TRIPLE POSITIVE GROUP

Pbrain I too had depression and sleep issues… which was caused by Anastrozole! I took a 5 week break in April/May in within days sleep issues, depression, back/shoulder/neck pain gone. Also lost the 10 lbs I put on. The depression came on gradually and at 3 years I finally realize it was the drug. I switched to Exemestane. There is a 4% chance you will get anxiety with Exemestane. I am one of those 4% but taking meds for that and much better. I don't have any of the other SE that I had with Anastrozole. If you want to chat on the phone send my a PM and we can share numbers.

Pbrain, I'm not sure I can help either. I just finished chemo 2 1/2 weeks ago, but I do feel blah too. I'm sure mine are for different reasons though. My MIL passed away a few weeks ago and my tumor markers are slightly elevated now that I've finished chemo. I normally have most of my christmas shopping done before Thanksgiving. I still haven't finished and I don't really feel like doing it. Just not feeling a lot of joy this year. I've read a lot about the AIs causing depression. Maybe you could take a short break (with MOs blessing) to see if that is the cause? Just so you know, the weather in Ohio isn't any better!

pbrain - I worked through chemo and rads. Still have herceptin every 3 weeks but haven't started Arimidex yet. I expect that will be on the 18th Dec. I'd give anything for a full nights sleep. Prone to insomnia my whole life and night sweats since diagnosis when I had to stop HRT.... My boss couldn't care less if I napped in my cubical - I mostly do accounting and don't deal with the public or clients. No depression but I live in la la land. Like Scarlett Ohara - I'll think about it tomorrow. I refuse to dwell on the cancer - in my mind, I was completely well until chemo. If reality ever hits me, they'll probably have to lock me in the looney bin.

PBrain - me too!! I am 5 years out, and don't really think I have been truly depressed ever. But lately, I can sit on the sofa all afternoon with no energy or desire to get much done. I get invited to lunch and to holiday parties, but I have no interest. Zero. My firstborn just left for college, and I think that triggered it. Honestly, 5 years ago I was totally terrified I wouldnt see my kids turn 18. That's what kept going through my mind all through treatment - just get them all to adulthood. It kept me going. I am so proud of him - he got an academic scholarship and is in the honors program. And now, I think I am scared sometimes the other shoe will drop and I will not be here for my other 2 to see them off to college. There is no real basis for any of this though. Onc says I am fine. He actually said he does not see much recurrence past 5 years in her2 gals who had herceptin!!

Times like this though, I have to force myself out of the rut. Mandatory fun. I am playing tennis with some ladies in freezing cold today and I dont really want to. Then we are going to lunch at a place that doesn't sound good to me. I have stocked my calendar up. I also found my way to the gym and committed to myself that I will get on that damn treadmill 20 minutes a day then lift a few weights. And then I will get in bed at 10pm, every day. I have been doing this sort of thing for almost 2 weeks and its helping a lot. Its amazing how much exercise helps. And anything is better than me making my way to the sofa. With my son gone it takes me 15 minutes to figure out how to turn all the remotes on the dang thing anyway.

I watched this movie on Netflix (I dont remember what it is called because I drank 2 beers watching it lol) and it said view the health process as 4 fold : Diet, Exercise, Mindset and Spirituality. You need to make a step in the right direction in each of those 4 areas to have Vitality. Or just drink another beer and wait til Spring when we get more sun and its warm!!!!!

PBrain and all,

I've noticed a weird thing too. I'm just a shade less invested in things than I used to be.It's not really depression but a disengagement. For instance, other years I would have cared that we didn't get our Christmas tree by now, for the sake of the kids, because I wanted the season to be perfect for them. Or I cared a whole lot about what countertop I'm putting in the kitchen, but I don't. I also don't care as much about socializing. And I am not as zesty about building my new career as I was before. And I like TV binge watching and I never did that pre-BC, though I don't watch during the day. I still am busy with family and friends, but just feel a tiny bit less connected. Sometimes I worry about that, about what it means.

I just went through a recurrence scare. It turned out to be a fibroadenoma. I think it's really hard to figure out how to move on when there is that shadow. If anyone outside sees me, they think I've totally moved on. And I want to and I do not want to talk about it with people because I feel it's my private business, just like any other health concern. But it's hard to figure out how to incorporate that shadow in the moving on. I am clear that I love life, and want to live- that's not in question at all.

