Bone Mets Thread
Comments
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Thank you everyone, I know you are all correct. Sorry again. Sometimes I feel good, then I feel bad, then I'm worried and then upset. I shouldn't be complaining, I really am sorry. Enjoy your day!
Romansma, If you have some ear problems with the medication that can make you dizzy. Clariton could help with drying up any fluid in there possibly?0 -
any ideas for dry lips/mouth? I am on chemo. had round of AC,5FU few weeks ago. Aack applyinhg lip balm, drinking fluids-okay maybe not as much as last round a few years ago. got my afinitor pills in mail yest. kind of afraid to start taking them. got some of the biowhatever its called . got some kind of dry mouth gel-yucky0 -
Fran, I have no suggestions but maybe you can find some help on a thread for the chemo that you are on? Best of luck. (I have dry lips from femara so I keep trying to drink more water...)0 -
MusicLover - don't apologise for being up and down and complaining. This disease SUCKS!0 -
Musiclover, never apologize for feeling emotional about this crappy disease. This is the only place I can vent because I don't want to upset family/friends and they really can't understand anyway. I NEED this site and you probably feel the same way too.0 -
Its not even 3pm and I have opened bottle of wine. I hate christmas music. almost cried in grocery store this morning. Got mad cause I was the only one with mets that I was aware of. certainly only one that was 46. Stupid fucking C I hate you I want to go home and stay there. I moved to Texas to get treatment. just feeling sorry for myself. maybe its time to go back on the effexor. what the hell did I ever do to deserve this?0 -
Fran, you did nothing to deserve this. Cancer isn't fair and getting angry at it is normal. This time of year is especially hard on us. Uprooting your life by moving to Texas probably made it even harder. I wish the best for you and hope that things will get easier. Maybe it would be a good idea to talk to your doctor about how you are feeling since he/she might be able to help.0 -
Fran,
You did nothing to deserve this. None of us have. I know the holiday can stir up a lot of emotions and when you're dealing with something like this, it's even more intense. Vent away, you are safe here. I personally will never give up my Effexor.
Caryn0 -
I will talk to him tomorrow about it. feeling better. damn christmas song started my spiral downhill yesterday. somtimes I feel like there is a curse on me. but I know everyone has shit they have to deal with. just seems like some people go through life event free0 -
Thanks everyone. I am going to try xanax.0 -
Fran, sending hugs your way, and a shoulder to cry on. You have every right to feel the way you feel. As we all know, things always change, even our feelings, so it is fine to feel your emotions. Maybe you can just accept that you have a lot of anger and grief right now, and that is exactly where you should be. Then come here, remember that there are MANY people who love you, including your BCO sisters as well as friends and family. Find some good jazz or big band music or hard rock or country (although some of that is sort of sad stuff) and play it all day at home as sort of "protection" against the Christmas stuff. And definitely talk to your doc about meds - they can be helpful especially during the toughest times. (((((Fran)))))
Same goes for MusicLover. (((((MusicLover))))).
And anyone else who needs hugs today - sending them out by the bucketloads!
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Fran, Hugs to you too!0 -
Romansma, I have had nausea in the morning for almost 2 years in the morning. I have tried everything and nothing helps. I am on my second hormone pill and I am relieved for a couple of months and here it comes again. Onc Is going to try something else after the first of the year. I will let you know what happens. I was dx'd from the get go with bone mets in two ribs. Anxiety can cause nausea.0 -
Thanks for the hugs Linda!
Fran - I would echo what the others have said. This is a great place to vent, scream, and rage against the disease.
I will admit that I'm taking a low dosage of Prozac. Keeps me reasonably stable emotionally. Between being diagnosed and tossed into menopause concurrently, the emotions were a bit out of control. I know I'm prone to depression (family trait) and so I asked for a prescription the day I got my diagnosis. I reckon that anything that keeps me working full time without being a basket case is worth it! Now if they just had a pill to inspire me to finish the report that's due before Christmas...
