Starting Chemotherapy March 2018
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Hopefully you just overdid it. Get some rest and keep hydrating!
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Hi ladies, and welcome Aruss and cocoon cat!
Hope everyone is having a good day today. Bec-Ky - how scary! I was just saying how lucky I felt to not have issues with liver enzymes, neutropenia, fevers, or diarrhea. Guess I should zip it until I'm done. I don't even know where the thermometer is in the house. Now hot flashes, getting those in spades! Just comes as a wave of heat. Period is 25 days late....thinking my ovaries have packed it up and retired.
New thing for me this week - sore muscles. Like I did 1,000 squats yesterday. Walking up one flight of stairs and my thighs burrrnnn! At first I thought it was just due to going for a longer than normal walk. It is just getting worse. Went to walmart and started limping 5 minutes after getting there - my R MCL (medial collateral ligament) in my knee was excruciatingly painful. The next morning, that was better. I have been trying to get on my elliptical every other day, but I find myself having to stop and rest due to burning muscles on programs I could do 2 weeks ago. Hapa - I am so impressed that you are still running. I am going to try to keep exercising, but I may have to reduce intensity and time. The dripping nose continues, although at least now it is not blood tinged. Just in time for round #4 tomorrow.
. I was leaning over a patient today and I nose dripped on her. I was mortified. Neuropathy is much worse this time, left hand worse than right. I am right hand dominant. I have noticed dropping pens when I grab them with my left hand, and I dropped some tissue forceps when closing after a surgical procedure. I am going to ask how much benefit there is to 6 rounds as opposed to 4. I don't want to half ass this, if I am going through chemo, I am going to see it through, but if the neuropathy gets worse, I will have to give up some areas of my job, which I don't want to do yet.
Had a good mother's day. I got to make breakfast for my kids, then I drank a whole bottle of champagne in the form of mimosas. It took me all day, but hey....I'm not a quitter.
Headed out the door to drive kids to swim practice. I probably won't be doing much this weekend when the SE hit...Anything bingeworthy you guys would recommend? I just caught up on Blindspot - which I loved. Looking for something to take my mind off things.
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Becky—glad it doesn’t seem like anything serious and I hope you’re feeling better tonight. Definitely rest up and hydrate!
I am guilty of always pushing myself even when I don’t feel good. I hate having to ask for help and not be able to do everything I need to do on my own. This past rough weekend I let go a bit and let my hubby and others take over. It was so hard though and I felt guilty even though I know they liked being able to help. 😕
Persnickety—sorry about the neuropathy and how it might be impacting your job a bit. That’s gotta be hard. Are you taking B6 or anything? I’ve been religiously taking B6 every day per my dr’s suggestion and knock on wood no signs of neuropathy yet, but I don’t know if that’s got anything to do with it. When did it start for you? I did laugh at your drippy nose story but only because that sounds like something that would happen to me! 😆
Thanks for everyone’s input about their period situation. I guess I was wrong about mine though because what I thought was my period starting yesterday turned out to just be some spotting that has stopped as of this afternoon...soooo guess my ovaries are having their last stand as well.
Hope everyone has a restful night! xo
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Taking 200mg of B6 twice a day, lysine 1 gram a day, krill oil D3 and biotin. Icing during infusion. I don't know what else to do....
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Persnickety, nose dripping I go to meeting and it starts flowing. So I get up and grab another tissue , only to fiND the last one in my pocket..lol.. needless to sat now before I start laundry Ive got to go thru all my pockets..lol
Bec-KY, positive thinking and pamper yourself..hugs
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Well last nigh my fever went all the way up to 102. 9!
I took 3 ibuprofen and in an hour it was down to 100. 4 or something like that...
So I slept all night... And no fever today. Just a headache (shocker).
So. That's strange... Although now today I feel. A little more phlegmmy... So was all THIS DRAMA a cold Coming on?!?
ALL THE PEE.... AND FEVER... AND BACK PAIN... for maybe a cold?
This is so rediculous.. And I'm so over it 🤣😂🤣
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Good Morning everyone! Glad to see some are doing ok with SE and sorry about those who are having a hard time this round. Personally I just don’t understand why it seems to be so different every round. 1st round mine were terrible, 2nd round oh so much better, 3rd round, last Wednesday has been the worse so far. I have hardly been out of bed. I’m praying for a better day today and be on the road of recovery for this round. I am looking forward to 4th round as it will be my last! I think I will wear bells that day, lol. My husband lost his sister last week and I have been so undecided whether to attempt to go to funeral tomorrow. My doctor told me last week that I had to be really careful at day 8-10 as that will be when I will be will easy to pick up something. Suppose to stay away from crowds ect. The day of funeral will be day nine. I’m so close to being done I sure don’t want to get sick now. I know they will all understand but I hate not being there for my husband. Good luck to you all and know this will pass and get better! We can do this
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I’m so sorry for your family loss, QuiltingNut. What a tough decision about going to her funeral. Take care of yourself. So round 3 was tough? But only one to go. I sat down to sew the other day and the bobbin winder on my machine stopped working. Maybe it is part of a big plan to reward myself with a new machine when all of this is finally over!
