Class of 2009 - Sisters in the same time frame

I think the ban on deodarant has to do with the aluminum in it.  You might ask if it's alright to use aluminum-free deodorant (like Tom's of Maine brand)... but of course ask the technicians first.

Lilah

I think i will avoid it anyhow.  I am normally not a stinky person...so no big deal...At least it is the winter right now and not so hot and sticky out. Thanks ladies.

Renee: Oh yeah only get the kind of Cornstarch that you cook with in the baking section.

Wow. You know, I had no idea there was any other kind! LOL! 

Hi Sisters, I am sitting here contemplating the barage of medicines, vitamins and supplements at my disposal and wondering how important taking them at certain times of day or with/without food, absorption rates, should one go hand in hand with another?

Before BC all I ever took was a couple of Advil for cramps....don't have those anymore. During treatment I had to take all sorts of anti-emetics, heart meds etc.....don't do that anymore. But now I'm on Tamoxefin, I take about 6000IU's of D-3, a fish oil pill, a multi-vitamin with minerals and 325mg aspirin. Do you all know if it's OK to just wash them all down at once, or is there a better process to get the most from each thing. Thanks in advance, Mary

Oh, yeah, be very careful about grapefruit, whether the fruit or the juice, when taking some medicines.

What happens is that in some cases it increases the efficacy of the medication, and you can end up with a increased amount of the medication in the bloodstream. It's a metabolic interaction. It affects the enzymes in your gut that helps break down meds. (And because of that, it can also cause too little of the medication to be in the bloodstream, and you are not getting the appropriate benefit.)

This is especially important if you're taking certain heart or high blood pressure medicines. They used to say as long as you waited about 2 hours after ingesting the grapefruit/grapefruit juice that it would not be a problem, but they found that really isn't true either. Sometimes the effect can last up to 72 hours.

This is true not only with prescription medications, but with supplements, too, such as herbals and vitamins.

Your pharmacist is the person to ask regarding which of your medications can be disrupted with grapefruit juice, and he/she can also tell you if the result is too much of the medication in the bloodstream or too little. He/she will also have a backup medication that will accomplish that same thing if, for whatever reason, you're just not willing to forego grapefruit.

Hello Hello I have a question ladies, I'm sure I am being a spazz! BUT I just recently finished up my chemo YAY ME! I've started a clinical trial and getting ready to start rads. I have had pretty bad leg and hip pain throughout chemo, they stopped giving me the nuelasta shot several weeks ago but the pain is still there. It sometimes makes for a very misreable night to try and sleep and going up stairs is quite painful.  Could this possible be a sign of met, I don't want to go running to my Onc with every pain but it's starting to worry me. Anyone here have any words of wisdom for my legs

Tiffaany, why not run to your Onc that is what they get paid crazy amounts of money for..can never be to safe. Make him work for his speed boat.   oh by the way welcome..

Hello Ladies,

Sorry that I haven't posted lately too much going on in my life.  I did read Mary with all that you are going through and I'm on the same page.  Thought I was going to have chemo and then MX.  Go to appointment and they say my immunologist says I can't have it too serious for my overall health problems.  So the surgeon says I'm booked up til March, and this is the only one all the doctors feel can deal with my problem, along with BC.  The surgeon is the Ice Princess.  But feel I have to deal with it. So I wait.  Tomorrow a complete body scan with radioisotopes or what ever.  They are also doing a bone marrow test in my hip.  GP is worried about swelling in my neck, and arm, surgeon says not cancer, three other doctors says it is.  I want to do nothing at this point and am told that isn't a choice.  The surgeon told me six weeks of rads everyday.  I said, are you kidding!  She said no.  I said tell me that after the MX and all the test on my breast after they remove it.   Doctors said I have to have in-home help, I don't want it and my autistic child is going to have such serious complications with all these people coming and going.  I want control of my life and the cancer.  I don't want all the bs.  Guess I'm selfish or maybe living in a slow paced world.  Then get home from doctors on Friday to have more messages from doctors have they changed plans because of blood test?  I drove over 1200 miles going back and forth to appointments this week.  I want a trip to Paris,  just walk the streets, take in museums, take a train to the south reflect and forget about BC. 

Well said Pam.  It is one of these things in life we don't like and don't want to deal with it but we have to.  "Normal" may be different than Pre BC but if we understand our new limitiations we can begin adding back in things we enjoy and like and hopefully our energy levels will be begin to return, maybe not where they were but now we pick and choose which ones WE HAVE TO DO AND WHICH ONES WE WANT TO DO.

Way to go Sherri!!!!!!!! It has been interesting to really pay attention to the little victories as my strength has come back over the past few months.

Sherri, WHAHOO you are done...justa  few crappy days then it is all smooth sailing...

Sherri ~ congratulations YOU did it !!! woo HOO

I had my last one today too ~

Jen ~ sorry about your arm.....  geez. 

Yippie for Sherri and Alicia, what an accomplishment.  I know how good it feels  to finally say,  I am finished.  Just a couple of days of yuck and then you can move on.

Jen, hoping all this gets your arm under control.  Bless your heart, no one deserves this. 

Pam, you are an inspiration, I am waiting to get to my new normal and I only have a few weeks to go before rads are finished and I can start healing.  Thanks for all your inspiration and encouragement.

Good night to all you wonderful ladies.

Juannelle