Follicular Follies...

Here is where I am at as of today, February 12th!

The Follicular Follies...

Here's where I am at as of today, April 5th, 2010.

please grow, please grow...PLEASE?

Come on already!!! I am feeling so impatient with my hair!!! Here's where I am at as of March 15th, 2010, about 6 weeks after my last chemo treatment.

Can I have some hair please?

Just a little blurb about hair regrowth after chemo...

I find myself obsessively watching my scalp for signs of head hair. Every night I shine a flashlight at just the right angle across my sad little head. Now, I still have hair that did not fall out during treatment...I have buzz cut that down to a "One Guard" for now...but every night I look for signs of new growth.

I have some very tiny fine blonde hairs coming in now, just some stubble filling in where I had been very bald. It tickles my fingers to rub my hands across my head.

Legs...my lower legs spit out enough hair that I opted to shave them this morning...my upper legs have some hairs coming in as well...these seem to be more slow and difficult (lots of ingrown hairs dammit!) My arm hairs are also coming in slowly...there were lots that did not fall out, but it is so blonde that you cant really see any hair on my arms at this point. Fine white-blonde hairs are coming in just like on my head.

Pubic hair? Well, after all was said and done, I was left with 3 pubic hairs. I called them my three soldiers guarding the Alamo. I thought about putting them out of their misery...but remembered being a youngster feeling so happy to have ANY pubic hairs...so I left them. I have called in 3 more troops...and there seem to be some others rising to the occasion...along with lots of very fine white-blonde hair (that really does nothing to guard the fort).

Nose hair? I am just fascinated by this. In an earlier blog, I mentioned that I sneezed out the last remaining ones some time ago. I have a few coming in here and there...I swear I can feel them growing in...in all their itchy glory. It is very hard to scratch the inside of your nose...my "regular" fingers are too big to get in there...so I have to use my pinky finger. I find that I am not as skilled with my pinky finger as, say, with my index finger. Oh well...live and learn.

Eyelashes: I never lost these...they may have thinned out a little, but I really did not notice.

My eyebrows are still very much there...but they have been downsized by about 50%. The only regrowth I have noticed there is that one damn eyebrow hair that comes out above my left eye...that one hair that is completely white and grows about an inch long, straight out...the one I always used to forget to pluck until the sun would hit it just right. Yeah, that little bastard is back. I plucked it and felt a little bad about it too.

I am including some pictures of the progression of my hair loss...and where I was as of last weekend. I will provide some re-growth pics as time goes on (I was somewhat obsessive with finding these photos or videos when I was losing my hair). Oh...and only head hair, sorry folks, but I don't need my Alamo ending up posted everywhere for folks to see!

The First Photo (2 days after my first chemo...)








Second Photo (2 weeks into chemo, I cut my hair short)

  

Above right: 2 weeks into second chemo treatment...about 75% of my hair had fallen out. You may also notice how the treatments affected my skin (very dry, required lots of makeup to keep from looking really "ill")

 

The black white above was taken 3 weeks after my last chemo treatment. The hair left on my head had not fallen out during chemo...but 90% was gone.

The last two photos (in color) were taken last weekend (4 weeks after my last chemo treatment; February 26th). No noticeable growth in the photos.

I have since buzzed my hair even shorter than in the last photo, as new little baby hairs are starting to come in. More photos soon!

Less than a week until my last chemo...

Well, less than one week until my last chemo! I've been feeling really well this week--a bit tired, but I have managed to drag myself up to the gym two nights after work!!! I've been really excited about work...love some of the projects I am working on. I've even managed to get the dog up to the dog park most nights this week!

My appointment with the Radiation Oncologist (http://www.tbropa.com/index.html is the website...my doc is Greenberg) is set for February 2nd. I will find out what that treatment will be like--exactly when it will begin, what it entails, etc.

Soon, I would like to also meet with some surgeons to discuss reconstruction options. I've researched this quite a bit; however, I've put this on the backburner recently...

Funny, I've noticed my head hair is GROWING! Not new hair where I am bald, but the little fine hairs I have left are growing. WEIRD! At the same time, the hair on the rest of my body is evacuating--my pubes have seriously gone on vacation. And they have not done so in an orderly fashion.

