after chemo, detox, returning to normal. is there a thread?

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LisaG65
LisaG65 Member Posts: 65
edited November 2017 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After

looking to read about "after chemo, returning to normal, how long does it take, best way to rid ur body of chemo, regain strenght, and mental health"?

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  • Kelloggs
    Kelloggs Member Posts: 965
    edited June 2012

    Lisa - I don't know what chemo you had.  I felt much better by 4 or 5 wks PFC.  Drink, drink, drink...that's the best way to rid your body of the chemo.  Exercise when you feel up to it, but most of all know it is alright to be tired.  Your body will need rest.  As far as the "mental" recovery, I'll let you know when I find it myself! LOL

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  • Leveled
    Leveled Member Posts: 77
    edited June 2012

    Hi all,



    I am 4weeks pfc. I feel good physically, legs ache a little not enough to stop me from doing what I need to do though, just more conscious of it.



    Mentally has been a bit tougher, it's been kind of hard feeling better but looking shittier. My eyebrows are all messed up and lashes well they are hanging on but I haven't used mascara in months in hopes of saving them.



    I also did use the cold caps so I have my hair, although it is stringy, grey and greasy.



    I wish I could say all was well. Just try to take it a day at a time, this to shall pass....at least that is what I keep telling myself. Hang in there. Water, water and water......I also take a bunch of vitamins.



    Lisa

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  • reesefoggy
    reesefoggy Member Posts: 65
    edited June 2012

    I am six months out and I eat lots of fruits and veggies, have a fruit and veggie smoothy with 11 servings, chia seeds and wheat jerm every morning. Take vitamins, drink collagen, take biotin and drink lots of lemon water. I have done rather well and look pretty darn good if I don't say so myself. I also started using coconut oil on my skin during chemo and that really helped my skin and nails. The muscle weekness in my legs got pretty bad so I had to take baby steps getting them back to normal. The last round just did them in.

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  • LisaG65
    LisaG65 Member Posts: 65
    edited June 2012

    i was scheduled for 6 rounds neuoadjuvant TCH, i have had 4. I am getting shots of neupogen. the neuropathy has gotten so bad, the muscle wasting, my gait, and just being able to walk across the room and not feel like a 99 yr old woman. i asked for new imaging, i have a mammo and ultra sound sched. for 6/21. chemo #5 is 6/26 but, i am not going to take it. i will see my dr on that day to get the results of my imaging. i am hoping for a masectomy as soon as i can get it scheduled. my tumors that were visible through my skin, are no longer visible. i am not taking the last 2 rounds of chemo. its just to much poison, i feel when i go to my dr.s office that its like being at a production line, or auto dealership waiting room. what wrong with your car? oh, i need a new car, you? oh, my brakes are bad. my dr has great bed side manner, i just feel its all about the $. and there is no room for natural healing. i went in as a hippie chic, with long dreadlocks, eating well, and taking supplents. the chemo is killing me, IMO.  i have lost all my physical strenght. it is scary to me, i am a personal trainer, weight trained, have danced and am/was physically as strong as any man. but to not be able to move my own body weight across the room has become to much for me to bear, and reading that some of these side effects never go away was enough for me to say hey, your going to take my entire breast regardless, so get it done! i am feeling better since making this decision. i dont believe in the poison. after hearing about robin roberts this week, doing research for months, i say enough already. i am scheduled for the rest of the year for herceptin and then 5 yrs of the pill. i dont think i will be doing any of that. all my pet/cat/mri shows no cancer in any other part of my body except my left breast.. i hear chemo also cause you to get cancer in other parts of ur body. i am going to detox my body and hope to regain my strength enough to start walking, and exercising again, i am 47, i am of strong mind, i do have a say in my treatment, and will not be lured in to the cycle of the what the dr says is always right. i know my body and it has had enough. i thank you all for reading this and possible replies. i am smiling and focused on getting over the poison, surgery and getting my life back.

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  • cfdr
    cfdr Member Posts: 549
    edited June 2012

    My 6 months post chemo has been rough. I got pneumonia immediately after chemo even though my WBC counts were normal all the way through. After recovering from that (two rounds of antibiotics because the first did nothing), I started exercising aggressively. All was well for a couple of weeks, but then I got rebound fatigue...it was like being back in chemo all over again. Bit by bit I was getting better, but found I have had to be very careful about overdoing it. Then I started getting worse for no particular reason, and was found to have pernicious anemia. I have been getting B12 shots for two weeks, and hoping those will kick in any day.

    It's been a roller coaster. From hiking for three hours to being flat on my back; from working my first full days in months to being unable to focus for more than a couple of hours. Today I was supposed to bake cookies for a potluck and you may as well ask me to scale Mount Everest. Ain't gonna happen.

