Starting Chemo in November 2017
Comments
-
Nonahope I'm sorry to hear that neuropathy is bedeviling you. I haven't heard of Gabapentin. I hope it or something else gives you relief.
0 -
morning hope and all others.
Yeap , today is my day for pet scan, i confirmed yesterday but we have our 4th noreaster, while is only a couple inches now, forcaster is to downright nasty by afternoon. I am sitting here now wondering if i should cancel, the governor has declared state of emergency. Not sure but think by time i would be done it would be nasty
0 -
Orangedaisy- I am 4 weeks today so hopefully pretty soon I will have hair growth. I can’t wait until I can quit wearing these caps to work. I’m s way too hot. I love taking them off and feeling the wind when I’m driving. When did the swelling stop? I am trying to keep lasix to a minimum, because it’s dropping my potassium way too low. Down to one a day after work since that’s when it’s at its worse.
Tina
0 -
well home and warm, dang glad the snow held off till late pm
Results on friday, of course i really eager to hear results
0 -
Iris....Glad you were able to make it for your scan. Praying that you will get good results on Friday. This weather is absolutely crazy. We had about 4 inches of snow yesterday. Today will be sunny and near 50. This weekend, we could see up to 12 inches - depending on the area you live. I sure hope the weatherman misses on this prediction.
Tina...Living in Florida, I can understand how hot it is for you to have to wear caps. I wear caps around the house, but wigs when I go out. I'm dreading being out in the summer donning a wig, but I feel more like myself with "hair", rather than a cap/scarf. At least, you have hope that you'll soon be seeing some real hair!!
Taxol #14 for me today.
0 -
wow, i heard noices in the night.....like snow plows and shovels doing there thing! I also heard the voice of woman who,manages the business for asso. , she is also in midst of her own radiation and knows what i am going through. Well this morning when i came down and opened the front door, someone....?.....has cleared off my car! Can i just cry that i have such wonder folks i my life?
0 -
Iris I'm also hoping you have good scan results. Good neighbors and friends are such a blessing. It's wonderful that you have them in your life.
0 -
Iris - Your post put a huge smile on my face this morning. What kind, thoughtful neighbors you have. And how wonderful *you* are to recognize and appreciate it! Thank you for sharing.
0 -
wow, i am home from pt, my therapist is great! Been having sharp pain in my abdominal area, comes and goes. Well she suggested practicing some breathing exercises, sort of yoga time. Bingo, it went away! Therapist really did not know what the pain was from but hey, couldnt hurt to try. I am always a fan of pt and not another pill!
Ok, lunch time and resting for afternoon,
0 -
People can be awesome!
Chemo #6 right now.
Hemoglobin down to 8.2. Rechecking next Wednesday. Probably getting a blood transfusion then.
And... Changes from my echo. Ejection fraction dropped from 65.8% (which is super normal) to 51.5% (which is low normal), and too fast of a drop. stopping targeted therapy (herceptin and perjeta) for 6 weeks and then resuming.
Small complications that are reversable.
0 -
Hi Everyone - PFC 10 days
Just got back from Chiropractor for my hip pain. its radiating down to my foot. She is so busy that I can't get enough sessions in to be helpful. So I told her I wouldn't be back, I would find someone else, and she 'squeezed' me in 2 more sessions. Huh. At least I got up and Out today.
Magari - Ditto for me. Nausea, feel like I have the flu, tired, plus have numbness in my feet as well. I know it has to get better!
Nonahope - I tried Gabapentin for my Shingles Neuropathy - made me too jittery, but it works well for my Mom - once they got the dosage right. Dosage is the key.
Meow - Sorry to hear about your eco - I too dropped, not as much as you, but I'm down to 55% (a drop of 13%) orig was at 68%. Or something like that. Hope it improves - Plz keep us posted AND, Did I read this is Chemo #6 - Meaning the Last of Chemo! Yeah You!
We are expecting 6.5" of snow on Saturday - nothing compared to you on the East Coast, but considering we've only had 1 snowfall this year, I'm excited. I love Cold Weather. I slept with the window open, heat off - it was 23 degrees. Was at the grocery and a kind gentleman started emptying my cart to place things on the belt for me - strangers are being more kind to me than my friends and family. I'm not used to help like this. I was exhausted and it must of showed.
