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Starting Chemo in November 2017

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Comments

  • Aymerz33
    Aymerz33 Member Posts: 41
    edited January 2018

    thanks you guys!! Man I’m happy to have arrived!!

  • Hope99
    Hope99 Member Posts: 120
    edited January 2018

    1/1/2018, in this date I started my second round of chemo, after one week I can summarized all that days in one word: horrible!! the problems not only with chemo, also with constipation and hemorrhoids! the size is around 5 cm outside my anus, totally blocked, I cried all the time with these horrible pain, can't setting, can't moving and it's totally filled by blood when I try to do my business in bathroom. I went 3 times to ER and asked the surgery to return it back inside, withen 2 hours it goes out again. it means crying again . TRAMADOL 50 Mg is only my solution to stop pain and cry, I can sleep after this tough medicine .

  • Blair2
    Blair2 Member Posts: 353
    edited January 2018

    Back from shopping and I bought all kinds of weird food that I might like on those off taste days. Not heart healthy either, but I have to cheat to accommodate these taste changes. I'm thinking it's only temporary. I'm pooped and ready for a cat nap. I was dodging the coughing stock man and then I'm rolling by two clerks greeting each other as one asks, "how you've been?". Then the other answers " I don't feel well". I scooted so fast by them to almost burn the wheels off my shopping cart. I really should be wearing a mask! My back isn't too bad right now - so still holding off Aleve.

    SDK8 - I meant to say earlier that I was sorry you had those bad days with your legs not wanting to move. These chemo drugs do such weird things to many of us. I think they mess up the bone marrow and effects our muscles and nerves. I wonder if these doctors ever take serious note of these strange side effects

    I agree - people say some stupid things sometimes and you just have to ignore it the best you can. The only time I lose my patience is when I'm feeling my worst - you get a thousand - "how are you feeling?" Seemingly like every hour . You know they are just expressing concern, but I feel like shouting out loud - I feel like sh.., just leave me alone,and quit asking me that! As I said before, I don't feel like texting back to them. My friends for most part visit on my good days and I really like that. There are 4 really good friends in town that have taken turns to go with me on treatment days, and I have my distant buddies from college, and family texting etc. I love all of them, and would never say - "leave me alone". It's just when I have those flu days, I don't want to respond. I text short replies hoping they understand I'm too sick to want to talk.

    Proudtospin - hope the radiation goes well for you.

  • rljes
    rljes Member Posts: 499
    edited January 2018

    Hi all - Day 21/ Chemo #2 - 

    Tomorrow Chemo #3 day.  I have a lot of posts to catch up on -  I'm upset with my MO - they only gave me #30 Compazine pills - Suppose to take 4 x a day for Nausea = 7 days.  what am I suppose to do the other 21 days?  So I called MO and told the recep my problem, and they called in the same Rx.  Heavy Sigh.  Nobody listens - I'm just a number. 

    Yesterday had a meltdown - My Jeep died, My mechanic and AAA not answering, I'm out of food - I need to go see my Mom at the nursing home - my brother says she is getting worse.  So I'm stuck.  No transportation.  and getting tired of Pizza. 

    Blair -  Try the Ayr Nose GEL.  Its wonderful.  (Paulette's suggestion) My nose gets stuffed up in the middle of the night too and using the Gel unclogs and very soothing.  Its a cool gel.  

    I'm going to read the rest of the post - later.

  • SDK8
    SDK8 Member Posts: 18
    edited January 2018

    Well, I managed to get to the airport this morning, sans face mask. Left it with my daytimer on the kitchen counter. This chemo brain has me forgetting words, things, and why I walk into a room. At the airport I steered away from all coughers and sick looking people... thank goodness i had empty seat beside me on plane : ) Hands are dry and cracked from Purell overuse. Checked in early to the hotel and sanitized my room like a mad woman, with Lysol Disinfecting Wipes. With my WBC at 1.0, I dont want to take chances! Had a hot green tea in my yeti, I heard hot liquids will kill airborne bacteria in throat... not sure if its true or not. Lately I am addicted to salty Ritz Crackers, cheese and vegan soups. Broccoli Chedder, French Onion and any chowder... I have not lost any weight - I was hoping there would be a gift of loosing the 20lbs I have been trying to lose for a few years. lol. I actually gained 4lbs my last visit. GOOD LUCK to all those doing Chemo #4 this week!

    rljes - So sorry to hear about your Mother. I will say a prayer, sending warm thought and hoping for a better week for you. Ps. I love pizza!

