Update on Joanne

floridajo
floridajo Member Posts: 480
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
Hello ladies,
I know I haven't been on the board alot lately,I have not been feeling up to much of anything lately. I'm currently on Navelbine,which is by far the worse chemo I have ever been on!! As a matter of fact I told the Onc I needed off for a bit to regain some strength and weight. Since this remission was only 9 weeks from the previous chemo my Onc decided to drain the ascites(3650cc) and start the Navelbine for 9 cycles then start on Tamoxifen to try to keep my in remission longer than 9 weeks. Well I was only able to complete 4 cycles of navelbine. I have lost so much weight (I'm down to 99lbs from 139) I'm so sick.Unable to keep most food down and I have no appetite either. I have tried 4 different nausea meds with no relief seen. I have had extra fluids with potassium and magnesium given..I feel better when they do that but only for a day or two. It has been 17 days since my last chemo and I'm still having nausea. I went in Friday and had IV Kytril given with some potassium. I was barely able to make it inside to the toilet before I got sick.
So since the only reason for the navelbine was to stop and dry up the ascites I asked my Onc if it would hurt me to stop the Navelbine,take a 3 week break and then start the oral chemo. He said he felt it would be ok. My last ca-125 was 15..we will have a ct scan before I start the Tamoxifen so we know exactly what is going on inside me. This has been a very difficult time for me....I usually breeze through chemo,so being so sick really had me down in the dumps for awhile. I still don't feel like doing anything but sleeping...but at least I can look forward to feeling better here soon. I know prayer helps alot and have been praying for relief son,as well as my prayers for all the ladies I know fighting through this disease. So I'm actually aksing for some prayers extra prayer ladies...I thank you all from the bottom of my heart. I hope we all have a magical Christmas and a pain/disease free New Year...(((hugz)))~~~Joanne

Comments

  • Lauracec
    Lauracec Member Posts: 101
    #2
    I will be praying for you
    Dear Joanne,

    My heart goes out to you. this sounds like a difficult time. I will pray that you are feeling better soon and that even though you were not able to finish all treatments of the navilbine that it will have done some good and not just caused bad symtoms. God bless you, Laura
  • carol2dogs
    carol2dogs Member Posts: 132
    #3
    Hope relief comes very soon
    Joanne,
    I'm so sorry this has been so very rough on you. I hope you start feeling better very soon and that the CT scan shows not much of any signs of cancer. I'll certainly be praying for you.
    Lots and lots of hugs!
    Carol
  • mopar
    mopar Member Posts: 1,972 Member
    #4
    PRAYING UNCEASINGLY
    Sorry to hear you are going through so much, JoAnn. I suppose it's not the appropriate time to give food suggestions - if you can't hold it down, you can't hold it down. Have you tried anti-nausea suppositories? I would imagine you've tried just about everything, but there always seems to be something else out there. That's a horrible amount of weight loss. This means you're losing mostly muscle, and that takes a real toll on your body.

    So, I will pray that the CT scan gives you positive feedback. I will pray that your body will allow you to eat something so that you can gain strength to get through this phase. And I will pray that the Lord will provide you with unending strength and hope through all of this.

    In His Care, with Luv, Hugs and Prayers,
    Monika

    'weeping endures for a night, but joy comes in the morning!'
  • groundeffect
    groundeffect Member Posts: 639 Member
    #5
    Hi Joanne,
    I'll pray for
    Hi Joanne,

    I'll pray for you, and hope you will regain some of your weight so you can enjoy a most magical Christmas!

    Hugs,

    Sue
  • ladyjogger31
    ladyjogger31 Member Posts: 289
    #6
    Prayer
    Hi Joanne,
    I am very certain that you are making the right decision with this harsh chemo today. Our body can take just so much. You absolutely need a break and a chance to let your body recover some strength. I pray that everything will be okay with you. Get a rest and continue with the treatment after that. God does do miracles. Have a nice Christmas and a Happy Healthy New Year! May 2009 be our year for HOPE along with all the rest of our OVCA sisters.I will be praying for you.
    Hugs and Prayers,
    Terry
  • saundra
    saundra Member Posts: 1,370 Member
    #7
    Prayers coming your way
    Joanne, I am so sorry that this time of year you are feeling so sick. I will pray that next week will be much better for you and that you will be able to gain a little weight and have NO nausea. I will be lifting you up for strength and comfort. Let's just get through this one day at a time. Let us know as often as you can specific things we can pray for. I'm lending you my strength, take it, use it, feel it... imagine it coming directly to you. Saundra
  • kayandok
    kayandok Member Posts: 1,202 Member
    #8
    Dear Joanne
    Sending prayers for support, strength and courage to you today. May you feel God's loving arms around you and supporting you.
    Glad to hear you can take a break from the chemo.
    Wish I could send along some of my body weight too.....
    Warm teal hugs,
    kathleen
  • BonnieR
    BonnieR Member Posts: 1,526 Member
    #9
    Prayers
    Dearest Joanne

    It makes my heart sad to read how you are struggling on the navelbine ~ I would think a break is in order or a different therapy. The suppositories are good idea, as you don't throw them up and they can actually do some good. Also I get aloxi via IV and then do the 3 day emmend, I was throwing up on the carbo last year before I started the 3 day emmend and that really stopped it. Still nauseated but didn't throw up.

