Starting/declining hormone therapy Nov, Dec, Jan 2018
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edj3–mine wasn't any more painful than before BC either (and I have a *lot* of scar tissue on the left side).
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I'm glad a lot of you are saying that the first mammograms aren't too bad. I have my first one next week and am a little anxious about it. I have scar tissue where my lump was and had reconstruction on both sides so I'm sure it will be all kinds of fun. I'm thankful that I'll be meeting with my BS immediately following so hopefully it will all be good.
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Hi everyone! So nice to hear from all of you and my goodness I love that Finley’s cuteness brought back a chime in from some familiar faces (Ingerp, Dani, Purplecat, Spoonie, InnaB, GreenHarbor...) and new ones (edj3, Flashlight, Yogatyme...). So here’s one more for the cute!
So - I have a couple updates. To mymomsgirl and edj3 - the mammogram today was uncomfortable but tolerable. I had surgery on my right breast. They have a tape that covers the scars. Before the mammogram they say if your breast is painful or tender, do not drink caffeine 2 weeks beforehand. FYI I still drank green tea.
GreenHarbor - I believe 17 year old Tucker is going to follow 18 year old Hector’s advice! 😜 And how amazing that your Hector is 18, I love stories of older dogs as ours are seniors too now! Domino is turning 13 this month. I think Finley reminds her of Kit Kat which is so sweet as Domino doesn’t give other dogs the time of day, but she sniffs around Finley (can’t get too close yet until he has all his vaccines).
Here’s our boy Tucker!
Spoonie - LOL on the typo / auto correct, glad you left that in! Goodness I hope you get news soon. Today. And please keep us updated.Thank you ALL for the warm wishes before my mammogram! I was actually re-reading the messages while in the waiting room, it was SOooo helpful. Anyways I asked and they had a radiologist on staff who could look at my scans right away and the radiologist said, “Everything looks good, see you next year!” OMG I cried - happy tears! I’m SOooo relieved. I think I was so stoic during the fight and now this relief just washed over me. I know the fight isn’t over and I will continue to take tamoxifen and be vigilant with healthy eating and exercise (with room for celebration treats of course!) but today is good, it’s really really good.
Domino demonstrates what this feels like - like I can finally relax a bit with a happy smile:
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That's great news, Pebbles!!
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Yay Pebbles!! :-)
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congrats Pebbles that is great news
and i adore your doggy adorable sweet cuddly little monkey.0 -
Congratulations Pebbles! My mom always said to cut out caffeine a few days before, I'm under the 2 week mark but I can probably do a week. I'm meeting with my BS right after so I will have results that day. Due to reconstruction I wouldn't be surprised if they want to do an ultrasound too.
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Thank you everyone (esp. Ingerp, PurpleCat, GiddyUpGirl, Mymomsgirl)!! So wonderful hearing from all of you. I got the official call from my oncologist too, just to re-iterate what the radiologist said, that my mammogram came back totally normal and benign. On my, the first time I've been happy to be described as normal LOL.
Mymomsgirl - so glad you will have results that day as well. I think you mentioned that earlier in the thread, and that's what inspired me to as my oncologist if there was a way I could also get results right away, and that's when he told me about the radiologist on staff and promised to let me know well before i got the letter (hence the phone call) - so I have you to thank for all that! THANK YOU... Best of luck with your upcoming mammogram. Be really transparent with the technician about your breast reconstruction and where you had it done etc. as they will make efforts to be more gentle around that area.
Spoonie - any updates on your end? Thinking of you and hoping you know more as we are into mid-week now...
Finley shows that sometimes, it's all about perspective...
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WOOOHOO! Congrats on the great news on your mammogram, Pebbles! AwesomeTHAT you could get the news on the same day. I'm relieved for you and celebrating your own relief! OMG the more I see of Finley the more I want to clone him and hug him and love him and call him George! (Bugs Bunny reference for anybody that needs it) He is just ADOOORBS!
As for me, thanks for checking, unfortunately even though 2 of the labs she wanted to test for as sources of infection came back clear but the the third one resulted that there was an interfering substance. Soooo I have to go to go back in and have another PAP so they can get another sample. That will be on Friday. So still waiting... Ugh. This morning I get my Breast MRI. Dreading it and the pain from the laying on that bar that goes asking the sternum. But fingers crossed a clear/stable result. Hopefully will heart back on Monday. Might be a wine & cake weekend....
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Pebbles--awesome news!!
Spoonie--sorry about even more spreading of your legs. I went in for the post-LEEP check-up, was told I hadn't quite healed yet (something about "older women taking longer"--harrumph), so will have to go back in a few weeks to make sure all is good in there. And I don't know if this will help you at all, but before pretty much *any* doctor visit (dentist, gyn, . . . ) I take an OTC pain reliever. Can you take a little something before your MRI? Just to take the edge off?
I get a wine-and-cake weekend and will toast to all of the good news. Getting together with my family in Chicago to celebrate my late stepfather-in-law. They didn't have any kind of memorial/service, but I'm really looking forward to a fun weekend with my MIL and all of my <far-flung> kids.
