CMF Question
Comments
-
Its Miss Achiness here ... so far no real relief from the soreness. I told my dh today, I just need to stay active, its after I have sat down for a bit or when I get up in the morning that I really gimp around. The more I have thought about the soreness in my feet, I am starting to think that it has to do with the menopausal state more than the Femara as it came on late this spring. I already was wearing orthodics that had been doing the trick since last year. Don't get me wrong, the soreness is not debilitating, just a nuisance.
I do love the Yoga stretches and feel that they are helpful, the dh found some routines on TV's On-Demand stations as well. I will probably supplement my two days a week at class with one day on the weekend.
We hit 9 holes of golf this afternoon, and now I'm dealing with a teenage son who's plans for the homecoming dance are falling apart ... what drama!
Annie, you are so right about bearing all ... from one of my first doc visits at the University Hospital and there we're 3 docs and students in tow to bear all to, the modesty thing kinda goes out the window. So glad your feeling up to snuff.
Harley, our Reach to Recovery program is also homebased quite a ways from our home. Its about a 2 hour trip to the nearest training. For right now, I think I will continue to figure out the "new norm" for myself, continue to exercise and do the Yoga.
Off to iron the ds' shirt ... happy Sat nite to all ... Carol
0 -
Carol, how nice to hear from you.....sorry the achies are still giving you the business.
I think you may be right about the menopausal state vs. the femara....I started the lupron injections three months ago......after the second one I had extreme achiness and stiffness that like you was exacerbated by sitting still. A good work out on the exercise bike helped alot as did keeping moving.
Things improved dramatically this last month, so I believe that last drop of estrogen has been squeezed out of me and now I am indeed feeling the effects (along with weepiness, fat pot belly, and hair thinning) so maybe it is just menopause.
I do feel fine, and other than the achies, hope you do too, good to hear from you hon.
Hang in there, teenage kids, always the drama. College kids too!!
love to all
annie
0 -
Annie
Awww.... Thanks! I really DO want to help others, newly dx'd, since I think it would help me to help others, while I also am still finding this new 'normal' I keep hearing so much about.
I am so sorry about Dave, your other fur baby! It hurts when we lose one of our babies.
Carol,
I hope you are feeling a little less achey soon. I was feeling those aches too, a few months after starting Tamoxifen, and I think that it is what is causing alot of these aches I'm having, even now.
I'm going to ask my onc about switching to an AI when I see him in December, and I hope he will be receptive to my concerns. I expect him to just give me the usual brush off, though.
Hope everyone has a wonderful week!
Harley
0 -
Just bumping up our thread and telling everyone to have a great week.
Rita
0 -
Sitting here this eve, watching with one eye open DWTS.
Continuing with yoga, hitting the gym, D3, Magnesium, Calcium and a wish and a pray. So far ... the aches have not subsided, but by no means have gotten any worse. The more I have snooped about the lack of estrogen in our bodies and aches and pains, it doesn't seem to strange to be dealing with some issues. I can only hope that things will mellow out with time.
Wish I had more in me to shout out this eve, but as always know I check in daily to see how you all are doing.
You gals rock ... Carol
0 -
Well, I got the ok to begin my CMF on Tues 10/28. Dental work all complete for now. Looking for some quick and helpful hints on getting me thru this.
Thanks!
0 -
scarp
Welcome to this wonderful group of warrior goddesses!!
The ladies here are so nice, they even adopted me, even though I didn't get CMF. I thought at first that I was going to be getting CMF, and I asked my dr. about it, but he refused. Instead, I had 'only' 4 tx of Taxotere & Cytoxan. I finished chemo a year ago on Oct. 9th. If I got through chemo, then YOU can, too!!
Someone will be along soon, with some very good advice. I do have one piece of advice. I'm not sure if the CMF ladies get Neulasta shots after their tx. IF you do, be sure to take Claritan, REGULAR Claritan, NOT Claritan D, for 3 to 4 days. It will help with some of the se's associated with Neulasta.
Someone will be coming along soon with some very good advice. Good Luck with your tx! You'll be just fine!
HUGS
Harley
0 -
Hi Warrior Goddessi:
Hope everyone is well and happy.......Carol, I hear you on the estrogen lack. Given what I am experiencing from the lupron shots (which seem to mimic what they tell me will happen with the arimidex that I have a brand new prescription for) I believe it's estrogen lack also.
Onc also gave me something called Encora, an RX vitamin supplement that has calcium (1000mg) D (800 mg) and omega threes to help with heart, joints and mood. I hope I can tolerate it bec. it sure sounds great. He wants to monitor me on it and see how I do. I'll let you guys know.
Carol, I don't know about you, but I got hit with the weepies as well....I think that after having to be so tough for a whole year, to suddenly be handed back your life with a starter pack of arimidex and a breezy reccmdtn for Encora, well, it's anticlimatic in a very very good way. I'm home now for about three hours and only now realizing "hey, I'm over it." Soooo weird. Now comes the "new normal" and I am so ready for it. I think I will need to spend some time calming down and taking back my life now. It's an odd yet welcome thought, isn't it.