    I've been eating well, veggies and fruits and organic nonfat dairy; lots of water and decaf green tea. Walks in the forest, yoga, meditation. And I still have days when I'm a basket case. Wish I knew the answer. :-( 

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  • Seagrover
    Seagrover Member Posts: 46
    edited June 2012

    I was wondering if anyone was experiencing what I have lately. I am 9 weeks pfc and my skin has started to feel like I have extremly tiny bumps all over my body - arms, legs. stomach, back - everywhere.  Saw the onc Wednesday and he said it could still be some of the SE of chemo although the chemo has been out of my body for some time now.  It does not itch but just feels wierd.

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  • Karmil710
    Karmil710 Member Posts: 100
    edited June 2012

    Seagrover:  I had the same little bumps on my skin after chemo.  I did T/C X4.  I started noticing the tiny bumps around my last tx.  MIne were mostly on my arms w/a little on my stomach and chest.  I went to my dermatologist who didn't really think too much of them.  He told me to moisturize.  I'm now 4 months PFC and they are almost gone on my forearms, decreased on my upper arms. 

    LisaG:  I admire your courage to say enough is enough!  You know when something is doing more harm than good.  I agree that whole Robin Williams thing is SCARY!  See how you are feeling after your surgery before saying a definite NO to Tamox or Herceptin.   I'm now 4 months PFC and I'd have to say I feel really good!  Just some achiness in my hips and lower back.  Oh, and months of bad hair days...

    cfddr:  I also ended up with infection after infection PFC.  Ear infection, bronchitis, sinus infection, and another ear infection.  I was told that even though our white counts are back to normal, we are not fighting infections as well as before (...but we WILL after a few months.  Hang in there.) 

    Karmil

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  • badger
    badger Member Posts: 34,614
    edited June 2012

    hi ladies, I am two years PFC.  It took me at least a year to get back (OK close) to normal.

    During chemo, I ate whatever tasted good - the BRAT diet - bananas, rice, applesauce, toast - plus mashed potatoes and saltines.  Had a plain yogurt every day.  Stayed away from fresh fruits & veggies unless I could peel them.  Drank a lot of water and got in an easy walk every day.  My blood counts stayed good and I didn't need neulasta or neupogen shots.  The only supplement I took was a one-a-day vitamin with iron.  I craved lean white meat so ate a lot of roast pork loin, chicken & turkey breast.  Gained a bunch of weight that I'm working to lose, by NOT eating stuff like potatoes and crackers, and I'm down 25 from my high point. 

    Anyone who needs motivation and support is welcome to the Let's Post our Daily Exercise thread in the Fitness forum.  We are a diverse group with all levels of fitness.

    Seagrover, those bumps are hair growing back. Little tiny ingrown hairs all over your body! Surprised

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  • LisaG65
    LisaG65 Member Posts: 65
    edited June 2012

    wow, i was happy to come here and read so many responses.

    I want to say that while I may say 4 of 6 TCH is enough for me, I admire all of you who have completed or are on the way to completing ALL of your rounds of chemo.

    @Karmil710 Smile thanks for the advice to see how I feel post surgery. I dont think I will feel any different, and I will be that much further my from last chemo on 6/5. 

    I cant wait to my energy to return and my anemia and neuropathy to go away. Now i am working on staying focused and positive while awaiting my surgery. I am going to do my best to flush and eat well.

    I eat fresh berries (are in season and on sale) several times a week. I enjoy eating meat, but have begun to cut my portions down. I craved meat and pasta once I could eat again after each tx. I upped the veggies and fruit without meat meals. Main thing is trying to drink H20, its been tasting bad, but i still drink it, with lemon, ice cubes, room temp, decafe green tea. whatever it takes, if I look at my glass, I make myself take a drink.

    I am going to rest as needed and be active when i can. I am anxious for the nueropathy muscle burn and ache to subside. I want to be able to go again, when and where I want.

    I hope everyone will keep posting and sharing what they experience on their journey!

    Lisa

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  • THINKING
    THINKING Member Posts: 1
    edited February 2017

    hello I pray you are well did you go back to chemo looking for survivors who quit chemo

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited February 2017

    Thinking, share a bit more about your story with us when you have a moment.

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  • Carolinajoy
    Carolinajoy Member Posts: 2
    edited November 2017

    It's been a long time since you posted, but I am having the same reaction.

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  • Carolinajoy
    Carolinajoy Member Posts: 2
    edited November 2017

    Badger thanks for the reply about the bumps all over the body. I was a little worried.

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