Starting chemo on Tues. March 10th.

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Comments

  • AWK
    AWK Member Posts: 364 Member
    I have been thinking of you all day today!

    I hope it went well and you are resting and staying hydrated.  The first one is tough because you don't know what to expect.  Everything is temporary!  Keeping you in my prayers.

  • Annabella Rose
    Annabella Rose Member Posts: 59
    AWK said:

    I have been thinking of you all day today!

    I hope it went well and you are resting and staying hydrated.  The first one is tough because you don't know what to expect.  Everything is temporary!  Keeping you in my prayers.

    You were right, I was surprised how easy the 1st treatment went.

    The Dexamethasone was very well tolerated. Yes, I feel more energy but it's like a nervous energy. It has my sleep cycle messed up. I'm getting 3 to 5 hours of sleep. I used to get 7 to 9 hours of sleep before.

    I do feel shaky and very much on edge. I don't like this side of me. My husband has been so patient and understanding, but I think he's happy I'll be taking my last pill tonight. :)

    They must have been working because the chemo yesterday went very easy and no bad reactions. I went for my shot today that is suppose to keep my white blood count up. I took a alagra pill before going. I had no bad reaction to that shot but the nurse said that I may feel pain within a day or two and other side effects from the chemo may kick in within a few days. I just have to be thankful for today and not worry about what may or may not happen in the days to come. I woke up a bit queasy this morning so I took a sofron and that took it away in about 20 minutes. So I tried to fall back to sleep but that shaky feeling wouldn't allow it.

    Thank you for your encouraging words!

    I'll keep you posted.

     

  • Ro10
    Ro10 Member Posts: 1,561 Member

    You were right, I was surprised how easy the 1st treatment went.

    The Dexamethasone was very well tolerated. Yes, I feel more energy but it's like a nervous energy. It has my sleep cycle messed up. I'm getting 3 to 5 hours of sleep. I used to get 7 to 9 hours of sleep before.

    I do feel shaky and very much on edge. I don't like this side of me. My husband has been so patient and understanding, but I think he's happy I'll be taking my last pill tonight. :)

    They must have been working because the chemo yesterday went very easy and no bad reactions. I went for my shot today that is suppose to keep my white blood count up. I took a alagra pill before going. I had no bad reaction to that shot but the nurse said that I may feel pain within a day or two and other side effects from the chemo may kick in within a few days. I just have to be thankful for today and not worry about what may or may not happen in the days to come. I woke up a bit queasy this morning so I took a sofron and that took it away in about 20 minutes. So I tried to fall back to sleep but that shaky feeling wouldn't allow it.

    Thank you for your encouraging words!

    I'll keep you posted.

     

    Annabella

    So glad the first chemo was tolerable.  Glad you kept ahead of your nausea.  Hope the bone pain was not too bad from your Neulasta shot.  Hang in there and take it a day at a time.  Glad you have a patient and supportive husband.   The shakiness will get better after the decadron is stopped.   Make sure you keep ahead of the constipation, too.  In peace and caring.

  • ConnieSW
    ConnieSW Member Posts: 1,677 Member
    Ro10 said:

    Annabella

    So glad the first chemo was tolerable.  Glad you kept ahead of your nausea.  Hope the bone pain was not too bad from your Neulasta shot.  Hang in there and take it a day at a time.  Glad you have a patient and supportive husband.   The shakiness will get better after the decadron is stopped.   Make sure you keep ahead of the constipation, too.  In peace and caring.

    Constipation

    Do heed what Ro said.  I learned the hard way to be proactive and treat for  constipation before it had time to happen.  I had hoped taking a stool softener routinely would be enough.  it wasn't.

