Had number 1 chemo for recurrence on Tuesday

lkchapman

Ro10 said:

Thanks for all the encouragement
Today is a better day than yesterday. I have been taking benadryl at night to help me sleep, and it makes the day so much better. Since I have been getting some sleep at night, I am not so tired (or emotional). The bowel issue is a little better now. When I have to go, though, I really have to go. The metallic taste is still there. I have tried lemon drops, licorice and other hard candy. I too read that using plastic utensils helps, but have not resorted to that yet.

Since each day gets a little better, I'll be ready to start over again in two weeks. I'll drink apple juice the day of chemo, so hopefully I can avoid the constipation issue. I drank water all day long at chemo (like 5000 cc), so I thought I would be okay.

Thanks again for all the encouragement. It means so much. I do plan on "hanging in there". The side effects are tolerable (not pleasant mind you), I just hope the chemo is doing the job it needs to do. In peace and caring.

Linda I hope you had a great trip to the Dominican Republic. Hope your treatment is still going well for you.

Hi Ro, I can really
Hi Ro,
I can really commiserate with the constipation issues you are having with your treatment and I wanted to offer this observation I had while on carbo/taxol. I found that if I could eliminate Zofran use I didn't experience constipation at all. So if you are using it to ward off nausea, try to go without it. It just completely stops the natural peristalsis that moves food through the gi tract. After I realized Zofran was the culprit and quit using it my gi system went back to almost normal,(As normal as can be after being zapped with radiation)and I really didn't experience any nausea either.

After reading the above I realize I failed to specify that it's oral Zofran (ondansetron) that I'm referring to. I still got IV Zofran along with my chemotherapy.

I hope this bit of info helps and that you sail through the rest of your chemo.

Laura

Songflower

Ro10 said:

Thanks for all the encouragement
Today is a better day than yesterday. I have been taking benadryl at night to help me sleep, and it makes the day so much better. Since I have been getting some sleep at night, I am not so tired (or emotional). The bowel issue is a little better now. When I have to go, though, I really have to go. The metallic taste is still there. I have tried lemon drops, licorice and other hard candy. I too read that using plastic utensils helps, but have not resorted to that yet.

Since each day gets a little better, I'll be ready to start over again in two weeks. I'll drink apple juice the day of chemo, so hopefully I can avoid the constipation issue. I drank water all day long at chemo (like 5000 cc), so I thought I would be okay.

Thanks again for all the encouragement. It means so much. I do plan on "hanging in there". The side effects are tolerable (not pleasant mind you), I just hope the chemo is doing the job it needs to do. In peace and caring.

Linda I hope you had a great trip to the Dominican Republic. Hope your treatment is still going well for you.

You can do this again
I think carbo/taxo is harder the second time; it is cumulative. I learned from my breast cancer years ago to ask for a sleep med from those steroids. It helps not to be so worn out. Sometimes ativan helps when you feel so agitated. It helps to keep your energy up and your mood up too. Sometimes I take antidepressants during chemo as chemo can drain your serotonin (chemicals that make you feel normal and good). Do you get pain from carbo?

You have been such a trooper and I too see a long remission ahead.
Take care of yourself. I am not pushing drugs but I found if I took these meds I could function better. I didn't have trouble stopping them. Chemo can be alot of suffering and it helps to treat the symptoms.

Love,
Diane

Songflower

Ro10 said:

Thanks for all the encouragement
Today is a better day than yesterday. I have been taking benadryl at night to help me sleep, and it makes the day so much better. Since I have been getting some sleep at night, I am not so tired (or emotional). The bowel issue is a little better now. When I have to go, though, I really have to go. The metallic taste is still there. I have tried lemon drops, licorice and other hard candy. I too read that using plastic utensils helps, but have not resorted to that yet.

Since each day gets a little better, I'll be ready to start over again in two weeks. I'll drink apple juice the day of chemo, so hopefully I can avoid the constipation issue. I drank water all day long at chemo (like 5000 cc), so I thought I would be okay.

Thanks again for all the encouragement. It means so much. I do plan on "hanging in there". The side effects are tolerable (not pleasant mind you), I just hope the chemo is doing the job it needs to do. In peace and caring.

Linda I hope you had a great trip to the Dominican Republic. Hope your treatment is still going well for you.

You can do this again
I think carbo/taxo is harder the second time; it is cumulative. I learned from my breast cancer years ago to ask for a sleep med from those steroids. It helps not to be so worn out. Sometimes ativan helps when you feel so agitated. It helps to keep your energy up and your mood up too. Sometimes I take antidepressants during chemo as chemo can drain your serotonin (chemicals that make you feel normal and good). Do you get pain from carbo?

You have been such a trooper and I too see a long remission ahead.
Take care of yourself. I am not pushing drugs but I found if I took these meds I could function better. I didn't have trouble stopping them. Chemo can be alot of suffering and it helps to treat the symptoms.