Due to my history of upset stomach w/calcium supplements, I'm going to start them and take them for one week before I add in Arimidex. If I get an adverse reaction to one of them I'd like to know which one it is. Just seems prudent. But I am not looking for trouble with the arimidex, I know where to come for advice, right here to my glorious girls.
I love all of you so much and am so grateful to have walked alongside of you thru all of this.
Scarp, PMd you with some tips I found useful, but these gals are goldmines. They'll post for you I know. Just write whatever specific topic you need advice on, it'll be answered. They are wonderful and kind.
love to all, and happy day!
xoxox( ) big hug to Carol that those aches go away very soon when your body gets adjusted to it.
xo
annie
0 -
oops: a question for Rita on Arimidex...did you find that it was helpful to take it with food for stomach? Or does it matter at all what time of day you took it?
How are the feet doing? Hope you are well!!
xox
a
0 -
Annie.....I found that I do better if I take the Arimidex, calcium, D3, and magnesium right after lunch. I don't always eat the most consistent breakfast. Sometimes it's just a piece of toast or a little bowl of cereal and I had a few stomach problems so I started taking these drugs after I ate lunch, which works best for me due to my eating habits and life style. For some strange reason, I've also found that taking htese drugs in the early afternoon make it easier for me to get to sleep at night. I had a terrible time with not being able to sleep for the first few months. Now I do much better. I imagine that you'll just have to experiment and see what works best for you. They are just like the CMF chemo.........doable! You just have to find the best recipe for you.
Ginny...where are you hiding? How's it going for you? I miss you!
Scarp, Your first treatment will be here before you know it. Please remember that the fear of the treatment is worse than the actual treatment. I had myself so worried about what they were going to do to me before I got there that first morning that I made myself sick. They're going to put you in a comfy chair, insert and IV (or access your port if you got one), and you're just going to sit there while the drugs leave the bag and enter your body. It's very uneventful so don't worry too much about the actual procedure. Ask for some ice chips if they don't offer you any and suck on them while you're getting the infusions. They will help keep away mouth sores. They will probably give you anti-nausea drugs to take when you go home. I was prescribed compazine. I learned that it works best if you take one before you get sick so I just started taking them as soon as I got home. They kept the nausea away! Drink plenty of water for the first three or four days after your treatments. This will keep your kidneys flushed out and move the drugs through your system faster. You can do it! If you have any questions, check in with us and we'll try to help you along the way. We're all here for you.
Carol...hope the achiness is starting to subside some. It's certainly no fun! Thinking about you! Like Annie, I had several bouts of "tears" during this time. I think it comes with the journey. Hang in there and be kind to yourself.
My feet are better, Annie. I'm trying to get back on my 3 mile walking program but have been pretty busy this week getting ready for a convention presentation. I gained weight on the Arimidex ( just 8 pounds but that's a lot on me) and I need to get it off. Walking has always been my salvation so I hope I can get back on a routine after this week. I think you will do just fine on the Arimidex and I'm really interested in how you do with the Encora. I've never heard of that and am always interested in new and different approaches to our problems. Keep me informed.
Hi Harley! Hope all is going well with you!
Gotta run....I have to train the youth tonight at the church youth group! LOL
Catch you all later.
Rita
0 -
Rita, so nice to hear from you, and as always such good calm, sound advice. I knew you'd chime in and give Scarp just the words that will help her thru. You were a godsend for me.
Thank you so very much for the tips on arimidex...I really am beginning to put it all together and it sounds like what Carol says, it's almost more the loss of estrogen than it is the drug bec. when you research what loss of estrogen does, well, there are the arimidex side effects (or femara, same thing) this is very interesting, I will research further. I especially noticed it when you wrote that you had trouble sleeping. This intrigues me, think I'll look into it . I will definitely let you know what happens on the encora. I'm nervous even to take it, the calcium did such a number on the stomach! i don't want to live on prilosec. I did go onto the hormone thread and many women have no issues with either arimidex or femara, so here's hoping! Many said that magic thing, that after a year or two their symptoms just left them (leading me back to that estrogen conclusion again....estrogen finally gone, so are symptoms.) Hmmm....my sister asked me why a post menopausal woman would still have estrogen and I found out today that we still produce it from adrenal glands, gyneacological tissues, pelvic tissue, etc. All so interesting to me. So I hope that all these aches and such people are getting and which I shall be joining you in I guess, will pass with time.
Gosh, I am concerned about the weight gain on arimidex. I'm at an all time high (again, estrogen depletion also, I think) as more happened with the lupron. I hope it doesn't get really bad. I hope like you, rita, that once I get back to my exercising and can get the OK from the PS to take up some yoga and my pilates classes that things will come off.. Of course, halloween candy in the house does not help. I have a really bad sweet tooth.