    I agree, some people mean well but just lack the ability to relate. When I receive texts,asking how I am feeling... I copy and paste my same answer so I am not repeating myself. I know its impersonable but I lack the energy to elaborate.

  • rljes
    rljes Member Posts: 499
    edited January 2018

    Hi again....  Chemo #3 tomorrow

    I'm so depressed.  AAA finally came and got my Jeep - but my mechanic can't work on it till thur/fri so I won't get it back till next week.  Which means I'm stuck at home.  Pizza delv for another week, and I have no idea how I'm going to get my Rx from CVS.  Stress is high.  This is exactly what I was afraid of would happened. 

    Plus my driveway is up a hill and pure ice.  The tow truck could hardly make it.  I wonder how the Senior Link driver will make it? I can't get ahold of them to discuss waiting at the bottom of the hill.  I need Ativan - lots. 

    margari - breakups.  Well, I only told about a dozen people I had Cancer.  My 3 oldest best friends (who all live far away) I told, and they were all in at first.  Gung Ho- "you can do it, we will be there for you" .  I have not heard from them in a month.  Not even during Christmas and New Years.

    (I found out my family decided it would be best NOT to mention ME when they had the Family Christmas Party - they didn't want to upset my Mom - I couldn't go since nephew had a cold)  My Ex- boyfriend doesn't want to hear the bad parts, my ex-husband is all about himself, my brother and wife, barely responds to my texts.  My cousin who forgot to bring me meals during my BMX sent me one text since my last treatment.  I only have one friend (My Assigned Cancer Buddy) is the only one that checks up on me daily, and she's having her own issues, not feeling well. 

    Mom4 - Tina - Are we sure we don't have the same ex-husband?  My ex is an alcoholic/narcissistic *ss, and wants everything to be about him.  I am so sorry I ever told him. 

    Aymerz - Congrats! 

    sswp #noapologies  - can I borrow this?  Its perfect.

    Take care - Looks like there is a lot of us doing Chemo this week - Here's to Minimal SE's 

  • proudtospin
    proudtospin Member Posts: 4,671
    edited January 2018

    hope, i have mri tommorrow and another one next week, this chemo is wierd, i get demhydrated if i do not guzzle lots of liquids and h2o tastes nasty, i am drinking tea and times juices

    This thing is 4 pills in am, 4 pills after dinner but it causes dehydration really easy. Been off this last week and starting back tommorrow,

  • sswp
    sswp Member Posts: 61
    edited January 2018

    hope: yes it was much needed, I feel better after my rant.

    rljes: ofcourse you can borrow #noapologies lol. People can be so self-centered, really comes to light at a time like this.

  • Mom4gma3
    Mom4gma3 Member Posts: 123
    edited January 2018

    rljes- luckily he was just an ex-boyfriend, he text me last night because since we broke up I haven’t asked him how he is doing...really??? So I kind of went off stating I am so sorry with everything else going on that I haven’t found time to deal with your insecurities too. He text back apology accepted. Hmm...not really what I meant. Such and ass. If his truck wasn’t still in my name too I would just block him and be done. Grr...

    Trying to come up with a plan to deal with the steroids that I have to start tomorrow night. I am so hungry when I am on them that I have gained to much weight since I started chemo and now I can’t get it back off. Made a whole pot of chicken and cabbage soup. High protein and low calorie. Hoping I can just eat that every time I’m hungry and avoid the junk!

    Good luck ladies with round 3 this week!!!

    Tina.

  • lizabethm
    lizabethm Member Posts: 105
    edited January 2018

    Jumping on to add my congrats to Aymerz for RINGING THAT BELL today! WHOO HOOO!!!!

  • nonahope
    nonahope Member Posts: 695
    edited January 2018

    rljes...If I were in your shoes with all that's going on...let alone the cancer...I would be stressed to the hilt. What a predicament you are in....here's hoping and praying things start looking up!!

