Question about allergic reactions. I feel so drugged, nothing seems normal. The Decadron made me shaky, the Zofran seems to make me shaky, my heartbeat seems to be running a little faster than normal but it seems regular. I'm drinking so many fluids and yet my urine is still warm (warmer than normal) and yellow.

When I was in for the infusion, I "handled" everything well, apparently; when I went for my Neulasta shot, the nurse said that if I were to have an allergic reaction, I would have had it.

The nurses seem to indicate that allergic reactions are seen right away, but can some of these allergy symptoms appear between infusions?

I think it's probably "normal" to feel all these drugs in me. I'm being vigilant but I'm also feeling a bit paranoid!

C.

Christina, it seems you have enough questions and concerns that maybe you should be asking your oncologist or staff about these things. We are the voice of experience here but are no substitute for professional opinions. And you might feel reassured by asking your doctor's office before we get deep into the long holiday weekend..

As to the possibility of allergic reactions, your chemo nurse was exactly right. I'm sorry I didn't write more clearly (dain bramage); if you have a reaction, chances are 99.9% it will be while you're getting the chemo. That's certainly what happened to me.

I've gone through the genetic testing as well. As I recall, the more cancer (doesn't have to be breast) that runs in blood relatives, the higher your chances that insurance will pay for it. Remember, only about 5% of breast cancer patients are positive for Brca 1 or 2, and recall that the original population from which the study was done that found the genes were of Ashkenazi Jewish heritage. I tested negative for both. I don't know if they are testing for any other genes, yet, but I suspect as the Human Genome Project yields more information, there will be quite a few genes that are going to be identified.

Warmly (thought not too - the temp has finally dropped below a heat index of 110!)
Rentrac

Hello Christina,
I had the exact same chemo meds as what you are taking. I started end of Jan and ended this past May, 6 rounds, 3 wks apart.
I didn't experience much nausea. Here are some of my side effects:
1. loss of hair on day 11
2. first round didn't hardly feel a thing, then they progressively got more intense as the toxins built up, peaking around round #4;
3. I got hyper-salivation which was something I could not find anything to get rid of and have found no one that experienced it like I did. Was wierd.
4. taste was totally warped for at least the first wk following tx.
5. I would get my tx on a Fri and would start feeling the effects on Sunday
6. side effects lasted about a wk and at the end of the 5 days to one wk, I could almost literally feel the side effects lift. Like a lifting fog;
7. My WBC and RBC were lowered. Took Nupogen for the WBC and something else for the RBC.
8. Nupogen, I had to take almost routinely because after the first tx, we knew my WBC was going to be effected. Only once did I get the bone ache and Advil took care of that nicely.
9. Decadron day prior to, day of and day after tx. This is to help prevent infections and allergic reactions. Also to prevent the "hand-foot syndrome".
10. The bottoms of my hands and feet would get REALLY red when exposed to heat. no sig discomfort though.
11. I did not miss a day of work throughout the TCH
12. I continued my exercise routines, modified.
13. Started doing yoga
14. Managed to keep my weight very much in check. I maybe gained a few lbs and the wt would really fluctuation + or - a couple of lbs.
15. Tired
16. Used Biotene toothpaste for my mouth. did not experience any sores at all.
17. I would get a mild case of muscular fatigue, mostly in my legs.

That is about all I can think of for now.
It has been just over 3 months post my last TCH tx. After the 2nd month I pretty much felt normal with my energy level and stamina.

If I can be of any help, let me know.
Maryanne

There is a wide difference of opinion on supplements during chemo, however:

Ruth has done GREAT on the WBC issue without Neulasta through 5 TCH treatments and I am convinced it is because of the astragalus root and reishi mushroom extract. She has not suffered any aches and pains associated with Neulasta or treatment. She is taking L-gluatamine also so perhaps that helps also. Ruth has only missed one day or work, and that was the day of the port surgery. The onc had to admit that she did not believe it affected the treatment, possibly enhanced it, as Ruth's pre-surgery tumor shrinkage response has been one of more dramatic the onc has ever seen. She said to "keep on doing whatever you're doing" after first treatment checkup. Her WBC has gone down each time, but was still at 6.5 the day of treatment five.