I agree, tears do come with the journey. But after the rain, the flowers come............
love you all to pieces, stay well
annie
0 -
Just a quickie to Scarp ...
I'm not sure what others may have PM'd you, but from my experience, I started to take Miralax to ward off the constipation problem. The one thing I complained to these ladies about was my GI tract !!!
I see that Rita mentioned Compazine, I personally never took it for nausea (although I had a scrip for it), but I did choose to take Zofran (which does not make you sleepy). I as well just took it, not waiting to see if nausea was going to hit or not. I never had any issue with nausea so it appeared to work well.
Are you having your meds all via infusion or are you taking the Cytoxan orally. I also made water my best friend, drank easily 60 to 80 ounces a day.
It is definitely a very doable treatment, I worked throughout the entire 6 months other than the day off after the infusion as the nausea drugs they put in my drip we're of a steriodal variety and they make for a pretty poor nights sleep.
I chomped ice during the "pushes" of the "M" and "F" portion of the infusion ... no mouth sores.
Feel free to fire off any questions you may have ... nothing seems the least bit off limits here !!!
Rita, hey I chatted with my GYN doc today (yep it was time for the ol' stirrups!!!!) about the Mag and Vit D3. She thought that it sounded good and encouraged me to also take some Omega 3/Fish Oil for the joints. I'm starting to think that my hobbling around in the morning is not quite as bad as it was.
She also mentioned how it will be hard to keep the lbs off while on a AI. Good for you to be getting into a walking routine once again. I've been hitting the gym on my opposite days of Yoga. Figure that if keeping myself slim keeps me from storing up estrogen, I should be pretty motivated to stick to some sort of exercise regimen.
Annie, I've been taking my Femara (which is basically the same as Arimidex) first thing in the morning on an empty stomach with no problems at all.
GTG ... followup with the Dermie doc next today ... Carol
0 -
Hey Carol, hi so good to hear from you and that you are doing well!!
How do you like that yoga so far, I can't wait to try it. Thanks for the femara /empty stomach info, I'm just going to throw it into the mix somewhere, I tend to have stomach issues, but I'll prob. take it after dinner, just like the tamoxifen.
I lost weight on tamoxifen, go figure. Could have been that I began eating very healthfully with 9 + sevgs of veggies/fruits. If you do that, you are way too full to eat junk! i began making those the staples of my meals and in about 4 months I was suddenly a size 4 (which is my fighting weight and size). Good and safe BMI for BC too. Carol and Rita, you guys are already possessed of lovely figures, so you won't have a single worry in that direction.
Hey Scarp, this is one of the "dream team" of Carol and Rita who gave me so much support, good info, were always there for me and both did so well and lived their lives and thumbed their noses at this stupid disease. Which, remember, is out of all of us, we are just doing clean up detail as you will be also.
You're lucky to have these two in your corner!! Harley, Jill, Ginny also are wonderful kind ladies who will help you thru. This is a lucky thread, we believe, all have come thru with flying colors and are doing well.
Hey, guys, guess what else I found out yesterday from onc that I meant to share and forgot.....I had always heard that I was now at increased risk from bc in the other girl since the left one had it, about 50%...apparently, not true. Since mastextomy and chemo, and rads, if you have it and also a txtment of tamoxifen or an AI, we only go to the same risk as the general population. Isn't that a nice thing to know? I was seriously considering a prophy mxtmy on the remaining girl, but now can make that decision without a gun to my head. I thought that would be some good news to pass on to all of you. Of course, depending on everyone's personal diagnosis, this can vary, I know with my first time, it was a cancer that tends to recur and yes, it did. This time I believe it is not that kind of cancer, so my risk is that same as anyone else out there. I still kind of want a prohpy tho, I don't want this hanging over my head the rest of my life! Twice is too much in one lifetime and way too much to put my family thru.
Anyway, good news all around, healing well and feeling great or (at least til I start the good ole arimidex!) JK, there are many women who have posted how well they have done on it, and that their symptoms eased greatly after a year or two. And Carol, yes, take some omega 3s, they are supposed to help with all this immeasurably, that is why my onc gave me the Encora which has enough to both help your heart and ward off joint related pains from arimidex. I'll let you know how it goes, but if I can't tolerate it, I will take Tums, drink milk, and take 'em anyway, cuz they seem like they really help some folks! I hope they will help you.
Let us know what the dermie says, OK?
Love to all of you
annie
0 -
Annie, my god gal ... a size 4 ???? Talk about not an ounce of fat ... I'm working on my eating habits, by no means am I great ... but I'm doing much better than I did a year ago.
I totally love the Yoga class. I'm going twice a week, and feel great afterwards. I have quite a ways to go to get my range of motion back on my right side, but I know that in due time the stretches will really help out.