    SDK...Glad you made it to your destination without any problems. Hoping your stay is uneventful.

    Iris...Sending you healing vibes that your MRI will show improvement with this new regimen of medication. Keep us posted.

    Tina...Hope the soup satisfies those hunger pangs. I've never been a "sweet" eater, but I notice I crave sweets for a couple of days after my Taxol infusion. I only get a steroid in my pre-meds -- good thing, or I would be eating everything in sight if I took them prior to my infusion.

    Time to think about dinner....I think it will be salmon tonight.

    Hope

  • Meowmmy65
    Meowmmy65 Member Posts: 125
    edited January 2018

    Day 11 of Infusion #2... except for the nausea (which put me in the hospital for 2 days) this round has been okay. Meeting with the Oncologist tomorrow to make a plan and talk about anti-nausea med options before round 3. In the hospital, I had a patch, and 3 different anti-nausea medications in my IV. That is a lot - and it just kept the nausea at bay. As soon as a medication wore off, it was back. I know he has ordered Marinol - which is a synthetic version of medical marijuana. I don't understand why they won't order natural medical marijuana, but they will order synthetic. And I intend to ask!

    Seems like people are having a rough time right now, and I'm really sorry to hear that. This is definitely a difficult treatment to go through, and it is even harder without a strong support system to help. That just stinks. We can all be here for moral support - to listen to the venting - and to cheer each other on. People who haven't been through it don't really get it, even if they try to be sympathetic and understanding, it isn't the same.

    I am sending positive vibes to each of you for a good week with minimal side effects and low interaction with stupid people. Smile, and snuggle your fur babies (or real babies) as the case may be!

  • 19501952
    19501952 Member Posts: 80
    edited January 2018

    Hi All,

    I had blood work today and my WBC was 1.79 so I won’t be having my third chemo tomorrow. My oncologist called this dangerously low and said I should be very careful. I got my first shot of neulasta and I’m wondering how quickly it works. I’m taking tomorrow off but I hate missing work. I know the flu is rampant throughout the country. My boss said we have no known flu cases at school but I’m still worried. Any info on how quickly neulasta works would be appreciated. My next chemo is scheduled for Jan. 22 and it will be chemo # 3 then I will go to an every other week schedule after that. Fingers crossed. Good luck to everyone having chemo #3 this week. And of course everyone else! Kate

  • lizabethm
    lizabethm Member Posts: 105
    edited January 2018

    1950-I don't know how quickly it works but when it does, it will really boost that WBC count! It has sent my WBC as high as 30! I think it's wise to try to stay home tomorrow and give it a chance to start working. Keep up posted!


  • proudtospin
    proudtospin Member Posts: 4,671
    edited January 2018

    am i the only one who is incredibly tired? Last night i slept solid 12 hours and that is pretty normal these days? Ok so i did get up to potty couple times

    No plans till my mri and that is not till pm

  • nonahope
    nonahope Member Posts: 695
    edited January 2018

    Iris...A lot of people on the board say fatigue is a major side effect of these drugs. I've been pretty lucky. I tend to doze off around 9:30 every night (while watching TV) and wake up 20 minutes later. Then, I'm good to watch a couple more programs. No matter what time I go to bed, I wake up around 6:00 am and usually go ahead and get up. Every now and then, I might take an afternoon nap...but again, it only lasts about 20 minutes. I think this dreary winter weather adds to the fatique.

  • 19501952
    19501952 Member Posts: 80
    edited January 2018

    Thanks LizabethM, I am working from home today and thinking about working from home tomorrow. So far I feel fine. No pain but I am wondering if I should take Claritin to ward off any bone pain issues that might arise. My oncologist and her nurse did not seem concerned about warding off pain. I do take Zyrtec every day so I’ll have to look that up. I’m not sure if they are the same. Kate





  • nonahope
    nonahope Member Posts: 695
    edited January 2018

    Kate...I hope the pain isn't too bad. I had to have Neulasta injections with my first diagnosis of BC. Looking back, I don't recall them being too bad. So far, so good with my Taxol. My counts haven't gotten so low that I've needed it. I hope it stays that way!

