April chemo warriors on the mend

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Merilee
Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
edited June 2014 in Life After Breast Cancer

Time to start healing our bodies and lives. Cancer takes so much and profoundly changes how we live. This thread is a support group for those recovering from Chemo and other treatments. Lets share  what we are doing to rebuild, and become strong again. The support in the April chemo thread was so very helpful, and my hope is that we can continue moving forward together.

Love to all of you regardless if you decide to join here or not.

Hugs

Merilee

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  • artiecat
    artiecat Member Posts: 257
    edited June 2011

    Gtrat idea Merilee...I will join you at the end of July after my last infusion!!!

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  • trail2
    trail2 Member Posts: 98
    edited June 2011

    Great Idea Merilee,  thanks for keeping us together.  I am almost two weeks out from my last chemo!  I found out today that my exchange surgery will be July 20th.  I am going to try and do everything I can to help my body heal and get stronger each day.  I am back taking all of my vitamins, and still going to see my Reiki practitioner, and will be exercising more.  I know what I want to do,  now the hard part,  actually following through.  LOL  best wishes and Hugs

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  • Sudzinvermont
    Sudzinvermont Member Posts: 70
    edited June 2011

    I've still got 2 to go...one on Tuesday and one 3 weeks later. 

    I'll be here as well as the April thread. I've developed a genuine affection for you ladies!

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited July 2011

    Started back on some supplements for a few weeks before I started Rads in 4 weeks.

    Also enjoying  green tea which feels like it is just coursing through my veins thanking me LOL

    I am sure it is my imagination but sure seems good to be back at some of my usual wellness  routines that were put on hold for fear of interfering with the chemo.

    Still eating everything in sight, I think my body is just saying " Please feed and water me !"

    I walked for over an hour on Wed but I must tell you by the end , my legs felt like cement LOL

    Lots of rebuilding to do, but one day at a time I guess.

    Her is an affirmation that I am chanting " I am safe, I am loved, I am healed."

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  • sarahlou1967
    sarahlou1967 Member Posts: 153
    edited July 2011

    Hi everybody,

    Great post Merilee, I've still got 2 more to go, next week got my 5th chemo yay. So cant wait to finish the chemo then 6 weeks later I get to have my mx.

    Merilee - My affirmation is "I approve and love myself " got mine from the Louise Haye book 'You can heal yourself' highly recommended read.

    Love and light to all 

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited July 2011

    Such a strange thing to find your post this morning. I checked out the movie from the library yesterday and have watched the first CD last night before going to bed. I also highly recommend it!

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited July 2011

    http://www.ingham.org/pk/HI/hisplashpics.htm

    Just spend a wonderful day at the park with family. So nice to feel good enough to get out and have some fun.

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited July 2011

    Had a good visit with my naturapath on Friday. I love her. She gave me some ideas on how to exercise the brain to hurry along the brain fog lift. Once rads are done she is going to put me on VIt c infusions.  She has given me B12 complex in liquid form for under my tongue to help with energy, RXstrength multi vitamin, magnesium, calcium, silica, 10000 units of vit d. All of which has been approved by the rads team.

    My Onc told me that at about 9 months out I will feel about 80% like my old self again. This grim news sent me directly to the naturapath. I WANT TO FEEL LIKE MY OLD SELF NOW!

    Natuapath also questions the one size dose of Aremidex fits all concept. She said that there is evidence that smaller doses work just effectively and advised me to do a quarter tablet twice a week to start. My onc would have a cow if she knew that I am sure . I don't start the Arimedex until after rads.

    At the onc office I said to the onc nurse I thought the chemo did not cross the blood brain barrier? The nurse tried to tell me that it was all fatigue and that slows down the brain. I say bullshit to that. I felt like there was a vibrator going off in my brain for about 14 weeks,

    Onc office was not concerned that I all ready have osteopienia. Naturapath  is very concerned about that and has a non estrogen treatment planed for me if we see any changes in my bone density scans which the onc never ordered or looked at, just the naturapath.

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  • trail2
    trail2 Member Posts: 98
    edited July 2011

    Hi Ladies,  merilee I am glad you are feeling good.  I have been feeling great and have actually been back to work .  I am  a basketball referee, and am actually working at an AAU tournament this week.  I am so glad to be able to be back out  doing what I love.  I knew that TC sometimes affected fingernails, but thought mine were looking fine, then this week started noticing that the white area at the end of my nails is starting to move down lowerd the middle of my nails on several fingers.  I'm hoping they dont lift off completely.  Anyone else having this happen? 

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited July 2011

    Whoo hoo I actually found the gumption to work out 20 minutes this morning.

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  • sweetcorn
    sweetcorn Member Posts: 188
    edited July 2011

    I had my last chemo on Wednesday, hey 2 days PFC! I haven't had time to walk in the last couple of days, but just got back from a quick walk. I have walked all the way throughout chemo but need to get back to the weights some.  I also started taking supplements that were recommended on the Alternative Treatments board, Omega 3 and a good multivitamin.

    I have an appt. on July 27 to get the rads scheduled.  It's been a long year!! Congrats to all who are finishing or will finish soon.  To the others, we are with ya all the way....

     Jane

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited July 2011

    Yahoo Jane, you made it!

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited July 2011

    Is anyone besides me obsessed with checking their peach fuzz on their head with a magnamirror?

