TRIPLE POSITIVE GROUP

Dannajae

HapB,

My husband is taking me out the night before to dinner. I'm just not that focused this year. My daughter noticed that I've recently begun forgetting everything. I think I'm hyper-focused on myself and distracted about everything else.

Thanks, Cherry. My antidepressants are for a chronic condition, but they can be very effective for circumstantial life events.

wabals

Cherry I am on antidepressants and gues what...they work😊

Please do not wait another day. You will feel much better

Cherry-sw

Happy Birthday, Dannajae!

Cherry-sw

wabals, I bet they do. Did you started those while in treatment? I see you did not do chemo, I guess it was because of the size. Did you have any adjustment period when you started? Was it hard, how long did it take till you felt good?

Jumpship

TP gals-Anyone part of the SurMount study at UPenn for disseminated tumor cells? Trying to figure out if +++ gals can be included.

coachvicky

Happy Birthday, Dannajea!

All,

I am both happy and sad to read these posts confronting our mental / emotional states. Happy that we feel safe to talk about this. Sad that this happens to any of us.

I encourage everyone to let your Medical Team know know you are feeling. Make sure you get the right diagnosis. Is it depression or anxiety or PTSD? Is it physical such as low iron and fatigue?

I have shared before that I knew something was off in me but I also did not feel depressed.

Getting the prescription for PTSD really got me back on track and focused. My Oncology Team had never considered PTSD!!! It was my Primary Care listening to me and getting me someone to talk with got the right diagnosis.

This is a very informative article: http://www.breastcancer.org/research-news/many-wom...

Also, it will get better. It just takes time. Be easy on yourselves.

Love to you all,

Vicky

AliceAgnes

Cherry, I personally have had no side effects from Prozac ever. I began taking it when I was in my 50s, and I am 64 now.

WebMD is a good site for general medical information. Possible side effects are listed in the link I will post at the end of this. Curiously, sleeplessness is one possible side effect, but this drug is actually what HELPS me sleep.

http://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-1774-95/fluoxetine-oral/fluoxetine-oral/details#side-effects

T-Sue

Cherry, I'm sorry you are so down lately. I think I shared with you before your chemo began that I was in a funk in the middle of my 12 weeks of taxol. An antidepressant (Citrolopam) helped me enormously. I felt the positive effect within a few days and no SEs. As others have said, I think feeling this way is completely normal during a BC treatment and while our bodies are rocking from chemo drugs. Hang in there until your doctor's appointments this week! Post again and let us know how you are doing!

Lita19901

Backstory: Last week I got the results of some blood work ordered by a neurologist who was assessing my annoying but not painful neuropathy prior to chemo and weirdly enough I turned up positive for a specific autoimmune disease and a B12 deficiency. Other than said neuropathy I have no symptoms of anything. I feel FINE and I would really appreciate it if doctors would stop finding things wrong with me.

Anyway, because of this I have become hyper-aware of every little thing going on in my body. (I swear that I FELT my fingernail break yesterday...) Anyway, long story short, I discovered that my throat hurt on one side because I have a something in the area of my thyroid that hurt, and now hurts like crazy, probably because of poking and prodding it.

I see my MO tomorrow - FINALLY. Would it be prudent to mention this to her and perhaps ask her to also poke on it? Or will she throw me out of the office for complicating my already complicated treatment plsn

I'm starting to feel as if I'm the main character in a Choose Your Own Adventure...

AliceAgnes

I would have her look at it. Part-way through my chemo, I thought something was wrong in my throat area, too. It turned out to be nothing, but my oncologist in no way made me feel stupid for bringing it up.

toughcookie_21

cherry, I began taking Prozac and Ativan 3 weeks ago. I was having panic attacks to the point of hyperventilating and major anger and despair issues and I honestly don't think they would have gotten me in the chemo chair last week without the Drugs. This is the second time in my life I've taken anti depressants and I had no issues stopping them the last time, so think I will be ok discontinuing them once this nightmare is over.

It took 3 days of feeling dizzy before the Prozac started working the way it's supposed to. I'm still angry but I haven't had any panic attacks like I was before. My anger is now a sort of simmering and even though I still despise chemo and everything it is doing to me and my family, I am accepting it. I'm also doing guided meditation and speaking with a counselor who is helping me deal with the emotions.

ElaineTherese

cherry,

My AI (Aromasin) was giving me mood swings, big time. I was really missing my estrogen. My MO prescribed Celexa and I've been feeling awesome ever since. I never thought I'd take an anti-depressant, but I wasn't going to do 5 - 10 years of an A and feel like crap the whole time. I don't really have any side-effects from the Celexa.

moodyblues

About the deodorant, I have used MoM (Milk of Magnesia) deodorant and did not have any BO or irritation.  The roll on is a bit expensive but, you can buy empty roll on bottles and fill it with regular Milk of Magnesia. You can even apply it with cotton balls BUT, it is very messy to do it this way.  I didn't like Tom's of Maine, the smell was too strong.

deni1661

Happy birthday Dannajae - you must celebrate your special day!

