CALLING ALL STAGE I SISTERS
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Sheila♥
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This is how I did it so far.
Stopped snacking all night.
Portion control. I always ate healthy, I enjoy my fruit and vegetables.
Drink water instead of soft drinks even 100% juice products. Calories add up.
The most important walk and walk as much as you can.
It was difficult at the beginning but you get use to it after a while.
I crave my gold fish which I used to finish the entire bag at once, because the label said Baked.
I can go on and on.
One think is a reality Femara and some other X's I take makes it very difficult to loose the weight.
Thanks for reading.
Sheila
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I hope everybody is feeling okay.
Good Night
Sheila
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Just dropping in to see how everyone is doing. I see that some of you are talking about the "nasty' weight loss issue. I have gained like 30 lbs in the last year pre- breast cancer without adding calories into my diet. My thyroid went a little haywire. I am now on Synthroid but it's a very low dose and I'm not sure how much that will help with the weight loss if any at all. I haven't actually tried to start losing any weight yet but plan on it soon since I finished rads almost 2 weeks ago. But Sheila you said Femara makes it very hard to lose weight and that is exactly what my Med Onc wants to start me on in about 2 weeks. Apparently Tamox does the same. So I guess which ever way I go I can't win for losing. I have actually consider going to one of the local weight loss centers. Have any of you ladies done that? Like Jenny Craig or Nutri System or Physician's Weight Loss? I'm trying to decide because I don't thing I can do it without some diet pills and a couselor. I have always seemed to do better if I was paying for someone to help me out. I just don't know if my med onc will want me going.
Renee
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Renee...I'm also on Antidepressants thats when I really started to put the weight on.
If you really really want to loose weight you can do it. Its very difficult but you can do it my friend.
I can be your counselor.
Good Luck to you.
Sheila
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Hello ladies, Well, hot flashes becoming a little more frequent. Not too bad in intensity but I'm concerned how they are going to be when warmer weather comes our way. In one way I want the warm weather (I'm tired of being cold), but in another way I'm a little worried. OK, one day at a time. I'm on the Femara for 1.5 mos now.If this is all I get, I will live with it.
I hope everyone is doing all right. Hugs to all. Chris
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Mimi, Weight Watchers was a big help to me last year--before BC! Then when I wanted to be in the best shape possible for surgery, I exercised more and cut back on the breads & desserts. I think the exercise helped during rads as well because I didn't have the fatigue so many women experience. Like you, I'm on a low dose of generic Synthroid and my thyroid levels are checked annually. When I met the med onc before rads, she said tamoxifen was more likely than AIs for me. The next appt. is in two weeks, so I'll find out soon. From what I've read, water retention can be an issue, so it's probably a good idea to control the salt in your diet. Also, remember some women lose weight on hormone therapy, so don't panic! Good luck!
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Hi, I am stage 1 also, er pr negative, mastecomy, no nodes involved, and clear margins. I didnot get any treatment, they will check me every 3 months but I am scared. Were you scared also?
Hugs,
Cookie
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Cookie, you have a "good" dx, if there's such a thing. Tumor less than 1 cm. Stage 1, the slowest growing bc. Zero node involvement. Looks like you were very fortunate and were dx'ed early. With er pr negative, there isn't any treatment besides rads and chemo, and you don't need either! That's wonderful.
So is water retention the reason for weight gain on Tamoxifen or the AIs?
Taking the proper amount of Synthroid for underactive thyroid should restore normal metabolism. My dr. does not approve of taking the generic for Synthroid so I pay a little more. Still synthroid isn't expensive. I asked my pharmacist if he agreed with my dr. and he does agree that it's better not to take the generic of a hormone.
Happy Mardi Gras to everyone!
