checking in

Mwee
Mwee Member Posts: 1,338
Hi Loves,

Just checking in with a quick update. I've been AWOL off and on lately. My last carbo/gemzar infusion did not go well. I had another bad allergic reaction to the carbo inspite of days of pre-meds/bags of steroids etc. I was 13 hours in that d**m infusion chair and still could only manage 1/2 the dose of carbo. SO... I'm now switching to cisplatin and would appreciate some advice on what to expect with that.

My dear 93 year old mother-in-law passed away last weekend (NOT from OVCA!). I'm not making light for she will be greatly missed, but it was a blessing for her. I'm so very grateful that I was able to visit her while I was on my break from chemo in March. I know many of can relate to this problem... I was so very fatiqued from that last infusion and we had to travel to NYC and all, but I was able to be there.

Tomorrow I'm throwing another b-day party. This time for my cutie of a seven year old granddaughter. Extreme silliness will abound and it'll be just the thing to help their grandfather.

My 5 year anniversary of my diagnosis (3C) is coming up next month. Considering the statistics I was given at the time, I think it's cause for a celebration! Any ideas?

(((HUGS))) Maria

Comments

  • carolenk
    carolenk Member Posts: 907 Member
    Welcome back
    Glad to know you are doing well. Sorry to hear about your mother-in-law. Congratulations on your five-year anniversary! You are an inspiration to us all. I am not much of a party planner so I have no suggestions to offer except let someone else plan & execute the party for you. Keep up the silliness, I am sure it is healing for you!
  • Cafewoman53
    Cafewoman53 Member Posts: 735 Member
    Congratulations !
    Wow five year anniversary that is awwsome ! How about a picnic? With lots of balloons,they make a celebration so colorful ! What is the date ,I think I will buy some teal balloons and celebrate too!
    Colleen
  • kayandok
    kayandok Member Posts: 1,202 Member
    Maria,
    sorry to hear your last infusion didn't go well. 13 hours is way too long to be in one chair. Cisplatin had a lot of side effects for me (nausea and throwing up along with the usual fatigue) but there are many that tolerate it well.

    Congratulations on 5 years!!! I have my 4th coming up and was wondering the same thing. I'd say do whatever you want to do, you deserve it!!

    hugs,
    kathleen
  • vj1
    vj1 Member Posts: 150
    kayandok said:

    Maria,
    sorry to hear your last infusion didn't go well. 13 hours is way too long to be in one chair. Cisplatin had a lot of side effects for me (nausea and throwing up along with the usual fatigue) but there are many that tolerate it well.

    Congratulations on 5 years!!! I have my 4th coming up and was wondering the same thing. I'd say do whatever you want to do, you deserve it!!

    hugs,
    kathleen

    Maria
    Sorry you had a rough time with chemo. Your plate is full but take time to enjoy your 5th anniversary triumph. Enjoy, Enjoy!!

    Verna
  • Lisa13Q
    Lisa13Q Member Posts: 677
    Happy Birthday and Anniversary
    Wow...five years.....what an amazing accomplishment....sorry your last chemo didn't go so well...This stuff is tough on the body....honestly, cisplatin was tough on my Mom....my best advice on that is stay hydrated....it had a huge impact on her kidneys and salt and potassium...lots of gatorade....Have a ball with your grandaughter...and for your anniversary do whatever you want....and DON"t GET CHEMO on that day!!!!! Love, Fang Fish
  • clamryn
    clamryn Member Posts: 508
    Congrats
    Congratulations Maria on your 5th anniversary. I was sitting here thinking about what you could do to celebratre. Do you have any old wigs???? If you do, how about burning one of them. Sing a song as it burns..... kind of like a ritual. Whatever you do... make it memorable.

    As I read your post and saw where you had to sit in the chair for 13 hours, my heart just broke for you. That is just awful. I hope and pray that the cisplatin will work for you.

    Enjoy that little granddaughter. My little 5 years old granddaughter likes... you guessed it....Justin Bieber. And she also likes American Idol. So we are going to do American Idol on her birthday. I am looking forward to that. Those grandchildren sure are good medicine. Enjoy.

    Sending (((Hugs))) to you.
    Linda
  • clamryn
    clamryn Member Posts: 508
    Lisa13Q said:

    Happy Birthday and Anniversary
    Wow...five years.....what an amazing accomplishment....sorry your last chemo didn't go so well...This stuff is tough on the body....honestly, cisplatin was tough on my Mom....my best advice on that is stay hydrated....it had a huge impact on her kidneys and salt and potassium...lots of gatorade....Have a ball with your grandaughter...and for your anniversary do whatever you want....and DON"t GET CHEMO on that day!!!!! Love, Fang Fish

    Picture
    Lisa, I love your picture. I get my next infusion on Tuesday and I am going to close my eyes and think of Fang Fish and him just eating up all my cancer cells.

