Reconstruction/ Newbe here!

salls41 said:

Hi, sorry you are going through all of this. My chemo was TAC every 3 weeks for 6 treatments. So I won't say much other than when you think you can't do it, dig down deep and take a deep breath and know that you really can and we are here to help.Drink lots of fluids and eat when you can. I found small bites of stuff throughout the day was better than full plates of food at meal times worked for me.
I am in the inflating process of my reconstruction and for me it is more painful than my mastectomy was but again, I dig deep and tell myself I can do it! My advice is take ibuprofen before your appointments! Lots of pillows to sleep with to keep you from rolling over on them, and if your plastic surgeon okays it, massage massage massage!
{{{Hugs}}}
Sandy

Tutti said:

Great Tips!
Thank you so much for all the great tips.......I have been buying all of the OTC items getting ready. Got to love the Wally World! When I have my meeting with the Onco nurse before my first treatment and will have a list of questions.

Sandy, I will check with the PS if massage is OK....... can't see why not. The Motrin will be taken prior to inflation.

I know this will be tough but I will get through it the best that I can.

It's wonderful to know you will all be hear with me....

Susan

VickiSam said:

just my experience, my opinion
Chemo is not just physically depleting, it wreaks havoc with our
hormonal/emotional self as well.

My fatigue was cumulative; I ended up experiencing a form of exhaustion I didn't
know was possible, and I was convinced I was trapped in an episode of the
Twilight Zone, never to re-emerge as a normal, healthy woman!


You may be physically and emotionally EXHAUSTED from Chemo -- it happens
to many of us, but not all.

Chemo is so powerful, and its powerful job is to kill the beast! Hang in there,
and know that the side effects will not be with you forever!

==============

First of all, it is okay to be anxious of the unknown -- Please don't allow this
anxiety to get the best of you. Remember to alert your Onco RN of any unusual
feelings etc .. a list of possible side efforts, which should be presented to
you before your first chemo infusion.


It is so important to remain and continue hydration, water - water, and more
water. Splash in a little lemonade, cranberry juice -- or prepackaged crystal
light, or Lipton Tea. Herbal Tea's also work for a change of pace.

If you are getting the neulasta shot -- Please ask your Oncologist about taking
a benadryl --
or claritin -- which many of us === swear by -- as they help alleviate that
'just run over by a truck' aches and pains - some of us experience from the
neulasta shot.

Ask for prescriptions for nausea and vomiting -- as well as diarrhea.

Plastic silverware is a must ---
biotin toothpaste and mouthwash is a daily essential
(available at most Target's or Walmart's)

Food is subjective -- depending on your personal needs and taste buds .. What
taste good or was tolerable 1 week -- changed for me, the very next. I could not
tolerate any foods with sugar, i.e. ketchup, or cola's.

To help prevent mouth sores -- suck on ice chips during all chemo treatments.

Rest when you can, as some chemo queens have bouts of insomnia ---

Take goodies to entertain yourself during your infusions -- games, books,
friend, a snack, IPOD, laptop ...

Strength, Courage and Hope.

Vicki Sam

Kitty545 said:

Hi Tutti,
I just joined. I
Hi Tutti,

I just joined. I had bi-lateral mastectomies done in May with reconstruction during the same proceedure (implants under the muscle--not expanders). I too had breast cancer on both sides of my family and felt fully prepared to have a mastectomy. I also had to have all my lymph nodes removed under my arm. Everything has healed really well and I'm pleased with the results. I don't live in the US but I think the protocols are very similiar. I have now gone through two sessions (of a six course treatment plan) of chemo, then I will start 30 days of radiation and be on Tamoxifin for seven years provided it doesn't recur and there is a 50% chance of recurrance with the type of tumor I had.

Per dealing with the treatments I have been prescribed steroids which I take the night before the chemo to reduce water retention and then again the next day and that evening. Sometimes people don't sleep when they take this: Dexamethason--but I have found if I take a couple mg. of melatonin that I sleep just fine. Then the day of the chemo I take a 120 mg. of aprepitant (Emend) and 8 mg. of ondansetron. Both of these drugs prevent nausia. I am receiving an IV half an hour before my treatment starts to supress vomiting --it works really well. It takes about three hours in total for me to receive the chemo and I haven't experienced any real side-effects. I still work every day, I have no exhaustion and no nausia. After the chemo I have two other drugs to prevent vomiting--but I haven't even experienced slight nausia in fact after the first treatment I was able to go out to dinner with my husband and shopping--so really I am amazed at how they can control side-effects. I have changed my diet as well just to add some benefit. This week I will have my third treatment. Have you had your first treatment? How did it go?

Best wishes,

Kitty