My onc check-up today

As if by plan, my poor empty mind brought me to my friend's house, today, instead of to my onc's office.Her road leads to the big avenue where his office is , and then goes way beyond, into a very rural place.

So good.I could remember this example, and report it..

And I told my onc's PA while she was "working me up".And she stopped prodding me, and said "Stop the drug!"

And when I saw him & told HIM about my total cognitive difficulties, he said :"Stop the drug!"

<sigh>

They were also not pleased about the fact that both my hands AND my feet are crippled with arthritis pain, rendering me truely unable to walk well OR use a cane to help.(AND my left hip turnd osteopenic from the femara)

And, of course, my onc has been party to my whole journey to hell these AI years.

So apparantly he has learned something (which he's not sharing).Maybe the patient reaching empty-headed senility is the sign that AI has reached the point of doing more harm than good.

I told him I will take a month vacation
"more than a month!" he said,

And then try Arimidex, because it seems stupid not to try the 3 AIs.

"but if it isnt good for you, you STOP!"

This is my  "perservere!" onc??

I'm gasping, and giggling.

More happy news, I "look wonderful"!(I've a short hair-cut, but the thing is all these walkees have lost me more than 5 lbs, and being out by light of day has made me...almost tan!)

He didnt SAY the extra activity is better for me than finishing up 5 years ogf AI.But implied it.

I asked him what "my# is."

"85 % you'll never see that thing again."

And if I finish the 5 years?"

"90"

But I didnt go into the fact that being inactive from pain gives me a higher risk percentage, which I can now lose,and my diet has been wonderfully honed by studying all these years.And I dont even drink the 2 glasses a week of vino Edge said I could have.

But my onc knows, and nor did he have time to bandy suppositions.

I'm psyched because nowI CAN get the femara-belly off!YAY!!

HE was impressed at my labs from my primary--how I have lowered the bad labs with...SUPPLIMENTS, not drugs!Hello LARRY.

And thank you Rosemary, Kris, Edge(whom I WISH were here), Susie, Shirley ( the grapeseed extract!), Calico, and all you other braniacs.I know I've forgoten people, but hey--my mind's a perfect blank.

You guys ROCK!!

I'll be around, and looking forward to being in a mUCH better mood as some of the pain lifts.

BTW-my onc, when asked what we may safely take for pan said Tylenol.

Duh?It destroys the liver?

Only if you take more than 10 a day.

I didnt go there to ask about Advil or Aleve.(Which DO something for inflamation, too.)

hugs, j

Hello Susie,

Thanks, Honey.I NEVER use Tylenol!Dislike it intensely--it's the only NSAID that doesnt reduce inflammation.I am actually a Bayer aspirin user.(Gasp?)

Well it WAS the first miracle drug, I've taken it all my life.Never had bleding problems (never got reyes disease, nor did my kids)

And now Bayer has put a lovely coating on the tabs, so they dont melt in the stomach.

Plus, before our long walk, I like Bayer "for back and joint pain"--it has caffeine in it, which is so nice for pep and lifted mood.WHEN I remember.Duh.

The two I take before sleep, I dole out with my night suppliments (along with a Mucinex tab, a large edible cal/mag wafer, and my GABA cap.)So this way I get at least 4 hours immediate, good sleep.When the Bayer wears off, pain WILL wake me.But I can usually get back to sleep quickly, on my other side, after a potty break.

The thing that you  have to remember is what I've been ranting all along:I'm almost 10 years older than you.OK so I've naturally got that much less supplimental estrogen that has to be aromatased.

All you guys.(as my mother used to say:"When you get to be MY age, then you can..whatever)

When you guys are my age you will be LONG over your 5 years!

The other thing that was always my thought on AIs is that when I was dx, at 62, I was 12 years post meno!And on HRT.So actually, I believed, just stopping the HRT took away a good enough block of estrogen.

My onc did NOT want to talk this talk.So I put my head down and took the drug.But I truely felt it wasnt necessary for me.

I'm now WAITING for the body to begin using the 9 mg of estrogen I have left..Silly, because it takes months for AI to get out of body.But my last vacation, last winter, the damn dizziness DID disappear by week 3.So I sincerely believe my mind will come back.Because it does fluctuate between being on EMPTY and being about 1/4 there anyway.Is it better on the days I only took half the femara?Maybe.