I agree completely that exercise is essential to mental health. I recently joined the BCO exercise thread- finding that posting what I exercise helps me to stay on track a little more.

ashla - your link is not live, so here is some additional info on the presentation of those results - this is the SOFT and TEXT trials, and affect pre-menopausal patients.

http://www.cancer.gov/newscenter/newsfromnci/2014/ASCOSOFTandTEXT

Thanks Ashla and Special K for posting this info on ovarian suppression!

I am scheduled for a hysterectomy this week and am struggling with the decision of whether or not to have my ovaries removed.

I know I should have them removed but am afraid that my quality of life may be diminished due to hot flashes and mood swings. I have also read that the ovaries provide heart and bone protection even into ones Sixties.

I am so confused! Special K, you had said that you had a hysterectomy....did you have your ovaries removed, and if you did...how bad was surgical menopause?

PFC=Post final chemo | Post friggin' chemo | Post fucking chemo you pick

Special K, thanks so much for your input!

I also experienced wicked hot flashes during chemo, but since I recently fell out of chemo pause it has been instant relief. That is why I have been dreading surgically induced menopause.

It is encouraging to know that you did not experience any mood swings or depression.

Also..I have to tell you that you look absolutely amazing for 58, so it is clear that your hysterectomy did not cause any pre-mature aging. I will be 52 in January and I thought for sure you were much younger than me! The recent photo you posted was beautiful!

Special K - ditto - I had complete hyst same age and am same age as you now. I agree with ALL your comments re hot flashes, mood swings.....

ella - I didn't gain from the hyst/ooph, but did from chemo steroids and the first months of AI - but was able to lose back down to less than pre-chemo weight after I changed up what I was eating (no sugar, dairy, eggs, corn, soy, peanuts, gluten) - it sounds like you are already doing the right things.  Did you have a previous C-section?  Both of my children were C-sections and the recovery from an abdominal hyst/ooph was very similar - it wasn't bad at all.  Sneezing and laughing were a bit tough!  I had a lifting and driving restriction but I don't think it was very long - and I don't think my DH took more than a couple of days off work.  We lived in a 3-story house at the time - no problem with stairs.  I would recommend satin PJs - easier to slide in and out of bed - your core will be sore.

I had a hysterectomy at 47 because of fibroids and I kept my ovaries, thinking they were still useful. I regret my decision because I found the perimenopausal years to be awful! Hot flashes, weight gain, depression and crazy heart palpitations due to flucuating hormone levels. Sometimes my estrogen would go sky high. When it ended and I was in menopause the symptoms subsided and I started to feel much better, I even lost some weight. A year later I got the bc dx. I believe it was due to the extreme hormone levels I experienced. My new gyno agrees. In hindsight I think if I had removed my ovaries I could have avoided this. 

Thanks Special K. I try not to focus on the things I can't change, but that experience made it extra hard to make decisions this time. You do all you can to make the best, most informed choice but it doesn't always work out as you planned. 

SpecialK...you made my night by telling me that you were able to climb stairs! That is my biggest concern, since I have stairs everywhere. All your tips and suggestions are greatly appreciated....I am digging out the satin PJs now!

I do try to cut out dairy and anything with hormones or antibiotics just to be safe. I only wish I didn't love cheese so much! Sometimes I get so tired of eating Kale and drinking Wheatgrass shots all the time!

Debiann....I'm sorry you had that experience, but Thanks for sharing, as it is helpful to know that leaving your ovaries in didn't help as you expected. All three doctors have told me to get them out at my age. Did you eventually feel relief from the fibroids after the surgery? Btw...where in PA do you live?

It is unfortunate that many of us had to go thru so many surgeries!

Ella, I live outside of Allentown. Yes, getting the uterus out gave me immediate relief! Prior to surgery I wasn't seeing a gyno, just my family dr. I was having all kind of pain and bowel problems that were being treated as irritable bowel. I was getting no relief, so I went to a gyno who said "your uterus is the size of a grapefruit, no wonder your having problems."

He left the ovary decision up to me, explaining the pros and cons. When he said removal would mean I would be thrown into immediate menopause it scared me, so I kept them, deciding to go through it the natural way, which once it started turned into four miserable years. I now think I would have preferred the immediate change.

Also, during chemo I met a 70 year old woman with ovarian cancer. She too had her uterus removed when younger. I'd now truly wish mine were gone.