Has anyone started a Dec 2011 group?

markat

Julie, glad to hear you are doing well!

rachelvk

Julie - Keep it up! Glad it's going well.

My xrays were clear. Yay! I hadn't thought of reflux. I do have GERD, so maybe that's what the constant coughing is from. 

Jen78

I've been checking this thread all day, Rachelvk. I'm so glad to hear that everything is ok. Hope you can get rid of the cough now!

markat

Very happy for you Rachel!!



My daughter had GERD as a baby and would get a cough because her throat was agitated.



Hope it goes away soon!

Kelloggs

Rachel - YAY!!!!!!

Julie - glad to hear rads is going well.  It'll be over before you know it....hang in there!

markat

I can't sleep, so I thought I'd check in and see how everyone is doing? I'm pretty much the same.



Mardibra- any diep/coffee updates?



Hope everyone is feeling great!

Mardibra

So here is the update. I had an appointment with the PS and she said no coffee for 3 weeks prior and 6 weeks after. Phew! I clearly misunderstood the first time. However, she is pregnant so it looks like my surgery will be pushed off to March.

markat

Mardibra that's great about the coffee…stinks that you have to wait longer! Do have insomnia too or just on a wonky schedule? I fell asleep earlier and now can't get back to sleep.

Mardibra

I usually wake up after a couple of hours sleep and it takes me about an hour or so to fall back to sleep. A pattern I'm not liking!

markat

Me too! Think it's the Tamoxifen?

rachelvk

While the Tamoxifen may be partly to blame, I'm not on it and am having the same issues. I've heard it's common among BC survivors, but no clue what does it - nerves? I'm going to buy some melatonin, because Ativan hasn't done it.

dougieswife

I just got home from a survivorship symposium put on by my Dr's.  They taked about fatigue/lack of sleep.  Studies show that a lack of melatonin changes the DNA of cells and can increase your risk.  They also said that women who worked 3rd shiftor were "night owls" are at a higher risk.  So...take that melatonin.  I have always had trouble sleeping and am a big time night owl.  I was on a GREAT schedule with sleep and felt GREAT and had a ton of energy.  The last 2 weeks, I have been back to my old habits and I feel terrible!!!!

 Hope everyone is feel good these days!!!!  (we must...as we aren't posting on here much!!) 

markat

Wow Lori, that's really interesting because I've always been a night person.



So do they recommend women take melatonin even if they haven't been diagnosed? Or does taking melatonin deplete the body of natural melatonin? Thinking about my daughters here. Our ped put my 8yo on melatonin because she was having sleep issues.



Rachel I hope you get some rest. I have a plastic surgeon appointment today. Have to decide if I want nips. I'm so sick of surgeries that I'm leaning towards no. However, I think I need a revision on the left side where my port is. My cleavage looks lopsided. Not a huge deal, but it would be nice if they were more symmetrical.

Mardibra

I believe its the hot flashes that are waking me up.  They are brutal recently!  Just when they seem to calm down and I think im in the clear, they pop back up again.  I started Tamox in July and ive been trying to wait for 6 months before seeking meds for the hot flashes (seems like most people see a marked drop in SE's after six months).  But, im not sure I can take it much longer.  I have an onc appt in a couple of weeks.  I think I will take her up on the offer of Effexor.  I hate to take another med but the hot flashes are not subsiding.  Anyone else still having bad hot flashes?

markat

Mine come and go. When I'm active I seem to get way hotter than I used to. Also I randomly wake up with a soaked pillow. I'm on Pristiq which is a lot like effexor so I think it helps a little.

rachelvk

My hot flashes seem to have disappeared (and I'm never sure they were really hot flashes and not 'night sweats,' which someone said were different. Never had them during the day, and they were full body, not waist up). I just plain wake up at night.

The melatonin research is really interesting. But I read some comments that it tends to be associated with the hormonal driven tumors, so being TN, I'm not sure how much it matters. But more sleep just plain has to be good, right?

I had a D&C/hysteroscopy this morning to check out polyps. It went really quick and easy - no pain or discomfort, but I should try to get a nap. Hoping the biopsy comes back okay and I can cross off that organ from my 'to worry' list.

