INSOMNIACS place to talk in the wee hours

Holeinone--my chemo got bumped to Wednesday afternoon. I'm pretty anxious, can't sleep. My swallowing issues started last spring. I was originally diagnosed with "silent reflux" as the cause until a bunch of other crazy symptoms popped up. So then it was GERD induced esophagitis but the only one with an idea for a cause was my allergist who had me do an elimination diet where it ended up I was having a reaction to wheat. My PCP and I discussed testing for celiac but that was the same day that I went to see him about "The Lump" so that diagnosis is on hold for now. I know the steroids that we get with the chemo can be pretty harsh on the stomach and cause GERD not to mention the chemo itself so maybe that was your issue as well

More on "The Lump"...my friend that had BC a few years back is always reminding me that I have cancer but the cancer doesn't have me so a few days before my surgery, I named my tumor "Claude" and gave him a French last name that translates to "The Jackass" in English because I decided that Claude was a smarmy, unwashed, chain-smoking French guy squatting in my right breast as if he had a right to be there. Surgery was the equivalent of a forcible eviction. Yesterday, I decided that chemo is like fumigating to get rid of any cockroaches that the smarmy bastard Claude left behind.

Spookiesmom--I know some people that also had success with a thundershirt. Personally, it was a total failure for my big chicken. Luckily, he didn't eat too much of it and it all came out in a couple of days. Of course, I wasn't really surprised given that when he was a puppy, he ate 2 couches, a love seat, the living room carpet, the edges of the stairway bannister, almost every plant in the back yard, several coffee table books, half a dozen candles...and I stopped counting how many shoes he devoured. when I got the little guy I had an old, blind shepherdthat passed away when the baby was 13 months old and miraculously, the destruction stopped. Could have been that the blind, slow old man was trying to kill the puppy all the time but he could never quite catch him

Marlanab- so it sounds like you begin chemo today and I wish you a good day and minimal SE's. I like the visuals you have created for yourself too about the little french man and then the fumigation to remove the cockroaches.

Thanks, Chevy--I'll have to try the aloe vera...it makes sense that if it works for burns on the outside, it would work on the burns on the inside. My mom has a plant in her backyard that got me and my siblings unscarred through our childhoods but I don't suppose I can eat it straight from the plant. Mostly because I can picture my mom catching me leaning over her plant with one of those tentacles hanging out of my mouth as she yells "Marlana Ruth, have you lost your mind?!?" with a few of her favorite swear words thrown in

jazzygirl--thank you for good thoughts!

Chevyboy, sometimes the only thing that gets me through the day is humor!

Even though we're civilian personnel, we still wear uniforms so I got my boss to let me hold a contest for my co-workers on what kind of head cover I'll wear to work when my hair falls out. So far my crazy co-workers have come up with a Davy Crockett coon skin cap, a Russian-style hat with the ear flaps down, a knit beanie with one of those dangly balls on top also with ear flaps, a propeller hat like Cecil from the "Cecil and Beanie-boy" cartoon, a Pirate hat with a big plume, and giant stuffed royal crown that says "I Rule"...so I'm not the only warped one on the loose, apparently

No! It's okay Marla! I love the feeling that people feel I am warped.... Ha! You HAVE to have a sense of humor, once that feeling of dread, and hopelessness and gloom wash all over you..... It's the only way to pick yourself up.... and those around you will help out with that.... Same with my hip, as Jazzy so promptly points out!

When I fell of that pole in the middle of the alley at midnight, I just LAY there, like I mean a big blob! Could NOT get up! Like that old lady in the commercial! Tried pulling myself up by trying to crawl up my husbands pants legs.... HE tried to pull me up, but I could not help! And that old fart at the end of the alley standing there like a real SOB!

Finally got up on one leg... My whole arm bleeding... leg hanging on by a thread.... I just cried, because we couldn't go gambling that day.... sniff.

But I got over THAT set-back, and back on the pole again.... Hah! We just laugh at turmoil.... once we stop crying.... That's just us.

