EDTA

Hi Ladies,

Anyone had an EDTA Kidney function test before starting chemo?  I'm going next week and would like to know what to expect.

[tellme]

Hi there,
just had one last week. Completely painfree unless you hate needles. Will inject something into your vein. You go away and come back in two hours to give a blood test then you give another blood test after another two hours. Just a pain going back and forth.  This is done so that they can determine what dosage of chemo to give you. I start my chemo - carbo-taxol on tuesday. Bit nervous - in fact very nervous. When does yours start?

[Nat2]

Okay, that doesn't sound too bad!  

I will probably start next Friday - I'm having six cycles of carbo alone, I'm a bit nervous but not too worried as I think carboplatin is more tolerable.

Good luck with your chemo - let us know how it goes.

[dian07]

Hey there.....I can certainly relate to your anaxiety as I too was nervous before my chemo began.....but, I also wanted to get started because I wanted it over with and behind me.  It wasn't fun, sometimes I was down right miserable, but it was doable.  I can tell you both have questions and I will be happy to answer any questions you guys have.....do you have a port already?  I am so glad I had that thing put in, and I will have it for two years yet so I will continue having it flushed every 6-8 weeks and monitor my ca125 that way. I didn't get sick the day of chemo because of all the extra meds they put into the mix, but 2-3 days later I would start feeling the side effects of nausea, achiness, plain old tiredness and weakness....it usually lasted about five days...it gradually gets worse then it gradually gets better....I was fully recovered before it was time for my next treatment.  I was given Neulasta after each treatment to help my blood counts back to normal...one of the side effects can be "light to moderate" pain...I was in agony and took pain pills for a few days  afterwards...it interferred with even my sleep....I had no idea what was going on as nobody told me what I was in for.
Another thing...I got a childs battery operated tooth brush as my gums were quite sensitive....I didn't get any sores though and that is a possibility....there are mouthwashes for the prevention of those. I was on carbo and taxol....my hair began falling out after the first treatment...it didn't take long...it is comming back now and I am not liking the idea of long hair again...too much work!
Don't be afraid to ask for anything...don't think you are being a baby or a nuisance....everyone want's to help anyone going through what you will be going through....be good to yourself tell others what you need...give them a chance to help...remember they feel helpless and need to help.
Stay ahead of nausea, pain and the inability to sleep....there are creams for nausea that works immediately..there are pills and suppositories for nausea that are long lasting...don't think you have to be tough...stay ahead of your pain and make certain you are able to get as much sleep as you need.  Get your meds in advance and make certain they are located where you will need them....there was one time I was on the stool with diarhea (diarrhea) and throwing up into the trash can, and of course I was alone...couldn't leave the bathroom to get the cream to rub on my wrist to stop vomiting!!! Not my smartest moment...there were many such instances....all I could do is laugh when I finally could get to the kitchen...LEARN TO LAUGH AND DO IT OFTEN! There will be many things that come up without any warning or anticipation....ask me and I will respond...e-mail me any time....you guys are not alone...sometimes it will feel that way.....try to remember that....there are many of us here....many have been where you are now and we remember it well.
I will watch for you both. You can do this.....
Peace.
dian

[tellme]

Thankyou so much for the information.
I am extremely scared and worried. I have been given steroids, dexamethasone to help with the sickness, to start on the monday night and also tuesday morning before i begin the chemo. I haven't been given a port and they have not mentioned it. Last time, 20 yrs ago i had carboplatin only and the memory of that still remains. But then they weren't ahead of the nausea and also my hair didn't fall out. I know to expect that. I have invested in the mouthcare products.
I think my main fear is losing the control. Did your appetite increase? Did you put on weight? I was told the steroids increase the appetite. My main fear is nausea and sickness as I suffered greatly from that the last time, but I was told by the oncologist they will give me everything to prevent that. I also understand that constipation is also a problem - is that true? If so I will keep my prune juice on hand.
Any more info would be very useful.
thanks.
Love and peace
Shen.

[kathy o]

I must tell you over the last three years I have had almost 30 chemos taxol-carbo and have never had nausea or sickness except when I forgot to take a sickness pill. Emend is a new one only have to take three pills and the other is zofran. The emend did not seem to cause constipation  for me, but it is very expensive if you don't have insurance. Sorry that you have to go through this again. Keep up your good spirits!!!

[kathy o]

I just wanted to say to Dian , did it not get your goat when they were advertising on tv about neulasta that side effects were light to moderate bone pain!!  That stuff caused some of the worst pain I have ever had in my life!!!  Last treatments I had neupogen two days every week after chemo and they were the small doses, I was much better equipped to handle the pain which was not as nearly as bad as the neulasta. I remember that I had to have my hubby give me the neulasta shots next day and I would cry and he would feel like ****!! A few funny stories I could tell about that!! Laughter is the best medicine.