I have had some moderate nosebleeds this week--mostly earlier in the week (and last weekend). They were heavier than they had been...but manageable. I found that I just had to let it clot...and then not mess with the damn clot. Too bad it is fun to dig out bloody booger clots. Hmmm. I apparenly need a new hobby.

Well, I am elated that my last chemo "treatment" is less than a week away. So glad...ready to be done being poisoned....and hopefully cured!

Bring on the last treatment! Let's get this shit over with!

Feelin' better...

Well, as is the typical pattern, I had about 5 days of feeling very puny after my chemo session. Honestly, it  was more like 4 days...but it sure did feel longer.

Yesterday was pretty good; however, I had some stomach issues (nausea, a little bit of vomiting), but nothing that was intense or uncontrollable (with the anti-nausea meds and/or Gaviscon). My brain was still a bit fuzzy yesterday, and I am still finding trouble locating words at times to make my point or describe something...but this is much better than the first few days post chemo.

I find that I am retaining a bit of water...my clothes feel a bit tight around my waist and thighs. This started to wane a bit starting last night, and I know it will get better today and tomorrow with more movement. Hell, I spent a few days in bed guys!

Anyway, my sister buzzed my hair down to 1/2 an inch. Well...if you can call it hair. It really looks like fine baby hair. Funny, the feeling of the wind or a breeze on your scalp is not one I am used to. I am taking the time to notice this sort of thing and just feel it. Feels pretty cool--and, well, cool temperature wise too!

I did some yoga yesterday AM and some stretches this AM...feels really really good!

Well, I am off to career-land! Hope you are all enjoying your day...on purpose! We have so much to be thankful for!!!

~Tory

This week...

Well, this week has gone quite well. I have had some energy and stamina (nice!), and I even took a 3 mile walk on Wednesday. I have been tired in the evenings; however, I have found that if I go to bed at a more reasonable hour, I have a better day overall (fatigue-wise). Really, I am needing no less than 9 hours of sleep a night to feel good and energetic throughout the day. I have always liked/needed lots of sleep anyway, so this really does not surprise me.

The only real issue I have had this week has been my blood pressure. I noticed it seemed high (pressure in my head, headache), and I have been testing it regularly. For me, I almost always run about 120/80...nice and "normal." But I have hit as high as 145/97 this week. There is a certain feeling I just get in my head when that happens, and it was concerning me. I called the doc, and they decided to have me come in just to check me out. Hell, I've had some minor nosebleeds too, so we wanted to make sure there was nothing funky going on.

Anyway, I had my doc's appointment today, and I ended up seeing his Physician's Assistant. She was great...did a good look over and figured out that I had a good sinus infection. We are thinking that the blood pressure thing is something we will monitor for now...does not seem to be that large of an issue. My sinuses on the other hand are a bit out of hand. I have to take Augmentin for 10 days now to clear up this infection...being a "cancer patient" means I can't just refuse the antibiotic--little things can get too big and out of hand. I just hate taking meds unless absolutely necessary, and I guess it is absolutely necessary--oh well. I am keeping away from crowds of people for a few days to help ensure I don't pick up another infection...so...I will focus on getting rid of the sinus infection.

The nosebleeds I am getting seem to be from 2 key things: the Carboplatin causes excessive dryness in my nose and I also get sores from both chemo meds. Hmmm...sores up my nose + excessive dryness...that sounds about right to me. Good lord...remind me not to do this "for fun!" Oh wait, no reminder will be necessary.

The doc went ahead and checked my blood also while I was there...just to see if my platelets were low or if something else was going on. Bloodwork looks fine. Good stuff. I do seem to be retaining some fluids though...my weight had increased 6 pounds since my last visit. Well...probably fluids and some of the junk I have been craving lately. Better get back to eating the good stuff again...like I don't know better. Hell, I have to live a little sometimes! My britches were feeling a bit tight though...alright, I'll do better!!!

Well, I am off to enjoy this sinus headache! Oh...and my head hair is still hanging out there. Doesn't seem to feel like falling out this time. Hmmm...

~Tory

P.S. I have been able to work all day every day this week--except today, had to do some from home to "avoid crowds."

This week so far...post chemo session 1 of 6, week 2

Ok, so last weekend was not too bad...I was just tired. I was looking forward to being back at work and getting my schedule back in order. I was also looking forward to having my sis, Becky back in town.