I hope this helps. She avoids a 3 day window on either side of the chemo. Ruth also takes probiotic, fish oil, multi-vit, and benefiber. Bentonite clay controlled the diahrehha through the first couple treatments, but then she had to add Immodium to the mix. She takes an acid blocker starting 2 days before treatment through about a week afterwards. The fatigue has been as issue, but ginseng extract tea seems to help.

He onc chose to give her RBC booster on treatment 4. Returned to low normal on day of treatment 5. I'm betting she might need it again on treatment 6 as her fatigue has been worse this last time.

Her steroid dose has been different than others here. No steroid before-hand. She gets it in the drip day of chemo along with an anti-nausea drug (aloxi?), and takes 2 mg twice a day on days 2 and 3. Onc cut out day 4 when it was evident Ruth had no nausea issues. The Emend (days 1, 2 and 3) has worked absolutely great.

Hope this helps.

Terri

Terri, how much L-Glutamine is Ruth taking? And how often?? For how many days? I am conductiong my own little survey! Thanks!

Hello everyone. I'm grateful for all of the information and conversation.

There are two (three?) issues that seem to be lurking for me:

1. it's so dang hot over here (109, 106, 104...) that I can't get out to walk; it was over 90 degrees after sundown last night, but we did get out to see music in the park and I felt tons better! The air conditioning is aggravating my sick feeling.

2. I've continued with the Zofran and added Zantac because any time I eat I seem to feel acidic, thus, "sick." I don't seem to be to the point of throwing up, but the "sick" feeling doesn't help.

3. My heartbeat is strong--not fast or irregular, but "strong." I called the nurse and she thinks it's anxiety. She wasn't concerned. I wonder if it's the Zofran which seems to make me feel shaky and light-headded.

Any of this sound familiar?

C.

Prilosec
 

Prilosec save us on the acid issue. Nurse said to take it all the way thru chemo, but 7-10 days max has been enough to control symptoms for Ruth, and I believe it better to minimize drugs when not needed. Has worked much better than the "symptom treatment" antiacids.

Oh...and Ruth had the "shaky" feeling. Oncologist said it was the steroid. Onc cut dose down since no nausea problems. No problems since.

Christina, I was just commenting to my husband how strongly I can feel my heartbeat now.Well, duh, I had a bilateral mastectomy and of course there is no padding on my chest wall anymore. It did not occur to me at first. But I see your mastectomy was on the right side. And I guess you are referring to your pulse???

And Melinda, I wanted to thank you for your earlier post that you did not loose all your hair until the third round of chemo. I still have enough short hair to look like someone with VERY thin hair. I do not seem to be scaring children when out in public so am going without any head covering. Which is a blessing. It is at least 112 degrees here and HUMID. It is nice to be unemcumbered....
But my third round is tomorrow........

Dear Bonnie,
I didn't lose all my hair when on THC either. I THOUGHT I was losing it all as I was down to lovely white wisps since all the dark stuff was gone, so I went ahead and shaved it. I admit I chickened out of my great April Fools Day joke that my daughter and I planned: Had I shaved it a day earlier, she was going to draw a face on the back of my head, perch some Groucho Marx style glasses on the back, put falsies int he back of my shirt and either a hoodie or hat on my head so I could walk around the local WalMart that day. But the best part of the hair loss was that the white immediately grew back in with the other stuff delayed by at least a month or two. THe result was an amazingly beautiful pelt of silky silvery hair on top and a dark undercoat. The hidden rocker in me was thrilled, and I got tons of compliments for the 2 or 3 months I had it.
Good luck to all on the last of those TCH treatments.
Warmly,
Rentrac

Christina, I am glad you understood what I was saying about the the show. I haven't made up my mind about reconstruction. I am still trying to get the use of my right arm back. I started physical therapy last week. I have an impinged nerve and it feels like I have a steel spring from my sternum to my thumb but it is getting better. I have to say that the chemo wasn't as bad as I expected but the surgery has been worse. Right now I cannot imagine voluntarily going back for more. I may change my mind but only if I undergo some sort of amnesia similar to childbirth. On top of that I found out the other day that my insurance doesn't cover it. I would like to have the option. Hope you get through your chemo okay.

