Bad Day

It will get Better
Oh, Nancy, I hate that you are having such a bad time. I can tell you in my experience the second round went much better. I bet yours will, too. I would think something could be for your symptoms, though. Maybe our sisters here will have some ideas. In the meantime, it will get better. You know how they say take it one day at a time? With my first chemo, I was trying for an hour, even minutes at a time. I would say to myself you will get through this. Didn't relieve the misery, but reminded me this too shall pass.

Thanks for the compliment on my hair. My hair stylist told me firmly that most people won't know it's a wig and that I should think of it as my hair, just a temporary hairstyle. Still working on that one.

I am terribly worried, too, about Mimi. She posted from her infusion on 01/02, and that was the last we've heard. She had said she would ask her oncologist lots of questions (we are bot triple negative) and get back to me. You know she would do that if something were not happening. I am just praying for her and checking for posts.

You hang in there, ok? It will get better, and you will make it through every last treatment. And we are all entitled to a pity party sometimes. Who else understands better than us here?

I am praying for you, Nancy. We all need Mike's Sunshine.

Moopy23 said:

It will get Better
Oh, Nancy, I hate that you are having such a bad time. I can tell you in my experience the second round went much better. I bet yours will, too. I would think something could be for your symptoms, though. Maybe our sisters here will have some ideas. In the meantime, it will get better. You know how they say take it one day at a time? With my first chemo, I was trying for an hour, even minutes at a time. I would say to myself you will get through this. Didn't relieve the misery, but reminded me this too shall pass.

Thanks for the compliment on my hair. My hair stylist told me firmly that most people won't know it's a wig and that I should think of it as my hair, just a temporary hairstyle. Still working on that one.

I am terribly worried, too, about Mimi. She posted from her infusion on 01/02, and that was the last we've heard. She had said she would ask her oncologist lots of questions (we are bot triple negative) and get back to me. You know she would do that if something were not happening. I am just praying for her and checking for posts.

You hang in there, ok? It will get better, and you will make it through every last treatment. And we are all entitled to a pity party sometimes. Who else understands better than us here?

I am praying for you, Nancy. We all need Mike's Sunshine.

A Me Day
Nancy,
I am sorry you are having a down day. With all you are going through, it is going to happen. Your hormones are being assaulted, you have cancer, you are doing treatment, all that stuff just piles up sometimes. And yes, getting up and out and exercise can help. Before I ever had cancer I would have ME DAYS. A friend told me about them. They are a day. It could be once a week, once a month whatever when you do exactly what you want. For her it was genealogy. She would not answer the door, the phone and she would just do her research. She did them when her kids were in school and I was her school contact person that day. She did this one day a week. We all knew not to call or bother (barring a crisis) her. She said it was good for her soul. I started doing them once a month and she was my contact for my daughter. For me it was a 1/2 day at a spa. Massage, manicure, pedicure, facial. It was glorious. So when I got cancer the first time I did ME DAYS but they were different. Sometimes it involved my hubby, a friend, relative or me alone but the day was mine. We did exactly what I wanted, shopping, sleeping, spa, crying whatever but it was about me. They were sporadic. Not as often as daily but more than monthly. I would just tell them that I needed the day for me. One day I remember asking my husband to just go out for the day (which was good for him too) and I sat and wept and ranted and got mad at the world but after I felt better. Another time it was a trip to the zoo. I rode the merry go round and train that I had ridden as a child. I know that with treatments going places can be hard but on those good days, think about something you really want to do and do it. And know that we all have our pity parties and that's okay.
ANd Moopy, your hair looks adorable. I would never have known it was a wig if I hadn't seen the before picture. It is a good quality and very flattering.
To all my sisters and brothers, I hope that each day is a little brighter, a little better and filled with peace.

Stef

Derbygirl said:

Hope your bad days are fewer
Hope your bad days are fewer and far between as times goes on. It's a difficult time during chemo from being exhausted to feeling sick to being anxious to worrying about everything. I found that a distraction or something to keep me busy helped keep me from thinking about b.c. all of the time. It also helped to visit this network 24/7 especially when I didn't want to get out of my robe and fuzzy slippers. Be sure to drink lots of water, eat small, frequent meals and rest often and hopefully you will feel better soon.

i am so sorry about your bad
i am so sorry about your bad day. all of us have had bad days that have PUT US INTO A MAJOR FUNK. remember tomorrow is another day. chemo is tough. it is perfectly normal for you to have days like this. i support you 100%. hope you are feeling better tomorrow. love peggy

seof said:

good advice
you have gotten good advice from others. I would add this: I hope you have someone who has asked you "what can I do to help?" Days like this are when you should let them know. Call and ask for whatever you feel like you need. Let them help you have a "me day". If you don't have the energy to call someone, make a list of stuff you wish you had and call them when you feel a little better...maybe you wish you had something to eat or drink, maybe you wish you had a good movie to watch or a good book to read, maybe a book on tape if you are not up to reading. Maybe you could get someone to drive for you to take you to sit in a park, or even to drive through the park and watch other people sitting there. Any change of scenery and a little fresh air can help. If you don't have someone you know to call, try the local ACS, they have folks who can help with things like this. One day I sat in front of the mirror and gave myself makeovers...with no hair, eyebrows, or eyelashes I had a new look whether I wanted it or not, why not experiment and be bold and daring...new colors, etc? Some of it looked like a cross between a clown and a prostitute, but in the end I found a new look that worked. ACS can put you in touch with "Look Good, Feel Better", a group that meets just to support cancer survivors for that purpose.

