Chemo, fever question & incision - I'm tired

[vlcarr]

I had my first chemo on 10/15 and today is the first day I've felt pretty good......

I know it's early to be tired already, but I've been so frustrated since my first treatment. The constant abdominal pain for a week was enough but this past Monday I started running a fever and I've posted the problems I'm having with my mastectomy incision.

They gave me antibiotics by IV on Wednesday and oral antibiotics for 10 days, but could find nothing in my bloodwork, urine, etc to indicate any infection. The only thing they think it could be is inflammation of my incision.

The incision area has been black since I took the steri strips off. I went to the surgeon's nurse pract yesterday and she pulled and cut off all the black area and she said just as she suspected there were sutures underneath that had not dissolved and she removed those. She said it did not look infected but some people's bodies reject them and they do not dissolve properly.

She put some Xeroform dressing on it and covered it with gauze, gave me some to take home and said to do this for a couple of days and it should clear up. I was still running a temp of 99.7 yesterday but so far today no fever!

I had a small reaction to the IV antibiotics and the dr wanted to stop it but I insisted on getting it, so they loaded me up with Benadryl by IV and slowed the drip and the rest of the treatment went fine. I really wanted to get that in my body.

Has anyone experienced fever during chemo and they could find no reason for it?

My next chemo is Wednesday and I'm so dreading it.

The weird thing is I didn't really have the metal taste in my mouth like most of you have mentioned. They said my hair would probably be falling out by now but that hasn't happened either.

I know I should be thankful but this rough start has gotten me down. I'm still on leave from work as I took off 6 weeks after my surgery. I'm supposed to be going back in a couple of weeks but if I feel the way I've felt with this round I'm not sure how much I can work.

I've read your posts that most of you only felt crappy for 3 or 4 days so I'm just down that my experience was not like that.

On a positive note, I started some physical therapy this week and they are doing Myofascial Release therapy which I think I'm really going to like (only some of it was painful) and will help with my range of motion and pain in the lymph node area.

Thank you all for listening to my tale of woe.....

[Jackie07]

Vicky,

The inflammation of the incision sounds like the culprit. 'Black' is definitely not the right color. Now that the NP had cleared it up, I think (hope)you will be 'fever' free pretty soon. If it continues, then I think you need to get it checked out.

I seemed to have always had some kind of reaction to the chemo. My lumpectomy site swelled up just one day after I went home - had to go back to the hospital to get the fluid 'squeezed out' (the surgeon made a thin cut around the breast.) During chemo, I threw up, I ran a low-grade fever, I was dead tired - often falling asleep just 1 hour into the 2 1/2 hour infusion.

[Benedryl was used before chemo infusion because Taxanes / Herceptin have a tendency to cause allergic reaction?]

[BonnieR]

To clarify, I felt "crappy" alot of the time. But felt REALLY crappy for a few days after treatments. lol.
Seriously, you may handle things better once this issue of the incision is cleared up. And you may be having reactions to the antibiotic, too. You and your body will settle into everything hopefully. Somehow we adjust to it.
I never had the metallic taste. And my hair did not come out on schedule. It was gradual over time. And never lost it totally.
Keep the faith.

[caya]

Vicky,

I never had the metallic taste either, but I was exhausted and very weak during chemo. I started to feel stronger that last week before the next infusion, but I felt "crappy". I am lucky that I work out of my house, so I was able to work, but truthfully, if I had to go outside my home, I don't know if I could have done it during chemo. Everyone is different, but your health is the most important thing right now, especially during chemo.

I think that Bonnie is right, you may feel better now that the incision is taken care of, and the antibiotic may be making you feel crappy too. Do your best, try to rest as much as you can. Don't be a hero, if friends say "Is there anything I can do for you?" - Tell them to drop by with a casserole, do some grocery shopping, take your kids to a movie etc.

I hope that you will be able to do the exercises for your arm range of motion - I did them religiously - doing them a few times /day in shorter spurts is better than just once or twice for a long time. When I went for my 6 week check up the physical therapist commented on how well I was doing.

I also never completely lost my hair. when it grew back it came in less gray, straight ( I had curly frizzy hair before BC) and silky smooth.

You'll get through this Vicky, you'll see. You can tell your tale of woe anytime here, we've all been through it.

all the best
caya

[Cal-Gal]

Hello Vicky,
Sorry you are feeling so yucky--and sorry about the incision problems--

I think that everyone experiences the side effects from chemo differently-while some people experiences are similar--some are indeed different--and sometimes not typical of the 'standard' side effects noted in medical literature.

I only had real bad metal mouth after the first treatment--after that, I really didnt have any metal tasting issues--I did get a lot of mouth sores though.

As far as your hair--it depends what kind of chemo you are on, as to how quickly your hair will fall out--my fell out between day 14-21 after my first treatment--I had Cytoxan-Adiamyacin-Taxotere-again, not everyone's body reacts the same way--

I felt real crummy, really fatigued the first few days after my treatment--as the chemo accumilated in my system-I had fewer better days as the treatments progressed, and by the time the last treatment rolled around--I could hardly get myself out of bed the day prior.

I did get sick 2x during treatments where I ran a high fever-but it was attributed to low-white cell count that led to infection-fever, runny nose-just plain awful--that experience was the worst, I was so sick and there was nothing left in me to fight except sheer will to get over the sickness and the antibiotics!!!!

Good Luck!!!!!