Leslie

nausea
 

Emend is a wonder drug. It comes in a blister pack . You take one before chemo, one each of the following days. It really helped me. I had it in conjunction with the Aloxi premed and Zofran as needed. I only needed it on the weeks I had carboplatin.

Leslie

Leslie,

The reconstruction thing is so hard to comment on. I have this nagging feeling that if I knew then what I knew now, I might not have chosen reconstruction. HOWEVER, I never went through the breast-less stage, so I don't know what it would be like to be without one, or both. I didn't have a lot of tissue to donate, so I'm stretched pretty tightly. For women who have more tissue, the recovery may be much better and the return to normalcy may be much sooner. Honestly, I suspect that I'm weaker in the abdomen but I never felt any muscle pain. My tight tissue simply won't let me stretch yet. I have normal range of motion if I twist from side to side but trying to do a yoga cobra stretch is pretty tight. When my stomach gets gassy, it's uncomfortable.

Besides physical therapy, swimming (and I'm a water-phobic non-swimmer) has helped to get the range of motion back in my arm. I had what I described as a "rod" in my armpit that is finally loosening up. It took about two months to feel like I had my arm back and today is exactly 10 weeks post-surgery.

Is it only California law which mandates that insurance companies pay for reconstruction???

Leslie, is the Emend for nausea? Is it OTC or prescription? Thanks.

Dear Christine,
Finallly got a chance to read back throught the thread. You're wise to have had the reconstruction when you did and to be sticking to the PT. I wish I had. It took a weight gain from other therapies that followed 2 years after the mastectomy to add weight to the other breast - talk about unbalanced! I went from being B cups on both sides to ultimately a D/-A while on an extended dose of Decadron! My poor lats on the side of my mastectomy lost so much tone I was cramping just lying on the other side. I'm in PT now, in part, so I can safely build up the lats without triggering lymphedema. The pool is absolutely the most wonderful PT in my opinion, and I'm not much of a swimmer myself. The hydrostatic pressure of the water around the arm affected by axillary dissection is one of the best ways to manage lymphedema at its earliest stages, and before it has a chance to start - something I learned from my wonderful lymphedema therapist.

I think it's federal law that mandates insurance pay for reconstruction.

Sounds like you're coming through your introduction to chemo pretty well. Benadryl and decadron can certainly leave you reeling, but if you expect that to happen, it's not quite as disconcerting. Just expect to get a little more fatigued after each treatment.

I envy your studying Latin! A language I've always wanted to take. I tried catching up on medical journals with my first chemo, but found that I developed an increasing loss of focus, aka chemobrain. I switched to learning how to knit. I could put it down whenever I wanted to and not worry about losing ground but at the same time felt like I was doing something constructive. It only took me 2 years to get to the point I could knit scarves good enough to give as gifts!

Good luck, and know I'm another thinking of you.
Warmly,
Rentrac

Bonnie,
Emend is a prescription drug and pricey for three pills but it is wonderful for nausea. When I started taking it the weeks I had carboplatin I didn't have nearly as much trouble with taste changes either. I didn't need it for the for the taxol/herceptin weeks.

I am on Mississippi medicaid and even though there is a federal law that calls for insurance companies that pay for mastectomies to pay for reconstruction, it seems to be that the states have to mandate it. 36 states do, but Mississippi is one of the ones who do not (at least that is what I was told when I called last week.) In my reading, I actually read that insurance companies do not have to pay for mastectomies. I am self employed and had tried to get insurance but was turned down for pre-existing conditions. I am glad I was able to get medicaid but I am not through with this issue. I am going to follow up with our state senator for our district. The federal government will match any expenses they incur just like they do for other surgeries. Although as little as medicaid actually pays them, I am not sure I could find a surgeon who would take it.

