Had a rotten downer week!

blondie45

I was diagnosed in April 2009, unilateral mastectomy in April 2009, then chemo until September 2009, then radiation until December 2009. I was also getting herceptin every 3 weeks until July of this year.

I went into my herceptin/onc visit this past week. He asked me how I was doing and I said great, I was starting to research my reconstruction options, etc. He said well today it is a bad day for you. I guess my ejection fraction on my EKG went down to 25% to 30%. It had been fine until now. Anyhow, the herceptin is either on hold or done. Also, the reconstruction that I was looking into may be on hold. I have been put on Coumadin for a POSSIBLE clot until I see a cardiologist next week and I may possibly have to take it for months. Because I am taking that, they are requiring me to come in twice a week for blood draws.

I felt so shot down at that appointment. I was starting to feel good and seeing the end (if you can ever say that) of my current treatments. I am just getting so tired of all the appointments and now possibly more pills and permanent heart damage. How do I pick myself up and get over this bump and move on?  

carol1949

Hugs, blondie,

Allow yourself a few moments to fall apart, if you feel the need, and then pick yourself up with the help of your angels and those of us on this site who care.

I would like to suggest a couple of books that I found very helpful in this fight.  It may be time to look at your alternatives and adjust to whatever speaks to your heart.  For everyone that is different, and that is OK !

I found Beating Cancer With Nutrition by Patrick Quillin to be very helpful

also Anti Cancer Book by David Schrieber (sp?) 

You Can Heal Your Life by Lousie Hay 

and last but not least Through Rose Colored Glasses by Donna Deegan.

Donna is a news anchor in Jacksonville, FL who is a 3 x survivor, most recently of lung mets.  She now has gone holistic as a complimentary therapy to traditional tx.  You can Google her and read about her, as you can all of these books

You can beat this!!

.

somanywomen

You pick yourself up because you can and then you do it because you are worth it!!!

krcll

Hi Blondie45- There was a Finnish study that gave the women only 3 months of Herceptin. They did nearly or as well as women that got a year of it. It looks like you you have had at least 6 months of it, so you have already gotten most of the benefit. Also, I was under the impression that the heart problems that Herceptin causes are usually temporary, even if it can take some time before things are back to normal.

I can certainly understand how bummed out you are. We all want every last bit of treatment we can get and we feel like our bodies are letting us down one more time if they aren't strong enough to tolerate it.

diana50

blonde'

i hear the sadness and frustration.  wish i could really help.  i have to tell you, during my chemo i had some complications; i actually was diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism and did have to get shots in my stomach and also was on coumadin for 6 months. looking back on that; i had no idea about what it all meant except all i knew was i had to take another pill.  i was still in treatment and had rads to do...plus finish my chemo.

sadly, often times there are things that happen while we are in this .  i do know tho; that i trusted my docs...they won't let the ball drop on you...and trusting them with your treatment is really all you can do.

you have had a set back. you WILL feel better again. hang in there and just take one day at a time. at the end of 6 months my embolism was cleared up and i was off the coumadin. it was necessary for me to do all of that at the time.  time will heal you. you will move into the end of all of this at some point.,

hugs

diana

Texas357

Blondie, my husband is just coming off (in a couple weeks) of blood thinners after knee surgery. It's been an ordeal for him, that's for sure. It's either daily shots or Coumadin and the weekly blood draws. But the time has gone by fairly fast, as I hope that it will for you.

This is a bump in the road, it's not a detour!  

When I've felt down by all the appointments, I've focused extra hard on the things that make my life "normal" -- my work, my friends, my volunteer activities. Do anything you can to distract yourself. Also as others suggested, read all you can about your situation so that you feel on top of it rather than buried by it.

blondie45

Thanks so much to all of you. I did go get one of the books suggested. I really know I wouldn't be making it through this without you guys!!!!