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Good Morning,
Bec-Ky--I hope it is just a cold and it doesn't beat you up too much. Definitely take it easy!
Quiltingnut--how do you feel about wearing a mask to go to the funeral? I know it's not fun getting all of the looks, but if you really want to be there that is a way to be safer about the germs. My youngest daughter has an awards ceremony on Tuesday (my cycle 4 day 6) and I'm going to wear a mask because I don't want to miss it, but I also really don't want to get sick again. Same thing with my older daughter's dance recital next month.
I now have a very thin spot on the top/back of my head that I can no longer hide when my hair is down. I can cover it for the time being with a well-placed ponytail, but not sure how long that will last with 3 more treatments to go and the constant shedding. I am probably going to go ahead and start shopping for a wig or at least a topper. I'm going to keep cold-capping though, I still have probably about 40-50% of my hair.
I just popped my first dose of steroids for this round...at least I will be productive today! I have labs and the Onco NP this afternoon--here we go again.
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Bec-Ky - I bet the peeing is just some of the swelling going down after exercise. Any time I swell up even a slow, short jog will help me expel the fluid (walking would probably work too but I'm not a patient woman). I can drop 3-4 lbs each day over two days, most of that gets peed out at night for some reason, but I'll go every two hours. The remodeling work probably just got your muscles moving and got some of that swelling out. You said you gained 10lbs, yes? I bet most of that was just swelling.
This round has hit me worse than the last two for sure. I took off work yesterday because I couldn't even sit up without throwing up. It lasted all day. Didn't eat or drink much of anything (btw, if you're feeling nauseous, do not eat blueberries). I'm wondering if I overdid it on my trail run Monday, but I only ran half of it and walked the rest in! But yeah, it felt like too much, even though I felt really good at the start. I weighed myself this morning and came in at 108, which is 3lbs less than yesterday morning and definitely below my normal weight range and represents a 10 pound swing for this round so far. My pulse is up to 86 this morning, so maybe my NP was right that its all just up to dehydration. Anyway, feeling much better this morning, I took a compazine as soon as I woke up, and I'm going to work.
And I agree, the worst part is the new SEs that seem to come up out of the blue! The stuff you're expecting you can prepare for, but random new stuff is just scary!
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Hi everyone,
Checking in day 6 after round 3, feeling ok, had some neuropathy that’s subsided after about a day, but definitely have mild numbness still in some of my fingertips. I notice it when I text. Im doing a countdown to last treatment. Im still cold capping and have about 60% of my hair with some bald/thinning spots. I gained 10 lbs between chemo 2 and 3? Not sure what that is all about? But I feel like I look like I’m walking around in my kid sisters clothes, and I don’t even have a kid sister. I started taking long walks. I still wake up 2-3 times a night and get hot flashes. Getting another Lupron injection tomorrow so I can imagine the flashes will continue a bit. I hope everyone is hanging in there. Soon enough we will all be checking in PFC!!! x
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Bec-Ky - So glad the fever is gone. I wonder if it is a good sign that your immune system is very active?
I agree with the SE. One never seems to know what is next. One week is good, the next not so much. I have not had sore muscles...yet. Sore bones yes, which creates another realm of anxiety.
Sidalee - I have taken to wearing girly baseball caps. Despite cold capping I have lost 60-70% of my hair. Now I have just enough to cover my head. Unfortunately it is frizzy and just gross but it is hair so I will take that. A hat does the job most of the time. From week 4 onward I was shedding, but it definitely slowed down week 9-10, probably because most of the volume was already gone.
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Can't be water weight if you knew my diet the last month.... 😂
But yes... I was more active and working around the house... Etc.. So it does make sense.
May... You look like you're wearing your kid sister's clothes? I look like I'm pregnant with your kid sister 🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣
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Looks like I too am having a change of plan. Went to the Onco NP today and after discussing my SEs, especially the horrible Big D, she said it was getting severe and would only get worse with my next tx tomorrow. My labs were also the worst they've ever been and my liver is showing some stress. She left the room to discuss with my Onco and they came back together. He is going to change up my regimen before the D leads to severe dehydration, infection, hospitalization, etc.
Tomorrow instead of TCHP I will have just TH. Round 5 and 6 will be just TCH. After chemo and surgery is done I will then do HP for 9 months as planned. They both assured me that this happens often with TCHP and it isn't worth making me this sick, the biggest impact of the treatment is made in the first few rounds.
