Had my first Taxol treatment (and boy was I surprized)

Oct 5,2006 - began 4 Taxol every 2 weeks
WOW did that cramp my lifestyle or WHAT?

At least I was fair-warned of the muscle aches commencing within
first 48hrs and lasting a couple of days. I managed to squeeze a
church concert on keyboard just before that kicked in but NOT
before some bone pain kicked in -- not sure what caused that but
it is the most pain I've ever felt. Of course pain is relative and I've
never had any illness involving pain or even a broken bone so what
do I know? I was just getting past that when I caught some kind
of virus. Like a good girl I got in to the clinic only to find out I
didn't have any infection, had a clean pelvic scan, got some pain
meds for the bone pain (which immediately stopped -- power of
suggestion?), and a shot for slightly lowered red cell count and I
was good to go. NOT. This virus lingered for 6 days. I took
more Tylenol in 1 week that I've taken my entire lifetime keeping
the fever down. But I've had a normal to very low-grade fever
for about 24 hours now. Here's hoping they can keep me on
schedule.

If I stay on schedule my reward is that I will finish before
Thanksgiving, which is also my birthday this year so I'll have
lots to be thankful for. I'm also thinking about ideas for the
future, not all necessarily pleasant for some people around me
but I think will be best for me.

Luck for tomorrow -- Taxol # 2.
Marsha

Hi, Marsha,

"Mizz Marcia Ryder" <MizzOtis@regrets.com> wrote in message
news:CeCZg.15990$OE1.3724@tornado.ohiordc.rr.com.. .
> Oct 5,2006 - began 4 Taxol every 2 weeks
> WOW did that cramp my lifestyle or WHAT?
>
.....
> Luck for tomorrow -- Taxol # 2.

Here's hoping it'll go better than the first one.

Did your doc give you pain pills to take for the bone pain on each cycle? I
found that even OTC pain pills helped, though I didn't have Taxol bone pain
nearly as bad as you're having. Usually, once you figure out the timing, it
works best to take the pain pills early, just before or at the first twinges
of bone pain. It's hard to get it under control after it's full-bore
underway.

Will be thinking of you, and beaming positive thoughts your way . . . .

Ann T.
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Mizz Marcia Ryder wrote:
> Oct 5,2006 - began 4 Taxol every 2 weeks
> WOW did that cramp my lifestyle or WHAT?
>
> At least I was fair-warned of the muscle aches commencing within
> first 48hrs and lasting a couple of days. I managed to squeeze a
> church concert on keyboard just before that kicked in but NOT
> before some bone pain kicked in -- not sure what caused that but
> it is the most pain I've ever felt. Of course pain is relative and I've
> never had any illness involving pain or even a broken bone so what
> do I know? I was just getting past that when I caught some kind
> of virus. Like a good girl I got in to the clinic only to find out I
> didn't have any infection, had a clean pelvic scan, got some pain
> meds for the bone pain (which immediately stopped -- power of
> suggestion?), and a shot for slightly lowered red cell count and I
> was good to go. NOT. This virus lingered for 6 days. I took
> more Tylenol in 1 week that I've taken my entire lifetime keeping
> the fever down. But I've had a normal to very low-grade fever
> for about 24 hours now. Here's hoping they can keep me on
> schedule.
>
> If I stay on schedule my reward is that I will finish before
> Thanksgiving, which is also my birthday this year so I'll have
> lots to be thankful for. I'm also thinking about ideas for the
> future, not all necessarily pleasant for some people around me
> but I think will be best for me.
>
> Luck for tomorrow -- Taxol # 2.
> Marsha
>
>
>
I don't think that's a virus, it's more likely a drug reaction to the
Taxol. It was too quick to have been a result of immuno-suppression.
It is not uncommon, I am pretty sure my wife had it.

Tim

Hi Marcia,

Besides lots of matrin and tylenol, a heating pad helped a lot too with the
pains - I had Taxotere.


Good luck tomorrow.