Your onc's discussion about the "remaining girl" is right up the alley of my surgeon and onc as well. I was ready to have them both removed before talking with the surgeon back Oct of last year. I had been under the impression that with lobular cancer is was even more likely to show up in the other. He talked me out of it saying they don't usually like to remove healthy body parts. Now I figure my good side will be under some pretty good scrutiny for many years to come.
I'll be hitting the dh's bottle of fish oil starting tonight. He takes one every night before bed, so I guess I will make that part of my regimen as well. I've heard if you burp you taste it ... hoping I'll sleep through that se !!!
Dermie appt was uneventful (just the way I like it), she said I was a good healer !!!
Back to the doc office tomorrow for me, I need to fast after 10:00pm ... I requested a baseline for my cholesteral and its been a few years since I've had it checked ( Femara is not so great on that note), she also said she'd request liver/kidney enzyme test (come to think of it, I don't even know what/why that is). I'm enjoying a little vino as I type, figure I might as well have my body in its rather normal state for the test !!!
All for now ... Carol
0 -
Carol & Annie, and all:
I just have to say that you are absolutely right, Annie, about not having an increased risk of getting bc in the other girl.. lol My surgeon told me that when he scheduled my bi-lateral mast. (How silly is that?) I 'only' had that 'little tiny' bit of bc in the left breast, but I got the bi-lateral because my surgeon recommended it for reasons of symmetry in the reconstruction. I was so VERY small before, and IF I had the saline implant reconstruction of the left breast, the ps would have had to 'build' up the right boob with a boob lift, so we figured that we would just level the playing field and demolish BOTH of 'em!! Sounds radical, I know.Annie, yes, my onc told me that after menopause, our adrenal glands make estrogen. LOVELY! Estrogen is my enemy and how do you stop the adrenals from making estrogen?
Carol,
I have also started taking the fish oil (Omega 3) capsules at dinner time. They are supposed to help lower the cholesterol levels, and I need it! Good Luck with your dr. appt. tomorrow! Oh, and my sil told me that she went to a football game and drank a boat load of beers, then went the next day for blood work, and her liver enzymes were HIGH!!
Hugs to all,
Harley
0 -
Thanks everyone for all the helpful hints. Not sure how the cytoxan is getting administered. I'm still waiting for the nurse to call with my time and I have a lot of questions ready and waiting.
I have very short, thick dark hair. Got it cut and colored yesterday cuz I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to get it colored over the next 6 months. Ordered ginger hard candies, amazing you can't find them in the store. Also bought lemon and root beer. Stocked up on lemons. already have the biotene for the recent oral surgery. Between that and the CMF, I, too will be a size 4.
Can't find the Nioxon for coarse hair the stores so I have to order that, too. Do I get the scalp treatment and conditioner, too?
Is Zofran OTC?
Have really gotten used to drinking water these days since I couldn't drink alcohol due to the mouth. Really could use a nice drink. I'll wait til Disney, a week after the 1st treatment.
Thanks again!
0 -
Hi just checking back in...just a friendly caution to scarp...you really do need to be careful of your liver in CMF...the methotrexate can be very toxic to the liver...I was one..so please don't drink alcohol during treatment..I didn't but it still was toxic to me...
Be sure to drink lots and lots of water expecially if you get the cytoxan by mouth...
I had it seven years ago now...you will do fine..
Holding your hand...SoCal
0 -
Scarp,
First off, Zofran is also a prescription med.
Although I have never been a "pill taker" of sorts, I did find that a scrip for Lorazepam was also pretty beneficial for those nights when my mind did not want to shut down, and as somebody stated to me very early on "the squirrels we're running 24/7 in your mind", and a little something to calm the head spinning was good.
From my own experience on the hair front, I'd say I probably lost about a third of my hair. A couple weeks after the first treatment I was shampooing my hair and yelling for the dh saying that I was losing ALL my hair. Ended up thinning quite a bit after round one and two, then mellowing out for a few months. Near the last txt, it seemed to thin a bit more. I started off with very thin hair, but in the end still had quite a bit left. Finished my chemo in June, and have always had short hair, cut often, now in Oct, I'd say any of the new hair that came back with some different body has finally been cut off. My thought is "don't panic" if it looks like it falling out more than you had anticipated, it will probably mellow out . I'm thinking some of the other gals will have some input as well.
As Lisa said, the "M" drug can be tough on the liver ... I had no alcohol at all until my 5th month, and then I had a little vino atleast a week after my infusion with the blessing of my onc. Personally that was not the easiest as I have enjoyed a glass of vino with my dinner for quite some time. I would pour myself a little cranberry juice and enjoy !!!
0 -
Hi sweetie pies:
Yup, thanks for all the good feedback on the other girls....it's quite amazing to me that our risk in that area is so low....I still think down the road, "off with her head" for reasons of symnetry, (C and DD, I walk like Igor) and no worries, ever again. I've just had it, but am very glad not to have the gun to my head.