Christina, Just remember that these drugs do not target cancer cells, they target rapidly dividing cells, so that they can have effects across all of your systems. Especially cells that are replaced often like the one that line your intestines, etc. That is why they affect your hair cells as well. Some of us get bloody crusty noses and on and on. So there are varied side effects. But if you are ever in doubt, call your doctor or nurse practitioner. Make sure you read the handouts that they gave you when you started chemo so you will have an idea of what to expect and what is unusual. I almost didn't mention a side effect to my doctor recently, I thought it was nothing to worry about. I was having chills. What I wasn't worried about prompted him to do a good bit of blood work. If anything is bothering you then it is worth bring up with your doctor. Ther is also a lot of info on this site. I have found that it helps, particularly in the beginning, to take a list of questions and concerns with you because it is so easy to forget what you wanted to ask.

Leslie

Leslie, your reply was interesting because I dont have different days for anything. I get all 3 drugs over a 7 hour span. Nor do I receive any meds the day before or after. It certainly shows the variety in treatment approaches.
So far I have been able to control minor nausea with Compazine. But will file away your information in case I need it down the line. Thanks..

Hi Christina,
Welcome to our beautiful site and I am sorry that you were dx. with bc.
But the good news is you found this support group. I have been away
on vacation and just returned....read your post.

By now you have received a lot of information on the TCH...it is doable.
Just take it one day at a time. Rest when you need it and don't fight
the fatigue when it hits. I am very active - so for me it was important
to accept the days when I needed to slow it down and even come to a
complete stop...get some great reading material...fun stuff to help pass
those days when you need to just lay around. For me two days after
treatment it would hit me and I needed two days to rebound. But
do exercise and push yourself in this area. It is important to move.
Even if it is just a short small walk, the fresh air and sun is good for
for you.

Do check on any supplements while on chemo....you DO NOT want
to counter effect the chemo in any way. This seems to be a big
issue during chemo. Check with your onc. and if he allows supplements
during treatment. Once I was completed with chemo and just on herceptin I then began a full routine of supplements.

The pre-meds are the hardest....they really wire you up. You could ask
your onc. for a mild sleeping pill to help you rest during the day before
day of and day after. Eat heathly and make your meals count.
If you have any questions please do not hesitiate to contact me.
One day at a time!

Will keep you in my prayers and sending you lots of hugs,
Jean

Hello Cristina,
(This is the 3rd time I am trying to post a reply to your thread. Each time after I write the entire thing, it DOES NOT POST! I wonder if anyone else has this problem...fustrating...)

Anyways, Cristina...again...yes, I had the exact same regime as you....taxotere, carbo, herceptin....6 rounds, 3 wks apart. I did mine from end of Jan to May of this yr. I have been done for a bit over 3 months and FEEL ABSOLUTELY GREAT!! Actually, I felt really good 2 months post my last round.

Here are some of my side effects:
1. Low WBC and low RBC. Took Nupogen for the WBC and only had bone ache once from it. Advil took that pain away.
2. Nausea: hardly if any, not during, not after. Just had the Aloxi as a premed at the time of tx and that was it.
3. Excessive salivation: that was lousy, and could not find anything to alleviate this problem, so just tolerated it. lasted a good 5 - 6 days after each tx.
4. Hair loss 11 days after my first tx. Ended up buzzing my hair off really short.
5. tired
6. leg muscles felt weaker
7. fingernails: after my last treatment they took a beating: some discoloration and some lifting. used tea tree oil and that helped alot;
8. I worked throughout my chemo txs. No problem.
9. Exercise: I exercised thoughout, but did take a break maybe a wk after each treatment and when I did exercise, it was modified to what I would normally do. I just listened to my body.
10. Took up yoga in Feb and I loved that
11. Decadron gave me a hard time sleeping so took something like Sominex, maybe 1/2 or one tab. (over-the-counter sleep aid)
12. Hard stools: maybe 4 days or so after each chemo. Used an over the counter stool softener and that helped a lot
13. Taste: for about a wk after tx, food tasted bad.

