Starting Chemo March 2015

Jackbirdie

I just thought of something else, MsMath- if you have a tub, a soak with Epsom salts will help heal locally, and I've heard tell the magnesium does a bang up job of loosening things up.

Trvler

Haha. Not for me, Katy. lol.

Jackbirdie

oh dear. I take it you have a tub. Therefore you are saying Epsom salts doesn't loosen things up. I never realized, SERIOUSLY, how one species, usthat is, respond so individually to everything. It must drive doctors crazy. It makes me nervous, as one never knows if anything we are doing is the correct thing.

So then I throw everything at a problem. If it works, I don't know which thing, or which combination of things, actually worked. Arrrggghhhh.

Trvler

It pretty much would take dynamite to loosen me up. Although Linzess works for me.

Jackbirdie

THAR SHE BLOWS!!!!!!!⚓️⚓️⚓️⚓️⚓️💩💩💩💩💩💨💨💨💨💨💨💨💨💨💨.

Msmath

Thanks for the advise. I have gone to the store and picked up some Epsom salts and Preparation H along with a stool softener. I am going at this full force and hope something works. I have been a bit stopped up and very irregular the last few weeks. My husband keeps trying to get me to eat all the things that help him stay regular. Not a lot is working he says I am just not normal. I answered you're just now figuring that out after 20 years of marriage.

Trvler

Msmath: I don't know if you have an ongoing problem with this. I have had it all my life. I finally was so miserable before a trip overseas last year that I went to a gastroenterologist. He gave me a once a day prescription pill called Linzess. I had issues with it at first and I finally settled on one dose of Miralax a day with it (which the doctor told me to do. He said you can take Miralax up to 4 times a day because it isn't like a regular laxative that tears up your colon. Stool softeners never did the trick for me. And Miralax alone didn't do it. Linzess is a once a day (on an empty stomach) pill that you take in the am. I stopped taking it when I got cancer because another med I was taking for my heart was doing the trick.

Italychick

MsMath, tried and true for me is to take a significant amount of magnesium. I had zero constipation during chemo. But I understand what works for one doesn't work for another. Basically, I would pop a magnesium, then another, then another, until sh*t happened lol. If you try that approach, wait about 45 minutes between doses because that's about the timeframe it took to kick in for me.

Oh, and if it does work for you, be close to a bathroom, like 45 seconds close. The good thing about it is the effect wears off quickly, so if you do overdose yourself, it's like a couple of bathroom trips, and then the body regulates.

Magnesium and coconut oil have been my magical cures for everything.

Trvler

I didn't know you could take a lot of magnesium. I always worry about megadosing on stuff. How much is the most you have taken at once?

Italychick

I've taken up to 1,000 milligrams, or 1 gram when I needed to, especially when traveling and getting constipated. Right now I am taking 600-700 mg. per day to help counter chemo effects. I've never had an issue taking it orally. It's a mineral, so I think whatever your body doesn't use it excretes. So many things deplete magnesium in our bodies that, for me, I never worry when I take it.

shaz101

I'm lmao right now. I was mixing the posts between cream for rads and cream for hemorrhoids!!!

I'm about to start week 6 (boosts) and I've become quite red over the past couple of treatments but I'm not overly sore. I use sorbolene and also calendula cream. I think the trick is to apply it regularly

jumbledbamboo

Epsom salts have worked for me. So has a cup of joe

I have also used the probiotics regularly the tablet form that you chew. Seem to help. I hate not going it is miserable for me and I get very grumpy. I hope you find relief!

As far as the hemorrhoids go I had thought I was bleeding internally. got all worked upp over nothing. I just use the witch hazel and cotton balls on my bum and have some monistat cream that helps.

shaz101

Katy. ..I'm glad you washed your hands. I almost spat my coffee out when I read that!

shaz101

Thanks everyone for the nice comments about my fluff. I keep checking the mirror now to see how much it's grown. ☺

SueH58

Whitney, I can't tell you how much I've been enjoying your blog. SOOO many of your thoughts describe exactly what I'm feeling. It's helping me to know that others (unfortunately, you) feel the same way. Despite the fact I'm 30 years older, I'm going through the same emotions. I thought having cancer was supposed to make you appreciate life more each day and waking up feeling glad you were alive. It's not been like that for me--yet. Thank you for sharing your thoughts in such detail. They are helpful to my (and I'm sure others') healing. You are a very special girl, and there's no doubt in my mind a very special man will find you soon and know what a prize you are!!!

ksusan

Eating coconut oil can be helpful as well (bonus: internal lubrication). Not recommending it, but you might ask your MO about trying the OTC magnesium citrate drink that some use as part of their colonoscopy prep.

Of course, there's always Colon Blow.