Tamara

"Tim Jackson" <tim@tim-jackson.co.uk> wrote in message
news:453744fe$0$8726$ed2619ec@ptn-nntp-reader02.plus.net...
> Mizz Marcia Ryder wrote:
>> Oct 5,2006 - began 4 Taxol every 2 weeks
>> WOW did that cramp my lifestyle or WHAT?
>>
>> At least I was fair-warned of the muscle aches commencing within
>> first 48hrs and lasting a couple of days. I managed to squeeze a
>> church concert on keyboard just before that kicked in but NOT
>> before some bone pain kicked in -- not sure what caused that but
>> it is the most pain I've ever felt. Of course pain is relative and I've
>> never had any illness involving pain or even a broken bone so what
>> do I know? I was just getting past that when I caught some kind
>> of virus. Like a good girl I got in to the clinic only to find out I
>> didn't have any infection, had a clean pelvic scan, got some pain
>> meds for the bone pain (which immediately stopped -- power of
>> suggestion?), and a shot for slightly lowered red cell count and I
>> was good to go. NOT. This virus lingered for 6 days. I took
>> more Tylenol in 1 week that I've taken my entire lifetime keeping
>> the fever down. But I've had a normal to very low-grade fever
>> for about 24 hours now. Here's hoping they can keep me on
>> schedule.
>>
>> If I stay on schedule my reward is that I will finish before
>> Thanksgiving, which is also my birthday this year so I'll have
>> lots to be thankful for. I'm also thinking about ideas for the
>> future, not all necessarily pleasant for some people around me
>> but I think will be best for me.
>>
>> Luck for tomorrow -- Taxol # 2.
>> Marsha
>>
>>
>>
> I don't think that's a virus, it's more likely a drug reaction to the
> Taxol. It was too quick to have been a result of immuno-suppression. It
> is not uncommon, I am pretty sure my wife had it.
>
> Tim

>"Tim Jackson" wrote :

>> Mizz Marcia Ryder wrote:
<snip>
>> At least I was fair-warned of the muscle aches commencing within
>> first 48hrs and lasting a couple of days.
<snip>
>> I was just getting past that when I caught some kind
>> of virus. Like a good girl I got in to the clinic only to find out I
>> didn't have any infection, had a clean pelvic scan, got some pain
>> meds for the bone pain (which immediately stopped -- power of
>> suggestion?), and a shot for slightly lowered red cell count and I
>> was good to go. NOT. This virus lingered for 6 days.
>>
<snip>

> I don't think that's a virus, it's more likely a drug reaction to the
> Taxol. It was too quick to have been a result of immuno-suppression. It
> is not uncommon, I am pretty sure my wife had it.
>
Hmm possible. I re-read my description and the time line may have
been deceptive. To clarify
Thurs. 10/5 4pm - Taxol Infusion completed
Friday 10/6 8pm - first twinge of bone pain
Sat. 10/7 9am - beginnings of leg and feet muscular pain; mild neuropathy
in feet; continued off and on for 2 days
Mon. 10/9 muscular problems abating; bone pain hi-moderate
Tues-Wed 10/10-11 hi (about #7 on their little emoticon chart- just before
a teardrop falls :-(
THEN the fever, chills, vomiting and some nausea started and continued
until yesterday 10/18 aprox 8am.

Tues 10/12 - lab work neg. for infections and clear C/t plus RBC shot
to boost slightly low reds.

My purpose for the more detailed timeline is to now ask the question:
Could this be a drug reaction that many days after infusion? Just curious.

Today's visit went ok. Onc still says I'm a star -- guess as long as my
complaints are normal and they've given me adequate meds, I'm a star.
But I'd feel more like one if I'm able to do my job and get to church
more often.

Thanks, Tim

"A.P. Thorsen" wrote :
> Hi, Marsha,
>
> "Mizz Marcia Ryder" wrote:
<snipped>
>> Luck for tomorrow -- Taxol # 2.
>
> Here's hoping it'll go better than the first one.
Thanks, Ann. At least if it goes no worse I can plan a strategy.

> Did your doc give you pain pills to take for the bone pain on each cycle?
Do you mean gave it to me for this cycle? No. Not squat. However in
fairness the Nurse Practioner in Chemo gave that to me when I went in
for the lab work.

> I found that even OTC pain pills helped, though I didn't have Taxol bone
> pain nearly as bad as you're having. Usually, once you figure out the
> timing, it works best to take the pain pills early, just before or at the
> first twinges of bone pain. It's hard to get it under control after it's
> full-bore underway.

Great idea. I think I have a good idea when to start. She gave me
Oxycodone 5/500 1-2 every 2-3 hours as needed. My Darvocet
was working but taking so-o-o-o long to kick in. Fortunately my
treatments are Thursday mornings then to work on Friday. The
start the drugs Friday night. Weren't there some movies in the 70's
based on such a life?

> Will be thinking of you, and beaming positive thoughts your way . . . .
>
====whap=====
I think I just got that beam. Thanks so much, Ann.