Cherry and Danna, I agree with Hapb, Coach Vicky and others - talk to your team and try antidepressants. Cherry I'm so glad you have an appointment. All the meds and AI mess with our hormones and body chemistry so we need help balancing things out. I took an antidepressant for mood swings when I started menopause. I was too proud initially thinking I could manage without drugs but I was miserable and so was everyone around me. Once I started the Prozac I felt a million times better. I wouldn't hesitate to take them again.

Hang in there, sending hugs

deni1661

Elaine, good to know about the Celexa - I have not heard of that one. I might talk to my MO if my anxiety continues. I'm glad it's working for you and no side

PoseyGirl

CoachVicky, a wonderful and supportive post. I wonder about PTSD in myself and didn't realize there could be a slightly different prescription to help? Apparently PTSD is experienced by most people with bc. I was on Citalopram and weaned off in the Spring. I am now pondering if I should have.

There is no timeline to this: the cancer radio station still plays 24 hours a day in my head.

I just finished a dragon boat season with 20 other bc gals. This has been so important to my physical rehab as well as my mental state. The oldest on our team is in her 70's, the youngest is 25. Surround yourselves with as much love and support as you can get and are comfortable with. It can't take away that there was a diagnosis and it can't take away all fear. But these kinds of things - in addition to meds and time - are vital.

Suburbs

Hi cherry-sw. It does take a few weeks for Prozac or any similar anti-depressant to start working. I had Valium and Ativan for that time in between. I did not have to take either daily. Your oncologist may be able to prescribe something for you. As for side effects, I have had none other than the crying fits and melt downs ended. I feel more even now. Hope you get some relief

meg2016

LTWJ- Acupuncture really helped my neuropathy from chemo, might be something to try? Congrats on being done!

SpecialK- thanks for the diet details. I am mostly following that but the one I am conflicted about is dairy. On these AI's I know bone health is already a concern. And supplements don't do as much as dietary dairy from what I've been reading. But like you said, low calorie and lots of exercise isn't doing much. I also didn't cut out all gluten, but cut out all flour, so that ends up being a lot of it but maybe I need to take it a step further.

There are two goals for diet, one is reducing recurrence, the other that I am really hoping is reducing side-effects from the Aromasin. I am not quite to a year on it and the joint pain seems to be worsening and spreading to new parts of my body. So I am really focusing on eliminating all inflammation I can hoping that benefits both. Also I am sure any extra pounds don't help the joints either.

I love my LaVanilla deodorant. I also love the Malin and Goetz brand (is also more globally available.) They are both a little more expensive but they last forever. I tried pit paste but just couldn't make myself apply it with my hand every day, although it did seem to really work.

Cherry-sw

Thank you everybody, I will head to my Taxol infusion today and will talk to the doctor there and then to the psychiatrist on Wednesday. It is just I cannot take to me any good arguments they are trying to tell me and I think all the time that I did some mistakes that could possibly have caused my bc and that my family does not deserve to go through all this and that they probably be better off without me because I feel so broken and shattered that nothing ever will be able to fix it. It must be caused by chemo or something. I am afraid whether something is happening to my brain and I will go insane and have to be one of those in mental facility. What if anti-depressive will not be able to help me?

moodyblues

HapB.    It didn't get on my clothes at all with the roll on bottle, I applied it right after my shower and made sure it was dry before I dressed.  I never used it while wearing black colored clothing though.  Initially I did apply the MoM with cotton balls and yes...it was a mess.  My plan was to eliminate the aluminum and I did it for a while and then stopped because it did take a minute for it to dry.  You can buy it from (peoples pharmacy) but it is 6.50 for 2 oz. YIKES! (I couldn't find it at Walmart website).    I bought refillable deodorant bottles and did it myself, it lasted forever and ever.  It worked perfectly, no BO, no skin irritation and I felt it was safer than regular antiperspirant.

 

PoseyGirl

Cherry,

Everyone is NOT better off without you. Antidepressants usually work if you find the right ones (you might get it right on the first try, but if not, try another). You are NOT alone in your feelings. I am 15 months from diagnosis and still battle daily. But I was paddling for dragon boat with 20 other women and most of them are doing really well emotionally. They say that it will get better; I believe this for you. I have to try and believe this for me. Until then, surround yourself with support in every way you can. And here are some lyrics to remember from REM:

When your day is long
And the night, the night is yours alone
When you're sure you've had enough
Of this life, well hang on

Don't let yourself go
'Cause everybody cries
And everybody hurts sometimes

Sometimes everything is wrong
Now it's time to sing along
When your day is night alone (Hold on, hold on)
If you feel like letting go (Hold on)
If you think you've had too much
Of this life, well hang on

Everybody hurts
Take comfort in your friends
Everybody hurts
Don't throw your hand, oh no

Cherry, we need to hang on. You and me and anyone who's crying or hurting. Sorry if it sounds too sloshy, but I am here, hearing you.