I didn't do chemo, but one of my ex co-worker did. The steroid they gave her before the chemo infusion made her really wired. The fatigue didn't hit her until the next day. Hopefully, you dodge all the bad side effects. May the Raids get all the cockroaches!!!! Will be thinking about you this afternoon.

good afternoon ladies. So it's the 2nd day my ds's are home and the 2nd day I've been miserable. Crazy terrible migraines which causes nausea and severe back pain. Def not what I had planned for the summer Oh well it's still early lots of time before school starts sgain to have some fun. ( I hope )

Oh yeah...was not thinking as usual. Do you think she will like this since she's a smart girl?

Oh btw, it's Mel, Rose, and I with young girls

loveroflife--fantastic hats!

Chevy-- they always say that if you fall of the pole, you have to get right back up and ride that pole. Or that might be horses. Or something.

Sitting in the chair now--about 1/3 way through. Gotta pee because I'm on my 5th bottle of water but I'm toocomfortable to drag all my iv lines to the bathroom. **Note to self, investigate depends or poise pads to find out if they can hold 48+ ounces of water

Marlana, I'm one who did have chemo, so I will give you all the tips I can think of. Looks like you are not going to learn the joys of adriamycin, the red devil. But I had your two. One thing with taxotere is that it messes with your nose and tear ducts. They leak. In fact, now, 6 months post final chemo (PFC) I still have a drippy nose much of the time, and sometimes my eyes just start leaking, especially when I'm tired. My MO said that was the taxotere.
Steroids. I had to take 2 twice a day the day before and the day after. My chemo nurse advised me to take the second dose of the day no later than 3pm so I could sleep at night.
I've never been a big water drinker but DH bought me a sodastream and I love sparkling lemonaide, it's still my go to drink. Some people swear by ginger for the nausea, but although I've always loved ginger in all forms, during chemo I couldn't stand it. Lemon drops worked well.
I always felt ok until day 3, and then I was out for the count for at least the next five.
Best food for me was mac and cheese. Important to keep your tummy bacteria balanced, so I had Activia Greek every night at bedtime.
Ask me anything, PM if you want. No questions off limit. You can do this. I did and I'm a big baby.

Marlana, pee to get the toxin out of your bladder. Both Cytoxan and Taxotere are nephrotoxic that is why they hydrate you

First round down. Feeling pretty good so far--a little giddy and a slightly warm. I drank 32 oz of water before and 64 oz during. I got up to pee twice while on the drip. My otter pops defrosted in my cooler--may have to half freeze my water next time or add more ice packs. I just ate a chicken salad sandwich with no problem. No nausea yet but they gave me 2 zofran at 1:30 PST and it's just after 6 now. Mouth is feeling a little funky so I'm sucking on ice chips.

Lots of good tips, ladies, and I'll definitely get some activia as I've had recurrent C. Diff and another bout of that right now would not be good. I do have some probiotic tablets that I take daily but that's daily maintenance.

Marlanb - congrats on getting through your first round! Hang in there! I have Celiac so PM me if you ever have any questions about it.

Chevy - Crazy!! My DD2 had laryngospasms, too and I figured it out by watching YouTube videos, too!! It was last year and we think they were triggered by antibiotics for sinus infections. She was on a nasal steroid spray and PPI for about 7 months for it.

Patty - so sorry to hear about the migraines - hope tomorrow is a better day!!

Spent some time online this morning looking into some ergonomic keyboards and a different type of mouse. Am hoping those will work well. Ordered a mastectomy swimsuit last night. I don't have any swim forms, but have read on here about people using bath poofs instead. I hope to be able to wear the suit top without any forms, but may break down and get some if it doesn't work without anything. Night all!

My DH and college age DD went to a TIMBERS Soccer game for my DH's birthday. A sold out home game and they won! YAY! My DH has a severe addiction to soccer, might even be a religion for him. What a nice b-day gift.

Well I admire anyone that can slog through chemo because it's hard. Hats off! Round one down!

Hi there Blondie, you sound good and I am Happy for you. Happy planning for Florida! Just feel those warm breezes and sand in between your toes.... watch the pelicans swoop by! Oh so fine! Howdies to all I didn't mention. JWoo are you safe from the waters?