Calling all TNs

Anonymous

riley-- that's interesting and something I hadn't thought about. I noticed my writing seemed much worse during chemo, but since I rarely had to write anything important I figured it was no big deal.

MBJ- I read that information somewhere in the past and it is very thought-provoking.

riley702

Heidi, it wasn't that big a deal, but whenever I would sign a paper or something at the doctor's, it looked like chicken scratches and embarrassed me.

Also, I was describing (here) a horrible night where I couldn't sleep and couldn't stay in bed to save my life. I just kept sitting up and would start to get out of bed, but had no clue why or where I was going. I'd make myself lay back down, but the minute I quit actively thinking about it, up I would pop! Someone here told me it was Restless Leg Syndrome, caused temporarily by the steroids. I had seen the warning, but had no clue what RLS really was (maybe something like a cramp in your leg?), so had no idea what was happening. I really thought the chemo was making me crazy, but it was all caused by the steroids.

Anonymous

I am very acquainted with RLS, having experienced it quite frequently myself from a very young age. My cousin takes daily meds for it and it often seems to run in families. It's a creepy feeling, and one that is very hard to shake.

I tend to get it on days where I have been very active (walking, running, etc.) It was not associated with chemo in my case at all. Just something I have always dealt with from time to time.

Anonymous

BTW, it isn't like a cramp... it's just a feeling that you have which makes you have to keep moving your legs. Never makes me feel like I have to get out of bed... I just have to keep my legs moving. It can be very annoying.

I can go months (even years) without it and then, without warning, I seem to get it quite often. Other than the activity level mentioned in my earlier post I have never been able to attribute it to any specific food or action on my part.

riley702

That sucks!

Huskerkkc

Any of you that are on Taxol and gotten neuropathy SE's from (tingling and/or numbness in hands/feet), how soon did that start? Same day? A few days later? Or after several chemo treatments? 

Babs37

Huskerkkc- For me, I got some numbness in my fingers and toes 2 days after each treatment (12 weekly Taxol) for about 2 days and then it was gone. But for my last 3 treatments, the numbness didn't go away. The weird part is, it only stayed and had gotten worse on my left hand and foot. Now I'm 2 months out of Taxol and I still have a bit of numbness left on my left side.

Kymn

Hi all, Riley good info to have thanks, my lips were a bit tingly this morning but have since gone down a bit. still feeling good one day down. Hopefully I dont crash tomorrow or the next day but hard to know first go around. have a good night

Titan

Kymn..glad you are feeling well!   Hopefully your SE's. will be few!  And I'm glad you are popping the anti-nausea pills at that first little twinge..that is what they are there for.

MBJ

A SAD PASSING

Please join me in remembering a great icon of the entertainment community. The Pillsbury Doughboy died yesterday of a yeast infection and trauma complications from repeated pokes in the belly. He was 71.  Doughboy was buried in a lightly greased coffin.  Dozens of celebrities turned out to pay their respects, including Mrs. Butterworth, Hungry Jack, the California Raisins, Betty Crocker, the Hostess Twinkies, and Captain Crunch.  The grave site was piled high with flours.

Aunt Jemima delivered the eulogy and lovingly described Doughboy as a man who never knew how much he was kneaded.  Born and bread in Minnesota , Doughboy rose quickly in show business, but his later life was filled with turnovers. He was not considered a very smart cookie, wasting much of his dough on half- baked schemes.  Despite being a little flaky at times, he still was a crusty old man but was considered a positive roll model for millions.

Doughboy is survived by his wife Play Dough, three children:  John Dough, Jane Dough and Dosey Dough, plus they had one in the oven.  He is also survived by his elderly father, Pop Tart.  The funeral was held at 3:50 for about 20 minutes.

If you smiled, please rise to the occasion and pass it on to someone having a crumby day and kneads a lift.

Sugar77

MBJ - thanks for sharing.  That is too funny!

MBJ

Heidi & Riley:  re RLS:  I hear that this is caused by a lack of magnesium. Everyone I know that has it is very active--maybe we sweat out our minerals more then at other times and our bodies temporarily get out of balance.

Sugar:   I have been craving all things bread and carbs since I pretty much quite eating it except for the dry, sprouted "healthy" stuff.  Wish you could tell I have quite eating this stuff though.  It's all Pillsbury's fault, lol.

Anonymous

MBJ- I've heard that before, but it sure doesn't fit my cousin who is mentally active but physically not so. Go figure.

NavyMom

Good one, MBJ.  Thanks for the chuckle

Titan

Very funny MGB!

Is anyone watching the basketball tournaments this weekend or am I the only "FANatic?

Two years ago yesterday I had the surgery and it was great to lay around watching all the games.gave me something to do. You ladies on here now are so much more knowledgeable than I was 2 years ago..I was ignorant enough to think that surgery was it and then I was on my way!  NOT! 

MBJ

Titan:  Congratulations on being cancer free for 2 years!!!

