iowagirl

Porter, Thank you for chiming in and good luck when I do the first chemo infusion. I do appreciate any of this personal experience type information. It seems that your experience is the most typical from what I’ve read and goes along with the data sheets I was given. Both of my oncologists contradicted each other, especially about the hit to the immune system. I’m surprised to hear that Oxaliplatin is going harder for you, because both of the oncologists said that it was easier on the body as far as side effects, but wasn’t usually used first because of cost and some insurance companies wouldn’t agree to pay for it unless Cisplatin failed or at least was used first Since I’m now retired, I can take the time to rest if needed…or go for a walk…in other words, to concentrate on “me” instead of all those customers for a change. I know about steroids and jitteriness, as I’ve taken them for severe asthma in the past, though only a couple times and for short durations. It wasn’t something I could take and do my cake decorating business very well….I had a tendency to poke the cake decorating tip right into the side of the cake from shakiness. It was kind of an icky feeling, but not something that made me feel that bad to not take them.

Oh Lisa, I had to laugh out loud at your description of the issue of hair loss /growth and not having to shave legs or arm pits…..just a hoot. Yeah…it was too bad it didn’t happen in the summer….kind of a waste of a good thing there. Thanks also, for all the info on the side effects you did and didn’t have. When two oncologists tell you two totally different things, you don’t know who to believe any more. I trust the people who are here to give me their personal experiences more at this point. I know that each person will be different. My oncologist hasn’t mentioned any medications, like anti-nausea yet. I’ve heard that ginger tea drunk for the 3 days before chemo can help that, but I have no idea where to find it. Our big grocery chain here doesn’t have it. I hesitate to go to our Health /nutrition type store here because it’s in a very bad area of town. Have you ever tried it? I may try to find it on the web if it was worth doing.

Thanks also for the port info…..esp about your arm. That’s exactly what I’m experiencing. It’s improved a little today, but really feels crappy unless I have Advil in my system.

Julie T.

Thank you, one and all, for your support and suggestions for my temp problem. This morning my temp was 97.2. We went to see the oncologist at 4 p.m Sunday and his conclusion was that it was an infection in my lower, right shin, based on the skin being very hot. It’s been reddish and warmer on that side alone, since 2010, when I took Metoprolol ER as a replacement for Atenolol twice a day for irregular heart beats I’ve had for years. (I wasn’t having problems…she just thought this would be less trouble). My lower legs immediately swelled which I attributed to sitting a lot while caring for that baby grandson. However, my voice became hoarse and I coughed all the time. I also had times when food would stick in my throat and make me gag. Eventually, I found out that I was actually allergic to the Metoprolol (swelling throat) and the exaggerated leg swelling was a side effect of Metoprolol (and sometimes Atenolol…but from that, I only had mild swelling).

I don’t know if the temp I really from the leg or not, but after taking two doses yesterday of the new antibiotic the onc gave me, the swelling came down in both legs for the first time in over a week and a half, so maybe something was going on different there.

As to what antibiotics to use, I have to be very careful to use something not too broadspectrum because after taking one called Cefdinir in Dec of 2012, I developed C-Diff in Feb of 2014. C-Diff is a very, nasty and extremely difficult bacterial infection of the colon and can cause death. Don’t want to repeat that if at all possible.

The antibiotic he put me on is an Erythromiacin…which can still cause C-Diff, but not as likely. I’ve been taking two probiotics a day and his suggestion was to take three.

Another bump in the road. Sure wish the road crew would get out and smooth out the bumps and holes a bit. We’re use to potholes in Iowa, especially after the winter, but that doesn’t mean we like them.

Oh….a note of interest….as we arrived at the oncologist’s office yesterday, the weather radio gave out a warning for the county to the south of us for severe storms. By the time we went through the pharmacy drive up to see if the script was filled (it was not), there was a warning for our county. As we parked at an angle to watch the clouds (we’re trained weather spotters), the sirens went off…yup….tornado headed toward us. We watched the sky very carefully and just as the pharmacy called us on the cell phone to tell us the script was ready, the warning was cancelled. Phew!

Julie T.

we called the local oncologist and after an hour+ he called back and after hearing what my symptoms were he wanted to meet me at his clinic (about 8 minutes from our house)….on Sunday no less….so maybe when we saw him on the 21st (Monday) he was having a bad day. The 101 temp has now dropped (after a shower) to 100.4. However, after I dried and almost got to my bed to get dressed, I was suddenly really dizzy and nearly passed out (I’m not prone to fainting). Sitting down didn’t help and I quickly laid down on the bed and felt better. The onc does want to see me in person, but mentioned getting an antibiotic going. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, for helping me through another bump in the road. I was so upset earlier to think that the onc will want to post pone the first chemo on Tuesday. Saturday started the 9th week post surgery and I’m getting nervous to get moving on this for the best chance to kill of any possible microscopic cells.

As i posted earlier, we did called the interventional radiologist, who wasn’t interested unless my temp was 101 or over. We also called the cardiopulmonary dept where the implant was done….but got the same run around. When the temp hit 101, and saw your replies, I skipped both those people and called the oncologist directly as the others really don’t have a skin in the game concerning the chemo to start on Tuesday. I’m sure my GP would have said to call the oncologist or the interventional radiologist, so I by passed her also.

Will post later to let you all know what he said about this.

Julie T.