MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

Congrats, everyone! I haven't been by in awhile, and I'm glad I came back for such a big anniversary.

Way to go!!!!!

Thanks for your kind words, Elimar. I am doing well, and like you don't think about BC much anymore. I just saw my BS for a mammogram, and got an "all clear" result. Even though I'm in menopause and will be 60 in a few months I'm on Tamoxifen, and currently plan to stay on it for 10 years. I don't want the bone, muscle and joint issues of AIs. Time will tell if that's the right decision. In the meantime, I'm still working out every day and watching what I eat.

Life is good. my DH and I spent 15 days in Spain (Barcelona, Bilbao and the Rioja wine region) to celebrate our 30th anniversary and my 60th b-day. I feel lucky!

I'm glad to see that you're through all the CRC treatment. I hope you're enjoying life. Here's to our surviving and thriving!

Elimar, Congrats on the 1,000 posts, that is awesome!!

KJSUN, I had severe lower back spasms while I was undergoing Chemo and getting the Neulasta shot, both my MO and Oncology Nurse said that it was a definite side effect from the Neulasta, there were times when I had to stop doing whatever it was I was doing at the time and grab my back until it subsided. Thank God that after the last shot in March I haven't had anymore spasms.

Congrats everyone. I agree w/Tomboy - I too almost posted a warning to hang in there w/o posting & I absolutely had to step away so I wouldn't make the big 30K post by mistake. What an honor that Eilmar was able to take precedence - as she well should.

hmmm, hmmm, hmmm I splurged on a cup of gelato for the celebration!! (it also is my DD's birthday)

e, glad you had the honor of posting the 30,000 post. I too thought of that this morning and refrained from an entirely unimportant ramble of words.

I got one of those soda stream thingamajigs so I drink lots of seltzer with a splash of fruit juice.

When I got dxed with FM the rheumotologist said she thinks it is hereditary. That was probably why my mother drank so much, she was self medicating. Another thing to blame on dear old mom. I was dxed after the bc dx, while I was on Arimidex and could barely walk. It will be good if I can figure out what sets it off. I am not looking forward to the food diary that comes with seeing a nutritionist.

I talked to the nurse at the gyn office today, she thinks I am still healing from the procedure. It's only been 6 weeks give it two more weeks and then give them a call if the pain has not improved. Easy for them to say, they aren't the one in pain. Oh well, I am going to act as if I feel good. I thought it was real funny when she asked if I was vacuuming. I said not if I can help it. But really, that's whats causing my pain in my pelvic area?

HHhaa haaa, elimar! That's a good one! too late for me, i was already seen vacuming at least once since tx. That eqiune is kinda kreepy, I like. I have been in pain ever since tx, and so my onc told me I had fiber last time I saw him. No tests, no pressure points no nothing except my repetitive complaints and mewlings about pains to him, my PCP says no I don't. Guess who I believe?

lovely cupcake !!!  and LOVE the confetti!!  Party on!

yeah, if they can't find a reason for your pain:  OH you must have fibro.    Yeah, right,,,, 

I was told for years by a rheumatologist that I had rheumatoid arthritis, despite not having any swelling around my joints. When I moved cities my new gp referred me to a pain clinic and there I was told that the neuro pain pathways had opened up all over my body and not closed, hence the chronic pain ( for 18 years now). Either way there is no cure and the pain inhibitor (I wish!) medication prescribed is the same. I was also told I was too high functioning for them to do anything for me. Sorry for trying to keep on keeping on despite feeling like a wreck most of the time

SuzyBlue:  Codeine is not really the best pain med.  Would your GP be willing to give you hydrocodone or oxycodone?  In the US. hydrocodone is only available with paracetamol (Tylenol) but oxycodone is available either with it or without it.  (brand names:  Lortab or Vicodin for the hydrocodone.    Percocet for the oxycodone with paracetamol)   I think it would be worth asking for a change of med.

Also your body gets physically dependent on gabapentin, so if you miss a dose, you might be feeling a bit of withdrawal,, or it  could be the pain kicking in more. Hard to say. If you ever decide to get off of gabapentin, you would need to wean down, do not stop suddenly.   There is also a related drug called Lyrica (pregabalin) that could possibly work better for you. It is quite expensive and in the US, many insurances won't pay for it for that reason. But it could be another option for you to try if your GP is willing to prescribe it for you.  My rheumy wanted me to take Lyrica for my nerve pain, but my insurance wouldn't pay for it. He gave me samples but I found it didn't really help me. He kept insisting that it would, but I asked for a trial of gabapentin since my insurance would pay for it, and I found it helped me more than the Lyrica.  But different meds help different people,, that's why there are so many of them.

Don't change both meds at the same time. I would change out the codeine for either hydrocodone or oxycodone first, if your GP is willing to prescribe it.

Really sucks that the pain clinic won't see you again. That is so wrong to allow people to live in pain.

Wow 6doggies, you have to wonder how siblings can turn out so differently! Putting boundaries in place even before they are necessary is probably the best way of protecting yourself when the s*** hits the fan, as it seems it inevitably will.

I will ask my GP about the medications you mention, Glennie19, next time I go to see her. I think we end up with a lot of generic brand medications through our subsidized pharmaceutical system here but sometimes they will subsidize others if the GP requests it

6 doggies--oh, my, what a situation your sister has gotten herself into!I agree with the others--"I'm sorry, I cannot help you with that right now."And drama will be inevitable, I'm afraid.Perhaps you can trigger the drama and get if over with by suggesting your sister contact DHS or Child Protective Services to find out about putting the girls in foster care if she gets evicted?Nah, probably too inflammatory.But do stick to your guns on this.