P.S. Is "not sqaut" technically a double negative or is the "not"
just redundant?

Mizz Marcia Ryder wrote:
>>"Tim Jackson" wrote :
>

>>>I was just getting past that when I caught some kind
>>>of virus.
>
>>I don't think that's a virus, it's more likely a drug reaction to the
>>Taxol. It was too quick to have been a result of immuno-suppression. It
>>is not uncommon, I am pretty sure my wife had it.
>>
>
> Hmm possible. I re-read my description and the time line may have
> been deceptive. To clarify
> Thurs. 10/5 4pm - Taxol Infusion completed
> Friday 10/6 8pm - first twinge of bone pain
> Sat. 10/7 9am - beginnings of leg and feet muscular pain; mild neuropathy
> in feet; continued off and on for 2 days
> Mon. 10/9 muscular problems abating; bone pain hi-moderate
> Tues-Wed 10/10-11 hi (about #7 on their little emoticon chart- just before
> a teardrop falls :-(
> THEN the fever, chills, vomiting and some nausea started and continued
> until yesterday 10/18 aprox 8am.
>
> Tues 10/12 - lab work neg. for infections and clear C/t plus RBC shot
> to boost slightly low reds.
>
> My purpose for the more detailed timeline is to now ask the question:
> Could this be a drug reaction that many days after infusion? Just curious.
>
Well, I wouldn't rule it out. I guess it's somewhat borderline. For a
virus you'd expect first time enough for the WBC to decay, the chemo
doesn't kill the white cells, it stops them reproducing. Then you need
time for the virus to incubate. Getting all that done in a week seems
to be pushing it. You'd think if it was that virulent you'd know where
you got it, you'd see other vulnerable people going down with it. Also
you'd expect this sort of thing later in the sequence, not on the first
dose, as the WBC falls progressively.

A week does seem fairly slow for a reaction, but the other symptoms were
still building, so it's not that unreasonable to assume this is part of
that syndrome.

It doesn't really matter anyway, there isn't much useful intervention
available in either case, just symptom treating. With a virus you'd
(arguably) best leave it alone, run hot and burn it out, whereas with a
reaction you'd best use antipyretics to keep the fever down because it
isn't doing anything useful.

And to the legal eagles, no I'm not prescribing an aspirin here. Plenty
of water would help though.


Tim

Mizz Marcia Ryder wrote:
> ...Thurs. 10/5 4pm - Taxol Infusion completed
> Friday 10/6 8pm - first twinge of bone pain
> Sat. 10/7 9am - beginnings of leg and feet muscular pain; mild neuropathy
> in feet; continued off and on for 2 days
> Mon. 10/9 muscular problems abating; bone pain hi-moderate
> Tues-Wed 10/10-11 hi (about #7 on their little emoticon chart- just before
> a teardrop falls :-(
> THEN the fever, chills, vomiting and some nausea started and continued
> until yesterday 10/18 aprox 8am...

Hiya, Marsha -

You're telling us that nausea and vomiting didn't start until at least
six days after infusion? I'm not a doctor, but I think you've got the
flu, kiddo.

For the bone pain if OTC analgesics don't cut it it might be best to
talk to your onc.

Hang in there -

Hi Marcia,

After all of my chemo's about 6 days later I would get severe chills and a
low grade fever about 99.something. Nothing to call the dr's about (they
only wanted to hear from me if it was above 101.5) but this was a constant
through my treatment. I think in my case it might have more to do with
counts being low at that point. I also got some mild nausea about a week
later as well for a few days, but no vomiting. Try to rest and don't worry
so much about work if you can manage and as for church - I'm not sure but I
think God would understand but I know it is a comfort to be able to go.

Tamara


"allan" <wizard10000@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1161342024.370126.297690@k70g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
> Mizz Marcia Ryder wrote:
>> ...Thurs. 10/5 4pm - Taxol Infusion completed
>> Friday 10/6 8pm - first twinge of bone pain
>> Sat. 10/7 9am - beginnings of leg and feet muscular pain; mild neuropathy
>> in feet; continued off and on for 2 days
>> Mon. 10/9 muscular problems abating; bone pain hi-moderate
>> Tues-Wed 10/10-11 hi (about #7 on their little emoticon chart- just
>> before
>> a teardrop falls :-(
>> THEN the fever, chills, vomiting and some nausea started and continued
>> until yesterday 10/18 aprox 8am...
>
> Hiya, Marsha -
>
> You're telling us that nausea and vomiting didn't start until at least
> six days after infusion? I'm not a doctor, but I think you've got the
> flu, kiddo.
>
> For the bone pain if OTC analgesics don't cut it it might be best to
> talk to your onc.
>
> Hang in there -
>

