CALLING ALL STAGE I SISTERS

18586889091512

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  • HeleneS
    HeleneS Member Posts: 9
    edited May 2010

    AStorm,

    I'm taking a low dose of Effexor (75 mg) for hot flashes.  The first two weeks I felt like I was in a stupor and I had no hot flashes.  As my body adjusted, I suffered moderately from flashes.  This is also one of the reasons that I worry about overkill.  As you said everytime you take another drug it causes a different problem.  I also have dry mouth from the Effexor.  Hope this helps you.

  • AStorm
    AStorm Member Posts: 1,393
    edited May 2010
    Helene - thanks for your post. I was thinking about getting a 2nd onco's opinion on the Effexor because my BS suggested it but the onco suggested going off tamox for awhile instead. I put a lot of faith in the tamox so stopping isn't something I want to try. It doesn't sound like you had much relief from the Effexor.
  • HeleneS
    HeleneS Member Posts: 9
    edited May 2010

    AStorm,

     I've had enough relief from the flashes to consider it worthwhile to continue for now.  After starting the Lupron my sleep was regularly disturbed -- although not flash-less, my sleep is much better now.  I've noticed that the effects vary among people.

  • o2bhealthy
    o2bhealthy Member Posts: 1,089
    edited May 2010

    Helene - I took effexor 37.5 mg for hot flashes for about 6 months and found it did help considerably...made me a little numb emotionally, but that was what I needed at the time.  I weaned myself off because I really needed to reevalute things clearly, the hot flashes have increased considerably but I am better able to manage them now then when this whole 'journey' started. 

  • sue-61
    sue-61 Member Posts: 262
    edited May 2010

    SEYLA

    so good to hear from you and I am very very jealous of your trip to Hawaii.

  • HeleneS
    HeleneS Member Posts: 9
    edited May 2010

    Thanks 02bhealthy. I think it helps too.  It just has its downside as well.

  • o2bhealthy
    o2bhealthy Member Posts: 1,089
    edited May 2010

    Yea Helene it does have downsides...we just have to pick our poisons and decide if the benefits out weight the risks as with everything else we have to decide once you have a dx of BC.  I am still evaluating if I should go back on the Effexor for a little longer or rough it out...

  • goodvibesonly
    goodvibesonly Member Posts: 99
    edited May 2010

    Barb--How are you feeling?  You started chemo a few days ago, I think.

    Laura--hope you are feeling better every day!

    I see that many ladies are on tamoxofen and have SE.  I am post menopause so was put on femara.  This also causes SE but fortunately I have not had any. I am sorry to see that you ladies are having troubles like this. 

    Gail--I wondered if your onc will put you on a post menopause med like femara if you are taken off tamoxofen.  Just a questions.

    Thanks for posting the info on the drug trial Helene.  And good for you for requesting the onco dx test.  It is so important to get all the information that we can to help us make a decision about this terrible disease. Granted--the decisions are still very hard!

    I was at my health club yesterday on the tread mill (fast walk--no running per my ps).  My friends were all playing in a raquetball tournament at the club.  I would be playing too, but have TE and won't be playing for a while.  Friends were awesome, etc... But I couldn't help but getting teary eyed that I couldn't play!  UGH.  Not a big deal in the realm of life issues, of course. But still made me very sad.

    SEYLA--Enjoy Hawaii!  I am jealous! 

    Have a great Sunday, ladies.  

  • charmainejensenvoisine
    charmainejensenvoisine Member Posts: 210
    edited May 2010

    Sue-61:  Thank you so much for wishing me a ' HAPPY BIRTHDAY ' in advance.  So cannot believe I am turning 50 years old.  These years have come by so very, very fast.

    My husband is taking me to a Indian Restaurant that is in our community, they have a Buffet at lunch time, a very good restaurant.  Then for a dessert, we are going to our Village Ice Cream Parlour for a double banana split YUM!

    Charmaine

  • sheila888
    sheila888 Member Posts: 9,611
    edited May 2010

    Thank You goodvibes for your well wishes. Its beautiful here. I post more details when Im back.

    Happy Birthday charmaine.

    Hi To All My Sisters and Hugs.

    Sheila

  • eph3_12
    eph3_12 Member Posts: 2,704
    edited May 2010

    This threads been quiet-guess we are missing Sheila! I will be off the grid this weekend. Going to Eugene, OR tonight to visit my sis & then tomorrow AM, taking my daughter to Willamette University in Salem, OR for a leadership conference. She was chosen from her sophomore class to represent her school at the annual HOBY conference. Fairly big honor & will look good on college aps. While she's doing that all day, I'm traveling around to a couple small towns in the area that my paternal side of the family is from & visiting cemetaries to take photos of tombstones etc. to give to my dad, who is in mid-stage Alzheimers but remembers events, with clarity from years ago. I think he will be able to appreciate them still. See ya later-have a great weekend! Joni

  • elimar
    elimar Member Posts: 5,890
    edited May 2010
    Has Seyla888 been to a luau yet, I wonder?   I'm scared of the puu-puu platter...what the heck IS that stuff, a slimy root gruel or what?  Eeeeew!   Report back, Sheila.
  • AStorm
    AStorm Member Posts: 1,393
    edited May 2010

    Ok, I'm not complaining about having "cancer lite" KNOCK WOOD! but I wonder if I had chemo, might my teen daughter behave herself for a few days?... just wondering. or maybe DH would keep an eye on her for a few hours at least so I could have a break... or maybe he could just wash my car once in awhile.

    I understand that the good Lord only gives us a cross we can bear. Maybe my family is saving me from chemo.

  • Meece
    Meece Member Posts: 10,618
    edited May 2010

    Have fun this weekend, Joni.