    Hope

  • proudtospin
    proudtospin Member Posts: 4,671
    edited January 2018

    hope, part of reason for mri is my legs have become increasingly weak. Like i have fallen where i just drop straight down, that is the description of several friends with me when it occurred. You may remember i used to do major cycling as in spin classes and more

  • SDK8
    SDK8 Member Posts: 18
    edited January 2018

    Kate - I get Neulasta after every session of Red Devil. the last two times after my WBC was 1.6 and then 0.8. But when they test my blood before the Chemo session its back up to 14. I crash hard then bounce back.

    Iris - Fatigue is common. I am in bed every night at 8pm and sleep solid but do get up to the bathroom once. In the morning I just want to stay in bed, but slowly get up for work. Positive side is the wigs cut down time, that used to be spent washing, blow drying and styling my hair.

    Happy

  • 19501952
    19501952 Member Posts: 80
    edited January 2018

    thanks SDK8,

    I started to experience hip lower back pain. It's a weird kind of pain. I took Claritin. I feel like all I do is take one drug after the other as I'm sure everyone here does too. I think if it doesn't feel a little better soon I'll take an Aleve or Motrin. The pain may also be a result of leaning over my computer as I sit on my couch working from home. I keep thinking I will wake up and all of this is a very bad dream. So many of you seem to handle everything that is thrown your way. I hope I can be as brave. Kate

  • nonahope
    nonahope Member Posts: 695
    edited January 2018

    Iris...I do remember you did spinning. I'm sure the falls are worrisome, let alone dangerous. I hope the MRI will give you answers and that there is a remedy to help prevent future episodes. Hang in there!!

    Hope

  • klvans
    klvans Member Posts: 199
    edited January 2018

    Hi Kate. I've had two Nuelasta shots. Both times I've had a lot of fatigue the first 24 to 48 hours afterwards. My first shot gave me bone pain, even in my jaw, whereas the second one just gave me fatigue. The bone pain didn't bother me too much as it felt like I'd been on a long hike. The tiredness puts me on the couch for a day or two. The first time my blood count was still low at my 7 day check up. The second time I was within normal limits by then. The first time I used feeling bad as an excuse to eat a lot of junk food. The second time I cleaned up my diet and my overall side effects from chemo were less. My Dr. said by day 9 or 10 most people's blood counts are within the normal range.

    I think all of us here have our ups and downs. It's a challenging time that's for sure. I think many of us are mid way or 1/3 through our treatments with side effects intensifying, etc. For me, I just hope that somehow I can come through this a wiser, more compassionate person instead of a diminished one. The jury is still out on that one though!

    SDK8 Hope your trip went or is going well. Smart to wipe down your room. Stay healthy girl!

    rljes It's so hard to have car problems, especially at a time like this. I really hope infusion 3 goes smoothly and that the car and weather situation improve soon.

    Meow I'm glad you got through your hospital stay ok. What a bout of nausea you had. That's at the top of my most hated side effects list. The marijuana solution sounds interesting. I think the synthetic just works on appetite and doesn't make you high. You'll find out if that's true I'm sure!

  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 1,279
    edited January 2018


    I'm dropping by to check on rljes, did you have your chemo today? It's tough not having transportation and no help from anyone. BC put isolation on us.

    I read about how most of you talk about relationship and friendship. We talked about this in othe thread, so true, people just stay away from us. Either they don't know what to say or they think we are too depressed. Most of my friends disappeared especially coworkers. Don't want to vent too much but it is so true.

    Blair, congrats on your last chemo. Rest and don't push yourself. In our group of 31 ladies, almost 80% of us got really sick on last chemo. I did nothing but rest for the last chemo I didn't end up in ER knock on wood.


  • Blair2
    Blair2 Member Posts: 353
    edited January 2018

    Hi Girls,

    Glad to hear most people are hanging in there.

    Paulette - I’m having my 3rd treatment this Friday, and will have a 4th, so not near finished - wish I were! I probably confused you as I was asking questions about radiation treatments. I probably won’t start them until March.

    I too wonder if Rljes made it to her 3rd treatment. She had her hands full with problems. She will report when she can. Bless her heart.

