day two after chemo...hydrating, and a question

Hi Lindy,

Yes, communicating your ever-changing experience can be draining, and any way you might reply to inquiries is the right way!! It's also okay to elect someone else to do the talking for you. People will naturally want to convey their care and concern for you and will do it in any number of ways. I always liked it when people just asked "what can I do?" I also loved cards. Well, come to think of it, there were lots of responses to my illness that made me feel loved. For those who have not yet heard the difficult news, it is hard to decide when and how to tell them about the cancer. Maybe you don't feel like talking about it or answering a lot of questions and that's okay too! It is the same with any bad news. I just had this experience when my father died a couple of months ago.

Drinking fluids became another daily job. I bought a glass bottle at The Container Store that held 48 ounces and made sure I emptied that bottle twice every day. I also ordered gigantic straws online.

Take care of yourself and do whatever you need to for your self!-jane

Answering questions and telling those who don't know can be hard indeed.  It kind of depended on who was asking as to how much I told people.  Since I love to talk and found it to be kind of theraputic, I,was,usually pretty open with must people as to what was going on.  If treatment wasn't going very well I would usually say that I was surviving.  If it was someone who was just Being social, I would just say I was fine.  After four years, I still occasionally run into someone who has no idea and sometimes that is awkward.  I think I also like best,when people just ask what they can do.   Even though we all seem to like being independent and don't want to admit we may need a little help, an offer of help is generous and is ok to except.  It also makes the other person feel good.

at the very beginning i ask several good freinds to put me on their church's prayer chains.  I do occasionally put updates on Facebook.

hugs and prayers, Lou Ann

I was very open with my family esspeciallly at first.  They knew right when i found out.  I knew i would need there help so i told them a lot.  Friends it took me longer to tell, esecially the ones who i didnt know as well.  I eventually told my neighbors and i was glad.  At one point I told them to not be surrised if i come outside bald.  I havent done it yet mostly now because its getting colder.  Im sure it has to do with me feeling a bit uncomfortable too.  I go bald all the time in my house.  The telling people is a hard thing to figure out but i have confidence that you will figure out what is best for you.  Be patient with your self and as other have told me, trust your gut. You will do great!!!!

NoTimeForCancer said:

I'm with you Lou Ann. I was

I'm with you Lou Ann. I was pretty open with anyone who asked - I saw it as way to talk about these 'below the belt' cancers to people who wouldn't normally ask and may not know anyone with one of ours.  I told them they could ask me anything they wanted too.  

Be cautious around day 3-4, with the chemo the first that is when it hit me.  I think it was because my body said, "what is this?!"  The body and joint aches were never that bad on subsequent chemos.  I don't say that to scare you  - you keep doing what you are doing girl!  LindyLu - you are going to do this!

But since NoTime brought it up, I'll 2nd what she said. All through treatments the side effects didn't hit me until the 3rd or 4th day after the infusion. Chemo days were always the easy part. It would start with things seeming a little off balance with increasing fatigue and progressed to the other issues that vary from person to person. Be sure to call your chemo nurses with anything you have a hard time with right away because they can help you cope with them and will tell your oncologist who can make adjustments to your drugs or how they are given for future treatments to get you through this. Don't think you have to soldier through any suffering. And drink, drink, drink, but think twice about acidic drinks like cranberry juice because they can exacerbate any heartburn or mucocitis side effects.  Be gentle with your digestive system because the chemo really does a number on it.

So far my husband has been doing all of the talking to friends and family for me. It's therapeutic for him and lets me think about things other than what I'm fighting when I don't have to. He has so been my hero! 

Like the other ladies, I found several days out was when the effects hit me.  Water water water and more water helped me.  I lived on watermelon and cool whip. This is my last chemo and the illness started on the same day and I have felt worse this time than any other infusion.  BUT this is the last one so I can handle it.  

I don't know why, but other than close family and select few friends, I have spoken to no one about the disease.  I have sort of dropped out of circulation.  Not interested in a lot of gushing and platitudes.  Gosh I sound hard, but I am not.  Just the way it felt more comfortable.  

brissance said:

Glad you Feel Well

Like the other ladies, I found several days out was when the effects hit me.  Water water water and more water helped me.  I lived on watermelon and cool whip. This is my last chemo and the illness started on the same day and I have felt worse this time than any other infusion.  BUT this is the last one so I can handle it.  

I don't know why, but other than close family and select few friends, I have spoken to no one about the disease.  I have sort of dropped out of circulation.  Not interested in a lot of gushing and platitudes.  Gosh I sound hard, but I am not.  Just the way it felt more comfortable.  

I forgot about how good watermelon tasted when nothing else did and how it helped to tame the heartburn beast when it reared its ugly head. It's got to be in season somewhere so you can try it if the need arises! 

I so get what you're saying about dropping out of circulation Patti. My white counts always tanked until just before the next cycle, so I even avoided church and grocery shopping and I've never been one for gabbing on the phone and reliving the details over and over again.  I've been a real houseplant except for dr. appts. and testing. Last night was my first outing with my husband, who also doesn't like me to drive alone still, to the grocery store. It was as much as my feet could take as the neuropathy still persists.

How are you feeling today, LL?

LindyLu said:

Doing well...

Five days out and doing quite well.  A few little "niggles" but nothing too bad.  I went to church yesterday, then came home for a long nap!  I try to take a walk every day which helps.   Thanks for asking...LL

SOOOOOOOOO Happy for you!

So great to hear this! Hope for your continued wellness throughout all of this!

Yea, with hope that all your treatments will be the same.