Since my Onco was there I asked him to measure me and he said my tumor appears to have shrunk by about half and it is very soft so that was certainly good news! I asked the NP about the twitchy, watery eyes and she suggested just basic lubricating eye drops twice a day especially at night--the eyes are dry and irritated and the twitching is them trying to produce more tears to flush out the chemo.
I'm still a little worried that I won't be getting the full-effect of the next 3 treatments, but I am trusting my doctor. I also have my fingers crossed that this round will go a lot easier on me and maybe I can get back to work at little faster.
Good luck Becca and anyone else having treatment this week, thinking of you.
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Sidalee - I just yesterday read an article about a new study showing TH was just as effective as TCH. It was a surprise to the researchers and more study is needed; they thought having more chemo agents would mean more effectiveness, not so. I would take that as a positive for your new plan. This study did not use Perjeta, so dropping it may have some effect, but hopefully that will solve the big D. Good luck on your new course.
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Blood counts were good yesterday so treatment 4/6 today. It's not that I dread it, it's just the unknown of the looming SE. Each treatment the SE's have been completely different. I'm a planner and just like to know what to expect. So I'm trying to tell myself that this one will be the easiest yet. Onco Nurse said my hemoglobin was pretty low so expect to be fairly fatigued this time. I wish there was something nutrition wise I could do to help bring that number up.
I have a mammogram/ultrasound and see my surgeon on June 1. I'm anxious to see how the tumor is responding to the TCHP and start planning for surgery. The MO doesn't feel the tumor or lymph node any more so I'm feeling positive about that. He said I would continue HP every three weeks for a full year. This was a little bit of a surprise for me, I knew I had to continue them sometime after the chemo rounds, but I thought I wouldn't have HP during surgery and radiation but would pick back up with the HP after all that was complete. Now I need to look up the SE's of HP to see what I get to continue to live with. Does anyone know if they cause hair loss? I've been looking forward to my hair growing back as soon as the TC portion was done next month.
Sidalee-I'm glad to know that eye drops may help, my right eye waters constantly and my left eye twitches all day long. I'll be thinking of you today and praying that the new plan helps your symptoms.
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Hi all and welcome to our aruss and cocoon cat :-) I haven't checked in for a while, so I'd like to wish a belated Mother's Day to everyone. Last Tues I had round 3 of TC and it was the hardest yet - that was I thought I was having a rough one until I came here to see so many of you have had a way worse time than me. Sending positive thoughts to all of you
I normally work on Wed and Thurs after my infusion on Tues, but when I got to work on Wed, I realized that I was feeling pretty bad. I stayed at work because I didn't want to go back out and sit it traffic on the freeway for my 35 mile drive home, so I waited until 10:00 to leave, when I knew traffic would be light. I went right to bed and later when my hubby came in to check on me, he noticed I was hot. Took my temp and it was at 100, so I took some Tylenol and felt better. I didn't run a fever again, but ended up staying home the rest of the week. My MO said a low fever a day or 2 after the infusion was just a reaction to the chemo and nothing to worry about. My worst SE has been indigestion/gas. I'm getting an air bubble in my chest, which makes it feel like I'm having a heart attack. GasX was helping a little bit, and my doctor tried to prescribe something he called GI Cocktail, but the pharmacist had no idea what it was. He said if I had problems at the pharmacy, to use Mylanta, which as been working well for the past few days, but I think I might be at the point where I need to up the dosage. I took it this morning at 5:30, it's 10:30 now and the air bubble is there and painful! I'm at work and the Mylanta is at home. I was hoping I'd be over it by now, being day 9 after infusion. I'm also getting the twitching eyes that many are complaining about, so I'll be stopping today for eye drops. And, I've had big D much worse this time than before, but it only seems to be in the mornings. I've had the pain in my fingernails, which my MO assures me will go away completely after chemo ends. I have had a bit of tingling in my fingers and feet, but not severe. I notice it more in my feet when I'm out walking my dog. I pray it doesn't get any worse!
My daughter was here from Friday until Monday, which was so nice. I haven't seen her on Mother's Day for 5 years, since she moved out of state. So, even though I wasn't feeling great this weekend, it was still the best Mother's Day I've had in a while.
I have an appointment with my surgeon on the 22nd. I'm hoping to set a surgery date. I'm dreading it, but also just want to get it over with and get on with healing. My last chemo is on the 29th, so I guess surgery will be about a month after that.
Sending everyone happy, healing thoughts. Thank you all for being here
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Ok.... Who knows what my fevers were.... But now I have a full body rash of itchy bumps.
Under my chin.... Arms... Legs... Neck.. Torso... All over. And they seem to just be getting worse. I'm just wait for them to spread to my face.... Cuz why not?!
