Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

Moondust

MJS and Theresa, just to make sure I understand - the steroids are for just a few days around each infusion, correct? And some people get them IV on the day of infusion, is that right? I don't think my center does that.

I know some women gain during chemo, but I will be surprised if I do. Everyone says you gain on arimidex and so far I have only lost.

I don't have much of anything that is high calorie and easy to grab around the house. And I live 20 minutes from the nearest store or restaurant. Those facts go a long way towards controlling impulse eating, even when I'm hungry. I have weights and resistance bands at home that I'll use, and I'll try to meet my daily step goal. I know the scale will go up after the steroids due to water retention, but I won't let that scare me! It's calories in vs calories out that tell the ultimate tale.

Italychick

don't be scared! I think I did steroids two days before chemo, by infusion day of chemo, and for two days after. The swelling did do a number on my choice of shoes, but it went away pretty quickly after chemo ended.

The weight gain is my own fault. It's hard to deny eating a piece of cake or something when faced with a cancer diagnosis. But that was me, doesn't mean it will happen to you. I ate super clean for four years before the diagnosis, and since diagnosis my diet has gone south. But hopefully I can get back on track.

LovesToFly

I did not gain weight during chemo. Firstly, I tracked everything on my fitness pal like I always have, so I could not over eat or indulge too much. I also limited the junk food in my house. Secondly, I made sure to get my 10,000 fit bit steps pretty well every day. I think it really helped me cope with chemo side effects better, and also kept me active and on my feet. Normally I work out a lot more than that, but at least it was something! I lost a lot of tone and stamina, but I did not gain weight. (which I was very concerned about. I lost a lot of weight a few years ago and do not want to gain it back!)

tsoebbin

Peggy... that's a cool ICE.key. I haven't seen that before. Looking forward to your arrival in Spokane. I let another BCO member from Spokane know you're on the way so we can all meet when you're settled. I'll be having surgery (whatever I decide to do!) in the next month so we.may have to meet after I have a bit of recovery time! Meeting someone on pain meds for the first time could be interesting!

PontiacPeggy

Traci, I can hardly wait to get moved! I'm looking forward to meeting you and another BCO'er! Wow. That's terrific. We can meet whenever it works for you. I hope to arrive on the 21st. When my furniture arrives is something else. I'll probably be unpacking for a year. I'm really sold on the ICE key. It's nice to be able to find something perfect on the other side of the world. The internet is wonderful for making and keeping friends. My Aussie friend and I have known each other for 20+ years and maybe we'll meet someday. When are you having your surgery? (My memory is for sh*t).

HUGS!

tsoebbin

I meet the first plastic surgeon Wednesday and then if we go with her (DIEP) we'll set a date to coordinate with the BS.

If I go without construction or just do the mastectomy on the left side with a TE so I can continue losing weight and get stronger before another surgery it will be a couple weeks out.

If I decide to meet with another PS and do straight to implants if that's possible... who knows how long?

So...you didn't forget! We are just clueless!!😉

PontiacPeggy

I feel better - that I didn't forget. An awful lot of decisions to make. I don't envy you with all those choices. Sometimes having only one option can make it all easier. Good luck. Do keep us posted on what you decide to do and when!

HUGS!

614

Dear Tsoebbin:  Good luck with your surgery, whatever you decide to do.  I will be in your pocket.

Dear Sandy:  Rolling veins are awful.  My mother has them.  I also have trouble with my veins at times.  I hope that everything works out and that your insurance company will cooperate.  I guess that there are may flaws with Medicare.  Good luck.

Thank you again everyone, for all of your kind words.

Just to clarify, the student who was put in the uncomfortable situation was not my student.  I met her last night.  I felt awful for her and for her parents.  They were really upset because they did not abandon her and they were not drug addicts.  The scholarship agency confused the story but the student did win a scholarship.

Dear Peggy:  I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you. 

I plan to spend time this summer organizing my house (you are my inspiration) and exercising.  I am proud of myself because I have been exercising every day for one week now.  I plan to continue every day no matter what - no excuses.

