Australian Sisters
Comments
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I guess Chrissy, the Onc got sick and tired of my ongoing drama with the scripts, local hospital and it's pharmacy and Drs who don't listen and can't copy the onc's script word for word. In December I took a script to the local Chemist who had promised me that he would have my meds for me every month. The script was written for me by Dr at local hospital that day, after a long wait at A & E. I was very low on their priority list.
Front up for the meds and the script doesn't have the right dosage strength so off I go back to the hospital for another/corrected script. Wait another hour, get a new one...........go back to chemist and.........you wouldn't believe it................but the Chemist doesn't have my meds in stock. I was swearing a blue streak when I went back out to hubby. This is just one instance of all the cock-ups I had suffered at their hands the previous year.
When I could only get them at the hospital pharmacy, sometimes I would get only one or two weeks worth instead of the usual 30 days. One imported Dr up there couldn't write, '5 x repeat' even though I told him how to do it, on one script, so wrote out 6...........yes that's SIX separate scripts for the next six months........sheeeesh!
I've got to tell you, I started to think that they didn't want me to have them and this was a way of getting rid of me.
As far as I know, the Bondronat works exactly the same as the Bonefos, you just have to take less tablets.
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Racy - where are you in Brisbane? Where are you having your treatments. I went to the HOCA centre at Chermside and also had rads at Premion in the same building.
Sue
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Wow Sheila, what a mess! What hospital were you at? It sounds like they had their intake of interns on the floor that day. Glad to hear that you finally got the right script but boy don't you just hate it when you get the run around from the Chemist! Hope it makes your life a little easier with the Bondronat.
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hi Chrissy thanks saw the breast nurse today she also mentioned the fatigue and lots moisturise its my second day so far not to bad ..
Shiela i dont blame you getting so frustrated, if only they said it from start they didn't have your meds .. some pple need wake up and listen
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Hi Chrissy and Sue and fellow Aussies
2 treatments remaining on 5 and 27 April.
Sue, I am with the same clinics but attending the Wesley facilities. I have chemo in the hospital as a day patient which is more comfortable, having a private room (compared to the HOCA clinic). I live northside. My surgeon is Dr V, onc is Dr B and radiation onc is Dr T.
I saw a naturopath who specialises in cancer today. Her advice was sound, moderate and consistent with principles that I have been following such as 'Anticancer' by Dr Servan-Schreiber and 'Foods that fight cancer' by Drs Beliveau and Gingras. Today, we mainly discussed diet and supplements and will focus more on lifestyle at the next session. Each piece of the picture helps, I think. I will share any good tips that I pick up. One from today was that I was given a med to reduce perspiration associated with the flushes. It's called Somnicare.
I am going out now for a short walk. Have a good evening ladies.0 -
Hi Racy, glad to hear you are almost at the end. It's a good feeling when you reach that stage. That med recommended by your naturopath for perspiration reduction sound really interesting. Is it on a script or is it available from the naturopath? If it's from the naturopath, I just might try some myself as I find the perspiring during a hot flush is really ick! Thanks for the heads up on it.
Love n hugs. Chrissy
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Yes Chrissy, it's a naturopath dispensed med. It's actually a sleep pill but has a side effect of reducing perspiration, which I am finding the most annoying part of the flushes. I also got Activated B Complex for hair growth! The naturopath works with a lot of chemo patients and I believe it is fine to take these meds with chemo.
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Thanks Racy, I'll check out the naturopath near by. Good information. I've been on B12,6 and 3 for a long time and I take Biotin for hair and nails. So far the hair is slowly thickening up.
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Chrissy, the active ingredients in the sleep med are zizyphus spinosa (Chinese jujube) fresh seed and Magnolia officinalis dry stem bark.
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I have heard of zizyphus spinosa but not the use of Magnolia officinalis stem bark. I think I need to do a bit of research to find out what the properties are and how they work. Racy, you have set my mind working now I need to quench it with knowledge.....lol. Thanks lovely one.
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How are all the Aussie girls going?
We've all been a bit quiet - hope that's coz we've been well and busy doing other things? I know I've been busy with work and getting the house under some sort of control. Also - am a member of the Canberra Photographic Society, and finally have started to get back into that. Will be going to my first comp night tomorrow night since diagnosis. Not sure what I'm planning to put in will be up to scratch though - so will make a final decision tonight as to whether to go ahead with it or not.
