Cancer Support and Caregivers Who Are Trail Blazers!

[clay]

Originally Posted by julieisafemme

Hello all! My Mom is doing really well. Amazingly so. She had a radiation treatment last week. She had no side effects and it was not too hard for her. She has gained 10 pounds since she started chemotherapy.

This week she had a fever a couple of days but her white cell count was ok. She in on antibiotics and seems to be ok with that. They are tapering her off the steroids slowly. Next week she will start her fourth round of chemotherapy.

She got two super cute wigs and that has made her very happy. They look great!

HeavenleAngel I hope you are feeling well and will call the cancer center. I have started volunteering with seniors and I get so much pleasure from helping. Anyone who is volunteering wants to help and you will be doing them a favor by allowing them to help you!

Be well everyone.

AWESOME, Mom!!! WTG! Thanks Julies..hugs to you both!!

[Heavenleahangel]

Just stopping in to give everyone an update on my progress. I have been sick to my stomach and feeling really "bloated" all week. I know now why they say chemo causes fatigue but I dont understand how they expect you to exercise to beat the fatigue. The people who tell you that obviously have never went through this stuff. I just cant muster the energy to walk up my stairs, let alone exercise. Mine is partly from the dehydration, Im sure.
I have tried to shield Jacob from as much of this as I can, but he is so smart and so clingy to me, I cant hide my condition. It really makes me sad...
Thanks again everyone for the private and yahoo messages wishing me well. It really brightens my day when I log in and see that someone cares.

[JustJo]

Originally Posted by Heavenleahangel

Just stopping in to give everyone an update on my progress. I have been sick to my stomach and feeling really "bloated" all week. I know now why they say chemo causes fatigue but I dont understand how they expect you to exercise to beat the fatigue. The people who tell you that obviously have never went through this stuff. I just cant muster the energy to walk up my stairs, let alone exercise. Mine is partly from the dehydration, Im sure.
I have tried to shield Jacob from as much of this as I can, but he is so smart and so clingy to me, I cant hide my condition. It really makes me sad...
Thanks again everyone for the private and yahoo messages wishing me well. It really brightens my day when I log in and see that someone cares.

Hi Heavenlea,

Sorry you're feeling so bad. My mom struggles with dehydration and it was a major issue. We found that adding Pedialyte did her a world of good. Right now we use the unflavored variety and mix it half and half with juice a couple times a day. It's worth a try.

[Heavenleahangel]

Originally Posted by JustJo

Hi Heavenlea,

Sorry you're feeling so bad. My mom struggles with dehydration and it was a major issue. We found that adding Pedialyte did her a world of good. Right now we use the unflavored variety and mix it half and half with juice a couple times a day. It's worth a try.

Thanks for the suggestion. I naively started guzzling Chrystal Lite, but the dr told me any kind of beverages that have "lite" in the name will just run right through me and NOT to drink them. Who knew, right? I have started eating ice chips, too. It's all water..lol, and popsickles. I hope your Mom feels better soon! You are very special for caring for her. Wish I could say the same about my family.

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by Heavenleahangel

Just stopping in to give everyone an update on my progress. I have been sick to my stomach and feeling really "bloated" all week. I know now why they say chemo causes fatigue but I dont understand how they expect you to exercise to beat the fatigue. The people who tell you that obviously have never went through this stuff. I just cant muster the energy to walk up my stairs, let alone exercise. Mine is partly from the dehydration, Im sure.
I have tried to shield Jacob from as much of this as I can, but he is so smart and so clingy to me, I cant hide my condition. It really makes me sad...
Thanks again everyone for the private and yahoo messages wishing me well. It really brightens my day when I log in and see that someone cares.

Heavenleaangel,

There have been a number of studies done that have shown that even the smallest amount of exercise helps with fatigue during chemo. Even just taking a 5-10 minute, slow walk will make a difference. Built up from there.

Ok, so I didn't follow that advice consistently myself during chemo, but I thought I would let you know what I have read in more than one place.

Don't forget that Gatorade is great for dehydration. It has the electrolytes to get you back into balance (you lose this when you are dehydrated). If you start to lose weight and have a hard time not getting it under control, choose the Pedialyte, for certain. Or do Gatorade for dehydration and protein shakes for calories/health.

Also, drinking a lot of water is important after chemo. It flushes the chemo out of your system. You will feel less shitty the sooner you get that stuff out.

[julieisafemme]

Pedialyte pops are good too. Especially if the chemotherapy is causing mouth sores. My Mom is also rinsing with baking soda twice a day and that has helped the mouth sores this time around.

[clay]

Originally Posted by julieisafemme

Pedialyte pops are good too. Especially if the chemotherapy is causing mouth sores. My Mom is also rinsing with baking soda twice a day and that has helped the mouth sores this time around.

hey Julieisa...Walgreen's carries a whole product line of BioTene products geared to help with these issues...dry mouth anyway.....and you can get a prescription for a therapeutic mouthwash from your oncologist...jus' sayin'

[julieisafemme]

Originally Posted by claybaby

hey Julieisa...Walgreen's carries a whole product line of BioTene products geared to help with these issues...dry mouth anyway.....and you can get a prescription for a therapeutic mouthwash from your oncologist...jus' sayin'

Yes my Mom has the prescription but she has not filled it yet. Magic Mouthwash I think it is called. She likes popsicles so that works for her. I don't know about the BioTene. I will have to get that for her. She has a bridge that she takes out at night and that was really irritating her mouth. She left it in at night and that helped but that also annoyed her! So now she is back to taking it out again. Thanks for the info Clay and I hope you are feeling well.

[clay]

Originally Posted by julieisafemme

Yes my Mom has the prescription but she has not filled it yet. Magic Mouthwash I think it is called. She likes popsicles so that works for her. I don't know about the BioTene. I will have to get that for her. She has a bridge that she takes out at night and that was really irritating her mouth. She left it in at night and that helped but that also annoyed her! So now she is back to taking it out again. Thanks for the info Clay and I hope you are feeling well.

You are so very welcome, Julieis...and yes, it IS called Magic Mouthwash...I am fine....thanks for asking...give mom a hug...have a great weekend...Clay