Love,
Diane

Songflower

Ro10 said:

Thanks for all the encouragement
Today is a better day than yesterday. I have been taking benadryl at night to help me sleep, and it makes the day so much better. Since I have been getting some sleep at night, I am not so tired (or emotional). The bowel issue is a little better now. When I have to go, though, I really have to go. The metallic taste is still there. I have tried lemon drops, licorice and other hard candy. I too read that using plastic utensils helps, but have not resorted to that yet.

Since each day gets a little better, I'll be ready to start over again in two weeks. I'll drink apple juice the day of chemo, so hopefully I can avoid the constipation issue. I drank water all day long at chemo (like 5000 cc), so I thought I would be okay.

Thanks again for all the encouragement. It means so much. I do plan on "hanging in there". The side effects are tolerable (not pleasant mind you), I just hope the chemo is doing the job it needs to do. In peace and caring.

Linda I hope you had a great trip to the Dominican Republic. Hope your treatment is still going well for you.

You can do this again
I think carbo/taxo is harder the second time; it is cumulative. I learned from my breast cancer years ago to ask for a sleep med from those steroids. It helps not to be so worn out. Sometimes ativan helps when you feel so agitated. It helps to keep your energy up and your mood up too. Sometimes I take antidepressants during chemo as chemo can drain your serotonin (chemicals that make you feel normal and good). Do you get pain from carbo?

You have been such a trooper and I too see a long remission ahead.
Take care of yourself. I am not pushing drugs but I found if I took these meds I could function better. I didn't have trouble stopping them. Chemo can be alot of suffering and it helps to treat the symptoms.

Love,
Diane

Songflower

Ro10 said:

Thanks for all the encouragement
Today is a better day than yesterday. I have been taking benadryl at night to help me sleep, and it makes the day so much better. Since I have been getting some sleep at night, I am not so tired (or emotional). The bowel issue is a little better now. When I have to go, though, I really have to go. The metallic taste is still there. I have tried lemon drops, licorice and other hard candy. I too read that using plastic utensils helps, but have not resorted to that yet.

Since each day gets a little better, I'll be ready to start over again in two weeks. I'll drink apple juice the day of chemo, so hopefully I can avoid the constipation issue. I drank water all day long at chemo (like 5000 cc), so I thought I would be okay.

Thanks again for all the encouragement. It means so much. I do plan on "hanging in there". The side effects are tolerable (not pleasant mind you), I just hope the chemo is doing the job it needs to do. In peace and caring.

Linda I hope you had a great trip to the Dominican Republic. Hope your treatment is still going well for you.

You can do this again
I think carbo/taxo is harder the second time; it is cumulative. I learned from my breast cancer years ago to ask for a sleep med from those steroids. It helps not to be so worn out. Sometimes ativan helps when you feel so agitated. It helps to keep your energy up and your mood up too. Sometimes I take antidepressants during chemo as chemo can drain your serotonin (chemicals that make you feel normal and good). Do you get pain from carbo?

You have been such a trooper and I too see a long remission ahead.
Take care of yourself. I am not pushing drugs but I found if I took these meds I could function better. I didn't have trouble stopping them. Chemo can be alot of suffering and it helps to treat the symptoms.

Love,
Diane

HellieC

Ro10 said:

Thanks for all the encouragement
Today is a better day than yesterday. I have been taking benadryl at night to help me sleep, and it makes the day so much better. Since I have been getting some sleep at night, I am not so tired (or emotional). The bowel issue is a little better now. When I have to go, though, I really have to go. The metallic taste is still there. I have tried lemon drops, licorice and other hard candy. I too read that using plastic utensils helps, but have not resorted to that yet.

Since each day gets a little better, I'll be ready to start over again in two weeks. I'll drink apple juice the day of chemo, so hopefully I can avoid the constipation issue. I drank water all day long at chemo (like 5000 cc), so I thought I would be okay.

Thanks again for all the encouragement. It means so much. I do plan on "hanging in there". The side effects are tolerable (not pleasant mind you), I just hope the chemo is doing the job it needs to do. In peace and caring.

Linda I hope you had a great trip to the Dominican Republic. Hope your treatment is still going well for you.

Thinking of you, Ro
Hi Ro
Just been catching up with all the posts over the past couple of days. I am so sorry you are having a worse time on the carbo/taxol second time around. I, too had trouble with constipation (no fun when you've got a colostomy like me!), and the lack of sleep. It really wears you down but hopefully by the time you read this, you will be coming up again and feeling more like your old self. Hang on in there, Ro - you will soon be back to NED. We're all here for you.
Kindest wishes
Helen

Kaleena

Ro10 said:

Thanks for all the encouragement
Today is a better day than yesterday. I have been taking benadryl at night to help me sleep, and it makes the day so much better. Since I have been getting some sleep at night, I am not so tired (or emotional). The bowel issue is a little better now. When I have to go, though, I really have to go. The metallic taste is still there. I have tried lemon drops, licorice and other hard candy. I too read that using plastic utensils helps, but have not resorted to that yet.

