Feb 23, 2014 04:17PM farmerlucy wrote:

Sorry Peggy -  I don't know why life has to be so hard sometimes. Crossing my fingers that everything checks out A-ok at the last two docs. Rest today, get some good sleep tonight, tomorrow regroup and put one foot in front of the other. Gentle hug.  We're here for you.

Feb 24, 2014 08:41AM PeggySull wrote:

Farmer Lucy and SlowDeep,

Thank you for your kind words and thoughts.  Things will settle down I hope as the week wears on.  If I could get some good sleep...

Hope you two and the rest who are struggling are doing okay today.  

Hugs,

Peggy

Oct 6, 2017 02:07AM Faithonfire wrote:

Hi peggy I am new too and I have had ptsd for over a decade now and just got diagnosed with stage 3 braca 2 invasive ductal carcinoma in june.

I understand how hard it is to have a thin grip on life before such a whopper of a diagnosis, doing therapy for a serious condition already then getting a diagnosis that changes your entire routine dropped on your head without warning!

I keep you all in my prayers and look forward to sharing some tips and laughs along our sea of tears in this long journey.

I was lucky enough to have my ptsd therapy in place before my diagnosis, years of cognitive behavioral therapy allowed me the ability to manage my symptoms one at a time as I receive treatments. They actually have cognitive processing therapy for chemo patients to aid stability with side effects setting off symptoms of other diagnosis. This kept me sane and helped manage each issue more effectively without the feelings of loss of complete control.

It's all about the little victories we find each day that keep one foot in front of the other, and I consider finding your topic here one of mine today! Thank you all for making me feel that my past struggles might make someone else's path a little easier. I've suffered enough for everyone believe me

Oct 10, 2017 12:55AM Faithonfire wrote:

Nice to meet you too

I just threw a shot out in the dark seeing if anyone would need or like to know that there are options available with long term diagnosis such as ours during times of systemic interruptions like chemo treatments or pregnancy that temporarily make conventional medications a less viable option vs risks that might not be properly understood as it pertains to the total health and quality of life issues that factor in to the informed decision making process.

I am very proud of you for your great achievements in aa that well surpass my own at the moment. I had 10 months alcohol free before I was diagnosed but chose not to do aa because I was working my cbt therapy at the time and had enough skills to keep me as out patient and continue the brutal chemotherapy prep diagnostics biopsies and every horrible medical test needed in record time!

This is not my first setback but what I learned in aa previously helped me to have an emergency plan in place to seek treatment and have my husband take care of our three teenagers and their busy schedules while I adjust to the medication changes and minimize the trauma as much as I can in the face of full symptoms flare ups.

It is hands down the hardest thing I have ever had to do, and right now they all feel as if I have abandoned them no matter how I try to explain it to them.

We all need to allow ourselves to ask for and receive the help we need to stay as stable as we can in light of our circumstances pre and post diagnosis and what kind of plans we can arrange just in case. I have always prepared for the worst and hope for the best but I'm no fool and the worst enemy to my success is me. Knowing better means we can do better. For me those were some hard lessons learned and I hope I can spare anyone my pain level with what I can do now that I wish I had known sooner.

I have to get up early for my surgery meeting before chemo treatment so I will be a wreck for the next few days and already have my therapy the next day, every time.

It really helps me to know we are not alone in this journey no matter what anyone we love may say or do to ignite an already critical moment. For me, the hardest person I ever had to forgive was and still is myself.

Best wishes and best of luck to you, I will check back as soon as I'm strong enough to

Oct 26, 2017 12:24AM auroaya wrote:

Hello Fusban I hope I can be of some help but first two clarifications: I have bipolar disorder also known as maniac-depression Was dx before breast cancer. Don’t know what the II mean after bipolar I was never given a stage or anything like that. I also not familiar with Lupton.

So if we do have the same ailment the only bad interaction I ever found between my bipolar meds and cancer meds is that I was taken the antidepressant Prozac and that was contraindicated. My psychiatrist switched me to Cymbalta 60 mg and everything is ok. In fact Cymbalta also helps with the hot flashes and the joint pains from taking the anti-hormone Cancer meds.

I’m currently taking for bipolar: Cymbalta 60mg once a day; Divalproex 500mg ER and Risperidone 2mg. Risperidone also has an interaction but I forget which.

I’m currently getting IVchemo Abraxane and don’t have any side effects. As a matter of fact I think my Psych meds help with the cancer’s side effects. When I was dx with the cancer my Psychiatrist increased the dosage of the Cymbalta from 30mg to 60mg and the Risperidone from 1mg to 2mg.

In my experience the psych meds do not interfere with the cancer treatment.

There are a couple of good sites in the web which let you run your meds for interactions.

Good luck if you have more questions pm me.

Aurora