>"R. Fizek" wrote:
> After all of my chemo's about 6 days later I would get severe chills and a
> low grade fever about 99.something. Nothing to call the dr's about (they
> only wanted to hear from me if it was above 101.5)
I may have had that low a grades and didn't know it. I didn't check my
temps every day. But my counts have all been great and this fever
was from 102 to 104 before I could get the temp down. But boy I did
enjoy my frozen gel headband and the Fruit popsicles! Yum.
And yes I guess I worried too much when this all came with other
unexpected effects. I'm just kicking back tonight and not going to
worry. I need the rest.

As to church, I really try to stay away from the crowd (our sanctuary
holds about 9,000). I was just getting back to helping out on piano
in the orchestra warm-up session. It was a good deal for both of
us. I miss playing. Then I go up to a media/audio area to watch
the service on closed circuit TV. There's only 4 of is in that room
and it's a very cold room. Not very condusive to housing germs.

>but this was a constant through my treatment. I think in my case it might
>have more to do with counts being low at that point. I also got some mild
>nausea about a week later as well for a few days, but no vomiting. Try to
>rest and don't worry so much about work if you can manage and as for
>church - I'm not sure but I think God would understand but I know it is a
>comfort to be able to go.

Thanks for the encouragement, Tamara. Gee, everyone truly is so different.
Marsha

>"A.P. Thorsen" wrote :
>> "Mizz Marcia Ryder" Oct 5,2006 - began 4 Taxol every 2 weeks
>> WOW did that cramp my lifestyle or WHAT?
> ....
>> Luck for tomorrow -- Taxol # 2.
>
> Here's hoping it'll go better than the first one.
>
> Did your doc give you pain pills to take for the bone pain on each cycle?
> I found that even OTC pain pills helped, though I didn't have Taxol bone
> pain nearly as bad as you're having. Usually, once you figure out the
> timing, it works best to take the pain pills early, just before or at the
> first twinges of bone pain. It's hard to get it under control after it's
> full-bore underway.
>
> Will be thinking of you, and beaming positive thoughts your way . . . .
>
positive thoughts beamed through well, Ann. Treatment #2 of the Taxol
was virtually uneventful. I had my customary N'awlins Shrimp & Grits
the next day (normally would have had it on the in between weeks but
the virus screwed that up) with no problem. Cautiously awoke Sat.morn
with no pains of ANY kind. Put on my best dress up and most elegant
wig and full make-up and went to my symphony concert. I was able to
give out the three bouquets to the youth soloists (I started this
competition
5 years ago and this is the first concert where I did not participate as a
player -- I was determined to at least be there and give out the flowers.).
Everyone was awed by my "looks" (I'd lost 40 lbs through the 2
surgeries) and they thought that honey blonde was mine. Had a great
time! I felt very "feminine" for the first time in months. It was a huge
ego boost. I made it to church the next morning as well, though I did
have a "hurl" before getting out the door. That was my fault, though
for taking a pain pill on an empty stomach. Duh! My feet were starting
to hurt just a little. I should have left well enough alone!

Whew. Just 2 more to go! I can't believe I've got only one month of
chemo left. Awesome.

Marsha

"Mizz Marcia Ryder" <MizzOtis@regrets.com> wrote in message
news:6pe%g.17469$OE1.1994@tornado.ohiordc.rr.com.. .
>
>>"A.P. Thorsen" wrote :
>>> "Mizz Marcia Ryder" Oct 5,2006 - began 4 Taxol every 2 weeks
>>> WOW did that cramp my lifestyle or WHAT?
>> ....
>>> Luck for tomorrow -- Taxol # 2.
>>
>> Here's hoping it'll go better than the first one.
>>
>> Will be thinking of you, and beaming positive thoughts your way . . . .
>>
> positive thoughts beamed through well, Ann. Treatment #2 of the Taxol
> was virtually uneventful.

... snip great story ...

> Whew. Just 2 more to go! I can't believe I've got only one month of
> chemo left. Awesome.

I'm sooooo glad this round went better, Marsha - I'll keep "beaming", just
in case it does help <grin>!

Take care, OK?

Ann T.
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