    Linda
  • Hissy_Fitz
    Hissy_Fitz Member Posts: 1,834
    clamryn said:

    Congrats
    Congratulations Maria on your 5th anniversary. I was sitting here thinking about what you could do to celebratre. Do you have any old wigs???? If you do, how about burning one of them. Sing a song as it burns..... kind of like a ritual. Whatever you do... make it memorable.

    As I read your post and saw where you had to sit in the chair for 13 hours, my heart just broke for you. That is just awful. I hope and pray that the cisplatin will work for you.

    Enjoy that little granddaughter. My little 5 years old granddaughter likes... you guessed it....Justin Bieber. And she also likes American Idol. So we are going to do American Idol on her birthday. I am looking forward to that. Those grandchildren sure are good medicine. Enjoy.

    Sending (((Hugs))) to you.
    Linda

    Maria, I understand totally.
    Maria, I understand totally. My infusions took HOURS and HOURS. We came as early as we could, and when we left, it was just us, the chemo nurse, and the cleaning crew. After the first two, it got better but I never could do Carbo at full drip speed. What kind of reaction did you have? I totally passed out just a few minutes into my first treatmeent. It completely wiped me out. I left the place in a wheelchair.

    I have two granddaughters who have "Bieber Fever". One is 7 and the other is 18. I bought a JB backpack to send the little one in CT, and I had to hide it from the big one, for fear she would steal it (she lives with me)!

    Have you seen the little tiny Justin Bieber fan on You Tube? Just search for "3 year old crying over Justin Bieber." It is the funniest thing ever!

    Carlene
  • Hissy_Fitz
    Hissy_Fitz Member Posts: 1,834
    clamryn said:

    Congrats
    Congratulations Maria on your 5th anniversary. I was sitting here thinking about what you could do to celebratre. Do you have any old wigs???? If you do, how about burning one of them. Sing a song as it burns..... kind of like a ritual. Whatever you do... make it memorable.

    As I read your post and saw where you had to sit in the chair for 13 hours, my heart just broke for you. That is just awful. I hope and pray that the cisplatin will work for you.

    Enjoy that little granddaughter. My little 5 years old granddaughter likes... you guessed it....Justin Bieber. And she also likes American Idol. So we are going to do American Idol on her birthday. I am looking forward to that. Those grandchildren sure are good medicine. Enjoy.

    Sending (((Hugs))) to you.
    Linda

    oops....double post
  • kikz
    kikz Member Posts: 1,345 Member
    Cisplatin
    I had cisplatin post surgery. I ended up in the hospital two out of the three cycles. I got taxol on day one intravenously, day two was ip cisplatin and day 8 was ip taxol. I am not sure if it was so much chemo in a cycle, the ip or the cisplatin but I was pretty sick and had to postpone infusions a couple of times. I know part of my problem is that I wouldn't eat or drink much when I felt sick. From what I've read here and what my doctors would tell is that it is crucial to drink a lot of fluids. I just couldn't. So I probably made things worse for myself. Anyway it was worth it. My CA 125 post chemo was 7. I know you will do what you need to do, don't we all?

    Good luck,
    Karen
  • Mwee
    Mwee Member Posts: 1,338
    kikz said:

    Cisplatin
    I had cisplatin post surgery. I ended up in the hospital two out of the three cycles. I got taxol on day one intravenously, day two was ip cisplatin and day 8 was ip taxol. I am not sure if it was so much chemo in a cycle, the ip or the cisplatin but I was pretty sick and had to postpone infusions a couple of times. I know part of my problem is that I wouldn't eat or drink much when I felt sick. From what I've read here and what my doctors would tell is that it is crucial to drink a lot of fluids. I just couldn't. So I probably made things worse for myself. Anyway it was worth it. My CA 125 post chemo was 7. I know you will do what you need to do, don't we all?

    Good luck,
    Karen

    Thanks all..
    guess it's time for me to hike up those Big Girl Panties and get ready for the cisplatin. I've heard that it's tough on the kidneys and I always have trouble forcing down enough fluids. Hey/ as long as it works, I'll do whatever it takes. I have two full weeks before my next infusion and for me that's like a vacation and I plan to kick p my heels and have some fun. Margaritas anyone?
    (((HUGS))) Maria
  • poopergirl14052
    poopergirl14052 Member Posts: 1,183 Member
    I will have one ..or 2
    Hi am sorry to hear of your complications from chemo but better days are coming. I say you should have a teal panty party and pin them on pic of fanf fish..lol. Had my lsat tx 1week ago left me worst pain and fatgue ever md says it is cummulative so the more you get the worse you feel. I wil have one or 2 of those drinks too. congrats on five years...val