[Chelee]

Vicky, Everyone reacts differently to these drugs. I did TCH & I had a rough time of it...so your not alone. When I had my infusion I felt ok the 1st two days after it...but day 3rd day is when it would hit me hard. I honestly don't know how so many of these woman worked, ran errands and did other things? I was lucky to get back & forth to my appts, scans, labs, etc. I was just dragging myself around....aches, pains, weakness & major fatigue. Lost my apetite & had to force myself to eat. Most said they gained weight on trt...I lost 37 lbs. I didn't have that metallic taste...but I call it more or a "sewer mouth". My taste buds were gone...nothing tasted good...food was disgusting to me.

The only time I didn't feel too bad was about a wk before I was due to go back for my next infusion of TCH. As far as fever's I had low grade fevers like your mentioning often. I was told not to worry unless they reached a 100 or over...but they never did thank goodness. So that might be a reaction from Taxotere? I don't know if it helps you any but the infusions actually got easier on me around cycle 3 & 4...I'm not sure why...maybe the body kind of adjusts to it? Don't get me wrong, I was still feeling lousy...but it wasn't as bad as when I first started. Don't beat yourself up...seriously...take one day at a time. See how things go...it might improve some. But by no means think this was easy for everyone here...it wasn't. As to hair...it looked like I wasn't going to lose mine and then all of a sudden on day 18 or 19 it started falling out in clumps. So just in case...don't be surprised. You hang in there and and go easy on yourself. Rest when you can and don't push yourself too hard. Accept help when needed. I do believe in time it will get better. We are all here for you...keep us updated on how your doing.

Hugs!

Chelee

[MJo]

Every single woman here has a different reaction to chemo, so is not too early for you to be tired if that's what your body is telling you. Be very, very kind to yourself. While we are getting chemo is definitely the time to pamper ourselves, be nonjudgemental, etc.

I was really sick from day one on adriamycin/cytoxin. I didn't go to work for two months. Taxol, on the other hand, was easy and I went back to work, but on a reduced schedule

My friend got treatment at the same time I did. She went to birthday parties, weddings and work while on adriamycin. She was so sick on taxol that I drove her to the hospital -- Note that I am the one who drove her.

Cancer taught me how unique each individual is

[vlcarr]

Thank you all so much for making me feel better. I thought about this all day yesterday after my post and reminded myself that not only was I diagnosed with bc in May but I also underwent major neck surgery on 04/01/09. I was told without the neck surgery I would be paralyzed. I had to wear a hard collar 24/7 for 6 weeks. I was in still in physical therapy for my neck when I felt the lump in my breast.

This was my 2nd neck surgery (first one in 1999) and in 2003 I crushed all the bones beneath my knee, split my tibia down the middle and separated my shoulder. I was in a wheelchair for 3 months and even traveled for work in my wheelchair. I had to learn to walk again since it was a non weight bearing injury and I could not put weight on that leg for 3 months. I have a metal plate and 8 screws in my knee/leg and a metal plate and 5 screws in my neck.

So, after I processed all that and read your words I'm not going to doubt my strength or beat up on myself anymore. I am a fighter! It just didn't help that I was coming out of one thing and went right into this fight with bc. But, I'm not giving up and I will go easy on myself.

Don't know what I would do without all of you:)

[caya]

Wow Vicky, you certainly are a warrior!!
I can totally relate to coming off one thing and right into the BC journey. In Jan. 2006 my husband had a brain aneurysm - luckily he had a coiling procedure (they go through the groin to stuff the aneurysm with platinum coils) and after 6 days in the neurology ICU, and 4 months of rehab, he was about 90% okay and was able to go back to work.
While he was recuperating, I had to take over all his reponsibilities in our company, which included alot of travel across Canada to see our customers, do my own work, etc. All the while worrying about my DH to see how he would recover. Then through the summer of 2006 I had to travel with him again, as he just was not physically strong enough. By the fall of 2006 he was much better, and then I had a breast reduction in Oct. 2006 ( July 2006 - clean mammogram and u/s). My plastic surgeon found the BC tumour, and the roller coaster ride began again for me and my family. I got shingles 5 days after the diagnosis - I was just emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually drained - I mean, my husband had survived a brain aneurysm - hadn't we been through enough?
We made it through with the wonderful support of our families (my mother came up from Florida both winters to first look after my husband while I travelled, and the next winter for me while I had the mast. and chemo) and our great friends and neighbours.
You will get through it, you'll see. Just be kind to yourself, you have been through alot.


all the best
caya

[BonnieR]

There is never a convient time to get cancer, is there? Thoughtless disease! I was so impressed with how you all have handled adversity. That is the the one big lesson we have in common. How resiliant we are.
When I was diagnosed we were living out of suitcases in a rental while our house was gutted in the middle of a remodel. I hated not being at "home" at a time like that. So we still had to make all those kinds of construction decisions. And then move back. But, I tell you, suddenly paint colors did not seem very important! Just get me HOME!
Keep the faith everyone.

[harrie]

Vicky, my friend just had her first tx of taxotere and cytoxin (for lung cancer) and had a very bad side effect of stomach cramps. Did you find anything to resolve this problem?
I had TCH and hardly felt a thing after my FIRST tx. I did lose my hair on day 11 post 1st tx.

[vlcarr]

No, not really but the drugs my onc prescribed seemed to help. She gave me low dose loritab to help relax my stomach. She also gave me Dicyclomine 10mg 4x time for stomach spasms. I didn't get these until 3 days in but they seemed to help.

They said I would not have my hair when I came back for my 2nd treatment. I have not lost my hair yet and my chemo is today. However, my head is so sore and has been that way for a week but no hair loss yet.