Breast Cancer Community

Nan - congrats on finishing chemo! That is a major milestone!!!

Have you tried claritin for the bone pain from Neulasta? It really does help most people. I haven't noticed a twinge from the Neulasta.

Hopefully the rads will be easy by comparison!

Hugs,
Michelle

Nan,
Congratulations on finishing the chemo - that is huge!
I am sure the radiation treatments will be a breeze compared to chemo. I hope you get lots of rest and have lots of support around you.
You are in my thoughts and prayers for good days ahead!
xo Jenna

Nan
I have a little tip that helped me after my shot it may sound nuts but it really does help. After your shot make sure to get up every few hours and walk around the house. The more you move the faster the drug gets out through your body. It cut the pain from 7 days down to 3 for me. It hurts like hell and you don't fell like moving but it really did work and I tell you it was worth it in the end. A friend of mine had just gone through it and she told me that is what she did and I tried it. So I am passing it on to you, I wish I had known sooner I would have passed it on to you then. I would tell people I had gremlines in my body with jack hammers at my bones and in my head to because that is what it felt like. The shot hurt more then chemo, I would take chemo over the shot any day. I would beg my onc to not give me the shot just one treatment without please and she would tell me do you want to get sick and be in the hospital? I would say no and get the shot and be in pain for 7 days till my friend told me this tip. Hope it works for you 3 days is better then 7 good luck. Angel hugs Roberta,

Nan.
Congrats with finishing the chemo. I'm so sorry thte
b-12 shots are causing you that much pain.
I wish you lots of luck with your Rad treatments.
No hospitals for you.
love n hugs
faith

Roberta,
I had forgotten about that - moving does help a lot with those shots. I also found moving around after the taxol infusions helped a lot too, as the neuropathy was rough. Its tough to push yourself when you are in pain, but worth it to cut it down.
I move a lot now too with the arimidex as that causes me bone pain. Walking makes a big difference. If I skip a few days, my legs are mad at me!

I hope you start feeling better Nan. The Neulasta did cause flu like symptoms for me, had the shot every 2 weeks. All I can tell you is, it DOES get better! Hang in there girl - Jenna

Hi Ladies, you know I forgot about the Neulasta shots. I am not getting them with the Abraxane and my counts are staying up. None of them have went down at all. I can't remember 6 yrs ago when I had one if they hurt at all. I was so sick with the AC I guess more pain from the shot went totally out of my mind. Hang in there, Nan. I am praying the rads go easy for you. I do remember the fatigue with them after week 2. Naps helped.

I do have some bone pain with this new chemo. I found if I wear regular shoes with good support and not sloppy slippers it really helps. I tend to either go barefoot or slippers in the house. It is so weird all the things we have to figure out for ourselves--like what works for the side effects. On day 3 thru 5 is when the bone pain starts but one Percosett in the AM takes care of it for all day. I asked the Dr if I could become hooked on them. His answer NO. Not when I am only taking one a day. I have to keep a list tho, on the times and what I take as Memory is definitly gone bye-bye!!!

So happy for you Nan, that one hurdle is behind you. You know how easy rads are, just watch your skin.

Loads of prayers and gentle hugs to you.
Blessings
Jan

Hi Jan,
These are just some of things only those who have been thru this bc journey can relate to. It just never ends!
I am glad you found ways to deal with the bone pain. Mine started with taxol, then continued thru tamoxifen but a bit less, and now of course with arimidex. Rubbing my legs helps, walking, and of course when needed a pain pill. Whatever we need to do to get thru it all. Also, if I eat too much salt - chinese food - I have to remember to drink tons of water, as it seems to get worse with diet. UGGGHHHH.
Well, with the memory loss, maybe someday I'll forget all this pain - lol - got to keep on laughing to keep somewhat sane!!
hugs and flowers ~ jenna

Jan
My memory is so bad I have to put my pills in a pill case that has morning noon eve bedtime. If it didn't I would forget if I took them and what ones I took. I also have to write down what I have taken when I have new ones like antibiotics or something to take.
I also have the bone pain it never went away after chemo. I was told it was because I already had bone problems before and chemo just made it worse. I have arthritis and fibro plus herniated disc and sliped vertbra all of this was affected by chemo. So my bones still hurt all the time. I have learned the more you move the better it is for you.I also go to pt and use a heated pool to excercise in as much as possible. It really helps going into the heated pool and the excercise feels so good.
If you could find a heated pool near you that you could go into it would really help you bone pain even if all you do is walk in the water. A lot of ywca's have them or physical therapy places have heated pools for therapy and open their pools for wellness programs that is what I go to a wellness program and I can also use the gym mon thru fri. I hope that this helps you anything that could ease pain is a big help for me I know it helps me sleep better on nights that I go in the pool. Have a great day angel hugs Roberta,