Looking forward to hearing how you are all going!! :-)
Trish
xox
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Hi Trish,
All is well here, just been busy getting better (I Hope). I have days where I think dreaded thoughts on whether I've beaten this thing and other days I have the attitude - just live as though you're OK and if you find out you're not, deal with it then... not before...
Thinking of going back to work soon, I think it will be good for me, even though I question my brains ability to think straight now..
Hope all the Aussie Sisters are well and happy. xoxo Sue.
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Hey Sue
I'm having similar days to you - most of the time I'm feeling just great and getting on with life with no chemo, and then I'll suddenly start to worry that this will all happen again. I think that is something we all go through, and I try to keep thinking positive thoughts :-)
Working defenitely helps - keeps my mind occupied. I complain now, coz I have the energy to do things and no time, when I was on chemo I had the time, but no energy lol
Trish
xoxo
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Hi Trish - I went back to work part time a couple of weeks ago and put my back out!!! Got it fixed, then did it again!! All good now though. I'm only doing 3 mornings a week and will go to 4 mornings next week. The sooner I get back to full time the better - I miss my full pay
I must say I feel really good this week - happy even - I'm finally starting to put this crap behind me until the next scans. I see the rad onc and surgeon on Wednesday and after that I don't want to see another doc until my Zometa infusion in late September!!!Hey Sue - doesn't that chick on the Alternative thread make you angry? HER2 is not to be messed with - stupid woman!!! How could you not have chemo being node pos and HER2? and she has small children!!!
Sue
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Each to their own Sue, if she is happy doing what she is doing, so be it. Glad to hear all you girls are getting back to your normal lives. Be well all!
Chrissy
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Hi Chrissy - she hasn't actually made up her mind, but I find it so sad that a young woman with small children won't at least try and get herceptin by itself. I know it's not a guarrantee but you have to everything you can especially with hEr2+ve bc.
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Sue, you and I know that but sometimes no matter what is said or advice given some people are bent and determined to have their own way, unfortunately to their detriment. All we can do is support what ever she chooses as that is her choice.
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Good to hear everyone's news and progress.
Well it is now 7 months since I finished Taxol but I am still having Herceptin. I had my first hair cut last week, more of a trim as my hair was really curly on the top and flat on the sides. The hairdresser said that in a few months my hair will be straighter, more like it was before. I still wear my wig if I am going out even though my friends think I don't need to.
The other good thing is I have lost the weight I put on during chemo. It helps to have a daughter getting married in a few weeks. I haven't had a rest during the day for a few weeks and I am walking faster on my daily walk so things are improving.
Vicky
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Vicky, it's so good to hear that you have finished Taxol and that your hair is growing back! Congratulations on loosing the extra chemo weight especially as your daughter's wedding is coming up. Post a pic of you in your gladrags with the bride as I would love to see you. I wish I was better a walking but it sounds like you're doing well in that department too........yahooo!!!
Chrissy
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Hi girls
Just thought you might like to know about Dr Red's Blueberry Punch if you haven't heard of it before. This range of products is made at Mount Nebo just outside Brisbane. I had heard of them before and that some had cancer fighting properties but never had reason to investigate them until my naturopath recommended the blueberry punch. I bought some and it is full of the anticancer ingredients eg grape juice, blueberry juice, green tea, tumeric, ginger.
There is some info on the net but they don't overplay the cancer curing potential.
You can see the list of stockists on the net. A lot of chemist chains stock it. I paid about $35 for 750 mills but you only use about 25 mills per serve mixed with water, mineral water or whatever (healthy) other mixer you can find.0 -
I have been taking the Dr Red Blueberry triple concentrate for the last 2.5 years Racy. My DH believes that it will give my system a boost so I have a daily dose to please him. It fills his need to try to do something to fix me and my Onc didn't say not to take it so maybe it will work for me.
Sheila.
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I hope it does work for you, Sheila.
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Maybe it is Racy, maybe it is..............we can live in hope, can't we?
Sheila.
