2013 Survivors!!!
Comments
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Aruba- BPPV is very common and curable. You need to get a referral to go see a Physical Therapist that specializes in BPPV. Normally it takes 2-3 visits to get it undercntrol. Hope that gives you some place to start.
Mcook- on your new girls. It's been 3 days, don't judge them yet. It's been 8 weeks for me and they are still changing. There are days that I don't like them, then there are days when I say "damn these bitches look great". Remember that it could take up to 6 months before they "drop and fluff". Give it time, up until I spoke with Whippetmom on the Breast sizing thread earlier this week I was thinking about getting a revision done but she told me they looked perfect and he did a great job. Now I feel more confident about the way they look. So chin up!
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Thanks ladies I am trying to be patient they had to move my right one over a bit and put stitches in to do this and that look awful right now. I think they are already too low and if I decide to get rework done I think I will find another doc because I just don't feel like they listened to me so I will figure it out. Just sad a little about the thought of more work but I know this will most likely Be the case maybe next week I will feel differently:)
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Believe....I take my Letrozole at night and it knocks me out too....but then I have also lost
weight on Letrozole ...most people have insomnia and weight gain ...sometimes it's good
to be in the minority ......lol
Mcook....have your cry and then pick yourself up again, which you will.....Karen's suggestion is a good one.....wait for a few days and then re-evaluate.0 -
McCook, Give yourself time! While only having a lumpectomy, I have not gone through what you have but bet that there will be alot of change over the next few weeks and even months. I still have soreness etc from SNB etc done in July. MY BS said this week that I will have tenderness and healing etc for up to a year....so imagine the healing and changes you will have but it takes time my dear!
I am so proud of you for your efforts with this event this summer. I just showed your page awhile ago to my husband. He says that you and this board is a group of amazing ladies and he is thankful too that I have this group to embrace. You are a special lady and need a shot of patience, your girls are a work in progress!!!
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Join my team ladies! You can support me by coming to walk/run part with me on my journey. I will get more information but I think I need all you by my side! Maybe this is the trip we can all take together! I can try and figure out what state to do my part in and then let everyone know!
I am going to find out more this week!
Love you!0 -
Mcook, happy to support the cause. Suggestion, put the link in the signature line of your profile here on BCO so anyone that wants to learn more/donate/follow can do so simply by finding your last post?
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Thank you Aruba!
You all have humbled me by your donations! Thank you so much! I am thinking of ideas for fund raising. Last year my family and I did an event called, Boogie for Boobies, it had a Seventies theme and was a lot of fun! We raise over 6000 for the American Cancer Society as a team so I might try and see if I can do this again!
It is a huge dollar goal to meet for this event so I am so appreciative of all your support! I am just so over welhmed with gratitude!0 -
Good idea Aruba thank you! I am going to create a fb page so I can share my training updates and journey:) so I will try and figure that out soon!
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MCook-sounds like your new boobies need time. Don't be too critical yet. 7 months after my surgery and I still see changes. God (and maybe the Doctors) aren't finished with us yet
FB is a great idea. I tried to share your page but it didn't work from that site. I already know how to use FB so that would be great! I even have a Twitter account that I could use, after I figure it out.
Have a great day ladies. Going off to meet my cousins at the Factory Stores.0 -
Thanks believe! I know I was having a difficult time getting it to share too i had to just post the link instead on mine!
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Scottiee, you are on Letrizole? Why did I think you were on Anastrozole? That is what I will start March 8 when my MO thinks the Taxol will be diminshed. I have a one month Rx and then some bloodwork and meet with my MO. It is funny not to be meeting with her every two weeks after all these chemo months. So back to Letrizole - is it similar to Armidex (Anastrozole)?
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Aruba - sorry for the anatomy lesson - my undergrad degree was in Audiology.
I'm so sorry you got vertigo! Yeah, it does sound like BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo) – but the problem with doing the Epley maneuver yourself is that you don’t know in which ear the crystals have lodged. It takes a Dix-Hallpike test to determine this…and a second person to watch for nystagmus in each eye.
Our ears have three parts…the outer ear, which you can see; the middle ear, which is where most ear infections are and ends with the ear drum; and the inner ear, which is located somewhere behind your eyeballs.
