Starting Chemo March 2015

Jackbirdie

just got home. Found this in my driveway:

Italychick

Yes Eileen, I agree with what you are saying. That's why I put all kinds of disclaimers in my supplement comments lol. I did measure with insulin resistance (slightly elevated) which is why I added Berberine into my supplements. And my mom is a diabetic type 2. It is very hard to figure out what each individual needs, and hubby and I have spent a significant amount of time researching and discussing what I should or shouldn't take. My integrative physician told me I definitely need to be on Berberine. I considered Metformin, but I crapped myself enough during chemo without adding it to the mix haha.

Meme117

Nice Katy did u get a pig of gold too

Jackbirdie

Meme- No, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night! Baahaha..

For all HRT (Her Royal Tuttiness) supporters, she is doing great today, with apparently no discomfort. And greatly relieved there was no need for a cone. She is not shy and kind of think girls with scars ROCK IT. So she asked me to share this with her bco sistas.

eheinrich

I love Tutti's attitude on scars!

I am heading back to PS tomorrow. Boobs are red again and have been really hurting. I would've continued my dog walk today with a second lap around the lake but all the arm swinging - not on purpose, just reg from walking made my TE side hurt a lot so we went home. I'm not good at recon.

Jackbirdie

E- enough is enough! Do you have someone with a sword going with you ??? I know you can fight your own battles but you must be soooo worn down!

eheinrich

You know I'm doing ok. I'm glad they are going to look at it. Especially since next week I'm supposed to get my first fill. Don't want to go in then and have them say - yikes! we can't fill that! Been feeling worn down by other life things. I need to put on my big girl panties.....

jumbledbamboo

well crappers. My lymphedema is on the right.. Of course it flared after a week of no therapy and surgery. But this morning I wake up and my arm pit is sore and swollen on the left side! Great. I did have lymphedema therapy today and she said not to panic yet ~ ugh

ksusan

Tutti looks well. I like to think we've all learned not to gnaw our sutures.

jumbledbamboo

I heard that in a Dr evil voice!

slothabouttown

Put the lotion in the basket!

ksusan

shaz101

katy. Are you doing OK? You're sounding a bit flat and frustrated! Tutti is an inspiration

Eileen, I'm so sorry you're in pain. I hope they get it sorted. Again!!!

Well I've made it to the end of day 4 at work. 1 more to go. I feel so pathetic. I think the RA is causing most of the exhaustion. Ill be proud of myself when I've got through this week though.

slothabouttown

Theresa I must have confused my threads, they do a lot of supplement talk on the tamoxifen thread too. Anyway somewhere along the line I read about vitamin d drops being more readily absorbed than capsules so that's what I ordered. I'm interested in your regimen, I think ill add magnesium into the mix next, my collection is growing! I just ordered a more robust fish oil, and the vitamin d , already taking melatonin and curcumin. Things are getting complicated in my medicine cabinet!

Italychick

don't forget to take K2 to supplement the D3. They work synergistically together.

Another one I take is coq10 in the form of Ubiquinol, great for the heart and other things.

We gave up a kitchen cabinet to supplements.

What I did was registered with one of those online food tracking things and I entered all my food intake for two weeks, and then looked at what it told me I got vitamin and mineral wise out of my diet, and supplemented accordingly. That's how I figured out I could never get enough magnesium from my diet. But I don't eat grains, pasta, bread, but I do eat some beans and nuts. So that's why my magnesium intake is low.

Basically, for the most part, if a food is processed, I don't eat it and I stick to protein, vegetables, and limited fruit. I mean, I eat butter and drink coffee, so those are "processed foods", but I embrace the theory that if a food has more than a few ingredients, I am getting not so good things in my diet. I did fall off the wagon during chemo, but am now back on track with my normal eating routine. Had to have my cookies during chemo!

I have noticed that if I eat a processed product with sugar or high carbs, I get tingles in my legs, showing to me that processed foods stimulate a neuropathy response in me. I only eat organic, free range meat and organic vegetables and fruit. My one exception is so delicious no sugar added coconut ice cream. A girl has to have some kind of treat

Jackbirdie

T- is K2 taken in % relationship to D3?

I.e. How much K2 and can you suggest a brand?

My doc put me on 5,000 iu but not the drops. I'm going to try it and see.

One interesting note. At my MO appt yesterday she confirmed that there is a link to low D at time of dx for bc having higher recurrence rates. BUT. She also said too high was correlated with even higher recurrence rates. So she said aim for the middle, too much nit good. Have you run across that info?

Jackbirdie

Sharon- I hope by the time you read this you are through your first week. Congratulations to you for making it. I don't feel flat but I probably appear so in comparison to a fairly manic mood the last couple of weeks.. Due to sleep problems which are a serious precursor to dangerous mania for me, I had to shoot myself with an elephant gun 3 days running.

