Shingles.. would you believe it

Hi girls I have breast mets in bone, liver and lungs. Has anyone had any experience with taxotere chemotherapy and how did you find the side effects and was it successful? I have have had 2 cycles so far and my tumour markers have gone up 30 and 53 points. Liver reading has been coming down gradually. All the best pam

Sorry - have been away for a week and just saw your post - thank you for the advice.  I will definitely take things quietly afterwards.  Today I see the radiotherapist and on Thursday the surgeon.  Then I will find out which comes first on the list, hopefully surgery, and get it over with.  Hope you are travelling well - just catching up with all the news on the site..

Michelle x

HI Michelle

I had a hystercectomy years ago for aneamic reasons - mine was vaginal so no cuts atall which was fantastic. I have had laparoscopic surgery as well though and it is very good. Just beware - you will be REALLY REALLY tired after it, more than you think you will. Takes many weeks to recover so be kind to yourself, rest a LOT.

magicmum

 

Thinking of you.... Had chemotherapy on Friday... Shingles gone, thank goodness. Picc line went well, no problems. Was given a vitamin b12 injection re pins and needles in feet. Spoke to oncologist, and have fluid build up, so she made an appt to have it massaged. This is quite common. Need to make an appt with doctor tomorrow, as my big toe nail is infected under nail, another side effect from chemotherapy. So many side effects.... So over them all. Seem to have every side effect with Taxol, and My oncologist said this was supposed to be easier to tolerate than FEC. Think she is wrong with this one, with me. Great to hear that you have finished chemotherapy... Hooray for you. And lovely to hear that the nurses made u have a great last day.... Of chemotherapy... Good luck, when u see the surgeon on 9/8. I need to have ovaries out, but I am inclined to be like you... Have a hysterectomy. I would probably feel more at ease. Let us know what the procedure entails, would like to know. Take care and always thinking of you. Love Julie xx

Thanks, yes I had chicken pox when I was younger. Apparently this can be caused by chemotherapy.... And my luck I got it. My oncologist prescribed me tablets to take and they helped heaps..... All cleared up, and was able to have chemotherapy on Friday. But, now I have and infected toe nail..... I suppose again due to chemotherapy. So am ringing the doctor tomorrow for an appointment. So over the hiccups... And hurdles. Hope all is well with you. Love Julie xx

Thanks, yes I had chicken pox when I was younger. Apparently this can be caused by chemotherapy.... And my luck I got it. My oncologist prescribed me tablets to take and they helped heaps..... All cleared up, and was able to have chemotherapy on Friday. But, now I have and infected toe nail..... I suppose again due to chemotherapy. So am ringing the doctor tomorrow for an appointment. So over the hiccups... And hurdles. Hope all is well with you. Love Julie xx

It's H (of Helen and Anne)

Sorry to hear about the "Shingles".....my family seem to get this alot and yes it is stressed related but it also closely related to Chicken Pox.  Apparently once you get Chicken Pox the virus stays in your body (much like the Herpes virus which can give you Cold sores) and can remain dormant for a number of years until you either under a great deal of stress, or you're run down or (and I think this might be your case) your body's immune system is being attacked (ie: Chemo).

Did you have Chicken Pox as a child ?  My brother had a bad dose of it when he was younger and he occasionally gets shingles - in fact he had it on his face right across and down thru his eye!  It was really serious and he nearly lost his sight but happily I'm pleased to say he got better.

I know it's not very pleasant but try to hang in there.  Possibly the Chemo may have stirred up the virus in your body because your immune system is so down.  If you find you're in pain with it ring your Oncologist and/or GP and get something for it.  One thing I learnt when I was going thru all this is you don't have to suffer and be in pain.

Oh and I've sent you a reply to your comment on my Post but somehow (I don't what I did wrong) I sent it to myself!  LOL !!   So if you log on to my blog you'll see your reply!  Sorry about that...take care and keep us posted.

Luv H

It's good to read that your shingles are feeling better now - don't worry about the pills - if they're doing the job who cares?  There will be many years NOT to take pills!  I don't know about picc lines (I have a port) but I hope it will settle down from your session tomorrow.  Are you taking Dexamethsone? - it can interfere with your sleeping, but seems to settle down over time.  A hot milk chocolate drink helped me drift off.

Let us know what the oncologist says about your arms - did you ring her today?   Would exercises help, or massage?  Thinking of you and hoping you got some constructive advice to help.  I am so sad to hear that you are going through all this.

Had my last chemo today  and the nurses blew up a surgical glove, drew a face on it with the thumb for a nose and wrote cute messages like "woohoo - last chemo 26/7/12" all over it, and tied it to my drip stand.  They are suck gorgeous girls.  The surgery I will need to have is a hysterectomy, but they do it laperascopically (?) now instead of open surgery, so hopefully a quick recovery.  I see the surgeon on 9/8.

Good luck tomorrow - will be thinking of you - you will be over the 1/2 way mark!!

Big hugs and love,

Michelle xx

Hi Michelle

Good to hear that you finish on Thursday. But keep us posted on your surgery/radiotherapy. What would the surgery be for this time?

Shingles are getting better now, with the tablets I had to take. I feel like I am a rattling cage at the moment. Pills, pills and more pills.... when will this ever end?

Picc line is driving me nuts at the moment - can't sleep. And I think I have fluid build up again on my surgery arm, as this at the moment feels huge. So I will be ringing my oncologist tomorrow morning to see what she thinks. Both my arms feels like the Incredible Hulk at the moment.

Glad that you are finally finishing your chemo, that would be a big relief.

Keep us posted, and always keeping my fingers crossed for you.

Love as always , Julie XX

Hi magicmum

I also was an avid blood donor. So needles never bothered me , nor my veins.... until CHEMO !!!

I used to give blood and also plasma. So my veins were quite used to large needles. But since chemo, they have totally gone nuts.

So the picc line was inserted, and still haven't used it yet.

Shingles, is getting better. Drugs have helped heaps. So I am hoping to be able to have chemo on Friday.

Love to you as well , Julie XX