The inner ear contains the semi-circular canals, which are filled with fluid. The inner ear is also responsible for balance, and motion sickness.
When we have BPPV, it means that small crystals – otoliths, like calcium deposits – have developed in the fluid. When a small rock lodges in one of the semicircular canals and blocks the fluid, it can cause vertigo, nausea, and vomiting.
We all have these tiny stones at some point in our lives, but most of us will never know the misery of BPPV. Think of gallstones. You can have them, but unless one of them gets wedged in a duct, only then do you have symptoms.
With BPPV, a crystal will get lodged in the canal of one ear. During the diagnostic test for this (Dix-Hallpike) the doctor will have you do a maneuver similar to the Epley, but will watch your eyes closely for nystagmus… the rapid movement of your eye back and forth, as though you were watching a train go by. Then, knowing the side where the blockage is, he can prescribe specific Epley maneuvers.
Sometimes the crystals dislodge by themselves. I’ve had them reposition simply by sitting totally still in bed, upright, and sleeping with a load of pillows piled in my lap, kind of slumped forward.
You can offset the side effects of vertigo with meclizine – an over the counter anti-motion sickness drug sold under the name “Bonine” or you can just get generic meclizine…much cheaper! This will not stop or prevent vertigo, but can keep you from feeling nauseous or vomiting. The 25 mg pill usually works. But there are side effects, so be sure to check with your doctor.
In fact, any time you have vertigo or dizziness, you need to check with the doc.
There are literally hundreds of causes of vertigo (where you actually see and feel the room spinning around you) or dizziness (where you feel unsteady, like you are walking underwater or on sofa cushions, or can’t tell which way the floor is tilting) and you want to make sure that you are not overlooking anything serious.
BPPV is felt most commonly at night, when you roll over too quickly, or in other situations where you move your head too suddenly. It’s scary but it’s fairly common.
The person who diagnoses inner ear disorders is an ENT doctor – preferably one who has experience in vestibular disorders.
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Blessings, thank you so much for the time and explanation and anatomy lesson. I knew about the 3 parts of ear and had already studied BPPV online ...thus the Epley..lol. You explain it all very well!! The thought of having any maneuvers to even check this out is scary, as I so hate the feeling!! So I will send my PCP an email with what is going on and hopefully he will see me Monday or send me to ENT etc. Thank you again for the info!
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Marian....they are both aromatase inhibitors....from what I can see, remember I'm no expert here, but they appear to have the same SE. You know we are all different....hopefully you won't have any severe ones....a lot of us seem to have some SE
in common and then others that differ, for example....thinning hair, which I have, but not everybody gets it. I think your MO will be able to answer that question pretty quickly.
Marian, I haven't checked, but there is probably a thread for Armidex users..I would take a look and see what the gals are saying. I can't believe I have been on Letrozole for almost a year already!!!!! .....wow0 -
Big hugs mcook, i too had a lumpectomy so cant relate directly but have got used to my smaller mis-shapen right side!as with all surgery hopefully everything will settle.you are doing so well, so dont let this dampen ur fighting spirit.
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I have been trawling the boards for info ref ovarys.....turns out its quite nnormal for ultra sounds, scans and tumor tests when on tamoxifen. As tamox stimulates the ovaries and cysts/etc can develop..thinking of telling my doctors to read these boards!!!i feel a bit like a drama queen now!!!gonna finish my chinese...order my treadmill and start loosing weight!
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Scottiee...there are many threads dedicated to ARIMIDEX-COPING WITH THE SEs and Arimidex (Anastrozole) users, new , past and ongoing!
You can find all sorts of threads under the topic HORMONAL THERAPY
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Susan.....It's not for me, it's for Marian, who will be starting it in March.
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Scottie: She can PM me. I have been on arimidex since July. No major issues...minor ones, but I am not complaining. It could be worse.
Thanks, Ladies for your well wishes. I had you all in my pocket. I will get the results on Monday.
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Finally....3rd time lucky... that's how often I lost this post. Thought I would put our start up weights and this weeks check in - may give some encourangement where needed.
Hope you are all managing a nice weekend.