Jenna
Like I told Jan if you check into a place that has a heated pool it really helps with bone pain. If you have a ywca or therapy place that has a heated pool they useually have a wellness program that lets you use the gym and the pool. I am in physical therapy and also wellness so I use the heated pool when done with my therapy and in the evening to do excercises. It really helps losen things up and relax plus it is the only way I get to use weights and not hurt my back. You should check into it and see if there is any place near you and see if it works for you. Have a great day angel hugs Roberta.

Thanks Roberta,
We do have a YMCA, I willhave to look into a Wellness Program. I have Tufts heath insurance and they may cover something for this.
Appreciate it and enjoy your day ~ Jenna xo

Jenna
You are very welcome if it helps I know what it is like to have bone pain uuhhgg!!! It helps me sleep on the nights I go in the heated pool. It feels so good on the muscles and the bones I stay in the whole 2 hours that itis opened. I am thinking about going in the mornings also mon wed and fri. I hope you have luck with the ywca and useing the pool there it really helps me a lot going in the heated pool. Good luck and have a great day angel hugs Roberta,

Thanks for the tip on heated pools, Roberta. A great idea----But you got to be kidding about a YMCA in our small towns. NOT. The only pool I know of is thru a Fitness Club and I would have to join. I have to decide which I can afford----New Internet Connection or health club. Right now to save my sanity it is the Connection. LOL. LOL LOL LOL.

Also it would help if my hubby quits dragging me out to the Casino. LOL. It had been 2 months tho, since we took my Mom out so we went Sunday night. She loves to go and is 91 yrs young. She does love to play her games. I did manage to break even but it was a hard one to pull off. LOL. Ususally my DH goes with his bro. I like that much better as then I head into my sewing room.

I have to get new stuff in my shop before the holiday shopping starts. I rent a 10 X 10 foot area in an antique mall and have been doing so good since the staff moved me down to the 2nd level in June. I had been on the 3rd floor and not to many older customers were able to climb 2 flights of stairs. Me included, LOL. It was so nice of them---had all my big stuff moved downstairs by the time I got there that day. All I had to do is re-arrange my products. I sell all quilted items---baby quilts--baby bibs--quilted pot-holders--quilted bags---quilted landscape wall-hangings (my own designs) and lounging quilts. I have many more ideas than time. LOL. Now I am making table runners. I use striped material and they turn out so neat.

That is why I was so concerned about my eyes. Since I didn't have to take that stupid decadron last Fri my eyes have been really good. I hope and pray it was just from the pre-meds. Have eye appt on Thurs this week.

Thanks for all your tips on our health and gardening. You are the best with so much good info.

Blessings
Jan

Oh Jan, how my Mom would have loved to go with you to the casino! In her later years, the slots were her absolute joy! And she was quite good at it...No big wins, but ususally a few bucks ahead! She would always grow so impatient with "cheap" me as I refused to bet more than one line..which, of course, meant I never won! But much as when I was as a child, I still feel that anything more than $5.00 is expensive so I don't gamble well!

When Mom died and we had her memorial luncheon, I proudly displayed her favorite plaque which reads: Gone to The Casino! It seemed to say it all. I still have that plaque on a shelf in the computer room. Nice memories!

Blessings.
Rachael

Oh Rachael, I will have to find a plaque like that one for my mother. So cute.

Oh my gosh, ONE LINE!!!!! That is how my Mom plays. I finally convinced her to bet at least 20 cents so she can cover the different ways it might pay out. Even at 20 cents she gets way more Bonuses than I ever do betting 60 cents. She is so lucky. One time she hit the MAX button by mistake and won $100.00. Boy she was so excited. Now she can't figure out why she can't win like that all the time.. It was so funny.

Since I am dealing with Chemo Fog I hit MAX a couple of times but I was not lucky like my Mother---my money just disappears. UGH.

So how is "Sir Harry" doing? He must be behaving himself as we haven't heard any stories yet.

Blessings Jan