Markat - I'm torn about nipples, too. I assumed I'd want them, but I don't like the idea of the headlights always being 'on' - not that I go braless much, but I've been enjoying it as an option. Good luck with the revision. I think mine are okay for the most part - I find it amusing when I flex my pecs - what shape can I create next??? (Sorry.... the odd sense of humor sometimes just keeps kicking in). 

markat

Well for some reason the PS doesn't seem to think I need a revision but her PA did, so now I'm even more confused. She also really pushed the nipples. I think I personally would rather have the 3d tattoos. I need to read some threads about both. I think I'm going to talk to my onc about it to.



Did you guys have to pay surgery Co pays to have your ports removed? That would really stink!

rachelvk

Markat - I had my ports removed at the hospital where they put them in - insurance paid as far as I know. I'd think it was part of the chemo. Do you still have a port? I'm so sorry if you do. Though my scar has been really 'angry' all the time. Lots of scar tissue where the port 'button' used to be, and still a red line up my vein where I guess the Adriamycin made its mark.

markat

Yeah Rachel. I should finish Herceptin in December. I'm just wondering if my insurance starts over in January if I will have to pay the deductible over just to have my port removed? I guess I have a lot of homework to do lol.

Kelloggs

markat - not to but in on the conversation but your question is right up my alley.  I am a billing manager for a group of physicians.  Yes, you will start over in January with a new deductible to meet.  But when you think about it, you'll have onc visits, PS visit, mammogram probably at least next year so you'll have to meet it at some point, might as well get it out of the way.

 Before BC I slept sooooo good.  Now I go to sleep right away and wake up about 3am.  From then on I just toss and turn.  I think it's the hot flashes waking me up too.  I started Tamoxifen in May, hopefully things improve.  I had to go on a patch for high blood pressure and I don't want to add any more medicines to my arsenal.  It's a tough pill to swallow for someone who never used to even take a Tylenol (no pun intended)!

markat

Thanks Kelly. The insurance plan changed in May and the effective date says May 1st. So I am just confused. I messaged anthem but haven't heard back. Guess I'll have to call them.

rachelvk

I forgot to mention - my biopsy came out okay.

Kelly - Sorry you're having sleep problems as well. I need to pick up a bottle of melatonin. 

markat

Yay Rachel! That's great to hear!

Mardibra

Clap clap clp....great news!

markat

Kelly you were right. It does start over in January even though everything changed in May- doesn't really seem fair, extra $1000 on out of pocket for shorter than a full year. Oh well, no mammos for me with the BMX and scans only for symptoms, MRIs every 3 years. I'm the type that will wait too long to save money...

Kelloggs

markat - sorry about the insurance, it definitely sucks!I forgot you had BMX, at least you don't have to go through that anxiety every 6 months!

Rachel - YAY on the biopsy results!  I tried melatonin but my problem is not falling asleep, it's staying asleep.  Let me know if you have any luck with it.  I'm almost willing to try anything at this point.  Was up last night at 3am again, 4 hot flashes and tossing and turning later the alarm went off at 6 with no additional sleep! UGH!!!

rachelvk

Kelly - That's actually my problem too - I probably wake up 5-8 times. Somewhere I read that Ativan and some other sleep aids do help relax you initially but interfere with deep sleep, just like what we seem to be dealing with. I just hate to try going to something stronger.

Markat - Sorry to hear that insurance change screwed things up with the deductible. I hope you can find some way to get your scans and tests when you need them. 

dougieswife

Okay...I've got a question for everyone on TCH....

Are you all ending Hercepin in December???  I asked when I was finished and my nurse said April 2013.  I thought I was finished in December...18 Herceptin treatments puts me being finished in December, if you count the Herceptin given with the TC.  The April end date is 18 Herceptin only treatments.  I'm thoroughly confused....but I was sure that I was to end in December, right?? 

markat

I'm finishing in December. Did you have to take a break at any time? Maybe she read it wrong.

dougieswife

Nope...no breaks....I'm just going to ask again...but this time, my Dr....LOL!!!!  18 Herceptin onlies would put me finishing in April of 2013...so that is why I got myself confused...because it ALMOST makes sense to me, LOL!!!