Motivation

I think I see my Onc in Oct - can't remember. The PA Tony is the one who wants me on Tam. - my Onc doesn't really care one way or another, not that he isn't caring but he is big on quality of life vs.quantity. My mom made it the whole 5 years but she was 67 and through menopause - she didn't really notice any SE's but that is all the tx she had to do - that and a BMX. It is just such a sucky drug to be on and it turns me into a raving Witch with a capital B!!! You know what is weird - the only test I ever passed with flying colors was my dexascan- they said I had the bone density of a teenager and I was never a milk drinker - except when I was pg - and I've had some bad habits over the years -

Welcome Ellie. You're in a great place.

Ainm, I never think of it as liking it at the time, but, do find I miss the feeling when I'm not doing it.  Kind of odd.  DH and I often do it together as our together time which helps.  I can always tell when I'm crabby because he'll look up and say "yoga day for you?" With this hopeful expression on his face. I've been told I don't realize how much it does for my mood. 

Weight bearing exercise guys, don't forget walking running etc isn't enough, you need to make sure to get overhead weight bearing in to keep upper extremity and upper vertebral bone density (especially the upper vetebral, loss of bone density and bone height there is what leads to the "widows hump" that curved neck head forward look)

Anim, keep trying. !!!

Back from the Yoga retreat where I saw Joy! It was nice, Yoga 2x a day, and swimming in the ocean. Now back to reality! I think I gained a pound a day (will power out the window when not in my typical environment!) so I have to get back to a good healthy diet and exercise!! 

Joy was great. She is the most awesome ice cream arranger EVER. he he he. 

Deanna - he is just that kind of a Dr. - he knows how much chronic pain I have. When I got the 15cm cyst on my ovary from tamoxifen that kind of clinched it for me - Sometimes I think instant menopause was hard enough - My mom did take tamoxifen the whole 5 years religiously and she never had a recurrence in 17 years but she was 67 when she got dxed. The worst thing about T for me is it seems like it really jacks with my emotional state - I may try Femara now that it is generic - I do kind of hate flying without a net - I am conflicted -

Thanks Deanna - I think I read it - btw - I am a total beauty product junkie as well, and magazines!

Springtime - my Onc and GP told me the same thing -being active and staying at a healthy weight are two of the most important things you can do to fight a recurrence - as important as adjuvant therapy. Our weather in Iowa has finally cooled off  61 this morning! I love to walk outside so this is motivation all on it's own! Have a wonderful day everyone!!!

Back from Onc appt: we talked about a lot of stuff, I had lots of questions. She said to add more calcium supplements (so instead of 2/day take 3/day) for strenthening my bones, and we will do another bone density test in Jan. (I see her again in Dec), if spine is same or worse we will do Fosamax drug for one year and then re-test. We both feel comfortable with this decision, and make sure lots of weight bearing exercising.  Also, got my Vit D results, I went up to 56!!!  That's great for me!

Regarding AI's and menopause - she said that there is a new test that is very accurate in testing trace amounts of estrogen and she is diligently checking mine every few months and if it were to go up even just a little, she would take action. She said mine is VERY low....She said that for younger women it is too dangerous to switch to an AI but since I'm close to 50 she feels confident in using an AI and says it works better for me instead of Tamoxifen.

About rads and bone loss, she said you only lose bone density around the rib/breast area.  My concern is my spine, which tested at -2.1 YIKES!

Been walking and doing a bit of yoga too, I'm really missing that month gym membership now...boohoo  I need to buy some more DVD's for home. 

Your onc sounds very good, Kari.  Glad everything went well, especially that nice bump in your D level.  Good for you!

I saw the new naturopath I've been planning to see this a.m., and I liked her a lot.  She seemed to ask all the right questions, and her first steps for me are a 24 hour estrogen test (at home urine test which I can't do until I get off one of my supplements for a week), and a gluten tolerance test.  She also told me that I'm hypothyroid (even though my levels are within "normal" range, and which my PCP never mentioned), so she RX'd a natural thyroid supplement for that, plus a mineral supplement for my bones.  As soon as we have the results of the estrogen testing, she'll deal with my bc-prevention concerns.  She asked me to give her a year to see if we can improve my bone density without going to a bone-strengthening drug, but she's also willing to RX Fosamax, etc., if necessary.  She belongs to an integrative oncology association I've never heard of, but will look up and pass along if anyone's interested.  

Sorry to hear about your problems, Harley.  Please let us know how you're doing and if we can help.  Thinking of you, and praying whatever it is resolves quickly.     Deanna 

OT from exercise/motivation, but I just read this and wanted to share it with everyone here...

http://www.icontact-archive.com/Jbq_Te5C5t3_2ZOcACWuzkxfAxWr9YjC?w=2

I had no idea plastic wrap is that toxic if not heated!      Deanna 

Deanna, what mineral supplement did your naturopath RX?  That's interesting about the testing she's doing, etc.  Also, a gluten tolerance test?  Let us know the results of your testing and keep us posted.  I like the sound of the integrative oncology association!  I'm interested in whatever you share.

Ellie, YAY and YIPPEE to 4 lbs lost!

Survivor - congrats on the assistance to the YMCA!  You've been doing a lot lately.  I'd never heard of Tykerb, how long are you on the trial?  I was on the clinical trial for Avastin for a year.  All kinds of lovely side effects on that as well.

Yikes Deanna, I forwarded that plastic wrap link to my DD.  I just covered up her dinner last night in plastic wrap - UGH!!  I was babysitting my sweetie g-baby and thought I was doing a good thing, I swear you just never know!

I am taking today off from walking during lunch. My shins need a breather, I walked too briskly the last 2 days.  

Good for you for pursuing the "Y" membership and for the 4 lb. weight loss, survivor!  By the way, I'm still praying for that great job for you!  Who knows, maybe you'll make some new contacts at the "Y"?!

Kari, the supplement my new naturopath RX'd for bones is Osteo-Mins AM.  It has strontium and boron and selenium and other minerals that are supposed to aid calcium absorption and bone strengthening.  And I think the gluten sensitivity test relates to the bigger  picture -- things like digestion and nutrient absorption, as well a possible relationship to auto-immune conditions, which definitely play into bc.  And I don't see that assn. name in my notes, Kari, but I'll ask her the next time I see her, in about 3 weeks.

Oh, I also overheard another patient in the waiting room talking about an on-line discount source for supplements called Nutrition Express.   I haven't checked it out yet, but thought I'd pass it along if anyone's interested.    

Spring, it looks like they sell what I consider good, high end brands -- Life Extension, NOW, NewChapter, etc.  But, as I said, I don't know anything about the site, and I guess you always have to be careful nowadays, since so many things are forged!

By the way, I didn't mention it earlier, but I loved the way you described the experience of doing yoga with your girls.    D.

Hey K - today is a little better but...., work throws me for a loop and it seems like everyone is always wanting to go out to eat with DH and me - tonight our Mom's ( you would think it would be a good problem to have but it is a challenge for me) - If we eat at home I can control the menu - but I am trying to do damage control by at least getting exercise. Thanks for the tip -maybe next week will be better -

I haven't been on much lately.  

I am having shoulder pain, which has morphed into also sciatica type pain in my leg, runs from the left butt cheek down to the calf sometimes.   The shoulder pain also sometimes also morphs into upper arm ache.    Plus, I have just been so VERY TIRED!   You all know what I think...

So...  I am having a bone scan, and a ct scan of the chest and cervical spine on Friday.  Won't get the results for TWO weeks!  I am really freakin' out!,  and I think I am going to lose my mind...  also getting headaches....

Harley