Come join others currently navigating treatment in our weekly Zoom Meetup! Register here: Tuesdays, 1pm ET.
Take our poll: Caregivers, what do you find most difficult about caregiving?
Weigh in: What are the best and worst gifts for people with breast cancer?

natural girls

1…183184186188189…338

Comments

  • seaotter
    seaotter Member Posts: 642
    edited May 2010

    Oh Merilee I am soooooo happy for you Laughing!!!!! Now you can get on with your life and enjoy every minute of it! Thanks for letting us know. You go girl! I'm doing the happy dance with you!!!!

    Love, Patty

  • raili
    raili Member Posts: 96
    edited May 2010

    Hi, all!  It's been a while!

    Melatonin - my naturopath has me taking 20mg per night.  I do have weird dreams, but I always have - so I don't think it's due to the melatonin.  And the 20mg doesn't make me drowsy in the morning.  I don't really feel the effects of it, actually - I can take a 20mg capsule and then still be awake on the Internet 90 mins to 2 hrs later... funny how it affects different people in different ways.  Maybe I actually need a stronger dose??

    Thermograms - I had a CRT thermogram about a month after my 3rd surgery (a lumpectomy + 2 reexcisions) and right before radiation, and surprisingly, my breasts appeared to be healthy and functioning very well!  That made me even more resistent to the radiation. :(  I just had another CRT last week, i.e. during radiation, and will have another a month after radiation ends, so that we can compare the before, during, and after thermograms to each other.  (I paid for the first, but the 2nd and 3rd are being comped, yay!  They're sort of using me and my "case" as a learning tool for themselves!)

    Root canals - I have had 5 in the past decade or so, and I'm only 31. :(  But all of my root canals have been done by a holistic/biologic dentist, if that makes a difference??

    Radiation - I've had 28 radiation treatments now and my breast is doing so well!  It looks mildly sunburned, but is not peeling or blistering, and doesn't hurt.  The staff is impressed by how good it looks, and I have ONLY used aloe on it this whole time - they've offered me their medicated cream 5 times, and I have said no thank you 5 times!  YAY ALOE!

  • makingway
    makingway Member Posts: 465
    edited May 2010

    Glad to hear that Merilee :) Congrats!

  • blaircoff
    blaircoff Member Posts: 13
    edited May 2010

    Hi Vivre,

    I'm not sure how often you check in on this blog but was just wondering if you are still doing your oil pulling and if so, how it's going? I started doing it two weeks ago and am feeling great- my mouth and gums feel so clean and I have a lot more energy. Do you discuss this topic on your new website? 

  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 2,701
    edited May 2010

    Good for you, Merilee!  Big (((HUG))), and I'm wondering if you would want to recap which chemo (was it CMF?) and which alternative things you did to sail through it so well.  I'm just thinking it might be a huge help and encouraging to newly dx'd women to read your experience in one post.       Deanna 

  • MariannaLaFrance
    MariannaLaFrance Member Posts: 166
    edited May 2010

    Hi all,

    I've lurked for awhile, but figured I would formally "join" the group. I'm 40 yrs, just finished RADS and am embarking on my post-treatment journey. I've always lived a "clean" lifestyle, but now it's ever-more important.

    Vivre, would love to join your group on your website.

    Peace to all of you!

  • Suzanne3131
    Suzanne3131 Member Posts: 2,000
    edited May 2010

    Yay Merilee and Raili!  I am so happy you are both doing so well!!  Raili how great for you to be the "test case" on such a beneficial and non-invasive test!!

    I watched this movie last night and couldn't help but think some of you would be interested.  It is called The Future of Food...and I found it eye-opening...bear in mind it is a feature film and it is 90 minutes long...

    http://www.hulu.com/watch/67878/the-future-of-food 

    Cheers, all! 

  • movingforward
    movingforward Member Posts: 1
    edited May 2010

    I am relatively new to the club, though believe strongly in holistic & natural along with medicine.I am a massage/ cranial sacral therapist and plan on becoming a nutritional consultant. Getting ready to start radiation tomorrow, had lumpectomy a month ago. I believe to survive the side effects of the meds for the next 5 years or so good nutrition and exercise are a must! 

  • somanywomen
    somanywomen Member Posts: 82
    edited May 2010

    Suzanne, thanks for posting link,  I just watched the Future of Food film...(I have also seen Food Inc.).I feel the frustration of the farmers in the catch-22 relationship they have with our GMO foods these days...I was totally saddened by how many natural food products have been eliminated completely since the GMO revolution of the 1980's...How so few companies are in charge of all the foods and future foods, where is the common sense....