    Meow - I hope the visit to OM has a better plan for you to avoid your nausea problem next time. That’s the worst SE if there ever was. It sounds like they took good care of you in hospital.

    Proudtospin - I’ve noticed myself after my second treatment that I am super tired. I think it’s due to being too sedentary for weeks now. I can’t exercise feeling the way I do, and errands exhaust me. It’s getting old. I hope the last two treatments aren’t worse. I don’t know how so many can work a job through this. Also, my legs collapsed under me that caused me to bust my lip after my first treatment. I ended up in ER with 5 stitches in my lip. I was weak from taking lorazepam pill in the middle of the night. It is still bealing

    1950 - I wonder if your lower hip bone pain is what I have wrong with my back, along with Rljes. Although my back pain I believe is inflammation of my back muscles. A chiropractor told me that those muscles try to protect the spine when it’s aggravated. The OM said chemo drugs aggravate the bone marrow, so the muscles do their thing. I think that’s how I understood it, but could be wrong. Not sure if the hip works that way, in that case it probably is just bone pain. I had that briefly all over my body after my first treatment, but the Claritin took care of it.



  • proudtospin
    proudtospin Member Posts: 4,671
    edited January 2018

    well home from my brain mri delightful, i stil feel ringing in my ears

    Need to call my m or ask her question kn my upcoming visit, one of themri techs asked if my shunt needed reprogramung after the test........duh ,..........now i am confusedl

  • Mom4gma3
    Mom4gma3 Member Posts: 123
    edited January 2018

    Good Evening all...getting ready to crash for the night. I have to get up early on my only day off so they can draw my labs at 8, see my MO at 9 and chemo at 10. Hopefully my labs are back in time. Started my steroids tonight and ran to the market and grabbed all kinds of healthy, low calorie snacks to eat when the steroids make me hungry. Making a big batch of chicken and cabbage and I even made ranch dip out of Greek yogurt, grabbed carrots and celery to dip. Mind you I came home from work to find a whole strawberry cheesecake in my fridge, straight from New York. It’s killing me not to eat it. Maybe I will treat myself to a slice for breakfast....🤔

    There are so many of us it’s so hard to keep up.

    Blair2 I keep praying you wake up and your pain is completely gone.

    Rljes- hope everything went smooth today. On a side note, it must be true when it rains it pours. Like we don’t have enough going on that things have to start breaking on us. Last week my tire pressure light was on, fixed it, the next day my change oil light on, fixed that. Now today there is a little wrench light that came on when I left work. Really??? Apparently it’s a really bad thing and it’s part of a class action lawsuit against Ford. So I will be calling the dealership if it comes back on tomorrow. I don’t have money for a huge repair bill. I sure hope you got your car fixed. I would go insane if I were stranded.

    Idk where everyone is, but my daughter is in Omaha and she text me that there is a winter storm heading across the Midwest, that’s the last thing everyone needs up there. Hope everyone stays safe and warm.

    Sending out good vibes that everyone having their next treatment finds it to be a walk in the park!! (One can hope!)

    Tina.

  • nonahope
    nonahope Member Posts: 695
    edited January 2018

    Iris...Hoping for good results from your MRI. When will you get results? I didn't realize you had a shunt. Hopefully, reprogramming will take care of your weakness.

    Tina...I know I couldn't just stare at that cheese cake!! More power to you. My low tire pressure light came on a few days ago -- it always does when it turns cold. I need to have that taken care of now that the temps are above 0 -- Yes...we here in Ohio could possibly see 2 feet of snow this weekend - depending on the area. I will be heading to the grocery today -- I don't do snow!!
    Hope all goes well with your labs and treatment today.

    Hope

  • klvans
    klvans Member Posts: 199
    edited January 2018

    Good luck on treatment today Tina. Hope it all goes well.

  • proudtospin
    proudtospin Member Posts: 4,671
    edited January 2018

    Hope, not sure when i will get results, yeah i had surgery for water on the brain, just before thek cancer mets were found, one thing led to another although all docs say unrelated. I am now at completely dif hos and docs where everything is under one roof. Actually the Building is huge and i am very pleased to have this place so close to home. My next mo visit it not yill next week but she has me set for a scan on my back as i complainec of back issues

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