Terre0 -
Lexapro here! Major support player. QOL is KEY.0 -
barb312 & Musiclover, thank you for the input. I need to get my butt off the couch and go pick up some Clariton today to see if that might help. I am a little apprehensive because I am trying to make sure nothing adds to the constipation issues. Things never totally returned to normal after all the chemo I took and I'm scared of anything that might add to the problem that Vicodin is already aiding.0 -
Romansma, I always want to tell you that your avatar is beautiful. In any case, constipation seems like a minor problem but oh no!, I know exactly what you mean. I also know that feeling of not wanting to get off the couch (I have been a basket case since dx but I was going to the gym up until Thanksgiving, I need to get back or at least get the things done around my house that need to be done). Do you take colace? I have to take 3 a day or I have really bad constipation since I added the calcium that my dr. wanted me to add. Claritan should probably not make things worse, or is that one of those rare se's that you are worried about. Definitely get the colace and take it everyday! Also, try eating some more vegetables everyday too, that seems to have helped me also and it is supposed to be good for us too(?).0 -
Starting chemo on Wednesday. They keep insisting that I need to get a port. I'm trying to hold off on that as long as possible. (Just freaks me out, I guess). Am I wrong, or should I just give in and get the dang thing?0 -
It's very objective patsback. Some people hate them or won't even get them. I loved mine, kinda wish I had waited and not got it out since I'm now stage IV and in permanent treatment. Some things just freak us out. With me it was getting an epidural so I screamed and grunted through child birth. (c: Good luck with your decision and treatment.0 -
patsback, I'm truly in love with my port. Especially now I'm on long term weekly taxol. I have awful veins and after 14 years of bloods, chemo etc they are not getting any better. In the chemo room when others are soaking their hands trying to get their veins to pop up I'm all set up and ready for action. I have a power port which is very discrete. You should definitely think about it.0 -
Thank you for the information..I guess I'll re-think my aversion to the port.0 -
I love my port too. I can only use one side, so my port is saving those veins. I also use it for blood draws and scans. Mine is very tiny, Bard petite power port and placed where it's visible only in strapless or spaghetti strap tops. I barely notice it's there and at stage IV, it's staying!0 -
I have my first scans coming up since I have been on tx. I just got the confirmation call today for the bone scan. I have thought about this and said to myself there is no way I will get all crazy about it but it is the day after Christmas and I am already flipping out. I guess this is normal but I was wondering if anyone has any tips on how to prepare for this? I guess the scan itself isn't so bad, but sitting down with my onc to discuss the results will be the tough part. I haven't had surgery, so I know the tumor(s) in my breast are shrinking but I am still so nervous. I am getting xanax probably tomorrow but I was wondering if you have some suggestions, other than the xanax. You all have helped me so much already and I thank you deeply. ( I am trying to go through this with grace and dignity, but it's not so easy - is it?).0 -
MusicLover ...I am pretty new to all of this but had my first scan since tx last week and can understand the anxiety. I tried to not think about it but we all know how that works. Setting in his office waiting was like finding out if you won the jack pot or just went bankrupt. I am hoping you have hit the treatment jack pot! hugs
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MusicLover, I'm new to Stage IV and bone mets so haven't experienced any scans yet to see how my treatments are working (Faslodex/Zometa) but I have had many scans since my original diagnosis and know the anxiety of waiting for results.
When I was first diagnosed and in a major panic, I listened to relaxation CDs by Belleruth Naparstek. She has ones specifically for cancer but also for all kinds of stressful situations. Most of them are about 45 minutes long. I would listen to them just before bed and they were surprisingly helpful in calming me down. I've actually never tried them for scanxiety but they worked beautifully for my surgery and my cancer fears in general.
This is the link where you can find them free online to download if you want to try them: https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/health/care/!ut/p/a0/FchBDoMgEADAt_iAzYZEYfFmhH6hhdsGiZIIGELt99seZ9DjC33hO-3cUy18_uxCLD22md9bqnCnLVZ8okd_Nd4zoysVAocj_o9bT-GM6IzVap2MBamlBCGsgEWPBohoUkKp8UErXjnTZxmGL2IKPpI!/.
It might be worth a try although the Xanax worked great too.0 -
I love my port...just love it. I had it implanted on my first cancer go round and meant to get it removed but never did because of pending surgery. I'm so glad I kept it..I would have put it back in if I had it removed. I get IV anxiety...real panic attacks. I also see people in the infusion area trying to get their veins to pop with heat and the port just seems to be the way to go...at least for me. There is a port thread if anyone is interested.
http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/69/topic/721889?page=20#idx_5860 -
Thanks Musiclover! Yes, in the big picture constipation is no big deal.....until it gets bad and then it seems like a huge deal! I already walk 3x a week and I drink green smoothies daily in addition to plenty of fruits and veggies. That awful chemo just seems to have changed me for the worse. Anyway....I will try these suggestions and how it goes. I'm worn out right now and back to the couch after a day of working on wills, advance directives, etc. have a good night ladies!0 -
Patsback ... I have a powerport, new this year (Sept) before beginning weekly taxol. I love the port, so much easier and my veins can now finally take a rest. It can also be used for scans. It was getting so the veins were collapsing easily and just a mess. Wish I had gotten it much sooner!
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gem state girl,
Belleruth's CD for surgery made me laugh. It said to imagine all those who loved me smiling at me and sending healing energy during surgery. I decided they didn't belong in the OR with me, even if only metaphorically. I am a Kaiser patient and they are very big on visualization and guided imagery. Doesn't do a thing for me but make me giggle, but some find it very helpful. I take an Ativan before scans.0 -
Patsback, I did not get a port, and my veins are pretty much a mess in my "good" arm, the other is the LE arm, which has BEAUTIFUL veins. I have a very strong aversion to any intervention that involves leaving things in my body, but the port is definitely a good idea if you are going to have to do chemo for long term and not have to deal with the multiple sticks I end up with every time I get a lab done. But I am pretty sure I am done with any IV chemo forever, so am not really worried about it for myself.
RE: Constipation. Ugh. I have always had a pretty good veggie diet, lots of beans, etc., and no bowel problems at all. But between the current meds and the addition of the pain meds, things slowed down, but sort of gradually so I didn't really notice so much, until this weekend I had the worst belly ache of my life! My PCP had me on a stool softener/stimulant, told me today I can increase the dose to twice a day if needed. If you are having problems, DO let your doc know and get it taken care of sooner rather than later! (Not a fun way to spend a weekend!)
Now if anyone has any suggestions for how to actually get my butt kicked off the couch and do something constructive, I am open to it! The brain says to do things, the body says forget it, let's just kick back and watch TV!
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