just wondering

ohilly said:

answering your questions
Rjjj, I'll try to answer your questions, but it's probably different for different people: 1.) taste buds - I would say this only took a few weeks to return to normal for me. 2.) I have had major problems with my hair: my hair didn't start growing back AT ALL until 2 months after chemo. At first you see a lot of tiny white hairs, then it will probably come back curly or gray. Unfortunately, in my case, my formerly thick hair came back thinner on the front and top (many aromatase inhibitors will thin your hair). My solution was to go to a good hairstylist to highlight it and camouflage the thinness. I have heard (but no personal experience to tell you yet) that taking Biotin helps with the regrowth. There is also a shampoo you can buy in any store called Nizoral which is the only shampoo known to have some slight regrowth properties. 3.) energy - I never had a problem with this, contrary to others. I worked throughout chemo.

Good luck and let me know your experience to see if it compares with mine!

Ohilly

Jackie
OK..Hair started growing straight after chemo stopped... Taste , well it's not the same now but I am on a lot of horrible taste-altering drugs (much better than when on chemo though) Energy?..Well I was completely knackered all through chemo and rads ( finished aug 08) Now I am ready to tackle anything (Within Reason) Do Hope this helps, but like Ohilly said, it's different for everyone........Huge Hugs Jxxxxxxxxxxxx

I didn't have trouble with
I didn't have trouble with the tastebuds, and not much with energy...I kept working full-time. Hairgrowth started about 2 weeks after stopping the first round of drugs, but came out again in the second round, then took about a month after finishing the second round. It came in uneven, light, and UGLY grey color, but curly. After about 6 months it was about 2-3 inches long. I had dyed it red, then decided I didn't want the red, so when roots started showing abrownish color I cut it off. Unfortunately the curl went too. Now it's slightly wavy, light brown, and about 4 inches long. Pre-chemo hair was dark blonde and slightly wavy.

That's my two cents worth. seof

Good for you!
Glad your chemo is almost finished. It will be such a relief! My last chemo was Feb 10th. My taste buds just gradually improved until all of a sudden, I realized they were back to normal. Same with the energy level--not quite back to normal, but I finished my rads yesterday, so I'm hoping within a few weeks it will be. My hair is coming back in slowly--thick on the sides, thin on top and in front so far--and white. But I had mostly white hair before, so that's not a shock. I can't wait to dump the wig!

rjjj said:

Thanks sisters
I have peach fuzz standing straight up and growing..maybe i'll get an early start. Someone gave me a cute little stuffed easter duck and i told them my hair looked just like that under my wig.haha.
I guess most of the trouble with my taste buds is that my mouth always tastes metalic and acidic foods burn my mouth and esophogus, some foods taste really salty...so i eat alot of ice-cream (hence my weight gain).
I have very little energy, even simple things wear me down. I am working but on light duty and not near the hours i did before.
Thanks for all your replies, I am just so anxious for this chemo to be over. As i'm sure you all were also. I admire you all and all of your strength to get through this.
God Bless
Jackie

It gets better!
You are at one of the most difficult times in this journey. It is so hard when you feel terrible to continue going. I guess knowing that there is just 1 more...makes it a little easier. After my third chemo session I didn't think I could make it through three more. I too was extremely fatigued, was sick of the metalic taste of everything, burning mouth and high fevers. But it was encouraging to know that it was almost over.

I had a whole mouthful of sores until about two weeks after my final treatment. The metalic taste stayed quite bad for 3-4 weeks after my final treatment and then began to fade. Some things began to taste normal and other thing persisted but at least it was more tolerable since I had some things to eat. My taste did change through all of it though. I used to like salty things, spicy things and cheese. Now I am still much more sensative to spicy foods and they still bother my mouth, 1 year post-chemo. Now for some reason i am a sweets person. Can't get enough sweets.

I believe that the fatigue lasted for about 2-3 weeks and then slowly improved. But, every little bit of improvement was obvious to me and lifted my spirits. It was encouraging to see every bit of the effects of the chemo wear off. Unfortunately, that last to return was the hair. I started with peach fuzz at about 2 months post-chemo but I didn't start to see any noticable growth for almost 6 months. Now at one year, my I'm ready for my first hair trim as it needs to be styled. It is a great feeling. My hair came back in the exact same texture as pre-chemo. The only difference is that it is now darker than it ever was and more grays than I had prior.

Although you may not feel so now, you are very strong as well. As much as you would like to quit, you will see it through! Good luck with that last chemo session and on your return to health! I'll be praying for you!
Rita