I worked all week, at the office, with the exception of Thursday. That was exactly 2 weeks after the 1st chemo, and I felt so freakin' tired I couldn't hardly see straight. I went in for the usual bloodwork Thursday AM, with the intention of going to the office after, but by the time I got out of there, I was pooped. So, I drove home to take a nap...I had intended on sleeping for an hour or so then doing some work remotely from home. I ended up sleeping a full 4 hours...then doing some work from home!!! I guess I really was tired!

That night, I felt a little nauseous. I had taken the last of the diflucan the day before, an I needed to pick up the refill...so I did not fill it until later in the evening. I did take the dog for a long walk in the heat...and we played at the park for a while (he had me fetching the ball, actually)...so I wasn't sure what exactly "caused" me to feel nauseous. I ended up taking some of the anti-nausea meds...and the diflucan...and I felt a little better by the time I fell asleep (around midnight, unfortunately).

Well, Friday started off okay--I did notice my hair was starting to come out (on day 15) a few strands at a time (I'd actually been kind of obsessively picking at my hair to see if it would come out....it surely did start then!) I went up to the office, felt okay, but after I ate (we had a potluck gathering)...the gas, bloating and nausea hit again. Bummer. I hung out in the bathroom for a while and missed the ladies at work giving me some very cool hats! They ended up putting them on my desk, they had assumed I did not feel well (oh, they were right). Funny, I didn't throw up...haven't but one time in the first week...I just farted and sweated a LOT. As my Nana would have said, "A lot of wind, but no storm." Hmmm. Glad I had some of the anti-nausea meds with me. Took one, felt better within an hour.

Friday night was okay, I just had one hell of a headache--mostly a scalpache to be honest. Felt more like a surface or tension headache than a deep headache. Maybe something to do with my hair coming out. Or maybe I need to poke a hole in my skull and let the demons out?

Saturday (this) morning, I got up early and felt a wee bit ambitious. Still fatigued...but got some chores done. Felt good to get more things off of the to-do list. Again, I felt a bit nauseous around mid-day (4 hours after I ate this time...), so I took some compazine. Felt fine within an hour or so. Strange. Hair is coming out more rapidly now...all over. My hair is so thick though, you cannot really tell yet. I was thinking I would have my sister use the clippers on my hair--go for the buzz cut, but earlier today, I felt like I might not do that.

Tonight, I am feeling like I could have her do it soon...I don't know why I am waivering on this so much. I got some more hats (on clearance) at Target...they are fun...I am leaning more toward doing the hat and scarf thing than the wig thing...I just don't like wigs. Hell, it may just not be for me. I am totally and completely confused by wool hats being sold in Florida...okay, one or two...but whole displays? Wool?

I have that damn headache again tonight...I took some advil last night and it did not help, so I think I will pass on it tonight...no sense taking more crap if it won't do anything anyway.

Anyway, it has been a decent week overall...nothing unmanageable. I am having to drink lots of Mylanta every night (and sometimes during the day)...because the reflux and heartburn is in high-gear...daily and nightly.

Strange to be losing my hair though...I am still obsessively pulling some out every little while or so--it is kind of...fun...in an oddly psychotic way. Let me be clear...it does not hurt. It just comes out very easily. Hmmmm, will someone please make me stop pulling out my hair now?

I have been thinking about going back to the gym...or at least exercising more. I miss the gym...I just wonder if I have the stamina. I think I am healed up enough from the mastectomy to get back into the gym routine, so we shall see. Maybe some more walks once it finally cools off? I've been reading some articles and other blogs about folks' experiences relating to exercise and chemo. I will just have to figure out a way to manage the stamina/fatigue issues somehow.