Carol and Harley I am really glad to hear you both are taking the fish oil....my onc is very adamant that it will help with the achies and joint pains on arimidex or tamoxifen... here's to us all and our "fish burps"
Scarp, I have to chime in with Socal Lisa, they told me NO alcohol of any kind while doing txts, as my onc is someone who errs on the side of caution. It's all metabolized thru your liver and can really hurt it, to add alcohol to the mix (when often we have to take other medications during chemo as well) can be dicing with the devil. I think once you get farther along, they don't worry so much, I asked my onc a few weeks ago if I could have a glass of wine with a pizza on a friday night and he just said to have one for him too
As to the conditioner, I bought the color treated Nioxxin both shampoo and condt'r as i have streaks in this grey/red/doghair/mess and it also helped the texture. My hair is always kind of expandable, like a dog's coat, it made it actually feel more like hair. Good stuff that!
Antianxiety meds are a great thing in moderation.....go right ahead!!!! Those squirrels do run in the attic at night.
Hey gals, do not get me wrong, I am only 5'2" so a size 4 is not particulary tiny on me. As of now, good lord, I must be at least a 10 which at this height, well let's say, is not attractive, nor healthy. Hve towork on that!
Carol, glad your dermie appt was great............atta girl!
Have been really enjoying some nice chats with Julie chicago, she's a lovely young girl (39) and has had alot of complications, which she has handled with great poise and bravery. If anyone has seen her photos, she is absolutely beautiful, stunning, really. So we add yet another "boobie babe" to our corral of good lookin' lucky ladies.
Love you all,
annie
p.s. So far, I dare to hope this calcium supplement will work out...so far, so good.
xox
0 -
p.s. (and with me, there is always one it seems) Harley, we can only do the best we can with eradicating estrogen. Taking out the ovaries, saying good bye to the hooters, and tamoxifen and/or an AI are the best we can do. I think a healthy lifestyle also with plenty of fruits and veggies helps also.
0 -
Hi,
Okay-- I think Annie is a bit nearsighted...if you could see me this am....nope, not so stunning. Ohmy, scary. And I did hit the 40 mark...42 this summer. But thanks, Annie!
Happy to report I think I'm finally over the major hump. I did have to go back into surgery last week as the implant side became infected. Turned beet red and so hot to the touch. Long story, but after trying oral antibiotics, PS became nervous as the skin is so thin (post rads 8 yrs ago) and felt it wise to go flush everything out. So back into surgery I went. Went home with a PICC line too and was self administering IV antibiotics until I got a call from surgeon- they cutured the infection and learned that the bacteria causing the problem isn't well handled by the antibiotic I was on. So-- now-- Cipro. Which I hate. But it made an immediate inpact and infection finally appears gone. And PICC line is out, thank God. Hurt more than the breast. (I have a bruise from elbow to shoulder- it's really quite obscene. Thank goodness for long sleeve weather now!)
Have a new drain now from second surgery. Annie is right, you become quite cavalier about it after a while-- I've been carrying this sucker around for almost 4 weeks now. I'm hoping it can come out next week.
I start back at work first week of Nov full time again. Finally was able to get my hair colored, so the grey skunk stripe is gone. You all were right-- I lost about 1/3-half of my hair- but not all. It's very thin and cornsilk-ish now, but no gaping bald spots. I can fell all sorts of fuzzies growing in back underneath.
Grey rainy morning in northwest Illinois this am. 9am on a Sat. and I'm still in my jammies. Best to get things going. Not quite sure what we are doing with the kids today. I find I only have about half of my stamina. I start out great-- but halfway thru, think, oh, this was not such a good idea...
Sorry for the absence--- just a lot of poop going on.....
-julie b
0 -
Hello Ladies,
Its a beautiful spring day here in the PacNorWest. The trees are the many colors of autumn, and its supposed to be in the 60's ... I could handle weather like this right through the winter !
My dh is out of town for the weekend, business and pleasure in CA, its kinda strange to have a house all to myself and no plans at all. I suppose I'll do some puttering in the yard, and maybe call our friends up to see if they would like to hit nine holes of golf.
I received my bloodwork results already (the one thing I do like about my insurance co, is the on-line services). All looked great except a bit of an elevated LDL level. I've never had great numbers in that department, although my "good" cholesteral has rather high numbers so the ratio is pretty good. I was especially happy to see the liver/kidney results were very good.
Next on the appt front is a chat with a local surgeon on Tuesday, I think its time for the port to be removed. I've decided that I'd rather deal with one poke in the arm every six months for my Zometa infusion, then having to go in every 4 weeks to have my port flushed.
Julie, my oh my gal, sorry to hear about your troubles with your Foobie. Sounds like your now well on your way to recovering after a bit of a setback. YIKES on having to deal with a drain for so long, although they do suit a purpose.
I don't know about you, but having my hair colored after txt was said and done did help with my mental outlook. I was getting pretty darn grey myself, and it was nice to look in the mirror and see "myself" again.