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Hi Everyone
Have just finished making a huge batch of relish to get rid of capsicums, tomatoes and cucumber we picked this morning. So I'm feeling very self satisfied :-)
Hmmm... will have to get some Dr Red - sounds worth trying :-)
Vicky - great to hear about your hair! I have some growing now - it's about half an inch long and thick at the sides, but still pretty sparse on top. Can't wait for it to start filling in. It's growing everywhere else too :-)
Looking forward to seeing some great wedding photos too Vicky - nothing like a wedding to lose some weight is there?!
Trish
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Hi Trisha-Anne and everyone
The relish sounds delicious and healthy. I don't normally cook other than very basic meals. But since I am not working at the moment I have been experimenting with some more complex healthy recipes. Last weekend I made the chickpea brownies that someone posted on this site. I also posted a healthy flan recipe that I have been making on bc.org. It does give a sense of satisfaction to make a tasty, healthy dish from scratch (almost).
But tonight I am going out to a local restaurant for a change of scene. I will try to choose a healthy option and not look at the desserts!
My last chemo should be on 27th and I am looking beyond that and planning some nice getaways and social events in the next few months. Looking at going to Palm Cove, just north of Cairns for a winter escape. I feel I should enjoy myself after the last 6 months of not so much fun. Also, I will be doing my bit to help the economic recovery of Queensland! I haven't been up north for too many years. According to the travel brochures there is an amazing and extensive array of attractions for visitors in that region. I hope my health continues to go well so that I can get there.
Congrats on your hair growth, Trish. Do you read the hair, hair, hair thread? It is great for info about hair growth. I have kept a thin covering of hair but examine my head every day and I do have a few new strands sprouting. I have started using Minoxidil even while on chemo. My onc did not seem to mind when I asked him. He is fairly free and easy about what one can do or take. He has had no problems with anything I have asked about taking, except when I asked for a med for hot flushes and he said 'not just yet'.
Enjoy the weekend and be well, everyone!0 -
Racy - I bet you are looking forward to that last chemo!! What are you doing? You have probably posted it somewhere on here, but I'm too lazy to find it :-)
Yes - I've been reading the hair thread, it's nice to know I seem to be following the normal course of regrowth.
Hot flushes! Well I'd been having them for about 9 years before bc, and now they are back, but not quite so bad as before. I usually get a real screamer at least once during the night though, at least it's usually when I first get into bed, but occasionally it's after I've been asleep for a while and wakes me up. They aren't bad enough for meds yet.
I go in today for my second heart scan. Had one before I started on Herceptin so that we had a baseline for my heart. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that my heart is standing up to the first 3 months of Herceptin and I can stay on it.
Someone on here posted a while ago that they had been on a lovely holiday thanks to the Otis Foundation - well my DH and I are off to Thredbo next month to stay at a lovely appartment free of charge. It's worth looking at their website (just google Otis Foundation). We can't afford a holiday at the moment, but not having to pay for accommodation - and it's relatively near to home - makes this possible. Will let you all know how it goes - but I'm really looking forward to it.
Trish
xoxo
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Where is everyone?? All healthy and busy enjoying life I hope :-)
My heart scan was fine, heart is holding up well.
Chrissy gave me her delicious recipie for Tomato soup and we've been eating it by the bucket load - yuuuuummmmmy.
Hope you all have a great Easter break girls and be happy.
Trish
xoxoxo
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Hi Trish, pleased to hear you are enjoying the tomato soup!.......lol......but I do agree, it is yuuuummmmyyy! Been buzy with family for the last couple of weeks so haven't been as active as usual. This whole month I've hardly had time to turn around and it shaping up to be the same for the first two weeks in May as well as there is something going on for the next three weekends in a row. Oh well, I guess it's the business of life that keeps us all going one way or another.
Have a lovely Easter!
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Happy Easter girls!!!
I've been sick for a couple of weeks with a head/chest cold so I haven't been doing much. I finally made it back to work on Wednesday.
Sue
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Chrissy - sometimes it's good to be busy :-)
Sue - sorry you've been sick, hope you are better now! Getting back to work for 2 days and then 5 off - that's pretty good :-) I actually did the same thing, had Monday and Tuesday off - DH had cataract surgery on Monday so I was his eyes for 2 days and returned the favour and looked after him for a change lol - he's a worse patient than me!
Trish
xoxo
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