    Seyla said she had been to a luau on the beach, I believe.  Pupu is appetizers.  It is the poi you want to stay away from, Elimar.  Poi is a paste made from the taro plant root.  They are grown in bogs.  The poi is distinctive, and I will leave it at that.  Although, I found poi dinner rolls that DH and I really liked.

  • elimar
    elimar Member Posts: 5,890
    edited May 2010

    Yup, you're right, I did mean POI.  Puu-Puu...good; POI...well, I'll just say I've eaten better tasting paste in kindergarten and leave it at that. 

  • sheila888
    sheila888 Member Posts: 9,611
    edited May 2010

    Hi Ladies all I can say is, Im having great time, eating well and very happy.

    I will write a long post when I come  back.

    Missed you all.

    Huuuuuuugs!

    SheilaWink

  • mimi1964
    mimi1964 Member Posts: 851
    edited May 2010

    Hi everyone!  Where are all of you at?  Waiting for Sheila to return? LOL!  She should be back soon.  Until then I hope all of you are doing well.  I have a doctors appointment coming up on Friday with my breast surgeon for 6 month follow up and I am suppose to be having my first mammo since my dx last October.  I'm a little nervous about the upcoming mammo, that is unless he changes his mind and decides to wait.  You never know about doctors.  I am hoping to just go ahead and get it over with and all is well.  It definitely is putting me on edge. 

    Renee

  • Meece
    Meece Member Posts: 10,618
    edited May 2010

    I will be thinking of you on Friday, mimi.  Have faith, all will be as it should be!

  • mimi1964
    mimi1964 Member Posts: 851
    edited May 2010

    Thank you Meece!!!

    Renee

  • patoo
    patoo Member Posts: 5,243
    edited May 2010

    Thinking about you tomorrow mimi.  Is it a diagnostic mammo that they read immediately?  Anycase, let us know as soon as you know.

  • sheila888
    sheila888 Member Posts: 9,611
    edited May 2010

    ((((((Renee)))))♥

  • o2bhealthy
    o2bhealthy Member Posts: 1,089
    edited May 2010

    Sending prayers and good vibes for a clear mammo Renee!

  • mimi1964
    mimi1964 Member Posts: 851
    edited May 2010

    Hey ladies!  Yes he did write it as a diagnostic mammogram, but only did a unilateral on the "post surgical breast" to re-establish a baseline.  He told me we would get a complete mammo in Novemeber.  You know insurance companies they won't pay for a routine mammogram but once a year.  Anyway, the hospital where I get my mammo's done do not read them immediately, SO.... I get to wait for the results till sometime next week (I hope that's all I have to wait).  The doctor did tell me that he could tell me not to get worried that he knew what it ws going to say before he got it... "post surgical and radiation changes with clips present, yada, yada, yada".  I pray nothing more.  So I am not going to worry. 

    Thanks for all the well wishes!

    Renee

  • sheila888
    sheila888 Member Posts: 9,611
    edited May 2010

    Renee...How was your test today?

  • sheila888
    sheila888 Member Posts: 9,611
    edited May 2010

    We were posting the same time!!!!!!!!

  • patoo
    patoo Member Posts: 5,243
    edited May 2010

    Mimi, thanks for the update.  You are absolutely right about not worrying - it just doesn't help so wny bother.  Life goes on, right.  And he did give you encouragement anyway.

    Seyla, glad you're back.  Now I don't have to be jealous any longer.

  • sheila888
    sheila888 Member Posts: 9,611
    edited May 2010

    Thanks Patoo. If you didn't see Hawaii its a paradise. Christine and Joe they know all the quiet beaches specially on North Shore of Oahu. I don't even know how to describe the beauty of it.

    They all have their own unique beauty. I took so many pictures. We also went to another heavenly place Botanical garden. It was so green so many different flowers, baby pineapples anything you can imagine. We went to Waikiki not for swimming too many people, just to look at the stores, the International Market etc.......

    Now I have to figure out or better to learn how to post real pictures. DD was going to show me but we didn't have a chance. They both have Picasa Album. I can join to that which is much more easier than FB (don't have one) I just want to post pix. And i don't even know how to upload or download????????? pictures from the camera to the computer.

    I have some very colorful sceneries I want to share with other threads too.

    I'm so Embarassed not knowing this basic stuff.

    Hugs

    Sheila

    PS: Nicole and I we were suppose to meet there, but i dont know what happened to her. I called left a message but no calls.

    She also didnt log in since April 9th. I hope she is okay. I'm worried about her.

    If anyone has any information please share them here. Thank You.

  • Meece
    Meece Member Posts: 10,618
    edited May 2010

    I was going to ask you about "Nicole".  I checked and saw she hasn't been around in awhile.  I know she has several family trips planned this year, and perhaps things a re really busy with the end of the school year, and prepping for the Hawaii trip.  I hope she comes back to post, and that she is okay.

  • sheila888
    sheila888 Member Posts: 9,611
    edited May 2010

    Meece..She was supposed to come to Oahu on May 25th and stay for 1 week. Only 20 minutes away where my daughter lives.

    Its not like her personality to disappear like this.

  • patoo
    patoo Member Posts: 5,243
    edited May 2010

    Sheila, many cameras come with software and a USB cord that you just plug into the computer and it uploads automatically.  Barring that you can buy a memory card reader at WalMart, Target, BestBuy, etc. that you put your camera memory card into and plug that into the computer.  I think you can go online and download a free copy of Adobe Photoshop which will import the pictures from the memory card reader.  Don't know how old your computer is but if it's a laptop look on the side and see if it has a memory card reader (mine is 2 years old and has one).  Actually some desktops may have them in the tower as well.  Hope that helps.