Harley, thanks for the response to my PM !!! Made me feel like I was OKAY !!!
I'll be checking in throughout the weekend, might even take some time to check out some of the other posts, I don't usually have alot of spare time to poke around the site much anymore. It might be kinda fun to pop in on some other threads !!!
A great weekend to you all, Carol
0 -
Hi my dear cmf friends,
Wow, how did all this time go by so quickly? Sorry, I have been in a closing up the garden frenzy (filled a dumpster full of garden waste---boy am I sore!!
...also have been very tied up applying for a full time job that I have been hoping to have an opportunity for 10years---please say a prayer for me---let you know more later, I hope) I have caught up on all the posts...first I want to say "hi" to scarp. Glad you found us here---this is a very wonderful place to get support with your CMF treatments... First of all I want to say that you are going to be ok. Not an easy journey, but it is doable and it is TEMPORARY!! You have had some great tips already from the special ladies here. I so agree with Rita, the fear of the unknown is always worse than the reality. The treatment itself should be pretty uneventful. Try and eat some plain food before, so you have something in your tummy. After you may feel tired and you will probably want to eat---you may want to avoid things you love to eat and spicey stuff. Take all the meds as a precaution ( you might not need them, but if you do, keeping on top of it from the get go is important). Drink water---lots to flush everything out. Rest. Be gentle with yourself. Tell those close to you what you need and be ready to be suprised by kindness coming from unexpected places. You will enjoy your "chemo holiday" the time in between treatments when you start to feel back to normal again. You will probably still have hair, even though at times you will feel that is not possible---we are blessed with this chemo, we keep our eye brows, eye lashes and still have hair on our heads (even though it may thin quite a bit by the end). You said you have thick hair---no big worries. I had so much shedding in the shower anda fter combing my hair...and still did not go bald. Actually, my thinner hair was in many ways more manageable
Please let us know how we can help you here. The fact that you are doing cmf means that you are probably early stage---lots of hope---look at us here! Blessings and hugs scarp!Rita, thank you---I'm glad you like the earings and bracelet. I am using that beautiful smelling hand creame, a lot now that it is getting so cold. Love it! What is this conference that you will be a part of? I hope we can get together again, it was so good to spend time with you in person.
My little JR Buster is doing so well. He is a tough little guy and although he still has to take it easy, is walking really well considering he had his whole cruciate ligament replaced.
I did a walk for the cure that my good friend organized in Kingston, Ontario. Was on the team that walked for me last year---very special.
Annie, I'm so glad your new gal looks so good---yeah!!! What a process you and Harley have been through. I hope you are feeling better!
Julie, sorry you have had a tough time with your recon. Hope you are feeling better.
Carol and Annie, the tears are so normal I think. We are in survivor mode for so long and when all is done, your emotions have a chance to kick in. I think the tears are healing and they will definitely decrease in time. Blessings to you!
Harley, sorry it has been so long---how are you doing?
Love to everyone,
Ginny
0 -
Oh Julie! I didn't get a port OR a PICC line, but I 'only' had 4 tx of Taxotere & Cytoxan. I was NOT very good with those darn drains after my bi-lateral mast., and was SO very happy to have them out after only SIX days!! I was lucky. I told my surgeon at my first follow up visit " I am NOT going to leave until you take these drains OUT!!"
Annie,
You are right. We can only do the best we can to get rid of the estrogen! But, we can't have soy, either, and do you realize just HOW MUCH soy is in just about EVERYTHING?
Carol,
Glad the PM helped you. I'm also VERY GLAD that your bloodwork came out all good! Before one of my tests, and after my colonoscopy, the tech. told me that I had the kidneys of a FIVE year old!, and I guess the liver was good, too. I was SO GLAD to hear that, because I think the chemo can be hard on the kidneys, too. My cholesterol has been 'borderline', so I am also glad that I have a pretty good ratio. I think exercising helps keep the HDL numbers higher. I always say whatever helps!
Rita,
My training with Reach to Recovery is coming up... it's Saturday, Nov. 1st! YIKES!
Ginny,
Glad to see you again! I'm glad that you seem to be doing great, too!!
Hugs to all,
Harley
0 -
Hi gals!
Lisa..so good to see your post! You're our ray of sunshine on this thread!
Ginny...I really hope and pray that you will get the job that you're seeking! The fact that you are trying to get a full time job tells me that you've done pretty well coping with the after-effects of your journey. Please keep us informed! My fingers are crossed for you!
Carol..By now I hope that some of the achiness is going away. It took awhile for the magnesium and D3 supplements to work for me, too. According to the suggestions that I've read on here, I, too, have added Omega 3 to my pill regiment. So far I can't tell any difference but I'm sure it's too soon to see any visible signs.
