Update from Lou Ann

And that round #30 is completed.  Good for you.

Chris

Lou Ann - great to hear you were pain free today and congratulations on completion of chemo #30. I hope you have a wonderful weekend and continue being pain free!

Lou Ann, My heart is glad for your good news. The sun is coming out.

Moli - giving  thanks for no pain and hoping for NED.

Great news and hoping the pain free continues!

nancy

I had UTI's all through my chemo.  As soon as I got off the antibiotic, I developed another one.  My oncologist sent me to a urologist to see if something else was wrong.  I had a cystoscopy, but no kidney stones were found.  They were also looking for a "communication" (hole) between my urethra and vagina or even one between my vagina and my digestive tract, but none was found.   I usually have two or three UTI's every year anyway.  I guess the constant ones I had during chemo must have been from my immune system being compromised by the chemo.  Hope you don't get another one after you treat this one.  

unknown said:

My first

I though I just had bladder irritatiton, but messaged my drs nurse Friday, she replied that I was to get a UA just to make sure it wasn't a UTI.  Messaged my primary dr's nurse for the UA, she set up a lab that I could do on my lunch hour, later in the day, logged back in to my portal and found it was indeed a UTI.  They had already sent the pharmacy a prescription, and I'm doing much better today (well except for the mouth sore).  I'm hoping I don't follow up with more.  Thanks for the knowledge. 

On the other hand, isn't technology great.  I didn't have to wait on the phone for any of this.  Patient portals with doctors seem to get as much done as playing phone tag.  Hugs Nancy

They can give you a rinse for your mouth sores. I only had one and it was painful!

You may already know this but didn't want to assume and then you stay in pain for nothing!

Love and Hugs,

Cindi

Editgrl said:

Must be the week

for UTI's.  I did indeed have a UTI only it wasn't a bladder infection, it was a kidney infection.  Yikes!  Ended up in the ER Thursday night getting IV antibiotics, pain meds and then anti-nausea stuff.  By the time I left the ER, I actually felt worse than when I went in.  Luckily, the next morning I felt better, but...  I'm getting Cipro.  Has anyone had this stuff?  After I got home and pulled out the pamphlet for this stuff, I found out that one of the potential side effects is tendon rupture or tendonitis.  And this could occur months after taking it.  What?!!   If I had known that before they began pumping it into me, I might have asked if they could give me something else.  Guess I won't be doing a lot of exercising for the next few weeks.  Don't really want to complain, but it's also wreaking havoc with my digestive system, just as things were getting back to normal.  I know antibiotics can be wonderful, but I hate what they can do to your body while they're working.

I hope you are much better today Chris. I'm with you, I read side effects before I take anything these days. In fact, the Gabapentin(sp) that my Radiologist gave me to try for my vulvadynia has Dementia listed as a side effect. My Mom had Alzheimer's so I opted not to use it. Way too afraid of anything that can impact my brain if I can avoid it.

Speaking of stuff occurring later.... My neuropothy is getting more painful now as my numbness is wearing off.  My toes, heels and the top of my left foot hurts like crazy. I can't put any pressure on to top of my foot and stretching my achiles tendon really hurts. My legs are also more achy now. I have been using the elyptical instead of the brisk walking I was doing in hopes that would be easier on them but it doesn't seem to make a difference. On a good note: my breathing has improved a lot and I can go 20 minutes at 4.5 - 5.0 MPH. That is huge progress! I should post this on the chemo thread! Copy Paste in the works!

Love and Hugs,

Cindi

EZLiving66 said:

Cindi, I'm the same way - I

Cindi, I'm the same way - I read the side effects of everything. I took the Gabapentin for the night foot pain.  The muscles around my eyes had been spasming from chemo but the Gabapentin made it a LOT worse.  I looked up side effects and sure enough, muscle spasms of the eyes were listed.  But, the good thing was that as soon as I stopped taking it, ALL the spasming stopped so.....I guess it cured that - LOL!!  I know even asprin can kill but after what we've all been through with side effects of chemo, I don't think we can be too careful!  I just looked again at Taxotere to see if losing fingernails is listed and I see it now is along with permanent hair loss - but they didn't add that until December of 2015, after I was done.  Who knows what the long term side effects of this stuff is or when used in combination?

Love,

Eldri

I have been taking Gabapentin for over a year due to the neuropathy; the alternative is just too much pain. About 1/3 of my feet from toes back is numb but with lots of pain. If I miss a dose I really know it. I don't like taking anything more than I need but!!! I tried Lyrica and that was a disaster. About the only thing that really helps is a warm blanket on my feet. I am sitting at the computer with a hotpad on the floor turned on low. I just discovered doing this and it is great. Necessity is the mother of invention. I'm two years post chemo and the feet do not get better. Not significantly worse but are definitely the gift that keeps on giving from chemo. I also have a really sore and sometime swollen spot on the top of my left foot. Other than that I'm fine and feel good. No dementia just short term memory called CRS(can't remember sh&*)

Joanne

joannewtta said:

Gabapentin

I have been taking Gabapentin for over a year due to the neuropathy; the alternative is just too much pain. About 1/3 of my feet from toes back is numb but with lots of pain. If I miss a dose I really know it. I don't like taking anything more than I need but!!! I tried Lyrica and that was a disaster. About the only thing that really helps is a warm blanket on my feet. I am sitting at the computer with a hotpad on the floor turned on low. I just discovered doing this and it is great. Necessity is the mother of invention. I'm two years post chemo and the feet do not get better. Not significantly worse but are definitely the gift that keeps on giving from chemo. I also have a really sore and sometime swollen spot on the top of my left foot. Other than that I'm fine and feel good. No dementia just short term memory called CRS(can't remember sh&*)

Joanne

LOL, Joanne!!  I also have some of that CRS - I've become the queen of lists (then I lose my list).  I am lucky - both my feet, especially my toes, are numb which really affects my balance but most of the pain is gone.  My left hip is what is still bothering me.  Between the balance issue and the pain in the hip, I am VERY careful when I walk especially when I first get up or there's ice.  As you said "the gift that keeps on giving from chemo."

Please keep posting!!!  It's so inspiring that you have gone to NED and are living a good life.  I NEED to see what is possible.

Love,

Eldri