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SERIOUSLY, I need to get off the Victorias's Secret mailer... honestly, do they send enough catalogs!!!! Never realized. how many they send out.. and I am grateful Vday is over, I do not feel sexy... how do we get our sexy back... I can't even fake it... the hair thing, driving me CRAZY how long it takes to GROW OUT... okay, I am venting again... seriously, I think time is not making me any happier, perhaps I need to go on an anti- depressant! My old self, NEVER in a million years would think I need a happy pill to make me happy but I am giving in as I am finding myself... shall I say it, having a bad case of post traumatic stress... I have concluded, this has got to be it! So, anyone else in my wagon, or are all of you happier than ever?!? Where is my happy place, oh happy place... looking for you....
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My happy place is when I can be with my children and be needed by them and my DH. Just being able to do things I wasn't able to due to BC makes me happy. Just being here 6 years down the road makes me happy. I am not in denial, I have my bad days. The past couple have been difficult, but just being able to do what I couldn't during tx makes me happy. My hair hasn't made me happy since Chemo, so that I will have to live with.
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Thanks Meece,
I feel guilty sometimes complaining because of all the "good news" and I see woman on here struggling and it breaks my heart... this is why I get so angry with myself that I can't find my happy place! Your happiness is encouraging, I need to get over "myself" and get into the things that matter, like you say, the kids and the hubby,.
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I look at the picture of you and your little one puckering, and that makes me happy. I wish I had a little one to cuddle, wrap up after a warm bath, read bedtime stories to, watch as she discovers the world and get wet slobbery kisses from. (I hope that doesn't sound perverted)
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Nicole~ I hear you about what happened to my sexy. I didn't have a lot before but it's GONE..... I am only 3 weeks out of reconstruction but I think I may have been gifted some sexy back when I was in the OR. Now I just need to get rid of the drains in the hips. I am hoping that after stage 2 I get even more sexy back. Victoria's secret has not been helping me at all. I want to prance around in a sexy bra and undies.....sigh...... My hair looks like I stuck a finger in an electric socket but it's better than what I had last year
.Meece~ I agree about being able to do things for my kids and DH do make me happy
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Nicole...Someone like me who is on Antidepressants for years now, can tell you that
Its not a Happy Pill, just controls my depression some how under control, sometimes depression comes back. Like the last 2 days Im feeling very low. Im tired and exhausted and signing off the boards earlier than usual.
I try to keep my sense of Humor thats my other medicine. Also I try to find pleasure from little things.
You are having a tough night. We all do.
Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day for you.
Huuuuuuuuuuugs
Sheila♥
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Thanks for your comments Sheila! Tomorrow will be a better day for both of us!! Already starting to be a BETTER day, just confirmed a vacation to Hawaii in May!!!! Whoop, whoop! Surely, this will make me happy with my family
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Nicole...What a coincedence, Im planning to go see my daughter in may.
She is in the Island of Oahu, what island are you planning to go?
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Sheila,
We are going to Oahu, May 18- 24th... wouldn't that be something!!!! I have NEVER been to Hawaii
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My dates are from April 28 to May 17. (Planning) Want to spend Mothers Day and my Birthday there which is falling the same day. You see little things making us happy. I just found one.
I didnt purchase my ticket yet waiting March 1st to get clean bill of health from my oncologist,
When I do the first thing Im doing its to book the flight. There are very good deals going on non stop round trip $585.00 from Continental and United.
Because I had a bad experience 5 years ago, we were going away to celebrate my DD college graduations, were looking for All Inclusive prices before I know it was DX with BC. Thats why I cant buy the ticket now. I really want to meet you.
Oahu is a smaller Island.
Where are you staying, I might even change my dates just to meet you and your family.
Sheila
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Seyla, love your hydrangea avatar!
DS & DIL lived on Oahu. While they were at work, DH and I went sightseeing. It is a pretty island. It is very populated on the Waikiki side. One thing I would recommend is the Polyneisan Cultural Center. I don't remember the cost, but it has lots of demonstrations of island culture, a average luau, and a pretty good show. You can get more info on that online.