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Thanks Ingerp! I definitely have some antianxiety and pain meds on board!
Sorry about the slow healing. What a pain. Hopefully after your check up and my next procedure we can call it quits on all this business! Lol.
Wishing everyone the best day possible.
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OMG that was worse than I remember and I remembered it as bad. Ugggh. So glad that is over!
I was in so much pain, nauseous, hot, and sweating like a stuck pig the whole time. Not that the room was hot, it was chilly but nevertheless I was sweating. Plus it hurt to breathe because of that dang sternum bar.
On a positive note the techs were very kind and at my request they put a small washcloth on the bar beforehand to help with the pain. I can't imagine how much worse that hour would-be felt without it.
Oh well like I said at least it's over. I still feel woozy & nauseous but hoping to hear news soon. Will keep y'all posted when I know more.
Hugs my friends. Thinking of you all. Oh and Edj3, any improvement on the heart issue? Is the magnesium helping yet?
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I'm so sorry that was a bad MRI. I had a sedative for my breast MRI last May (which took a LOT of doing to get, very annoying) so either their machine isn't as bad or I was loopy enough not to care!
I think the magnesium may be helping a little. I'm going to see where things stand on Sunday and if everything still hurts and my heart rate is still wacked, I'll stop the tamoxifen for a couple of weeks to give the magnesium a chance to work. From what I read it can take from 1 to 4 weeks for that.
I'm discouraged that it's been not even three weeks on tamoxifen and things hurt like this, especially at such a low dose. I'm not a spoonie but I am a snowflake with medication and I hoped this would be different.
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Spoonie sorry there was so much pain with the MRI it sucks - you obviously needed to be way more stoned to deal with that. Hope things start looking up for you in the very very near future.
Edj -your reactions to medication are definitely disappointing. Hopefully a break will reset the clock and diminish the pain and heart issues. Given your lifestyle you needed your body to behave. Hoping the magnesium will give you a reprieve. Are you taking omega 3's they really do help some with joint pain. I splurged and got high quality ones and it does make a difference. Take care.
Good wishes for all.
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Spoonie / Ingerp and others - thank you for the congrats! Husband took me to Cheesecake Factory to celebrate and while it wasn't the healthiest thing, that was the most delicious meal I've had in a long time. We all need to indulge a little! (Spoonie - I hope you enjoyed your wine and cake weekend).
Spoonie - glad the tests are over with anyways (hopefully?). When do you get your results?
edj3 - I've heard from others on tamoxifen that magnesium is super helpful, so hoping it makes a positive difference for you. I agree with GiddyUpGirl re: omega 3's which you can get with Fish Oil supplements (or just eating fish). Yoga and stretching and working out is also super helpful to combat joint pain.
Here's the latest on our boy Finley... what a fluff!
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Does anyone else have a problem with random stabby leg cramps? I've been on Tamoxifen about 10 months, with one month off in late spring, and lately the cramps are dreadful. I wake up screaming some days from it. And they're not in the same spot! Sometimes calves, or inner thigh, or feet, or shins - so it's not a sleeping position problem.
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AliceBastable- I hae these leg cramps 2-3 times a week. I find that if I take 400 mg of Magnesium in the evening, that the leg cramps generally do not occur. My husband has them and perfers to drink Gatorade prior to bedtime which has help with his.
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I've just started magnesium again a few days ago, so I hope it will help. I can't remember why I stopped it. The amount of supplements I take now is mind-boggling, so I guess I just forgot.
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And they're not cheap!
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Alice--I've whined on this and/or other threads about going from zero pills a day to what seems like a billion. I added magnesium a few months ago because I'd read it helps with post-chemo depression. I also happen to be prone to leg cramps. The magnesium *has* helped with the cramps, and I have noticed that it works better when I take the recommended dose of 200 mg. My pills are 100 mg each so I take one at lunch (my first meal) and once in the evening, although I don't always remember the evening one.
FWIW--this is what's currently in my daily pile-o-pills: the AI, D3, Biotin, Magnesium, Collagen, and fish oil. Aiyiyi!!
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I also take one 400mg capsule of Nature Made extra strength magnesium daily after dinner. At Costco it is $15.99 for 180 softgel caps. It has helped with the leg cramps and my heart rate. I have read if you have constipation use magnesium citrate and if you have anxiety use magnesium glycinate, it has the least laxative effect. This one is a magnesium oxide. So many to choose from. It seems to be working for me and my husband takes it now as well.
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I've posted this several times. After reading it, I opted for magnesium glycinate.
https://www.vitacost.com/blog/vitamins-supplements/supplements/types-of-magnesium.html
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Ingerp, I was just saying it works great for me and that there are many different ones to look into. It is important to note that your kidneys play a key role in filtering magnesium out of your blood. My doctor recommended the supplement to me. I think if you study the different kinds you can find people who have their own favorite no matter the science.
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I've heard great things about magnesium. Here's a question - if I'm NOT experiencing any joint pain, and overall fine with tamoxifen, should I take magnesium anyways? Does it help prevent the cancer from coming back?