Jackbirdie

oh, I'll take the Super, please!

shaz101

my eyelids are still really swollen. Any tips to get them to deflate?

eheinrich

I noticed recently that my left eye has stopped twitching! Yay small victories!

ninjamary

Question - I just came back from my MO visit. We are going to wait on the neuropathy, swelling (I'm taking Lasix so it's under control) and stiff muscle pain as it seems to be getting better day by day. I was informed that I only get a mammogram once a year. Is this correct? Seems like I should be getting at least 2 a year. I don't go back for my mammogram until Jan (when I was diagnosed) I'm just wondering if this is the norm.

molly1976

I've been told I'll have mammograms twice a year for the first 2-3 years and then go to once a year.

Google has ruined my life today because this page says that trazodone, the drug I have been taking for insomnia for 4+ years, interferes with tamoxifen. Waahhh! I emailed my MO but I'm pretty sure even if he says it's OK to keep taking I will feel like I should stop.

http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/hormonal/serms/tamoxifen

ksusan

My eyes have stopped twitching (mostly) since I increased my magnesium. Took it about two weeks to catch up. Still using an OTC lubricating eye drop since Taxotere, and still aiming for at least 64 oz. of fluid a day.

slothabouttown

Molly, I was shocked when I started looking into all the interactions and contraindications with tamoxifen. My MO said nothing about any of it and the side of the prescription bottle just said don't touch pregnant women and notify your doctor if you take any supplements. That's what got me googling.

I read in several places that melatonin may increase the effectiveness of tamoxifen, and that can help with sleep, but probably will fall short of the effects you were getting from the trazadone. It's all very confusing. I also read that it's beneficial to eat one Brazil nut daily but never to eat two in one day. Who is doing this research on where we draw the line with Brazil nuts????

SueH58

I have learned so much from my niece, who majored in Health and Wellness promotion and practices that lifestyle every day. Take a look at this article about gelatin, and a recipe for homemade fruit snacks. I'm going to make some today. It looks like this may help me sleep, relieve joint pain (especially once I start on an AI) and add healthy protein to my diet.

http://www.thankyourbody.com/benefits-of-gelatin/

http://wholegreenlove.com/2014/12/02/homemade-beet... (from my niece's blog)

molly1976

Your bottle says we aren't supposed to touch pregnant women??? I just hugged my pregnant friend last week!

Jackbirdie

I'm taking the next bus to Crazytown. One Brazil nut. Not two. I can just imagine that in a clinical trial.

My bottle says not to take if you are pregnant or suspect you are. Maybe they think it's would be contagious to hug a pregnant friend?

I looked up the interactions too, because of something I picked up on another thread. I asked my shrink, and he was familiar with the psych drug interactions and prepared to deal. My MO said nothing. This may be because he has the list of my current medications in front if him when we talk, but still, another doctor might not realize the consequences and prescribe a conflicting medication. I should have been warned AT LEAST that there are some drugs to avoid and check with him before I added anything. Arrrggggghhhh

ksusan

Brazil nuts contain selenium. I'd assume that "never eat more than 2 a day" is about selenium levels, but doesn't seem scientifically backed up (by Brazil nut trials per se) from what I can see. People eat more than 2 if they're eating them. What does seem to be supported is Selinium may be useful for us. Don't get too much. Over 2 Brazil nuts a day (or other sources high in selenium, including supplements) taken regularly could result in excess selenium, which is a problem. Here's a useful NIH sheet: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Selenium-HealthP...

Pregnant people (other than the patient) are not listed on the Tamoxifen package insert.I assume the concern is that the person taking Tamoxifen might excrete enough estrogen-blocking chemical to affect a pregnant person. On a quick search, I don't find support for this. I see one message board where this is mentioned "because of the hormones" with no evidence, which seems, at best, poorly described and not supported.

Jackbirdie

Ksusan- thanks for bringing some needed clarity. Amazing list of foods there. Selenium seems to be found in the foods most of us eat daily. Then here is a little Brazil nut, 10 times higher in selenium than the next food down on the list.

My advice would have been if you are eating a normal diet, avoid Brazil nuts. They would easily push you over the top. Oh well, my morning crisis is over now. Thank you.

wpmoon

Thanks, Sue!

Ugh, all this crap makes me nervous about starting Tamoxifen!

I'm only supposed to get yearly mammograms. Gonna discuss the pros/cons to getting a CT scan just for peace of mind with my MO tomorrow. Both he and my RO say it's not necessary in my case, but I've had enough trips to crazy town in the last few months.

ksusan

Here's more than you want to know about Tamoxifen, including study data: http://www.iodine.com/drug/nolvadex/fda-package-in...

To put it in perspective, here's a look at the side effects of the ubiquitous compound dihydrogen monoxide*: http://www.dhmo.org/facts.html

*or as we know it, "water."