Nicole, we still need to get to gether for winetasting!!!
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Hi Nicole
I could have written your post, I have a very very difficult time getting over all of this and have felt shitty physically and emotionally. I have gained 10 lbs and I like you have had all kinds of SE's from the meds.
After the most recent incident with all the scans and back pain my Doc suggested a low dose antidepressant. I put him off for ever and just did not want to do it, tried a therapist but just could not get myself going and I have a history of being a very gung ho get it done type of personality. My friends and family have been worried about me because this is just not me. Anyway finally I relented and went on a half dose of Lexapro and I have to say I started feeling better. The way they finally got me to GET IT, was explain it as we are young and we have instant menopause, and can't take hormones. As I spoke to many people around me that had been through natural menopause I found like (my family and MIL) had all taken biodenticals to get through it and here we are suffereing BC and instant menopause. Anyway they say that the hormones help brain function and the antidepresant is actually replacing that function that no hormones has taken away. I won't stay on it too long as it has its own SE's but for now it is what I needed.
I think we had similar dx and time frame and I think it is pretty normal, most I have spoken took something and then got off it down the road.
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Nicole and mmm5, I swear I think we are on the same schedule here, LOL! I was going to post yesterday, but got busy, and what I was going to say to my Stage 1 BC friends is that I felt SO STUPID because I went to pick up my kids from school and started chatting with some ladies who I worked with when I was dx'd (worked at the kids school). I was chatting away, and then, AS USUAL, somehow my BC and upcoming BMX/DIEP surgery came up, and I started crying...in front of all of them...who have no clue what I am going through and are probably sick of hearing about it (dx'd in June last year). And of course they dont know what to say, and feel sorry for me, etc. which is sweet but makes me feel even stupider! I stopped working the day I found out I had BC, and now that it's been almost a year, I feel useless to society. I like being home, and I was glad to take a break, but I guess now I feel like "sheesh, am I going to sit here forever?"
So I drove home wondering why I'm so bleeping depressed lately, why I have no direction in life since dx (I ALWAYS had a plan), how I can still be depressed over this bleeping dx especially when so many others went through so much more and are facing harder things. And I was feeling sorry for myself because I was the only one there with BC or any C...not that I want anyone else to suffer. Plus I'm so depressed about my weight, and I wanted to lose weight before my surgery, and AS USUAL, I didnt which makes me feel like an utter failure.
So...I'm rambling, but I was going to share that because I was wondering if anyone else here was feeling depressed and then I read your and everyone else's posts, and I guess this is normal. I wonder when I will get over the ups and downs? Maybe after surgery?
Speaking of Hawaii, that's why I booked my trip to Disney yahoo! I need some excitement that doesnt have a dx attached to it!
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We need little Happy Dance
Hugs
Sheila
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Nicole...This is Kailua Beach in Oahu.
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cake is great and nicole - I feel the same way you ladies and many others do often. I have completed my partial mastectomy and my rads, but now all the follow up appts are about to start and I have gone back to regular hours at work and WOO HOO my breast is completely healed from the rads (that is a plus though it is still peeling and itching like crazy)!! But I still have down days where I cry. Worry about the dx, whether to take the oral meds, weight gain as I discussed above, losing the weight I've already gained, "getting my sexy back" and how my DH and I will cope with the sexual side effects of the oral meds if I do go on them. Heck I'm only 45! I'm Not dead!!! What do people do?? What do doctors think we are puppets? :=( Irregardless I will NOT be starting anything till my DH and I take a vacation to Bristol, TN to the races March 18-22. I know that is waiting an entire month after the I see the doctor, but... don't the side effects of the meds usually start about a month after you start taking it if you have any at all? I really think I may ask him if I can take Tamox I definitely need help with this.
