Starting Chemo April 2024 Support Thread

@grammie2 hope you get some more rest and side effects stay manageable! Hugs back at you!

@bailey.boo so happy to hear that! What wonderful news

todays been a hard day. Cold capping doesn’t seem to be working, the shedding will not stop and my capper that I hired said he hasn’t had any client have shedding for this long. As it’s shedding it’s getting tangled so badly that I’ve had to cut pieces out that I can’t comb through. It is so time consuming and draining. On top of that I feel very fatigued, nauseous, and achy today. I’m mentally and physically exhausted and so tired of all this…I can’t believe we still have months left to go. I can’t even remember what things were like before the cancer diagnosis. Ughhh….perhaps tomorrow will be better. Sorry for venting.

@chickenlovva thank you! I'm just not sleeping well and waking way too early. Got a nap in today and feel much better. I haven't had to take Zophran thankfully. But I think Neulasta is giving me some muscle aches today. Had to take Tylenol along with the Claritin.

@halyy2024 so sorry to hear about the struggles. It's frustrating when you try to be proactive and try to prevent some of the bad stuff these drugs cause.

I am only doing the hands and feet icing to prevent neuropathy and nail damages. I didn't try the cold capping. I'm worried about my hair never coming back. It was after my first treatment that I realized that was a good possibility. Ugh.

@lbn2222 right there with you with the capping struggles! Gonna try and push through for the regrowth

@grammie2 its rare that it would cause permanent damage, I wouldn’t stress about that I’m sure it will grow back!

Happy Mother’s Day to all of you mommies on here 💖

hi @sarahjunefox. I’m doing 6 rounds of TCHP, once every 3 weeks, before surgery or anything else. I’m in the lobby for my first appt now. Ready to do this! (If for no other reason than I skipped my coffee, because caffeine before chemo seems like possibly not a good idea, so I erred on the side of caution. But I’m really looking forward to them telling me if/when I can have my coffee.)

I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother’s Day weekend! 💕

And I hope everyone is feeling much better— I hope you got some sleep, @grammie2 , and that everything went well, @lbn2222, and that your scalp isn’t too sore, @halyy2024. I’m still so sorry about your hair 😔

thank you, grammie!

One chemo session on the books and DONE. The WBC med wasn’t done through insurance yet, so I may have to go back, if it happens in the next day or so, or skip it until next time. Otherwise, I’m bracing myself, waiting to feel a side effect. I came home and had my coffee and half of a high protein chicken wrap….. still nothing. So far, so good. My body seems to be accepting it all well.

I feel relieved I’m going to be able to do this— I keep waking up at like 3 or 4 AM from dreams about having anaphylactic shock and not being able to take the chemo, and cancer cells exploding to other areas like the Big Bang. This is the first step to mitigating all of that.

I’ve read sometimes it takes a few rounds. Then the surgery removes it, and the radiation mops up any strays. I know what you mean though. I would like to see total eradication and annihilation in a major good way. I hope you see great progress when they do a second look.
They have me on the books for a breast and axillary ultrasound on 5/22 already. Seems very odd… I can’t imagine any change that fast. My affected area is HUGE. I guess, if I can see it as least hasnt grown any, I can get peace of mind, and that would be gold.

Oh boy. Here we go! Been up since 1AM with some pretty substantial stomach bloating and cramping. I popped 2 Imodium. Laying here hoping that was the right call and I don’t actually need senecot instead. The verdict is still out and I’m afraid to relax and go back to sleep because I do not trust my stomach right now! 😂 Not that these rolling pains will probably let me sleep!

So I chose my OTC remedy well! I am better because I am not in that pain now. But there are lasting new issues! Good Lord, thank God I work from home.
My son, on Mother’s Day, was like, how long before you’re turning into Mom-Mom, sharing poop-related horror stories with all who will listen? We’re already getting there, buddy, already getting there! She was not technology savvy at all and had no group to ask and commiserate with. This would be terrifying without you all! She only had people in waiting rooms. She did this alone for 4 yrs with multiple myeloma until she told us she was terminal. That woman has renewed strength and bravery in my eyes every day. It’s will get me through this first side effect with humor and grace.

@bailey.boo yay congrats on your first treatment being done! The first one gave me so much anxiety. I also had the stomach cramps! I have them now from the second treatment I got a few days ago. Last time they subsided after a week, hoping that’s the same for you.

@bailey.boo thanks 🩷 you’re too sweet

Is anyone experiencing random dizzy spells? I get randomly woosy, and the room spins and there’s a ringing in my ear followed by nausea. It happens on and off throughout the day. Also have had a heavy period the last few days so not sure if it’s anemia or related to that. Weird.

@halyy2024 HI hon! Did you have your second round? I'm thinking you did but can't remember! I get random dizzy spells! Just had one thus evening and hubby had to hold my hand while I walked to the couch! I thought it was from my ears because I have fluid behind my ear drums but I'm wondering if it's chemo related??

Anyone know of good shows to binge? I'm in need of some stuff to watch over the weekend for round 2. Also, I have SUPER thin hair, it looks like scraggly witch hair that is actually making me giggle instead of cry so that's good I suppose. Don't want to shave it quite yet so I wear a cotton beanie from Headcovers.com. it's pretty comfortable. I need to buy wig glue stuff so I can try my wigs. I'll try to post a pic on here when I wear one. I pray everyone has a good night with no cramps, dizziness, aches, fatigue or anxiety 🥰

Those head covers look so cute. I think I want a lace sleep one from them. Are you shedding a lot at night? Do these contain it pretty good?

I’m usually not a big TV person, but I bought the new ghostbusters the other night— part 2. It was adorable!

Glad you are doing ok @bailey.boo ! And yes, fluids, fluids and fluids. My mag was low again so go the trusty IV fluids and mag yesterday. Hopefully it will be up tomorrow when I go back for them to recheck.

My second one is going similar to the first but more tired, less heartburn and dry mouth. Trouble sleeping past 3 and I think I just have my internal clock set now. How to break that cycle??? LOL. It's weird that some of you start out on the D side of things. I'm constipated day 1-3 or 4 from all of the IV nausea meds, then it turns to mild D. I started taking Murilax the day after treatment on Thursday but still was late Monday before it worked. What does everyone else take for constipation?