Is being under house arrest normal?

JJ_Kang
JJ_Kang Member Posts: 6
in Breast Cancer #1

I am the first one in my family to have cancer. 

We don't know anything about it or chemo. 

I've had chemo twice now, and I'm scheduled to go in again tomorrow for my third bout of chemo.

Since starting chemo I'm either hospitalized, in the ICU, in a clean or else at my apartment with someone checking in on me 24/7.

 

But from what I can see in the forums, everyone else seems to be able to go outside, and even continue working...

 

Is there anyone else similar to me? Not that having my life revolve around food and sleep isn't fantastic, but it's a bit worrying.

I hadn't realized you could be allergic to chemotherapy.

Hopefully nobody is the same as me, but if there is, or if you know of a similar case, please let me know? It would calm me down big time.

Comments

  • tufi000
    tufi000 Member Posts: 745 Member
    #2
    Sorta

    After my first chemo infusion I felt a little weak. After they took my BP down in the lobby, they stuck me in a private room at the end of the hall for a week. Turns out I picked up a strep infection and with the reduced immunity they felt they had to watch me as it doesn't go awy in a couple days in this siyuation. BP had dropped to 147.  When I asked my doc if I almost fied cause and one other reading, he saif "yup" 

    You might have a similar thing going on.  Hope it isn't an allergy

  • Beepositive
    Beepositive Member Posts: 259 Member
    #3
    JJ Kang

    prayers and best wishes for you JJ kang...things will work out for you...

    Beepositive  Smile

  • Teach76
    Teach76 Member Posts: 351 Member
    #4
    A few days of careful consideration

    I had 6 rounds of chemo spread out over 18 weeks.  I was never hospitalized, but I will say that for about 9 days  I stayed in mostly.  Often it was because I was concerned about picking up an infection more than it was about how I was feeling.  Yes, I found the pattern that days 4 - 9 I needed to be home - dealt with side effects and fatigue.

    we all react differently, but it was my experience that my symptoms fell into a pattern of days, so it helped me to decide when I could be out for longer periods of time.  I suppose it also depends on the seasons and what your body can tolerate.

    Blessings!

    Kathy

  • peony
    peony Member Posts: 306 Member
    #5
    I went out during chemo and

    I went out during chemo and even took public transportation!  There were times when I wore a mask and it was late Fall/Winter, so I wore gloves.  I did pick up a urinary tract infection, but I don't think I cought that being out in the public!  I went to work and took walks and shoveled snow.  I think it might be good for you to get out and about, ask your MO about any precautions you should take.  

  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #6
    We are each so different!

    I had no issues at all with going/doing anything I wanted to during Chemo (4 DD A/C neoadjuvant and 12 weekly Taxol adjuvant).  

    The 2 issues I had during chemo were keeping my temperature up (I dropped to 94f during at least 1 Taxol) and keeping my K potassium) up close to normal 1/2 way through Taxol (mega doses of K kept it up)  and still have to take K to keep in normal range 7+ yrs later. 

    We are each so unique.

    Winyan - the Power Within

  • tufi000
    tufi000 Member Posts: 745 Member
    #7
    Please do not misunderstand

    Aside from the initial first week of an infection, the rest of my chemo experience was problem-free. I worked full time, cooked a little spicier than usual (hee hee) and only crapped out with fatigue the 3rd day or so, then it was done.

    Give it a chance without the imagined scenario. Ask doc ALL questions you can and remember, though it is poison, it could save your life.

  • Apaugh
    Apaugh Member Posts: 850 Member
    #8
    feels like it

    It feels really confining at times.  We are all different on how we react to treatments.  When I first started, my first 2 weeks were hell.  I was down.  I have other medical problems so that might have contributed to it.  Now I have herceptin treatments that seem like I have been on them forever.  Happily, I can say I only have 2 left.  Praise God!  

    I can no longer work due to all the side effects the whole process has given me and the enhancement of the prior medical problems. 

    Hugs,

    Annie

  • camul
    camul Member Posts: 2,537
    #9
    tufi000 said:

    Please do not misunderstand

    Aside from the initial first week of an infection, the rest of my chemo experience was problem-free. I worked full time, cooked a little spicier than usual (hee hee) and only crapped out with fatigue the 3rd day or so, then it was done.

    Give it a chance without the imagined scenario. Ask doc ALL questions you can and remember, though it is poison, it could save your life.

    Tufi, like you, I believe my limitations were only when counts

    2017-06-17

    were not right or an infection.

    I did weekly 3 years of weekly chemo and there were times when it was suggested I limit my time around strangers.  I understood.  I am now on UTI 18 and it is certainly not related to others, it is related most likely to a weakened immune system.  But in the last 7 years there are times I have been hospitalized, times i have been told to limit activity because my blood counts were not good. and sometimes just told to enjoy myself.

  • tufi000
    tufi000 Member Posts: 745 Member
    edited June 2017 #10
    camul said:

    Tufi, like you, I believe my limitations were only when counts

    2017-06-17

    were not right or an infection.

    I did weekly 3 years of weekly chemo and there were times when it was suggested I limit my time around strangers.  I understood.  I am now on UTI 18 and it is certainly not related to others, it is related most likely to a weakened immune system.  But in the last 7 years there are times I have been hospitalized, times i have been told to limit activity because my blood counts were not good. and sometimes just told to enjoy myself.

    Easy answer Ninja

    You chose to enjoy yourself every time!  I mean I sit here whining anout stuff and you write this and I say , DANG! I can walk, I can enjoy!

  • mollyz
    mollyz Member Posts: 756 Member
    edited June 2017 #11
    I stayed inside

    I was content and i stayed inside not going any where but church and that wasnt evey week, i cleaned everything in my house i have ocd lol i also wore out a pair of bedroom shoes but i didnt get any colds or anything going around, I actually turned into a germaphobic, i didnt have any toe nail issues because i was at home with my shoes off and no i didnt feel like i was home bound because i was trying to take care of me, i couldnt work because i was sick 2 days after chemo which was every 3 three weeks and it took me that long to get my strenght back and clean up again.

  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #12
    I only had Radiation-so no

    I only had Radiation-so no advice...

     

    HUGS

    Denise

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