Take care, rj0 -
i have had many random acts of kindness that just bring tears to my eyes. We had big snow storm this week, number 4 this winter! I had a pt appt yesterday and speent the night stressing about how i would get my car dug out. The development plows but each owner has to dig car out. Well came downstairs and my car had been cleaned off! No idea yet who did it but so thankful! Therapist saidnmost of her patients had canceled but she somehow just knew i would make it!
Thanks to the good neighbors!
0 -
Yes, god bless the kind souls in this world who help us out when we need it.
0 -
Happy Friday, all!
Just checking in to let you know that I am finally feeling a bit better about 10 days post final chemo. (Started to turn the corner yesterday, I think. More energy, less nausea.)
Which is good because I am taking my husband out for his birthday dinner tomorrow night. The restaurant is tiny and popular and I made the reservation a month ago, so I did not want to have to cancel it.
Had labs yesterday and although several values on my CBC are out of range, it's not by a lot so things are generally looking good.
Meow - CONGRATS on being finished with chemo!
0 -
I second the congrats to Meow. How wonderful that you are finishing chemo!
Magari it also wonderful that you are feeling better. You and your husband sure do deserve a special night out. I hope the food is fabulous!
0 -
rljes...I haven't started the Gabapentin yet, but I will tonight. I'm starting at a very low dose - 100 mgs. I will start off with only one pill at night. I was told the worst side effect is "sleepiness". The dosage is 1 pill, 3x a day. But, I'll see how it goes with only night time dosage. I'd rather work my way up slowly, if necessary.
Magari...Glad to hear you are feeling better. Enjoy your dinner tonight!
May the kindness of good people continue.
Hope
0 -
Yahoo, yesterday i saw onc and got results of pet scan......it showed improvement!,,,,,
Wow is all i can saw, bout time for good news. I will be continuing on with the pills as long as i can tolerate the side effects, which is peeling of skin.
Better do my morning creaming of feet and hands
0 -
Iris...Such wonderful news! I'm so happy for you. Hope those pills work for a long, long time!!
Hope
0 -
hope, thanks, been a while finding something to work, taxol only did for a few months so hoping for more here. It does have a wierd side effect with drying and peeling of skin and my feet are a royal mess, need to call the foot doc on monday, but need a haircut also, hoping my hairdresser is over her flu! That will be fun!
0 -
Iris....You might want to try Gel Socks for the dry feet. They are amazing. Also, a friend of mine said she uses Vicks on her feet - especially, her heels which are dry and cracking. She said it's unbelievable the difference it has made. Worth a try! And, to "need" a haircut!! How fun.
I took my first Gabapentin capsule last night. Still tossed and turned with the pain/burning, but I'm sure it has to get in your system to see any difference. I'll take it as prescribed, 3 x a day, rather than just at night - my initial plan. I just hope it doesn't make me sleepy during the day. If it does, I'll just double my nightly dose.
0 -
hope, never hezrd of gel socks but willing to try anything, it is wierd how the skin is actually pealing off my toes! Plan on calling foot doc, one toe has a corn and my tries have not worked. Wierd though, my bladder control issues are under control, funny
Well coffee time now, i
0 -
hmmm, just goggled gel socks, lots of types but gonna try them. They have a layer of mineral oil! Thanks for suggestion
0 -
Iris...I just ordered some from Amazon a couple days ago. They will arrive tomorrow. Yes, they have lots of lotions in them to soften the feet. I had a pair from a year or so ago, but ordered a couple more pair. I hope they help...they are very soothing...but, kind of a weird feeling when you walk in them. I've been wearing them to bed.
0 -
I use the gel gloves - have for years for my dry cracking fingers that split open (Before BC). When I wake up my hands are butter soft - so I can imagine how well they will work on your feet.
0 -
hey been slothering several creams on feet and hands so open to easier. The meds causes peeling the skin, also a dark red color so it is not quite the same as usual dry skin
Funny, spent large part of afternoon shopping on line for, spring tops and such.... also was looking for swim shoes as pt told me i could hit the pool but to be, sure to wear some sort of swim shoes
0 -
I’m having trouble with dry skin everywhere also, so I should try some gel gloves and socks too! I never knew there was such a thing. I have foot lotions, but I’m too lazy to slather it on my feet (don’t want to bend over with this back). I think it rubs off into the sheets. So socks and gloves make great sense.