Last night I took NO femara and today I put 3 hardish answers into my NYT sunday crossword.Ones I had no clue to all this week.Wow!

I truely, truely believed that the drug was doing me more harm than good.For me, an older woman,it was in the dangerous drug category by now.And I could tell by my onc's reaction that I was right.

Dont forget I wrote a letter to Artimis' "Ask the Expert"column over a year ago, describing my SEs (the COGNITIVE hadnt even kicked out then) and asking him what he felt I should do.If you're familiar w/the onc who writes it, you know he can be pretty snippy "Take the drug and consider yourself lucky" or  a simple "yes."

So he said , based on my age and case that I needed to have a good talk with my onc about benefit V quality of life.

I told this to my onc, and he said "So what's the answer?Come on, HE'S the EXPERT, what's the answer?"

Sigh.

But yesterday no question.

I was trying to decide whether to switch to Arimidex.I Googled the SEs V Femara SEs.Go ahead..google Femara SEs.It's full of my ranting and whining, here.I was pretty amazed!Google sees everything!

Rosemary, I will come and roast a goose for you on Christmas!!Hey, we can finish it w/pomegranate juice and arils!!

You can make the cookies, how about?

Yeah, January sounds about right.I cant tell you how UNimmediate my onc was about it.I may take Arimidex ONLY if the bad SE dont return.(THAT's a pipe dream!)

Thanks for the wonderful wish of forgetting about the SEs with my empty head!

Jaybird, I'm pretty happy.But of course, it will be a looong time before  feel much difference for being off Femara.

Someone has a thread in HT called "How long does Femara stay in he body?"

Hah! I cant go there, 'cause I'd write "Forever"Or it just feels that way.

Hugs to you, j

Althea, PLEASE do not trade in tamox for an AI!!Just dont do it!!!

Tamox, yes, has been aroud forever.It's a good drug.These new ones--there is a LOT they dont know about them.I'm angry.Because they're good drugs, and in 20 years they will have all the kinks worked out of them.(Great, huh?)

You are SO right! I just read that there is a limit of Tylenol beyond which is liver damage.My onc said 10 pills.But as you said, tylenol (acetyl whatever)is also in EVERYTHING, all combos for colds ,coughs etc etc.The limit can be reached SO easily and w/out a person even realizing!

When I said my kids never got Reyes disease it isnt because I gave them aspirin regardless!It's because they are in their 40s, aspirin was all there was Reyes disease hadnt been "invented"

But I'd venture to guess most here have been given St Joseph's Aspirin as kids.

I wasnt--it wasnt invented!Parents had to break up an aspirin.

Thanks for coming in!

Shirley-know why I sound upbeat (usually) when I'm online?Cause I'm sitting down, my knees and back arent hurting...I try to stay online as long as I can.Now with Woodyboy it's harder--have to keep bobbing up for walkees.As well as doing the bare minimum of housework.Hurting really sucks.And funnily enough, just NOW they have DISCOVERED that EVERYTHING is bad for us, pain relief-wise.

My poor friend, I'm so sorry! I hate that you have that other dx and are anxious and depressed.And of course there is ABSOLUTELY no doubt that the AI is NOT helping the other issues at ALL.If not causing them.

I feel sure a good visit with your primary will set you up.For the thanksgiving thing, my one friend is 73.She has been cooking and freezing well in advance of holidays for 10 years now.It works wonderfully!I dont have a freezer, or I'd do it!

Honey if you're really weary, I know your wonderful daughters will be happy to do the TG.Either at your house or at theirs.When you were their age, werent you making the TG dinner for your family?I was.My daughters have made the TG and Christmas dinners years ago (before they got too old!)

Please dont rag yourself out.Nobody wants that.

I'm thinking of one TG about 7 years ago.I was alone (with Rupert).This had grown to be my holiday of choice, and I encouraged my kids to go to husband's parents, or cook and have friends over.Actually, poor, they both work holidays for the overtime.