Since each day gets a little better, I'll be ready to start over again in two weeks. I'll drink apple juice the day of chemo, so hopefully I can avoid the constipation issue. I drank water all day long at chemo (like 5000 cc), so I thought I would be okay.

Thanks again for all the encouragement. It means so much. I do plan on "hanging in there". The side effects are tolerable (not pleasant mind you), I just hope the chemo is doing the job it needs to do. In peace and caring.

Linda I hope you had a great trip to the Dominican Republic. Hope your treatment is still going well for you.

Ro, just letting you know I
Ro, just letting you know I am thinking about you too. Hoping you are feeling great soon. Have you tried popsicles? Someone had told me to try that for the metallic taste.

Kathy

Ro10

Kaleena said:

Ro, just letting you know I
Ro, just letting you know I am thinking about you too. Hoping you are feeling great soon. Have you tried popsicles? Someone had told me to try that for the metallic taste.

Kathy

Thanks everyone for the suggestions
I am much better now. No more constipation. I have not needed the stool softeners anymore. I just drink my apple juice everyday, and that keeps me going. The metallic taste is better. Lemon drops seemed to help the most. I have not tried the popsicles, but will give them a try.

My sleeping is better. I tried Ativan a couple of nights when I could not sleep, but it did not seem to help. One night I took one and then an hour later took another because I was still awake and it still did not help.

My husband did want me to get an antidepressant when I was so emotional last weekend. But I knew I just needed sleep. I will certainly get something if I continue to be emotional, but since I have gotten sleep I am not as emotional.

My post chemo drugs are decadron 8mg (steroid) twice a day and compazine 10 mg (for nausea)twice a day for three days. I do get zofran, zantac, and chlorotrimeton as a pre chemo drug before both the taxol and the carbo. I get medicated before both chemo's as they both take much longer to go in. I do get decadron IV before they start anything. I don't get IV benadry, as the chorotrimeton lasts longer than the IV benadryl. So I don't get anything that makes me tired and want to sleep during chemo.

I feel like I did before I got the chemo. Which I am glad to be feeling good again. Hopefully my lab work will continue to be good. I will be ready for the next round on 3/15.

I have my good friend from IL here with her husband, so I will have great distraction for a week. I am so glad I feel well enough to enjoy their company.

Thank you everyone for you thoughts and concerns. I appreciate the advice and encouragement. You all make this journey so much easier. In peace and caring.

kkstef

Ro10 said:

Thanks everyone for the suggestions
I am much better now. No more constipation. I have not needed the stool softeners anymore. I just drink my apple juice everyday, and that keeps me going. The metallic taste is better. Lemon drops seemed to help the most. I have not tried the popsicles, but will give them a try.

My sleeping is better. I tried Ativan a couple of nights when I could not sleep, but it did not seem to help. One night I took one and then an hour later took another because I was still awake and it still did not help.

My husband did want me to get an antidepressant when I was so emotional last weekend. But I knew I just needed sleep. I will certainly get something if I continue to be emotional, but since I have gotten sleep I am not as emotional.

My post chemo drugs are decadron 8mg (steroid) twice a day and compazine 10 mg (for nausea)twice a day for three days. I do get zofran, zantac, and chlorotrimeton as a pre chemo drug before both the taxol and the carbo. I get medicated before both chemo's as they both take much longer to go in. I do get decadron IV before they start anything. I don't get IV benadry, as the chorotrimeton lasts longer than the IV benadryl. So I don't get anything that makes me tired and want to sleep during chemo.

I feel like I did before I got the chemo. Which I am glad to be feeling good again. Hopefully my lab work will continue to be good. I will be ready for the next round on 3/15.

I have my good friend from IL here with her husband, so I will have great distraction for a week. I am so glad I feel well enough to enjoy their company.

Thank you everyone for you thoughts and concerns. I appreciate the advice and encouragement. You all make this journey so much easier. In peace and caring.

Good news, Ro
Ro, I am so happy to hear that you feeling MUCH better! That is definitely good news!

Enjoy your company....Know you will have fun and that sure beats feeling crummy from chemo treatments.

You are a strong lady!!

Hugs, Karen

lociee

kkstef said:

Good news, Ro
Ro, I am so happy to hear that you feeling MUCH better! That is definitely good news!

Enjoy your company....Know you will have fun and that sure beats feeling crummy from chemo treatments.

You are a strong lady!!

Hugs, Karen

constipation
Hi Ro, I too suffer from constipation. What I have found helpful are the following: Probiotic All -Flora capsules; Psyllium Husks Veg Caps; and Swiss Kriss herbal laxative tabs. All can be found at local health food stores. I found with this combo that I didn't get the pain and cramps that regular laxative meds give. Everything seems more natural - Actually, I take these still daily - the Swiss Tabs I adjust as needed - sometimes 1 a day, sometimes just a half - and when things get stuck I take 1 am and 1 pm. I would recommend trying these. Especially the Probiotic All Flora Caps - they help digestion big time. Best to get regular and have a plan before you go back to chemo.
All the best!
Mia