BTW:  For those of you interested, this is a great article on how/why sugar "feeds" cancer.  I read it because I am now forbidden to have sugar which is my big weakness.  I think it's a great article to read for us TN's:  http://www.drlam.com/articles/2001-No5-SugarandAging.asp?page=3

kelben

Hi guys good to see you all.   Been busy doing stuff and taking a break.    Saw my PS on thurs. and she wants me to lose 30 lbs!!!  Sooooooooo , this otta be a day at the beach...... not!!!  Sugar isn't my biggest problem, salt is.... potato chips and cheezies my biggest downfall.  Hamburgers and french fries are next.   So, I went shopping yesterday and bought diet stuff.  I am pretty good at starting stuff, but keeping on it is tough for me.  I will need encouragement      lots of it        everyday.

Heidi hows your knee doing???

MBJ

kelben:  Guess you belong with the rest of us on the TN diet thread.  We all seem to be struggling with our weight after treatments.

kelben

yep, I am going over there too, I need tips for good foods to eat

MBJ

I found out I had a very low body temp upon my BC diagnosis and I am working on correcting this.  For those of you with chronic low body temp and fibromyalgia symptoms:  http://www.wellsphere.com/fibromyalgia-article/fibromyalgia-and-low-body-temperature/1295181

Also, do a  Fibromyalgia search on this site to self cure these symptoms:  http://www.drlam.com/

Kymn

Hi all, not feeling as great today just wanted to say hi and was thinking of you all. Cant really concentrate on the boards today but will be back when my arms and lets dont feel like they have lead in them

Hugs

Titan

Kymn..hopefully you will feel better tomorrow..and that you can sleep tonight..sometimes those drugs can keep you awake.

Hi Kelben!  Good to hear from you..."diet food" is expensive!  With food prices so high it makes it even worse..I dont know how much I spent in the product dept. today..don't think I want to know..

MBJ

Kymn:  Hang in there.  After the steroids wear off, that is usually when we have our "bad" days.  You should be better in a couple more days.  Hugs.

jenn3

Kym - sorry to hear that you're feeling bad today.  Sometimes coming down off of the steroids cause "bad days" or it's your bad day(s) from chemo.  Listen to your body and rest, rest, rest.  Remember to drink plenty of water and if you can get out, take a walk, even if it's a short one, like the end of the driveway.  (((hugs)))

There are different kinds of sugars in our bodies and the sugar that we eat in foods isn't the sugars that attach to the cancer cells. Sugar doesn't make cancer grow or spread.  This is one of those things that we're told by "people" that isn't exactly true, just like asparagus and lemons don't cure cancer.  I can't put my hands on the research paper that explained it, the same way that was explained by the PET scan technician and my doctor, but when I do, I'll share the information.  However, as a TN we do need to fight this horrible disease with all that we can and by staying as healthy as we can it gives our bodies more energy and resources to fight with.

Titan

Jenn..and the rest of you...dang..I wish we could find out what really causes cancer..the sad thing is is that I don't think anyone really knows..women with breast cancer are all so different, old, young, athletes, non athletes, overweight, normal, underweight, tall, short, white, black, asian, you name it, we are all different but all got BC....is there a common denominator? 1) we are women and 2) we have breasts..can't think of anything else. 

cc4npg

Kymn:  Just hang in there.  This is the normal time for you to not feel as well.  Keep hydrated, rest, and take the meds if needed.  You may feel exhausted once decadron wears off.

MBJ

Titan:  I guess if they knew the cause they could cure it, huh? 

I thought that TN's do best on a low glycemic diet in general.  No "sugar" meaning any food that quickly turns into sugar like breads, pasta, potatoes and plain old sugar.

lrr4993

Since men get it too, the only common denominator is some breast tissue.

I don't think anyone has a clue as to what causes it.  I think the best we can do is try to be healthy, which helps with everything, not just cancer.  Beyond that, I think it is just a matter of luck.  Every time I ask my onco a question along the lines of how, why, or what to do now, I just get "we don't know."  It is so frustrating.  

riley702

I watched the Butler/Pittsburgh game tonight. What a nail-biter! I can't believe Butler knocked the top seed out before the Sweet Sixteen! I have to root for Butler because my nephew is an alumnus (Pharmacy). It was so exciting. I think we were all yelling those last 60 seconds or so (because yelling at the TV helps your team, don'tcha know?)

sukie10

Hi there. Just tuning in. You have a busy thread here. I am currently doing neoadjuvent chemo and was just wondering how quickly surgery is done afterwards. I'm assuming its about 3 or 4 weeks when the counts become normal but with so many questions at my last onc apt. I forgot to get a time line. Also if anyone knows how long before they usually start rads after a bi lat (no recon). I know this may depend on complications I'm just trying to get an idea of what to expect and when.

Just wrapping my head around the whole TN thing. Good there is a thread for our unique clique!