I had a new event - I lost some eyelashes off my right eye this week! I should be way over any chemo side effects. What’s up with that? All my lower ones fell off way afterwards. Also I noticed my eye brows have thinned out a lot. My hair is growing so slowly - still just mostly white fuzz. I bought another wig - about the only thing that makes me feel normal. I don’t think I’ll like my new hair - it’s coming in so thin and white.
Swim shoes are great for the pool and shopping for spring clothes makes one feel great too! Hope everyone has a good week without any pain or surprises.
Hope - I sure hope your body adjusts to that Gabapentin - what a name. I’ve got to look that one up. I’m tossing and turning myself with this back pain. I’ve been doing a lot of Spring cleaning activities that have aggravated my back. This is something I’m addressing after I finish radiation. It just won’t go away. I’m so sick of it
0 -
I hope the gel socks and gloves help everyone. I ordered ice socks from Amazon and wore them during chemo. I think they are the same thing. I liked them.
Blair I had thick hair but I'm not sure I'll have it again. Some of it is growing fast but there doesn't seem that much of it. IDK I hate the uncertainty and having to wait months to see what it will be like. Yes I bet you can't wait to get your back figured out.You must be tired of it. Bummer about the eyelashes and eyebrows. Mine have held in so far but I keep waiting to lose them. I hear they grow in quickly though. Glad you have a wig you like. I value anything that give me normalcy. Normalcy is what I long for the most right now.
Hope everyone has a good upcoming week.
0 -
Congrats Meow for finishing!
Klvans – LOL, sorry for the confusion. My legs didn't swell after shaving. They swelled after chemo was over for at least 4 weeks. I had to start shaving about 10 weeks PFC. I probably needed to start sooner, but it's been so cold, I've kept my underarms and legs covered.
Hope, now is the Gabapentin working? It made me sleepy, but I have a friend that takes it twice a day, and it doesn't bother her at all. I took it for a few weeks to help the nerve sensitivity that would appear after sundown after my mastectomy.
Iris, so glad to hear your Pet Scan results showed improvement. My fingertips peeled off after my last treatment. Sounds like that is what is happening with your feet. My fingertips are still dry and splitting. It gets worse about every 3 or 4 weeks like my body still thinks I'm in a chemo treatment cycle.
Tina, I can't wait to ditch the hats either, but I'm not ready. My hair is about ½ inch long now. Everyone keeps asking me when I'm going to stop wearing hats and I tell them when I don't look bald anymore. I obsess over my hair every day. It is a terrible lingering side effect of this treatment.
I've got a pain around my shoulder blade that comes and goes. It grabs me when I reach or move a certain direction. Not sure if it's a chemo thing, and aromatase inhibitor thing or an old age thing. I don't remember doing anything to hurt it. It's like I've slept wrong, but it has been going on for a few weeks. I've been to the Chiropractor once. I need to go back and see if he can fix me.
0 -
Blair...So sorry you're still having back problems. Are you taking anything for the pain? I'm hoping the Gabapentin does its job. I can't tell any difference yet, but I'm sure it takes time and I'm taking a very low dose compared to other people I know that take it. I want to give this low dose a chance before upping the dosage. My Gel socks arrived yesterday, even though they weren't supposed to be here until today....gotta love Amazon!
I have no eyebrows or eyelashes. I feel like one of those Styrofoam heads when I'm painting on my eyebrows etc..Kivans...I also got the cold socks. The directions say to only wear them for 20 minutes at a time. How long did you wear them during chemo? I just plan to wear them in the evening, before going to bed. Then, I will switch to the Gel socks when I go to bed.
Orangedaisy....The Gabapentin doesn't seem to make me sleepy, as I was told it would. I take it 3x a day. It will probably take a few days to build up in my system to see any improvement.
Wishing all a pain free week!
Hope
0 -
Morning all, slept late today and just could not get up and moving. Gonna look at the gel socks and order some. There are so many types to chose from. Hope.....what is the brand name that worked for you?
The mo said that i will likely stay on this med as long as it works and as long as i can toleratethe side effects so important for me to figure this out
Ok coffee time!
0