On the topic of calcium...try fortified almond milk - it's filled with calcium. Kale, broccoli, other foods too. The question of calcium is one I've had, but I just have to get better and drinking the almond milk. And from what I understand, lower fat dairy in smaller amounts is just fine. So drink a cup of low fat milk a day if you don't like almond milk; I truly believe it's ok (from what I've read). I'm going to work on the list and attach here based on what I'm reading and what you're all saying...just our food for thought list. If you have something to add, let me know.

Hang on, Cherry - don't throw your hand (as per above lyrics). I will try not to as well - we'll do it together. Talk to your doctor and get on the meds - just promise us that as a start.

deni1661

Great post poseygirl, we must all hang on and find a way out of the dark. This group helps immensely not only with the unconditional support but all he suggestions from experience too.

Like Hapb, I find prayer works for me and also meditating. Every morning I thank God for the many blessings I do have and ask for help with my struggles. My grateful list is always bigger than my prayer list so that keeps me positive most days. Some days something little sets me off so I'm working on that - it's mostly comments that people make

SpecialK

I would encourage any of you with the need for anti-depressants or longer term anti-anxiety medication to get these from doctors that specialize in this - I think it can be a mistake to ask your oncologist for these medications, with the exception of Ativan for anti-nausea during chemo. Some oncologists and some larger centers can also get you a referral for a therapist that specializes in serious illness, and they have a better understanding of the psychological challenges that face many cancer patients.

I participated in a study right after chemo, while still on Herceptin. It is linked below. I found it immensely helpful and a lot of the tenets are available online. The study was based on the book Full Catastrophe Living by Jon Kabat-Zinn, and was a quantified study (blood and saliva samples throughout) of how the stress hormone cortisol impacts breast cancer patients.

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01177124

On the subject of dairy - I would also pay attention to the grams of sugar - one cup of 2% milk has 12g of sugar, same amount of unsweetened almond milk has none.

ElaineTherese

Special K is right that a psychiatrist can be especially helpful with prescribing anti-depressants. One of my sons with autism suffers from depression and anxiety, and it took several tries before we found the right cocktail of drugs to help him out. In fact, he had paradoxical responses to all sorts of meds, including Prozac. (Prozac made him manic.) Thankfully, he sees a psychiatrist who focuses specifically on treating young people with special needs, and his doctor had all sorts of treatment ideas.

As with anything, keep a journal of symptoms and side effects after starting an anti-depressant. If your med is making you feel worse, you need to call your doc and get on something that works for you. Best wishes to all who are struggling, either mentally or physically, with treatment and recovering from treatment.

wabals

Cherry I did do chemo tho it was targeted treatment called Kadcyla in a clinical trial at Johns Hopkins. With her2+ almost everyone has to do chemo. Did it for a year.

I have been on Effexor for years. I have battled depression my whole life. I will be on it forever. In my case it is a chemical imbalance in my brain. Yours may be more situational, I don't know. They say to give it a month or so but some people respond quickly. I did.

I see a psychiatrist every 4 mos or so for medication management

PoseyGirl

my oncologist would not prescribe antidepressants and Suggested I should go to my GP for this discussion.But yes, I agree a psychiatrist or other specialist would be best.

I was not dealing with depression before my diagnosis (for Hapb's question).

SpecialK

According to SEER data, roughly 40% of Americans will develop cancer in their lifetime. Not sure you would be able to isolate stress or anxiety as a direct cause, absent the many other factors that may contribute to a diagnosis of cancer. I don't doubt that stress, anxiety, and trauma, can affect the immune system, but I think it is difficult to quantify how much stress people feel in their life circumstances. Something that might cause one person stress, another may handle with no physical impact.

kae_md99

what do you guys eat for snacks

kae_md99

thanks hapB. can you ladies tell me again why dairy is not good for er (+) women?

SpecialK, i think you have eliminated peanuts in your diet.can you tell me why?

SpecialK

kae - dairy is from a lactating animal, so an inherently estrogenic food. It also contains proteins (casein) and sugars that can cause inflammation. Some dairy is produced from cows that have been supplemented with hormones to cause them to produce excess milk. I eliminated peanuts because they areamong the foods that people are most commonly allergic to, thus potentially inflammatory. Peanuts contain lectins that can cause digestive distress.