Just remember...it's temporary! Hope it gets better soon. seof

Hang in there, Nancy!
As Moopy said in her reply, the second round has gone a lot better than the first. We had a meeting with a nurse practitioner 10 days after Moopy's first infusion. Moopy basically attacked (in her polite, charming way) the nurse practitioner with questions and concerns about how her pain meds were and weren't working. I hope you get to have a meeting with your oncologist and/or nurse practitioner midway through your first round. If not, DEMAND ONE! You should *not* have to be suffering like this. Hoping all gets better, and soon!

Joe

Oh Nancy, I remember those
Oh Nancy, I remember those days so well. There where times I couldn't get my head up off the pillow. But trust me you will feel better. This is just your hormones wreaking havoc on your body. Do try to get out when the weather is nice. It does do you good. And....rest when you're tired. Your body is fighting the battle of its life. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Thinking of you. Hugs, Lili

dbs1673 said:

funk
I know we all get into these ruts. Sometimes we even know why: hearing the diagnosis, the surgery, the treatments. It's kind of a relief when there is something to make these feelings rational. The truth is there doesn't need to be a rational or logical explanation. I finished my radiation in October. I'm waiting not so patiently to get rid of the expanders and trade them in for the implants. Yesterday and today I feel I'm in an aweful funk,worse yet I don't have the feeling that tomorrow will be better or the day after that....why? no reason! I really don't want pity or everyone focused on me but there needs to be a balance to where I can say I'm not over this yet. It's like being on a merry go round that I can't get off.

So sorry
So sorry you are having a bad day, Nancy. As everyone here has said, we all go through it. I had a bad spell myself and stayed away from the boards a bit. This being sick, weak and tired just gets so damn frustrating. Who needs it? I want my old life back, and I'm sure many of us feel the same way. So rant away; it is healthy, and we are right here with you feeling the same frustration. In a way, each of us is alone with her struggles, but we can be there for each other, too.

Not to make this thread about me, but I am sorry I made anyone here worry. I would not have stayed away had I known. Moopy, I sent you a private message about the questions I asked my doctor regarding the triple negative article. I will re-send if you didn't get it. So, for all of us having bad days, let's all hang in there. I promise I will if you will, Nancy.

Mimi

mimivac said:

Good for you
Just wanted to add that I think it's great that you walked outside for 5 minutes. That is no small thing -- especially when all we want to do is stay in bed. I have had days on the couch, so I know! Those 5 minutes will soon turn into 10, then 15, until you are back to your old self.

Mimi

So glad you are back
So glad you are back. You were missed. You are absolutely right that 5 minutes is a good start. And we all know that sometimes we need to pull away for whatever reason. Just glad you are back on. You have good insights into this and your input is always appreciated.
Stef

So sorry
Nancy, I am so sorry that you are feeling down and tired. I always regained some energy after the second week after each treatment. I also did a lot of crying during treatment and for about a year after. I would cry at the drop of a hat and often for no reason. I too was premenopausal and maybe your docs are right about the hormones idea. Its been almost 3 years and I'm still more emotional than I was before the cancer.

But anyway, please know that what you are feeling is normal and we all have either been there or are going through it. We care and are here for you. You will get through this and you will be ok. I wish you did not have to go throught it at all though. Please keep us posted and perhaps tomorrow you will be able to take a bit longer of a walk. The fresh air is such a mood lifter. Take care, we love you!

fauxma said:

So glad you are back
So glad you are back. You were missed. You are absolutely right that 5 minutes is a good start. And we all know that sometimes we need to pull away for whatever reason. Just glad you are back on. You have good insights into this and your input is always appreciated.
Stef

Thanks, Stef
It's good to be here. I'm now back to wasting time at work posting. I always know I'm feeling better when I do that.

Mimi

mimivac said:

Thanks, Stef
It's good to be here. I'm now back to wasting time at work posting. I always know I'm feeling better when I do that.

Mimi

Me too. Breaks and lunch
Me too. Breaks and lunch mostly. By the way, cute picture, or rather pretty woman. When everyone was commenting on the new picture I still had the old one coming up but today this one is here. You are just lovely.
Stef