Chemo starts Monday morning

[Hippie]

Yahoo!!!!! Round 1 DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Damn I was lossing my mind sitting in that damn recliner that much this week... But I made it.. Slight/Mod fatigue this week and a Lot of Acid Reflex but I think Nexium and malanta is starting to getting that under control.. Little nervous about my first couple or so days off of chemo and no anti nausua meds in IV but I will take my Zoflan and see how it goes.. Just thought I would do a quick update...

[Karen]

Hippie,
Congrats on being a week closer to getting this behind you!

[Scott]

Keep up the good work!

[rlhawk]

After my first cycle, acid reflux and mucositis were the worst side effects. Don't hesitate to get a prescription for Magic Mouthwash. It's fantastic.

[DianeE]

Hi Hippie,

My son, Brian's worst side effect was the acid reflux, and I think the nurses
were putting Nexium in the IV. Make sure you stay away from foods
that have a lot of acid. And drink, drink, drink to flush it out. Brian
also got extra IV fluids before and after to help with the acid reflux.

Hang in there! Dadmo's son went through four rounds of EP, so if
you have specific questions, I'm sure Dadmo will have the answers.

Diane

[Apache]

hang tough Hippie, keep pounding good fluids and get lots of rest, take those meds as a precaution.

[petep]

hey hippie,

hope all is well...saw someone mentioned magic mouthwash...because I had acid reflux so long before doing anything I really burned out my esophagus...ears, throat all hurt...and the magic mouthwash was truly magic...keep that in your backpocket...but it sounds like you are on top of things with the nexium...smarter than I was...

your attitude is great...get psyched for that 2nd cycle because if you are 3BEP (I'm assuming), after that, just one to go...

pete

[dadmo]

Hippie:
From reading your bio you're about in the same situation as my son and he's cured. I know it's hard but it's going to be ok.

[Hippie]

Just another update!

Well last weekend after chemo, Saturday and Sunday felt like death warmed over.. NO nausua whatsoever, Hot flash feeling and some pretty nasty fatigue, almost more of a loss of balance feeling. but that only lasted sat and sun, Mon was not so bad and was at work for half day, by Tuesday was back to work fulltime and pretty much 100% normal except notice I wearout a little quicker then normal... All body functions back to complete normal by tuesday and enjoying my time off, bloodwork was tuesday and all is well with kidney and liver functions, potasium is a little low so Onc told me to eat a banana or orange juice or gatoraid, Yup I looked Gatoraid actully is pretty high in potasium, so if you dont like banana and or orange juice like I and need potasium Gatoraid is a source for that... I have found a good article on Acid reflux and along with my Nexium, I take a teaspoon of Honey a couple times a day and it has REALLY made a BIG difference, Also for some reason a slice or 2 of red delicious and yes it was specific about that brand helping calm acid reflux. just some info that may help someone else that fight acid reflux bad and meds alone aint doing the 100% trick for you.

before Round 1 weight = 172lb
Tuesdays bloodwork weight =177lb
5lbs gain , no problem eating yet and hopefully will not happen.



Round 2 starts Oct 16

Well thought I would check in and do a little update,

Peace Out!!

[IowaBrian]

Good luck don't eat too much
Brian

[dadmo]

Hippie:
It sounds like round one was as normal as it gets. Don't worry about the weight gain it will come of when treatment stops. Did your doctor prescribe supplemental potassium? If not you should ask.

[Eric V.]

Hippie

I would take prilosec every day while I was taking Chemo and that worked for acid reflux due to the treatment. I finished 4 x BEP in April. You can do it !!!!!!

[Eric V.]

Hippie

I didn't stop eating until fourth round of Chemo, You should be fine through 3 rounds.

[Hippie]

does it seem that each round the side effects get worse ??? Am I reading to much into some of everyones comments(paranoid) or does it seems to get worse with the side effects each round you go through ????? Onc said I would probably be more fatigued through this next round but because I had NO problems with any vomitting/nausau that I probably will not have a problem with this through these other rounds, So just curious what did you guys notice different better/worse from round 2 compared to round 1. except of course the obvious hair loss cause that started a little yesterday with a small amount starting to come loss, so I finally went and buzz cut the head yesterday from having a ponytail halfway down my back. BUT on a good note more then a handfull of people friends and customers of mine at my company said I look 10 years younger cause my receding hairline isnt noticed with it all a 1/4 long. I will take that side effect lol

[dadmo]

Hippie:
I hate to be the bearer of bad news but the side effects generally do get worse with each round. My son’s major complaint as treatment progressed was increased tiredness and restless leg syndrome and the feeling of being over caffeinated. It wasn’t unusual to see my wife and I walking with him at 1 or 2 in the morning. The most noticeable side effects were his lose of hair and bloated looks do to the steroids used to stimulate the appetite.
Round three is generally the worst only because it seems like it will never end and cycle four while physically the hardest is the easiest to accept because the end is in sight and you know you will be cured.