Starting Chemo April 2024 Support Thread

@bailey.boo glad to hear your first treament went okay!

As for tv recommendations, my husband and I loved Peaky Blinders on Netflix!

I have a few of those cotton head wraps from Amazon I’ve been wearing around the house. They’re nice and soft.

My stomach has been weird just like the rest of you. Kind of split between constipated and diarrhea. Just trying to stay hydrated. Muscle pain from the Neulasta is still going strong but manageable with Tylenol. The dizziness has been the most annoying symptom this round.

I put on makeup and actually left the house today and got coffee with a friend, I feel so much better! Sometimes listening to your favorite songs, getting dressed up, and going somewhere is better than therapy lol. Hope you all found some joy today 💕

@chickenlovva aw I felt the same way going in for my second treatment. Like nooo I’m finally feeling normal lol. But the sooner we do them the sooner we’re done with all this! Praying for an easier time for you this round!

The scalp burning/itchiness was terrible for me too! It has subsided some in the last week.

@sarahjunefox that is the sweetest picture! I'm 58 and cannot imagine going through this with young children as many of you are. You are some strong ladies!!! I have two grandbabies (3 and almost 6) and haven't saw them since Jan. We had a trip planned at the end of June for the air show, but that's not gonna happen. Both of my boys and their families are coming home mid July though. (both sons and DIL are Air Force). I did facetime with the grands only wearing a cotton beanie and neither batted an eye. Kids are so resilient.

Hugs and prayers for you all this day!!!

That is the most beautiful picture! {{{BIG HUGS}}} to you both. I hate that anyone is going through this, but those of you with little ones are balancing a lot. 💕
I’ve been working to give my adult children so much reassurance this week, and this is a great reminder to me that it’s okay to just be present and be real.

@sarahjunefox that is the sweetest thing ever! Made me cry!

@sarahjunefox you look so beautiful!! My kids are also a little suspicious why my hair is falling out but I’m trying to act like it’s not a big deal hoping they follow suit

@grammie2 not a hoarse voice but I’ve noticed I wake up with a swollen throat the first few days after treatment and it goes away after some hot tea. Weird things are happening I’m kind of over questioning it lol just letting it be 😂

@chickenlovva I third it! You look Fab!!

Happy Friday everyone!!! Hope everyone is feeling good and can enjoy the weekend!!! I'm post 2nd treatment 8th day and received fluids, nausea meds and mag at the treatment center yesterday. Woke feeling a lot better. Day 6 and 7 were not horrible, but def. not great.

Hugs and prayers!!!

My lovey friend who has been through all of this a few years ago sent me this amazing list of things to think about, thought I'd share because it REALLY helped me:

— It will go faster than you think.

— Remember you’re having treatment preventatively not because you’re sick.

— You’ll feel like yourself a lot of the time.

— I found the hardest part was the waiting for diagnosis at the very beginning, you’ve already done that. Once you start chemo you have a job to do, much easier than waiting!

— There are hard days but there are also good days.

— When you know to expect the hard moments they don’t surprise you and you’re ready for them.

— The first few days after treatment were hard mentally for me so it helped me to see people those days.

— I couldn’t get enough of fruit. Mango and melon were amazing when the tastebuds went weird.

— Your taste buds might go haywire, don’t eat your favourite foods on treatment days.

— Phone the nurses any time you’re not sure about something!

and my FAVORITE!!
— Anyone who makes you feel like this is your identity now is an idiot, you’re still you, you’re just experiencing something for a while.

@bailey.boo same here on the BP. Mine is usually on the high side of normal to a little over. The week after treatment, mine has been lower both times. And even though I drink tons of water starting two days before chemo through the 5th or 6th day after, I still get dehydrated. That stuff sucks all the water out of your body for sure!

I gave up soda a few yrs back, but I’m normally a coffee fiend. I was concerned about caffeine being a diuretic, but no worries since coffee turned my stomach this week. I’m also a tea fiend, but my favorite hot herbal tea with a little honey tasted like ***. I didn’t enjoy drinking anything this week. I need to experiment more.

@grammie2, it always sounds like we have so many similarities, barring the opposing tummy woes! I feel better knowing the lower BP is an expected side effect. I guess better lower than spiking. I will hydrate more ahead of time next round and pre-schedule my fluids appt.

I hope everyone is feeling okay today and getting lots of cancer-kicking, healing rest! 🧡

These hot flashes are soooo annoying! Every time I get comfortable I get another one! Sweaty, hot.....then freezing! I'm on day 3 post second treatment, hopefully they settle down to a few times a day again. This is one time I'm thankful for a bald head! Didn't sleep much at all so I'm kinda goofy 🙃 Hope you all have a great Saturday! Hugs!

@bailey.boo no good sleep yet despite being sooo fatigued. I feel horrible this time around. Haven't had any real nausea so Haven't taken anything for that so that's a plus but my head feels full and my throat hurts his time and these hot flashes are terrible! I'm sorry to be complaining! I just feel so icky! May be the Neulesta I'm thinking. I haven't tried enterade before, what is that? I might need to.... i hope your tummy troubles resolve soon! I'm still waiting to go number 2... TMI

Here's to side effects going away fast for all of us!