    I hope you feel all the prayers and support from us all. Please rest and relax in them ~ we got you :-) and will each carry you together with our prayers and love until you post "I am feeling much better".

    So sending buckets of teal hugs ♥ prayers. Bonnie

    PS Congratulations on the low CA125 "15" is an awesome number!!
  • floridajo
    floridajo Member Posts: 480
    #10
    Thank you all
    Ladies I wanted to thank you all for your prayers and strength. This is a really tough time on me. The weirdest thing about all this nausea is that all my labs are normal!! You would think my electrolytes and blood counts be down but their not. On paper I look wonderful!! Anyway I'm also looking into maybe it's not the chemo,maybe it's something intestinal instead?? We'll see. I had a really bad day yesterday,vomiting and diarrhea into the wee hours of the night!! Thanks again ladies sending you all (((hugz))) and rainbows~~Joanne
  • TracieK
    TracieK Member Posts: 45
    #11
    floridajo said:

    Thank you all
    Ladies I wanted to thank you all for your prayers and strength. This is a really tough time on me. The weirdest thing about all this nausea is that all my labs are normal!! You would think my electrolytes and blood counts be down but their not. On paper I look wonderful!! Anyway I'm also looking into maybe it's not the chemo,maybe it's something intestinal instead?? We'll see. I had a really bad day yesterday,vomiting and diarrhea into the wee hours of the night!! Thanks again ladies sending you all (((hugz))) and rainbows~~Joanne

    Praying for you!
    Joanne,

    Please remember that the lord is with you. My prayers include you. I will send several messages up today and in the days to come. I hope this break gives you relief from the continual nausea, and that this season of the lord brings you some peace. I will also include in my prayer a wish for some rest for you. You must be exhausted.

    Thoughts and prayers to you,

    Tracie
  • MichaelaMarie
    MichaelaMarie Member Posts: 163
    #12
    TracieK said:

    Praying for you!
    Joanne,

    Please remember that the lord is with you. My prayers include you. I will send several messages up today and in the days to come. I hope this break gives you relief from the continual nausea, and that this season of the lord brings you some peace. I will also include in my prayer a wish for some rest for you. You must be exhausted.

    Thoughts and prayers to you,

    Tracie

    Tests?
    Dear Joanne,

    I'm so sorry to hear how sick you have been! Have they done a PET scan yet? Also, to your point about the possibility that it could be something else, what about your gallbladder? Your symptoms sound so much like every one that I've known that has had a 'bad' gallbladder. I'm thinking of you too, and hoping that the next time you post the news will be better!!!!!
    Take good care, with love and hugs, MM
  • floridajo
    floridajo Member Posts: 480
    #13
    MichaelaMarie said:

    Tests?
    Dear Joanne,

    I'm so sorry to hear how sick you have been! Have they done a PET scan yet? Also, to your point about the possibility that it could be something else, what about your gallbladder? Your symptoms sound so much like every one that I've known that has had a 'bad' gallbladder. I'm thinking of you too, and hoping that the next time you post the news will be better!!!!!
    Take good care, with love and hugs, MM

    I have never thought of gall
    I have never thought of gall bladder problems. I usually thought there was pain associated with it as that was what my Mom went through. A stange thing is there has always been a larger than normal size hepatic/gall bladder vein on all my tests that I have had them look into and they never find anything wrong...who knows though?? I will bring this up to my Onc. I'm happy to report that the nausea is easing up a bit..now it seems to be only once a day..the other problem is I have no appetite...but I seem to be staying steady at 98lbs...so maybe the worse is over and I'll get better from now on. Thanks for the prayers and advice~~~Joanne
  • ColleenN
    ColleenN Member Posts: 73
    #14
    floridajo said:

    I have never thought of gall
    I have never thought of gall bladder problems. I usually thought there was pain associated with it as that was what my Mom went through. A stange thing is there has always been a larger than normal size hepatic/gall bladder vein on all my tests that I have had them look into and they never find anything wrong...who knows though?? I will bring this up to my Onc. I'm happy to report that the nausea is easing up a bit..now it seems to be only once a day..the other problem is I have no appetite...but I seem to be staying steady at 98lbs...so maybe the worse is over and I'll get better from now on. Thanks for the prayers and advice~~~Joanne

    not always painful
    Joanne,
    Having a non functioning gall bladder isn't always painful. I think that might be more if there are stones. I had mine out a few years ago, and the only symptoms I had were kind of like the stomach flu. I'd feel queasy and just generally "icky". When they finally did some tests, mine was down to 10% functioning. I just about flipped when the doctor said that they usually take it out at 40% functioning. Good luck!

    Colleen

Discussion Boards