[DanaRT]

Hi vlcarr,

I tolerated the TCH regime pretty well. A few down days at about day 2-4 then I would perk back up. The first sign that the chemicals were floating through my body was the metallic taste which is from the Carboplatin. My first treatment was 3 days before Christmas and nothing tasted good. I had a couple good bouts with heartburn--Protonix (samples from the onco) helped a lot. Take your anti-nausea meds at the first sign of gagginess and it works wonders. I never "got sick". Mostly just very tired. I did keep up with light housework and cooking but I took many days off of work. I work chairside for an orthodontist and didn't feel well enough to be perky for 8 hours. I enjoyed a lot of orange sherbert, ginger ale (make sure it really has ginger in it), green teas, 7-up, .
You will be given steriods before treatments to help offset side effects. I was given Decadron. My BIG treatments were every third Friday. The steriods had me feeling very good that my husband and I usually went out to dinner after my big treatment. The steriods made me stay awake for hours and hours. Finally, I was given a script for Ambien. It helped a lot but can be somewhat addicting. Even cutting the tiny pill in half helped take the edge off and make me relax.
My hair began to really fall out on day 14. I had my friend shave it, cried a little bit and then moved on. Hated my wigs. I wore baseball caps for the most part. Went bald at home and visiting. My bald head was so freeing. The smiled to myself as I felt rain on my scalp--a neat feeling.
Welcome the support from friends and family. I invested in stationary. It was theraputic to write heartfelt thank you notes and telling people how much they meant to me.
A few good books and movies help too.
Are you getting a port? My port served me well. It was security for me.

Sorry to go on and on. We can send you a personnal message the next time.

Take care,
Dana