But I searched here, and found a helpful thread that says to take zyrtec and Pepcid every 12 hours... So I'm gonna go With that! I'll give this 1 more day, that's it....
Is this over yet?
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Cocooncat, I remember my first day after infusion looked like I was sun burn..lol but just a silly SE from Steriods. .my coworkers were concerned at work until I explained. Also I went to infusion /MO apt yesterday for last AC and we cldnt find tuner or cluster in armpit. I feel just like anychange is good news after these nasty infusions.
Bec-KY, hope you're feeling better today.. thought I had my sugar attacks in check but nope.. I got a new tub of ben and jerrys..
yummy!!I was refered to surgeon and should be getting Mammogram, MRI and who knows what else at 8 weeks from my first Taxol apt. May31. Than weekly infusions for 12 weeks til I rest for 3 to 4 and than surgery. One the plus side I've reached one goal out of many..
Btw: this on-pro shot I hit onto almost every wall once it's attached to my arm. Lol, and it's the forth time..
Hope for minimal SE's for everyone and a good weekend.Hugs...view of Lake Michigan sunset
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Cocooncat, remember the dead cells can still appear and we still have several more weeks of infusions.. think positive, good vibes, and we have to wait.. a friend said to me, be good to urself....Hugs !!!
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udrago -- haven't posted in a while, struggled through the last 2 AC infusions, Im almost one the same schedule as you. I just finished AC #4 a week ago, was definitely the worst but luckily no new more serious SE's---just worsening of the same which was rough but manageable. Also like you, my BS confirmed after the third that they couldn't feel the tumor in breast anymore! just a little hardened area at the base near armpit where it was. Now I can't feel that anymore either after the last tx!
Starting taxol next week first of 12 and am nervous but MO reassuring that its much easier than AC. They also said that they continue to see tumor shrinkage during taxol, so hopefully will continue to get rid of this even on a microscopic level. Best wishes on getting through your last AC, continuing the positive vibes for all...0 -
urdrago, do you live in western Michigan? My DD and her family live in E Grand Rapids, love to visit the babies and see that beautiful lake. I had my 3rd chemo yesterday and just did the Zerxio shot, so now we’ll see how this round goes. So far, so good, fingers crossed. Have a wonderful weekend everyone. Hope y’all see some sun
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jstarling, yeppers, Battle Creek. GR is a great area as well. I have family up there also. Hope u have mimimal SE's following ur Zerxio shot.
mlgtn,, I had a harder time with infusion 1 and 3, this time mber 4 I did get sick randomly and then took my back up nauses pill.hoping it was randomly..keep in touch, I'm curious how ur first Taxol infusion goes u got great news, I'm very glad u got some good news. positive vibes..
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Battle Creek?? I was born in Jackson but we moved to Battle Creek when I was 10 months old and lived there for eight years. I remember it fondly
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ingerp, small world. Born here and than left for holt area now I'm back.. ur down in warmer country along with amazing views.
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urdrago—I mostly grew up in Northern Virginia but also lived in WI for six years and am a big fan of the Midwest—I’ve often said that people there are just more mentally healthy. ;-)
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Cocooncat, yes to knots and headaches. I took benadryl and tylenol.hearing blanket or hot bath to relax .and that's why I headed home early..
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Cooncat -
Headaches. Yes. Especially the first week. And/or if I try to enjoy wine. Lol
The only thing that ever worked for headaches for me is excedrine. And they work now still, thankfully.
Hope is having a good weekend!
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CocoonCat - ugh, sorry to hear about your headaches. That sucks. I started going to see a registered massage therapist just last week & plan to go weekly during the taxol, just to keep my back,neck and shoulders relaxed (& to stay on top of any peripheral neuropathy; I read a case study where chemo induced peripheral neuropathy was treated with manual massage and iirc the symptoms were reduced from Grade 2 to Grade 1 with no other intervention; I can dig out the reference if anyone wants it...)
I hope you find some relief.0 -
Hi ladies, I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend. Hoping side effects are minimal. I have light neuropathy in some of my fingertips and it seems like it is more like numbness, decreased sensation feeling. Strange how it only affects some fingertips. I have my final infusion coming up at end Of May (whose counting) and I may ask for a slightly lower dose in the hopes that it won't get worse. Last night I read on the Taxotere pamphlet that water retention can happen and cause weight gain. At last infusion I did tell my MO i was concerned that I gained 8 pounds between infusions 2 and 3 (in 3 weeks!) and she didn't seem Concerned at all. They all keep attributing it to the steroids. Anybody else this bloated?
Days 7-8 are usually my bad days (headache, fatigue, etc, not feeling much this time around knock on wood.
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