Kayla - June 25th - Cytoxan & Taxotere 1st chemo done

Kayla1

Hi everyone!
I'm sorry I disapeared for a while, I have a difficult time talking when I do not feel well. Let me tell you how it went...
My daughter and best friend brought me for my first treatment of Cytoxan & Taxotere, with premeds of Decadron, Zofran, and Compazine. Did not hurt a bit, no reaction, Yippee!
Now unsure if it was due to the anxiety before (waiting two weeks) or the meds to take after for three days that made me Very tired.. rested with naps at least twice a day.
Sunday started with dry mouth and everything tasting like a tin can.
Did I mention day two with no BM even though I was taking stool softeners?
Monday off to work I go... Not feeling too bad, just a little tired, felt great to get out of the house. BUT by the end of the day I was bent over in pain from still no BM. Off to the store after work for Yuk, Milk of Magnesia.
Let me tell you.. Never, Never, Never take the full dose of 4 tablespoons!!!!
Guess what happened to me Tuesday morning (at work)? You guessed it, could not keep anything in me, solids or fluids, yet I stayed at work all day and then went back again the next day.
Wednesday I finally got smart and after one hour at work and numerous trips to the lou I went home and called my chemo Nurse.
A trip to the clinic I went for a bag of IV fluids (thank heavens my daughter was not working that day and took me).
Ooh, did I also mention tongue white with sores and throat very painful! Well after three hours at the clinic off I go the the RX for Swish & Swallow pink stuff and Diflucan and then home and to bed. They told me to stay home from work on Thursday, trust me, I stayed home!
Now the good news... It is like having a baby, you forget the pain very quickly. My husband and I went to dinner at his brother's house Friday evening, cook out on the 4th at one of his sister's, and today spent all afternoon shopping by myself. Loved ever minute of the shopping, lots of presents for me!

Love, Hugs, and prayers to you! I'll try and get caught up with everyone soon.
K

Bev1969

Hi Kayla, I had my first
Hi Kayla, I had my first treatment of Cytoxan and Taxotere on June 22. I had about the same premeds as you did but I also had Emend and a couple anti-allergic drugs. I also was constipated the first couple days. They had told me to take Colace stool softeners. That got me going again but then on day 6 and day 9 I also had diarrhea. Their instructions for that was to take Immodium. Tomorrow will be two weeks and I am doing good now. I didn't have any nausea so all in all I don't think the experience was too bad. I'm due for another treatment on the 13th so I hope that one goes as good as the last one. Good luck with your treatments.

dmc_emmy

Kayla-wow, what a day
What you experienced sounds very familiar to what I experienced. I have a couple of suggestions.

During chemo, drink lots of water (iced is better) and that should keep the mouth sores under control. As for constipation, though it was not highly advised, I took a Dulcalax suppostitory and it worked very quickly. I thought this was better than becoming impacted. You just need to be very careful, so you don't cause lesions in your recetal wall which could cause infection (as per my drs orders).

I also found, when I didn't want to eat, that popsicles were a great way to keep me hydrated. I would suggest Edy's or Bryers all natural fruit popsicles, since there are no preservatives (you can get them without sugar, too). They have a strong enough taste that you can almost enjoy them without too much metal taste.

Sounds like your day, at least, ended well. Hope you have more good endings after your future chemo treatments.
dmc

Kayla1

Bev1969 said:

Hi Kayla, I had my first
Hi Kayla, I had my first treatment of Cytoxan and Taxotere on June 22. I had about the same premeds as you did but I also had Emend and a couple anti-allergic drugs. I also was constipated the first couple days. They had told me to take Colace stool softeners. That got me going again but then on day 6 and day 9 I also had diarrhea. Their instructions for that was to take Immodium. Tomorrow will be two weeks and I am doing good now. I didn't have any nausea so all in all I don't think the experience was too bad. I'm due for another treatment on the 13th so I hope that one goes as good as the last one. Good luck with your treatments.

My nurse was unsure if my
My nurse was unsure if my issue was due to too much milk of magnesia or due to the chemo and did not want me to take the Immodium to make me go the other way again. All worked out, so to speak, well by Thursday evening all on its own.
I wish you well and will be thinking of you on the 13th.
K

Kayla1

dmc_emmy said:

Kayla-wow, what a day
What you experienced sounds very familiar to what I experienced. I have a couple of suggestions.

During chemo, drink lots of water (iced is better) and that should keep the mouth sores under control. As for constipation, though it was not highly advised, I took a Dulcalax suppostitory and it worked very quickly. I thought this was better than becoming impacted. You just need to be very careful, so you don't cause lesions in your recetal wall which could cause infection (as per my drs orders).

I also found, when I didn't want to eat, that popsicles were a great way to keep me hydrated. I would suggest Edy's or Bryers all natural fruit popsicles, since there are no preservatives (you can get them without sugar, too). They have a strong enough taste that you can almost enjoy them without too much metal taste.

Sounds like your day, at least, ended well. Hope you have more good endings after your future chemo treatments.
dmc

Hi dmc,
Thank you for all
Hi dmc,
Thank you for all the wonderful ideas to help me get thru! I have a sister-in-law that was a Nurse plus has gone thru chemo herself and recommended the Dulclax in powder form that is totally tasteless and can put in any drink. I didn't talk to her until after I had my problem, dummy me!
The Edy's or Bryers sound wondeful, do you think that goes for ice cream as well? I'm not worrying about the sugar as I have lost 7 pounds since this ordeal has started.
Does Cran-Raspberry juice count as much as drinking plenty of water? I use to only drink water before but now it does not taste good?
What do you think about my Sierra? She is a Shiba Inu The most wonderful companion ever..she is 7 years old.
K