Feb 1
Aruba: 172 168
Belinda: 134 136
Believe: 162 160
Butterfly: 2lb loss
Chrisrenee:242 237
Cindy: 194
GmaFoley: 187 186
Joanne: 1.9 loss
Juneau: 182 177.4
Iatigger: 219 215
Ireland: 178 178
Karen: 172 172
Liefie: 161 160.5
Mcook: 133 129
Outdam: 196
Tazzy: 162 153
Websister: 152 1500 -
You guys with your excercise and eating changes while going through this is so frigging imazing to me. I love all of you and your positive spirit. I am a bit down because I feel so bad but with the support of all of you I will make it. My headache was so bad during the night I honestly considered not having anymore chemo and that is really not an option. I am only 56.5 and still have many wonderful years ahead of me. Thanks for keeping me in your thoughts and prayers.
Hugs, Sheryl
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Sherylb- hugs! Tell your chemo doc about your headaches! Is it the Steriods? I cut way back on those but I did not have a lot of nausea so played with that amount because they gave me wicked headaches! Maybe they can play w your Pre Meds or give u something to help! How you find relief soon!
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Keeping you in my prayers, Sheryl.
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Scottiee, Schatzi and Kjiberty. Late here now but will check threads tomorrow and PM you kjiberty.
Scottiee, one question, how did your MO decide which aromatase inhibitor to use for you?
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Marian....that's a good question, but I don't have an answer for you. I am post menopausal so no Tamoxefen. As to why Letrozole, I can only think it is because it is
the newest of the aromatase inhibitors. I have an appointment with my MO this month
so I will ask the question.0 -
Hi everybody.....congrats to everyone on their weight loss.
Tazzy.....wow....9lbs.....Chrisrenee, move over, we have a new teacher's pet 😇
Have you been eating the fat free wings and no cal beer? ....lol congrats to you.0 -
Sherylb - ask them to slow down your cytoxen drip. For some people it can cause a monster headache when they run the drip too fast. Feel better. Hugs!
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Ok ladies - day one of my starting my training of course I can only walk due to surgery! I will keep you posted on my progress! This is going to be one heck of a challenge so I can use all you on my team here!
Here is my plan
Walk 20 minutes
10 squats against a wall
Stretch for 10 minutes
It is a small start
You all have inspired me with you dedication to get back in shape.
I have mostly switched from coffee to green tea or hot water with lemon and cinnamon and honey. Try it as when I did it for two weeks without working out I lost a Lot of bloating. Just my little health tip for the day:) I don't eat a ton of meat mostly wild caught fish (tuna is my favorite) and hormone free chicken if I do. Of course I will indulge once in a while a fabulous filet but it has be a great steak! I make smoothies when I can for breakfast with berries, spinach, coconut milk (unsweetened) honey and vegan protein power and flax seeds. It is yummy and gives me Ton of energy. Today I am going to try really hard not to partake in any nasty fatty Super Bowl snacks wish me luck! It will be hard! Keep almonds for snacks they fill you up if you are in between meals also:)
Little morning reading
http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-5006/10-Life-Changing-Tips-Inspired-By-Deepak-Chopra.html0 -
Marian...my MO chose Arimidex for me because I was post menopausal plus I had blood clots during chemo and Tamoxifen has clots as a POSSIBLE SE (not common) but he didn't want any chances that it could happen. On the other hand, Arimidex can cause Osteoporosis...some trade off right? Kinda makes you wonder if they toss a coin. LOL
Scottiee I realize that was not for you..just thought I would list the resources in case anyone needed them
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Marianelizabeth - I just started Aromasin last week. In discussion with my MO, we talked about which AI to use. There's not a lot of data comparing the three (http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/planning/ask_expert/2007_08/question_20). My MO didn't feel strongly about one versus the other. We discussed cost and effect on bones.
You can find the American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline: Update on Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy for Women with Hormone Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer at: http://www.asco.org/ASCOv2/Practice+&+Guidelines/Guidelines/Clinical+Practice+Guidelines/American+Society+of+Clinical+Oncology+Clinical+Practice+Guideline:+Update+on+Adjuvant+Endocrine+Therapy+for+Women+with+Hormone+Receptor-Positive+Breast+Cancer.
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