Survivors who had chemo etc and are into Complementary medicine

pip57 what is FEC100? I'll try anything at this time.

Someone asked earlier about gluten free mixes that don't contain potato starch.  Namaste Foods makes a wonderful line of products that are gluten free, potato starch free and free of many other allergens.  I've tried and like their brownies.  Their Perfect Flour Blend already has xanthan gum in it, which is an expensive ingredient if you have to buy it separately. 

It was the Crazy Sexy Cancer girl that inspired the high colonic suggestion from friends.  I guess the theory is that we don't naturally complete evacuate our bowels so pumping water into the entire colon to flush it is supposed to remove the "sludge of toxins" left behind...tehehehee "behind".  Anywho, I don't think I'm brave enough to have something stuck into my butt and have someone massage my stomach.  I was just curious if anyone else considered this crappy ritual.   

I think I'll just wait and cleanse when it's time for my next colonoscopy.

Kira, I'm not sure if potato starch is that bad.  My daughter has a sensitivity to it, but I use it when she's not going to be visiting.  Somebody upthread mentioned having a problem with it though.  

For packaged breads I've found Udi's products to be the best.  I like their breads and their blueberry muffins.  They also have hamburger and hot dog buns now that are supposed to be very good but they're out of stock everywhere and I'm not a big hamburger and hot dog eater so there's only been two times that I would've have used a bun but I just used the bread, which would be sloppy if you were using a lot of toppings. 

just throwing in my cheers for Claire on her amazing bike ride - you go, lady! love it. can't wait to hear the stories.

so many great ideas on this thread.

continuing the chemo-skin connection: i've had skin problems for always: cystic acne in adolescence (thank you, God, for Accutane!) and then rosacea. During chemo, my skin looked like I was getting facials weekly - no exaggeration! I positively glowed. I had my first blemish a few weeks ago and thought, sh#@, I need some Adriamycin again! (sick humor, but you all know what i mean)

Elmcity I was on Accutane 3 times over a ten year period. People don't believe me when I tell them I had really bad acne. Not just on my face but upper arms too.

I have really nice  skin now but I also have Rosacea. Was diagnosed months before my cancer diagnosis. I use Metrogel once a day. No break outs but my nose is just a little red. If you didn't know I had Rocacea you won't even notice it.

Hello tuckertwo,

Just looked up Quercetin thanks to your post, didn't know about it before!

Would your doctors have you on Tamoxifen or an AI when you're ER-?  I thought it was recommended only for + patients?

Vicki, it is my understanding that D3 is better but sometimes doctors will Rx D2 in large doses to help quickly get the D level up. I take 2000 iu of D3.

tuckertwo thanks for the information

someone mention the Namaste Foods they are very good, I have used them.  Also the best way for bread is to make it at home for gluten free.  I do not care for the store bought ones.  I have a bread machine and make my own.  I can set it so it is done when I get home from work.  It does not keep well though.

Caerus-sunflowers-you are welcome LOL.  If you find some of the cookbooks that you really like they will have bread recipes in them, and making from scratch is much cheaper.  The 1,000 gluten free cookbook that I like has recipes.  Most of the recipes that they use call for a Sorgum Flour mixture which they have the mixture in the cookbook.  I order the Sorgum Flour from Authentic Foods.  It is higher in protein so for those on a vegan diet it is a good source of protein.  I notice the difference when I make the pancakes.  They really stick with you for hours and you are not hungry like with regular pancakes.

health food Co-op that sounds intetresting how does it work?

Hi everyone!

Thanks for the good wishes, and yes, I got to Portland.  My friend and I had quite the adventure including indoor camping which I don't recommend.  Tent next time!

Plus, I may invest in a much thicker air mattress than the one I borrowed.  Didn't do a lot on a hard floor with my sore glutes.

GU gel wins over Cliff stuff which they gave out as samples.  That and Accelerade saw me through.  Bloated today from all the electrolytes, but that is the norm, as takes a while for my body to readjust.  Much better than cramping which is no fun at all.

This is my FIFTH Seattle-to-Portland, including the one I did last year.  A real measure of how much stronger I am than a year ago, or even my first one.  I can't believe how much stronger I am as a cyclist now than I was five years ago, prior to my move to Seattle.

On co-ops: there is a major one in Seattle, which is now much like a regular grocery store.  Members get a discount.  If I lived closer, I would belong.  I shop there sometimes, and amazing how far these places have come.

Anyway, time to make a couple of phone calls, now that I am almost coherent.  Feel depleted, and not like moving around that much.  And of course a bit smug.

Thanks again for all the good wishes. - Claire

Claire you are such an inspiration. Congrats.