    I have changed to as much organics, hormone free foods/meats since trying to take control of my and my family's health due to my research on the horrible additives/poisons and pesticides and my quest to keep them out of and off of our bodies, esp., since our government does so little to stop this madness..

  • my560sel
    my560sel Member Posts: 399
    edited May 2010

    Hi everyone...I want to add Vitamin B to my list of supplements. Can anyone tell me which B and how many mg's I should be taking?

    Thanks for your help,

    Terri

  • somanywomen
    somanywomen Member Posts: 82
    edited May 2010
    my560sel...I try to purchase Vit/Supplements with the USP verified (USP verifies the quality, purity, and potency of dietary supplement finished products, dietary supplement ingredients, and pharmaceutical ingredients.)...USP verified "NatureMade Super B-Complex" is the one I like because it contains high levels of B vitamins and vit C and Folic acid....I get the big bottle with 300 tablets so it lasts a long time...also folic acid is important to take if you drink alcohol....
  • seaotter
    seaotter Member Posts: 642
    edited May 2010

    I thought I read somewhere that to much folic acid is not good for us. Anyone else read that?

    Patty

  • hymil
    hymil Member Posts: 177
    edited May 2010

    Hallo I have come to join you. uMx feb, I finished rads today YAY and am saying no to tamoxifen. Trying to exercise more (only today i'm just exhausted sorry) wondering about diet. Thanks for the lead Deanna. .

  • my560sel
    my560sel Member Posts: 399
    edited May 2010

    Somanywomen: Thanks for the info...may I ask where you get your B-complex from?

  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 2,701
    edited May 2010

    Terri ~ There are 8 essential B vitamins. Be sure that the B-complex you choose has them all in a reasonable balance.  Biotin is the most expensive one to produce, and the better brands will have a good amount of it.  Lesser brands will only have a small fraction of biotin compared to huge amounts of those that are cheap, like folic acid and niacin.  I've used Shaklee B-Complex for almost 30 years.  I've tried others, but it seems to be the best for me.  I did use another one recently that I thought was also excellent, but I don't recall the name of it.  I'll look the next time I'm at my natural foods market (probably tomorrow) and let you know.   Personally, I can tell the difference when I'm not taking a really good one.  I'm much more easily irritated, and some have also given me a rash (like hives) on my arms.     Deanna 

  • mollyann
    mollyann Member Posts: 148
    edited May 2010

    Agree with Deanna that Shaklee has some really good vitamins. Livon Labs makes an expensive B Vitamin (A.G.E) which is in a liposomal formula. Since I really like Livon's Vitamin C, I thought I'd try the B formula and see if it is any different than Shaklee.

    I've been told "pulsing" B vitamins (skipping a few days at a time) makes them work better. Has anybody noticed that?

  • mollyann
    mollyann Member Posts: 148
    edited May 2010

    Welcome Hymil from the UK! Have you looked into the Weston A Price Foundation dietary concepts?

  • somanywomen
    somanywomen Member Posts: 82
    edited May 2010
    my560sel...glad you asked, while doing search for stores, I found that Walmart has these in twin pack (100 tablets each) for around $10.....I paid much more at Publix, they are also available at CVS, COSTCO, BJ'S AND TARGET....I also noticed on naturemade.com there is a printable $1. coupon.....HERE IS MORE INFO....My tablets are not huge like so many supplements....
     

    Nature Made Super B-Complex with Vit C & Folic Acid,  Supplement Facts. Serving Size 1 Tablet. Amount Per Tablet - % Daily Value. Vitamin C 150 Mg - 250%. Thiamin 100 Mg - 6,667%. Riboflavin 20 Mg - 1,176%. Niacin 25 Mg - 125%. Vitamin B6 2 Mg - 010%. Folic Acid 400 Mcg - 100%. Vitamin B12 15 Mcg - 250%. Biotin 3 ...

  • hlth4513
    hlth4513 Member Posts: 161
    edited May 2010

    Terri-

    I have been told that it is important to get the methylcobalamin form of B12 - it makes a big difference in helping you methylate properly(good thing for getting the good estrogen metabolites)

    I remember when I was looking for my B complex - a lot of them had a different form of B12.

    I have been taking Jarrow B-right  for my Bcomplex.

