Calling all TNs

Nettie1964

Well I spoke to soon, having really bad pain tonight. Really scared because I have done nothing to cause it. 

Pain in my ribs and back and now starting with a cough. I'll see how the weekend goes.

Lookingforward66

CanuckMom,

You have to understand I am a weird case. I have a LOT of allergies. My doctors have been known to consult with medicine specialists to figure out drugs for my illnesses.  I have sinus & food allergies too. I prayed chemo would be ok, but had concerns. I was to be on adriamycin & cytoxan for 6 doses - 2 weeks apart. Those two drugs are cumulative in the body (building on each other). After the 2nd, dose 4 days in - I developed a raging fever. Called MO, was told to be at office at 10 next day. By that time I was a mess. Got to office saw doctor was told to go to hospital. My husband was talking me as I was a mess & getting worse fast. In ER my pulse was faint, white blood count below 400 & playlets "in the toilet" according to admitting doctor telling my husband. Was taken to ICU & put on isolation. With my problems they were afraid infection, virus, cold or most anything could push me over. It finally came down to whole blood transfusion as I couldn't take the drugs given in this situation.  After better & home I discussed my situation with BS as ditched MO for a laundry list of infractions. BS at same hospital at that time & reviewed my records. We were on the phone for over 1 1/2 hours one late afternoon discussing me. Since I have lived with my allergies for years, I really keep in touch with my body. Was always one to go "moderation in all things" philosophy. 

It finally came down to the cumulative factor. No one could guarantee I could withstand 3rd treatment & no meds I could take to help. So truly no option. I stopped. 

It took me 6 months to be able to go back to my yoga. I couldn't even walk far earlier. I developed tinnitus, accelerated my arthritis & shot my eyesight. Just with 2 doses. But everyone must realize my system is not normal. I still have memory problems with short term recall. 

So I had to go with my body. I have given it to my Lord & will be grateful for what I have every day. My last treatment was 2/28/2013. I do not take any drugs. I do take B12 & D3 along with multi vitamin & try & eat healthy & AVOID sugar. Now I need my back muscles fixed to get rid of the headache & I'll be ok again. 

So that is my story. I am so proud of each of you ladies for being able to complete your chemo schedule. I wish us all the best for our new lives for the rest of our lives. 

Marsha

BanR

A NO CANCER news sounds so good!!!

oh yes, the port is in! But you know, I am ok with it...actually I am ok with anything other than cancer or any life threatening disease. As long as I get to live till 60 or 70, as long as I get to see my daughter grow up into a beautiful adult and get established in life....all is ok!!

Cancer was a blessing in many ways..I have stopped complaining about so many things which used to bother me earlier. Priorities in life are suddenly very neatly set!!

Nettie and others who were talking of a rib cage pain, in all probability its a muscle pain caused due to  muscle inflammation. I keep having it on and off. My radiation oncologist prescribed a painkiller, which relieves the pain for  a few days.

But...it you have rib cage pain, while you breathe in and out..then it could be a case of rib bone fracture.

love and wishing u all good health

Nettie1964

Looking, 

After hearing your story, I feel very lucky. I too have severe allergies...as a child the dr actually told my parents it was easier to tell them what I wasn't allergic to...food, grass, dye, clothes...I was a mess. However I took allergy shots for 7 years and got things under control.  I tolerated chemo exceptionally well...even got a break from allergy and arthritis trouble thanks to mega doses of benadryl and prednisone.  But now, thanks to the chemo wiping my immune system. I'm almost back at square one with the allergy.

BanR, no pain while breathing. Just movement.

Lookingforward66

Just wanted everyone to know I have gotten relief from my headache.  Explained my mess to a friend, long story short, a friend of a friend was willing Saturday to give me a massage. It lasted 2 hours!  I was a mess, but when left was headache free. Was told it would return but not as bad. I have a lot of inflammation of muscles due to scar tissue & adhesions. So have set up massages for 2x a week until get rid of inflammation. Still having twinges but a zillion times better. Would you believe she only charged me $50.00 for the TWO hours & she wouldn't take a tip. Still going to neurologist to see what she says. 

Have a great day everyone. 

Marsha

Radical2Squared

Hey Marsh...Will your friend fly to NY? Lol

slv58

Marsha that's great, just to get any relief I'm sure is worth it! 

Nettie1964

Yes..isn't massage great.

bak94

Spica-sorry to hear that you have MS. I still haven't heard anything yet. I had a terrible time with Abraxane and Taxol the time before. I do think a lot of my pain is from that. I just have to keep reminding myself each morning as I wake up how much better I feel when I get moving. It is so hard some days when that exact moving causes so much pain. I am eating better, but it is so hard to stay on track. I joined myfitnesspal to track and it is so helpful.

