I'm new, how do you cope?

mbreese · New User Joined: 11 Aug 2006 Posts: 2

Hey guys and gals, my name is matt and i am 20 years old from boston, MA. I found out about 2 weeks ago that I had lymphoma that stemmed from the epstein-barr virus. It was found that it was burkitt lymphoma and I started treatment on last Tueasday.

Since the start I have felt worse than I ever have in my entire life. the constant naseau, the headaches that feel like a lightning storm in my head and the worst part being the growth factors (neupogen) to proliferate bone marrow growth that makes me feel like a creeky old man with the flu times ten.

I was wondering if anyone on here has had any experiences with some not so western medicines such as accupuncture or just any alternative therapies that have helped you cope.

My support system has been amazing and I couldnt ask for more, they really have been amazing, my girlfriend even took the semester off to be with me during this instead of going back to South Carolina. Any of your input would be helpful guys,
Thanks,
Matt

SHANELLE85 · Regular Joined: 06 Jun 2006 Posts: 31

hey matt im really sorry 2 hear about ur diagnoses i was also 20 wen i found out i had hodgkins lymphoma in november 2005.
wen i started my 1st chemo treatment my body got the biggest shock so 2 speak and i didnt cope very well at all, i felt sick all the time, no energy, lots of headaches, and also body aches not 2 mention the mental anguish of starting 2 loose my hair! but i never used remedies like accupuncture or anything like that but i did rely on strong paracetomol quite alot and 2 tell u the truth it really got me through. but by the 5th treatment my body did get used 2 the treatments and by the 8th or 9th treatment i really had no significant side effects wot so ever.
so i think that if u r thinking about more natural remedies it really couldnt hurt but i think that ur 1st few treatment r going 2 b hard on ur body and eventually ur body is going 2 adapt 2 chemo/treatments and u will start 2 feel a little better than wot u r.
how often do u have 2 get ur treatments and how many months do u have 2 do them 4?
hope i have helped u in some sort of way and goodluck in the future
-shanelle Wink

mbreese · New User Joined: 11 Aug 2006 Posts: 2

Hey Shanelle,
Thanks for the response. I have had a really hard time recovering after my first round of treatment but I also just found out yesterday that the main cause of all of my pain has been a misdiagnosed spinal headachhe. I got some treatment for that today in the for of 600 mg of caffeine and some good old resting. it's hoped that by the end od me resting all day tomorrow I should be close to feeling normal again. It's just been a really tough start and I realy hope that I will get better the next few times around but I will be here to keep everyone updated and eventually i will try to log my whole experience so that people can try to pull at least a little information from my experience. Thanks everyone, Matt

Eternity · New User Joined: 19 Nov 2006 Posts: 7

HI! I am also diagnosed with hodgkin's disease 2 months ago and going for my 3rd chemo soon. I tolerated the 1st treatment quite well as I only felt sick for first few days. I felt normal after that except for the occassional mild pain, finger tingling sensation, and heavy breathing. However, after the 2nd treatment, I took a long time to recover, 10 days to be exact, to feel well. Besides the mentioned symptons, I had pain all over my body, esp my arm where the drugs entered and my stomach hurts. I had trouble sleeping and felt uncomfortable at all times. However, it did not occur to me that I can take pain-killers. Is what I am experiencing normal due to the chemo treatment?

abster32 · New User Joined: 30 Nov 2006 Posts: 7

hi,

i'm 19 and was diagnosed with hodgkins last week. i'm really interested to know about the chemo side effects, etc. i plan to continue school (about an hour from my treatment/home) and to take 3 classes next semester. my treatment starts in 2 weeks.

thanks.

thearmenian53 · New User Joined: 07 Nov 2006 Posts: 7

hi mbreese and others,
I was diagnosed right outta high school after graduation, june 2005. i had nodular sclerosis hodgkins lymphoma stage 3B. i underwent 6 months of chemo (ABVD) and 3 weeks of radiation daily. the chemo i'd say was harder than the radiation. the first time was weird. hadnt been through anything like it. i had a weird nausea, not too much nausea but kinda a flu like thing. that was the worst. any time i'd eat a little bit too much it would start. it lasted a few days after chemo. i had chemo once every two weeks. after the chemo the next day i was given neulasta to keep the bone marrow and blood up to date. that gave me some aches in my joints for the next few days, but you'll survive that one with no problems. it'll be hard the first few, but you'll get used to it and it'll become less and less hard. i went to my first semester in college with a lighter load (2 classes) and i was a full time high school football coach at my alma mater. i would do my chemo's on fridays so that i would have saturday, sunday and monday to recover and then went to school on tuesday thru thursday. the chemo took a bit outta me, but i still managed. it helped that i was 6 foot 210 pounds. my body took the beating but the thing that really kept me going was #1) my faith in Christ and #2) a positive attitude. those two things make a great recipe for REMISSION. i hope that mbreese you will keep going and maintain a solid attitude that you'll win this cancer and join the survivor group. hope this helps.
_________________
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." --Philippians 4:6-7

thearmenian53 · New User Joined: 07 Nov 2006 Posts: 7

sorry its me again. i forgot to mention what to do to control the stomach pains and such. eat balanced. dont eat oily foods or any heavy foods. this was tough for me as a massive bbq fanatic. i had to eat less and more nutritious food. try to keep it at a balance to avoid stomach pains and such. to Eternity-the painkillers, i never took em. i took the nausea pills that were prescribed to me, but they didnt really help. i just had to eat lighter foods. try to eat all colors of fruits vegetables and easy on the meaty things. as for the pain, its from the booster shot. every time i'd get in my car the joint that connects the leg to the hip, that would always crack or something of the sort because i'd stretch it when getting in. just watch your movements. try not to bring too much pressure on your joints. stay strong and keep going. the doc told me that i was in remission after two months of chemo (4 treatments). you'll get that news too. after that i did well in school. you'll do that too. after that the high school football team i coached won the california state championships. YOU'LL BE ONE TOO. YOU GUYS, JUST STAY STRONG. KEEP YOUR HEAD UP. KEEP THAT POSITIVE ATTITUDE. DONT LET CANCER TAKE CONTROL OF YOU, YOU CONTROL IT WITH YOUR DETERMINATION AND STRONG WILL.
_________________
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." --Philippians 4:6-7

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