Dear LTF:  You are funny, "umm...can I please do the old school sick and skinny treatment?"  LOL

I am so sorry for all of you who had to do chemo and then gained weight too (MJS and ItalyChick and anyone else whom I forgot to mention).  That stinks.  I am glad that you are ok now.  Good luck to those of you who are starting chemo this week - Heathet and Moondust.

I am one of the people who has been continuously gaining weight on Arimidex/Anastrazole.  I am sure that the medically induced menopause is also contributing a great deal to my weight gain.  That is why I have committed to exercising and to losing weight (starting 7 days ago).  Wish me luck. 

Sherri

PontiacPeggy

Sherri, good for you for starting exercising! I've had no weight gain from my Anastrozole. I don't exercise (though packing is certainly a good workout). Good luck de-cluttering. Remember: If something doesn't bring you joy, don't keep it. If it brings joy (even if it seems rather useless), keep it. And handle each thing to see how it "feels" to you. I've kept something that I have no earthly use for but they do bring joy. I just couldn't bear to part with them. It does make sorting things out much easier. You won't keep stuff that you think you "should" keep.

HUGS!

HappyHammer

Moondust- please just be careful to have foods that you like very conveniently available.  You don't want to lose too much weight for sure!  I lost almost 40 lbs during the 4 months of chemo- (had weight to lose and sounds like you dont at ALL) didn't feel like eating much despite IV steroids during chemo every 3 weeks, food tasted weird so I didn't want it, and was a bit "green" feeling even on anti nausea meds for the first 2 weeks of each treatment- usually a week or less before the next treatment, food tasted better and appetite was better- but still not that hungry so....I drank a protien based shake every morning to get protein in daily EVERY day of the 4 months of chemo (used Shakeology and unsweetened almond milk- like clockwork- but there are plenty of other shakes like this) Just please be careful!

Italychick

Yes, great point HappyHammer. Protein intake is super important to rebuild what chemo breaks down

Moondust

Thanks, HappyHammer! I will bring home some convenient to eat foods this week. I am also batch cooking some casserole and pasta type dishes which I will freeze in one portion sizes. I normally eat over 100 grams of protein a day. so I think I've got that covered but thanks for the reminder HH and Theresa!

Jill, I am just like you with the food tracking and that's why I'm pretty sure my weight will stay put during chemo. This week I'm trying to eat 300-400 calories over my maintenance. It's amazing how much an old thin 125 pound woman can burn (well, 121 at the moment). My maintenance is around 2200 calories a day. I expect that will go down once I start chemo.

Sherri, I know you can stick to your exercise plan. Will your schedule ease up now that school is ending?

ChiSandy

Wow, Alice--2200 calories a day to maintain 125 lbs.? I gain (at 200) if I eat 1800, and even 1500 is about the max. I dare to eat unless I’m quite active. You must be extremely active or have the metabolism of a blast furnace!

Had my LE doc followup today. Turns out I hadn’t gained as much on letrozole as I’d thought. When I started, I was 192; a week later when I saw him I was 195, and then came weeks of cheating (including eating what I wanted in London, Paris, Lausanne, San Antonio and NC). Last Thurs. I hit 205 (naked, post-bathroom) and went back on low-carb “dead animals & leaves” (no sugar or starch). Today I weighed in at 200, 12oz.--after breakfast, dressed. So if I get my 10,000 steps in and stay away from bread, sweets, chips, spuds, corn, cereal & pasta (and limit my wine intake to a pint per week) I might be able to get down to my first goal of 180 by the time I see my MO in Aug.

PontiacPeggy

Sandy, I'd gain weight on 2200 calories a day too. And I'm 133 (buck naked). Your diet sounds oh so thrilling. I'd miss the wine. I have a glass most every dinner. You have greater will power than I do. I find I do better with breads, cereals and pasta with my GERD. In fact, changing my never-changing breakfast and lunch choices helped immensely and I didn't gain weight. I now have a huge bowl of Cheerios with half and half and sugar. For lunch (please don't faint) I have 3 eggs fried in butter with 3 slices local whole wheat bread. A cup of regular coffee with half and half for breakfast (and water) and a cup of decaf (also with half and half) for lunch. I was having oatmeal and scrambled eggs and toast with butter. I find this all quite strange but I'm happy with the results. Saturday night I splurged with a huge bowl of popcorn drowning in butter (but no salt - I don't salt anything). I felt decadent and the dog was in heaven!