Finley's inquisitive look...
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PebblesV
Always good to add magnesium to your diet. However, if your not having problems, adding it by eating that which is in your diet would be fine. It doesn't prevent cancer coming back but helps with the following:
- Energy creation: Helps convert food into energy.
- Protein formation: Helps create new proteins from amino acids.
- Gene maintenance: Helps create and repair DNA and RNA.
- Muscle movements: Is part of the contraction and relaxation of muscles.
- Nervous system regulation: Helps regulate neurotransmitters, which send messages throughout your brain and nervous system.
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Magnesium food sources:
Food Sources
The following foods are good to excellent sources of magnesium :
- Pumpkin seeds: 46% of the RDI in a quarter cup (16 grams)
- Spinach, boiled: 39% of the RDI in a cup (180 grams)
- Swiss chard, boiled: 38% of the RDI in a cup (175 grams)
- Dark chocolate (70–85% cocoa): 33% of the RDI in 3.5 ounces (100 grams)
- Black beans: 30% of the RDI in a cup (172 grams)
- Quinoa, cooked: 33% of the RDI the in a cup (185 grams)
- Halibut: 27% of the RDI in 3.5 ounces (100 grams)
- Almonds: 25% of the RDI in a quarter cup (24 grams)
- Cashews: 25% of the RDI in a quarter cup (30 grams)
- Mackerel: 19% of the RDI in 3.5 ounces (100 grams)
- Avocado: 15% of the RDI in one medium avocado (200 grams)
- Salmon: 9% of the RDI in 3.5 ounces (100 grams)
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Jules this is great, thank you! I'm going to screen grab these. Luckily I already eat halibut and mackerel and salmon and dark chocolate. Can look to add the others more. Maybe that's part of why I don't really get joint pain, who knows, but doesn't hurt to add more and the energy creation could be additive to losing weight...
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I always read along but never have time to post! I'm sitting in the Suburban after the ball game waiting on my grandson. I just wanted to pop on and say hello! Finely is adorable!
Spoonie- fingers crossed that you are doing better!
I have minimal side effects from the tamoxifen which makes me really nervous! Hope it's working!
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Hi all .... haven't posted or been on in awhile. So much going on.
Cervical issues came back benign, thankfully, so am being put on 6 month and 1 year monitoring going forward. Still have "chronic cervicitis" but I guess since they can't find a cause, there's no real treatment unless it causes me symptoms.
Breast status is a mixed bag, for now.
MRI came back clear for most part but they did see a spot of possible concern in my L breast, so am having a biopsy next week AFTER I have my thyroid nodule is biopsied this week. Tumor markers were stable BUT my CBC was elevated all over the place, which was a decent amount of concern for my MO. My platelets, my RBC, my Eosinophils were all elevated. My kidney function (GFR) was at 69.8%. Plus, I had a large amount (supposed to be 0, apparently) of immature granulocytes turn up (basically baby White Blood Cells that SHOULDN'T be in my blood yet, they should still be in my bone marrow!). My MO is rerunning the CBC panel in 3 weeks to be sure they return to normal levels. IF NOT, then further testing and likely a PET SCAN will be ordered to see why my bone marrow is activating in such an odd way. Hoping they all return to normal and this isn't a sign of something worse to come.
LE Sigh. Always something with my Spoonie self. I'm so sick of always having "something" else to share about my health, just wish I could get to some sort of level playing field again and just manage what I do have. Ugggh.
But on the bright side, I did finally have my referral for Endocrinology and he agreed that given my family history, my own history of cancer, and RADs that it's better to be on the safe side, hence the previous mention of my thyroid being biopsied this week. Have that in the morning on WED and probably won't hear any news until Monday he said. By the way, this dr is cool. It started snowing (flurry really) during my appt with him, which I pointed out, and he said "Ohhh for F's sake!". LOL. A good sense of humor goes such a long way, plus he knows and works closely with my new MO, so I feel good about him.
My MS has been in high alert to the point where I am forgetting my last name....kid you not. My address, my phone number, my PCPs name, really important info is now just becoming inaccessible to me at times. I've had to take out my license and read it to people over the phone or in stores, etc. Very stressful and embarrassing. Like, who doesn't know their last name at age 42? Apparently me. It's going to be hard to wait until Feb until I can get in to see my MS specialist I was referred to. But, wait I shall, since I have no other choice.
Anyway, just wanted to stop in and say hi. I haven't been reading as I just don't have the spoons (aka energy) for it these days. Will be sure to post in a week or two when I know more. Hopefully I will be able to say that the spot on my MRI turned out to be nothing of concern after all and that my thyroid nodule is all clear. Fingers, toes, and eyes crossed.
Sure hope you all are doing much better day to day and finding those small slices of joy in them as they come. That's sometimes the only thing that gets me through another day. Much love and hugs to you all my second family.
PS -- > Ari says hi to ya'll! (She was watching me type and was thinking about giving it a whirl!)
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First, big hugs plus all the extra energy you can use.
Second, your cat is GORGEOUS!
xoxo
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