Harley, I think you will really like the training session. Even if you never get a chance to use it (as in my case) it gives you great guidelines for dealing with others who are diagnosed. I am still in wonder about our program in this area. They are doing something wrong here if they have such little response to it as I know there are lots of people being diagnosed in our area of Illinois. Reach to Recovery must not be getting the word out that is available. In the meantime, I will continue to wait and will try to help others that I do know. I'm anxious to hear your rendition of the training session.
Annie.....how's it going in your neck of the woods?
Scarp....I used all the Nioxin products at first because I was afraid that my hair would all fall out if I didn't! :-) After a couple of months I did not use the scalp conditioner and my hair did just fine with the shampoo and regular conditioner. It sounds like you are getting all ready. You might want to add Senakot for constipation. This is sometimes a big issue after the first few treatments. This can be bought OTC and works well.
Well, I need to get moving. I have NOTHING scheduled for today and have lots of little errands and other things that need to be done. I just have to get my Halloween package in the mail for my grandsons. I really wish I could see them and treat them personally when they go out Trick or Treating but I guess this will have to do.
Have a good day everyone!
Rita
0 -
Hello my dears!
I am so glad to see we are all on at various times and chatting to each other. The nicest part of it all is....alot of these chats are not about bc, but about the txts, aftereffects, recovery, friendshps, vitamins....so many postive things.
Ginny, how very nice to hear from you and I sure will pray you get the job that you want. You must be feeing well to go ahead with this, good for you and good luck! I am so glad your Jack Russell is OK...they are the sweet clowns of the doggie world, I still miss our Amy. She would let my daughter do anything with her, including putting her in a sunsuit (which she ran around in outside on her lead) to letting Caroline have her sleep in the American Girl dolls bunkbed.) I do have a photo of that one somewhere, i should post it. But I confess, photobucket defeats me so far.
Rita, I wish my daughter was here for halloween also,
it's hard when they aren't. But I did go ahead and send her, her bf and roomie plastic pumpkns fillled with candy and some vampire teeth. I heard that it all was a huge hit and they all were wearing the vampire teeth around campus...some things never change I know how excited your little grandbabies will be to get a halloween package from grandma! Didn't grandma always know the best things to send when we were little? It's alot of fun packing stuff for them, I sent my daughter a pumpkin whoopie cushion, but I think her bf approbriated it already.Well, gals, my Encora is causing me all sorts of intestinal troubles...I quit taking it for a day or so, immediate improvement, then resumed and immediate "gurgles" and other lovely things. I'll have to figure out a way to get that supplemental calcium and omegas and D in here somehow. I'll figure it out. And I'll post if I do, if any of you gals have issues like this.
Carol, great luck w/getting the port removed!!!! You have been thru so much and yet you still keep on helping us all on here. Thank you. I hope the magnesium, D and fish oils kick in for you soon.
Harleybelle, how are you? I know, it does seem like soy is everywhere. It's a fad or something.
I have become the most assiduous label reader, and if something I like has soy way down on the list, onc says it is fine. In fact, these new encora pills he gave me have soy in them. I did ask and he said even soy sauce is fine, just don't eat edame or tofu, actual soy food products, or soy milk like silk, etc. He's a very cautious guy too, so the advice he gave in the beginning I think is still good "be vigilant, but don't go crazy". Geez, I don't know about you guys, but after this year, hoo boy. We should all be nuts.
Julie, great to see you post! I am nearsighted, yes, but my dear, you are a beautiful lady.
It really sounds like you are winning in this bout of troubles you've had getting that infection under control.....keep up that good work! And kiss those adorable little ones for me too. What are the halloween costumes du jour?
Everyone have a happy halloween and I am hoping my "great pumpkin" comes out of wraps and the sport bra soon. There should be a "boob" icon on this site, don't you think? Maybe two smilies or something like such
or when under construction, 
, or going boob free! ...........Oh my, I must be getting senile, getting very silly these days.Love to all of you, prayers to Ginny for that job! ( ) Big Hug to Carol for those achies and a big WOOO HOOOO to Julie, in recovery.
xoxo
annie
0 -
Oh Annie...I'm sitting her laughing my head off at your icon scenario! You crack me up! Laughter......just what the doctor always orders. Gee, it would be fun to be YOUR daughter. You got pretty creative with that Halloween goodie box! How neat! I need to check in on the Illinois ladies and then find my recliner. I really got domestic and worked today! Now that's a switch! LOL
Catch you all later.
Rita
0 -
Ginny,
I meant to add that I'm praying that you'll get that job! I'm looking for a p/t job, but there just doesn't seem to be very many jobs available lately.
Annie,
That soy thing really gets me going sometimes. I know my dh always says 'everything in moderation', but his idea of moderation is eating BAD things 3 or 4 days a week... I used to eat Quaker instant oatmeal for breakfast, but ... now, they are even putting SOY in that, too!! GRRR!!
Rita,
I'll be sure to give you my impression of the Reach to Recovery training. I really hope that I can use it, soon, to help others.