  • daylady
    daylady Member Posts: 122
    Starting chemo

    Annabelle, I was still in a daze before I started chemo and my incredible daughter made an appt. for me with a woman who has a shop and only deals with alopecia and chemo patients.  I ended up with a couple of very, very cute wigs and most people never knew I had lost my hair.  i had my hair cut very short the week befor chemo. But when it started to fall out in earnest (within2-3 weeks) I just had my husband shave it off.  Good luck!  We're here for you!  - daylady (Helen)

  • daylady
    daylady Member Posts: 122
    Starting chemo

    Annabelle, I was still in a daze before I started chemo and my incredible daughter made an appt. for me with a woman who has a shop and only deals with alopecia and chemo patients.  I ended up with a couple of very, very cute wigs and most people never knew I had lost my hair.  i had my hair cut very short the week befor chemo. But when it started to fall out in earnest (within2-3 weeks) I just had my husband shave it off.  Good luck!  We're here for you!  

    i had decadron before, after,  and in an IV during my first chemo and other than some face flushing and a little trouble sleeping, had no side effects from the decadron.  I had about 3-4 days of bone pain starting about day 4 after chemo, but that subsided and the rest of each cycle went fine.  Most people did not realize I was going thru chemo unless I said something.  Everyone is different, but they can do so much more for us now than even just a few years ago.  Take care of you! - Helen 

  • Annabella Rose
    Annabella Rose Member Posts: 59
    daylady said:

    Starting chemo

    Annabelle, I was still in a daze before I started chemo and my incredible daughter made an appt. for me with a woman who has a shop and only deals with alopecia and chemo patients.  I ended up with a couple of very, very cute wigs and most people never knew I had lost my hair.  i had my hair cut very short the week befor chemo. But when it started to fall out in earnest (within2-3 weeks) I just had my husband shave it off.  Good luck!  We're here for you!  

    i had decadron before, after,  and in an IV during my first chemo and other than some face flushing and a little trouble sleeping, had no side effects from the decadron.  I had about 3-4 days of bone pain starting about day 4 after chemo, but that subsided and the rest of each cycle went fine.  Most people did not realize I was going thru chemo unless I said something.  Everyone is different, but they can do so much more for us now than even just a few years ago.  Take care of you! - Helen 

    Thank you Helen, today was

    Thank you Helen, today was the day after my shot and 2 days after the chemo. It's also the first day without the Decadron.

    I woke up with some queasy ness and aching pain in my pelvic bone area. I tried 2 extra strength tylonal but that didn't work so latter I took 2 Advil but that hasen't felt much better.  It's not horrible pain but enough to make me uncomfortable. I called my nurse and she said that's normal to have bone pain for a couple of days after that shot. So I guess it makes me feel better knowing it won't last much longer.

    I bought a wig the day before chemo started and a scarf so I'd be ready when my hair starts to fall out. I didn't know how I'd be feeling this first week after chemo.

    Thank you for your encouraging words! 

  • DebiR
    DebiR Member Posts: 38 Member

    Thank you Helen, today was

    Thank you Helen, today was the day after my shot and 2 days after the chemo. It's also the first day without the Decadron.

    I woke up with some queasy ness and aching pain in my pelvic bone area. I tried 2 extra strength tylonal but that didn't work so latter I took 2 Advil but that hasen't felt much better.  It's not horrible pain but enough to make me uncomfortable. I called my nurse and she said that's normal to have bone pain for a couple of days after that shot. So I guess it makes me feel better knowing it won't last much longer.

    I bought a wig the day before chemo started and a scarf so I'd be ready when my hair starts to fall out. I didn't know how I'd be feeling this first week after chemo.

    Thank you for your encouraging words! 

    Bone pain

    My bone pain was pretty severe just from the chemo.  The first weekend after chemo was the worst.  I had prescription strength Ibuprofen and that didn't really do anything.  Don't be afraid to ask for something a little stronger.  I didn't at first but once I did they gave me Oxycodone.  What a relief!  I took it about every 6-8 hours the first 5 days or so and then only at bed time after that as needed.  If I kept busy and moving during the day after the first week I felt better but sleeping at night could get a little uncomfortable.

