Doctor making some tweaks for my 2nd chemo treatment.

Hang in there!  There are things to do for most side effects and it is important to remember it is temporary and you will find it follows a cycle.  There is usually a recovery period where side effects subside before going into the next cycle.  It is easier once you know there is light at the end of the tunnel.  Work with your doctors and don't give up.  It gets better.  Lots of encouragement to be had on this board as well.  We've been there!!  Hugs! - Helen

Annabella Rose said:

2nd treatment today

The IV went fine. Same as last time but hoping the nasty side effects don't show up on the third day like last time and then last 10 days before I was able to feel an improvement.

They gave my Decadron in my IV this time and Benadryl The Benadryl make me week and tired but hopefully all the little changes will make a difference, for the better!

 

i hope you do better with the side effects of your second chemo.  Try to keep hydrated.  The Benadryl does make many tired.  It never really made me tired because they then gave me steroids.  Hope this next week is a good week for you.  In peace and caring.

Annabella Rose said:

Thank you Ro, I am doing better on this 2nd round.

I don't know if it's because of the extra steroids added 2 days before then added to my IV the day of plus I'm taking 2 steroids every morning for the 5 mornings after the chemo. Plus he added the benadryl to my IV which he didn't do on the first round.

The nausea has been better plus no bone pain from the nulasta shot. I feel a bit nausea today but it might be because I haven't moved my bowls in 3 days. That's not normal for me.

Do you think the steroids can make you constipated? The Decadron.

The fatigue is very heavy and when I try walking around the house I get short of breath and feel so weak.

But for the most part I feel better this time, Thank God and counting my Blessings

Happy Easter Season to you and yours Ro!

I am so glad to hear that this time is going better. I am convinced that everything they give you causes constipation. I had chemo (Doxil ) 10 days ago with Decadron added thiis time and not last.  The constipation was a lot worse, but it took care of the rash I got last time.  Sometimes exstreme  fatigue and light headedness can be caused by dehydration.  For the 1st time i went in and they gave me 1 1/2 liters of fluid.  What a difference that made!  Keep it up.  It will continue to get better.  Lou Ann

Annabella Rose said:

Thank you Ro, I am doing better on this 2nd round.

I don't know if it's because of the extra steroids added 2 days before then added to my IV the day of plus I'm taking 2 steroids every morning for the 5 mornings after the chemo. Plus he added the benadryl to my IV which he didn't do on the first round.

The nausea has been better plus no bone pain from the nulasta shot. I feel a bit nausea today but it might be because I haven't moved my bowls in 3 days. That's not normal for me.

Do you think the steroids can make you constipated? The Decadron.

The fatigue is very heavy and when I try walking around the house I get short of breath and feel so weak.

But for the most part I feel better this time, Thank God and counting my Blessings

Happy Easter Season to you and yours Ro!

I too had the worst time my first chemo-it was just like yours Annabella -I think I was sick the whol 10 days-The 2nd treatment was better still not well but for less time-that Adivan or how ever you spell it-i get every two weeks-that normally makes me really bad but had it a couple of days ago and thank -god it wasn't that bad as the 1st. When I get chemo its for 2 days 5 hrs each-then wait 2 weeks-get that adivan chemo then wait 2 weeks and start all over. Do we just get use to it? or does our system get use to it. Happy Easter to all This may be my first holiday since oct 2014 that I won't be sick- I hopefully can go to church and go to eat. Praying for us all.

Hi Annabella Rose:

 Regarding the Decadron, I took it instead of the pre-steroid before they were going to administer the chemo they were going to give me because of my heart. It helped me better getting the Decadron.  Since getting off chemo the end of August of 2011 as I was diagnosed with Stage 1 of UPSC in February of 2011, I have been on heart medications for cholesterol since October of 2011, I am now taking Fenofibrate, Zetia and Welchol a powdered drink along with Metoprolol for high blood pressure. I was on Metoprolol going through chemo since I started that medication the end of 2007.

  The Decadron did work much better for me instead of the other steroid drug they were going to administer me. I did take the other steroid drug the first time, but after that I took the Decadron for the other 5 treatments of chemo.  I hope the Decadron works for you.

  I am now 4 years cancer free. I have one more year to get through.  I changed my diet and eating habits for the better. So far, so good with everything as I continue to remain with No evidence of disease. I am going for my cat scan this coming Wed., April 8th as I now go once a year for a scan since I did not have my lymph nodes removed during my hysterectomy as my Gyn did my surgery and not my oncologist. So I am keeping my fingers crossed that I continue to remain with No evidence of disease. 

  The cancer chemo treatments are doable as I had 6 of them which are the standard for UPSC. I wish you well with your treatments and good luck with everything. I made out pretty well with the chemo although I felt very fatigued and did not have an appetite after about 3 days after going through the chemo treatments as I had 2 meals a day instead of 3 for a few days and then my appetite returned. I lost 25 lbs just going through chemo.   It took me a long time to recover from all the treatments after everything was over with.  Being diagnosed with cancer does change your life and you learn to appreciate each and every day that you have and I consider it a gift to live each day and keep a postivie outlook that is what got my through everything.

Cheerful

a/k/a Jane

I haven't been on here in a few days, so I just saw your question today.  No, the Neulasta shot isn't absolutely necessary.  There is an alternative to it.  I refused it for two reasons.  One was that a co-worker of mine had taken it and claimed that it caused her to develop a bunch of benign tumors.  I don't really know why she had it, as she had kidney failure and didn't have cancer.  The second reason was that it has a risk of causing heart attacks.  I was asked to take the shot just a few days after my brother, who was five years younger than I, dropped dead. The medical examiner claimed he died from an MI even though no autopsy was done.  Autopsies on unwitnessed deaths aren't required in the state where he died (Maine) like they are in NY state where I live. I later found out there is a history of hemochromatosis on one side the family (I have it, too) and my father and his brothers all had heart attacks, and most of the males descended from them have also had heart attacks.  Hemochromatosis is a genetic condition that causes the body to store iron because it can't eliminate it.  The iron builds up in the body causing a lot of different symptoms and health problems including MI's.  Instead of having the shot, I had a blood transfusion for my chemo-induced anemia.  I know that has its own risks but it's worked for me.  I had stage IVb UPSC and I will be 5 years out from surgery next month.  I never had any bone pain with my chemo.  The only symptoms I had were extreme shortness of breath, which was probably caused in part by the hemochromatosis, and in part by the chemo-induced anemia, sores in the mouth for a few days, more frequent UTI's (I have had a history of them for many years), and a slight loss of appetite for a short time.  I was never nauseated since I was given Emend prior to chemo.  I'm really glad I skipped the shot, after seeing all the complaints about it on this website.