Hugs to everyone,
Harley
0 -
Hey Ladies,
Hate to be the "Debbie Downer" tonight, but thought I'd share a portion of my post from another thread I also frequent.
I've also been banging my head against the "things just aren't quite right" band wagon. I actually feel somewhat relieved to see that it is not just me, although I'm not too thrilled that any of us are having to cope with yet another set of issues. This so-called "new norm" rather sucks at this point. I realize that its common to have these feelings, and with time they should fade away, but in the present its kinda tough.
I as well try to be "upbeat", especially when asked "how you doing"???, I don't think many people would really be able to relate if I told them how I was "really" doing. It would be like do you have an hour, and do you really care ??? I personally think about the chances of a reoccurence, I try not to dwell on it, but it is in the back of my mind. My joints ache, I hobble about after sitting for even a short time, my inner arm is numb and funky feeling, my elbows are very tender after I golf, I'm missing a boob (yes my choice), I want to cry at the drop of a hat, and I have zero libido which in turn makes me feel stressed and I know is even harder on my dh (thank god we have had a strong relationship for the past 10 years). Yes, I'm thankful that I am cancer free, but I really miss not feeling the way I did 13 months ago. I feel like I've physically aged 10 years in the past 12 months. My gyn did remind me that most women also go through menopause over the course of many years. Personally I was slammed into it at a high rate of speed, and I believe that you we're as well. Our bodies are struggling to try and figure out what the heck hit um !!!
Over the past few months I may have sounded like I was full of energy, but honestly its been a battle. I certainly could be very content to come home after work and totally vegetate. I'm hoping that I will be able to keep the mindset to continue with some type of exercise routine, and of course the Yoga. Other than that, I'm still holding on to the thought that this physical/mental downer too shall pass. I just hope it doesn't take too long.
Okay, now I feel better, as I was typing this I did actually think to myself, "self, maybe you need to go have a chat with a mental health professional". That will definitely not be out of the question if my mental mood doesn't brighten up a bit.
Tomorrow its off to the local surgeon to discuss port removal.
Okay, putting on my big girl panties and leaving for Yoga. I can really use the stretches tonight.
Be well my friends, Carol
Just me again, back from Yoga ... yep my mind was going 100mph. So much for the relaxation portion of the hour !!! The stretching was beneficial though. I was thinking how although I would prefer not to bitch and moan about myself ... I did ... and then I thought, you know who else could REALLY relate ??? Not my husband, kids, family, closest friends, and the men I spend the better part of 8 hours with a day ... it would be the gals I've relied on for the past 10 months to help with the ups and downs. Its easy to read in a book that "its normal" to feel this way, and another thing to have those you have shared so much with reaffirm it. Make sense ???
Sorry for the vent ... just needed to get it out !!! You know I never have liked Fall !!!!
0 -
Hi ladies, dreary day here and thinking of making some kind of warming soup for dinner...now how I am going to manage this with no arm motions, should indeed be interesting. Like little tyrannosaurus Rex arms. Grrrr.
Harley, I bought some regular old oatmeal. Look on the labels, and i know it's a pain in the butt about the soy....I am not tolerating the new calcium either so I think I am going to cut up the pills and take at various meals and see if the staggered approach works better. If not, well I shall take the fish oil, take the multi and get my calcium from food sources which is remarkably easy to do. One glass of skin milk, one yogurt, 3 servings of broccoli and various other items that prob. fall within your daily diet and it can certainly be done. Even a tums. It turns out you can, with planning, pull it off.
A word to Carol...........honey, if you did not feel this way, I'd be worried about you. You have pulled all of us along with you on this journey and been relentlessly upbeat and optimistic. The pendulum must swing the other way now for you to achieve some balance. It doesn't sound like you need a mental health professional, if you were continuing as tho everything was hunky dory and perfecto, I'd say go........... but you are realistic, grounded and realizing that you've been thru a big deal. You have aches, pains, and have not hit that part where you feel better yet on the femara. You know, our hormones have been dealt a whack and part of menopause is feeling some depression. Exercise will help with that, but if it gets out of hand, certainly take something. I think that venting here is one of the singularly most healthy things we can do...because no one wants to hear it in the outside world. They just don't.
You are fine, you have beat cancer (and doesn't anyone in a war need de programming and downtime)? and now you just need to regroup and restore. You won't feel "normal' for a bit yet, and that's OK. I've been there after the first time, and yes, this is AOK at this stage of the game.
OF COURSE you feel like this. It's another healing phase and you'll have to get thru it and get to the other side. You go right ahead and bitch and moan to us, we've done enough of it to you, god knows. Now you are in a "healing place" so be kind to Carol.
I will pray that you feel better soon. Sending big hugs ( )
As to the libido, what's that ? My poor hubby..............this too, shall pass. Have a nice snuggly fire, a glass of wine and see what happens............
xxo
annie
0
