CALLING ALL STAGE I SISTERS

Why is is so many are Vitamin D deficient?  Winter hibernation?  Sunscreens in summer?  I haven't even had mine tested yet, but want to.  I was at GYN doc, and he does annual bloodwork as well, but he said they don't check for Vit. D.  Will have to ask primary care doc (or one of the many others, I guess.)  Which docs are testing you for Vit. D levels?

I take chewable Caltrate + D, but what is the difference between that and D3?  I like B-12 for the extra energy too.

I was amazed that I was vit d deficient.  Although I live in the northeast, I walk outside year round about 3 miles a day.  I am also very active with my boys outdoors, year round.  I eat salmon a couple times a week, drink milk, eat yogurt, etc.  I also take calcium with d and a multi with d in it.  Doesn't make sense, but i'm glad we found it.  My primary did the routine blood work at my phsical a few weeks ago.

I have read a lot about vit d in the past few weeks and it seems that a lot of BC patients are deficient in it.  Have yours checked out!

I think D2 is plant based and is not very effective for people.  D3 is much better.  Google it and you will see tons of info.

Elimar - I had my vita D tested by my oncologist - at my request.

It was 23, now 55.

Any doctor can test for it.

I think a lot of people are deficient, but it does really seem like a lot of BC patients are deficient.

Sheila, you are so informative!!!

What is D3? I think my prescription is Vit D... what is the 3????

G'Mornin' gals!

Good morning!!!

Oooh carolinachick, that sounds yummy!  I will have to check that out.  Where do you get them?

I see they also have carmel flavor.  That sounds yummy too.

For VegasDiva:  I had Cytoxan and Taxotere for my chemo (which was 4 treatments, 3 weeks apart). Never had any vomiting or nausea because they gave me pills before treatment and pills to take after I got home for 3 days.  That was a fear of mine, too.  I simply HATE vomiting.  I had an allergic reaction to the Cytoxan at my 3rd treatment and had to take Prednisone for a week, which delayed my final session. All in all, the chemo itself wasn't too bad--the main side effects were hair loss, major fatigue, and itching. I won't lie--the hair loss was very upsetting to me. My last treatment was Aug 27 and I still only have about 1 inch of hair so I'm wearing a wig to work. Boo. Hope to have my reconstruction in the spring--I'm going to do implants. In the meantime, I'm wearing breast forms Mon-Fri (no boobs on the weekends). They look ok, but are heavy and itchy. 

On the positive side, my energy is returning.  I did a major cleaning job this weekend--top to bottom, plus laundry, decorating, and grocery shopping.  My chemo brain is starting to resolve and I'm not so forgetful and/or tongue tied, which is nice.  I now have full range of motion of my right arm (where they took out the lymph nodes), and they removed my chemo port a couple of weeks ago--the scar isn't too bad.

Most of my Christmas shopping is done. May go out one night this week.  Planning to bake cookies next weekend.  Looking forward to the holidays.  It's cold and snowy in Upstate NY!

You can also get Viactiv at Costco.  I haven't tried the caramel flavor, but I'm betting it's yummy too!

VegasDiva - I also had Cytoxan and Taxotere, four rounds each three weeks apart.  I had a little nausea, but never vomited.  The Emend drug is wonderful!  Just keep on top of the medications they give you.  I put all of my drugs in a bowl on my kitchen counter with a note indicating when to take each of them.

Susu - Congrats on your energy returning.  I finished chemo back in April, but still have days that I feel tired, along with a little lingering chemo-brain.  At least that's what I'm hoping it is...I'm only 45 and sometimes feel so scatterbrained, especially when I'm searching for a word.  Thank goodness it doesn't seem to have affected my number-crunching ability since I'm a bean counter by profession!