    Losing my hair wasn't so bad for me.  It started falling out just before my second chemo.  My hairdresser is a good friend that owns her own salon.  I went at the end of her day when no one else was there and had it shaved the day after my second chemo as it was falling out in gobs.  My mom, sister and a few nieces were there and we had a little tea party with some fancy cupcakes so it would be fun instead of traumatic.  It was actually kind of nice not to have to deal with styling my hair during chemo. Once less thing to do was great.  I wore hats and scarves unless I was going somewhere that I didn't want to deal with the questions and then I wore my wig.  It's a really cute one I actually got for free from our local Gathering Place.  It looked so much like my own hair that no one ever thought any differently.

    Debi

     

    UPSC 3A - chemo finished 10/29/14

  • Annabella Rose
    Annabella Rose Member Posts: 59
    DebiR said:

    Bone pain

    My bone pain was pretty severe just from the chemo.  The first weekend after chemo was the worst.  I had prescription strength Ibuprofen and that didn't really do anything.  Don't be afraid to ask for something a little stronger.  I didn't at first but once I did they gave me Oxycodone.  What a relief!  I took it about every 6-8 hours the first 5 days or so and then only at bed time after that as needed.  If I kept busy and moving during the day after the first week I felt better but sleeping at night could get a little uncomfortable.

    Losing my hair wasn't so bad for me.  It started falling out just before my second chemo.  My hairdresser is a good friend that owns her own salon.  I went at the end of her day when no one else was there and had it shaved the day after my second chemo as it was falling out in gobs.  My mom, sister and a few nieces were there and we had a little tea party with some fancy cupcakes so it would be fun instead of traumatic.  It was actually kind of nice not to have to deal with styling my hair during chemo. Once less thing to do was great.  I wore hats and scarves unless I was going somewhere that I didn't want to deal with the questions and then I wore my wig.  It's a really cute one I actually got for free from our local Gathering Place.  It looked so much like my own hair that no one ever thought any differently.

    Debi

     

    UPSC 3A - chemo finished 10/29/14

    Thank you Debi for your

    Thank you Debi for your post.

    today is 3 days since my first chemo and I feel like I hit a brick wall!

    I feel bone pain, nausous and extremely week. I'm scared if it's the M.S. thats causing the fatique. Do you know if it's normal to feel so week in one day. Yesterday I felt pain and nausaus but today I wok up so week. I had to go for my blood test this morning and It was so hard because I was so week to get dressed and go out, but I did. After ward my husband had a doctors appointment so waited for him in the car which was about an hour. Do you think that was too much being out after the third day from chemo? 

    I'm resting now. I came right to bed. My husband gave me 2 Tylenol and a anti naousae pill to dissolve under my tongue. But it's the extreme fatique that's scaring me right now.

  • Lou Ann M
    Lou Ann M Member Posts: 996 Member

    Thank you Debi for your

    Thank you Debi for your post.

    today is 3 days since my first chemo and I feel like I hit a brick wall!

    I feel bone pain, nausous and extremely week. I'm scared if it's the M.S. thats causing the fatique. Do you know if it's normal to feel so week in one day. Yesterday I felt pain and nausaus but today I wok up so week. I had to go for my blood test this morning and It was so hard because I was so week to get dressed and go out, but I did. After ward my husband had a doctors appointment so waited for him in the car which was about an hour. Do you think that was too much being out after the third day from chemo? 

    I'm resting now. I came right to bed. My husband gave me 2 Tylenol and a anti naousae pill to dissolve under my tongue. But it's the extreme fatique that's scaring me right now.

    Tired

    Weakness and fatigue hit me hard at about days 3 and 4 after Taxal/Carbo  lasted for a few days and then gradually went away.  I felt like i was on a roller coaster.  Hang in there, it will get better.( I still can't walk through Walmart with out sittingn down.  Lou Ann

  • Sandy3185
    Sandy3185 Member Posts: 228

    Thank you Debi for your

    Thank you Debi for your post.

    today is 3 days since my first chemo and I feel like I hit a brick wall!