Now we are having lovely, drenching, rain, and I'm thinking of staying in my jammies all day and reading and cooking and perhaps marinating some lamb in Indian spices as my first experiment in cooking Indian not out of a jar. Don't worry.

Hugs to all my March girls.

pboi

I'm adding magnesium too. Any optimum time to take it? I'm leaning towards taking it at bedtime as I heard it might help with sleep.

Sloth...do you have a recommendation of brand/dose of melatonin? Are you taking it because of insomnia or because you are on Tamoxifen? I'm thinking of trying it for insomnia.

PB

Leighrh

Anyone have a natural remedy beside drinking lots of lemon water... for swelling? I have swelling in my legs/ankles/feet! I thought maybe it would go away and it hasn't. Called MO and of course his lovely nurse called me back and said.... Yeah, that happens sometimes, it takes a long time to go away, why don't you try elevating your feet.............. THIS IS GREAT FUCKING ADVICE!!!! I would have never thought to lay around all day with my feet elevated!!!! Thank GOD for such wisdom!!!!!!! Nevermind that I work all day, nevermind that I have shit to do!!!!! I am soooo glad I called!

Can you tell I am a little aggravated??

pboi

Sorry Leigh to hear about your legs/feet swelling. Don't have any natural remedies to suggest. Limiting your salt intake might help. Not sure if your job involves a lot of sitting, if so getting up and walking a little every now and then will hopefully help alleviate the fluid buildup in your legs/feet.

Hope it goes away soon!

PB

Trvler

I was thinking the same thing about the salt. I am not sure about other ways.

I hate when they give those kind of answers. ARe you able to do any exercise to sweat? Not sure if that would help or not.

Leighrh

I am able to exercise... only because I push through with ankles the size of watermelons... LOL It sucks and it hurts, my legs just feel so tight but I still do it! Some days are better than others.. I am not sure why. Today they do not seem as swollen as yesterday. Trying to drink as much water with lemon as possible!

eheinrich

Back from PS office. Nothing wrong except that my body appears to be "very reactive" after being messed with in terms of inflammation. I had a reaction to the adm, the scar cream, and now just generalized inflammation. She said I also need to stretch and massage more.

I'm really glad for the reassurance. The redness, tightness and hardness where scaring me. Esp with my first fill coming up next week. She also said that weeks 3&4 tend to be worse in terms of pain for a lot of people, I didn't ask why.

Jackbirdie

Leigh- so sorry about watermelon ankles! I had a lot of edema for weeks after last chemo. Shoes didn't fit, I could see it around my knees. I did what you are doing. It got better. The whole topic of inflammation has thus intrigued me and I'm researching what changes ( probably skipping the ice cream dammit!) I can make to generally reduce tissue inflammation. I have truncal LE also, which keeps the issue forefront in my mind.

E- glad you are home. Interesting (but not so reassuring) about inflammation you are dealing with, thoughfor different reasons. I think the following meme expresses my feelings best:

Carrie37

Maureen, please listen to your doctor and your body before returning to work. Work is so stressful even if you have a job you love. And especial if you're having memory problems. If you can afford to be off then do yourself and your loved ones a favor and stay home. I hope that doesn't sound too harsh. I am four weeks post BMX and one co worker texted to see how I'm feeling and when I might be back. I am not in any hurry to go back to my job. I'm grateful that my recovery has been mostly unremarkable and I am healing quickly. I appreciate all of the support I have at home. I am scared to push myself but I know I need to get moving too since I can't be off work forever.

Jackbirdie

Daily Tutti update:

Doing well, acting like a kitty at night and this during the day. I made Chemo Quilt available to her for recuperation due to its inherent superpowers.

Pp

eheinrich

Leigh I hope you get some relief soon!

Katy I need that cup!

ninjamary

Leigh - I've been there! It's the worst. Call that damn MO back and demand diuretics. I forget which one I got, but it worked wonders. I stopped taking it after two days and lo and behold the swelling came back. I did the whole lemon thing till I was puckered in the face. It was so bad I could only wear flip flops. I still have problems walking in the morning or after I've been sitting for 30 or more minutes. Luckily my MO is allowing me to go to physical therapy. I just need to dial the number and make an appointment. I need it, but I'm so sick of doctors, hospitals and everything breast cancer.

Regarding Vitamin D. I've been on it for years (prescription strength every two weeks) Of course, I was lazy, maybe took it once a month or forgot for months on end. Now I'm back on track. I've read too many articles about breast cancer and low Vitamin D levels. I truly believe there is a relationship between the two with some women. Just my opinion.

Jackbirdie

E- haha- thought you would smile. That is good. I'm looking for a source. I especially like fuckety fuck.

KBeee

Leigh, I second the advice to call back and demand a diuretic. If nurse says no, then before she hangs up say "then I will call my family doctor so I can have someone who will address it." Then hang up. Then call your family doctor, go see him/her, and ask to have a diuretic. The nurse's response is not acceptable.