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  • trail2
    trail2 Member Posts: 98
    edited July 2011

    Hi Merilee,   I cant decide if my peach fuzz is blonde or white!!!  I am hoping for blonde, but it is looking more white each day.  I look and feel all the time.  :)

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  • sweetcorn
    sweetcorn Member Posts: 188
    edited July 2011

    I don't have any peach fuzz yet.  I did  shave my legs again this morning, a week after the last time.  Can peach fuzz be far behind?

    Jane

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  • sweetjolieblon
    sweetjolieblon Member Posts: 43
    edited July 2011

    What a great idea! I'm in!! I have my last chemo 27th July and my exchange scheduled for 30th August.  Hooah and Woot!!! 

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited July 2011

    My friend who finished chemo a week before I did told me she had visible fuzz at 4 weeks. We made a lunch date for tomorrow and I told her I better at least have peach fuzz by then or I would serve her knuckle sandwiches. Well. Wed will be 4 weeks for me and I have visible fuzz. I guess she can have a good meal LOL

    I keep rubbing my head and saying thank you hair thank you hair LOL I think I have gone off the deep end. I did not mind loosing my hair but I sure have missed it.

    SJB- almost there  woo hoo!

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  • sweetcorn
    sweetcorn Member Posts: 188
    edited July 2011

    Merilee, You mean I have to wait four weeks for even the peach fuzz to show?  Impatient, I am!

    Jane

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited August 2011

    Used shampoo for the first time in months. Felt so go to have a hint of normalcy.

    Also started a yoga class, which I love. I am slowly coming back to life!

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  • sweetcorn
    sweetcorn Member Posts: 188
    edited August 2011

    I actually have some fuzz now at almost 3 wks. PFC.  I have been using Nioxin cleanser, conditioner, and scalp treatment for the last couple of months or so.  Maybe that has helped it along it little bit.

    Jane

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  • trail2
    trail2 Member Posts: 98
    edited August 2011

    Hi Ladies,  I haven't been on much lately.  Ever since my exchange surgery, I have been having a bad time with depression and no desire to do much of anything.  Even getting online seems difficult at times.  I talked to my plastic surgeon about it at my post op check up, and he said that after surgery that is normal.  I had started on effexor during last chemo, so that has been in long enough to help,  I wonder if starting Tamoxifen then having to stop for surgery then starting back has caused this......  On top of that, my eyebrows decided to fall out .  I am almost 7 weeks since my last chemo.  My hair is about  3/4 inch long in some places and at least 1/4 inch everywhere.  I hope you all are fairing well.  I have taken pics that I could put on the picture forum, but I haven't had enough mental energy to follow through.  But maybe soon I will get that done.  Hope you all have a good week.   Lynne

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited August 2011

    I just realized ithas been a week since I have taken any Naproxen.

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  • sarahlou1967
    sarahlou1967 Member Posts: 153
    edited August 2011

    I've got peach fuzz well white hair fuzz mainly but at least its there and its growing YAY. Finished my last chemo over a week ago still got SE mainly hands and feet no feeling in them or all pins and needles feelings. Taking some supps. that I wanted to take for a long time and looking forward to next week when I should start feeling better, then no more chemo at least for now and until after my surgery. Thank god no more steroids either, they made me really ill. 

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited August 2011

    Sarah

    So nice to start feeling better right? I remember the first cup of green tea I had after chemo, I swear I could feel it coursing through my viens screaming Yippy, healthy stuff LOL

    and, fuzz feels so good!

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited August 2011

    10 rads done and so far so good. Still working on building energy, but started a yoga class and that is helping with strength and balance as well.

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited August 2011

    Anyone working out?

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  • Claire_in_Seattle
    Claire_in_Seattle Member Posts: 4,570
    edited August 2011

    Good morning ladies.....

    Trying to say something helpful as about a year ahead of you on this journey.

    1. Don't panic when your eyebrows fall out a few weeks post chemo.  Its the new growth behind pushing everything out.  When this happens, look for your tweezers because you will most likely be needing them in a week.
    2. Try to exercise and rebuild.  It will make you feel ever so much better.  Endorphins are a natural "feel good" remedy.  Also, critical to your long term health.
    3. That said.....and I can say this because I exercised every day during chemo and radiation....it takes a while for your body to recover.  It took me a full year to get my "edge" back.  However, I was doing endurance cycling events and heavy-duty x-country skiing.  But wasn't 100%....more like 95%.
    4. I found it took about six months to get complete cardio function back.  I could suddenly go a lot faster cycling and didn't struggle on hills.  Just didn't have the lung capacity.  I cycled anyway.  Was easier to lift my 10 lb free weights too.
    5. I was excited to have micro-locks and colored as soon as I could.  Made a difference, and I rocked uber short last summer.  Then a long in-between period.  I invested in a good haircut, but still wasn't a fun time.  Then all of a sudden I looked like myself once again.  This was about at the one year point.
    6. If you are through chemo, the worst really is behind you.
    7. It took me about four months after chemo to rebuild my energy reserves.  Until then, I kept energy bars (Larabars) with me.  Particularly needed when I was cycling, but important for just walking around too.
    8. WALKING is the best exercise if starting out.  Free, gets you out of the house, and just so good for you.  You can work up to longer distances, and go in the morning if hot out.

    Hope these have helped.  Looking back, I should have been more patient with myself, but I will always be a Type A. - Claire

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited August 2011

    Thanks clair

    Micro Locks lol, Yup got em

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited September 2011

    Last of my radiation boosts this morning. Starting the Master Gardener's class directly after as a thank you gift to my self for living through all this treatment, FWEW!

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited September 2011

    Bump for newbies

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