    I feel bone pain, nausous and extremely week. I'm scared if it's the M.S. thats causing the fatique. Do you know if it's normal to feel so week in one day. Yesterday I felt pain and nausaus but today I wok up so week. I had to go for my blood test this morning and It was so hard because I was so week to get dressed and go out, but I did. After ward my husband had a doctors appointment so waited for him in the car which was about an hour. Do you think that was too much being out after the third day from chemo? 

    I'm resting now. I came right to bed. My husband gave me 2 Tylenol and a anti naousae pill to dissolve under my tongue. But it's the extreme fatique that's scaring me right now.

    I also felt great the first

    I also felt great the first day or two after chemo. Then came day 3! I felt awful and I did not have the shot you had. Highly fatigued, joint aches and pain, loss of appetite. After the first treatment, I gradually started feeling better after 4/5 days. Each subsequent treatment it took longer and longer to recover. But I did recover and made it through all 5 treatments and internal radiation! What you are experiencing is a very common reaction. I also took oxicodone for the pain, several times a day when the pain was bad and just at night as it started dwindling. I also experienced neuropathy first in my hands, then my feet and toward the end in my right thigh. Much of the neuropathy has gone away now but not completely. Peripheral neuropathy is also a pretty common side effect. Hopefully you will not experience it! Another side effect I experienced, although the from the removal of 27 lymph nodes not chemo, was lymphodema. My right foot and ankle were swollen for months. My husband was very supportive and I kept reminding myself that this was only happening for a short time and when I was done this monster within me would be vanquished. Keeping this in mind really helped me through all the discomfort (what an inadequate word for the misery we experience!) 

    i hope you start feeling better soon but don't be afraid to ask for medication! Sandy

  • Double Whammy
    Double Whammy Member Posts: 2,832 Member
    Lou Ann M said:

    Tired

    Weakness and fatigue hit me hard at about days 3 and 4 after Taxal/Carbo  lasted for a few days and then gradually went away.  I felt like i was on a roller coaster.  Hang in there, it will get better.( I still can't walk through Walmart with out sittingn down.  Lou Ann

    Your side effects seem par for the course,  unfortunately, but I understand your concern about the complications of MS.  Someone on this board at one time recommended Claritin as being helpful for the bone pain (not Claritin D).  You might want to ask your oncologist about this.  I think those oncology folks anticipate callls from their patients, so do not hesitate to call and report anything you're concerned about.  It is always helpful to know they're looking out for you with remedies and reassurance.  Watch for fevers and stay hydrated as best you can. 

    You will learn what to expect as each cycle progresses.  I knew when I'd be down and I knew when I'd be up again.  But it really took a while for me to understand it all.  Hope this passes soon for you.  It can be frightening.

    Suzanne

  • JackieZ
    JackieZ Member Posts: 20
    How did the chemo go for you?

    How did the chemo go for you? I Hope well-I lost all of my long blonde hair 2 weeks after I started the 1st one. Its not so bad now that I'm getting use to it. Its that inicial shock that got me. Getting the 2nd tratment on Thurs and Fri of next week. I am getting 6 rds altogether-already did the radiation-hope you are feeling better and contact me anytime-gets pretty lonely out in the country where I live-stewart,    mn.

  • Annabella Rose
    Annabella Rose Member Posts: 59
    JackieZ said:

    How did the chemo go for you?

    How did the chemo go for you? I Hope well-I lost all of my long blonde hair 2 weeks after I started the 1st one. Its not so bad now that I'm getting use to it. Its that inicial shock that got me. Getting the 2nd tratment on Thurs and Fri of next week. I am getting 6 rds altogether-already did the radiation-hope you are feeling better and contact me anytime-gets pretty lonely out in the country where I live-stewart,    mn.

    Hi Mn!

    I had no problem with the first chemo day. About 2 days later it's been hard. Mouth sores, heavy fatique, bone pain, nausuus, and today a optical migraine. The migraine may be from the weather change.