That is about all I can think of for now. Email me if you have ANY questions. When I look back, I am glad I did all 6 rounds. With the encouragement from our sister HER2, I was convinced to just do it! (thank you Jean....)

After round #4, the side effects did not seem to get worse. #1 round I hardly felt anything! #2 I definitely felt it, #3 was NOT fun, as the toxic levels accummulated....

I had my treatments on a Fri, and by Sun I would start to feel it. It would gen last about 5 days or so and then I could feel the side effects lift...like how a fog lifts...

Maryanne

Ladies,

Thank you! I am relying so much on the support from this group and it is helping.

I took an extra day of the anti-nausea and it seems to have settled me enough to eat more today. The Zantac may be a large factor in it as well as my issue seems to be more about acid than nausea.

This evening, it was "cool" enough to go into the garden and water and water and water. The plants needed the cleansing and so did I.

I do feel better today and hope tomorrow is even better.

Okay. Two "trivial" questions:

1) Why are wigs so top-heavy? My hair is naturally stick-straight and fine. The wigs are like afghan rugs on top with huge bangs!

2) I think I know the answer to this, but did any of you break out in little tiny pimples after an infusion? I've been drinking gallons of water but right after surgery and the infusion my skin has broken out into little tiny bumps. I think the saline or drugs or both are making their way to the surface. No matter how much I wash and scrub, they appear!

Uggg.

Yes, I broke out in some acne. One or two here and there and I normally do not get pimples.

My wig came in one length, took it to my hairdresser and she styled it exaclty how mine own was. People cannot tell the difference. In fact, if you look at my pic, that is my wig.

Maryanne

Hello Ladies,

A short message here as I am in Day 2 after tx 2.

Week 1 after treatment was "typical"; week 2, I was plagued by nasty acid reflux (now on Nexium); and week 3, had splitting headaches almost all week (partly due to that glorious period during the month...).

Went to tx 2 expecting it to be uneventful as was the first one and had a reaction to the Taxotere. Thank God my mom was in the room to run and get the nurse and thank God I pinched off the IV line to stop the meds. It seemed like an allergic reaction, the nurse just called it a "side effect": felt it first in the stomach, then chest, then felt like I was going to faint. Face was lobster red and I got a few red spots on my tummy (like hives) that went away within an hour. By vitals were high but still within normal range. Ugg.

More Benadryl and cortisone and they started me up again. Ugg, again.

After effects seem lessened this time round, but it's still early before the proverbial "3rd day after chemo." My oncologist lowered my dose of Neulasta by half to ease the flu-like aches and is tapering me off of the Decadron more gradually to ease the shaky feeling.

Hair started shedding in greater abundance in Week 3 after tx 1 so my lady-barber cut it into a pixie-cut that is thin on top but looks fine for now (maybe only a few days...) and when I put on my glasses at night, I look a little like Harry Potter!

xoxo,
Cristina

Cristina,
Too bad that you had a reaction to the Taxotere. Hopefuly your next
trt will go without that event. But just think you will be halfway through
your trt's. I found that yogurt was very helpful with the tummy....
Try small little meals to help control the reflux...also brown rice was
another great food for the tummy with some steamed veggies.

Thinking of you and sending you many hugs,
Jean

Christina,

You're half way through treatment now! You will find that with each treatment you may have different side effects. My adivse is to drink plenty of fluids. As for an allergic reaction -- if you have one it will happen immediately upon infusion. When I was on Taxatore I had low blood counts (red and white) for which I received Procrit and Neulasta shots, hair loss, change in taste, and neuropathy. I also found that the Decadron wired me up -- couldn't sleep. Hang in there, you're almost finished.

Cristina,
Whoa...well you survived that one bout of side effects from the Taxo. Whew...did it....hang in there. Wish you good management with the upcoming txs. You have a lot of us right there supporting you offering you helpful hints and encouragement anytime! I was told, and found to be true, it does not get significantly more intense around #3/#4. Remember, most side effects are not fun, BUT are manageable, tolerable and TEMPORARY.....and when I look back, very much worth the benefits.
Aloha,
Maryanne

Not So Silly Stuff
 

Not so silly questions. I found, believe it or not, that Raquel Welch's line of wigs are AIRIER. A wide range of colors and styles and fairly reasonable in price. My wig lady is an expert on cutting wig hair -- for free. Touch ups and *comb outs* any time, also free.

