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Emalyn...Glad all went well. Yep! It's "one day at a time". Drink, drink, drink, It will really help with the side effects.
Hope99...I've never heard of a mouth wash that you "swallow". Call your doctor to make sure before you use it. I use Ducolax stool softener if I have constipation. It works great.
Hope
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Hope99 - & everyone Else : Magic Mouthwash. My MO told me to swish then swallow the first time. (There were no instructions) I kept Swishing and Swallowing once a day - and spitting the rest. My Severe Mouth Sores were gone within 36 hours. Mine tasted yummy. Saving the rest of the bottle for next round.
DId you have mouth sores for your MO to have you take this stuff? Or just to prevent?Hope99, Most everyone has Constipation (Big C) and it goes back and forth from that to the BIG D. and everyone reacts differently to constipation medication. You just have to find something that works FOR YOU. I work at it everyday - Prunes, Fiber pills, Fiber cereal, Stool softners, then I bring in the big guns : Maralax. Makes me have Uncontrollable Diarrhea. But it works. And we all have Fatigue. Ups and downs. Do what you can when you have energy, rest when your tired. Forcing yourself to keep going when your exhausted will only make it worse. Rest and Drink and Swish!
Emalyn - so you had your 1st infusion yesterday - Yeah You! one down! I felt ok the first 3 days - little heavy and bloated, the day 4 after the pre-meds and IV stuff to help wore off - I started feeling yucky. Constipation/Diarrhea and mouth sores were my biggest problems. Best of Luck!
SDK8 - beautiful picture. Do i See a pool in back - I'll bet your husky loves that in the heat of LAS! I used to have 2 Keeshounds.
Mom -Tina, Glad you had a good day back at work. Can you wear a scrub cap when your hair falls out? Then nobody really would ever know! I think I will too start taking Claritin all the time (My Mom does for her allergies) Maybe it will help stop my never ending dripping nose.
Lizabeth - Nice photogentic pets! Pretty!
Blair - I have bad back from before - I get down on floor and stretch. Feels so good.
Frozentoes - Got Snow?
Sorry you 'jinxed' your treatment. I have my #2 on Tuesday. I'll remember to zip it. Nonahope - sending your good warm thoughts for your liver ultrasound
My hair is shedding like crazy even at 1/4" length. Wish it would just all fall out. Going to try the eye bro Pencil kit and ordered Bliss Kiss Simply Pure Cuticle nail oil from amazon - since my cuticles are so brittle and painful. No Itching down under. yet. but 'something' doesn't feel right. I think I'll buy some Monistate to add to my arsenal.Later - Take care!
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nonahope..by mistake I ate Dexamethasone medicine two tablet instead of one, my vision not clear and feel heavy head. the time is late to call my doctor to ask help. is Dexamethasone steroid ??
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rjles....Well, I learned something new about mouth wash! I've never had mouth sores, but I won't question should I have to use that Magic Mouthwash some day.
Hope99....Yes, it is a steroid to help with inflammation. My oncology office has 24 hour calling. I would try to call if I were you. Maybe, someone else on the board can give you a better answer.
Hope
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rljes- we don’t have scrub caps at work but they would still notice, I really do have a ton of hair. It’s shedding like crazy and kinda getting annoying. I almost stopped today and cut it shorter, but chickened out. I keep it up at work so it won’t shed that much but it won’t be long now before it’s noticeable.
Blair2- I’m sure the bumps will thin out some. After my lumpectomy I had bumps at the edges of all my incisions, I think it was the dissolvable stitches, once they dissolved the bumps disappeared.
Hope99- take it one day at a time girl. You got this. You are already stronger than you were when you first started on this group! As for the extra steroid, I am supposed to take 2 pills so it shouldn’t hurt you, but check with your MO to relax your mind.
Tina
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Happy Humpday!
Hope99 - a little steroid boost shouldn't hurt (even if it wasn't intended) but I would always recommend calling the doctor, especially if your vision is not clear. It could be that, or it could be something else.
Mom4gma3 - Totally get it. I had my very long, thick hair cut short shortly after I knew the treatment plan, so that I would get used to it. I loved my hair, but didn't want to go from that to bald without a transition. When my hairdresser cut it short, I tried to smile and stay positive, but inside..... it was hard. Next week, I have an appointment to shave it off, day 14 after my infusion (Dec 21). Based on my cocktail (same as yours, but you are a week ahead of me) and what I've read, it should be coming out pretty good by then. I don't want to be pulling out handfuls through the holiday. My daughters are grown, but I don't want that to stress them out. If a miracle happens, and it isn't bad, I can always postpone the shaving, but the holidays are a tough time to get appointments, and I really don't want to shave it at home. I don't know if I could do it myself, and don't want to ask my husband or kids to shave it for me.
Yes Rljes - constipation seems to be a constant battle. And for me, nasuea - big time. Switched to compazine, which is better than the zofran, but still not enough. I'm looking for cbd oil, and calling the doc again tomorrow.
Can't remember if I shared this, but my itching ended up being an external yeast infection caused by steroids. MO ordered diflucan, and I have monistat cream for topical use until the diflucan kicks in. This was not listed as a possible side effect on any of my papers, because it doesn't happen often, but he had seen it before. Always ask about your weirdo side effects! The docs want to help us feel as good as we can during this difficult time. When in doubt - call them!
Yahoo for a quick, low cost dental visit Blair! Let's hope your roots stay strong.
Elizabeth
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Meowmmy- my mom will shave it for me when the time comes, she wanted to do her own too but I told her no, she's 62 and it may not grow back. That scared her so hopefully she doesn't try it. It's coming out pretty good and it's getting annoying. I have a Christmas party on Friday, my son is taking me as his plus 1 so I am hoping it will keep until then. Fingers crossed. I still may get it cut before then due to me dropping dna all over the planet. Lol. Tomorrow is a half day for me at work since I open at 430, should be off at noon. I will have to make up my mind before then. I was hoping it would hang on through the holidays but it doesn't look like that's going to happen.
The only difference between us is you're triple , are they not doing specific hormone therapy for that? Just curious.
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Mom4gma3 - I will do hormone therapy, but haven't started it yet, and am not sure which one I will take. Technically, I'm still peri-menopausal, so that would be tamoxifen. But by the time I'm ready to start hormone therapy, I might be considered post-menopause, so the drug would change. I'm not sure if hormone therapy is after chemo, but during the year of herceptin, or after herceptin is done. And, I still have to do radiation, which will probably start in April.
One of my daughters and my husband offered to shave their heads, too. I said no. I appreciate the sentiment behind the offer, but we are in northern Ohio - and it is cold in the winter! They need to keep their hair in place.
Good luck with your hairy decisions!
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