I know many of you are great researchers and have so much knowledge. I have a question not related to cancer. Do you think losing weight is strictly a matter of calories in calories out for weight loss? I feel like it is so hard to lose weight. But I am so much less active than I used to be. It is just an interesting topic to me. Some say it doesn't matter about what you eat, as long as you have a calorie deficit you will lose weight (of course you will feel better if you eat clean). Also, some sites say to lose slow and steady, no more than 2 pounds a week. I need to lose a lot of weight and I see all these extreme weight loss shows were they lose over 30 pounds a month. It seems it would be so much more motivating to see the weight drop quickly than to do the 2 pounds a week thing. I know they are supervised by a doctor and exercise like crazy, but it would be nice to at least shoot for 5 pounds a week:) Are there any good motivating exercise threads on here?

 

Radical2Squared

Bak94,

The calories in, calories out thing makes sense mathematically, but I don't think it's the only factor. When I was a teenager (back when our bodies were amazing performers) my two best friends were much heavier than me. We walked EVERYWHERE and covered miles and miles each day. They were perpetually asking me how I stayed skinny and they didn't. We were together almost 24-7, ate the same things and had the same exercise...there is your genetics.

As an adult, one of my best friend's wives is a fitness model. She is the picture of healthy eating, exercise, and weight training. She is also a licensed dietician. Her big enemy is water. She drinks a lot of it (as we all should) but her body loves to hold on to it. She will drop 15 pounds before a meet by taking water pills (not something I recommend for people who do not pose on stage for a living) but it shows that even the healthiest among us with perfect calorie intake still have other factors that determine weight.

simplelife4real

Bak, I belong to SparkPeople and have the same user name that I do here.  I think it is a great website in terms of education and answering your questions about diet and weight lose.  Their website is free and quite extensive.  There is a breastcancer support team along with lots of other teams.  Their smartphone app is a one time fee.  I have it, but rarely use it....I use the website on my laptop instead.  It is a wonderful place for weightloss and fitness support.

KSteve

Bak - I managed to put on about 30 pounds since treatment (10 pounds a year like clockwork), and I was alreay 10-15 lbs overweight then.  I just started Weight Watchers in March and am down 21 lbs so far.  If you do the math, that's only a little over a pound a week, but at least I'm 21 lbs lighter then when I started!  And I've had a couple of vacations in there where I gained a few pounds and had to get them back off.  I'm about halfway to my goal.  I am exercising more but made big changes in my eating habits.  It's very easy to do, and after a couple weeks on the program it really became second nature.  My husband also has lost weight during the process because I'm cooking a little differently.  This program really helps me make lifestyle changes so I don't gain it all back.  Because, let's face it, after going through chemopause, my metabolism has definitely changed permanently.  Just something to consider.  I really struggled to make a commitment to weight loss, but after having a couple of successful weeks, my motivation hasn't faltered.  Good luck!

Kathy

BanR

A small piece of information. 

http://www.breastcancer.org/research-news/moles-ma...

simplelife4real

I did Weight Watchers too and  had real good success with it.  

mags20487

B9!!!  results came in today and doc says it is not cancer!  Happy dancing

Luvmydobies

Great news Mags!! So happy for you!

slv58

Mags, yahooooo!!! Doin the happy dance! Go celebrate! Really happy to hear this, you made my day!

Radical2Squared

Interesting link on the moles...I do have many of them.

Meadow

yay mags!

Meadow

I had my first follow up today, 3 months since treatment ended. My Onc said everything looked and felt good, normal healing. Scans in 3 months. Happy.

simplelife4real

Hooray Meadow!

Allydp

Awesome, Mags! I'm so happy for you!

jenjenl

All sorts of good news from you ladies today...Love it! 

Regarding weight - diet will only get you so far, exercise will get you the rest of the way.  I hate exercising (I mean I really hate it, don't enjoy anything about it - I don't get those endorphins) and have just started again this week.  I'm only doing 15 minutes or 20 before work, that's really all I can commit. I agree with Radical - genetics are a contributor.

LPBoston

Great Job Mags!!! That is Awesome News!!

Great news Meadow - Keep on healing!!!!

Going in for the breast MRI tomorrow - taking drugs and going into a different machine - feet first!!  Hopefully this will be all good when done!  Vacation next week and want to leave with good news.

NavyMom

Yay Mags!  Yay Meadow!

Good luck tomorrow, LPBoston.  

Where are you Cocker?  Titan?

MomMom

So happy for you Mags!!!  You too Meadow!!

Yes, good luck Boston!!!

Meadow

Thank you all so much

Cocker_Spaniel

jenjenl

Good luck today, LPBoston.You can do this! 

slv58

Meadow fabulous news, so very happy for you!

LPBoston, good luck today, keep thinking of that vacation!

I'm still waiting to hear about my brain MRI. I called Friday and told the nurse navigator I'm really anxious about results and she passed this on to MO, but still haven't heard. Waiting sucks. I'm off to yoga, I just started and am finding it really makes me feel good and is helping me keep sane.