My first wig in '95 was REAL HAIR which I paid a fortune for and found that it had REAL BAD HAIR DAYS. The *synthetic* ones have memory curl and are way easier to care for. I was always getting compliments on my hair w/the wig. I love your hair. Great cut. You're hair looks nice. But the moment I got home, I hung it on a hairspray bottle or whatever. Then, when wearing it, I'd shake it out vigorously and then plop it on and rearrange it as if it were my own hair, making it look more *natural*.

My first wig I took to my very excellent hair dresser or worked and worked on it, on me, in a private back room and then, displeased asked if he could take it home to work on it. Then he came to my house for a final *fitting*. He really screwed it up. I didn't tell him though, he was so sweet and loving and refused to accept a penny from me.

I do believe if you look good you feel good. Even when I'm feeling crummy, like now (recovering from an almost 2 wk cold/flu/whatever) -- I put a bit of makeup on and gave my hair a quick blowout. Still in my nightgown (oooh, you can't see but that's what I'm wearing for the day). No earrings. But I do look noticeably better. And maybe I feel a bit better. Though I declined a movie date w/Paul and friends. Not up to it just yet.

During chemo, when I was greyish yellow, bald w/no eyebrows (still have none -- most annoying) and no eyelashes -- I looked like a blob. Some foundation, blush, shadow and lipstick + wig, earrings and something nice yet comfy -- pp always told me you look great. You can't be sick. Though I knew it was smoke and mirrors, powder and paint as they say, it seemed to encourage me to do more, mingle more. Pp felt comfortable in my presence, virtually free of dealing w/a ca patient facing death (which honestly can be a bit depressing). Their good vibes met mine and we all felt good!

PS -- Would someone please define TUMMY PROBLEMS?????????? Does that mean: Cramps, spasms, pain, rumbling, sensitivity, diarrhea -- WHAT?

ANDI :)

Wonderful Ladies,

I don't think I've ever felt more indebted and more grateful as I do now that I have been the recipient of so much support from family, loved-ones, and friends... all of you who come out to give me words of encouragement.

Sometimes my spirit feels so wounded. How, why does something like this happen? Then, I see those little babes at the hospital, bald with baseball caps, and I know that none of us "deserves" this; none of us did anything to cause this to happen. Nonetheless, when feeling crummy, it's easy for me to remember how healthy and strong I felt 4 months ago and lament that I'm hobbling along more slowly than my 14 year old dog.

My man-friend shared a quote with me today from Martin Luther King. It may be inspirational to some of you:

From M.L. King, Jr., “Suffering and Faith” (1960)

“My personal trials have also taught me the value of unmerited suffering. As my sufferings mounted I soon realized that there were two ways that I could respond to my situation: either to react with bitterness or seek to transform the suffering into a creative force. I decided to follow the latter course. Recognizing the necessity for suffering I have tried to make of it a virtue. If only to save myself from bitterness, I have attempted to see my personal ordeals as an opportunity to transform myself and heal the people involved in the tragic situation [that] now obtains. I have lived these last few years with the conviction that unearned suffering is redemptive.”

*******

This round of after-effects seems to be going a bit better than the first. My oncologist stepped me down gradually with the Decadron so I didn't get shaky or have such a strong pulse. I still wonder if the Zofran doesn't make me feel sick in-and-of-itself. Anyone have thick-headed, woozie feeling from the Zofran?

By the way, my onc also halved my dose of Neulasta which may have lessened the flu-like feeling but clearly is working because my joints and legs are achy.

Andi: As for "tummy problems": I generally feel a little sicky but not totally nauseated. I generally feel HUNGRY but don't necessarily feel good after I eat.

