Just had surgery

katidid193,

You just went over the biggest hurdle.

I was initially considered 2B but was changed to 3A after surgery pathology findings. Yes I did not like it at all.

stage 2B or 3A do not have that much diff in terms of strength or duration.

Just my two cents, anti depressants are necessities. I take Ativan helps w sleep, anxiety and mild nausea. I am.just done w 4 DD AC. I have been fortunate enough to manage nausea only w Ativan. I have 4 more DD Taxol. Docs tell you steroids are must to avoid nausea which is true. Steroids increase appetite but also bring severe constipation or diarrehea. Please listen to your body.

Lastly, you probably have a few wks off before the next step. I had three wks off from the time my drains were out till chemo #1. Please do your best to relax. Retail therapy is always good. Exercise is a must. Even slow and deliberate type count. I have been doing my self taught yoga primarily because I live in FL. According to my physical therapist, that is the best type.

please take care. You can do this

If you haven't seen an LymphEdema Therapist (not just a PT who claims to 'know everything about LE but has no actual education on LE). see one soo er rather than later.

Rebamacfan - I'm not sure if you are considering Ativan an antidepressant or whether you are saying you take an antidepressant AND Ativan, but Ativan isn't considered an antidepressant. It is an anti-anxiety medication (benzodiazepine) as well as being used as an anticonvulsant (used for certain types of seizures), that has sedation as a side effect (hence makes falling asleep way easier). Anti-anxiety meds can be super helpful (anxiety is just horrible), and benzos in particular don't seem to interact with many other meds and have been around a long time; so are thought of as more "safe" for medically complicated people.

I agree with Kicks, while I fully support anyone who is depressed getting good treatment (as this can heavily impact engagement in treatment and good self care), not everyone who is diagnosed with bc has or will get depression. It is NOT part of the diagnosis. It is certainly an understandable consequence, but not a guarantee.

Katidid, I'm so sorry you're still struggling with pain. After my surgeries, the thing that helped me get past the pain most effectively was slow and gentle stretches (please do follow your doctor's advice on this). After I started the stretches, I took noticeably less pain meds and felt more like I was on the mend. ((hugs))

I had (still have) problems with low potassium. The problems started 6 weeks into 12 weekly Taxol. When the blood work was done that day before infusion, my potassium had 'tanked' (all blood work had always been well within 'normal'), so started on mega doses of it. That was actually 9 weeks post UMX as it had been 3 weeks after surgery that I started the Taxol. I do still have to take potassium 7+ yrs later to keep it up within 'normal' but not a much as back then.

Talk with your Dr(s) if you think you might be low on potassium. Unless it is shown via blood work it is as dangerous (or more so) to self medicate with potassium. To much is very dangerous as is low.

Frequent urination was not a problem for me - again a talk with your Dr(s) about this issue.

Some how my post got shown g up 3 times. Guess I 'goofed' somehow.

If you have a Beauty School/College near you, it is quite inexpensive to go there and have a shampoo and scalp massage.

Might also check and find out who (Salon or Master Cosmetologist) does the 'Look Good - Feel Better' classes at your Facility. They might be very willing to give you a shampoo and massage or 2. The Salon owner that did the classes I went to gave these services (or had one of her other stylist do it) at no cost.