Sheila thanks for volunteering to be my counselor. I will probably take you up on that. I am going to buy a Wii game with a Wii sports fit. I also will be getting a Treadmill and I'm going to start walking daily in the evenings. And I hope to go to a weight doc after I have an Echo of my heart done next Tuesday. I have been having swelling in my lower legs for 20 yrs. (I'm a nurse) and I am seeing a new primary doctor and she wants to find out why they swell so guess what I get and echocardiogram done. Woo Hoo!!!
Renee
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After reading everyone's posts, I want to sent BIG HUGS to everyone!!
I will be gone from Feb 25-Mar 2 to celebrate my Granddaughter's 3rd. birthday with her & my Grandson, who is a little over 1 1/2 yrs. I am so hoping I do not cry when I see the kids & spend my time hugging & kissing them & playing with them. It seems if I stop to watch them, I get all teary-eyed & have to stop myself from totally losing it. Today, Feb 18, exactly one year ago, I finished Rads & started the Aromasin the very next day. I think of the SFBC every single damn day & I HATE IT !!! I do not get depressed, at least I don't think I do, but I do find myself stopping & letting the fear creep in. I do not like this crappy weight I have gained; I'm not happy taking the AI, but, to tell the truth, I am scared to death not to take it. I turned 58 last month & have a LOT of living yet to do & do not like this SFBC hanging over my head. And, don't even get me started on my MOJO !!!
Thanks for letting me rant! I have nowhere else to say exactly what I am feeling, which I don't do very often anyway, not in a room with anybody else in it. LOL
Love & hugs to all,
Valerie
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Sheila- OMG we are going to EAST Oahu, I believe this is the beach you are showing!
To all my ladies here, thank you so much for listening to my "real" and "raw" emotions... it is not the pretty side of bc... in fact, I completely hear what Val is saying in that there is not a damn day that goes by I do not think of this life changing event... my hope is as time goes on my brain will slow down on the negative thoughts and fear... when I think rationally, I know I am in good hands and have a good life ahead of me, I just need my brain to catchup.
So, I have made myself a little pack and this sounds crazy, but it just may be my way out f this funk...
I will wake up each morning and take some time for ME, I will have a cup of coffee and reflect on the beauty of the day before and the prospects for the day.. I will not look too far ahead and I will not look too far behind... at this time, I just need to baby step back into my new normal.
THANK YOU ladies, I send the biggest cyber hugs to you all, crazy how we are all connected but beautiful all in one. What did the ladies do before the internet... seriously, you all are who I relate to!... and I appreciate that you share back you feelings as I truly do not feel alone! THANK YOU, thank you!
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Nicole ~ You are so wise. "and reflect on the beauty of the day before & the prospects for the day...I will not look too far ahead & I will not look too far behind..."
I just wrote that down & will read it often, thank you for that. I think that might help...
When my youngest DD had her wedding shower, she had small frames with different quotes in each at each place setting for the luncheon. I kept mine & I think I need to read it more often. I thought of it while reading your post, Nicole.
"Always Say Yes"
"Always say 'yes' to the present moment.
What could be more futile, more insane,
than to create inner resistance
to something that already is?
Whatever the present moment contains
accept it as if you had chosen it.
Always work with it, not against it.
Make it your friend and ally, not your enemy.
This will miraculously transform your whole life."
~Eckhart Tolle~
{{hugs}}
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Nicole and Val - What great words of encouragement. I often find myself worrying about what the future holds, and all the what-ifs. I don't want bc to rob me of any more of my life and I want to be present for the present. I don't express my fears to my family and especially to my DH, who took my dx very hard. You ladies are whom I turn to for understanding, wisdom and support.
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Thanks for all the encouraging words. It really helps to have other people who know what you are going through.....I talk to my family but they just can not understand. Don't get me wrong they have been great and a am very lucky to have the support they have given me (and contimue to give) but...
I am glad that I am not the only one that is struggling with emotions......it is frustrating when all of a sudden I start to cry and I don't know why.
BIG HUGS TO EVERYONE.
Seyla888...thanks for the picture.....
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