Maryanne: Your bio mentions Diep reconstruction. You look very slender and I wonder if your reconstruction left you pulled tight! I didn't have a lot to donate for reconstruction, and I'm still tight in the abdomen. I'm not in bad shape, but if I get any pressure in the abdomen, it's exacerbated by the tightness. How did your recovery go with that?

Going to rest,
C.
=)

:) :) :) Love You All So Much!
 

Christina,

That quote is now embedded in my computer. I love it. Use your suffering as a creative force. Transform yourself. To save myself from bitterness I have chosen to view my suffering as an opportunity -- for myself and in turn, for those around me. To set an example for my children and those who come with me and after me. Just beautiful.

RE ZOFRAN. When on shock and awe chemo, they gave me Zofran as a pre med in the infusion before the infusion, if you know what I mean. Then, they gave me a prescription for Zofran and told me to take it first thing in the morning. But what if I don't feel nauseous?, I asked. The nurse thought for an instant and said, TAKE IT ANYWAY. (She knew something...I surmised.) I thought, why didn't they give me all these prescriptions at my last visit to the onc? But anyway, Paul and I filled the scrip on the way home, waiting for it to be filled. Wanting to have it ready.

We got home around 5ish. I felt okay. We went out to dinner. Mid dinner I started to feel weird. Queasy. I couldn't eat. Then it started to escalate to the point that I asked Paul to get the check so we could go home. I washed up and got into bed. I felt lousy. Around midnight I heard my voice moaning. I was thrashing around. I felt like throwing myself overboard and just giving in to drowning.

I woke Paul, who could sleep through anything. Take a Zofran, he said. But they said to take it first thing in the morning. I was a newbie. I wanted to follow doc's order to the letter. He said, What time is it? 12:05. IT'S TOMORROW. TAKE IT NOW. I did and felt better within a half hour. Yes, that loggy, foggy feeling, but tolerable vs intolerable.

For mild queasiness I found that Phenergan worked best for me, having less of a knock out punch than Zofran (when the big guns weren't really needed). The *usual* med they give you for this did not work at all on me. Kytril?, I think. Like eating a banana for me. No effect. I learned quickly what worked for me and denied using the other immediately upon hearing the name. This would work for your TUMMY thing, I think, taking the edge off. Though feeling hungry and being unable to eat became the norm for me when on major chemo. A metallic taste, an inability to taste foods I ate and used to love. A craving for new things, like cucumbers which used to be tasteless and now I find wonderful. Lost 33 lbs.

FOUND IT. And then some... ANYONE ELSE HAVE A WEIGHT GAIN PROBLEM ON HERCEPTIN? It's most annoying as I never ever eat dessert of any kind (not a single piece of candy, a bite of cake or cookie), don't eat anything fried, etc. I should be having more FUN at my present weight. Well, I guess I am having fun -- being alive and all!

Andi :)

Christina,

Astragalus root and and Reishi mushroom can help bolster the WBC and might prevent the Neulasta necessity. Ruth took Gaia Herbs (Astragalus Supreme and Maitake Defense - liquid caps of both) and they seemed to really help.

Terri

Bummed Out, Wiped Out And Feeling Helpless
 

With all the supplements I take, I can't imagine how much *worse* my low RED BLOOD CELL COUNT would be without their help.

Still, open to suggestions. Slugging along like never before. Oh, the good old days when Aranesp kept me going strong...

The monoclonal antibody people need to revolt. At least, those in need of some pep. My get-up-and-go, got up and went. Bummer...

ANDI

Pulling This Back Up
 

Boy this sounds exactly like my nightmare, same reconstruction, and pretty much same stats. I will be getting my port the week of Oct 8th and chemo starts the following week. I also will be on the same drugs as you, I feel better taking these than the AC etc. Good luck to both of us, it will be a long ride I think.

Sue

Sue,

Write to me or visit this thread as much as you want, need! Everyone here is so supportive; I don't know how I'd get through this without this team to reinforce me.

The latest complaint: my face breaks out like crazy after both treatments. Now that my hair is falling (and my barber has cut my hair into a pixie) and my complexion has gone to the dogs, I look like a pimply Harry Potter. Uggg. The doctor suggests that it's the steroid (Decadron). It will go away by next week, if my last experience says anything, but ugggggg.