There is nothing (IMHO) better than spending Christmas celebrating along, gently, with a beloved dog.They ALWAYS say the right thing, they never mind if you use canned gravy.And putting the little turkey up and then going for a nice walk---aaaaaahhhhh!The crisp air!The empty park!The smell of everyone's turkey!And then home to our own fragrant house.To make the vegs.

So that year, the day before, I was inspired by a beautifulrecipe.I made a "pumpkn pi"out of a winter squash (which s what a pumpkin IS after al.There was fresh ginger, grated, in the pie.Cant recall what-all else.It was marvellous!

So nxt day,TG, I was rambling around, getting the stuffing ready.When Rupert began to roar.He roared like a lion when anyone came to the door.Especally if there was FOOD to guard too!

It was my next-door neighbors, a young couple.She came from Montana and had brught her horse.They were off to his folks.But felt bad leaving me.(They didnt know I LIKE being left!).

So they gave me the apple pie they'd made, from apples they'd picked at a friend's orchard.The pie was mile high!

They were going to bring it to their folks.

And, heehee, I gave them the squash pie, which was mile high too.

And we were all so O Henry-fied that we broke our concentration, got out the vanilla ice cream, sat down amid the cooking things, and ate each other's pie."TASTED" them, but in a pretty hearty way.Haha, it was a great apple pie!And they loved the squash.

I HOPE they didnt have dinner for hours....

Anyway, dear Shirley, please dont stress, just have fun!You can just make a beautiful pie and sit everyone down to eat it!

And yes, cooking in advance is perfect.Then you can really enjoy the day.

I will keep you informed, and please you keep me informed.

I had a conversation with Edge about wine.I wanted to take up drinking a glass a day, for the health benefits.He convinced me it's too estrogenic.And allowed me a glass or two a week.

So we can be sure to save our glass for the week for TG, and toast each other in absentia.

love, j

Dear Shirley, Did I say your lovely daughters make you cook?Please say I didnt!I would never think that!!Having 2 of my own I know how gladly daus will cook for us.The nice things is, when my grandkids were small, my grandson of 2 said "Emmy(me) you cook just like Mom!"

I also see that I didnt give the apple cider credit.Yes I think it did help me a lot!

I HAVE slipped from grace and forgotten a spoonful or 2 along the way, but that book said it lowers cholesterol and I believe it did!The "prescription" was a tblsp 2 (or 3?)X a day.The thing is you have to be careful not to get it on your teeth.It will take the enamel off, given enough use!Many drink it through a straw.Ruby Tuesday & I just do shots-down the hatch!

(Somewhere Ruby reported recently that her femara-raised cholesterol value is now perfect again!I want to congratulate her but...empty head...I cant find the thread!)

Edge advised me long ago that (cold-pressed) extra virgin olive oil is better for us, even, than fish oil.I told him I couldnt drink spoonfuls of olive oil,it doesnt come in capsules, and could I add vinegar?He said "Now you've got it!!"

So for your husband, (and you) a little salad at lunch, and dinner, with 2 tblsp of olive oil and one tblsp of ACV?

I actually mortar up some garlic, whisk in the olive oil and vinegar, throw in the salad and toss some bottled dressing on top, just a little, for variety!You could build one of your awesome "everything" salads on this!

I agree you have to get your husband's #s down.I know how men are, but you DONT want him to learn the scarey way.

My friend with the freezer who cooks and freezes WAY before holidays is Italian.One thing she does is saves all bones in the freezer for a long time.Then one day she puts them all in the stockpot, w/carrots and onions and herbs (and water) and simmers them all day, for the soups, sauces, gravys.She makes a soup so thick and flavorful that you can stand a spoon in the stock!!Freezers are great!

BTW I feel as lousy as ever.Today I was walking hunched over with an unabashed limp.The Quasimoto walk.I'd use a cane , but it hurts the joints in my hand.

Tonight I got some Chinese Food at a great restaurant and guess what?It wasnt as good as a lot of stuff I've been cooking lately.