    Beth

  • chesketh
    chesketh Member Posts: 2
    edited May 2010

    I have been taking Fermara now for 3 years.  The side effects were aweful.  I tried all kinds of supplements trying to get relief.  I was introduced to a product by my sister-in-law she had a kidney transplant and the product was helping her.  I was so desparate I gave it a try.  I been taking it now for 2 years and all my side effects are gone, inflamation, aches, hot flashes and mental fog.  My whole family takes the product now.  If your interested email me at chesketh@phoomation.com

  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 2,701
    edited May 2010

    chesketh ~ I was going to ask you to share which product you're talking about, but noticed that each of your 5 posts is very similar, suggesting that people contact you to find out about this product.  I'm so glad you've found something that works for you, but am wondering why it's the only thing you've ever posted about.  There's no problem recommending or sharing the name of a product if you're not trying to sell it.  But if you are trying to sell it, this isn't the place.     Deanna

  • hymil
    hymil Member Posts: 177
    edited May 2010

    Thank you MollyAnn I will check that out. I'm reading a book by Helen Cooke at the moment, it covers all sorts of holistic and self-help things. Linked to the Penny Brohn cancer centre outside Bristol.

  • my560sel
    my560sel Member Posts: 399
    edited May 2010

    Thanks everyone for your input.... I must say that sometimes I feel overwhelmed with all these choices and of course, I want to make the right ones. I'll look into the Shaklee vitamins and also into finding some with the methylcobalamin form of B12.....decisions, decisions! Sometimes I get so frustrated I think darn, I should have just taken the Tamoxifen like the Dr ordered. Then I come to my senses and say to myself, NO, I don't think so.....!

    Many thanks again for your help. I'll let you all know when  I start taking the B's!

    Terri

    PS: A little story. A few years back, my cousin from CA came for a visit. She brought with her a box that was about 12 inches wide by 12 inches long. I asked what she had in there and she replied " my vitamins". I replied, are you crazy, taking all those pills at which point she said to me well this one's for this, and this one's for that and this one does this etc., etc.. I gave up listening after about the 10th pill....lol Well, she's coming into town on Saturday and I've asked her to find a pill box like hers for me and to bring it along when she comes...lol. I couldn't see her face on the other end of the line, but I'm sure she had a huge "I told you so" smirk on her face!

    Terri

  • my560sel
    my560sel Member Posts: 399
    edited May 2010

    Oh, Oh ! Just wanted to tell everyone that I went for a transvaginal US today for a cyst that cropped up about 7 months ago on my left overy. The last time I went, 3 months back, it was still there. Guess what, when they checked today, it was GONE! Could that be the iodine working it's magic already after only 4 weeks????

    Terri

  • seaotter
    seaotter Member Posts: 642
    edited May 2010

    Oh Terri, great news and great story Kiss.

    Patty

  • lucy88
    lucy88 Member Posts: 100
    edited May 2010

    Yes, Terri. Same thing happened to me after starting iodine.

    If it is this effective on ovarian cysts, we might assume it's doing the same in protecting breast and thyroid cysts. That's what the doctors using it are reporting. It seems to normalize the hormone receptors.

    Thanks for posting!

  • Luna5
    Luna5 Member Posts: 532
    edited May 2010

    my560sl and Lucy88....how much iodine are you taking per day?

  • lucy88
    lucy88 Member Posts: 100
    edited November 2010

    Hi Luna--  He also wanted me on the ATP Cofactors to get it absorbed better.

    How are you doing?

  • my560sel
    my560sel Member Posts: 399
    edited May 2010

    Luna, I started out with one pill of 12.5mg and increased one pill every week and am now at 50mg. I haven't done the iodine loading test yet though.... I haven't had any side effects other than a sinus infection that comes and goes. I'm not sure if that's from the iodine though. I've spent quite a bit of money on tests lately and so I'm going to have to wait another month or so to do the loading test. I hope it's OK to wait so long to test after being on 50mg for about 1.5 months???

    Terri

  • Luna5
    Luna5 Member Posts: 532
    edited May 2010

    Thank you Lucy & Terri.  I have been taking 25 mg per day not knowing whether or not to increase since I keep forgetting to order the iodine loading test.  Next week I will find out what's going on with my D3 and hormone levels, so I guess I'd better order the iodine test soon.

    Lucy, I'm doing fine as far as I know.  Still trying to finalize all my supplements and figure out what to eat and not eat.  Hoping we will continue to have great information shared here.  Hope you are doing well, too.

    Haven't been on as much lately as I have traveled to see a couple of my kids and have some more visiting in the near future.  

    Hope all you wonderful ladies are doing fantastically well !!!!!

Categories

Join Us on Zoom: Upcoming virtual meetups. Read more...
Give your account some personality! Add a profile photo.