10 years out and looking at bioidentical hormones
Comments
-
lmartnc-
Wow! Bless you! Thank you for taking your time to respond so thoroughly and share your journey! You do write beautifully! Thanks for your support! I hear so many familiar feelings in your words. I also have a family history of depression. It’s a whole other disease that compounds every aspect of breast cancer. And yes, the well meaning suggestions of friends when you are being sucked down by that demon are like catching feathers in a wind storm. You cannot understand it unless you’ve been there-like most really difficult life experiences. To wake every morning to feel one of your favorite things about your body is now not only your least favorite, but is now hard to even look at...even though doctors, nurses, breast cancer friends tell you your reconstruction is one of the really great ones....and I was 42. Only married 10 months first marriage. Same thin-from healthy high libido to zero. I tell my husband he’s the victim of false advertising! He is the most wonderful man though and I’m very blessed in that.
I went 8 years eating no soy...avoiding anything that could possibly give me estrogen in any form. I did it all by the book. Only I did not do the AI treatment after 4 years of Tamoxifen due to terrible side effects. I also have hypothyroidism, although not as hard as your experience. I had a full hysterectomy 4 years in due to reoccurring polyps from the Tamoxifen. I will say, I never had an issue with wetting myself again after the removal of my uterus and ovaries, so I didn’t regret that.
I’m so sorry for your own terrible time. You’ve really been through it. I won’t begin to give advice or suggestions. But I will offer this, you aren’t alone! This is a terrible disease and to add other diseases on top like depression and severe thyroid disease...it’s just life changing in a very negative way. I do believe you will find your path through it, however. You sound like a very strong person! It’s a grieving process. Getting through grief and not stuck is the goal. It takes some of us longer than others. I’m at peace finally with my decision, although I do think about the what if sometimes. But I can honestly say I’m at acceptance. Finally. I do love this site. It truly saved me from day 1. I’m so grateful to be heard and understood. To find answers snd friends who get it. Thank you for your words! I’m praying this morning that you will move more swiftly though this process than I did and find ways that are right for you to get back your joy! God Bless!!!
-
Well said Snapple...We have to all make the right decisions for each of us. Everyone is different. We just need to support each other and respect others decisions. This thread is really wonderful. Thank you for sharing your experience Snapple. I appreciate that.
Categories
- All Categories
- 679 Advocacy and Fund-Raising
- 289 Advocacy
- 68 I've Donated to Breastcancer.org in honor of....
- Test
- 322 Walks, Runs and Fundraising Events for Breastcancer.org
- 5.6K Community Connections
- 282 Middle Age 40-60(ish) Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 53 Australians and New Zealanders Affected by Breast Cancer
- 208 Black Women or Men With Breast Cancer
- 684 Canadians Affected by Breast Cancer
- 1.5K Caring for Someone with Breast cancer
- 455 Caring for Someone with Stage IV or Mets
- 260 High Risk of Recurrence or Second Breast Cancer
- 22 International, Non-English Speakers With Breast Cancer
- 16 Latinas/Hispanics With Breast Cancer
- 189 LGBTQA+ With Breast Cancer
- 152 May Their Memory Live On
- 85 Member Matchup & Virtual Support Meetups
- 375 Members by Location
- 291 Older Than 60 Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 177 Singles With Breast Cancer
- 869 Young With Breast Cancer
- 50.4K Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis
- 204 Breast Cancer with Another Diagnosis or Comorbidity
- 4K DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)
- 79 DCIS plus HER2-positive Microinvasion
- 529 Genetic Testing
- 2.2K HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer
- 1.5K IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer)
- 3.4K IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)
- 1.5K ILC (Invasive Lobular Carcinoma)
- 999 Just Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastasis
- 652 LCIS (Lobular Carcinoma In Situ)
- 193 Less Common Types of Breast Cancer
- 252 Male Breast Cancer
- 86 Mixed Type Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned
- 189 Palliative Therapy/Hospice Care
- 488 Second or Third Breast Cancer
- 1.2K Stage I Breast Cancer
- 313 Stage II Breast Cancer
- 3.8K Stage III Breast Cancer
- 2.5K Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- 13.1K Day-to-Day Matters
- 132 All things COVID-19 or coronavirus
- 87 BCO Free-Cycle: Give or Trade Items Related to Breast Cancer
- 5.9K Clinical Trials, Research News, Podcasts, and Study Results
- 86 Coping with Holidays, Special Days and Anniversaries
- 828 Employment, Insurance, and Other Financial Issues
- 101 Family and Family Planning Matters
- Family Issues for Those Who Have Breast Cancer
- 26 Furry friends
- 1.8K Humor and Games
- 1.6K Mental Health: Because Cancer Doesn't Just Affect Your Breasts
- 706 Recipe Swap for Healthy Living
- 704 Recommend Your Resources
- 171 Sex & Relationship Matters
- 9 The Political Corner
- 874 Working on Your Fitness
- 4.5K Moving On & Finding Inspiration After Breast Cancer
- 394 Bonded by Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Life After Breast Cancer
- 806 Prayers and Spiritual Support
- 285 Who or What Inspires You?
- 28.7K Not Diagnosed But Concerned
- 1K Benign Breast Conditions
- 2.3K High Risk for Breast Cancer
- 18K Not Diagnosed But Worried
- 7.4K Waiting for Test Results
- 603 Site News and Announcements
- 560 Comments, Suggestions, Feature Requests
- 39 Mod Announcements, Breastcancer.org News, Blog Entries, Podcasts
- 4 Survey, Interview and Participant Requests: Need your Help!
- 61.9K Tests, Treatments & Side Effects
- 586 Alternative Medicine
- 255 Bone Health and Bone Loss
- 11.4K Breast Reconstruction
- 7.9K Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 2.7K Complementary and Holistic Medicine and Treatment
- 775 Diagnosed and Waiting for Test Results
- 7.8K Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 50 Immunotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 7.4K Just Diagnosed
- 1.4K Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy
- 5.2K Lymphedema
- 3.6K Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment
- 591 Pain
- 3.9K Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 8.4K Surgery - Before, During, and After
- 109 Welcome to Breastcancer.org
- 98 Acknowledging and honoring our Community
- 11 Info & Resources for New Patients & Members From the Team