HUGS!

614

Dear Peggy: Thanks so much for the advice. I am SO BAD at getting rid of things. Whenever I do get rid of stuff, I inevitably wish that I have kept it. I plan to be "ruthless" this summer. I KNOW that I will exercise and stick to working out or at least walking every day. De-cluttering is much harder for me. I could really use a "personal assistant!" LOL

Dear HH and ItalyChick: Great Advice.

Dear Moondust: It sounds like you are planning well. Good luck. (and to you too, Heathet)

Dear Moondust: Yes, my schedule will ease up now that school ended. However, I will be working from home (although I went into my school today) even though I won't be getting paid for the work. The work must be done. There are 4 people in my department and 2 of them will not be returning next year. SIGH No one will be doing their work this summer (except for myself and the remaining guidance counselor - Thank G-d for her. She is my savior.). Students need correct schedules for next year. Most of the work that I will be doing this summer will be for the Guidance Counselors who are leaving, although I still have to work on the "requests for schedules" for my incoming 9th graders. The problem is that I don't have a list of these students yet because they are not currently enrolled at my high school, so I can't start on their schedules. I have completed the "requests" for classes for all of my existing students. That is one reason why I will have to work this summer - unpaid. The other reason is that unfortunately, the master schedule sucks so none of the schedules will be correct at the start of next year. Our "requests" will not work due to the faulty master schedule. The other Guidance Counselor and I know this but there is nothing that we can do about it. Believe me, we have tried. Administration won't listen to us. As a result, we, not Administration, will be working NUMEROUS extra hours of unpaid time, getting everything ready for the start of the next school year. However, I love my job so I must take the good with the bad.

PontiacPeggy

614, like you, I never threw anything away. But once you get the hang of it, it does become easier. I found that I needed to go through things like clothes at least 3 times. I tried on everything. A couple of times I did retrieve things I was planning on donating.

BTW, what happened to computerized schedules? I'm surprised that you need to work on that all summer. That's a bummer. The whole thing is just a huge mess from what you have written.

HUGS!

614

Dar Sandy: You are funny. I agree with both you and Peggy. I am now gaining weight if I eat more than 1800 calories per day. It sucks. I used to have a very high metabolism rate but no longer. I loved how I looked when I finished radiation - my icon/avatar is me ringing the bell when I finished rads. I looked MUCH better then. That was only 1 and 1/2 years ago. As I said, I have gained weight from Anastrazole and from Menopause - probably more from Menopause then from the Anastrazole. I can't be sure since I started Anastrazole the same day as I had my first Zoladex shot (Zoladex is the shot to suppress the ovaries. I had an oophorectomy 2 months later.) That day was the day after my 50th birthday and 3 days after I finished rads. (I finished rads on Friday and started Arimidex/Anastrazole and Zoladex/Goserelin on Monday.) Yay for birthday celebrations!!! lol.

LovesToFly

if I go over 1800 a day (lower if I'm less active) I gain gain gain!

I did the vega protein shakes with a banana and some pb. Still do

614

Dear Peggy: We do computerized schedules. That is the "request". The reason that the master schedule sucks is because the classes aren't arranged correctly and there are incorrect #'s of courses. My colleague and I have tried to impress this fact upon Administration to no avail. Since the master schedule is not based on the correct #'s, the "requests" that we input into the computer fail. Therefore, we must hand register students for classes in the Fall. Hand registration is extremely time consuming and there should not be a need to do this. The other work will be inputing requests for the counselors who are leaving my school.

PontiacPeggy

614, it does seem that you have idiots running the whole scheduling process making it far too difficult for you as a conscientious teacher.

HUGS!