    The nausea is handled pretty well with the sufran. I really was hoping I'd see an improvement in side effects by now at day 7.

    I am feeling discouraged at this point. I don't know if I can finish any more rounds with out some kind of break from all this nastieness. 

    Did your chemo side effects last this long?

    I still have my hair but at this point the sickness and bone pain has taken oven the thought of losing my hair. I have a lot of trouble having an appetite, but it actually feels a bit better after I eat something.

    I wish you well on you next round. It sounds like you are managing well! One day at a time, I guess is the trick :)

     

  • Lou Ann M
    Lou Ann M Member Posts: 996 Member

    Hi Mn!

    I had no problem with the first chemo day. About 2 days later it's been hard. Mouth sores, heavy fatique, bone pain, nausuus, and today a optical migraine. The migraine may be from the weather change.

    The nausea is handled pretty well with the sufran. I really was hoping I'd see an improvement in side effects by now at day 7.

    I am feeling discouraged at this point. I don't know if I can finish any more rounds with out some kind of break from all this nastieness. 

    Did your chemo side effects last this long?

    I still have my hair but at this point the sickness and bone pain has taken oven the thought of losing my hair. I have a lot of trouble having an appetite, but it actually feels a bit better after I eat something.

    I wish you well on you next round. It sounds like you are managing well! One day at a time, I guess is the trick :)

     

    Hi

    What you are going through sounds very familiar.  It was at about this time frame that I would start to feel a little better.  a slow climb out.  I  usually had about a week of felling pretty decent before the next chemo  The pain was the first to go  the fatigue seemed to last a lot longer.  I didn't have mouth sores.  Biotene seemed to help. Now I am using something called Mary's mouthwash really disgusting  but works well.  Hang in there. It will get better.  Keep a journal and write down what happens each day.  Then next times will be very similar. prayers for you  Also  my hair started to fall out at 2 weeks all three times I started chemo over.  It was harder losing my cute chemo curls than my long red hair.  Lou Ann

  • pinky104
    pinky104 Member Posts: 574 Member

    Hi Mn!

    I had no problem with the first chemo day. About 2 days later it's been hard. Mouth sores, heavy fatique, bone pain, nausuus, and today a optical migraine. The migraine may be from the weather change.

    The nausea is handled pretty well with the sufran. I really was hoping I'd see an improvement in side effects by now at day 7.

    I am feeling discouraged at this point. I don't know if I can finish any more rounds with out some kind of break from all this nastieness. 

    Did your chemo side effects last this long?

    I still have my hair but at this point the sickness and bone pain has taken oven the thought of losing my hair. I have a lot of trouble having an appetite, but it actually feels a bit better after I eat something.

    I wish you well on you next round. It sounds like you are managing well! One day at a time, I guess is the trick :)

     

    Mouth sores and nausea

    I had the mouth sores for a very short time in about my second round of chemo.  My doctor gave me a rinse for my mouth and that helped with the pain, and the sores only lasted a few days.  He also prescribed a drug called Emend that I took for two days before each round of chemo and then I continued it on the first day of chemo.  I never was nauseous at all because I had taken that drug.  You might want to ask your doctor if you can take that.  I know you have other medical conditions that might prevent you from being able to take some drugs.  I did have the loss of appetite at one point, but I just forced myself to eat. I lost my hair at about 11 or 12 days after chemo.  I had just gotten a wig free from my cancer center (provided by the local Rotary Club) so I didn't have to walk around bald.  My husband went bald at 21, so we made a good pair.  I jokingly sent a picture out to my stepkids in an e-mail with a comment about how if you're married long enough, you begin to look alike.  About halfway thru my 6 rounds of carboplatin and taxol, I got very short of breath when I walked and I got pasty-looking.  I was given a blood transfusion for that.  Just make up your mind that you can and will get through this--it's probably only for a few months and it could make a huge difference in your future.  It's such a feeling of accomplishment when you make it all the way through!