With love, from the boobless and soon-to-be-hairless one in West Central Florida,
Tory

a week of mild side effects...thank you anti-fungals

Well, this week started off okay...just some interesting side effects. The "mild bone pain" from the Neulasta shot was delightful. I can't wait to experience that again...I wonder if they will be able to reduce it or something, as that pain was quite interesting. I don't really know how to describe the feeling from that stuff...your bones ache from the inside...I think my marrow was screaming out in some sort of unhappy key. My bloodwork Thursday showed a very high White Blood Cell count...so we'll see how it does over the next couple of weeks...and yes, I guess I have to have WBCs...hmmm.
I bleed very easily right now...scratches, picks, bumps. Lots of fun bruises too. I find that I have to be very careful not to cut myself. I still have a bruise on my inner elbow where Nurse Tech Evilness pulled blood a week and a half ago. I wonder if they can find a good vein in my ass, so I don't have to keep going around looking like a junkie. Hmm.
Starting on Monday, my face broke out...my mouth and nose went completely dry, and my eyes started to get these lovely crusties. Then I started in with some symphonic gas...very pleasant farts, I must say. I wish I could produce those on demand...could end some unfortunate situations more quickly. Must research this. Diarrhea started Monday night...glad it waited until I got home from work. Good stuff. Even better on Tuesday when (while working at home) my body decided that it was gonna let loose right then no matter what. I have to say, my pants did NOT deserve that. And Sarge, I love ya, you are a wonderful dog, but please, if that happens again, I will clean the floor myself. You need not "help."
Truly nothing more disgusting than crapping your own pants.
I called the Doc's office to discuss the gas/bloating before the diarrhea started...they switched me to a bland diet--yum, 36 hours of broth...then Immodium to stop the spraypainting.
So on Wednesday, I realized that I recognized a lot of the symptoms I was having. Lucky me, I had a "Systemic Yeast Infection." Funny, I had it everywhere except where you'd expect. Eyes, nose, mouth, butt? Oh, now that is fun. Apparently, the steroids may have set that off...or my knocked-down immune system.
I had nose bleeds from it on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday...fun. Now I was really looking like a junkie, crusty face, crusty eyes, arm bruises and all. I remember having Systemic Yeast Infections like 16 years ago...from steroids then...hmmm. Gave me bad gas and diarrhea and all of the other symptoms except nose bleeds...
Saw one of the other Oncologists at the Dr.'s office Thursday...to be sure it was a Yeast Infection...and it was/is. She started me on fluconazole to kill off the infection...and it is working very nicely. Nose feels about 50% better today, mouth is much better (Thrush sucks), eyes are happier, face still has some issues (hey, that is what makeup is for), butt is happier. I like a happy butt. No more diarrhea, gas or bloating. Doc said that they may have to keep me on fluconazole (an anti-fungal) during chemo to ward off these issues. High dose too...200mg. Hell, if it works, I am not going to complain.
Also during the Dr. visit, she reviewed my bloodwork and the ultrasound results for my thyroid. I have a 3 cm node on my thyroid that needs to be biopsied soon. Doc didn't look worried, and just said that they needed to look into it further. I really hope it is nothing...I don't have a whole lot of body parts left for folks to just keep yanking out of me. If they have to take that...I "get" to have another surgery (on my NECK eek)...and then I would have to have synthroid the rest of my life. Sheesh. Let's just hope it is nothing...OK?
Bloodwork good.
More bloodwork on Thursday...then next chemo on Thursday after that (November 5th). No date/time yet for the thyroid biopsy, but will have that very soon.
Went up to the office 3 days this week...yesterday (Friday) was the longest day at the office...and I really felt pretty well. I do get very tired EARLY...like around 8 or 9 PM (especially if I have not had a nap during the day), and I am waking up fairly early too. Sleeping okay, better the past couple of nights...been taking Ativan to help me sleep more consistently...I had been waking up every 1.5 hours or so.
My sister left on Tuesday to go back to Texas, take care of a few things, get her truck and slowly head back this way to stay with me during this. I miss her already and am looking forward to having her back. Cheri went home very early Wednesday AM. I really enjoyed having her here...it is so nice to have a friend like her my life. I hope to be able to go see her and her hubby Kevin while they are still living in Alaska. And maybe they both can make their way out to FL next time!

My hair: my scalp has been feeling weird all week...like a dull aching feeling. So, I got a wild impulse to have my hair chopped short...heck, I figure I could try it for a week or so before it fell out. Not really my style, to be honest...it is "fun," but I really do like having long hair. We shall see. Other body hair is starting to thin out, so I am curious when I get to go "monk!" I will give my sis the honor of shaving my head when it starts to go...I think...;-) I am getting the hats ready!

Off to eat some "real food" and not broth. Thank goodness I can eat again!
~Tory