Can't seem to resolve the sensitive tummy issue. I just got a round of magazines in the mail and all the recipes look SO GOOD! Eating is one of the great joys in life! I want to have a good meal and feel good afterwards!

I'm going to be getting a port, too. I did the first two rounds with an IV until they scared me that the drugs can really damage the veins. Anyway, getting poked all the time for everything is a drag and the thread on ports was encouraging.

xoxo,
Cristina

Port...tummy Issues...and More...
 

Hi y'all! Must say, getting a PORT is the best thing I ever did. I love it. And it loves me. I am totally protective of it. Will not allow just any one to access it. Check that I am being given saline before and after w/heploc. This is my 2nd one and I want it to live another 50 yrs at least...

I remember my tummy issues. Major IBS came w/Taxotere and did not go away when done. Daily pain, spasms, somersaults going on in there, and my stomach would get hard as a rock. Chemo ate away at my stomach lining I was told. Took every med they have, w/little relief. Took 20 Imodium a day, most days, just to try and maintain a *normal* (HAH HAH!) life style...

Ate -- like a hamster. Ummm... Had flavored oatmeal w/raisins I added (when I felt up to *cooking*). Ate a handful of nuts on the shuffle from room to room. Ate two bites of a pasta, a pretzel. Hungry, but then, couldn't eat. Would push my plate to the middle of the table, I often couldn't tolerate the SMELL! I lost 33 lbs and never looked better, but for the bald head and no eyebrows or lashes. Makeup, a wig, some earring to be sure and I was a knockout, if you didn't mind cherubic cheeks/moon-face from Dexymethazone (steroid, day of and day after was my onc's rule back in the day). I swear I recall my MJ (fav onc) telling me that now not every one loses their hair from Taxotere (?different dosing). I just remember saying, OH, GREAT. Too bad for me. Good for others. Yet, I'm reading -- bald. Heard something about a little known ICEPACK (to wrap your head in when getting?? chemo). I pictured a showercap. Don't know. Most oncs don't know. But I have a friend -- a 30 yr SURVIVOR of bc -- who did not lose her hair -- all those many yrs ago -- because of the icepack thing. I'm just saying...

So eventually Effexor (which is an anti-depressant and couldn't hurt) is also supposed to help HOT FLASHES. I am in my 23rd yr of this *phase* that is non-stop hell. So I take the Effexor. And I'm happy. I'm ME. I still have the hot flashes. BUT -- no more tummy issues! It cured the IBS. I no longer live with daily pain, diarrhea, spasms, grumbling, rumbling, topsy turvy tummy. Occasionally, I take 1 Imodium and I'm good to go. Hope this helps at least 1 person!

With love,
Andi

My onc also recommended the salt water gargle which I hated. And that didn't do anything against the "sewer mouth". Biotene mouthwash was the only thing that helped. I tried the Biotene toothpaste, but it sure felt "skimpy" -- it didn't foam up at all. Still, it did work.

WIG answer
 

Wigs come heavy with hair because you can't ADD hair when needed. You need a wig stylist to cut and thin out to match your own hair. Ruth had hers thinned out quite a bit (and she had thick hair!) and it matched her old style. She gets compliments on her "hair" (wig) that she wears at work all the time. ONly difference are the wispy bangs that are there so there's not such a "line" between scalp and wig. (makes it look more realistic)

my only contribution about the "tummmy" issue is that I have noticed I need to eat as soon as I feel hungry. Because if I postpone it too long, the hunger morphs into nausea and then most food seems repulsive. So I try to have things handy that are quick to prepare or ready to eat. "Seize the moment!"

Bringing this up to the top for a new member.

Cristina

Well ladies,

I have had my #2 TCH and it didn't seem too bad until now, my hands and face are swollen and my muscles in my upper arms are aching. My eyes are puffy as well, but I don't have a fever or feel sick.

Have any of you wonder ladies experienced the hands swelling and they hurt because they are so big.