ChiSandy

Years ago, way before menopause, I lost lots of weight (65 lb.) on Jenny Craig. Until you get halfway to your goal, you cannot eat any non-JC foods except for skim milk, salad greens, green peppers and a specifically prescribed fresh fruit. Everything else had to be their frozen, cryovac, canned or boxed-mix (e.g., “breakfast soufflé” instead of real eggs or even Egg Beaters, and their banana-oat bran muffins) foods--which you bought every week at your weekly meeting/weigh-in/counseling session. It was not cheap, and it was embarrassing as hell bringing a Jenny Craig frozen dinner to a restaurant and asking them to nuke it. You were given a 7-week meal plan, and you had to eat exactly what was printed--no subbing anything from one day to another. Each day’s menu for women was formulated to be between 1050-1100 calories, depending on how many greens and green veggies you added. We would take our Feb. vacations at a resort condo northeast of San Diego, in the hills above Escondido, JC’s int’l HQ. The condo had a full kitchen and gas grill, so I cooked. The week I hit goal, I went to the HQ and they did a conference call to my weekly meeting in Chicago to announce my weight. But I got so tired of having to log everything I ate and show it to my counselor every week that I backslid. I tried Seattle Sutton, whose meals were fresh instead of frozen and included a piece of unripe fruit you were instructed to ripen. All you added was skim milk and lettuce. The plans were 1200 cal. for women and 1800 for men. It drove me crazy--all proteins were either poultry, eggs, beans or canned tuna. No red meat. No cheese except for skim mozzarella on their “pizza” and skim ricotta in their stuffed shells. There was a piece of fresh tilapia once every 4-week cycle. The only seasoning they ever used was black pepper, and though there were things like pasta, bagels, smoothies and pizza, the portions were Lilliputian (and the smoothies were the color and consistency of Pepto-Bismol and tasted similar). It was massively impractical for traveling or eating after a show, and the meals began piling up in my fridge. Sometimes you had to nuke the piece of fruit to ripen it enough to choke down.

I did Weight Watchers several times (since I hit goal the first couple of times in 1970 & ‘72, “goal” being only 16 lbs. to lose, I am still a “Lifetime Member” and can attend meetings for free--or could last time I checked in 1994). It morphed several times to match USDA dietary guidelines. The original version forbade fat or any starch other than the mandatory 2 slices a day of cheap white sandwich bread. Liquid skim milk was verboten--it had to be reconstituted powdered. (Ugh). No sugar. No yogurt, not even plain nonfat. Tomatoes were considered a “limited vegetable,” of which you could (and were required to) eat only 1/2 c. per day. Red meat was allowed--and mandated--for three meals a week, and you had to have at least 5 fish (preferably fresh--but not salmon, which was considered a red meat) meals a week. Eggs and cheese were allowed only for breakfast or lunch. Protein servings were 4 oz. for lunch and a rather large 6 oz. for dinner. (You could have all-beef hot dogs without the bun--2 equaled a meat dinner). It was impractical, but you could eat out and order off the menu so long as you didn’t have sauces, gravies, flour, breading etc. Their maintenance plan included more foods but much smaller portions. In 1994, I was doing okay (by then, they were using the “points” system) and then I went to China. I ate everything my tour group did and to my astonishment found I’d lost 3 lbs. So I didn’t go back to WW. Apparently, now they have several different plans: regular, vegetarian, vegan, low-fat, Kosher/Halal and low-carb. I might try it just before my trip if it includes the foods I’d be eating in Italy next month. When traveling abroad, I find portion control much easier than avoiding types of foods.

PontiacPeggy

Sandy, I don't know how you managed on those various plans. Ugh. My mother way back in the 60s and 70s said she did best losing weight when she ate like she did as a kid. It worked for her. I think each of us has to find what works best for us and then stick to it. What works for me probably wouldn't work for you. I've also used MyFitnessPal.com to track calories and that was helpful.

HUGS!

Sloan15

Heathet and Moondust -- Do you know the date of your chemo yet?

Sandy - I don't think I can get to Chicago before you leave. Have fun! Our son is moving into his new home in Chicago, and I just know there will be too much chaos if we come any earlier. But, we will meet up eventually! BTW, he's moving into an area called Logan Square. Please tell me it's a safe area!!!!

Molly - How are your legs feeling?

