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Anthi...how did it go today?

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Posted 1/16/2007 10:39 PM (GMT 0)
Hope they got that needle in on the first stick and all else went just as smoothly!

As Lori said, one more major hurdle crossed.  Before you know it, you'll be through!  We can do anything for six months.

Love and hugs...

BEV

Posted 1/17/2007 10:51 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Bev

It was fine thank you.  They gave me steroids and anti emetics intravenously  before the chemo drugs and then 4 different meds to bring home with me.  I felt very very nauseous yesterday evening but managed  not to be sick at all - had to use all 4 types of meds but they worked very well.

I've spent most of today in a horizontal position but this evening have taught my advanced level students and I managed to remain reasonably coherent during the lesson (I think)!!   Looking forward to getting back into bed now.

Many thanks for all the useful advice.

Take care everyone.

Anthi

 

Posted 1/17/2007 11:06 PM (GMT 0)
So glad it went well for you.  If you've never taken steroids before, hope they are tapering you off of them.  The first treatment I had, I took them and then stopped after three days.  CRASH!!!  From then on, we tapered off of them each time.  My house was never cleaner than when I was on those steroid buzzes, though!  LOL

One down, girl.  Way to go!

Love and hugs...

BEV

Posted 1/18/2007 3:40 AM (GMT 0)

Congrat Anthi! You survived your first chemo. Sounds as though you did remarkably well. Please remember to allow your body time to rest. Don't push too much.

Do you have a port? If not, you might want to consider the possibility of having one put in. It makes taking the chemo and having bloodwork done so much easier.

One thing...If any of your students have the flu or a cold, please think about asking them not to come to your class. Your immune system will be compromised during your chemo and you really need to protect yourself as much as possible.

Again, congrats on completing your first treatment.

Gentle hugs...Deb


Posted 1/23/2007 10:55 PM (GMT 0)

Hello again and many thanks for the advice.  Yes I've asked my students not to come if they've got colds or anything because of the risk of infection.  

I felt reasonably OK the day after my first chemo but went downhill after that and have had a week of feeling pretty ghastly.  The dizziness was the worst - I was hardly able to stand up yesterday. I think I'm over the worst now though.

Isn't it odd too how everything tastes strange.  I can understand why people put on weight while they're on chemo  - I have developed a strange addiction to fried egg sandwiches !

Take care everyone

Anthi

Posted 1/24/2007 11:01 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Anthi! So good to hear from you. I'm glad that you are beginning to feel better. Did you have any meds that helped w/ the dizziness? If not, ask your onco about a med called "Antivert". I had a problem w/ dizziness before I was ever diagnoised. I would take that along w/ a "Valium" and it would curb the dizziness. I had to laugh when I read your comment about having a "strange addiction to eggs". I can remember eating lots of eggs - fried, scrambled, omlets, etc. I can also remember having chopped oinions and using ketchup (not w/ the fried). Whatever you want to eat, go for it!

Glad to hear that you are taking precautions regarding anyone having a cold or the flu. It is hard but necessary.

Take care and let us know how you are doing.

Gentle hugs...Deb

Posted 1/24/2007 2:14 PM (GMT 0)
Anthi,I was hooked on fried eggs with mustard when i had chemo.You sound like a very strong lady.Your in my prayers. Tammy
Posted 1/24/2007 4:40 PM (GMT 0)
don't remember the eggs, do remember thrush, though.  That's the thought that came to me when you talked about the taste in your mouth.  It was a condition that coated the inside of my mouth and I didn't know I had it until someone on the board talked about it.  I took medicine for it and the taste in my mouth improved. 

 

Steroids, Please!  I could have completed my dissertation in three days!!!!!  I was permanently psyched on that stuff.  really intense personality.  Glad you're doing better  sorry about the dizziness. 

 

What grade do you teach?

Posted 1/24/2007 11:13 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Tammy.  I shall try the mustard tomorrow with my fried egg sandwich!  Thanks for the tip and thanks for the prayers - I appreciate that.

Hi Ellen - thanks for suggesting it might be oral thrush  -  I hadn't thought about that.  I've had a problem with that before, caused by antibiotics, so I've already got some pastilles for it.  I'll give them a try.

I teach English as a Foreign Language.  These days I'm partly retired but teach just a couple of groups at home, so my students come to me and I don't  have to go out, which is great in my present situation.  Most of my students are au pair girls and boys who come to the UK for a few months to learn English.  They're delightful young people in their early twenties from different European countries - France, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary etc.

Best wishes everyone and take care

Anthi

Posted 1/25/2007 3:06 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Anthi-

Hang in there! Consider asking your doctor about the dizziness, it may be a side effect of chemo or something, that perhaps they can help prevent next time.  Chances are there is some medication to help with whatever side effect chemo brings on! And as for the bad taste, that is common too. I think most of us had some disturbance of the taste buds. I had chemo on Tuesdays and THursday started the wacky tastebuds. It lasted for about 3 days, and I found water to taste terrible and even seem thicker. The mint gum that I chewed tasted bad then too...also try lemon drop candies (hard candies), they seem to help the taste buds.  I had no interest in coffee but tea was great.

I also remember that each chemo cycle was identical to the one before. 10:00 on Tuesday I would have my only bout of nausea, and Friday at 5 pm started the reflux. The predictability helped make it a little more tolerable.

Hugs,

Lori

Posted 1/25/2007 2:33 PM (GMT 0)
Anthi

I thought I would jump in and wish you speedy chemo sessions. I too had a strange taste in my mouth, but it did not stop me from eating. I was one of the unlucky ones who gained during chemo and after because I was on steroids for almost 4 months. Im trying to get it back in control but not doing very well. I was like Lori when it came to coffee I could not stand the taste and Im a long time coffee drinker. Just the thought of Eggs, redmeat, fish and a whole lot of other things would make my stomach queasy. I still have trouble with some smells. I hope you tolerate the chemo as well as I did. My first was awful but after that they were very smooth.

Good luck to you and keep us posted.

L&H
Bernadette
Posted 1/25/2007 10:56 PM (GMT 0)

Hello Bernadette and thanks for your good wishes.  I'm thinking of you too at the moment and praying for you.

Hi Lori and thanks for the tip about lemon candies.  I'll try those.

I've bought a couple of great hats from an excellent website I found which specialises in hats for chemo patients (good sized hats to cover all the head). They'll double as beach hats afterwards for my next holiday in Greece.  The holiday was booked before I was diagnosed but it's not until September so I hope to be able to go.  One of the hats is a pale blue baseball cap with sequins - sounds really tacky doesn't it but in fact it's great !

Best wishes everyone and take care

Anthi

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