Whole Foods has a recipe for "better than Chicken Soup".It is for colds and etc, but contains some VERY good-for-you hings in general..I made it when I was having a cold, and it is AWESOME!It is built on chicken broth, with pieces of winter squash and ribbons of kale, for the A vitamins,it has garlic,cayenne, mushrooms, and minced ginger.What else?duh?I know it winds up getting a spoonful of miso paste diluted in a little water(probiotic), with a lemon'sworth of lemon juice squeezed in(Vitamin C).Did I say awesome?If interested I will PM you the recipe!

And I've been loving cutting winter squash into cubes , sauteeing, adding the garlic, and making a tomato sauce on it.Over pasta it's really lovely.

WHOLE WHEAT pasta, of course.

Your husband will eat these, and the herbs & veggies are great for our lab numbers!

hugs, j, I mean Quasi

Shirley, I will PM you the recipe.And I'm glad your husband is craving vegs!

And I WISH I could see poor Grant.I know I will soon.

I think I did too much "Mummy-mummy, Granny-Granny"ing in my time.I neer had a moments peace since I had my first daughter at 19.That's a li.My husband's mom made the Thanksgivings and Christmasses the whole three years we lived in Boston.

My parents, though, traveled a lot, so NYC was the start of the endless holiday meal cooking.As a young friend remarked "I could cook a turkey in my sleep".

And when my kids got big, the table grlaned really big-time since they always had their friends home.You know.

Next they got married and so did I.Suddenly we were doubled.And I, so sophiticated n my "old age" began to roast a  goose for Christmas.Oh MMMM!

My younger daughter once did a paper on regional TGs.Boston, for example, prefers mashed potatoes, for the most part.Gravy.My in-laws, Irish, always had cole slaw.

Italians always serve a course of pasta.

One friend from the South reported that her family self-bastes the turkey with bacon strips.(When the bacon is crisp, they all fight over it!)

My mother's family (upstate NY, to NYC) always had mashed yams(with the marshmallows), creamed onions,(frozen) green peas, home-made cranberry sauce, w/orange slices, and mashed rutabegas.So this was the TG I made.Only I substituted cornbread stuffing w/jalapino bits for the sage stuffing.

Holidays were fun, and voluminous, and delicious.There was the kitchen table made into the kids' table.

But-you know--the good china and silverware wont go in he dw.Just when you need it.My twin grandsons began being pesty around 3.One refused to eat, the other was painfully shy and cried a lot.Things got a little..much.Then I got rid of my husband.And did not want to polish the silver, or wash the pots.I took to using "wax logs".My husband used to get up early and put the turkey in.<Sigh> I got rid of him...why?And the twins were still being pests, and my daughters were starting to work holidays.That was nice in a way.An evening dinner.In another way, everyone was tired.Getting up to go home was hard.

So I began to encourage them to do their own things.Sometimes we'd have "the dinner" the day before, or after.No rule to have it only on TG.Then I could give them lots of leftovers so no one had to cook TG or all weekend.

But best I enjoyed a quiet holiday, with my lovely old dog.And my kids were leaning towards the same.My grandkids are away now, to their father's family, upstate.

I actually still make the whole dinner, only getting a large stuffed turkey breast instead of a whole bird.Because I like it!There is enough food to not have to cook until wednesday, if you count the turkey sannies on tuesday.

Now I'm gonna go get that recipe!

joan

I feel certain Michael Nutter will clean up Phila.He will get that whole gang of thugs and crooks & sweep them away.(I mean the politicians!)

CONGRATS on your great visit!!And I feel certain if your onc loves the new doc, trained with her, that things will be very good!

I need to back up here.An ONCOLOGIST was RECRUITED???How can this be?That idiot has the whole National Guard in Iraq and now he is recruiting doctors???That is illegal!

During wartime (WW2) they wouldnt recruit a doctor if he was declared essential to his hospital! (My dad was declared essential, so had to volunteer for the army, because he wanted to help the troops).

But...an onclogist?Needed in  Iraq? I dont think CANCER is our troops' problem.And I DO think oncologists are essential here at home.

<sigh>

Shortbr, it is the Arimidex!!

And--Blinded by Science has just started a thread sharing info from Edge, about a suppliment that helps alzheimer's AND alzenheimer-like cognitive difficulties!

It's right above!!

Glad to hear your onc wasnt recruited to the war!

love, j