Moondust

I will start chemo on Wednesday! I'm so anxious to get started and on my way to being done! They gave me a new thermometer at chemo ed. I asked about EMLA cream (lidocaine cream to numb the port site) because one of my Canadian nurse friends (also going thru BC) recommended it. Well, they don't use it at this center, but the nurse ran off before I could stop her to ask my doctor about it. I wasn't asking to get the cream, just to find out more! The doctor called in an Rx for it but I'm sure she was rolling her eyes the whole time and muttering about me under her breath. I also found out the lab tech at the center is not certified to draw blood from my port! I was hoping to avoid the numerous needle sticks to my arm, so I'll have to ask about that, too.

Did anyone else go to a center that provided laptops or iPads? This one has iPads for use. But all I could think is what a great way to spread germs from one patient to the next. Do they clean them thoroughly between uses? I'll have to ask that, too.

Sandy, I think one reason my metabolism is high is because I consistently do resistance training with weights and bands. I'm genetically pre-disposed to have a lot of muscle and the weight training helps me keep it. That may be the only lucky genetic thing I have. But I firmly believe that weight training makes a much bigger difference than cardio as we get older. I'll be pulling for you to reach your 180 goal, but every pound lost is a victory. You can set some mini goals to celebrate too!

Peggy, it's hard for me to even decide what to purge first. I think I've decided on clothes.

Sherri, I'm glad you love your job enough to do it for free, but really, it is just not fair.

Heathet, I'm holding your hand this week as we start the next great adventure!

Sloan, I'll give you a blow-by-blow so we can compare treatment centers.

PontiacPeggy

Moondust, clothes are the easiest thing to do. At least I found it so. Especially the first time you go through them. Make sure you try things on. It's hard when your weight is going to vary as it could with chemo. But you can tell what you haven't worn in years and aren't likely to. Good luck. That sucks that the lab tech isn't certified to draw blood from your port. I'd be very grumpy about that. Good luck!!

HUGS!

Sloan15

Moondust - Okay. I"m already in your pocket for Wed! Stay hudrated!!!!

LovesToFly

They did not have iPads at my clinic, I brought my own, but I can say they kept everything very clean. I watch the volunteers wipe down the chairs, tables next to them, and everything in between patients

I didn't have a port so I don't know anything about that.

I'll be thinking about you Wednesday, in your pocket. You can get through this! Chemo is already feeling distant to me!

Katzpjays

Alice - you could take some antiseptic wipes (or Purell) and clean your hands before and after using the loaner iPads. BTW-I use weights and bands religiously too. I started about 3 years ago. All the more reason I was surprised when diagnosed with osteoporosis when my MO ordered a Dexa-Scan. Her comment is that it might have been more severe had I not been doing weight bearing exercise. While I'm sure you will need to back off intensity during treatment, hoping you can still work out . Meant to ask...how far do you have to drive for treatment? Hanford?

Sloan15

LTF - Hair! Yay!!!!

MJS1266

Moondust,  The nurses are authorized to access your port for taking blood, techs aren't.  The nurses did the weekly blood draws for chemo.  You put the Emla cream on thick an hour or so before infusion, cover it with syran wrap so it stays and doesn't rub off on clothes.  I wore button down shirts to make it easier for the nurses to access the port.  It hurt like hell the one time I forgot to put the emla cream on and other times it was still not that comfortable, although I seemed to be the exception.  I think I took steroids the day before, they were given day of in IV and then for 3 days tapering off after.  We didn't have ipads at my drs. office/center.  Good luck Wednesday!

I wish I had your metabolism.  Mine is probably screwed up since I was a kid.  I would gain just looking at 2200 calories.  Currently, on Jenny Craig with 1200 calories and working out 5 times a week and have lost 50 lbs, 30 to go.  So I am prone to gain weight.  I ate a lot of hard boiled eggs, low fat cheese sticks, and soup.  Anyway, sounds like you shouldn't worry.

Peggy, I hate moving good luck with sorting and packing.  I have just gone through my storage items from 30 years in the foreign service and donated 500 plus books 5 boxes of clothes and two boxes of household stuff to the Salvation Army, shred 5 boxes of personal data, and organized documents that I need into separate identifiable boxes.  I still need to do another sweep and with all my weight loss need to go through my closet again. 

614, you sound like my niece who is a teacher and is the advisor for student council and leadership something or another.  Her department head is out

LTF, Yeah Hair.