Faslodex Girls

So sorry Faslodex didn't work for you, Hollander. I wish you all the best with your new treatment; I hope it's successful and easy to take. See you 'round the forum, I trust.

Tina

Hollander, I hope Xeloda works for you for a long time and that the side effects are minimal. Good luck.

What's fat and round and scary? A Hallowe'en jack-o-lantern? Yes, but also my increasingly pumpkin-like body. I've been on Faslodex for 27 months and have steadily thickened, gaining nearly 20 pounds and a frightening amount of flab, particularly in my abdominal area, where I'd ever had it before.

I know that menopause and estrogen deprivation do this, and that some of it is probably caused by aging, but yikes! I think the injections are at least partly to blame. I eat sensibly and well, and don't want to stop. I insist on a glass of wine now and again. I can't buzz around and walk miles as I once did because of fatigue and arthritis in my hip and back, but I know I'm more physically active than some.

Is anyone else in the Fanny Pack afraid she's turning into Jabba the Hutt?

Tina

Tina, I'm gaining weight too. Or at least I WAS gaining weight. It seems to have stabilized for the moment, now that I've restarted my exercise regimen.

It felt like POW I'd gained seven pounds or so in the first month. Mostly around the belly. My waistline disappeared overnight. It frightened me so much they did an ultrasound to make sure there wasn't fluid somewhere in the belly.

I know it's not the ovarian suppression, because I've been taking Lupron for five years. It's definitely (a) Faslodex?, (b) Femara?, (c) in a small way chocolate. I was off my exercise program for six months.

My weight slowly crept up, about eight pounds this last couple of years with Faslodex- mostly around the middle. I'm normally fairly thin, so all the weight around the middle was weird for me. Had it come in more evenly it would have been fine.

Since late August, I've been on a moderately low-carb, low sugar (no added sugar or processed stuff with added sugar) diet, and I've lost the eight pounds. If I eat "normally," I'll gain it back. I need to watch what I eat and concentrate on the greens and protein, and I'm ok. It does feel good to be able to wear my older jeans and pants again. Also, having fewer fat places for the estrogen to accumulate has to be a good thing, right?

Not often that I wish we had a like button here on bco.org, but Tina, your post puts me in that frame of mind.

Jabbina-in-Training

Pajim, no, I don't remember. Please refresh my fulvestrantian memory.

Tina

Well ladies, I need to whine and since my husband's cell phone is off you're elected. Today should have been the usual trip for zometa and shots.

Blew the first iv, then MD gets worried about puffy spot on chest -- lets ultrasound and biopsy. Sounds fine, what the heck I didn't have anything else to do today (?) (actually in a moment of lucidness I'll admit that I WOULD like to know what this is).

Off to the infusion room -- the second iv is blown, and need to re-do the labs. Which take an hour. Sigh. Third iv is in the elbow. My afternoon will consist of ultrasound, infusion/shots just so I can get this bloody iv out of my elbow, and skin/punch biopsy. Sigh.

Ever try eating lunch and/or typing with a straight arm? Why did I agree to the elbow? (so they wouldn't have to stick me a fourth time!)Though I admit the fresh roll I just had for lunch was excellent.

Whine, whine, pout. My husband should be glad he has his phone off. By 5:00 I'll see the humor (there's humor in this?). I think I'll have some chocolate for dessert.

Edited to add: oh, yes, and the ultrasound machine was down. This is SO not my day.

Yikes, Pam. Bummer to the max. What a terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad day. You deserve chocolate and lots of it., any time you please.

Hang in! ( Like you have a choice, right?)

Tina

Susan I think you're up to 47.  Maybe 48.  Good luck today!

The good news is that the ultrasound showed nothing but paranoia -- the radiology resident said (after walking in and saying "you look familiar" and my realizing he probably took the med student course at my workplace, oy) "singularly uninteresting".   

A five bandaid day.

As for port, my onc doesn't like them at this stage.  I think it's a combination of only sticking once a month and a QOL issue.  Not that having a port is any difficulty, but he'd be of the mind that it would be a constant reminder you're a cancer patient.  He's against that and I can definitely see his point.

Normally I'm a relatively easy stick.  Just not by the one nurse, yesterday.  I'll run if they ever assign me to her again.

Pam

Right on board with you. Glad you love your port -- I certainly wasn't implying you shouldn't have one. Hope I didn't offend. Just saying why my onc hadn't suggested one. He's just a minimalist. My philosophy is to each her own. We should each do what works for us.

Another month is "behind" me. We have a new medical tech in the oncology department. Tony... Tony is from Palermo originally. He has managed to find a low v-cut nurse top and doesn't wear a t-shirt. So much hair sticking out everywhere! He made a point of shaking each patient's hand as he was introduced. A complete hoot!

Sadly, today's shots were not pain-free. She had to do the injections a bit higher since I am accumulating scar tissue. As always, I slept the afternoon away. And drank copious quantities of water. I get so tired and so thirsty.

Now I can go back to my regular life for 27 days.

*susan*

I had an uneventful visit yesterday, with no one as interesting as Tony on the scene. Our male tech "character" disappeared months ago, which is probably just as well. He could be amusing on occasion, but usually left the entire inside of my elbow a purplish mess.

My blood reports look good, as usual. Some things always go up and down, but nothing radically. My doctor never even discusses them. The big news is that he recommended an MRI of my hips and pelvis. I told him I wanted to rule out mets before I go further in considering surgical options my orthopedist and rheumatologist have suggested to address ongoing pain and mobility issues. He said if mets were causing the problem he would treat them with radiation and that might well alleviate some of the pain.

I dread the process of an MRI, but look forward to getting this arthritis-or-mets-or-both question answered once and for all. I like that my doctor understands this.

Tina

Susan,

Okay, Miz. Stickler, you're right. A tech does my vitals. A phlebotomist draws blood. I was referring to a phlebotomist re: bruising.

Remember when a tech gave me one of my early Faslodex injections fast and furiously and I thought I'd been shot? Never again. I still think she may have done permanent damage.

Enjoy your walk by the river. Hope it does the trick. I'm feeling sore, but rested after sleeping a lot. Doing house stuff today, then going out for dinner and a dance performance. Off to Philly this weekend to visit friends.

Tina

bumping up for naturelover.