WELL, WELL, WELL, MICHELLE! I hear you!
In '95 I had Adriamycin X 4 + CMF X 8. In '98, my bc metastasized throughout my liver. Stage 4, HER2+ 80% (that's how they rated it back in the day), ER-/PR-. I endured 9 mnths of Taxotere and it was hell, I won't lie. But I survived. And so will you. After the first 4 mnths I thought that Freight Train drug would do me in, but I rallied. And so will you!
Taxotere is not a poison! It is a LIFELINE, that pulled me through rough waters as my cancer cells were raging. It got every last cell. As for you rest of me -- it ravaged my stomach lining and caused me to begin adding Irritable Bowel Syndrome to my list of enemies. I took Imodium (2 at a time) every time I had an episode, and that was 10X a day. When I turned myself in on this, my onc asked, Then what happens? Then the diarrhea finally stops. And what happens the next day? I am *normal*. I got his blessing. 20 Imodium in a day was good. Go for it.
KY JELLY is sent from heaven. My tushee stopped bleeding and said thank you every time!
Experience has taught me that Prilosec every day is extremely helpful to the throat thing and the feeling mid chest that feels like you're having a heart attack. In fact, my doc said -- take 2 at a time, if 1 doesn't work! ANYTHING THAT HAS AN M IN IT (MYLANTA, MALOX AND SUCH) MEANS THEY HAVE MAGNESIUM AND THIS MEANS -- POTENTIAL DIARRHEA! So stay away from these!
Also, for me, yoghurt and dairy products are a NO, NO for belly issues (NOT belly dancing however) and bathroom drama. Also anything greasy (oily or fried), sugar, nuts -- all bad and irritating causing issues.
NAUSEA -- do not wait till you're nauseous. Like a migraine gone awry, you can't catch it. ZOFRAN is the big guns and does the trick. I had to take it 4 hrs after tx, 9AM the next day and AS NEEDED. I learned to differentiate between NAUSEA and *just God awful* QUEASINESS. For the latter, PHENERGAN worked wonders. Zofran made me really tired, zonking me out, so sometimes the Phenergan was the drug of choice. At night -- go for it! (I learned that -- for me -- neither KYTRIL nor COMPAZENE work for me, even if given along w/my infusion.)
Probiotics (friendly bacteria) known as ASIDOPHILUS 2 X a day helps the diarrhea issue. Fennel Seed (480 mg) 3 X a day also helps settle the stomach and calm that sound of rusting pipes and gurgling coming from your navel. ANTI DEPRESSANTS HELP IBS! (It took me 8 yrs to figure that out.) Zoloft (50 mg) calms my nerves (including those in my belly) and lifts my spirits -- chemically balancing me so that I can be ME.
Taxotere made every part of me severely dry. I needed to use REFRESH + (just saline) in my eyes every single hour for wks till I got that under control. I needed the KY vaginally and rectally. I needed Curel EVERYWHERE ELSE, and VASELINE in my nostrils and on the soles of my feet (which demands socks so you don't traipse that everywhere you go, including sheets) 2 X a day. Biotene as others say for the throat. Gargle.
The Decadron/steroid/Dexymethazone makes you hopped up. So you cannot sleep. Plus you cannot sleep cause you're crazed by the emotional trauma of it all. So ATIVAN (anti-anxiety) and/or AMBIEN (sleeping aid) are NEEDED. Your body heals best during a good night's sleep. YOU MUST LET YOUR BODY HEAL FROM THE SEIGE IT IS *NECESSARILY* UNDER to control the bc/HER2 and the chemo side effects. You OWE it to yourself to let yourself HEAL, to help yourself HEAL. Use your mind and every fiber of your being to HEAL. Focus all your energy on HEALING. Command your body. And -- inform the Universe of your clear Intentions and your passionate and firm Expectations!!
Write -- I CAN DO THIS! on colored 3 x 5 cards in bold block letters and scatter those reminders throughout your house! KNOW that you are doing all you possibly can to eradicate the canser
. SMILE
as often as you can. Smile throughout your body, not just with your lips, but with your heart and Soul and liver!!!
Keep drinking filtered or bottled water throughout the day. I drink around 11 GLASSES OF WATER EVERY SINGLE DAY. Good for your skin. Good for flushing the toxins out of your body. Good for your kidneys. ALSO -- though I love ice water -- can't drink it. TEPID keeps your belly calm and happy. I cater to my belly.
You must eat as much protein as you can, Michelle, as well. I found I could eat oatmeal, a handful of nuts ONLY, cucumbers (which I previously hated), lots of salmon, plain chicken (boiled if possible -- actually quite good, along w/the broth you boil it in, maybe w/soup greens, maybe w/noodles). Small amnts. As often as possible. Some docs say eat nothing raw, so I only ate cooked veggies and could only tolerate bananas, apples and pears. Other fruits gave me IBS problems, even if cooked. So, I made a list of *trigger* foods. Not foods I am allergic to, but that cause me to live in the bathroom.
KEEP MULTIPLE PILLS AT THE READY AT ALL TIMES. I went nowhere without them!
Roxicet for the deep muscle pain I felt throughout my legs and arms at all times, helped w/the sleeping problem AND -- the CODEINE therein causes CONSTIPATION, so my onc said -- GO FOR IT, if you need to, with that in mind. I just love my onc. He helped me at ever turn. He was highly aggressive for my highly aggressive cancer. He saved my life. (Read my signature for details re Herceptin, et al, if you like.) And PM me if you want as well. Any time.
I apologize for the long post, but I had lots to tell you! And you sound like you need help, Michelle, so -- we're all here for you. AND YOUR ONC SHOULD BE THERE FOR YOU TOO -- 24/7, IN PERSON, OR BY PROXY IF ON HOLIDAY!!! YOU SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO ONCOLOGICAL HELP WHENEVER YOU NEED IT. YOU SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. YOU ARE NOT WHINING. YOU ARE NOT BEING PEST. YOU ARE A CANCER PATIENT WHO NEEDS HELP! EVERY NURSE, SECRETARY AND DOC SHOULD BE RESPONSIVE TO A PERSON ASKING FOR HELP, ESPECIALLY WHILE UNDERGOING CANCER TX!! PERIOD. This is your right. I am sure you are reasonable and ladylike, but when you are in trouble, you should be able to get a return phone call certainly the same day, and hopefully within hrs. You should not be told on a Friday to call again on a Monday. I'm just saying...
With a big hug and bunches of positive energy for my Sister,
Andi 